Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope is a municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, approximately 109 km (68 mi) east of Toronto and about 159 km (99 mi) west of Kingston. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County. Since 1868, the municipality has been the location of Trinity College School.
Port Hope | |
|---|---|
| Municipality of Port Hope | |
 Town hall | |
  Port Hope  Port Hope | |
| Coordinates: 43°57′N 78°18′W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| County | Northumberland |
| Formed | 1789 |
| Named for | Henry Hope |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality |
| • Mayor | Bob Sanderson |
| • Federal riding | Northumberland—Peterborough South |
| • Prov. riding | Northumberland—Peterborough South |
| Area | |
| • Land | 278.87 km2 (107.67 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 12.67 km2 (4.89 sq mi) |
| Population (2016)[1] | |
| • Municipality (lower-tier) | 16,753 |
| • Density | 60.1/km2 (156/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 12,587 |
| • Urban density | 993.6/km2 (2,573/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| Forward Sortation Area | L1A |
| Area codes | 905, 289 and 365 |
| Website | www.porthope.ca |
Communities
Besides the town proper of Port Hope, the municipality of Port Hope comprises a number of villages and hamlets, including Campbellcroft, Canton, Dale, Davidson's Corners (partially), Decker Hollow (ghost town), Elizabethville, Garden Hill, Knoxville, Morrish, Osaca, Perrytown, Port Britain, Rossmount (partially), Tinkerville, Thomstown, Welcome, Wesleyville, and Zion.
History
Cayuga people, part of the Iroquois Confederacy, had migrated to the current Port Hope location from New York in 1779, after experiencing extensive damage as British allies at their homeland in New York state during the American Revolution.
In 1793, United Empire Loyalists became the first permanent settlers of European heritage in Port Hope, which they called Smith's Creek after a former fur trader. Mills and a town plot were developing by the turn of the century. After the War of 1812, more British settlers were wanted, and a better name was required. After a brief fling with the name Toronto, the village was renamed in 1817 as Port Hope, after the Township of Hope of which it was a part, which in turn had been named for Colonel Henry Hope, lieutenant governor of the Province of Quebec.[2] The post office dates from 1820.[3] In 1834 Port Hope was incorporated as a town.
Relatively slow growth from 1881 to 1951 resulted in much of the town's original architecture not being demolished in the name of progress. Port Hope's downtown is celebrated now as the best-preserved 19th-century streetscape in Ontario. The town's local chapter of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario and the Heritage Port Hope Advisory Committee are very active and advise on the restoration and preservation of architecturally or historically significant buildings. With over 270 heritage-designated buildings throughout the municipality, Port Hope has a higher per capita rate of preservation than any other town or city in Canada. Downtown businesses are regulated by the municipality to maintain the town's unique character.
On January 1, 2001, the original town amalgamated with Hope Township to form the Municipality of Port Hope and Hope, which was renamed to its current name in November of that same year. Prior to amalgamation, the town's census population was listed as 11,718 while the township's was 3,877.
The 2017 horror movie It and its 2019 sequel It Chapter Two[4] were filmed in Port Hope, which portrayed the fictitious town of Derry, Maine.
Economy
| Company | Employees |
|---|---|
| CPK Interior Products | 403 |
| Cameco Corporation | 390 |
| ESCO | 157 |
| Cameco Fuel Services | 140 |
| Akzo Nobel | 78 |
| Standard Auto Wreckers | 60 |
| Disk Tooling | 40 |
| Curtis Chicks | 32 |
| Unitrak | 21 |
| Port Hope Patterns | 12 |
Downtown Port Hope offers shopping and a historic main street. Port Hope is served by a Via Rail station. It has a medical centre, a walk-in clinic, and a community health centre. It has had its own daily newspaper since 1878, the Port Hope Evening Guide, which was, until 2007, a part of the Osprey Media chain and subsequently a part of the Sun Media organization; in 2009 the newspaper was amalgamated with the Cobourg Daily Star and renamed Northumberland Today.com. In November 2017 the newspaper was included in the large scale closing of many local community newspapers throughout the province of Ontario.[6] Port Hope's Economic Development Strategic Plan aims to increase job growth at least as fast as population growth. The town has a variety of industries.
