Renfrew, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Renfrew, Ontario
, Canada
, is a town on the Bonnechere River
in Renfrew County
. Located one hour west of Ottawa
in Eastern Ontario
, Renfrew is the third largest town in the county after Petawawa and Pembroke
. The town is a small transportation hub connecting Ontario Highway 60 and Highway 132 with the Trans-Canada Highway
. Renfrew is also known historically for its role in the formation of the National Hockey League
.
, Renfrew was settled largely in part due to logging in the area in the early 19th century, where the river was used in order to drive the lumber to locations such as Ottawa
. This heritage was until recently celebrated every July with the Lumber Baron Festival.
As of 2011, the town's official slogan is "Renfrew, We do things the right way."
The creation of railroad contractor and town founder, M. J. O'Brien and his son Ambrose, the Renfrew Millionaires were originally called the Renfrew Creamery Kings, and were a small hockey team playing in the Upper Ottawa Valley League. Dreaming of having their hockey team win the Stanley Cup, the O'Brien's fought to have the team recognized by the Eastern Canadian Hockey Association, which would later become the Canadian Hockey Association (CHA).
After numerous rejections and snubs, the O'Brien's finally and simply just created their own League, and called it the National Hockey Association (NHA). M.J. financed four teams in the League: the Renfrew Creamery Kings which became the Renfrew Millionaires, Cobalt, Haileybury and Les Canadiens of Montreal. Within a month, the Montreal Wanderers also joined to became the fifth team.
At first, the media didn't take this new League, or the Renfrew Millionaires, seriously. But by the time the Millionaires hit the ice on January 12, 1910, the 4,000 capacity crowd at the Renfrew hockey arena were on their feet. The crowds continued to fill the arena, despite the Millionaires first game loss of 11 - 9 to Cobalt - the special train to Renfrew from Ottawa to watch the hockey games became so popular it was labeled the 'Timberwolf Special' by the press.
Adding to the excitement was the team roster. O'Brien and Ambrose were paying huge cash salaries for a team of hockey stars, attracting attention and the best talent. Bert Lindsay, father of well-known hockey legend Ted Lindsay, was brought in to play goal for the Millionaires. Lester and Frank Patrick were signed at the outrageous cost of $3,000 and $2,000 a season. Frank "Cyclone" Taylor became the highest paid athlete in the world when he joined the Renfrew Millionaires for $5,250 a year.
The next season, 1910/1911, saw the Ottawa Senators leave the larger Canadian Hockey League, taking the Cup with them, joining the O'Brien's NHA League.
After all the hard work and investment, the Stanley Cup was now in sight, in the same League, and within grasp for the Renfrew Millionaires.
But after two exciting hockey seasons, the Renfrew Millionaires were not destined to have the Cup. Coming in third place after the second season, the financial costs became too high, and with O'Brien's interests in railroads growing, the family withdrew the Renfrew franchise teams from the NHA and professional hockey forever.
Still, the impact O'Brien and his son Ambrose made would be permanent. One of the two original O'Brien franchise hockey teams was sold to Percy Quinn to become the Toronto Blueshirts – which through accession, time, new ownership and an amalgamation, would eventually became the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1928.
Another O'Brien team in the NHA would go on to become the beloved Montreal Canadiens.
The NHA established by M.J. O'Brien formed the foundation of today's National Hockey League.
Canadians and hockey fans everywhere owe their love of today's game, and League, to the hard work and dreams of M.J. and Ambrose
http://www.nhlbirthplace.ca/
are at the intersection of the Bonnechere River
and the Ottawa River
in the Ottawa Valley
. Renfrew is at the intersection of provincial Highway 17
, Highway 60
, and Highway 132
.
Middle School (Grade 7-8)
Secondary School (Grade 9-12)
Secondary School (Grade 8-12)
Private dwellings, excluding seasonal cottages: 3549 (total: 3686)
First Language:
brand featured on the discontinued Red Green Show. Times Fibre Canada and Madawaska Hardwood Flooring also have manufacturing facilities in town. Renfrew is also home to many successful small businesses. Between 2000 and 2005, a major portion of Renfrew's retail business, and the associated customer services jobs, shifted from the west-end Renfrew mall(now demolished) to the east-end formally-industrial park due to the opening of several major big-box
and smaller retail stores just off Highway 17
.
