The Towns and Cities
of Northern Ontario
Foleyet - James Bay Frontier
Foleyet is located west of the city
of Timmins on Highway 101. The drive is done in what is virtually a
cut out in the northern forest. Caution should be exercised when
driving up north due to the many sightings of bear, wolves and moose
along the highway.
Prior to the twentieth century,
Foleyet had been an island and many anecdotes are told concerning
the creation of the area and the town. One story has it that during
an intense feud between loggers and clearers, an esker (the long,
narrow ridge of coarse gravel deposited by a stream flowing in or
under a decaying glacial ice sheet) was dynamited. This caused the
nearby lake to empty to dangerously low levels and to this day, the
lake has never returned to its normal levels.
Another story about the birth of
Foleyet involves The Foley Brothers (pioneer contractors) who wanted
to name the town after themselves, but there had already been a town
named Foley. The Brothers got upset and said,” We’ll name this
place Foley yet!" The term "Foley yet" stuck!
One thing that the community of
Foleyet is renowned for is having a white moose living in its
vicinity! Often mistaken as an example of an albino strain, this
Foleyet citizen sports many brown spots in its fur as well as
lacking the red eyes that albino are known for having. In 1998, one
of these white moose was struck on the railroad tracks just outside
of Foleyet. As a tribute of the rare species, the head was mounted
and placed in the Northern Lights Restaurant. Many tourists have
come to see the head of the moose.
Foleyet, like so many small northern
towns has had its share of destruction by fire and by flood.
11 kilometers from Foleyet is the beautiful Ivanhoe Lake ideal for
campers, boaters, or for those who want to get away from it all for
a day.
The Red Pine Lodge is an ideal family
vacation center offering lovely white sandy beaches and completely
furnished modern cottages. Let their experienced outfitters, guides
and staff provide you with friendly hospitality and the
unforgettable opportunity to fulfill your dreams of big game
hunting.
The Air Ivanhoe and The Ivanhoe River
Inn, also situated on Lake Ivanhoe, boast the best in best in Fly-In
Fishing on remote Northern Ontario lakes and is a full service
lodge. The Inn offers you lakeside dining in their fine restaurant
or on the log crafted deck, an outfitting store, shower and washroom
facilities, a licensed guest lounge, and a great nights rest prior
to your fly-in or boat-in vacation. Services include easy access to
boats and motors, canoes, guide services, one day fly-ins, and
scenic tours on board their Beaver aircraft. At many of their cabins
and camps you are the only party on the lake
Foleyet - discover the land as it was
meant to be discovered.
