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Timmins Underground Gold Mine Site

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• 220 Algonquin Boulevard East, Timmins, ON, P4N 1B3
• Tel: 705-360-2640
• Daily 9am-6pm
• Adults $16 Seniors / children $14 Families $45.50

Visitors get an up-close look at gold mining at this living history site. Interpreters conduct tours 65 metres below ground through the Hollinger Mine and also provide mining demonstrations. Visitors can experience panning for gold back at the surface. Mining equipment from the early 1900s to 1970 is on display along with other mining related items. A prospector's trail and cabin and a miner's home from the 1920s are also open.

Website: http://www.timminsgoldminetour.com/

Type: Living History Site

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A Mining Tour of Northeastern Ontario: By Rockhounds for Rockhounds

by Emily Baillie | Jun 4, 2015 | Attractions and Festivals , Big Blog , Nature and Outdoors | 0 comments

Northeastern Ontario is one of the world’s celebrated regions for geologists, rockhounds, and mining enthusiasts to discover awe-inspiring rocks, fascinating fossils and historic underground mines. From Sudbury to Timmins to Cobalt, Northeastern Ontario is chock-full of both active and abandoned mines to explore, as well as museums that pay homage to its rich mining heritage.

As one of the country’s leading geoscientists, Ruth Debicki helped to create GeoTours Northern Ontario , a do-it-yourself guide to Northern Ontario’s most spectacular geological features and mining sites. The step-by-step guide is free to access online and includes handy GPS coordinates that can be used on a smartphone while on the road.

Ready to embark on your BIG Northeastern mining tour? Here are a few key places to start:

Sudbury Impact Crater

Visitors to the Science North attraction Dynamic Earth (home of the Big Nickel) can explore a network of underground tunnels and journey through the history of mining from the late 1800s through the 1950s to the present day. Dynamic Earth tour guides take curious explorers of all ages through the underground mines while bringing the mining history of Sudbury to life with stories and tales of its mining past. Visitors can try their hand at panning for gold and take home any real gold flakes they uncover.

Over at the Discovery Site of Sudbury Mining Camp about 5km northwest of the city, visitors can see where nickel-copper ore was first discovered in 1883, changing the history and economy of Sudbury forever. It’s right across the road from the workings of Sudbury’s first-ever mine. After that, check out the Jane Goodall Reclamation Trail dedicated to the environmental restoration of local mining landscapes.

Mile of Gold in Kirkland Lake

A visit to Kirkland Lake gives a whole new meaning to the term “gold digging.” Ancient faults underlie the border region of Northern Ontario and Quebec and host gold mines, which make this region one of the richest gold producers on Earth. The Mile of Gold is a line of seven major mines that produced extraordinary wealth for over 80 years. The McDermott, Holloway, and Macassa mines are still open. Visit the iconic Toburn Mine building and the Kirkland Lake Miners’ Memorial that honours the city’s hardworking mining labourers.

Cobalt Mining Museum

Try to catch a glimpse of some underground silver in a guided tour of an old underground mine. Starting at the Mining Museum, the underground tour journeys through narrow damp tunnels of the mine giving a fascinating glimpse into the conditions under which miners worked.

Timmins Goldfields

The Timmins area is one of the richest goldfields in the world, and over the past century it has produced more gold than any mining camp in Canada. The city has rehabilitated former mining sites into beautiful parks and recreational lands. Timmins’ “Big Three” gold mines—Hollinger, Dome, and McIntyre—are a highlight as is the Timmins Museum and National Exhibition Centre , which features restored prospectors’ cabins, bronze statues of the discoverers of the Big Three mines, and a collection of 20,000 images from the historic Timmins mining camp.

About Emily Baillie

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Timmins Underground Gold Mine Tour

Useful information, description.

The Timmins Underground Gold Mine Tour (TUGMT) is a touristic overview on historic and contemporary gold mining in the area of Timmins and Porcupine. The tour starts at the Shania Twain Visitor Center , but the only connection between country music and gold mining is, that Shania Twain was born at Timmins. The mine tour is pretty strenuous for the visitor, which have to change clothes. Provided with helmet, lamp, belt, coveralls and boots they look like real miners. The mine itself is pretty cold, only 3 °C, so a sweater and warm socks are advisable.

The underground tour visits Hollinger Mine . Among other things it demonstrates the operation of a scaling bar, a slusher, a muck machine and an operating jack-leg drill. If don't even know the names, you will learn them on the tour. There is an underground ride on a mine train and a drilling and blasting display. Exhibits include the largest gold nugget and glass sculptures.

The underground tour takes place various times a day and is guided. While waiting for the tour or afterwards many other sights may be visited. Hollinger House is an old wooden building which contains an exhibition of mining memorabilia. Jupiter Headframe is an abandoned headframe which now contains two exhibit rooms. An observation deck overlooks Timmins and the open cast mine. A miners trail shows mineral outcrops on the surface. The Gold Pour is a working replica of a gold furnace, where true gold is smelted several times a day.

The mine was donated in 1990 by Goldcorp, owner of Porcupine Gold Mines, to the city of Timmins to operate an Underground Gold Mine Tour. In 2000 GoldCorp donated an adjacent parcel of property to build the Shania Twain Centre. The whole operation, mine and center, was operated with the financial support of the city and Goldcorp. However, both operations were not profitable. The estimated number of 50,000 visitors for the Shania Twain Center was never reached, it was below 15,000 visitors per year, and so the town was spending $233,000 per year subsidizing its operations. As a result the center was closed in 2013 and the land sold to Goldcorp for $5 million, who planned to create an open-pit gold mine on the site. The mine tour also lost its home and was closed too.

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a Beautiful Mine

TIMMINS UNDERGROUND GOLD MINE TOUR (TIMMINS, ONTARIO)

“Gather in the dry where you change into mining gear for your trip underground with experienced underground miners. We provide you with a hard hat, lamp, belt, coveralls and boots, but we do recommend that you bring a warm pair of socks and a sweater; the temperature underground is a year-round 3 degrees Celsius!”

[embedyt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwv77cgBruc[/embedyt]

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The Gold Industry in Ontario and Its Impact on the Region

Dynasty gold expands length and grade of mineralization at thundercloud property in ontario, trx gold corporation reports $1.3 million loss in fiscal third quarter, trillium gold mines outlines exploration focus and growth plans in red lake mining district following pacton gold merger.

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Ontario’s gold tourism: exploring gold-related attractions and experiences.

Ontario’s rich gold mining history has created a unique tourism niche centered around gold-related attractions and experiences. From historical mine tours and gold panning adventures to interactive exhibits and gold-themed festivals, the province offers a wealth of opportunities for visitors to immerse themselves in the allure of gold. This article serves as a guide to exploring Ontario’s gold tourism, highlighting the captivating attractions and experiences that showcase the province’s golden heritage.

1. Historical Mine Tours:

– Explore Ontario’s historic gold mines and offer guided tours that take visitors underground.

– Highlight locations such as the Hollinger Mine in Timmins and the Red Lake Gold Mines.

– Provide insights into the mining techniques used during the gold rush era and share stories of mining legends.

2. Gold Panning and Prospecting:

– Introduce gold panning experiences where visitors can try their luck at finding gold nuggets.

– Discuss locations such as the Gold Rush Campground in Sudbury and the Goldstream Provincial Park.

– Provide guidance on gold panning techniques and offer tips for a successful gold prospecting adventure.

3. Interactive Museums and Exhibits:

– Showcase museums and exhibits that bring Ontario’s gold mining history to life.

– Highlight attractions like the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame in Sudbury and the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto.

– Discuss interactive displays, artifacts, and educational programs that engage visitors in the gold mining narrative.

4. Gold-Themed Festivals and Events:

– Highlight gold-themed festivals and events that celebrate Ontario’s gold heritage.

– Discuss events such as the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners’ Jamboree and the Gold Rush Days in Beardmore.

– Describe activities like gold panning competitions, live entertainment, and historical reenactments that captivate attendees.

5. Gold Jewelry and Artisanal Craftsmanship:

– Explore gold jewelry boutiques and artisanal workshops that showcase Ontario’s gold craftsmanship.

– Discuss locations such as the Goldsmith’s Studio in Thunder Bay and gold jewelry stores in downtown Toronto.

– Highlight the opportunity to witness goldsmiths at work and purchase unique gold jewelry pieces as souvenirs.

