Civil Municipal - Feb 2024

Enjoying a fascinating history, the city’s formation in 2004 resulted from amalgamating New Liskeard and Haileybury, incorporating North Cobalt and the township of Dymond. However, the region’s roots trace back to 1695 when French settlers established Fort Temiscamingue. In 1794, the Hudson Bay Company constructed Abitibi House, transforming the Ottawa River into a crucial access point by steamboat. William Ogilvie’s 1890 survey of the Quebec-Ontario boundary shaped the developmental trajectory. The historical tapestry of Temiskaming Shores unfolds against the backdrop of these explorations and survey endeavors, marking a pivotal period in the territory’s development. By 1891, William Murray and Irvin Heard, the first European settlers, had established a prosperous agricultural center in Dymond. Concurrently, Haileybury, founded by Charles Cobbold Farr in 1889, was a key player during the Cobalt Silver Rush in the early 1900s. The Haileybury Hockey Club played its first and only season in the NHA in 1909. Montreal’s Club Antique-Canadien took over the team and moved it for the following season, renaming it the Montreal Canadiens. In 1912, the region designated Haileybury as its judicial seat. However, a decade later, the Great Fire of 1922 destroyed 90% of the town. A 1935 earthquake also affected the area. Despite these challenges, Temiskaming thrived, morphing into a bustling retail center connecting Ontario and Quebec. The Ottawa River and Lake Timiskaming, once integral for exploration, now symbolize the region’s rich history and prosperity. AN ECONOMIC NUCLEUS AND RETAIL HUB Temiskaming offers services to locales within an hour’s drive. Despite a population of almost 10,000, Economic Development Officer James Franks notes, “We act much larger because of the access to resources we offer.” The municipality thrives with vibrant neighborhoods, extensive retail options, a robust agricultural 119 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 5, ISSUE 02 TEMISKAMING SHORES, ON