Smooth Rock Falls

Smooth Rock Falls
Town (single-tier)
Town of Smooth Rock Falls
Motto: The North's Biggest Little Town
Smooth Rock Falls
Coordinates: 49°17′N 81°38′W / 49.283°N 81.633°W / 49.283; -81.633Coordinates: 49°17′N 81°38′W / 49.283°N 81.633°W / 49.283; -81.633
Country  Canada
Province  Ontario
District Cochrane
Settled 1916
Government
 • Mayor Michel Arsenault
 • MP Carol Hughes (NDP)
 • MPP Gilles Bisson
Area[1]
 • Land 199.79 km2 (77.14 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 1,376
 • Density 6.9/km2 (18/sq mi)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Postal code P0L 2B0
Area code(s) 705
Website www.townofsmoothrock
falls.ca

Smooth Rock Falls is an incorporated town in the Cochrane District in Northeastern Ontario, Canada, with a population of 1,376 at the 2011 census.

Geography and transportation

The town lies on the Mattagami River and on Highway 11; on Highway 11, the next full-service towns in each direction are Cochrane, about 59 km (37 mi) to the east and slightly south by road, and Kapuskasing, about 65 km (40 mi) to the west and slightly north. Highway 634 connects Smooth Rock Falls northward with the community of Fraserdale, and Highway 655, starting in Driftwood east of Smooth Rock Falls, provides easier access to Timmins, the dominant regional centre, about 102 km (63 mi) south by that route.

The town is served by the Ontario Northland Railway for freight service, and by Ontario Northland passenger buses.

Economy

Mattagami River and mill in Smooth Rock Falls, 2007.

The Smooth Rock Falls economy was dominated by the Tembec Malette pulp mill, which was closed on December 5, 2006. Prior to that, the mill had been in a state of indefinite shutdown since July 31, 2006. The closure of the mill meant the loss of about 210 jobs.

The town of Smooth Rock Falls has made a series of announcements regarding community investments since Tembec's departure and the closure of the pulp mill. On July 13, 2007 a joint news conference between the town and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources revealed the former Tembec pulp mill would be converted into a value-added cedar plant.[2] Quebec-based Hardy Cedar Lumber is expected to take control of the mill and will be provided with 50,000 cubic metres of cedar from the province. Operations could begin as early as March 2008. The cedar project could provide the community with as many as 44 full-time jobs.[3]

One month prior to the cedar announcement, the town made public an investor's plan to build a new seniors retirement home, 80-100 room hotel and establish a new Indian restaurant. Nightingale Premier, an investment company based in Great Britain, first met with town officials in November 2006. The British company made its plans for a new seniors home, hotel and restaurant known on June 13, 2007.

NorthernTel, Ontera, and Persona Communications provide telecommunications services.

Demographics

Census Population
1991 2,043
1996 1,982
2001 1,830
2006 1,473
2011 1,376
Canada census – Smooth Rock Falls community profile
2011 2006 2001
Population: 1376 (-6.6% from 2006) 1473 (-19.5% from 2001) 1830 (-7.7% from 1996)
Land area: 199.79 km2 (77.14 sq mi) 199.79 km2 (77.14 sq mi) 199.79 km2 (77.14 sq mi)
Population density: 6.9/km2 (18/sq mi) 7.4/km2 (19/sq mi) 9.2/km2 (24/sq mi)
Median age: 53.1 (M: , F: ) 47.2 (M: 47.1, F: 47.3) 41.2 (M: 40.8, F: 41.7)
Total private dwellings: 693 720 862
Median household income: $56,844 $55,020
References: 2011[4] 2006[5] 2001[6]

The population reached its peak of 2,208 in the 1986 census. Since then, it has continuously declined, dropping to 1,376 at the 2011 census, or a drop of 6.6% from the 2006 census.[1]

In 2001, approximately 45 were aboriginal, and approximately ten had been born outside of Canada. 1,530 residents identified their religion as Roman Catholic. Over 1,000 used French or some combination of English and French most often at work. Unemployment was substantially higher and workforce participation lower, but among all persons with income and among workers, annual incomes were higher than Ontario averages.[6]

Politics

Smooth Rock Falls is part of the provincial electoral district of Timmins—James Bay and the federal electoral district of Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing. Its Member of Provincial Parliament is Gilles Bisson, a New Democrat, and its Member of Parliament is Carol Hughes. Bisson's constituency office serves Smooth Rock Falls locally with weekly hours at Town Hall.

Health care

The Smooth Rock Falls Hospital includes 14 acute care and 23 long-term care beds, and its Cochrane District Detoxification Centre serves the larger region.

Education

District School Board Ontario North East operates

Conseil scolaire catholique de district des Grandes-Rivières operates

For postsecondary education, a Contact North distance education access centre serves the town. The Smooth Rock Falls Resource Centre offers Adult Education for those who want to upgrade or finish their grade 12 secondary school diploma.

Media

CKGN-1, a repeater of CKGN-FM Kapuskasing, provides community radio service for the Franco-Ontarian population.

Attractions

Town attractions include the Reg Lamy Cultural Centre, which includes a hockey arena and Smooth Rock Falls Curling Club; the Smooth Rock Falls Golf Course (9 holes), a public library, and a public swimming pool.

Each year the town hosts the Smooth Truck Fest,[7] a popular festival that features truck pulls and other motorized pull contests alongside children's activities, concerts, canoe races and much more.

Notable people from Smooth Rock Falls

Notable people from Smooth Rock Falls include:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Smooth Rock Falls census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ Timmins Daily Press - Ontario, CA
  4. ↑ "2011 Community Profiles". Canada 2011 Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
  5. ↑ "2006 Community Profiles". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
  6. 1 2 "2001 Community Profiles". Canada 2001 Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
  7. ↑ Smooth Truck Fest
 Unorganized North Cochrane
Unorganized North Cochrane Unorganized North Cochrane
   Smooth Rock Falls  
Unorganized North Cochrane
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