6. Gold-Inspired Culinary Experiences:

– Discuss restaurants and culinary experiences that incorporate gold-themed elements.

– Highlight venues offering gold-infused beverages, gold leaf garnishes, or gold-dusted desserts.

– Showcase farm-to-table dining experiences featuring local ingredients inspired by the gold mining heritage.

7. Gold-Inspired Outdoor Adventures:

– Explore outdoor activities that connect visitors with Ontario’s natural landscapes and gold heritage.

– Discuss hiking trails, such as the Gold Rush Trail in Kirkland Lake, offering scenic views and historical landmarks.

– Highlight opportunities for gold panning, fishing, and camping in gold-rich regions.

8. Educational Programs and Workshops:

– Discuss educational programs and workshops focused on gold mining and geology.

– Highlight initiatives by organizations like the Ontario Prospectors Association and universities offering workshops.

– Provide information on hands-on experiences, lectures, and courses that deepen understanding of the gold industry.

Ontario’s gold tourism presents a captivating journey into the province’s rich gold mining history and heritage. Whether visitors choose to embark on historical mine tours, try their hand at gold panning, immerse themselves in interactive exhibits, or indulge in gold-themed experiences, Ontario offers a diverse range of attractions to suit every interest. By exploring Ontario’s gold tourism offerings, visitors can connect with the allure of gold, gain insights into the province’s fascinating gold mining legacy, and create lasting memories of their golden adventures.

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10 Best Things To Do in Timmins Ontario

Timmins, a city built on the gold mining industry, has a wide range of outdoor activities available. We’ve got the best things to do in this great city whether it is a stop on your northern Ontario road trip or your base for outdoor adventure.

Enjoy the small-city vibe, its continuing mining heritage and the stunning nature of the Boreal forest.

Table of Contents

Timmins One Day Itinerary

• Learn about Gold mining at the Timmins Museum .
• Visit the Hollinger Open-Pit Lookout .
• Enjoy a picnic at nearby Hollinger Park .
• Visit Gillies Lake Conservation Area for wakeboarding or a relaxing walk around the lake.
• Take the Wildlife Tour at Cedar Meadows Resort.
• Visit the Porcupine Memorial and McIntyre Mine Headframe in Schumacher.

With a second day in the area, spread out the first day activities, add some hiking or biking and visit Dream Acres Alpacas .

Timmins Map

Check our map for all of the Timmins attractions.

10 Best Things To Do in Timmins

Looking for what to do in Timmins? Here are the 10 best things to see:

Hollinger Open-Pit Lookout

• Timmins Museum

Hollinger Park

Wakepark at gillies lake conservation area, wildlife tour at cedar meadows, schumacher lions club park, mcintyre mine headframe, timmins hiking, kettle lakes provincial park, dream acres alpacas, history of gold in timmins.

The 1909 discovery at Porcupine Lake launched the Porcupine Gold Rush. Prospectors flooded to the area discovering the Hollinger and McIntyre gold deposits.

The villages of South Porcupine, Timmins and Schumacher grew around these mines. Over the years they grew larger and, in 1973, they amalgamated with a number of the local townships becoming the city of Timmins. The name Timmins is in honour of Noah Timmins, one of the area’s first mine developers. 

This is one of the richest gold-producing areas in the world and has produced more gold than any other Canadian mining camp. Gold mining remains an important part of the Timmins economy. The area is home to many closed mines which have been rehabilitated into parks and recreational lands, including both Hollinger Park and Gillies Lake Conservation Area.

The huge, open-pit Hollinger Mine, on the southeast corner of the city, is one of a number of operating gold mines in the area.

Mining blasts: One of the unique things about Timmins is that twice-a-day (at 11:30 and 3:30) there are nearby mining blasts that all residents can feel.

Discover more about some of the biggest Timmins gold mines – Hollinger, Dome and McIntyre – and city parks built on rehabilitated mine sites on a driving tour of the area. Visit the Northern Ontario Geotours webpage and download the Timmins geotour file for full details.

Drive up the hill to the viewing area and look over the edge into the operating, open-pit gold mine. 

Mining began at the Hollinger Mine in 1910 and continued until 1969, producing gold ore worth over $556 million, Canada’s largest all-time gold producer.  When the mine closed, there were close to 1000 kilometres of underground tunnels.

Recently, the mine reopened, operating solely as an open-pit mine. Mining will continue until 2024 when the mine will close and, after rehabilitation, become a beautiful, city green space with biking and hiking trails, an observation platform, and a man-made lake.

From 1919 to 1969, Hollinger provided houses to its employees. One of them is on display at the Timmins Museum.

Timmins Museum – The National Exhibition Centre

At the museum, learn how Timmins became a major gold mining centre.  Exhibits include the Porcupine Camp, a model prospector’s cabin and other mining artifacts.  Wear a virtual reality headset and feel what it was like to be an underground miner in the early days.

The adjoining Exhibition Centre hosts travelling art exhibitions from other parts of Canada, such as the Royal Ontario Museum.

Outside on the museum grounds, Hollinger House shows how miners lived in the 1930s.  There were over 350 of the functional two-bedroom homes for mine workers and their families. Hollinger provided housing until the mine closed in 1969.

Statues of Jack Wilson, Sandy McIntyre and Benny Hollinger stand outside the museum. Their gold discoveries launched the largest, though maybe not the most famous, gold rush in Canadian history.

This free museum is open year-round. Check the Timmins Museum website for hours and current exhibits.

Have a picnic at Hollinger Park. Enjoy the children’s playground, splash pad, mini-putt and batting cages.  Check out the mining equipment on display.

This is an early example of mine reclamation in northern Ontario. The park was created in the 1940s by reclaiming a former Hollinger Mines tailings pile.

Yes, we meant wake boarding!  This is the first wake park in northern Ontario. An electric cable system pulls wake riders across the lake. There is no need for a motorized boat.  Certified instructors are on hand to get everyone safely riding on a wakeboard in no time at all. Rental equipment is available for all ages.  The park is open June through September. Check Timmins Wakepark ’s website for hours and fees.

At night, enjoy the well lit, 2.5-kilometre walking trail around the lake. There are benches and interpretive signs.

Gillies Lake is another example of successful mine reclamation. The project began in the early 1990s with a lake 3 times its current size. It was filled in with tailings from the Hollinger Mine. The slopes were planted with grasses, trees and shrubs which have grown beautifully into the lovely, green park.

Cedar Meadows Resort & Spa welcomes everyone to buy a ticket for their daily Wildlife Tour (not just spa patrons).  Enjoy a tractor-drawn wagon ride to see Fallow deer, elk and bison, on the 100-acre property, along the Mattagami River, just 10 minutes from downtown.  The tour is daily at 3 pm.

This lovely waterfront park, also known as McIntyre Park, was created on land reclaimed from the tailings of the former McIntyre Mine. McIntyre Trail is along the north shore of Little Pearl Lake to the west of the park. There are lots of park benches, a display of mining equipment and a Miner’s Memorial.

The Porcupine Miner’s Memorial includes the names of miners killed in mining accidents. The monument was erected in tribute to miners killed at the Porcupine Camp and their families.

This mining headframe is visible from the park and much of the east side of Timmins.  The McIntyre Mine opened in 1912 producing both gold and copper. A 2.5-kilometre-long mine shaft is below the headframe and leads to many kilometres of mine tunnels.

Although currently not open, a public-private partnership is in the process of restoring the headframe.  Hopefully, it will be welcoming visitors in the near-future.

These are just two of the many great trails in the Timmins area.

The Porcupine Lake Trail is an easy, 8.5-kilometre loop around the lake. It is part of the Bart Thompson Trail system. The first gold found in the area was on the shores of Porcupine Lake in 1896. The prospectors arrived by the Porcupine Trail, a series of portages connecting rivers and lakes to the railway in the east.

Most of the trail is along the shore although some roads are part of the trail at the north end. For parking ease, start in White Waterfront Park, at the east end of Bloor Avenue (10 kilometres east of Hollinger Park). Walk north to a lakeside bluff where there are interpretive signs about the area and a shelter. Walk south and east from the park to Whitney Cemetery. The remains of forty people who died in a tragic fire in 1911 are buried in the cemetery. The fire wiped out the community at the lake.

On Archie’s Rock trail, see glacial erratics. These are large boulders that were deposited by the last ice age. The trail is located down Little Star Lake Road, off Highway 101, about 45 kilometres west of Timmins.

