Cochrane (Ontario)

Cochrane is a town of 5,400 people (2021) in Northern Ontario. One of its big draws is the Polar Bear Habitat, which is home to three polar bears (as of 2023) that are unable to survive in the wild.

Understand
The main industries in Cochrane are transportation, railway, tourism, and forestry. There is also marginal farming around Cochrane. Although the soil is considered to be of good quality, the growing season is too short to have substantial crop production.

History
Before Cochrane was founded, it was used as a summer camping ground by indigenous people, and a stopping place for fur traders travelling to Moose Factory.

In the early 20th century, the National Transcontinental Railway was built through the area, and in 1907, the place was selected as the junction point with the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway. In November 1908, the lots were sold by auction and a railway town formed. It was named for politician and merchant Frank Cochrane, a former mayor of Sudbury and a federal Cabinet minister from 1911 to 1919.

The settlement was devastated by fire in 1910, 1911, and 1916, but rebuilt each time and became a transportation hub for northern Ontario.

Climate
Cochrane has a transitional climate sitting between the subarctic and humid continental climate zones with very cold winters and warm summers.

Visitor Information

 * Town of Cochrane
 * Tourism Cochrane

By car

 * Cochrane has Highway 11 (Trans-Canada Highway) passing through it.
 * If there is an accident, you won't be able to go anywhere but sit in traffic until the road is re-opened.

By bus

 * Operates the following bus routes to Cochrane:
 * Between Hearst and Sudbury including stops in Kapuskasing, Cochrane and Timmins. Travel time to Cochrane from Hearst is 2.75 hours, from Kapukasing is 1.5 hours, from Timmins is 1.25 hours, and from Sudbury is 6.25 hours.
 * Between North Bay and Timmins including stops in Temagami, Cobalt, Temiskaming Shores (Haileybury, New Liskard, Dymond), Kirkland Lake, and Matheson. A timed connection from this route to Cochrane is available at Matheson. Travel time to Cochrane from North Bay is 6.25 hours, from Cobalt is 4.25 hours, from Kirkland Lake is 2 hours, and from Matheson is 1 hour.
 * Connections are available from Ottawa and Toronto in North Bay and Sudbury.
 * Connections are available from Ottawa and Toronto in North Bay and Sudbury.

Ontario Northland bus service runs daily local service westbound to Hearst with connection in Driftwood to Timmins, Sudbury, Parry Sound, and Orillia; southbound to Toronto via Temiskaming Shores, North Bay, and Barrie. Special express shuttle to Hearst for the Northlander and to Iroquois Falls and Timmins for the Polar Bear Express. Bus service also operates from the train station (see above).

By plane
The town is served by the, but it has no scheduled flights.

Do

 * In the winter, Cochrane is famous for its world-class snowmobiling.

Connect
NorthernTel offers 4G HSPA+ (max 21 Mbps) and 1xRTT coverage in Cochrane. An analogue cellular service (AMPS, band B) had been provided by Ontera, but that company's GSM footprint now covers Moosonee and Moose Factory only.

Go next

 * Kapuskasing ― a company town west along the Trans-Canada Highway. The town's museum is housed in two heritage railway cars alongside the highway. It's on the way to Hearst, the "moose capital of Canada".
 * Kirkland Lake ― a gold mining town, about south. Esker Lakes Provincial Park is nearby.
 * Timmins ― a small city with mining heritage and outdoor recreation opportunities.