Chapleau, Ontario

Chapleau is a township in Sudbury District, Ontario, Canada. It is home to one of the world's largest wildlife preserves. Chapleau has a population of 1,964 according to the Canada 2016 Census.

Chapleau
Township (single-tier)
Township of Chapleau
The railway yard cuts through the centre of Chapleau.
Motto(s): 
Prosperity, Industry
Chapleau
Chapleau
Coordinates: 47°50′N 83°24′W
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
DistrictSudbury
Established1885
Government
 • TypeTownship
 • MayorMichael J. Levesque
 • MPCarol Hughes (NDP)
 • MPPMichael Mantha (NDP)
Area
 • Land14.22 km2 (5.49 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[2]
 • Total1,964
 • Density138.2/km2 (358/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (EDT)
Postal code span
P0M 1K0
Area code(s)705 (864 exchange)
Websitewww.chapleau.ca

The major industries within town are the logging mill, Tembec, and the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) railyards.

History

The first European settlement in the area was established in 1777 by the Hudson's Bay Company. The settlement was a fur trading post about 50 mi (80 km) to Chapleau's north, on Big Missinabi Lake.

In 1885 the Canadian Pacific Railway was built through the area. The CPR chose this as a division point, and the town was founded. It was named in honour of Sir Joseph-Adolphe Chapleau (November 7, 1840 − June 13, 1898), lawyer, journalist, businessman, politician, and most notably the 5th Premier of Quebec.

Louis Hémon, author of the French novel Maria Chapdelaine, was struck and killed by a train in Chapleau on 8 July 1913.[3]

After a fire in 1948, the government was prompted to construct a road to Chapleau to enable logging contractors to truck timber before it rotted. The Chapleau Road (now Highway 129) was completed on January 28, 1949. In the early 1960s, Highway 101 was completed to link Chapleau with Timmins to the east, and Wawa to the west.[4][5]

Chapleau also developed logging and lumber mill operations, up until 1994 the town supported no less than three lumber mills, but the United States' imposition of a softwood lumber tariff designed to benefit American lumber companies has led to many layoffs and difficult times for the town. At its largest, with large CPR and lumber operations, the town had a population of over 5,000. However, the town has been gradually shrinking since 1950.

In 1967, the Chapleau Centennial Museum was opened to showcase and celebrate local history. It is located at 94 Monk Street.

Geography and location

Chapleau is located in central Northeastern Ontario, in the heart of the Canadian Shield. Chapleau is geographically isolated; the nearest cities are Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, and Sudbury, but all are more than a two-hour drive away. Highway 129 links the town with Highway 101, running east to Timmins and west to Wawa. Highway 129 also runs south, connecting with the Trans-Canada Highway, Highway 17 at Thessalon, 227 km (141 mi) from Chapleau.

Via Rail's Sudbury–White River train also connects Chapleau station with White River, Sudbury and a number of remote communities.

Three First Nations reserves are located near the township: Chapleau Cree First Nation, Brunswick House First Nation, and Chapleau Ojibway First Nation.

One unusual feature of the community's transportation network is that because a railway yard separates the community into distinct halves, the main street in the western portion of the community loops back over itself in a manner resembling a cloverleaf interchange, and then crosses over both itself and the railway yard on a grade separation before returning to street level to link to the eastern street grid.

Chapleau Crown Game Preserve

Chapleau Crown Game Preserve to the north of the town is, at over 7,000 km2 (2,700 sq mi), the largest animal preserve in the world. Protected wildlife include moose, black bears, pygmy shrews, bald eagles and loons. The preserve is a source of tourism, drawing nature-enthusiasts and fishermen to the township. All forms of hunting and trapping have been forbidden in the preserve since the 1920s. The result is an area with abundant wildlife. In fact, over 2,500 moose and over 2,000 black bears reside within the game preserve. Logging does occur within the preserve, as does fishing. There are two provincial parks and cottages located within the preserve.

Climate

Chapleau experiences a humid continental climate (Dfb).