A list of trails can be found at the MRCA Nature Trails webpage.

Enjoy camping, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hiking, and mountain biking at this provincial park, 42 kilometres east of Timmins, off Highway 101. The park is open from Victoria Day weekend to Thanksgiving Monday. A Daily Vehicle Permit can be purchased, up to 5 days in advance, on the Ontario Parks Reservations webpage to guarantee access for day use at this busy park.

There are 22 deep, spring-fed kettle lakes, left behind after the last glaciers retreated 11,000 years ago. Many of the lakes are stocked with trout for great fishing. There are hiking trails through the jack pine forest around the lakes.

For more wildlife photo opportunities, visit this family-run Alpaca farm. Tour the farm, learn about these wonderful animals and the quality of the fibre and yarn. 

The farm sells alpaca-related products, such as socks, hats and accessories, some created at the farm but all made in Canada. 

Dream Acres is located 45 kilometres east of Timmins on Highway 101. 

Timmins is just one great stop on a northern Ontario Road Trip. For more destinations, check out our article, Places to Visit on a Road Trip from North Bay to Thunder Bay .

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(No spam. Just great travel tips.)

Valerie Vanr

Valerie is the Co-founder of AvrexTravel.com. Val enjoys travel photography and writing informative City Walking tours.

Timmins Underground Gold Mine Tour

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Timmins Underground Gold Mine Tour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Timmins Underground Gold Mine Tour facts for kids

The Timmins Underground Gold Mine Tour was a tourist attraction owned and operated by the City of Timmins from 1990 to 2013.

About the mine

Ontario mine rescue competition.

The tour originally opened in 1984 at the McIntyre Mine, but was relocated to its current site at the former Hollinger Mine in 1990. The site was donated in 1990 by Goldcorp, owner of Porcupine Gold Mines, to the City of Timmins to operate an Underground Gold Mine Tour, and later in 2000 GoldCorp donated an adjacent parcel of property on which to build the Shania Twain Centre.

Prior to demolition, the Shania Twain Centre and the Underground Gold Mine Tour were located at 1 Shania Twain Drive in the City of Timmins. Both attractions were situated on a 65-acre site, located adjacent to the former 250 acre Hollinger Mine site, approximately 1.5 km southeast of downtown Timmins.

The Timmins Underground Gold Mine Tour was an educational and interactive family attraction, dedicated to the gold mining history of Timmins and the surrounding region. The tour’s move to its final site was primarily because of the cost and complexity of running a tourism attraction on an active mining property, and also because of the barriers to expansion at the McIntyre site. The current site, included 12 authentic historically significant buildings situated on 65 acres, which form part of the surface tour; together with a 150-metre mine shaft which leads visitors into the underground mine. The Timmins Underground Gold Mine Tour and Museum was incorporated on January 21, 1994. At a capital cost of $2 Million, an Alimak elevator lift was added in 2002, which could also transport visitors to and from the underground mine and tour, together with additional underground displays and a theatre production. In 2010, a 1940s locomotive that operated at Pamour Mine for years was relocated and restored as a fully operational locomotive at the Underground Gold Mine Tour. The surface tour was led by Junior Guides (students), while the underground tour was led by Senior Guides (retired miners). Visitors experience a “typical day” in the life of a miner, including the “Dry” where visitors suit up with protective overalls, a hard hat, and a miner’s lamp and battery pack, before walking or taking the elevator into the depths of the mine to begin their “shift”. During the tour, the retired miner explained the various aspects of the mining operation, equipment and safety features, while visitors are led through the tunnels. Underground tour features included: the operation of two different rock drills and a slusher; a mine rescue station; an underground rail ride; demonstrations of mining skills including scaling, loading a blast and a mock blast display; a large gold nugget, and an underground theatre where productions highlighting various aspects of mining are shown, while visitor’s wait for the vertical lift. Upon surfacing, visitors were given an opportunity to walk through time on the Prospector’s Trail, via a surface tour to the various buildings, including: the last remaining Hollinger House, that was built to accommodate the miners and their families upon their arrival to Timmins; a typical Prospector’s Cabin; a Sluice for Gold Panning; and the Jupiter Headframe Lookout tower; before ending their “shift” and receiving their "pay cheque for a day’s wages. The attraction was open on a seasonal basis from mid May to October 31, and offered 2 tours per day (10:30 am and 1:30 pm) in the Spring and Fall months from Wednesday to Sunday (5 days per week); The Gold Mine Tour Gallery Room was the temporary location of the Timmins Museum National Exhibition Centre from 2007 to 2010, when it relocated from its former South Porcupine address, during which time it was undergoing plans for its new location within the On-Line Services (OLS) building on Spruce Street South in downtown Timmins. From 2005 to 2008, and since the Timmins Museum’s collection was removed in 2010, the Gold Mine Tour Gallery Room was utilized for meeting and event rentals.

In June 2010, the mine was host to the Ontario Mine Rescue provincial competition. The competition was won by GoldcorpPorcupine Gold Mines

• This page was last modified on 27 October 2023, at 13:22. Suggest an edit .

Tour of Timmins gold camp captivates hikers

Billion-year-old history visible to the naked eye

Article content

Travelling back billions of years is possible just by going for a walk in the woods in Timmins.

Tour of Timmins gold camp captivates hikers Back to video

That’s what about 30 hikers did on Saturday, when the Porcupine Prospectors and Developers Association hosted their “Introductory field trip of the Timmins gold camp.”

It was their first since the pandemic, and plans are in the works to publish a self-guided geocaching tour on their website .

Many of the stops involved pulling off to the side of the road in seemingly random places, and hiking five minutes into the bush to a clearing where participants found themselves standing on an outcrop.

Association secretary Ken Tylee and past president Bill MacRae would then describe and educate the diverse group which included home-schooled youth, curious residents and professional geologists, about the significance of the rock beneath their feet.

Timmins resident geologist Matt Krukowski was on hand to add his insights, as were the handful of geologists who work at local mines.

The Timmins area is home to nine active gold mines, according to the Ontario Mining Association .

Timmins is one of the largest goldfields in the world, and the largest in Canada, because of its location in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, a geological zone which contains many fractures that host gold deposits.

The full-day tour had 6 stops, and at each one participants had a chance to see an outcropping of a different layer of local geology, going from the uppermost layers to the lowermost ones.

The uppermost layers are the “Timiskaming and Porcupine Assemblages,” which are 2.6 billion years old. The lowermost layers are the “Deloro Assemblage,” which are 2.7 billion years old.

The first stop was the intriguingly named “Porcupine-Timiskaming Unconformity,” two groups of differently-formed rocks, one like a layer cake on its side, and the other smooth. Between them is a gap representing 18-20 million years of history, said Tylee.

The Unconformity is “legendary,” among geologists, said Tylee. So much so, that Greg Van Hees, a geologist with Lakeshore Gold, traveled with his University of Ottawa class all the way to Timmins to see it when he was an undergraduate.

“It’s a very rare exposure, a very rare glimpse, of an angular unconformity,” said Tylee, who is the vice president of exploration with Exploits Discovery Group, currently focused on gold mining in Newfoundland.

Originally layers of mud and sand sediment, the layered Porcupine rocks were deformed through plate tectonics, and today they appear to be standing on their side.

Then a fault came through to separate them from the smooth Temiskaming rocks.

“These two rock units are now butted together but they’re missing 20 million years of the earth’s history,” Tylee said.

The smooth Temiskaming rocks can be found all over the world.

By age-dating and verifying the chemistry of rocks, geologists compare notes and have determined that Temiskaming rocks, like those found off Crawford Street in South Porcupine (and so-named everywhere) are also found in England, and Australia.

“They realize they all came from the same source over two billion years ago, before the earth’s continental plates started to drift around,” Tylee explained.

A visit to the Hunter Mine on the shores of Porcupine Lake was a highlight, with its many criss-crossing white quartz veins. Quartz is often, but not always, a vehicle for gold.

In the case of the Hunter Mine, “gold occurs associated with a series of 12 quartz vein systems hosted by the most intensely altered rocks,” explained the associations’ field trip guide.

It was one of the first gold discoveries in the Timmins area. Sporadic production between 1937 and 1944 yielded 1369 ounces of gold.

The association is over 80 years old and has a dual mission to advocate for prospectors and provide public outreach and education.

