Moosonee

Moosonee is a town of 1,500 people (2016) in Northern Ontario. Called the "Gateway to the Arctic", it is Ontario's only saltwater port where goods are transferred from trains to aircraft and barges to more northerly communities. Although it is on the same latitude (51° N) as Calgary, Saskatoon, London (UK), and slightly south of Berlin, it is still an isolated community as there is no year-round road access.

Understand

Moosonee waterfront on the Moose River

History

The first European-Canadians to settle at Moosonee were Annie Hardisty and her two daughters in 1900. However, the place was not fully developed until 1903 when a crew of 21 fur traders of Revillon Frères arrived to establish the Moose River Post, which became their most important location. It was quickly expanded with a staff house, carpenter's shop, warehouse, and sawmill. Although this outpost was prosperous, it remained isolated with supply ships only arriving once a year from Montreal and mail only arriving four times a year. Scows that travelled along the Pagwachuan, Kenogami, and Albany Rivers from Pagwa were the only supply lines for Moose River Post until 1932. In that year, the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway was extended to Moose River Post from Cochrane, and the town was renamed Moosonee from the Cree word Moosoneek meaning "at the Moose (River)".

In 1936, Revillon Frères sold its Canadian operations to the Hudson's Bay Company and the Moosonee post closed. The HBC also exited the fur trade and opened a retail store in Moosonee (now Northern Store part of the North West Company). With the end of the fur trade business, Moosonee's economy became centred on transportation.

In 1962, Moosonee became the site of Royal Canadian Air Force Station Moosonee that was part of NORAD's Pinetree Line chain of radar stations. It closed in 1975 and some of its buildings were used by the town after the closure, including the base swimming pool and recreation centre.

In 1968, the town was classified as a Development Area Board. In November 2000, it was incorporated as the Town of Moosonee.

In 1987, the town created the Moosonee salt water port. It is the only salt water port in Ontario

Climate

Moosonee experiences a humid continental climate, generally featuring long cold winters and short warm to hot summers, with James Bay acting as a thermal reservoir to moderate spring and fall temperatures. Freeze-up on the Moose River normally occurs between late November and mid-December, with mean daily minimum January temperatures approximately −27 °C (−17 °F). Spring break-up, or spring thaw, usually occurs in April. Mean annual precipitation is approximately 682 millimetres (26.9 in), and mean annual snowfall is approximately 213 centimetres (83.9 in). Severe thunderstorms can occur from time to time.

Get in

By plane

Moosonee Airport

• 1 Moosonee Airport (YMO  ^IATA). Air Creebec provides scheduled air service to Moosonee airport from Attawapiskat, Fort Albany, Kashechewan, Peawanuck, Timmins (55 minutes), and Waskaganish. It also provides general aviation and air charter services for propeller and turboprop aircraft. (updated Apr 2022)

• Seaplanes arrive and depart from the Moosonee Water Aerodrome.

By train

• 2 Moosonee station, Gardiner Rd. M-F 10AM-5:45PM, Sa (July-August only) 1:15PM-5PM. (updated Feb 2021)
  • Ontario Northland Railway, ☏ +1 705-336-2210, toll-free: +1-800-265-2356. The Polar Bear Express trains operates several days per week between Cochrane and Moosonee including stops in Clute, Fraserdale, Coral Rapids, Moose River, and any point on the line to pick up/drop off hikers, campers, canoeists, fishermen, outdoor adventurers, and locals. Travel time to Moosonee from Cochrane is 5 hours. This is the main method of access to Moosonee. This is one of the few "flag stop" trains in operation in Canada. Operates five days a week year round. During the summer months, there is an additional train on Sundays. No train service on Saturdays or on Sundays during the rest of the year. There is a special canoe car that can hold up to 18 canoes. Canoeists are responsible for unloading and loading their own canoes. No reservations are required. Cost an additional $54 plus GST to train fare. Snack car service and a special family car are available year round. Summer trains also feature: full dining car service, a dome car, and an entertainment car with live music. Wi-fi available at Moosonee station. (updated Feb 2021)

By car

The only road access to Moosonee is by winter ice roads.

