French River, Ontario

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This article is about municipality. For the river, see French River (Ontario). For other uses, see French River.
French River
Rivière-des-Français
Municipality (single-tier)
Municipality of French River
Municipalité de Rivière-des-Français
The French River at the French River Post
The French River at the French River Post
French River is located in Ontario
French River
French River
Coordinates: 46°10′N 80°30′W / 46.167°N 80.500°W / 46.167; -80.500Coordinates: 46°10′N 80°30′W / 46.167°N 80.500°W / 46.167; -80.500
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
DistrictSudbury
Incorporated1999
Government
 • TypeTown
 • MayorGisèle Pageau
 • Governing BodyFrench River Municipal Council
 • MPMarc Serré (Liberal)
 • MPPJohn Vanthof (NDP)
Area
[1]
 • Land735.48 km2 (283.97 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total2,662
 • Density3.6/km2 (9/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code(s)705
Websitewww.frenchriver.ca

French River, also known as Rivière-des-Français, is a municipality in the Canadian province of Ontario, in the Sudbury District. The municipality had a population of 2,662 in the Canada 2016 Census.[1] It was formed in 1999 through the merger of the Township of Cosby, Mason and Martland and surrounding unincorporated portions of the Unorganized North Sudbury District. It was named after the French River, which flows through the municipality.

The borders of the municipality are composed of Highway 69 to the west (the French River Trading Post and French River Inn properties are also included within the municipal boundary), West Arm to the north on Highway 535 (just east of Shaw Rd.), the end of Wolseley Bay Rd to the east (Highway 528) and the community of Monetville to the northeast.

Along with the municipalities of St. Charles, Killarney, and Markstay-Warren, it is part of the region known as Sudbury East.[2] These communities partner together on several ventures, including the Sudbury East Planning Board, Sudbury East Municipal Association, Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board (MSDSB) and Sudbury East Board of Trade.

Communities[]

Historic train station from circa 1900 in French River Station.

The municipality comprises the communities of Alban, Bigwood, Chartrand Corner, Delamere, Dokis First Nation, French River Station, Happy Landing, Jamot, Monetville, Noëlville, North Monetville, Ouellette, Rutter, Sucker Creek Landing and Wolseley Bay.

Alban[]

The community of Alban was originally established in 1907 as Rutter, named for the nearby railway station in 1907, but in 1937 the community was renamed for Rev. J. Alban Filiatrault. In 1934, the Parish of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes was created. Jean-Baptiste Rochon donated several acres of land to the people of Alban to erect a church. During the night of February 6, 1953, the church burned to the ground. The following Sunday, Father Oliva Campeau proposed the immediate reconstruction of the church. This time, it was to be constructed with brick and the walls of plaster instead of wood.

Monetville[]

Originally known as Martland, the community was first settled in 1895 by Cyrille Monette (né Alexandre Boisvert) and four other pioneers. It became a municipality in 1906 and adopted the name Monetville. Monetville is divided into two areas; North Monetville and Monetville. "South" Monetville is generally from Dokis Road south to Bear Lake and Shanty Bay (Baie des Chantiers) of Lake Nipissing. North Monetville extends generally from Dokis Road north to the West Arm of Lake Nipissing and Chapel Island, which Highway 64 crosses on the West Arm. North Monetville was settled by the Douglas Family, the Mercer Family and the Purcell family in the early 1900s. On August 27, 2020, the West Nipissing Historical Society held an unveiling ceremony for the erection of a stone cairn monument in recognition of Cyrille Monette as the founder of Monetville and the first pioneer to the area. The monument bears two plaques, one in English, one in French, briefly describing M. Monette's contributions to the development of the area. This project was funded by the Society and several sponsors and donors who helped to make it possible. Approximately 80 people attended the unveiling, about half of whom were descendants of the Monette family. Mayor Gisele Pageau of the Municipality of French River and Mayor Joanne Savage of West Nipissing were among the presenters. Elder Richard Meilleur of the Metis Nipissing Families shared a tobacco ceremony to honour the ancestors. The Monette Monument is located at 5690 Highway 64 in Monetville (Municipality of French River) Facebook: West Nipissing Historical Society

Noëlville[]

Noëlville

Noëlville, originally known as Cosby, was founded in 1905 with the arrival of settlers in the region. Noëlville families travelled by boat, to the south-west end of Lake Nipissing, to establish themselves between Lake Nipissing and the French River. To pay homage to Noël Desmarais, the village's first merchant and the first businessman of the region, the town of Cosby became Noëlville in 1911. Desmarais is a grandfather of businessman Paul Desmarais.[3] Noël Desmarais was one of the first to start his family business in Noëlville.