Radiation and cleanup
Port Hope is known for having the largest volume of historic low-level radioactive wastes in Canada.[7] These wastes were initially created by Eldorado Mining and Refining Limited and its private sector predecessors, resulting from the refining radium from pitchblende. Radium was used in radioluminescent paint (such as aircraft dials), and in early treatments for cancer.[8] The Eldorado plant later produced exponentially more uranium oxides, which were used in the Manhattan Project that created the first nuclear weapons.[9] It continues to produce uranium fuel for nuclear power plants, now under the ownership of Cameco.
In 2002, a large amount of contaminated soil was removed from beachfront areas.[10] More recently, a testing program began of over 5,000 properties, with a plan to remove and store contaminated soil used as landfill. Over a billion dollars is expected to be spent on the soil remediation project, the largest such cleanup in Canadian history.[11] The effort is projected to be complete in 2022.[12]
Ganaraska River
The Ganaraska River (affectionately known as "The Ganny"), is well known to area anglers for annual salmon and trout runs. It has caused many historic floods, the most recent having been on March 21-22, 1980. Every April since, Port Hope has commemorated the flood with "Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny" ten kilometre river race.[13][14][15] "Participants range from serious paddlers navigating the cold, fast moving water in kayaks and canoes, to the very entertaining 'crazy craft' paddlers, floating any combination of materials down the river in an attempt to reach the finish line."[16]
Transportation
Highway 401 runs through the north end of Port Hope, with exits at County Road 2/Toronto Road (461) and Highway 28/Ontario Street (464).
Port Hope Transit provides local bus service, and VIA Rail provides passenger service from the Port Hope railway station along the Toronto-Montreal corridor. The station was built in 1856 for the Grand Trunk Railway and later CN Rail. It was restored in 1985.
Pleasure boats dock at the foot of John Street at Hayward Street and share the facilities with Cameco, which has berths for freighters servicing their manufacturing facilities at the mouth of the Ganaraska River.
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1841 | 1,200 | — |
| 1851 | 2,476 | +106.3% |
| 1871 | 5,114 | +106.5% |
| 1881 | 5,581 | +9.1% |
| 1891 | 5,042 | −9.7% |
| 1901 | 4,188 | −16.9% |
| 1911 | 5,092 | +21.6% |
| 1921 | 4,456 | −12.5% |
| 1931 | 4,723 | +6.0% |
| 1941 | 5,006 | +6.0% |
| 1951 | 6,548 | +30.8% |
| 1961 | 8,091 | +23.6% |
| 1971 | 8,872 | +9.7% |
| 1981 | 9,992 | +12.6% |
| 1991 | 11,505 | +15.1% |
| 2001 | 15,605 | +35.6% |
| 2006 | 16,390 | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 16,214 | −1.1% |
| 2016 | 16,753 | +3.3% |
| [17][1] | ||
| Canada census – Port Hope, Ontario community profile | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2011 | 2006 | |
| Population: | 16,753 (+3.3% from 2011) | 16,214 (−1.1% from 2006) | 16,390 (+5.0% from 2001) |
| Land area: | 278.87 km2 (107.67 sq mi) | 279.03 km2 (107.73 sq mi) | 278.97 km2 (107.71 sq mi) |
| Population density: | 60.1/km2 (156/sq mi) | 58.1/km2 (150/sq mi) | 58.8/km2 (152/sq mi) |
| Median age: | 50.6 (M: 48.8, F: 51.9) | 43.6 (M: 42.4, F: 44.6) | |
| Total private dwellings: | 7,305 | 6,870 | 6,560 |
| Median household income: | $72,435 | $60,382 | |
| References: 2016[18] 2011[19] 2006[20] earlier[21] | |||
Mother tongue spoken:[20]
- English as first language: 94.7%
- French as first language: 1.0%
- English and French as first language: 0%
- Other as first language: 4.3%
Climate
| Climate data for Port Hope, Ontario (1971–2000) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.2 (63.0) |
11.7 (53.1) |
19.0 (66.2) |
25.6 (78.1) |
30.5 (86.9) |
34.4 (93.9) |
37.2 (99.0) |
37.8 (100.0) |
37.8 (100.0) |
26.7 (80.1) |
20.6 (69.1) |
18.3 (64.9) |
37.8 (100.0) |
| Average high °C (°F) | −1.8 (28.8) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
3.4 (38.1) |
9.8 (49.6) |
15.9 (60.6) |
20.9 (69.6) |
24.6 (76.3) |
24.1 (75.4) |
19.7 (67.5) |
12.9 (55.2) |
6.7 (44.1) |
1.1 (34.0) |