Despite the apparent prosperity, Statistics Canada reported the average earnings of Renfrew residents in 2000 as $35,811, or roughly 31% lower than the provincial average and 5% lower than the county average. Further, the town reports, relative to the population size and compared to the province as a whole, fewer positions in management, business, finance, administration and natural or applied sciences, while there was greater than the provincial rates of occupation in sales and service, trades, transport and equipment operators, processing, manufacturing and utilities.
The O'Brien Theatre was a balconied and elegantly decorated town landmark that was converted from a live theatre to a movie theatre, then upgraded in the 1990s to accommodate two screens, but maintains much of the original appeal.
John Lorn McDougall, politician and fur trader, built the mill in 1855 by the Bonnechere River
near the town landmark Swinging Bridge and overlooking natural rapids below the Renfrew Power Generation generating station. It has been converted into a museum, sometimes referred to as 'Renfrew Museum', not to be confused with museums of that name in Pennsylvania and Scotland. The McDougall Mill Museum houses pioneer tools and machinery, a military section, a doll exhibit, as well as toys, Victorian clothing and household items.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, is a town on the Bonnechere River
Bonnechere River
The Bonnechere River is a river in the Saint Lawrence River drainage basin in Nipissing District and Renfrew County in eastern and northeastern Ontario, Canada. The river flows from Algonquin Provincial Park to the Ottawa River east and north of the town of Renfrew...
in Renfrew County
Renfrew County, Ontario
Renfrew is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario. In 2006, the population was 97,545 and county covered , giving a population density of . There are 17 official municipalities.-Government:...
. Located one hour west of Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
in Eastern Ontario
Eastern Ontario
Eastern Ontario is a subregion of Southern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario which lies in a wedge-shaped area between the Ottawa River and St. Lawrence River...
, Renfrew is the third largest town in the county after Petawawa and Pembroke
Pembroke, Ontario
Pembroke is a city in the province of Ontario, Canada, at the confluence of the Muskrat River and the Ottawa River in the Ottawa Valley...
. The town is a small transportation hub connecting Ontario Highway 60 and Highway 132 with the Trans-Canada Highway
Trans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway is a federal-provincial highway system that joins the ten provinces of Canada. It is, along with the Trans-Siberian Highway and Australia's Highway 1, one of the world's longest national highways, with the main route spanning 8,030 km...
. Renfrew is also known historically for its role in the formation of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
.
History
Named after the town of Renfrew in ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Renfrew was settled largely in part due to logging in the area in the early 19th century, where the river was used in order to drive the lumber to locations such as Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. This heritage was until recently celebrated every July with the Lumber Baron Festival.
As of 2011, the town's official slogan is "Renfrew, We do things the right way."
Birthplace of the NHL
The Renfrew Millionaires were a professional hockey team, that for two seasons, 1910–1911 and 1911–1912, would attract national attention to the small timber town of Renfrew, Ontario.The creation of railroad contractor and town founder, M. J. O'Brien and his son Ambrose, the Renfrew Millionaires were originally called the Renfrew Creamery Kings, and were a small hockey team playing in the Upper Ottawa Valley League. Dreaming of having their hockey team win the Stanley Cup, the O'Brien's fought to have the team recognized by the Eastern Canadian Hockey Association, which would later become the Canadian Hockey Association (CHA).
After numerous rejections and snubs, the O'Brien's finally and simply just created their own League, and called it the National Hockey Association (NHA). M.J. financed four teams in the League: the Renfrew Creamery Kings which became the Renfrew Millionaires, Cobalt, Haileybury and Les Canadiens of Montreal. Within a month, the Montreal Wanderers also joined to became the fifth team.
At first, the media didn't take this new League, or the Renfrew Millionaires, seriously. But by the time the Millionaires hit the ice on January 12, 1910, the 4,000 capacity crowd at the Renfrew hockey arena were on their feet. The crowds continued to fill the arena, despite the Millionaires first game loss of 11 - 9 to Cobalt - the special train to Renfrew from Ottawa to watch the hockey games became so popular it was labeled the 'Timberwolf Special' by the press.
