Thunder Bay, Ontario
Thunder Bay (2001 population 109,016; CMA 121,986) is a city at the head of Lake Superior in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Its port forms an important link in the shipping of grain and other products from western Canada through the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence Seaway to the east coast. It's located at 48n23, 89w15. Time zone EST.
The city was formed in 1970 by the merger of the smaller cities of Fort William and Port Arthur. Fort William, originally the French Fort Caministogoyan, was the hub of the North West Company's fur trading business in the early 19th century. Port Arthur, a few miles to the north, was first settled in 1870 as the head of construction of the Dawson Road connecting Ontario with Western Canada.
Forestry and manufacturing are the largest industries in Thunder Bay, with Bowater Forest Products and Lakehead University and Confederation College.
Thunder Bay's main tourist attraction is Fort William Historical Park, built in 1973 as a reconstruction of the Fort William fur trade post. Thunder Bay also has other tourist attractions including Kakabeka Falls, Friendship Gardens, Mount McKay Lookout, Ouimet Canyon, Thunder Bay Historical Museum and The Marina. The Marina includes an along the lake walk, playground, Stanton Harbourview Cruises, A children's museum, ice cream shop and Chinese/Canadian cuisine. It also has a beautiful harbour full of local boats and other water craft.
The city overlooks the Sleeping Giant, a large formation of mesas on a peninsula in Lake Superior that resemble its name when viewed from the city. It has become a symbol of the city.
Thunder Bay also has some very unique restaurants. The Hoito, a world famous Finnish restaurant is well-known for there plate size finnish pancakes along with other Finnish foods. The Persian Man, is a locally owned Coffee shop in which they sell Persians which are somewhat like a large cinnamin bunn covered in mouth watering strawberry icing. You can only found persians in Thunder Bay.
The Fort William Gardens is a recreational centre mainly for Ice Hockey, Curling, and Concerts. It seats just under 5000 people and has hosted many events since its 1939 creation. The Thunder Bay Community Auditoriam has been recongized as one of the finest auditoriam's in North America seating 1500 people and holding various types of entertainment.
In 1981, Thunder Bay hosted the Canada Games. In 1995, Thunder Bay hosted the World Nordic Ski Championships.
Media outlets in Thunder Bay include Thunder Bay Television (CKPR 2/5 and CHFD 4/6) and Shaw Cable 10; CBQ 88.3 FM, Rock 94, Magic 99.9, Country 104, Hot 105, and 580 CKPR; The Chronicle-Journal and Thunder Bay's Source; and .
Famous people
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Places of Interest
Workforce
Unemployment in Northwestern Ontario is high; with the declining population and fewer and fewer jobs, and with little funding from the government you can understand why. The main employment in Thunder Bay are of Bowater, Bombardier and the new Health/Sciences Centre. Other major jobs in Thunder Bay include Lakehead University, Confederation College, the Grain Elevators, and City jobs. Thunder Bay has desperately tried to have a multi diverse workforce however Thunder Bay is still mainly a Forestry/Grain/Tourism city.
Transportation
Thunder Bay, is the largest city in Northwestern Ontario, therefore everyone from the area comes to Thunder Bay for their travel needs. Over a decade ago Thunder Bay had a running train station however due to lack of passengers it closed and is now the building which holds The Ice Cream Parlour, Gift Shop, and Founders Museum at Marina Park. Thunder Bay does have however, an International airport called Thunder Bay International Airport and they have Hockey/OUA)
