Gogama, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Gogama is a small community located in the heart of Northeastern Ontario
, situated on Lake Minisinakwa, it is 580 kilometres north of Toronto
, 191 km north of Sudbury and 114 km south of Timmins
. With a population of 394 people in the Canada 2006 Census
, it boasts recreation, hunting and fishing that is unrivaled in this part of Ontario
.
Gogama is on Highway 661, a short spur route which connects it to Highway 144. The community is accessible by car, bus (Ontario Northland), rail (VIA), and chartered float plane transport.
The community is counted as part of Sudbury, Unorganized, North Part
in Canadian census
data. It is not an incorporated municipality, but is administered by a local services board.
was established in the area in the early 18th century. From 1911 to 1914, the Canadian Northern Railway
, was under construction through this area, now the CNR
. Gogama was first settled in 1917 by Arthur L'Abbé. The post office was opened shortly after in 1919 and since, Gogama has relied heavily on the forestry industry although tourism is starting to benefit the hamlet as well.
During the era of railway construction, Gogama was likely a place of importance for the manufacture of Axe ties
. However, following that period, maintaining and upgrading the railway required a constant supply of ties
. The handmade axe ties were phased out and replaced with creosote
treated ties. For the most part, this development followed World War I
throughout Northern Ontario
. At that same time, returning soldiers came to this area looking for work.
The first mill at Gogama was established in 1919, when W.H. Poupore contracted with the Harris Tie and Timber to supply the CNR with sawn ties. The mill produced all types of merchantable timber, but specialized in tie blocks. This mill was later taken over by Poupore's brother M.J.(Joe) Poupore. As orders for ties declined contracts were secured to supply mining timber for Falconbridge. Although the original mill burned in 1936, a new mill was erected at the mouth of the Nabakwasi River, in Togo Township, north of Gogama.
Another mill at Gogama was owned by Cochrane and Laforest and operated 1919 to 1932. It was sold to Acme Timber in 1932, but not re-opened. See Pineland Timber, Foleyet
.
. The Prince personally presented this Order to Sgt Firlotte by Royal Decree (No. 2) on December 8, 1945.
Pictures. The film is 19 minutes long. It was completed by Warner Bros.
in September 1945 and released in January 1946. The film documents the operations of the former Forest Protection Service, of the Department of Lands & Forests, Province of Ontario, which was renamed the Ministry of Natural Resources (Ontario)
in 1972. The film is specifically dedicated to the work of the bush pilots flying floatplanes, such as those manufactured by the Stinson Aircraft Company
, in support of forest fire suppression crews. A Second World War Royal Canadian Air Force
(RCAF) de Havilland Mosquito
fighter-bomber is also show briefly taxiing on a runway. The Forest Commandos was recently aired on Turner Classic Movies
.
Northeastern Ontario
Northeastern Ontario is the region within the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north and east of Lakes Superior and Huron.Northeastern Ontario consists of the districts of Algoma, Sudbury, Cochrane, Timiskaming, Nipissing and Manitoulin; and the single-tier municipality of Greater...
, situated on Lake Minisinakwa, it is 580 kilometres north of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, 191 km north of Sudbury and 114 km south of Timmins
Timmins
Timmins is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada on the Mattagami River. At the time of the Canada 2006 Census, Timmins' population was 42,997...
. With a population of 394 people in the Canada 2006 Census
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
, it boasts recreation, hunting and fishing that is unrivaled in this part of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Gogama is on Highway 661, a short spur route which connects it to Highway 144. The community is accessible by car, bus (Ontario Northland), rail (VIA), and chartered float plane transport.
The community is counted as part of Sudbury, Unorganized, North Part
Sudbury, Unorganized, North Part, Ontario
Sudbury, Unorganized, North Part is an unorganized area in the Canadian province of Ontario, comprising all portions of the Sudbury District which are not organized into incorporated municipalities...
in Canadian census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
data. It is not an incorporated municipality, but is administered by a local services board.
History
Gogama is an Ojibway word meaning "jumping fish", likely in reference to the many fish that abound the waters of Lake Miniskawa. A native trading postTrading post
A trading post was a place or establishment in historic Northern America where the trading of goods took place. The preferred travel route to a trading post or between trading posts, was known as a trade route....
was established in the area in the early 18th century. From 1911 to 1914, the Canadian Northern Railway
Canadian Northern Railway
The Canadian Northern Railway is a historic Canadian transcontinental railway. At its demise in 1923, when it was merged into the Canadian National Railway , the CNoR owned a main line between Quebec City and Vancouver via Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Edmonton.-Manitoba beginnings:CNoR had its start in...
