Kenora, Ontario, previously known as Rat Portage, is a city steeped in history and surrounded by the natural beauty of the Lake of the Woods. Located near the Manitoba boundary and approximately 210 km east of Winnipeg, Kenora is the administrative seat of the Kenora District and the headquarters of the Anishinabe of Wauzhushk Onigum, Obashkaandagaang Bay, and Washagamis Bay First Nations band governments.
The name "Kenora" was derived from the first two letters of Keewatin, Norman, and Rat Portage. The traditional Ojibwe name for Kenora is Wazhashk-Onigamiing, which translates to "place of the muskrat portage," corresponding to the older English name of the settlement, Rat Portage. The Anishinabe of Wauzhushk Onigum First Nation band still retains this name.
Kenora is situated on the traditional territory of the Ojibway people. The city's history dates back to the arrival of European explorers and fur traders, such as Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye. The Hudson's Bay Company established a post on Old Fort Island in 1836 and later on the mainland at Kenora's current location in 1861.
The city was once claimed as part of the Province of Manitoba, leading to a long-lasting dispute known as the Ontario-Manitoba boundary dispute. The issue was finally resolved in 1889 when Kenora officially became part of the province of Ontario.
Kenora's early history was shaped by gold mining and the railway. The first Canadian ocean-to-ocean train passed through Kenora in 1886 on the Canadian Pacific Railway. The city also played a significant role during the Prohibition era in the United States, serving as a smuggler's route for the transport of alcohol.
Kenora encompasses the former towns of Keewatin and Jaffray Melick, as well as the neighbourhoods of Norman, Rabbit Lake, Rideout, Pinecrest, Minto, and Lakeside. Each neighbourhood has its unique history and charm, contributing to the diverse character of the city.
Kenora experiences a humid continental climate with warm summers and cold, dry winters. The city's climate is influenced by continental air masses, resulting in relatively dry winters and warm summers.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Kenora had a population of 14,967. The city's median household income in 2005 was $59,946, slightly below the Ontario provincial average of $60,455.
Kenora is home to the Lake of the Woods Museum and Douglas Family Art Centre, located at The MUSE. The city's downtown core features a public arts project with 20 murals depicting the region's history. Kenora also hosts an annual international freshwater bass fishing tournament and is home to the Huskie the Muskie statue, one of the city's most recognizable features.
Kenora is well-connected by various modes of transportation. Via Rail offers passenger service to Redditt on the CN transcontinental rail line. The city is also served by the Kenora Airport and the M.S. Kenora cruise. Highways 17 and 17A, both part of the Trans-Canada Highway, pass through and around the city, respectively.
Kenora holds geological significance as it lends its name to one of Earth's earliest supercontinents, Kenorland. Rocks and geomagnetic evidence found in Kenora support the creation of Kenorland approximately 2.72 billion years ago, marking the formation of the earliest identifiable land on Earth.
Discover the rich history, vibrant culture, and natural beauty of Kenora, Ontario, a city that offers a unique blend of past and present, tradition and innovation.
