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Moosonee Index The Moosonee photo page was getting very long and slow so it has been split up by year. Pictures contributed by Richard L. Provencher 1967-72
Moosonee, Ontario, CanadaMoosonee is a small town located on the shore of the Moose River a few miles from the south end of James Bay which is the southern portion of Hudson Bay in northern Canada. It best known as the northern terminus of the Polar Bear Express train from Cochrane. The Polar Bear Express is a summer only train that runs six days per week. There is also a year round mixed train that operates three times a week. The trains are operated by the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission which also provides telephone and internet service to Moosonee and Moose Factory. Moosonee is at latitude 51 North - not very far north, not even far north in Ontario but it seems remote to many people as it is beyond the end of the road network. While it is possible to drive a bit further north (as far as Otter Rapids), for most people there is no road travel north of Cochrane. You can come here on the train or fly (Air Creebec) from Timmins. From Moosonee you can fly further north to Fort Albany, Kashechewan, Attawapiskat and Peawanuck in Ontario and Waskaganish (formerly Rupert's House) in Quebec. Goods brought to Moosonee by train can be shipped north by Moosonee Transport's barges to more remote communities in Ontario, Quebec and Nunavut. Moosonee is across the Moose River from Moose Factory Island. Each community has a population of about 2,000 people. The original 2001 Canadian census figures for Moosonee showed its population as having been cut in half -- the incorrect figures were due to incomplete enumeration and revisions have been posted. Transportation across the river is by boat (water taxis charge $8-10.00 per person each way), regular taxi (when the river is frozen) and helicopter (when the river is breaking up or freezing over). Because Moosonee is close to James Bay, the Moose River is a tidal the tides are not as dramatic as found in places such as the Bay of Fundy, they do result in an everchanging river that can be difficult to navigate. Moosonee was the location of a military base that was part of the Pinetree Air Defence Line. Part of town is still called "the base", more than a quarter century after the facility closed down and many former military buildings are still in use. Moose Factory Island was the site of the first English settlement in what is now the Province of Ontario. Today it continues to be the home of the Moose Cree First Nation and the site of the main medical facility in the area, Weeneebayko General Hospital. Additional pictures of Moosonee can be found on the Moosonee Buildings as well as pages dealing with river breakups in 2004, 2005 and 2006. |