Timmins

Timmins is a city in Northern Ontario with a population of nearly 41,000 (2021 census). The city stretches over approximately 2,962 km² (1,840 sq mi) of land, making Timmins one of the largest cities in Canada, larger than Luxembourg.

Understand
The city is in one of the richest mineral producing areas in the Western Hemisphere. It is a leader in the production of gold and base metals. Main attractions are mining tours and outdoor recreation.

History
Human settlement in the area is at least 6,000 years old; it's believed the oldest traces found are from a nomadic people of the Shield Archaic culture.

Until contact with European settlers, the land belonged to the Mattagami First Nation peoples. Treaty Number Nine of 1906 pushed this tribe to the north side of the Mattagami Lake, the site of a Hudson's Bay trading post established in 1794. In the 1950s, the reserve was relocated to the south side of the lake, to its present location.

Gold discoveries in the Porcupine Camp during the early years of the 20th century attracted investors to the area. The gold rush of 1909 earned Timmins the nickname of the “City with the Heart of Gold”. The area became home to dozens of prospectors during the "Porcupine Gold Rush" who explored the areas around Porcupine Lake and the Frederick House River. Rich ore deposits in the Canadian Shield led to Timmins being founded as a company town to house Hollinger employees. In 1912, mine manager Alphonse "Al" Paré named the mining settlement for his uncle, Noah Timmins, who was President of Hollinger Mines.Most settlers grouped around Porcupine Lake and the Dome, one mile from the lake. Four miles down the road, around the McIntyre Mine, the hamlet of Schumacher was established. The gold mines declined in the 1950s.

Climate
Timmins has very cold winters, being in northern Ontario. Temperatures in late summer and autumn tend to be among the coldest for any major city in any Canadian province, although during the spring and summer it can get hot.

Visitor Information

 * Tourism Timmins
 * Destination Ontario: Timmins

Get in
Timmins is fairly easy to access. Ontario’s section of Highway 11 (one of the longest roads in the world) connects with Highway 101 about 1 hour east of the city. It is always best to check weather and road conditions before departure, since the winter months (December through to early April) in Northern Ontario can sometimes provoke difficult and unsafe driving conditions. Timmins is also accessible by snowmobile.

By car
The easiest way into Timmins if coming from southeastern or southern Ontario is to make your way to North Bay and continue heading north on Highway 11 (Trans-Canada Highway). Timmins is approximately 350 km north of North Bay. From Southwestern Ontario you could use Highway 400/69 through Perry Sound. Some people take the ferry from Tobemory to Manitoulin Island. The city is minutes away from the Trans-Canada Highway, thus providing easy access to other cities. Other highways servicing Timmins are #144, #101, #655 and #11.

By bus

 * Operates the following bus routes to Timmins:
 * Between Hearst and Sudbury including stops in Kapuskasing, Cochrane and Timmins. Travel time to Timmins from Hearst is 4 hours, from Kapukasing is 2.75 hours, from Cochrane is 1.25 hours, and from Sudbury is 4 hours.
 * Between North Bay and Timmins including stops in Temagami, Cobalt, Temiskaming Shores (Haileybury, New Liskard, Dymond), Kirkland Lake, and Matheson. Travel time to Timmins from North Bay is 5.75 hours, from Cobalt is 4 hours, from Kirkland Lake is 1.75 hours, and from Matheson is 50 minutes.
 * Connections are available from Ottawa and Toronto in North Bay and Sudbury.
 * Connections are available from Ottawa and Toronto in North Bay and Sudbury.

Destinations
Flights to Timmins from Moosonee (55 minutes) and Toronto (1.5 hours)

By train
Ontario Northland used to offer train service to Matheson, with a connecting coach to Timmins, but rail service on the Toronto-North Bay-Cochrane line has been abandoned in favour of buses.

Get around
If you are staying downtown, you can get around on foot for the most part. Otherwise, the city offers efficient bus service, and has many taxi and car rental companies.

