The flamboyantly-named South River is a town of about 1100 people just 45 minutes south of North Bay.

South River was founded in the 1860s when Fraser Lumber started logging nearby Algonquin Provincial Park.  Hotels sprouted up in 1881, hydroelectricity twenty years later, and in 1907 the town was officially formed. South River may be the birthplace of the black fly suit, a mesh covering developed by a local to protect you during Black Fly season.

South River history has some interesting aspects.  South River was home to the Standard Chemical Company, which made wood alcohol and other forest-derived products.  In 1934, Italian and Finnish workers led a massive strike.  German prisoners of war were held in South River in the 1940s, with the more radical ones sent further up Highway 11 to Monteith.  South River also sold the Shaw locomotive to Abitibi Consolidated for use further north.  The Shaw now sits in Iroquois Falls.

South River is important due to its entrance to Algonquin Provincial Park, one of Ontario’s most visited attractions.  South River is the second busiest park access after Highway 60 east of Huntsville.  There are camping, hiking, canoeing, and fishing opportunities in South River due to its proximity to Algonquin and Mikisew Provincial Parks.

For those not fond of Mother Nature there is an annual arts festival and the South River Blackfly Hunt that tries to put a super spin on a super pest.  There is a local farmer’s market in the summer and some small art studios with pottery and glassware.  There is also an arena with year-round ice, a curling club, tennis courts, a baseball field, library, daycare, Legion, and tow retirement complexes.  And a beer store and an LCBO.

South River is home to the Hockey Opportunity Camp, Swift Canoes and Kayaks, the Bear Chair Company, and Mr. Meat, which is supposedly a pretty good grocery store that sells a variety of high quality, ultra-fresh meats.

(More info and photos to come when I travel there next.)

Links: South River Town Website The Bear Chair Co. Blackfly Hunt Festival Hockey Opportunity Camp Photo of the South River ONR Station

Trout Creek - - SOUTH RIVER - Sundridge   Back to map

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