The association’s advocacy goal is to coax more cooperation from the Ministry of Mines, which could be achieved with more personnel to work directly with prospectors, said past president Bill MacRae, who spoke with the Daily Press on Tuesday from the Northeastern Ontario Mines and Minerals Symposium at Northern College’s Kirkland Lake campus.

Membership to the Porcupine Prospectors and Developers Association is a mere $20 for the year, with monthly meetings that include dinner at 6 p.m. at the McIntyre Coffee Shop, followed by talks and association business in the Schumacher Lion’s Den downstairs.

“Twenty bucks buys you 10 dinners at the Mac,” said association president Karen Ostler.

“It’s the best deal in town,” Tylee added.

The next meeting of the Porcupine Prospectors and Developers Association is Oct. 12. Dinner at 6 p.m. in the McIntyre Café, and the meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Lions Den.

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• 7.2 Mid-range
• 7.3 Splurge
• 8.2 Mid-range
• 8.3 Splurge
• 10 Stay safe
• 11.1 Matheson

Timmins is a city in Northern Ontario with a population of nearly 41,000 (2021 census). The city stretches over approximately 2,962 km² (1,840 sq mi) of land, making Timmins one of the largest cities in Canada, larger than Luxembourg.

Understand [ edit ]

The city is in one of the richest mineral producing areas in the Western Hemisphere. It is a leader in the production of gold and base metals. Main attractions are mining tours and outdoor recreation.

History [ edit ]

Human settlement in the area is at least 6,000 years old; it's believed the oldest traces found are from a nomadic people of the Shield Archaic culture.

Until contact with European settlers, the land belonged to the Mattagami First Nation peoples. Treaty Number Nine of 1906 pushed this tribe to the north side of the Mattagami Lake, the site of a Hudson's Bay trading post established in 1794. In the 1950s, the reserve was relocated to the south side of the lake, to its present location.

Gold discoveries in the Porcupine Camp during the early years of the 20th century attracted investors to the area. The gold rush of 1909 earned Timmins the nickname of the “City with the Heart of Gold”. The area became home to dozens of prospectors during the "Porcupine Gold Rush" who explored the areas around Porcupine Lake and the Frederick House River. Rich ore deposits in the Canadian Shield led to Timmins being founded as a company town to house Hollinger employees. In 1912, mine manager Alphonse "Al" Paré named the mining settlement for his uncle, Noah Timmins, who was President of Hollinger Mines.Most settlers grouped around Porcupine Lake and the Dome, one mile from the lake. Four miles down the road, around the McIntyre Mine, the hamlet of Schumacher was established. The gold mines declined in the 1950s.

Climate [ edit ]

Timmins has very cold winters, being in northern Ontario. Temperatures in late summer and autumn tend to be among the coldest for any major city in any Canadian province, although during the spring and summer it can get hot.

Visitor Information [ edit ]

• Tourism Timmins
• Destination Ontario: Timmins
• 48.47332 -81.32618 1 Timmins Convention Bureau and Visitor Welcome Centre , 325 2nd Ave , toll-free: +1-800-387-8466 . ( updated Feb 2023 )

Get in [ edit ]

Timmins is fairly easy to access. Ontario’s section of Highway 11 (one of the longest roads in the world) connects with Highway 101 about 1 hour east of the city. It is always best to check weather and road conditions before departure, since the winter months (December through to early April) in Northern Ontario can sometimes provoke difficult and unsafe driving conditions . Timmins is also accessible by snowmobile.

By car [ edit ]

The easiest way into Timmins if coming from southeastern or southern Ontario is to make your way to North Bay and continue heading north on Highway 11 ( Trans-Canada Highway ). Timmins is approximately 350 km north of North Bay. From Southwestern Ontario you could use Highway 400/69 through Perry Sound. Some people take the ferry from Tobemory to Manitoulin Island. The city is minutes away from the Trans-Canada Highway, thus providing easy access to other cities. Other highways servicing Timmins are #144, #101, #655 and #11.

By bus [ edit ]

• Between Hearst and Sudbury including stops in Kapuskasing , Cochrane and Timmins. Travel time to Timmins from Hearst is 4 hours, from Kapukasing is 2.75 hours, from Cochrane is 1.25 hours, and from Sudbury is 4 hours.
• Between North Bay and Timmins including stops in Temagami , Cobalt , Temiskaming Shores (Haileybury, New Liskard, Dymond) , Kirkland Lake , and Matheson. Travel time to Timmins from North Bay is 5.75 hours, from Cobalt is 4 hours, from Kirkland Lake is 1.75 hours, and from Matheson is 50 minutes.
• Connections are available from Ottawa and Toronto in North Bay and Sudbury.

By plane [ edit ]

Airport [ edit ], destinations [ edit ].

Flights to Timmins from Moosonee (55 minutes) and Toronto (1.5 hours)

Airlines [ edit ]

By train [ edit ].

Ontario Northland used to offer train service to Matheson, with a connecting coach to Timmins, but rail service on the Toronto-North Bay-Cochrane line has been abandoned in favour of buses.

Get around [ edit ]

If you are staying downtown, you can get around on foot for the most part. Otherwise, the city offers efficient bus service, and has many taxi and car rental companies.

On foot [ edit ]

Downtown Timmins is small enough to explore on foot and can make for an interesting afternoon. Most of the outlying areas will require transportation. See the Do section for information on walking trails.

• Timmins Transit . An efficient transit system serving the community through 9 routes. Bus fare is $3.50 for adults, $3.25 for seniors, students and children 5 and over, and free for children under 4 years of age (when accompanied by fare paying passenger). ( updated Jun 2023 )

With the help of a map, Timmins is simple to navigate. Most destinations can be found off of Highway 101 which turns into Riverside Drive and Algonquin Boulevard throughout the city.

Some car rental companies include:

• National Car Rental +1 705 268-3456
• Discount Car & Truck Rentals +1 705 264-4484
• Budget Rent A Car (located in the airport) +1 705 267-2393.

By taxi [ edit ]

Taxi companies in the area include:

• Northern Taxi +1 705 268-6868
• Veteran’s Victory Taxi +1 705 264-2333
• Beal Taxi +1 705 264-2201.

See [ edit ]

Timmins' main appeal is its outdoors atmosphere, seeing as how it is surrounded by beautiful forests. There are a multitude of outdoor activities offered in the region year-round. Timmins is also an important landmark in the history of mining, following its success in the 1909 gold rush.

Museums [ edit ]

• Timmins Museum - National Exhibition Centre , 325 2nd Ave ( downtown Timmins ), ☏ +1 705 360-2617 . M-F 10AM-4PM . The Timmins Museum is a multi-purpose facility that highlights the art, heritage and traditions of the Porcupine Mining Camp, Northeastern Ontario and Canada in a variety of exhibits. The Timmins Museum includes a resource library, local artist's gallery, as well as travelling exhibitions on a mixture of national themes. ( updated Oct 2020 )

Tours [ edit ]

• Cedar Meadows Wildlife Park , 1000 Norman Street , ☏ +1 705 268-5800 . Overlooking the great Mattagami River, the 175 acre park is ideal for exploring the wilderness or just simply relaxing. Visitors can enjoy a wagon ride or (sleigh ride in the winter) where elk, moose, deer and bison can be observed in their natural surroundings.  
• Summer Industrial Tours , +1 705 360-1900. During the summer months, Porcupine Gold Mines-Goldcorp offer free tours to individuals interested in learning about the many natural resources Timmins has to offer. The Porcupine Gold Mine-Goldcorp tour allows individuals to visit the Pamour Open Pit Mine, Coniaurum reclamation site and the Hollinger Information Centre. Long pants and closed toe shoes are recommended for these industrial tours. Must be 12 years of age or older to take part, and those aged 12 to 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

Historic landmarks [ edit ]

As legend has it, in the spring of 1909, Harry Preston, a member of the Jack Wilson camp slipped on a rock and uncovered a mound of gold. His discovery created the gold rush of the Porcupine Camp and brought in miners and their families from all around the world. Today, Timmins is a thriving community rich in cultural diversity and mining heritage. Discover the city’s legacy and learn more about the people who made it all possible.