11.4 (52.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −5.8 (21.6) |
−4.8 (23.4) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
5.9 (42.6) |
11.7 (53.1) |
16.3 (61.3) |
20.0 (68.0) |
19.9 (67.8) |
15.5 (59.9) |
9.2 (48.6) |
3.6 (38.5) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
7.4 (45.3) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −9.7 (14.5) |
−8.6 (16.5) |
−4.2 (24.4) |
1.9 (35.4) |
7.4 (45.3) |
11.8 (53.2) |
15.3 (59.5) |
15.5 (59.9) |
11.3 (52.3) |
5.4 (41.7) |
0.4 (32.7) |
−6.2 (20.8) |
3.4 (38.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −32.2 (−26.0) |
−30.0 (−22.0) |
−22.8 (−9.0) |
−13.9 (7.0) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
2.2 (36.0) |
3.3 (37.9) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
−16.7 (1.9) |
−27.2 (−17.0) |
−29.0 (−20.2) |
−32.2 (−26.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 59.0 (2.32) |
55.8 (2.20) |
76.6 (3.02) |
69.5 (2.74) |
65.0 (2.56) |
72.1 (2.84) |
53.3 (2.10) |
75.9 (2.99) |
80.7 (3.18) |
68.7 (2.70) |
75.0 (2.95) |
80.5 (3.17) |
832.0 (32.76) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 21.0 (0.83) |
28.6 (1.13) |
58.6 (2.31) |
67.6 (2.66) |
65.0 (2.56) |
72.1 (2.84) |
53.3 (2.10) |
75.9 (2.99) |
80.7 (3.18) |
68.7 (2.70) |
70.3 (2.77) |
48.0 (1.89) |
709.8 (27.94) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 38.0 (15.0) |
27.2 (10.7) |
17.9 (7.0) |
1.9 (0.7) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
4.7 (1.9) |
32.5 (12.8) |
122.3 (48.1) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 11.8 | 9.6 | 10.1 | 10.6 | 10.6 | 10.3 | 7.7 | 10.1 | 11.0 | 12.1 | 11.7 | 12.5 | 128.1 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 3.4 | 3.4 | 7.0 | 10.2 | 10.6 | 10.3 | 7.7 | 10.1 | 11.0 | 12.1 | 10.8 | 6.0 | 102.6 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 8.7 | 6.6 | 3.6 | 0.59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.1 | 7.0 | 27.6 |
| Source: Environment Canada[22] | |||||||||||||
Attractions
The Capitol Theatre is Canada's last functioning atmospheric theatre.[23] The theatre's main auditorium is styled after an outdoor medieval courtyard where rolling clouds are projected onto the ceiling. The town spent in excess of three million dollars renovating and upgrading the theatre in 2004–2005.
The Municipality of Port Hope is home to many heritage and cultural attractions, and events, including:
- Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny—a water race commemorating the flood of the Ganaraska River in 1980[24]
- Ganaraska Forest Centre
- Canadian Firefighters Museum[25]
- Port Hope Yacht Club
- Port Hope Festival Theatre at the Capitol Theatre
- La Jeunesse Youth Orchestra [26] (3 concerts per year)
- Port Hope and District Agricultural Fall Fair
- The All Canadian Jazz Festival
- Port Hope Farmers' Market (May to October)[27]
- Port Hope Christmas and Santa Claus Parade (includes Festival of Trees, Candlelight Walk to Memorial Park, and Carol Singing)
- Port Hope Drive-In (Built in 1952, it is among the oldest Canadian drive-ins still operating)
- Architectural Conservancy of Ontario Annual House Tour, Garden Tour, and Antiques and Artifacts Auction
- Port Hope and District Historical Society Dorothy's House Museum
- Port Hope Archives[28]
- Friends of Wesleyville Village
- Beaches:
West Beach (parking at the end of Marsh Street)
East Beach (parking at the bottom of King Street at Madison Street) - Port Hope Waterfront Trail[29]
- Port Hope Golf and Country Club[30]
Education
- St. Anthony's Elementary School, Catholic JK–8
- Ganaraska Trail Public School, Public JK–6
- North Hope Central School, Public JK–6
- Beatrice Strong Public School, Public JK–6
- Dr M. S. Hawkins Senior Public School, Public Gr 7–8 (same building as Port Hope High School)
- Port Hope High School c. 1871, Public Gr 9-12 - opened in 1853 as Port Hope Grammar School[31]
- Port Hope High School Student to Work Transition Program (SWOT Campus), Public Grade 9–12
- Trinity College School, Private Gr 5–12
- Discovery Academy, International campus (not active)
Notable people
- David Blackwood, artist.[32]
- Lew Cirne, pioneer of Application Performance Management, founder of Wily Technology and New Relic.