• The Wetum Road links Moosonee and Moose Factory to an all-season forestry road near Otter Rapids, which connects to the provincial highway network via Highway 634 near Abitibi Canyon.
• The James Bay Winter Road travels northwest along the coast of James Bay, linking Moosonee to Fort Albany, Kashechewan and Attawapiskat. It is mostly used by trucks for mining operations.

Get around

• Northway Taxi, 705-336-3000
• Mahekun Taxi, 705-336-6700
• DC Cab, 705-336-3333

See

Notable attractions in Moosonee include:

• 1 Railway Car Museum (On First St). Open Jul-Aug. It displays the cultural history of the area in an old baggage car of the Temiskaming & Northern Ontario Railway. 
• MNR Interpretive Centre. It displays and videos at the office of the Ministry of Natural Resources highlighting the wildlife, geological, and geographical features of the region. 

Do

• Annual Pow-wow (February). 
• Local hockey tournaments. 
• Excursions to the bird sanctuaries of Shipsands Island and the Southern James Bay. 

Buy

• Northern Stores, 20 First St, ☏ +1 705-336-2280. M-F 10:00AM-6PM Sa-Su 12:00PM-5:00PM. Food and general merchandise. (updated Apr 2024)
• Necessities, 136 Ferguson Rd, Moosonee, ☏ +1 705-336-2131. M-Fri 7:30AM-10PM, Sat 10AM-10PM Sun 10AM-11PM. Corner store. (updated Apr 2024)

Eat

• 1 Sky Ranch Restaurant, 6 First St, ☏ +1 705-336-3729. M-F 8AM-8PM, Sa 9AM-7PM, Su 10AM-7PM. Diner (burger, fries, sandwiches, BBQ ribs). (updated Dec 2018)
• Quickstop Restaurant, 20 1st St (At the Northern Store), ☏ +1 705-336-3144. KFC and Pizza Hut take-out. (updated Aug 2022)
• 2 Karma’s Munchies & more, 8 Veterians Rd, Moose Factory, ☏ +1 705-658-2064. 6PM-midnight daily. Submarine sandwich. (updated Aug 2022)

Sleep

• Tamarack Suites and Lodging, 21 Wabun Road, ☏ +1 705-336-2496. 
• Moose River Guesthouse, 51 Gardiner Road, ☏ +1 705-336-1555, fax: +1 705-336-6450, info@mooseriverguesthouse.com. $105-145. 
• 1 Cree Village Ecolodge, Moose Factory, ☏ +1 705-658-6400, fax: +1 705-658-6401, frontdesk@creevillage.com. Steeped in Cree culture and history, the accommodation features a modern rooms and facilities, all made of natural products and named after animals of the sub Arctic region. The on-site restaurant is modelled after a traditional Cree dwelling, the Shabatwon, meaning long teepee with doors at each end. 
• 2 The Wynne Guesthouse, 66 Ferguson Rd, ☏ +1 705-207-7519, thewynneguesthouse@gmail.com. Bed and breakfast. (updated Aug 2022)
• 3 Suite Riverview, 4 Veterans Rd, ☏ +1 705-336-8439. Suite and long term rental. (updated Aug 2022)
• Super 8 By Wyndham Moosonee, 21 First St. (updated Dec 2022)

Connect

Cellular service is available in Moosonee and Moose Factory. Wi-fi is available at the railway station.

Nearby

Moose Factory

Accessible by water taxi in the summer ($15 one-way) and by ice road in the winter (usually December to March; taxi $10 one-way). During the spring ice break-up and fall freeze in the river, accessible only by helicopter ($40 one-way).

• 2 Cree Cultural Interpretive Center, 49 Pehdabun Rd, ☏ +1 705-658-4619. June-August: Su-F 9AM-5PM; Sept-May: on request. 
• 1 Tidewater Provincial Park, ☏ +1 705-336-2987. On four islands between Moosonee and Moose Factory in the Moose River Estuary. There are 20 sites on the island campground.  

Go next

With limited options for onwards travel, you'll probably need to go back the way you came.

• Cochrane — the southern terminus of the Ontario Northland Railway's Polar Bear Express.
• Timmins — the nearest city; served by scheduled flights.