Adding to the excitement was the team roster. O'Brien and Ambrose were paying huge cash salaries for a team of hockey stars, attracting attention and the best talent. Bert Lindsay, father of well-known hockey legend Ted Lindsay, was brought in to play goal for the Millionaires. Lester and Frank Patrick were signed at the outrageous cost of $3,000 and $2,000 a season. Frank "Cyclone" Taylor became the highest paid athlete in the world when he joined the Renfrew Millionaires for $5,250 a year.
The next season, 1910/1911, saw the Ottawa Senators leave the larger Canadian Hockey League, taking the Cup with them, joining the O'Brien's NHA League.
After all the hard work and investment, the Stanley Cup was now in sight, in the same League, and within grasp for the Renfrew Millionaires.
But after two exciting hockey seasons, the Renfrew Millionaires were not destined to have the Cup. Coming in third place after the second season, the financial costs became too high, and with O'Brien's interests in railroads growing, the family withdrew the Renfrew franchise teams from the NHA and professional hockey forever.
Still, the impact O'Brien and his son Ambrose made would be permanent. One of the two original O'Brien franchise hockey teams was sold to Percy Quinn to become the Toronto Blueshirts – which through accession, time, new ownership and an amalgamation, would eventually became the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1928.
Another O'Brien team in the NHA would go on to become the beloved Montreal Canadiens.
The NHA established by M.J. O'Brien formed the foundation of today's National Hockey League.
Canadians and hockey fans everywhere owe their love of today's game, and League, to the hard work and dreams of M.J. and Ambrose
http://www.nhlbirthplace.ca/
Geography
Renfrew and the surrounding Township of HortonHorton, Ontario
For other places with the same name, see Horton .Horton is a township in eastern Ontario, Canada, at the confluence of the Bonnechere River and the Ottawa River in Renfrew County. The Town of Renfrew was originally part of Horton Township.Robert A...
are at the intersection of the Bonnechere River
Bonnechere River
The Bonnechere River is a river in the Saint Lawrence River drainage basin in Nipissing District and Renfrew County in eastern and northeastern Ontario, Canada. The river flows from Algonquin Provincial Park to the Ottawa River east and north of the town of Renfrew...
and the Ottawa River
Ottawa River
The Ottawa River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. For most of its length, it now defines the border between these two provinces.-Geography:...
in the Ottawa Valley
Ottawa Valley
The Ottawa Valley is the valley along the boundary between Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec along the Ottawa River. The valley is the transition between the Saint Lawrence Lowlands and the Canadian Shield...
. Renfrew is at the intersection of provincial Highway 17
Highway 17 (Ontario)
King's Highway 17, more commonly known as Highway 17, is a provincially maintained highway and the primary route of the Trans-Canada Highway through the Canadian province of Ontario. It begins at the Manitoba border west of Kenora and ends south of Arnprior at the western terminus of Highway 417, ...
, Highway 60
Highway 60 (Ontario)
King's Highway 60, commonly referred to as Highway 60, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. The highway serves as the primary corridor through Algonquin Provincial Park, where it is dedicated as the Frank McDougall Parkway. East of Algonquin Park, the route...
, and Highway 132
Highway 132 (Ontario)
King's Highway 132, commonly referred to as Highway 132, is a provincially maintained highway the Canadian province of Ontario. Its western terminus is at Highway 41 near Dacre while its eastern terminus is at Highway 60 in Renfrew....
.
Renfrew County District School Board
Primary Schools (Grade K-6)- Admaston Public School
- Central Public School
- Queen Elizabeth Public School
Middle School (Grade 7-8)
- Renfrew Collegate Intermediate School
Secondary School (Grade 9-12)
- Renfrew Collegiate InstituteRenfrew Collegiate InstituteRenfrew Collegiate Institute is a secondary school in the town of Renfrew, Ontario and is part of the Renfrew County District School Board.* Renfrew County District School Board * Renfrew Collegiate Institute web page * RCI Alumni site...