On foot
Downtown Timmins is small enough to explore on foot and can make for an interesting afternoon. Most of the outlying areas will require transportation. See the Do section for information on walking trails.

By car
With the help of a map, Timmins is simple to navigate. Most destinations can be found off of Highway 101 which turns into Riverside Drive and Algonquin Boulevard throughout the city.

Some car rental companies include:
 * National Car Rental +1 705 268-3456
 * Discount Car & Truck Rentals +1 705 264-4484
 * Budget Rent A Car (located in the airport) +1 705 267-2393.

By taxi
Taxi companies in the area include:
 * Northern Taxi +1 705 268-6868
 * Veteran’s Victory Taxi +1 705 264-2333
 * Beal Taxi +1 705 264-2201.

See
Timmins' main appeal is its outdoors atmosphere, seeing as how it is surrounded by beautiful forests. There are a multitude of outdoor activities offered in the region year-round. Timmins is also an important landmark in the history of mining, following its success in the 1909 gold rush.

Tours

 * Summer Industrial Tours, +1 705 360-1900. During the summer months, Porcupine Gold Mines-Goldcorp offer free tours to individuals interested in learning about the many natural resources Timmins has to offer. The Porcupine Gold Mine-Goldcorp tour allows individuals to visit the Pamour Open Pit Mine, Coniaurum reclamation site and the Hollinger Information Centre. Long pants and closed toe shoes are recommended for these industrial tours. Must be 12 years of age or older to take part, and those aged 12 to 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
 * Summer Industrial Tours, +1 705 360-1900. During the summer months, Porcupine Gold Mines-Goldcorp offer free tours to individuals interested in learning about the many natural resources Timmins has to offer. The Porcupine Gold Mine-Goldcorp tour allows individuals to visit the Pamour Open Pit Mine, Coniaurum reclamation site and the Hollinger Information Centre. Long pants and closed toe shoes are recommended for these industrial tours. Must be 12 years of age or older to take part, and those aged 12 to 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

Historic landmarks
As legend has it, in the spring of 1909, Harry Preston, a member of the Jack Wilson camp slipped on a rock and uncovered a mound of gold. His discovery created the gold rush of the Porcupine Camp and brought in miners and their families from all around the world. Today, Timmins is a thriving community rich in cultural diversity and mining heritage. Discover the city’s legacy and learn more about the people who made it all possible.