Climate data for Chapleau Airport, 1981−2010 normals, extremes 1916−present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 7.2
(45.0)		 14.4
(57.9)		 26.2
(79.2)		 30.0
(86.0)		 33.9
(93.0)		 39.4
(102.9)		 39.4
(102.9)		 35.6
(96.1)		 35.6
(96.1)		 27.2
(81.0)		 19.4
(66.9)		 15.0
(59.0)		 39.4
(102.9)
Average high °C (°F) −9.3
(15.3)		 −6.4
(20.5)		 −0.2
(31.6)		 8.0
(46.4)		 16.3
(61.3)		 21.4
(70.5)		 23.4
(74.1)		 21.9
(71.4)		 16.6
(61.9)		 8.8
(47.8)		 0.8
(33.4)		 −6.0
(21.2)		 8.0
(46.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) −15.6
(3.9)		 −13.2
(8.2)		 −7.1
(19.2)		 1.7
(35.1)		 9.5
(49.1)		 14.8
(58.6)		 17.2
(63.0)		 15.9
(60.6)		 11.2
(52.2)		 4.2
(39.6)		 −3.2
(26.2)		 −11.2
(11.8)		 2.0
(35.6)
Average low °C (°F) −21.9
(−7.4)		 −20.0
(−4.0)		 −14.0
(6.8)		 −4.7
(23.5)		 2.6
(36.7)		 8.3
(46.9)		 10.9
(51.6)		 9.9
(49.8)		 5.8
(42.4)		 −0.4
(31.3)		 −7.2
(19.0)		 −16.5
(2.3)		 −3.9
(25.0)
Record low °C (°F) −50.0
(−58.0)		 −46.7
(−52.1)		 −43.9
(−47.0)		 −33.3
(−27.9)		 −13.3
(8.1)		 −7.2
(19.0)		 −3.0
(26.6)		 −7.8
(18.0)		 −10.0
(14.0)		 −18.9
(−2.0)		 −37.2
(−35.0)		 −47.2
(−53.0)		 −50.0
(−58.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 51.9
(2.04)		 42.9
(1.69)		 46.9
(1.85)		 52.7
(2.07)		 69.9
(2.75)		 80.3
(3.16)		 82.2
(3.24)		 76.0
(2.99)		 95.1
(3.74)		 83.1
(3.27)		 64.4
(2.54)		 63.7
(2.51)		 809.0
(31.85)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 2.0
(0.08)		 1.8
(0.07)		 12.7
(0.50)		 28.7
(1.13)		 66.0
(2.60)		 80.3
(3.16)		 82.2
(3.24)		 76.0
(2.99)		 94.7
(3.73)		 71.0
(2.80)		 24.0
(0.94)		 5.9
(0.23)		 545.1
(21.46)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 55.6
(21.9)		 45.6
(18.0)		 36.6
(14.4)		 23.4
(9.2)		 3.8
(1.5)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.3
(0.1)		 11.5
(4.5)		 42.2
(16.6)		 62.7
(24.7)		 281.5
(110.8)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 17.3 14.2 12.5 10.6 13.2 14.4 14.1 14.8 16.9 16.6 17.4 19.0 181.1
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 1.0 0.83 3.1 6.1 12.6 14.4 14.1 14.8 16.8 13.9 6.4 2.2 106.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 17.2 13.9 10.6 5.7 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.33 5.0 13.8 18.2 86.0
Average relative humidity (%) 73.7 67.1 55.2 50.0 45.9 52.9 57.0 59.0 63.6 68.0 76.0 78.9 62.3
Source: Environment Canada[6][7][8][9][10]

Politics

Chapleau was incorporated as the Corporation of the Township of Chapleau on February 1, 1901.[11] Since that time it has been governed locally by a five-member council. The current council is made up of Mayor Michael Levesque and Councillors Rick Smith, Gerard Bernier, Nicolle Schuurman and Lisi Bernier.[12]

