Thessalon, Ontario, a charming town nestled on the north shore of Lake Huron, is a hidden gem in the Canadian province of Ontario. Situated at the junction of Highway 17 and Highway 129, Thessalon is surrounded by the municipality of Huron Shores, although it is not part of it. The town is part of Algoma District and serves as the administrative headquarters of the Thessalon First Nation.
The history of Thessalon, Ontario, dates back to 1869 when the region was first surveyed to assess its potential for a lumber industry. By the winter of 1870, the beginnings of a lumber camp had taken root, and a more permanent settlement was established in 1877. Thessalon was incorporated in 1892 with Walter Barrett serving as mayor. Nathaniel Dyment of Barrie, the owner of Dyment Co., one of the earliest and most prominent lumber companies in the area, is considered the founding figure of Thessalon.
The origin of the town's name remains a mystery. Local historian J.E. MacDonald suggested that "Thessalon" is a corruption of a name given by local First Nations, Neyashewun, meaning "a point of land". Alternatively, it is theorized that Jesuit missionaries named the town, drawing parallels between their travels through the region and the plight of the Thessalonians described in the Pauline epistles. Early maps sometimes spelled the town as "Tessalon".
Thessalon, Ontario, offers a variety of recreational activities and amenities. The town boasts an arena, a curling club, and a primary school. It was also home to the Thessalon Flyers. The Voyageur Hiking Trail, which passes near the community, offers stunning views and outdoor adventure. The Thessalon River, flowing through the town and into Lake Huron at Water Street, provides excellent fishing opportunities, with species such as yellow perch, pickerel, bass, northwater salmon, and muskie.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Thessalon, Ontario, had a population of 1,260 living in 559 of its 600 total private dwellings, a decrease of 2% from its 2016 population of 1,286. With a land area of 4.38 km2 (1.69 sq mi), it had a population density of 287.7/km2 (745.1/sq mi) in 2021.
The population trend over the years is as follows:
Thessalon, Ontario, is serviced by Ontario Northland, which provides intercity motor coach service as a stop along its Sault Ste. Marie–Sudbury–North Bay–Ottawa route. The service operates once a day each headed eastbound and westbound from Sunday to Friday, with no service on Saturdays.
Thessalon station was once a divisional point along the Canadian Pacific Railway's Sudbury–Soo Line. Passenger service began in the area around 1905, and a station building was constructed around 1910. However, with dwindling passenger traffic along the line, service was gradually discontinued, and the station was demolished sometime after 1971.
