Greenstone Communities
| In January 2001 the largest Incorporated Municipality in Canada was created. Greenstone is the amalgamation of the former towns of Geraldton, Longlac, Nakina, Beardmore, Caramat, Jellicoe, Orient Bay and MacDiarmid. In the mid 1980's, a group of business owners and community leaders came together from the area's four larger communities to create a new regional economic development organization. They sought a name that would reflect the entire area's geography without identifying one community. The new community was given the name of Greenstone under the Provincial order in 1997, because it had become a common reference for provincial and federal governments through the 1990's. |
Geraldton
| The MacLeod-Cockshutt Mining Headframe is now an historical landmark still standing in Geraldton today. Now Geraldton is the service centre for Greenstone and the region with Municipal and Government offices, and other necessities located within. Tourism is now a big part of the Geraldton Economy.
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Longlac
| This bustling community is one of the oldest settlements in Greenstone, having been founded in the early 1800’s as a trade post for the North West Company. Longlac is situated on shores of the Kenogami River and Long Lake that made it a prosperous trade route for furs and forestry. The Long Lake log drives in the early 1930’s began an era of forestry that today not only sustains Longlac’s economy but that is the economic heart of the entire Greenstone region. Longlac is the industrial hub of Greenstone. It became a regional forestry centre in 1948 and has since grown into an industrial centre. Longlac is still based on the forestry industry but tourism plays a large part as well. |
Nakina
| Nestled in the rugged beauty of the boreal forest, Nakina was founded in 1923 as a Canadian National railway junction connecting the Transcontinental and Canadian Northern jewel is a sportsman’s’ Mecca of wilderness hunting and fishing opportunities. Hundreds of miles of pristine lakes and forest abound, including a nature reserve and backcountry camping and canoeing routes. The countless lakes and untouched natural beauty attracts fishermen and nature lovers from all over Canada and the United States to the dozen tourism operators in the area.
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Beardmore
| The community of Beardmore hails as the gateway to Lake Nipigon, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world. It is renowned for its world-class fishing opportunities and spectacular scenery including black-green sand beaches and towering shoreline cliffs. Since the early 1900’s Beardmore has known an industrious past in rail, gold mining glory, forestry and commercial fishing. Tourism also plays a valuable role in supporting the local economy offering visitors a choice of rustic resorts, charter cruises, a marina and picturesque Polar Lodge Park.
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Caramat
| This small hamlet began as a C.N. railway flag station on the 1920’s. Over time forestry and tourism have fueled the economy of the quaint northern village. Famous for it Annual Caramat Fish Derby, the 50th year running was celebrated in 2007.
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Jellicoe
| In 1914, the community, known then as Hector, was little more than a small station for Canadian Northern Railway. In 1916, Hector was renamed Jellicoe to honour British Admiral John Rushworth Jellicoe, recognized for his actions in the Cattle of Jutland in the Great War. But it was in 1934 with the launch of the famous Sturgeon River Gold Rush, that Jellicoe made its mark in history. Thousands of people journeyed to Jellicoe to seek their fortunes. Over the years, the gold mining has ceased and the forestry and tourism industries now drive the local economy. Jellicoe residents enjoy clean crisp northern air, sparkling lakes and rivers, dark, starry skies and some of the most beautiful, serene surroundings Greenstone has to offer. |
MacDiarmid / Orient Bay
| In 1912, the Canadian National Railway established a line between Longlac and Port Arthur (Thunder Bay) that ran along the shore of Orient Bay. With railway access and transportation capabilities, came the significant development of commercial fishery in MacDiarmid. Commercial fishing is still an important part of community economy today as is tourism. Resorts and charter cruises offer nature lovers a tranquil escape beneath some of the most striking views of the Pijitawabik Palisades can be found in MacDiarmid and Orient Bay area. Here ice and rock climbers from all over the world travel to climb the towering Palisade cliffs and experience the natural wonder that is the MacDiarmid/Orient Bay area. |
