Longlac
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Longlac is a small town of a couple of thousand people in Northern Ontario. It is one of two places in Ontario located on both the Trans-Canada Highway and The Canadian rail line (the other being Greater Sudbury).
Understand
It is part of the amalgamated Municipality of Greenstone, which covers about 3200 km², stretching along Highway 11 185 km from end to end. Greenstone, which was formed in 2001 by the amalgamation of a group of remote mining and forestry communities on the Canadian Shield. Greenstone (population about 4600 in 2016) includes the communities of Beardmore, Caramat, Geraldton, Jellicoe, Longlac, Macdiarmid, Nakina and Orient Bay.
- Longlac Tourist Information Centre, Highway 11 (it’s the first building on your left when travelling west from Cochrane or Kapuskasing). Mid-May to early Sep: daily 9AM-5PM. Tourist information, picnic tables, washrooms, free Wi-Fi, two tug boats, a horse-pulling log and a skate park.
History
The region’s recorded history began with the fur trade in the 18th century. The Geological Survey of Canada noted gold in quartz fragments around Little Long Lac in 1917. In 1921 the Hudson’s Bay Co. post moved across the lake to the railway at Calong, near the centre of today’s town. By 1934, a gold rush absorbed the area from Long Lac to Nipigon, a belt 100 km long and 40 km wide. The village of Longlac was established soon after.
The arrival of Pulpwood Supply Co. in 1937 gave a major impetus to the economy. The company floated pulpwood through lakes and rivers south to Lake Superior. In 1942, the highway arrived from Geraldton.
The Little Long Lac Mine produced over 600,000 ounces of gold from 1934 to 1953.
Climate
Greenstone experiences a humid continental climate, with long, brutally cold winters and warm summers.
Get in
By car
- From Thunder Bay, it's 305 km. Go east on Highway 17 to Nipigon, and north on Highway 11.
- From North Bay, it's 800 km north and west on Highway 11.
By train
- 1 Longlac railway station. Via Rail's The Canadian has a scheduled stop in Longlac.
By plane
Geraldton (Greenstone Regional) Airport (YGQ IATA) is 50 km away, 9 km north of Geraldton. It serves private aircraft only.
The nearest airport with scheduled service is Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT IATA).
Get around
- Cruzer's Cab Company, 108 Queen, ☏ +1 807 876-1680. Taxi service.
See
- 1 Voyageur Statue, 112-114 York St. An historical monument facing the highway.
Do
The waterfront development offers facilities for boaters, swimmers, picnickers, and campers. There are tennis courts, baseball diamonds, a skate park, and playgrounds.
Annual events include a popular trade show, the Summerfest festival in July, and the Moosecalac winter carnival in February.
Buy
Eat and drink
- 1 Chez Kikine Family Restaurant, 122 Queen St (corner of Queen Street and Forestry Road), ☏ +1 807 876-4545. Tu-F 8AM-9PM, Sa 9AM-9PM, Su 9AM-2PM.
- 2 Longlac Pizzeria and Mario's Bar, 113 Forestry Rd, ☏ +1 807 876-2664. M-Sa 8AM-midnight, Su 9AM-11PM.
- Grill26, 118 Dieppe Road, ☏ +1 807 876-2636. Tu-Th Su 11AM-7PM, F Sa 11AM-8PM.
Sleep
- 1 Four Winds Motel, 100 Keewatin Avenue, ☏ +1 807 876-4474, info@fourwindsmotel.ca. Free continental breakfast.
- 2 Longlac Lodge & Cabins, 110 Lake St, ☏ +1 807-854-8652, info@longlaclodge.ca. Daytime +1 807 854-8652, evening +1 807 876-2452
- 3 Ran-Dan Motel, 118 Dieppe Rd, ☏ +1 807 876-2247.
- L'oree des Bois Motel, 150 Queen Street, Longlac. Cable, wireless internet, fridge, microwave, heat control and drive up to your room access. From $100.
- Sky-View Trailer Park, Hwy # 11, ☏ +1 807 876-2755. Campground, trailers, RV & tent campsites.
Connect
Go next
The next gas station eastbound on Highway 11 is in Hearst, 208 km away. Fill your tank before leaving town.
| Routes through Longlac |
| Thunder Bay ← Geraldton ← | W   E |
→ Jct  S → Hearst → North Bay |
| Winnipeg ← Wabakimi Provincial Park ← | W  E |
→ Hornepayne → Toronto |
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