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Sioux Lookout
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| Sioux Lookout | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
 | |
| Motto: Hub of the North | |
  Sioux Lookout | |
Coordinates:  50°06′N 91°55′WCoordinates: 50°06′N 91°55′W | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Ontario |
| District | Kenora |
| Incorporation | 1912 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Dennis Leney |
| • Council | List of councilors[show] |
| • MP | Greg Rickford |
| • MPPs | Howard Hampton |
| Area[1] | |
| • Land | 378.61 km2 (146.18 sq mi) |
| Elevation[2] | 383.10 m (1,256.89 ft) |
| Population (2006)[1] | |
| • Total | 5,183 |
| • Density | 13.7/km2 (35/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CST (UTC−6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC−5) |
| Postal code FSA | P8T |
| Area code(s) | 807 |
| Website | www.siouxlookout.ca |
There are a number of fishing camps in the area that allow access to an extensive lake system fed by the English River. The town is surrounded by several beaches including Umphreville Park, a historical site that predates the town itself. During the summer months, Sioux Lookout's population rises as tourists, most of which are American, arrive to take advantage of the multitude of lakes and rivers in the area. Experienced guides, employed by the camps, can locate the best locations and also provide an educated tour of the unique land known affectionately as "sunset country".
| Contents [show] |
[edit] Communities
In addition to the town of Sioux Lookout itself, the municipal boundaries[3] include the community of Hudson[4] and the railway point Pelican,[5] located west on the Canadian National Railway (CNR) transcontinental main line;[6] the railway point Superior Junction located on the CNR transcontinental main line to the east;[7] and the railway point Alcona, located on a CNR branch line to the south east and south of Superior Junction.[8]
[edit] History
Sioux Lookout's name comes from a local mountain and First Nations story. This mountain, known as Sioux Mountain, was used in the late 18th century by Ojibway Indians to watch for any oncoming Sioux warriors looking to ambush their camp. A careful eye could see the sun shining off the birch of enemy canoes crossing nearby rapids. Women and children could be led away safely while the warriors could intercept the Sioux on the water. Illustrating this old story on the front page of the local newspaper, The Sioux Lookout Bulletin, is an iconic image of a First Nations man, holding a hand above his eyes to scan the waters.
Present-day Sioux Lookout was incorporated in 1912 and was then a terminal point on the National Transcontinental Railway. For many years, Sioux Lookout was simply a railway town. When gold was discovered in Red Lake, Sioux Lookout became one of the leading aviation centers in Canada during the twenties and thirties. During the Cold War, Sioux Lookout operated a radar base to monitor any activity from Russia. Now, the Canadian National Railway is a significant employer, but it is no longer the base of the municipality’s economy. Instead, the forest industry is the crux of Sioux Lookout employment. Its inherent instability is partly offset by the stability of the service sector. As a result, Sioux Lookout barely felt the effects of the recession in the early 1980s. Urban Sioux Lookout fronts on Pelican Lake, and the municipality undertook a lakefront improvement program to beautify this area. There are now more parks, paths, and other recreational facilities along the lakefront. Numerous other lakes are easily accessible by car or boat from Sioux Lookout. Tourism makes a significant contribution to the local economy, however, there is far more capacity for development and its potential is starting to be recognized.
[edit] Geography and climate
The boundaries of Sioux Lookout were significantly expanded on January 1, 1998 to include a number of unorganized geographic townships surrounding the town itself.
[edit] Topography
[edit] Climate
Sioux Lookout has a continental climate with long cold winters and short warm summers. The average mean temperature in January is -18°C, and in July, near to 20°C. The temperature fluctuates wildly throughout the winter, occasionally as low as -40°C (the record being -46°C). Sioux Lookout's record high temperature was 37.8°C.