Renfrew County Catholic District School Board
Primary Schools (Grade K-7)- St. Thomas Catholic School
- Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School
Secondary School (Grade 8-12)
- St. Joseph's Catholic High School
Demographics
Population:- Population in 2006: 7846 (2001 to 2006 population change: -1.2 %)
- Population in 2001: 7942
- Population in 1996: 8125
- Population in 1991: 8134
Private dwellings, excluding seasonal cottages: 3549 (total: 3686)
First Language:
- English: 91.8 %
- French: 4.0 %
- English and French: 0.5 %
- Other: 3.7 %
Economy
Much of Renfrew's current prosperity can be attributed to its status as an economic centre for a surrounding rural region with a population of over 30,000. Renfrew is also an important stop for Ottawa-based cottagers and outdoor enthusiasts passing by on their way to nearby whitewater rafting, boating, camping, hunting, golfing, fishing, snowmobiling, down-hill skiing, and cross-country skiing. However, the area's largest single employers are the Renfrew Victoria Hospital and the Bonnechere Manor. In addition to numerous small employers, there are also several manufacturing facilities employing several hundred people; Scapa Tapes Renfrew, formerly Renfrew Tape makes products such as hockey tape that is used across North America and the duct tapeDuct tape
Duct tape, or duck tape, is cloth- or scrim-backed pressure sensitive tape often sealed with polyethylene. It is very similar to gaffer tape but differs in that gaffer tape was designed to be cleanly removed, while duct tape was not. It has a standard width of and is generally silver or black...
brand featured on the discontinued Red Green Show. Times Fibre Canada and Madawaska Hardwood Flooring also have manufacturing facilities in town. Renfrew is also home to many successful small businesses. Between 2000 and 2005, a major portion of Renfrew's retail business, and the associated customer services jobs, shifted from the west-end Renfrew mall(now demolished) to the east-end formally-industrial park due to the opening of several major big-box
Big-box store
A big-box store is a physically large retail establishment, usually part of a chain. The term sometimes also refers, by extension, to the company that operates the store...
and smaller retail stores just off Highway 17
Highway 17 (Ontario)
King's Highway 17, more commonly known as Highway 17, is a provincially maintained highway and the primary route of the Trans-Canada Highway through the Canadian province of Ontario. It begins at the Manitoba border west of Kenora and ends south of Arnprior at the western terminus of Highway 417, ...
.
Despite the apparent prosperity, Statistics Canada reported the average earnings of Renfrew residents in 2000 as $35,811, or roughly 31% lower than the provincial average and 5% lower than the county average. Further, the town reports, relative to the population size and compared to the province as a whole, fewer positions in management, business, finance, administration and natural or applied sciences, while there was greater than the provincial rates of occupation in sales and service, trades, transport and equipment operators, processing, manufacturing and utilities.
Media
- Renfrew Mercury (external link)
- My FM (external link)
- TVCogecoTVCogecoTVCogeco is the brand of community channels owned by Cogeco Cable, many of which share common programs. TVCogeco broadcasts into the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Some channels broadcast in both the English and French languages, often on separate channels.Programming on the channels are...
- CJHR-FMCJHR-FMCJHR-FM is a Canadian radio station broadcasting at 98.7 FM, in Renfrew, Ontario with a community radio format.CJHR-FM began broadcasting at 98.7 MHz on December 11, 2006....
98.7, Valley Heritage Radio (external link)
The O'Brien Theatre was a balconied and elegantly decorated town landmark that was converted from a live theatre to a movie theatre, then upgraded in the 1990s to accommodate two screens, but maintains much of the original appeal.
Festivals
- Renfrew was the bi-annual host and sponsor of the Ottawa Valley Lumber Baron Festival, a celebration of the town's roots in the logging industry. The Lumber Baron Festival is now known as Valleyfest, dropping its historical roots.
- The Renfrew Fair has been drawing mixed crowds for decades with its mid-way rides, exhibits, demolition derby, musical acts and livestock showcase. The fair takes place on the second weekend of every September and lasts from Wednesday afternoon through Sunday afternoon. The rides are supplied by the company Conklin ShowsConklin ShowsConklin Shows was the largest traveling amusement corporation in North America. The 75 year-old company operated 'fun fairs' at various summer agricultural shows across North America and is based in Brantford, Ontario and West Palm Beach, FL. The company has a long history in Canada, providing...