 * Downtown Timmins, At the corner of Spruce Street South and Third Avenue, you can see the former train station built in 1912. It is used as the ONR Terminal and leased commercial space. Turning left on Third Avenue brings you right into Timmins’ busiest street in the downtown core. On the right side is the city’s Walk of Fame. Prominent citizens have been commemorated here with plaques set in the sidewalk. Along Third Avenue, you will see many local shops, retail services, and restaurants reflecting this vibrant northern Ontario community. Look for the parkette (beside the CIBC Bank on the corner of Third Avenue and Pine Street) that houses a site commemorating Shania Twain; Timmins’ country singing sensation. Her hand prints are embedded in cement below a plaque in her honour. Across the street is Bucovetsky’s department store. Established in 1909, it is the oldest business in the city. Third Avenue was laid out in 1911 and some of the buildings here date back to 1912.
 * McIntyre Headframe, Behind the Community Center, towering majestically over Pearl Lake is the McIntyre Mine #11 headframe. The 3rd largest producer of gold in Canada is closed today, but the city plans to redevelop the headframe and its immediate surroundings as a heritage monument to gold mining in the Porcupine Camp.
 * Schumacher Park, McIntyre Road, Schumacher. Home to three monuments honouring the mining history of Schumacher. The iron statue overlooking the highway is a representation of Mr. Sandy McIntyre discovering gold, while the other one depicts a wealthy American investor named Frederick W. Schumacher, for whom the town takes its name. The headframe is a replica of the McIntyre Mine.
 * St. Alphonsus Church, Father Costello Drive, Schumacher. The church is covered with many murals painted by local artist, Mr. Ed Spehar. Father Les Costello was rector of this church for over 23 years. This beloved priest, co-founder of the world famous Flying Fathers hockey team, was a prominent figure in our community known for his sense of humor and his generosity.
 * International Flags, Father Costello Drive, Schumacher. At the end of the street, you will notice a collection of flags representing the community’s rich ethnic diversity and heritage throughout the summer.
 * Whitney Cemetery/Deadman’s Point, Haileybury Crescent, Porcupine. Over 70 people lost their lives in the great Porcupine fire of July 11, 1911. Due to the close proximity of Porcupine Lake, many lives were saved. However, one unusual tragedy occurred when a mine manager by the name of Robert A. Weiss thought he could save his family by taking them down a mine shaft. Sadly, the fire used up all the oxygen in the shaft and the whole family perished. Most bodies of the fire victims were sent home, but 17 were buried here. A monument was erected in their honour by the Toronto Board of Trade.
 * Gold Mine Road, This road is known to the locals as the “Backroad”. A number of mines were on this road. Since 1960, most of them have been torn down. The first mine on your left is Porcupine Gold Mines - Goldcorp (formerly Dome Mine and Porcupine Joint Venture); the only gold mine which has been in operation since 1910. The story of the discovery of the Dome reports the accidental finding of a vein of gold by a prospector who slipped on some moss while climbing the side of a mound (or dome), exposing the vein of gold. Hence, the name “Dome Mine”. Further on to your right, is the Paymaster Headframe. The Paymaster Mine was closed in 1934.
 * Whitney Cemetery/Deadman’s Point, Haileybury Crescent, Porcupine. Over 70 people lost their lives in the great Porcupine fire of July 11, 1911. Due to the close proximity of Porcupine Lake, many lives were saved. However, one unusual tragedy occurred when a mine manager by the name of Robert A. Weiss thought he could save his family by taking them down a mine shaft. Sadly, the fire used up all the oxygen in the shaft and the whole family perished. Most bodies of the fire victims were sent home, but 17 were buried here. A monument was erected in their honour by the Toronto Board of Trade.
 * Gold Mine Road, This road is known to the locals as the “Backroad”. A number of mines were on this road. Since 1960, most of them have been torn down. The first mine on your left is Porcupine Gold Mines - Goldcorp (formerly Dome Mine and Porcupine Joint Venture); the only gold mine which has been in operation since 1910. The story of the discovery of the Dome reports the accidental finding of a vein of gold by a prospector who slipped on some moss while climbing the side of a mound (or dome), exposing the vein of gold. Hence, the name “Dome Mine”. Further on to your right, is the Paymaster Headframe. The Paymaster Mine was closed in 1934.

Do
The atmosphere in Timmins is generally relaxed and slow-paced. Most activities revolve around the outdoors. The summers are great for camping, golfing and more. There are plenty of winter activities such as downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, snowmobiling and more. The Timmins recreation services website offers more information on outdoor activities.

Summer

 * Many campsites offer equipment rental for fishing (check before-hand).
 * There are over 10 well-groomed walking trails in and around Timmins. For maps and more information visit the Timmins Outdoors website.
 * There is a skatepark open daily which is free of admission. +1 705 360-1361
 * Gillies Lake and Hersey Lake are the areas most popular family swimming beaches.
 * There is a skatepark open daily which is free of admission. +1 705 360-1361
 * Gillies Lake and Hersey Lake are the areas most popular family swimming beaches.

Golfing
Timmins is home to three golf courses.

Skating
There are several arenas in the city that offer public skating at reasonable rates. Call the Timmins Leisure Services hotline at for more information.
 * Whitney Arena, Highway 101 East, South Porcupine.
 * Whitney Arena, Highway 101 East, South Porcupine.
 * Whitney Arena, Highway 101 East, South Porcupine.
 * Whitney Arena, Highway 101 East, South Porcupine.