North Monetville[]

The North Monetville area straddles the municipal boundary between French River and West Nipissing. Designated in the 1970s to aid the delivery of supplies to the Monetville Public School, which was located several kilometers north on Highway 64 from the signposts designating the town of Monetville. Sucker Creek Landing and Chapel Island are both considered to be part of North Monetville, with Highway 64 crossing Chapel Island and bridging the West Arm Narrows of Lake Nipissing at both ends of the island. Most residents of North Monetville simply state their address as "Monetville" even if they do live in the north end of the village.

The Community of Christ cemetery, 339 East Road,[4] has a Canadian World War II hero buried there. Sgt. Wallace Edmond Firlotte, who served with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment during the war, was bestowed six war decorations. Firlotte was one of only a very few Canadians that was bestowed the Order of the Bronze Lion for heroism from the Crown of the Netherlands. This award is presented for "Deeds of extreme bravery and leadership in battle favouring the Netherlands". The Prince personally presented this Order to Sgt. Firlotte by Royal Decree on December 8, 1945.

Community events[]

Each February, Noëlville hosts the largest and longest running family hockey tournament in Canada. Five years after the Noëlville Community Centre was built in 1972, the Noëlville Family Hockey Tournament was founded in 1977 by Claude Mayer, Gerry Gratton, and Dan Pitre. There were 17 teams. The first game was played on New Year's night when the Carrière family played against the Mayer family. The Pitre family won the inaugural tournament. This tournament survives to this day and has become a much anticipated event in this small town where families reunite when friends and members of the extended family return 'home' to compete in this event which now hosts between 32 and 36 teams and families every year. Over the years, this tournament raised over $150,000 for local charities.

In August, the Club Richelieu Rivière-des-Français hosts the family softball tournament, which regularly hosts over 100 teams and provides numerous economic benefits to the region. August 5-6-7, 2016 was the 32nd year of this tournament and had 103 teams registered. Over the years, this tournament has raised over $221,330 to help fund various cultural, educational and community activities.

Government[]

The municipal office is located at 44 St-Christophe St in Noëlville. The council is composed of the mayor and six councillors. The current mayor is Gisèle Pageau.

French River utilizes the mail-in balloting system for municipal elections rather than polling stations. Voter turnout in the 2010 elections was 62%.[5]

The 2019 operating budget for French River was approximately $8 million. The municipality employs approximately 30 staff and has 20 volunteer firefighters.

Demographics[]

French River, Ontario Historical populations
YearPop.±%
19962,847—    
20012,810−1.3%
20062,659−5.4%
20112,442−8.2%
20162,662+9.0%
[6][7][1]
hideCanada census – French River, Ontario community profile
2016 2011 2006
Population: 2,662 (+9.0% from 2011) 2,442 (-8.2% from 2006) 2,659 (-5.4% from 2001)
Land area: 735.48 km2 (283.97 sq mi) 735.47 km2 (283.97 sq mi) 734.26 km2 (283.50 sq mi)
Population density: 3.6/km2 (9.3/sq mi) 3.3/km2 (8.5/sq mi) 3.6/km2 (9.3/sq mi)
Median age: 54.7 (M: 55.3, F: 54.1) 53.7 (M: 53.8, F: 53.7) 50.1 (M: 50.4, F: 49.9)
Total private dwellings: 2,108 1,833 2,053
Median household income: $60,928 $43,739
References: 2016[8] 2011[9] 2006[10] earlier[11]

Median age of the population:

  • 54.7 years

Ethnicity:

  • 88.4% White
  • 10.3% Métis
  • 1.3% First Nations

Language most often spoken at home:

  • 60.8% English
  • 38.4% French
  • 0.8% Other

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Census Profile, 2016 Census: French River". Statistics Canada. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  2. ^ "Sudbury East Planning Board".
  3. ^ "Paul Desmarais". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  4. ^ Community of Christ Cemetery records
  5. ^ http://www.frenchriver.ca/_assets/2010%20Election%20Results%20Stats.pdf
  6. ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census
  7. ^ 2011 Census Profile
  8. ^ "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 21, 2017. Retrieved 2019-07-09.
  9. ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
  10. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
  11. ^ "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.

External links[]

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