• Downtown Timmins , At the corner of Spruce Street South and Third Avenue, you can see the former train station built in 1912. It is used as the ONR Terminal and leased commercial space. Turning left on Third Avenue brings you right into Timmins’ busiest street in the downtown core. On the right side is the city’s Walk of Fame. Prominent citizens have been commemorated here with plaques set in the sidewalk. Along Third Avenue, you will see many local shops, retail services, and restaurants reflecting this vibrant northern Ontario community. Look for the parkette (beside the CIBC Bank on the corner of Third Avenue and Pine Street) that houses a site commemorating Shania Twain; Timmins’ country singing sensation. Her hand prints are embedded in cement below a plaque in her honour. Across the street is Bucovetsky’s department store. Established in 1909, it is the oldest business in the city. Third Avenue was laid out in 1911 and some of the buildings here date back to 1912.
• McIntyre Community Centre , 85 McIntyre Road, Schumacher . The facility was built in 1938 for the employees of the McIntyre Mine. It is a scale model of the Maple Leaf Gardens, complete with the famous red, green and blue seats and end balconies. The Center is still very active and features an arena, curling rink, ballroom, auditorium and a diner style coffee shop.  
• McIntyre Headframe , Behind the Community Center, towering majestically over Pearl Lake is the McIntyre Mine #11 headframe. The 3rd largest producer of gold in Canada is closed today, but the city plans to redevelop the headframe and its immediate surroundings as a heritage monument to gold mining in the Porcupine Camp.
• Schumacher Park , McIntyre Road, Schumacher. Home to three monuments honouring the mining history of Schumacher. The iron statue overlooking the highway is a representation of Mr. Sandy McIntyre discovering gold, while the other one depicts a wealthy American investor named Frederick W. Schumacher, for whom the town takes its name. The headframe is a replica of the McIntyre Mine.
• St. Alphonsus Church , Father Costello Drive, Schumacher. The church is covered with many murals painted by local artist, Mr. Ed Spehar. Father Les Costello was rector of this church for over 23 years. This beloved priest, co-founder of the world famous Flying Fathers hockey team, was a prominent figure in our community known for his sense of humor and his generosity.
• International Flags , Father Costello Drive, Schumacher. At the end of the street, you will notice a collection of flags representing the community’s rich ethnic diversity and heritage throughout the summer.
• Whitney Cemetery/Deadman’s Point , Haileybury Crescent, Porcupine. Over 70 people lost their lives in the great Porcupine fire of July 11, 1911. Due to the close proximity of Porcupine Lake, many lives were saved. However, one unusual tragedy occurred when a mine manager by the name of Robert A. Weiss thought he could save his family by taking them down a mine shaft. Sadly, the fire used up all the oxygen in the shaft and the whole family perished. Most bodies of the fire victims were sent home, but 17 were buried here. A monument was erected in their honour by the Toronto Board of Trade.
• Gold Mine Road , This road is known to the locals as the “Backroad”. A number of mines were on this road. Since 1960, most of them have been torn down. The first mine on your left is Porcupine Gold Mines - Goldcorp (formerly Dome Mine and Porcupine Joint Venture); the only gold mine which has been in operation since 1910. The story of the discovery of the Dome reports the accidental finding of a vein of gold by a prospector who slipped on some moss while climbing the side of a mound (or dome), exposing the vein of gold. Hence, the name “Dome Mine”. Further on to your right, is the Paymaster Headframe. The Paymaster Mine was closed in 1934.

Do [ edit ]

The atmosphere in Timmins is generally relaxed and slow-paced. Most activities revolve around the outdoors. The summers are great for camping, golfing and more. There are plenty of winter activities such as downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, snowmobiling and more. The Timmins recreation services website offers more information on outdoor activities.

Summer [ edit ]

• Many campsites offer equipment rental for fishing (check before-hand).
• Mountjoy Independent Farmers' Market , ☏ +1 705-268-6571 . Open mid-July to mid-October Saturday mornings only from 8AM - noon.  
• Uncle Buck’s Trout Farm , ☏ +1 705 268-6286 . Open May to September from 9AM to 9PM for fly and bait fishing.  
• There are over 10 well-groomed walking trails in and around Timmins. For maps and more information visit the Timmins Outdoors website.
• There is a skatepark open daily which is free of admission. +1 705 360-1361
• Gillies Lake and Hersey Lake are the areas most popular family swimming beaches.

Golfing [ edit ]

Timmins is home to three golf courses.

• The Hollinger Golf Club , Shania Twain Way , ☏ +1 705 264-8450 . This is a 18-hole course open 7 days a week. It has a club house, power cart/equipment rentals and a driving range.  
• Spruce Needles Golf Club , Dalton Road , ☏ +1 705 267-1332 . This is an 18-hole course open 7 days a week. It features a licensed club house, power cart/equipment rentals and a driving range.  
• Sandy Falls Golf Course , 1777 Mahoney Road. , ☏ +1 705 267-7014 . This is a 9-hole course.  

Parks [ edit ]

• Rapid Fire Paintball Park , 200 Feldman Road , ☏ +1 705 268-1825 . This park features a driving range, Two 18-hole mini-putt course, go-karts, and paintball.  
• Rapid Fire Paintball Park , ☏ +1 705 268-1825 . Access from Mattagami Blvd. Open daily from 10AM to 10PM.  
• Hollinger Park , ☏ +1 705 360-1377 . Corner of Algonquin Boulevard and Brunette Road. This park is a beautiful town landmark (historic mining site) that has a small children’s water park (open during the summer), a playground and picnic tables. There is a mini-putt range as well as batting cages on-site.  
• The White Waterfront Park , ☏ +1 705 360-1377 . Near Porcupine Lake. Features a similar set-up to Hollinger Park, with picnic tables, a children’s playground and a small water park.  

Winter [ edit ]

• The Timmins Snowmobile Club , ☏ +1 705 264-7066 . Timmins is the centre of Ontario's vast network of snowmobile trails. With over 2,000 members, the club maintains hundreds of kilometers of groomed trails and a clubhouse where visitors are welcome. You will require a permit to snowmobile. These are available from several local vendors and prices range depending on the length of the permit.  
• Kamiskotia Snow Resort , 5050 Kamiskotia Road. , ☏ +1 705 268-9057 . A fully equipped winter destination offering snow boarding, downhill skiing, tubing, clinics and lessons. The Base Lodge includes a cafeteria, lounge, locker rooms and a rental retail shop.  
• Porcupine Ski Runners , Highway 101 , ☏ +1 705 360-1444 . This facility has well-groomed trails for cross-country skiers. The cost for one day is $3 for a student or senior, $7 for an adult, or $15 for a family. The chalet is open from 8AM to 9PM daily, however the trails are accessible at all hours (there are 4 km of lights for night skiing). It is also possible to go snowshoeing at this facility. It only costs $1 for a student or a senior, $3 for an adult, or $7 for a family.  

Skating [ edit ]

There are several arenas in the city that offer public skating at reasonable rates. Call the Timmins Leisure Services hotline at ☏ +1 705 360-2655 for more information.

• Archie Dillon Sportsplex , 396 Theriault Boulevard .  
• McIntyre Community Centre , 85 McIntyre Road, Schumacher .  
• Mountjoy Arena , 814 Park Avenue .  
• Whitney Arena , Highway 101 East, South Porcupine.
• Confederation Sports Facility , 303 Cameron Street South .  

Each winter season the City of Timmins maintains outdoor ice rinks for public use. The following is a list of outdoor skating facilities available to the public. Unless specified, these facilities are unsupervised. Call the Timmins Leisure Services hotline at ☏ +1 705 360-2655 for more information.

• Mountjoy Arena
• Roy Nicholson Park (2 rinks, 1 supervised)
• Railway Street Porcupine
• Park Avenue
• Porcupine Lake Skating Oval
• Gillies Lake Skating Oval

All-season [ edit ]

• The Archie Dillon Sportsplex , 396 Theriault Boulevard. , ☏ +1 705 360-2655 . This handicap-accessible facility has 3 pools (hot, deep and a 37-metre/6-lane) with 2 diving boards and a rock-climbing wall. Supervised public and family swims are offered at various times throughout the week for a small admission. Home of the Timmins Marlins Swim Club (TMSC) www.timminsmarlins.ca  
• The Timmins Cinema 6 , 215 Cedar Street South , ☏ +1 705 268-7070 . Daily matinee and evening shows in digital theatre sound. Regular admission for evening shows is $9.25 for adults (14+) and $6 for children and seniors. Matinees are $7 for adults and $5.75 for children and seniors. Discount Tuesdays are $6.50 for adults and $5.50 for children and seniors. Please note that all prices are subject to change without notice.  
• The Midtown Bowl , 70 Algonquin Boulevard. , ☏ +1 705 267-3500 . A 5-pin bowling alley that offers Rock’n’Bowl on weekends.  