. - In recent years, local farm-owner Andy Taylor has hosted FarmJam, a twelve-hour festival featuring varying musical acts.
- In 2008, Renfrew celebrated its sesquicentennial throughout the calendar year.
Famous residents
- Ambrose O'Brien
- Charlotte WhittonCharlotte WhittonCharlotte Elizabeth Whitton, OC, CBE was a Canadian feminist and mayor of Ottawa. She was the first female mayor of a major city in Canada, serving from 1951 to 1956 and again from 1960 to 1964...
- Christine HoughChristine HoughChristine "Tuffy" Hough is a retired Canadian pair skater. With partner Doug Ladret, she won the 1988 Canadian Figure Skating Championships.-Career:...
- Professional ice hockey player, member of NHL, Hall of Fame inductee "Terrible" Ted LindsayTed LindsayRobert Blake Theodore Lindsay is a former professional ice hockey player, a forward for the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League . He scored over 800 points in his Hockey Hall of Fame career, won the Art Ross Trophy in 1950, and won the Stanley Cup four times...
- NHL players Lorne AndersonLorne AndersonLorne Robert Anderson was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League. Born in Renfrew, Ontario, he played with the New York Rangers. He gave up the fastest hat trick in NHL history, in 21 seconds, to Bill Mosienko on March 23, 1952.- External links :* at...
, Archie Brydon, Bill BrydgeBill BrydgeWilliam Henry Beatty Brydge was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 368 games in the National Hockey League . He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Cougars and the New York Americans. He was born in Renfrew, Ontario.- External links :*...
and Tony Iob; Tony Iob also played for the Italy men's national ice hockey team at the 2006 Winter OlympicsIce hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics-Leading scorers:-Leading goaltenders:Goalkeepers with 40% or more of their team's total minutes.-Awards:Antero Niittymäki was named the most valuable player and received the Directorate Award for best goaltender of the tournament. Directorate Awards also went to Teemu Selänne for best forward, and...
in Torino. - W. H. DaviesW. H. DaviesWilliam Henry Davies or W. H. Davies was a Welsh poet and writer. Davies spent a significant part of his life as a tramp or vagabond in the United States and United Kingdom, but became known as one of the most popular poets of his time...
, famous WelshWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
"tramp-poet", who lost his foot trying to jump a freight train at Renfrew on the evening of March 20, 1899. He was subsequently cared for at the local hospital, to which he was forever indebted. - Robertson DaviesRobertson DaviesWilliam Robertson Davies, CC, OOnt, FRSC, FRSL was a Canadian novelist, playwright, critic, journalist, and professor. He was one of Canada's best-known and most popular authors, and one of its most distinguished "men of letters", a term Davies is variously said to have gladly accepted for himself...
, famous Canadian writer of Fifth BusinessFifth BusinessFifth Business is a 1970 novel by Canadian novelist, playwright, critic, journalist, and professor Robertson Davies. It is the first installment of the Deptford Trilogy and is a story of the life of the narrator, Dunstan Ramsay...
. He spent his early years (from age 5 onwards) growing up in Renfrew. His family moved here from Thamesville, OntarioThamesville, OntarioThamesville is a community in Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada. It is located at the junction of former provincial Highways 2 and 21, between Chatham and London. Its name comes from the Thames River that flows nearby and the suffix -ville....
and later they moved to Kingston.
Renfrew's museum, the McDougall Mill Museum
Bonnechere River
The Bonnechere River is a river in the Saint Lawrence River drainage basin in Nipissing District and Renfrew County in eastern and northeastern Ontario, Canada. The river flows from Algonquin Provincial Park to the Ottawa River east and north of the town of Renfrew...
near the town landmark Swinging Bridge and overlooking natural rapids below the Renfrew Power Generation generating station. It has been converted into a museum, sometimes referred to as 'Renfrew Museum', not to be confused with museums of that name in Pennsylvania and Scotland. The McDougall Mill Museum houses pioneer tools and machinery, a military section, a doll exhibit, as well as toys, Victorian clothing and household items.
Further reading
- The Story of Renfrew. From the Coming of the First Settlers about 1820 to 1928. By W. E. Smallfield, Rev. Robert Campbell, D.Sc., William Smallfield, ISBN 1-894378-42-3