Each winter season the City of Timmins maintains outdoor ice rinks for public use. The following is a list of outdoor skating facilities available to the public. Unless specified, these facilities are unsupervised. Call the Timmins Leisure Services hotline at for more information.


 * Whitney
 * Mountjoy Arena
 * Roy Nicholson Park (2 rinks, 1 supervised)
 * Railway Street Porcupine
 * Park Avenue
 * Porcupine Lake Skating Oval
 * Gillies Lake Skating Oval

Community events

 * Summerfest This is a family oriented weekend of fun. It offers a wide variety of activities for all, designed to bring the community together and celebrate summer. Summerfest events are intended to promote pride in our community while getting residents physically active and generally having a great time.
 * Ribfest Usually held at the end of June, the Ribfest is a festival held at Gillies Lake. It is a day of award winning ribs and chicken, prepared by some of the best Ribbers in North America. There are also live performances by local bands, a beverage tent and tons of children's activities!
 * Timmins Multi-Cultural Festival On the first Sunday of June, Timmins holds a multi-cultural festival celebrating its unique cultural diversity. Italian, Croatian, Polish, German, Scottish, Austrian, Finnish, Chinese, Filipino, and Indigenous cultures as well as many others join together to celebrate the diversity of the community.
 * Saint-Jean Baptiste French Canadian celebration every June. Day filled with activities for the whole family. Local and national francophone artists perform.

Buy

 * There is also an area of Riverside west beyond the Timmins Square that has Canadian Tire, Wal-Mart, Michaels, Mark’s Work Warehouse, Dollarama and Home Depot.
 * There is also an area of Riverside west beyond the Timmins Square that has Canadian Tire, Wal-Mart, Michaels, Mark’s Work Warehouse, Dollarama and Home Depot.
 * There is also an area of Riverside west beyond the Timmins Square that has Canadian Tire, Wal-Mart, Michaels, Mark’s Work Warehouse, Dollarama and Home Depot.
 * There is also an area of Riverside west beyond the Timmins Square that has Canadian Tire, Wal-Mart, Michaels, Mark’s Work Warehouse, Dollarama and Home Depot.
 * There is also an area of Riverside west beyond the Timmins Square that has Canadian Tire, Wal-Mart, Michaels, Mark’s Work Warehouse, Dollarama and Home Depot.

Eat
While in Timmins, be sure to dine at some of the fantastic locally-owned restaurants. All restaurants, bars and bingo halls in the city are smoke-free.

Learn

 * Université de Hearst à Timmins, 20 rue Wilcox, +1-800-887-1781. French-language university.
 * College Boréal, 11 rue Elm Nord, +1 705 267-5850. French-language college.
 * Northern College of Applied Arts and Technology, Porcupine Campus, Hwy 101 E, +1 705 235-3211. English-language college.

Stay safe
If you're driving in to the area, be warned that the roads can be snow-covered and icy in the winter and early spring - take to heart everything discussed on the winter driving page. Your best bet is winter tires (chains aren't allowed), however taking a bag of sand or kitty litter in your trunk can help you if you're stuck and spinning your tires. Most locals are happy to help push if you get stuck. In case of a breakdown, make sure that you take along a standard road safety kit with flares, gloves, and a warm blanket.

The forests surrounding the city are home to potentially dangerous wildlife such as black bears, always take caution when traversing the walking trails or when camping. One suggestion is to carry a whistle or arm yourself with bear spray to ensure your safety when enjoying the outdoors, both alone or with a group.

Matheson
Matheson is east of Timmins at the junction of Highways 11 and 101 – if you're approaching Timmins from the east, you're passing through Matheson.



Go next
Timmins can be a good place to make your way to if you're looking to explore non-road access towns in Northern Ontario. Airline carriers such as Air Creebec and Thunder Airlines can take you to regions that you can't drive to, such as Moosonee and Attawapiskat