Community events [ edit ]

• Summerfest This is a family oriented weekend of fun. It offers a wide variety of activities for all, designed to bring the community together and celebrate summer. Summerfest events are intended to promote pride in our community while getting residents physically active and generally having a great time.
• Ribfest Usually held at the end of June, the Ribfest is a festival held at Gillies Lake. It is a day of award winning ribs and chicken, prepared by some of the best Ribbers in North America. There are also live performances by local bands, a beverage tent and tons of children's activities!
• Timmins Multi-Cultural Festival On the first Sunday of June, Timmins holds a multi-cultural festival celebrating its unique cultural diversity. Italian, Croatian, Polish, German, Scottish, Austrian, Finnish, Chinese, Filipino, and Indigenous cultures as well as many others join together to celebrate the diversity of the community.
• Saint-Jean Baptiste French Canadian celebration every June. Day filled with activities for the whole family. Local and national francophone artists perform.

Buy [ edit ]

• Mountjoy Independent Farmers Market , Centennial Hall on Park Avenue ( next door to the Mountjoy Arena ), ☏ +1 705 268-6571 , [email protected] . Mid-July to mid-Oct: Sa 8AM-noon . The Market features fresh, locally grown produce, seasonal berries, herbs and flowers. Delicious jams, jellies, preserves, home-baked fresh breads, pies and desserts are available. The Mountjoy Farmers' Market also has a varied selection of craftspeople and artists with unique quality items for sale. ( updated Oct 2016 )
• Downtown Timmins , ☏ +1 705-264-8733 . A vibrant shopping area in the centre of the community, boasting a mix of some 250 businesses. Major banks include: ScotiaBank, Bank of Montreal, CIBC and TD Canada Trust. Popular locally-owned shops include 3 Small Rooms.  
• Timmins Square , ☏ +1 705 267-6433 . The largest regional shopping centre in Northeastern Ontario. approximately 70 shops and services including fashion stores, home furnishings stores, electronics stores, sporting stores, department stores and a full service food court with 6 tenants. There are also 2 fully-licensed restaurants on-site (Montana’s and Siva’s).  
• Timmins Chamber of Commerce , 77 McIntyre Road , ☏ +1 705 360-1900 . This is the destination for information on tourism in Timmins, in Ontario and in Canada, as well as for souvenirs of the City with the Heart of Gold.  
• There is also an area of Riverside west beyond the Timmins Square that has Canadian Tire, Wal-Mart, Michaels, Mark’s Work Warehouse, Dollarama and Home Depot.

Art [ edit ]

• La Galeruche , 32 Mountjoy Street North ( Centre Culturel La Ronde ), ☏ +1 705 264-8353 . M-W 9AM-5PM, Th F 9AM-7PM, Sa 10AM-2PM . This gallery highlights the work of the region's Francophone population. Expositions are changed monthly.  
• Porcupine Art Club , ☏ +1 705 264-5438 . Roy Nicholson Park, corner of Pine Street North and Eighth Avenue. Various art projects are on display in the clubhouse and can be viewed at occasional public showings or by appointment.  
• Joanne's Art Centre , 42 Pine Street South , ☏ +1 705 268-9585 . M-W 9:30AM-5:30PM, Th F 9:30AM-5PM, Sa 9:30AM-5PM . Custom framing, art supplies, antiques, and giftware from all over the world. A second floor studio displays and sells prints from various artists.  
• Michael Davidson Studios , 657 Pine Street North , ☏ +1 705 237-2890 . M-F 9AM to 5PM, Sa M-F 9AM-noon . A freelance artist preserving a part of the town's heritage. In his studio, you will find original artwork by him and Dale Pessah, limited edition prints, and decorator prints. After years of drawing portraits, Michael is now travelling across Ontario capturing historical sites and landmarks in each community. Custom framing of photos, canvas, and needlework is also available.  
• Timmins Native Friendship Centre Moccasin Gallery and Gifts , 316 Spruce Street South , ☏ +1 705 268-6262 . M-F 8:30AM to 4:30PM . Assisting local Indigenous artists in selling their art and craftwork. You will find authentic moccasins, dream-catchers, paintings, books, etc.  
• Aboveground Art Gallery, Timmins Museum: National Exhibition Centre ( Temporarily located on the site of the Timmins Gold Mine Tour ), ☏ +1 705 360-2600 ext 6607 . M-F 9AM to 5PM . The largest commercial art gallery in the area. Features original work of local and regional artists in a variety of medium including soapstone, gypsum and James Bay river-rock sculptures by Cree carver, John Ivan Etherington (Moose River).  

Eat [ edit ]

While in Timmins, be sure to dine at some of the fantastic locally-owned restaurants. All restaurants, bars and bingo halls in the city are smoke-free.

Budget/take out [ edit ]

• Chez Nous Take Out , ☏ +1 705 267-7297 . Offers delicious poutine, known as Shania’s (and just about everyone’s) favourite.  
• Don’s Pizzeria , ☏ +1 705 264-1361 . A fully licensed Italian restaurant.  
• The McIntyre Coffee Shop , ☏ +1 705 360-5225 . Offers all-day breakfast and home-cooked meals. It is at the site of the one of the city’s oldest gold mines, near the city’s landmark headframe, and features a wall of fame for Timmins’ NHL hockey players.  

Mid-range [ edit ]

• Broadway Restaurant , 71 Third Avenue , ☏ +1 705 264-3434 . Offers breakfast all day and a variety of home-cooked meals.  
• Choy Se Kam's , 246 Algonquin Blvd W , ☏ +1 705 264-6200 . This is a fully licensed authentic Cantonese cuisine restaurant, specializing in Hong Kong style seafood.  
• The Golden Dragon Buffet Restaurant , 128 Third Avenue , ☏ +1 705 268-8898 . Offers the largest Chinese/Canadian buffet in town.  
• La Chaumière , 32 Mountjoy Street North , ☏ +1 705 267-1101 . Offers delicious home-cooked meals.  
• Mickey J’s Big House Bar & Grill , ☏ +1 705 267-3333 . A fully licensed restaurant and pub with a vibrant night-life. They have karaoke on Wednesdays, and live entertainment on weekends.  
• Restaurant Nadeau , 293 Wilson Ave , ☏ +1 705 238-2664 . Delicious home-cooked meals.  
• Siva’s Family Restaurant , ☏ +1 705 268-8882 . Fully licensed, offers all day breakfast, a buffet and a pasta bar.  

Splurge [ edit ]

• Fishbowl Restaurant , 336 Bayfield St , ☏ +1 705 267-3940 . Fully licensed restaurant that serves seafood, pasta and chicken. It is snowmobile accessible.  
• Le Voyageur Dining Room , 1000 Norman St ( in Cedar Meadows Resort and Spa ), ☏ +1 705 268-5800 . Fully licensed restaurant, fine dining specializing in steak and seafood, particularly Black Angus and wild meats.  
• The Airport Hotel , ☏ +1 705 235-3332 . Fully-licensed, offers fine-dining and is accessible by snowmobile, float plane and boat.  
• Senator Dining Room , 14 Mountjoy St S ( in the Senator Hotel ), ☏ +1 705-267-6211 , +1 705-267-3161 . Fully licensed, fine dining specializing in pastas, steaks and seafood. $30-45/main course .  

Sleep [ edit ]

Budget [ edit ].

