Kapuskasing and Timmins

The CNR railway line was put through the northern Ontario area in 1911. Where the railway crossed the Kapuskasing river, there was an island and rapids. A dam was built in 1923. This later allowed for a town to be built as well. The river name of Kapuskasing is possibly a Cree Indian word and may mean Whispering Waters. Before the dams were built, there had been rapids named Spruce Falls.

A Paper and paper mill was built and began production around 1920 logging the abundant resources of trees in the region. The company running the mill was called Spruce Falls. In 1926, the Spruce Falls Paper Company came under ownership of The New York Times. Since 1928 the Spruce Paper Mills have provided a steady source of paper to the New York Times newspaper and the mill has been running continuously ever since.

In 1951 Princess Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip (Duke of Edinbugh) visited Kapuskasing on their first visit to Canada. They stayed at the Kapuskasing Inn. The inn was closed in 2002 due to a downturn in demand and the building was abandoned. In 2007 the Inn was burnt down by young arsonists. In 2008 the remains were finally demolished.

Kapuskasing plays host to the Lumberjack Heritage Festival every summer and a Festival of Lights every Xmas.

There are 2 celebrities who have connections to Kapuskasing.

One is Hollywood director James Cameron (Avatar, Titanic, Terminator 1 & 2, The Abyss) who was born in Kapuskasing in 1954. But he was raised in Niagara Falls, Ontario and the family immigrated to USA when he was 17 years old.

The other celebrity is Roy Dupuis, who was born in New Liskeard, Ontario in 1963, raised in Quebec until he was 11. He then lived in Kapuskasing for 3 years while he learned English. His family moved back to Quebec when he was 14 so he could attend a Quebec high school. Roy is best known for playing the character of Michael Samuelle in the TV series Nikita starring Australian actress Peta Wilson. He also played the title role in the movie Richard - about Hockey player Maurice Richard.

This is Rocketmoms Session 12, Challenge 5. For this Challenge, we have to make a Travel Lens. I havent travelled to too many places, but two places I have been to, are Kapuskasing and Timmins in Northern Ontario, Canada.
Although strictly speaking, I havent been back there since my father in law died in 2003. So while my photos are old, the information should still be valid.

Timmins was founded in 1912, during the Porcupine Gold Rush, after gold was discovered in the area in 1909. That gold rush earned Timmins the nickname of the "City with the Heart of Gold". Timmins is located in one of the richest mineral producing areas in the Western Hemisphere. It is a leader in the production of gold and base metals.

Timmins is still a mining town although forestry does contribute to the economy as well.

Most of the activities in Timmins are based on outdoor activities. Such as fishing, golfing (there are 3 golf courses in Timmins), hunting and generally relaxing.

During the summer months, several mines offer tours to visitors.

The Gold Mine Tour explores the mining heritage of Timmins. On this tour you can see a simulated rock blast, machinery being operated, a video on explosions, a prospector's cabin and a gold pour! Also, you can try your hand at picking up a gold bar and at panning for gold!

The RioTinto-Luzenac Mine, teaches visitors about Talc. What it is, why and how it is produced and what it is used for.

The Porcupine Gold Mine-Goldcorp tour allows individuals to visit the Pamour Open Pit Mine, a reclamation site and the Hollinger Information Centre.

Long pants and closed toe shoes are recommended for these industrial tours. Visitors MUST be 12 years of age or older to take part, and those aged 12 to 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

Shania Twain was born Eileen Edwards in Windsor, Ontario in 1965. Her parents divorced when she was 2. Her mother later married Jerry Twain who adopted Eileen and her sister Jill, and moved the family to Timmins, Jerry was of first Nation Cree heritage and as his adopted daughters, Eileen and Jill were permitted to become part of the tribe with the right to call themselves Indian even though they were not biologically of Indian origin.

Eileen attend the Timmins High and Vocational School, graduating in 1983. But she had been singing in bars and pubs since she was 10 years old. After graduating from High school Eileen spent the next 4 years singing with various music groups and she sang in lots of different places. Twice she went to Nashville to make demo's but nothing panned out. Eileen wanted to be a pop singer, not a country music singer.

In 1987 Eileen's mother and adopted father were killed in a car accident. Eileen then went to work as a singer for the Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville (Muskoka - north of Barrie) Ontario where she lived and sang for 6 years supporting her younger half siblings.

Once the siblings had graduated and left home, Eileen gathered up some songs, changed her name to Shania Twain, made a new demo and was finally able to make a record album in Nashville. Her first album "Shania" was released in 1993. It caught the attention of Robert "Mutt" Lange who produced her later albums and also married her in 1993. In 1995 Shania's second album '"The Women in Me" was released and in 1997 the album that finally put her on the world stage - called "Come on Over" - was released.

Shania and Mutt have a son named Ejo (pronounced Asia) born in 2001, and by 2008 Shania and Mutt were separated after he had an affair. The divorce was finalised in 2010 and Shania married Frederick Thiebaud on January 1, 2011.