The Towns and Cities
of Northern Ontario
Kapuskasing - James Bay
Frontier
A Little Town with a Big Heart
I’ve spent many hours in Kapuskasing in
fierce competition against many fine Northern Ontario bridge players.
I’d like to say I walked away a winner but Mom always said to be
graceful in defeat and to never lie! The tournament organizers reflect
what I believe to be the spirit of Kapuskasing: rugged determination,
fierce pride and loyalty.
When, in 1991, Kimberly-Clark announced
its intention of pulling out of Kapuskasing, the residents issued a
rallying cry that was heard in Ottawa and Toronto. With careful planning
and personal sacrifice, employees and residents came up with more than
$17 million to be used towards saving the mill. Now, more than ten years
later, the mill has been steadily reinvesting in the community and the
community has continued to support Spruce Falls Inc.
Kapuskasing has a humble beginning: the
first residents were not railroad people, lumberjacks or farmers – they
were prisoners. In 1914, the government wanted to establish an
experimental farm testing crops in adverse conditions. In 1917, these
prisoners were paroled and the settlement became a prisoner of war camp.
A memorial marking the site of the camp stands as a reminder just west
of town.
The Circle is important to Kapuskasing.
When the town was being planned, the plans started out with a Circle.
The Circle is a popular meeting place with shops ringing the perimeter
and where a fountain and benches have been placed inviting people to sit
and watch and take in the sun’s warmth.
Yes, summer does come to Kapuskasing. So
does winter. Don’t expect to find crowded beaches or overrun snowmobile
trails. With such a big backyard, Kapuskasing can offer you a remote
private beach or an unspoiled snowmobile tract.
Oh yes, the people of Kapuskasing play
bridge the way they saved their town!
