Thunder Bay, Ontario

Thunder Bay ({{coor dm|48|23|N|89|15|W|}}, time zone EST) is a city in and the seat of Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada. It is the second largest city in Northern Ontario (2001 population 109,016http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/standard/popdwell/Table-CSD-P.cfm?T=1&PR=35&SR=526&S=1&O=A; CMA 121,986http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/standard/popdwell/Table-CMA-P.cfm?T=1&PR=35&SR=26&S=1&O=A). The city takes its name from the immense bay at the head of Lake Superior, known on 18th century French maps as "Baie du Tonnerre". The city was formed in 1970 by the merger of the cities of Fort William, Ontario, Port Arthur, Ontario and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre. Its port forms an important link in the shipping of grain and other products from western Canada through the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence Seaway to the east coast. The city is often referred to as the Lakehead or Canadian Lakehead because of its location at the end of Great Lakes navigation.

Government and Politics

The city is governed by a mayor and twelve councillors. The mayor and five of the councillors are elected at large by the whole city. Seven councillors are elected for the seven wards : Current River Ward, McIntyre Ward, McKellar Ward, Neebing Ward, Northwood Ward, Red River Ward, Westfort Ward.

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List of mayors of Thunder Bay, Ontario

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Thunder Bay is represented in the Canadian Parliament by Joe Comuzzi (Liberal) and Ken Boshcoff (Liberal), and in the Ontario Legislature by Michael Gravelle (Liberal) and William Bill Mauro (Liberal).

Related Topics:
Joe Comuzzi - Ken Boshcoff - Michael Gravelle - Bill Mauro

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The Name

Thunder Bay's name is the result of a mishandled plebiscite to determine the new name of the amalgamated Fort William and Port Arthur. Officials debated over the names to be put on the ballot, taking suggestions from residents including "Lakehead" and "The Lakehead". Predictably, the vote split between the two, and "Thunder Bay" was the victor.

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City symbols

The Sleeping Giant, a large formation of mesas on Sibley Peninsula in Lake Superior, which resembles a reclining giant, has become a symbol of the city. Sibley peninsula partially encloses the waters of Thunder Bay, and dominates the view of the lake from the northern section of the city (formerly Port Arthur, Ontario). The Sleeping Giant also figures on the city's coat of arms and the city flag (depicted above).

Related Topics:
Sleeping Giant - Mesa - Sibley Peninsula - Lake Superior - Port Arthur, Ontario

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Sister cities

Thunder Bay is the sister city: of Seinäjoki, Finland; Little Canada, Minnesota; Duluth, Minnesota; Bunkpurugu, Ghana; Keelung, Taiwan; Siderno, Italy; Yanaizu, Japan; and Bukit Timah, Singapore.

Related Topics:
Sister city - Seinäjoki, Finland - Little Canada, Minnesota - Duluth, Minnesota - Bunkpurugu, Ghana - Keelung, Taiwan - Siderno, Italy - Yanaizu, Japan - Bukit Timah, Singapore

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