• Airport Hotel , 151 Bruce Ave , ☏ +1 705 235-3332 . 1 single: $22; 2 twin: $44; 1 king suite: N/A.  
• Carabelle Inn Motel , 4427 hwy 101 E , ☏ +1 705 235-8101 . 1 queen: $60; 2 double: $65; 1 king suite: N/A.  
• 48.47583 -81.33532 1 The Senator Hotel , 14 Mountjoy St S , ☏ +1 705 267-6211 , [email protected] . Check-in: Noon , check-out: 11AM . Double from $115 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• Pine Ridge Motel , 4133 hwy 101 W , ☏ +1 705 280-5718 . 1 double: $55; 2 double: $71.50; 1 king suite: $75.00. ( updated Feb 2024 )
• Regal Motel , Hwy 101 Sth. Porcupine , ☏ +1 705 235-3393 . 1 queen: N/A; 2 double: $75; 1 king suite: N/A  
• Bon Air Motel , 355 Algonquin Blvd. E , ☏ +1 705 264-1275 . 1 queen: $85, 2 double: $99, 1 king suite: $185.  
• Comfort Inn , 939 Algonquin Blvd. E , ☏ +1 705 264-9474 . 1 queen: $107.17 to $127.27; 2 double: $107.17; 1 king suite: N/A  
• Ramada , 1800 Riverside Dr , ☏ +1 705 267-6241 . Smoke-free hotel, 105 rooms. 1 king: $99; 2 double: $99; 1 king suite: $139 $100-140 .  
• Travelodge , 1136 Riverside Dr , ☏ +1 705 360-1122 . 1 queen: $94; 2 double: $94; 1 king suite: $135  
• Cedar Meadows Resort , 1000 Norman St , ☏ +1 705 268-5800 . 1 king: $130 to $140; 2 double: $105 to $115; 1 queen suite: $206  
• McIntyre Bed & Breakfast , 150 hwy 655 , ☏ +1 705 268-5242 . 1 queen: $119; 2 double: $129; Guest Cottage: $199 to $250  

Learn [ edit ]

• Université de Hearst à Timmins , 20 rue Wilcox, +1-800-887-1781. French-language university.
• College Boréal , 11 rue Elm Nord, +1 705 267-5850. French-language college.
• Northern College of Applied Arts and Technology , Porcupine Campus, Hwy 101 E, +1 705 235-3211. English-language college.

Stay safe [ edit ]

If you're driving in to the area, be warned that the roads can be snow-covered and icy in the winter and early spring - take to heart everything discussed on the winter driving page. Your best bet is winter tires (chains aren't allowed), however taking a bag of sand or kitty litter in your trunk can help you if you're stuck and spinning your tires. Most locals are happy to help push if you get stuck. In case of a breakdown, make sure that you take along a standard road safety kit with flares, gloves, and a warm blanket.

The forests surrounding the city are home to potentially dangerous wildlife such as black bears, always take caution when traversing the walking trails or when camping. One suggestion is to carry a whistle or arm yourself with bear spray to ensure your safety when enjoying the outdoors, both alone or with a group.

Nearby [ edit ]

Matheson [ edit ].

Matheson is east of Timmins at the junction of Highways 11 and 101 – if you're approaching Timmins from the east, you're passing through Matheson.

• Vi-Mar Motel , 1581 Highway 11 , ☏ +1 705-273-2535 . ( updated Mar 2022 )

Go next [ edit ]

Timmins can be a good place to make your way to if you're looking to explore non-road access towns in Northern Ontario. Airline carriers such as Air Creebec and Thunder Airlines can take you to regions that you can't drive to, such as Moosonee and Attawapiskat

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Timmins remains a hidden gem for gold discoveries

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Exploration players are bringing fresh eyes and are testing out new geological theories in making gold discoveries in an outlying area of the Timmins gold camp. 

The area east of Timmins, toward Matheson, has attracted a cluster of junior mining companies that might unlock the next generation of gold production in the camp for years to come.

Executives from three companies — GFG Resources, Moneta Gold and Onyx Gold — rounded up with this week for a 6ixwebinar, hosted by Junior Resource Investing, that highlighted their activity and their approach to exploration in the East Timmins part of the camp.

There’s been gold mining in Timmins since the 1930s, but the new arrivals maintain there’s economic gold to be mined in unexplored and underappreciated places.

A big reason why there’s plenty of unearthed potential in such a historic camp is the nature of the fragmented land ownership with privately owned patented land that’s hindered geologists from getting a big regional picture. 

Assembling a land package for exploration was “tough sledding” for Onyx Gold, according to CEO Brock Colterjohn, which made a flurry of deals over the years that involved tracking down individual owners of ground.

In one instance, a key piece of ground was held in a bank trust and owned, unknowingly, by a gunshop owner in Tennessee. “He had no idea he even held title to a patented claim in a very important part of our land package,” said Colterjohn.

Onyx Gold is a new presence in Timmins, born out of a predecessor company, HighGold Mining, that had been exploring in the camp for decades. They see a gold revival at the Munro Croesus property, 75 kilometres east of the city, home to Ontario’s highest grade past-producing gold mine.

The Timmins name alone, as an industry brand, makes it easier to source capital to finance projects.

Brian Skanderbeg, president-CEO of GFG Resources, said Timmins remains “sought-after” ground because of its prospectivity. For a gold camp that’s produced 100 million ounces over its history, he believes there are many more millions of ounces to be had.

His Saskatoon-based outfit has been working in Timmins for five years. Its focus, among its three blocks of ground, is its advanced Montclerg Project, east of the city, where it’s spending $3 million in drilling this year on a property that’s seen past gold production.

Skanderbeg and the other executives noted that compared to other Canadian gold camps, Timmins provides all the infrastructure an aspiring gold company requires with processing mills, knowledgeable people who know the camp, available power, roads running everywhere, and a politically stable environment, nationally and globally speaking, for junior miners to do their work.

The area’s two biggest gold miners, Newmont and Pan American Silver, control huge swaths of ground, along with secondary players such as Agnico Eagle and McEwen Mining.

Being in the shadow of those headframes improves an exploration company’s odds of securing capital when working in a camp like Timmins, said Skanderbeg, provided you can demonstrate the probability of finding gold.

Alamos Gold, one of GFG’s largest shareholders, Skanderbeg said, is firmly entrenched in the Abitibi gold belt with a dominant land position and processing plants.

“They believe in this camp and they believe in the people.”

In the Matheson area, 100 kilometres east of Timmins, Moneta Gold is moving its Tower Gold Project toward production in 2029 as both an open pit and underground mine. So far, they’ve banked 12.8 million ounces of indicated and inferred gold. 

Jason Dankowski, Moneta’s vice-president of technical services and geology, said his company is driving a culture of innovation toward finding new resources around Tower Gold. 

That’s being enabled by the geologists in Timmins who’ve worked in the camp for decades, who are familiar with different mineralization styles in different mines, and who remain “true geologists.”

“That’s something that’s sort of lacking in the industry,” said Dankowski.

Timmins, he said, seems to attract those people who want to test new model methodologies. “That drives that explorationist point of view.”

That combination, he said, will “get you that initial success.” 

“If you can get that through the drill bit, capital will come.”

New mill infrastructure in East Timmins, Dankowski said, will “open the door to all kinds of new ways of thinking” to both pit and underground operations. The nearest mill is 100 kilometres away in Timmins and available haulage is limited.

He believes Moneta can be a catalyst to attract other big and mid-tier miners that will breathe new life into the camp.

Colterjohn of Onyx views East Timmins as “the next generation of production.”

His company’s mantra is all about finding new value in unexplored places in established mining camps through a combination of traditional knowledge and progressive thinking.

He claimed there’s been an evolving geological understanding of where gold should exist, particularly in exploring the underexplored breaks off the main geological structures.

To find inspiration, he points to northwestern Ontario and the Great Bear discovery in Red Lake, where gold was discovered in a place of that high-grade camp where it “shouldn’t exist,” based on traditional geological knowledge.

“Great Bear in Red Lake rewrote the geological handbook on that mature mining camp.”

Closer to home, Colterjohn said their other project, Golden Mile, a 15-kilometre-long by 10-kilometre-wide strip of property, east of Timmins, has only seen 15 drill holes over several decades. Yet it’s on a trend with the Bell Creek, Hoyle Pond and the McIntyre Mines.

The area went largely untouched, he explained, because the mining companies historically went after the low-hanging fruit, where gold was outcropping at surface. Newer exploration players have stepped out from the main Timmins camp over the years and found success, drilling sometimes blindly through many metres of rock and soil overburden where there are gold extensions.

“There’s certainly lots of ounces to be discovered in this camp,” he said.

Skanderbeg is keen to see how development in the Timmins camp unfolds over the next few years.

He’s “quite optimistic” in its immediate future as new discoveries will reinvigorate investment in the camp, with new companies like Moneta looking to grow the region’s production and build new pieces of mine infrastructure.

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Timmins gold mine tour receives corporate donation (8/02)

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Sandvik Tamrock Canada donated a 20-tonne load haul dumper to the Timmins Underground Gold Mine Tour as a permanent display.