, was under construction through this area, now the CNR
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
. Gogama was first settled in 1917 by Arthur L'Abbé. The post office was opened shortly after in 1919 and since, Gogama has relied heavily on the forestry industry although tourism is starting to benefit the hamlet as well.
During the era of railway construction, Gogama was likely a place of importance for the manufacture of Axe ties
Axe ties
Axe ties are railway ties that are hewn by hand, usually with a broadaxe. There are 2,900 ties per mile of track on a first class railroad. The early railways would not accept ties cut with a saw, as it was claimed that the kerf of the saw splintered the fibres of the wood, leaving them more likely...
. However, following that period, maintaining and upgrading the railway required a constant supply of ties
Railroad tie
A railroad tie/railway tie , or railway sleeper is a rectangular item used to support the rails in railroad tracks...
. The handmade axe ties were phased out and replaced with creosote
Creosote
Creosote is the portion of chemical products obtained by the distillation of a tar that remains heavier than water, notably useful for its anti-septic and preservative properties...
treated ties. For the most part, this development followed World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
throughout Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
. At that same time, returning soldiers came to this area looking for work.
The first mill at Gogama was established in 1919, when W.H. Poupore contracted with the Harris Tie and Timber to supply the CNR with sawn ties. The mill produced all types of merchantable timber, but specialized in tie blocks. This mill was later taken over by Poupore's brother M.J.(Joe) Poupore. As orders for ties declined contracts were secured to supply mining timber for Falconbridge. Although the original mill burned in 1936, a new mill was erected at the mouth of the Nabakwasi River, in Togo Township, north of Gogama.
Another mill at Gogama was owned by Cochrane and Laforest and operated 1919 to 1932. It was sold to Acme Timber in 1932, but not re-opened. See Pineland Timber, Foleyet
Foleyet, Ontario
Foleyet is a community in the Sudbury District, Ontario, Canada, midway between Chapleau and Timmins on Highway 101. The town was created during the construction of the Canadian Northern Railway through the area in the early years of the 20th century....
.
Notable people
Sergeant Wallace Edmond Firlotte, who served with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment during World War II, was born and raised in Gogama. He was bestowed with six war decorations for his heroism during the war; most notably, Sergeant Firlotte was one of fewer than ten Canadians, and the only one from his regiment, who had the Order of the Bronze Lion bestowed by the Crown of the NetherlandsCrown of the Netherlands
The current Crown of the Netherlands is of relatively modern origin. In 1813 the new "Sovereign Ruler" of the Netherlands, Prince William of Orange, son and heir of the exiled Stadtholder William V of Orange was sworn in Amsterdam...
. The Prince personally presented this Order to Sgt Firlotte by Royal Decree (No. 2) on December 8, 1945.
Featured in Film
Gogama is featured in a short educational film The Forest Commandos, produced by Warner Bros.Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
Pictures. The film is 19 minutes long. It was completed by Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
in September 1945 and released in January 1946. The film documents the operations of the former Forest Protection Service, of the Department of Lands & Forests, Province of Ontario, which was renamed the Ministry of Natural Resources (Ontario)
Ministry of Natural Resources (Ontario)
The Ministry of Natural Resources is a government ministry of the Canadian province of Ontario that responsible for Ontario’s provincial parks, forests, fisheries, wildlife, mineral aggregates and the Crown lands and waters that make up 87 per cent of the province...
in 1972. The film is specifically dedicated to the work of the bush pilots flying floatplanes, such as those manufactured by the Stinson Aircraft Company
Stinson Aircraft Company
The Stinson Aircraft Company was an aircraft manufacturing company in the United States between the 1920s and the 1950s.-The Company:The Stinson Aircraft Company was founded in Dayton, Ohio, in 1920 by aviator Edward “Eddie” Stinson, brother to Katherine Stinson. After five years of business...
, in support of forest fire suppression crews. A Second World War Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
(RCAF) de Havilland Mosquito
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
fighter-bomber is also show briefly taxiing on a runway. The Forest Commandos was recently aired on Turner Classic Movies
Turner Classic Movies
Turner Classic Movies is a movie-oriented cable television channel, owned by the Turner Broadcasting System subsidiary of Time Warner, featuring commercial-free classic movies, mostly from the Turner Entertainment and MGM, United Artists, RKO and Warner Bros. film libraries...
.