- Sue Gardner, executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation.[33]
- J.J. Hagerman, Colorado railroad and mining magnate who went on to become one of founders of New Mexico.
- William Leonard Hunt ("The Great Farini"), entertainer.
- Archibald Cameron Macdonell, commander of the 1st Canadian Division during the First World War.
- Charles Vincent Massey, first Canadian-born Governor General of Canada.
- Claire Mowat, writer.
- Farley Mowat, conservationist and writer.
- Dennis O'Brien, NHL hockey player.
- Shane O'Brien, NHL hockey player.
- Cal Quantrill, Major League Baseball player.
- Paul Quantrill, Major League Baseball player.
- Jim Roberts, NHL hockey player.[34]
- Wade Rowland, writer and journalist.
- Joseph M. Scriven, author of the hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".
- William Sims, U.S. Naval Admiral, awarded 1921 Pulitzer Prize for History.
- Ron Smith, NHL hockey player.
- Ambrose Thomas Stanton, Chief Medical Officer for the British colonies. Born in Kendal and attended Port Hope High School.[35]
- Paul Terbenche, NHL hockey player.[36]
- Arthur Trefusis Heneage Williams, politician.
- Major-General Arthur Victor Seymour Williams.
References
- "Census Profile, 2016 Census Port Hope, Municipality [Census subdivision], Ontario and Port Hope [Population centre]". Statistics Canada. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- "Ontario Heritage Trust - Bringing our story to life". Archived from the original on 16 March 2012.
- Hamilton, William (1978). The Macmillan Book of Canadian Place Names. Toronto: Macmillan. p. 167. ISBN 0-7715-9754-1.
- Campbell, Morganne (2019-09-05). "Small-town Ontario community featured in 'It: Chapter Two'". Global News. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- "Port Hope Community Profile". Municipality of Port Hope. 2015. Archived from the original on 2017-01-18.
- "Saying Goodbye to Northumberland Today". JSource. Canadian Journalism Project. November 30, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- http://nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/waste/historic-nuclear-waste/index.cfm
- "Port Hope Area Initiative". Retrieved January 13, 2009.
- http://www.ccnr.org/uranium_in_bombs.html
- "Ontario town seeks federal inquiry into radiation pollution" Archived 2017-01-12 at the Wayback Machine, The Voice, Volume 15, Issue 43, November 16, 2007. Mandy Gardner
- http://nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/waste/historic-nuclear-waste/index.cfm
- Carola Vyhnak (November 9, 2010). "Port Hope properties tested for radiation". Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- "Visit Port Hope: Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny". Municipality of Port Hope. 2017. Archived from the original on 28 July 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
- Fisher, Pete (April 8, 2017). "Paddlers get creative for Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny in Port Hope, Ont". Toronto Sun/Northumberland Today. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
- "Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny". Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny. 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
- "Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny - Crazy Crafts". Passport2017. 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
- "Port Hope census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
- "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 21, 2017. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
- "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
- "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
- "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.
- "Port Hope, Ontario". Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000. Environment Canada. Archived from the original on August 19, 2019. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
- "History of the Capitol Theatre". www.capitoltheatre.com. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
- "About". Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
- "Canadian Fire Fighters Museum". Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- La Jeunesse Youth Orchestra
- "Port Hope Farmers' Market". Archived from the original on 4 November 2010. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- "Port Hope Archives". Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- "Waterfront Trail". Archived from the original on 26 March 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- "Port Hope Golf & Country Club". Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- "Port Hope High School: School and Contact Information". Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- "Black Ice: David Blackwood Prints of Newfoundland". June 2, 2011. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- Stren, Olivia (July 26, 2010). "Wikipedians do it for love. Really". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015.
- "Ex NHLer to be honored in Port Hope". July 22, 2010. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
- "The Hamlet of Kendal, Ontario". tripod.com. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- "Former Pro Hockey Player Dies". January 11, 2012. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
External links
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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Port Hope. |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Port Hope, Ontario. |
Places adjacent to Port Hope, Ontario | |
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