Demographics
Chapleau, Ontario Historical populations
YearPop.±%
19913,077—    
19962,934−4.6%
20012,832−3.5%
20062,354−16.9%
20112,116−10.1%
20161,964−7.2%
[13][1][2]
Canada census – Chapleau, Ontario community profile
2016 2011 2006
Population: 1,964 (-7.2% from 2011) 2,116 (-10.1% from 2006) 2,354 (-16.9% from 2001)
Land area: 14.22 km2 (5.49 sq mi) 14.27 km2 (5.51 sq mi) 14.27 km2 (5.51 sq mi)
Population density: 138.2/km2 (358/sq mi) 148.3/km2 (384/sq mi) 165.0/km2 (427/sq mi)
Median age: 47.2 (M: 47.8, F: 46.6) 40.0 (M: 39.9, F: 40.1)
Total private dwellings: 1,022 1,046 1,136
Median household income: $72,128 $58,763
References: 2016[14] 2011[15] 2006[16] earlier[17]

Education

The town has two high schools, Chapleau High School and École Secondaire Catholique Trillium, and three elementary schools, Chapleau Public School, École élémentaire catholique Sacré-Cœur, and Our Lady of Fatima. Chapleau High and Chapleau Public belong to the Algoma District School Board, the others belong to the French and English Catholic school boards.

Economy

Main employers in Chapleau include the Canadian Pacific Railway and Tembec. Tourism is also an important part of the economy with several outfitters and lodges operating in the area.[18]

In 2012, the Chapleau Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) was founded as an independent, non-profit organization. Resolution 28-371, passed by the Chapleau Town Council on September 24, 2012, established the existing agreement between the Township and the CEDC.[19]

Goldcorp is working towards the advanced exploration phase at the Borden Gold project.

Wireless mesh Internet
Main article: Project Chapleau

Starting on November 9, 2005, Chapleau residents began testing a wireless mesh Internet technology in a program called Project Chapleau. This Wi-Fi connection covered the entire town and was the first of its kind in Canada.

This service was designed and implemented by Bell Canada Enterprises, Nortel Networks, and the Township of Chapleau.

An analysis of the impact of high-speed internet on the residents and town of Chapleau was published in 2010 by Jessica Collins and Barry Wellman.[20]

In April, 2007, Project Chapleau concluded without a reason being given. The Project Chapleau office (The Chapleau Innovation Centre) was converted into a public internet access point, with job search and community networking facilities.

Media

All of the township's regular broadcast media are rebroadcasters of signals from Sudbury, Timmins or Wawa. The township's only purely local media service is CFJW-FM 93.7, a special station which airs information from the municipal government in the event of a weather or industrial emergency. The station does not broadcast on a regular basis; in the event of an emergency, the municipal fire service activates its fire sirens to alert residents to tune in the station.[21]

Radio

Television

Notable people
gollark: [REDACTED]
gollark: I said "Happy chicken, Luca_S!".
gollark: Happy chicken, Luca_S!
gollark: Why would a mere password stop the mighty PotatOS Orbital Laser Network\™?
gollark: Fossil fuels must be DESTROYED. Engaging (environmentally friendly fusion-powered) orbital lasers!

See also

References
  1. 2011 Census Profile
  2. "Census Profile, 2016 Census: Chapleau, Township". Statistics Canada. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  3. "Louis Hemon | French author". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2017-10-14.
  4. "Information About Chapleau". Chapleau community portal. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
  5. Ontario Department of Highways (1956). Ontario Road Map [map]. Cartography by C.P. Robins. Section J13–14
  6. "Chapleau A, Ontario". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment Canada. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  7. "Chapleau A, Ontario". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment Canada. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  8. "Chapleau 2". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  9. "Chapleau". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  10. "Daily Data Report for March 2012". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  11. Evans, George. "Chapleau's First Century, 1901-2001". Chapleau Library. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  12. "Mayor & Council - Township of Chapleau". www.chapleau.ca. Retrieved 2016-08-22.
  13. Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census
  14. "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 21, 2017. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
  15. "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2012-02-15.
  16. "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
  17. "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.
  18. "Outfitters and Lodges". Archived from the original on 2014-03-21.
  19. http://www.chapleau.ca/uploads/12/Doc_634859769902203493.pdf
  20. "Small Town in the Internet Society: Chapleau is No Longer an Island." American Behavioral Scientist 53 (9): 1344-66. doi:10.1177/0002764210361689
  21. CFJW-FM launch announcement Archived July 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, August 31, 2007.
  22. CRTC Decision 2007–70
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