For nearly a century Ontario Northland has been keeping the people of Northern Ontario in touch with the rest of the world. What began as a simple rail link between two northern communities has grown to become a vital transportation and communication network. In 1900 the Ontario Legislature designated $40,000 for the construction of a 150 km rail line between North Bay and New Liskeard. As crews pushed north, a huge silver deposit was discovered in the new railway’s path and the boom was on. The Temiskaming & Northern Ontario Railroad (T&NO) became more important than ever, transporting people and equipment north, minerals and timber south. By 1912 the main line had been extended to New Liskeard, and branch lines were serving the gold towns of Kirkland Lake and Timmins.

The T&NO continued to push northward to Moosonee, providing essential jobs throughout World War I and the Great Depression. In 1932 the last spike was driven at Moosonee and the T&NO began to diversify its services under the new name, Ontario Northland.

Rail remains an important component of the ONTC, transporting people and products. The Northlander train provides regular passenger service between Toronto and Cochrane, and the Polar Bear Express excursion train is a popular summer attraction, taking visitors from Cochrane to the end of the rail in historic Moosonee. As in the days of the T&NO, the major rail services are the transportation of minerals and timber from the resource-rich North.

The Northlander train offers European-style rail travel between Toronto’s Union Station and Northern Ontario.

The growing need for air service in the North spawned the development of norOntair. The first airline in the world to offer Dash 8 travel, norOntair now serves 23 communities throughout northern Ontario. Marine travel has become an integral part of the Ontario Northland transportation network. The ONTC operates two passenger/vehicle ferries, the largest on the great lakes—M.S. Chi-Cheemaun and M.S. Nindawayma— between Tobermory and Manitoulin Island on Georgian Bay. The M.V. Manitou Island II is the only passenger and cargo ferry/barge connecting Moosonee and Moose Factory Island. One of North Bay’s most popular attractions is the M.V. Chief Commanda II excursion ship which travels the routes of the voyageurs across Lake Nipissing to the Upper French River.

Ontario Northland has been involved in communications ever since the T&NO strung telegraph lines along the railway’s path. Today, Telecommuni-cations provide a link between Bell Canada and Northern Telephone in northeastern Ontario. A link with the Telesat Satellite serves the communities around Hudson Bay with long-distance telephone, television and radio transmission.

Ontario Northland is planning for the future with an even greater commitment to the North in commercial and hotel development and additional tourist attractions. Despite all its growth and development, an almost century-old idea remains the focus: Ontario Northland will continue to strive to bring the people of the North the highest possible quality in transportation, telecommunication, development and tourism products.