The diesel-hydraulic machine is used underground to remove broken up ore after blasting. Similar models are in operation at Falconbridge's Kidd Creek mine site. Sandvik Tamrock is one of the world's leading suppliers of mining equipment.

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Preview of The Canadian Mining Expo 2023 - Timmins, Where the World Comes to Explore

The Canadian Mining Expo (CME) has been promoting Northern Ontario mining operations, junior mining, supply & service companies, education and training institutions, investment information, new trends and technology and the inclusiveness of First Nations in mining for the past 30 years.   The tradition continues as everything that is mining will be on display June 7 and 8 at the McIntyre Community Complex in Timmins, Ontario during the CME 2023. The McIntyre Complex includes two arena facilities (one skating and the other a curling rink) an Auditorium, Ballroom, Restaurant, Breakout Rooms, the Lion’s Den Lounge along with a large outdoor space for large equipment and pavilions. Timmins is one of Northern Ontario’s only facilities capable of hosting such a large event.

https://virtex.canadianminingexpo.com/

To celebrate Timmins’ mining legacy and to welcome CME 2023, the City of Timmins has declared June 3rd to 9th as Mining Week. The CME 2023 is where the mining world comes to explore.   Timmins is in the heart of Canada’s golden region, along the Golden Highway, better known as the Abitibi-Greenstone Belt that stretches from Val D’or Quebec, through Kirkland Lake, to Timmins and Gogama and west to Chapleau, Wawa, Marathon and beyond.   “With the announcement of Canada and Ontario’s critical minerals policies we are entering a new golden era of mining along the Golden Highway – the Abitibi Greenstone,” said Glenn Dredhart, president of Canadian Trade-Ex, the hosts and lead organizers of the event.    “We’re excited, the industry is excited, and Timmins is excited,” Dredhart said.   Gold mining has been the backbone of the Golden Region’s success, but important shifts and developments are taking shape in the Golden Region that will guide the next 100 years of mining.    Gold mining continues to expand, with ever-increasing gold exploration projects and gold mine openings. The exploration for electric vehicle battery minerals has grown widely with the planned elimination of gasoline-driven cars. The demand for electric car battery materials like lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare earth elements has skyrocketed. By 2026 it will be more difficult to purchase a brand-new gas-powered car from a dealership. By 2035, it is predicted you will no longer have the option to buy a new-gas-powered car from a dealership.   Northern Ontario and Quebec will become the Electric Superhighway Region kicking off the next golden era in the Golden Region. The importance of this generational transformation in mining has been noted by many including U.S. President Joe Biden.   “We’ve learned the hard way, “stated US President Biden in a press conference recently. “When we rely on just-in-time supply chains that circle the globe, then we are significantly vulnerable to disruptions and delays.”    “This drives up costs and shortages both here in the USA and in Canada,” President Biden noted. “We are both feeling the disruptions he went on to say.”    Biden continued by saying, “but there is a better way as our two nations are blessed with incredible amounts of natural resources. Canada has large quantities of Critical Minerals that are essential for a clean energy future, for the worlds clean energy future.” The President concluded, “I believe there are incredible opportunities to work together so Canada and the United States can source and supply here in North America everything we need.”   “As this multi-generational opportunity occurs, CME will lead the way in promoting working in harmony with not only our neighbors to the south but our First Nation communities and the elders from these communities in where these discoveries are occurring. As protectors to the land, they hold a lot of pressure, and we should be grateful and respectful for what they have done and do to protect this land,” Dredhart stated.   The CME offers a broad range of activities, information and knowledge for the mining and supply companies, educators, job seekers, new technology, changes in government legislation and regulation, development in Indigenous communities in mining.   Visitors and participants from around the world attend the CME to learn about mining and the mining supply services sector. In the past CME has been attended by global delegations from India, Germany, Peru, Korea, and Africa just to mention a few participating countries. The expo attracts exhibitors from all over the world.   The Canadian Mining Expo is the premier mining trade show in Ontario with over 400 indoor and outdoor exhibit spaces one can expect to see the latest innovations in mining and exploration. Delegates from all over the world make this event their number one destination every June. It is a boots on the ground type of event that is supported by the mining communities that surround it.   There are many activities to whet one’s appetite while attending the event. One of the trade show highlights is the onsite demos where you can see it, touch it and talk to the manufacturing reps on site that build it.    The Canadian Mining Expo has partnered with the Far Northeast Training Board and their partners to host the largest Mining Career Fair in Canada with over 60 companies hiring. The mining industry is anxious to meet with career seekers during the event. Bring your resumes to the show and your registration is free and you are eligible to win 1 troy ounce of gold. Your name is entered into the big draw during the event. Once you enter the trade show grounds you must go to the registration desk upstairs in the Auditorium and the JOB HUB will assist you in your job search. This portion of the expo is called Explore Your Options in Mining. On the website you can see the list of exhibitors on the Job Board and the positions they are hiring for.   New this year is the First Nation’s Partnerships & Critical Minerals Forum. Come meet with and hear from the Critical Minerals developers, active juniors and their First Nation Partners. Learn about the world class projects that will help fulfill the demand for critical minerals. Meet with government officials, industry leaders, the Minister of Mines and Indigenous leaders and organizations that have fostered profitable and sustainable business partnerships. Wabun Tribal Council will be moderating and providing a presentation on a successful partnership model that works for the communities they serve. Partnerships such as the Chief Marcus Hardy of The Red Rock Indian Band and Justus Veldman from BMI Group are just one of many that will be presenting. They will be speaking to their capacity and community-building work that advances both First Nations interests and the development of infrastructure and supply chain solutions for the mining industry in the North.   This years Projects in the Pipeline Conference will feature Canada’s largest gold producers and the Minister of Mines, George Pirie will be giving the Ontario State of Mining Address. Iamgold’s Côté Gold Mine, Agnico Eagle’s Detour Mine & Macassa Mine, Equinox Gold’s Greenstone Mine, McEwen Mining’s Stock West project, Moneta’s Tower Gold Project, Wesdome Gold’s growth potential, Gowest Gold’s path forward, Galleon Gold’s push to production, GFG Resources drilling the Timmins Gold Camp and more will be presented this year. This conference is always a well attended and sold out conference as suppliers and service groups can hear from top CEO and management level representatives and how their company can help play a role in the operations’ success.   To help celebrate Timmins Mining Week the very popular Jackleg Drilling Competitions are held on the first day of the event. Manroc Development will be hosting this year’s competitions and after hosting a successful Northwestern Ontario Competition last fall in Thunder Bay the group noticed the mines in the region were represented by their teams which added a lot of fun to the event. “We are encouraging the regional mines to get involved by supporting their miners in this year’s competition,” stated Glenn Dredhart. This competition is a fun way to celebrate one of the most basic mining activities –underground jackleg drilling. It honours Timmins’ miners and the mining heritage. Cash and trophies will be awarded, and it is free to register. There are three categories of competitors, Professional, Amateur men and women and Dignitaries Challenge.    There are tours and networking events scheduled during the expo. The VIP Mining Social and the Gala Dinner and Awards Night are networking events you won't want to miss. There is one thing for sure, Timmins is one of the best when it comes to hosting it’s guests. The VIP Mining Social is the largest mining networking event in Northern Ontario. VIP guests (600) are invited to enjoy an evening of fun, great food, live entertainment, and local beverages. The event is sponsored by industry and is free to the invited guests.   The Gala Dinner & Mining Awards Night is held as the big kick off event to the mining expo and since its inception, has raised over $170,000.00 for local non-profit mining organizations! The Northern Mining Awards Night as part of the Gala Dinner recognizes individuals and companies for their contributions to the mining industry in Northern Ontario. The Gala Dinner is a great way to network with industry leaders and dignitaries while at the same time help support our future mining industry with student bursaries for 2023-24.   The trade show hours are Wednesday, June 7th, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm and on Thursday June 8th, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm.   The Grand Opening Ceremonies are held at 11:00 am on the grounds north of the McIntyre Arena at the Jackleg Drilling Rocks. Join us as we celebrate Mining Week in Timmins and the opening of Ontario's largest mining show with a lineup of speakers representing the mining industry and our community leaders.   “The event has grown year after year and last year we had over 300 displays, the response this year is even more overwhelming with 400 displays and if we had another arena, we could have filled it, we ran out of space,” said Dredhart.  

Timmins Underground Gold Mine Tour

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TIMMINS UNDERGROUND GOLD MINE TOUR - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go