| [hide]Climate data for Sioux Lookout Airport | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Humidex | 5.6 | 9.1 | 17.2 | 29.8 | 37.1 | 44.1 | 43.7 | 42.3 | 38.1 | 28.2 | 18.3 | 8.6 | 44.1 |
| Record high °C (°F) | 6.7 (44.1) | 9.3 (48.7) | 18.3 (64.9) | 30.6 (87.1) | 33.9 (93.0) | 37.8 (100.0) | 36.1 (97.0) | 35.6 (96.1) | 35 (95) | 26.7 (80.1) | 18.9 (66.0) | 8.9 (48.0) | 37.8 (100.0) |
| Average high °C (°F) | −13.1 (8.4) | −8.3 (17.1) | −0.8 (30.6) | 8.4 (47.1) | 17 (63) | 21.5 (70.7) | 24.1 (75.4) | 22.6 (72.7) | 15.7 (60.3) | 8.2 (46.8) | −2 (28) | −10.3 (13.5) | 6.9 (44.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −18.6 (−1.5) | −14.3 (6.3) | −7 (19) | 2.2 (36.0) | 10.5 (50.9) | 15.7 (60.3) | 18.6 (65.5) | 17.2 (63.0) | 10.9 (51.6) | 4.2 (39.6) | −5.6 (21.9) | −15 (5) | 1.6 (34.9) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −24.1 (−11.4) | −20.2 (−4.4) | −13.3 (8.1) | −4 (25) | 4.1 (39.4) | 9.9 (49.8) | 13 (55) | 11.7 (53.1) | 6.1 (43.0) | 0.2 (32.4) | −9.2 (15.4) | −19.7 (−3.5) | −3.8 (25.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −45 (−49) | −46.1 (−51.0) | −37.8 (−36.0) | −30 (−22) | −15.6 (3.9) | −2.8 (27.0) | 1.1 (34.0) | 0 (32) | −6.1 (21.0) | −16.1 (3.0) | −35.4 (−31.7) | −41.1 (−42.0) | −46.1 (−51.0) |
| Wind chill | −56.9 | −53.8 | −45.2 | −39.9 | −21.6 | −5 | −0.4 | −1.3 | −13.7 | −21 | −46.1 | −50.7 | −56.9 |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 33.1 (1.303) | 25.6 (1.008) | 34.4 (1.354) | 40.9 (1.61) | 64.4 (2.535) | 97.3 (3.831) | 85.3 (3.358) | 88.5 (3.484) | 95.3 (3.752) | 64.8 (2.551) | 53.8 (2.118) | 32.5 (1.28) | 716.1 (28.193) |
| Rainfall mm (inches) | 0.5 (0.02) | 0.9 (0.035) | 6.5 (0.256) | 23.2 (0.913) | 59.7 (2.35) | 97.2 (3.827) | 85.3 (3.358) | 88.5 (3.484) | 93.7 (3.689) | 46.9 (1.846) | 14.1 (0.555) | 0.8 (0.031) | 517.2 (20.362) |
| Snowfall cm (inches) | 34.1 (13.43) | 25.3 (9.96) | 28.3 (11.14) | 17.8 (7.01) | 4.8 (1.89) | 0.2 (0.08) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2.2 (0.87) | 17.7 (6.97) | 40.8 (16.06) | 32.8 (12.91) | 204 (80.3) |
| Source: Environment Canada[2] | |||||||||||||
Government
Sioux Lookout elects one mayor, four "councillors-at-large", one councillor for Ward 1 (Hudson), and one councillor for Ward 2 (Sioux Lookout). Mayor Dennis Leney leads a council of Herb Zettel, Don Fenelon, John Bath, Doug Squires, Joyce Timpson, and Cal Southall.
The town is represented in the Canadian House of Commons by Conservative MP Greg Rickford in the electoral district of Kenora, and in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by NDP MPP Howard Hampton in the electoral district of Kenora—Rainy River.
[edit] Economy
The main industries of Sioux Lookout are:
- Services, (68%)
- Forestry, (14%)
- Transportation, (12%)
- Tourism (4%)k
[edit] Education
Schools located in the Sioux Lookout area include Queen Elizabeth District High School, Sioux Mountain Public School, Sacred Heart Elementary School, Cornerstone Christian Academy, and Pelican Falls First Nations High School. Hudson Public School closed in 2010.
[edit] Culture
A sign at Centennial Park in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, Canada with Ojibwe syllabics Sioux Lookout's own annual Blueberry Festival has been held the first week of August since 1982. The year 2007 marked the 25th anniversarry of the festival, which celebrates the town and its surrounding environment. The most popular events include the Sioux Mountain Festival, the Bocce Tournament, and a charitable social which incorporates an annual theme. Eco-Tourism is growing rapidly with outfitter's such as Goldwater Expeditions providing Kayaks, Skiing/Snowshoe Rentals, Ecology based Adventures, Cultural Education and Ecological Interpretation.[edit] Sites of interest
- Sioux Mountain
- Cedar Bay Recreational Facilities
- Ojibway Park
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