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Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1884-1969 (Creation)
- Creator
- City of Port Arthur (Ont.)
Physical description area
Physical description
195 m of textual records and other material
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Administrative history
During the years immediately following Confederation, the Ontario government began to take steps to assert control over the northwestern portion of the province. This assertion of control included the surveying of several new townships on the north shore of Lake Superior.
In 1873, the Corporation of the Municipality of Shuniah was established. (Ont. Stat., Cap. A50, 36 Vic.) Shuniah consisted of Thunder Cape and Prince Arthur’s Landing along with the Townships of McGregor, Crooks, McTavish, McIntyre, Paipoonge and Neebing (including Fort William) was the first incorporated municipality in northwestern Ontario. A petition of residents of Shuniah in 1884 resulted in the separation of a section of the Municipality to form The Corporation of the Town of Port Arthur (Ont. Stat., Cap. 57, 47 Vic.).
During the early years of the twentieth century, which were marked by substantial commercial growth and population increase, the inhabitants of Port Arthur petitioned the Ontario Legislature for incorporation as a city. Consequently, in 1907, the Ontario government passed legislation that elevated Port Arthur ( Ont. Stat., Cap. 83, 7 Edw. VII to city status.
In 1969, the Ontario legislature passed an Act to Incorporate the City of the Lakehead ( Ont. Stat., Cap. 56) which provided for the amalgamation of Port Arthur into the new Corporation of the City of Thunder Bay. When this Act took effect on Jan. 1, 1970, Port Arthur ceased to exist as a separate entity.
Custodial history
The fonds was acquired from the City of Thunder Bay.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of minutes, by-laws, agreements, correspondence, reports, financial records, maps and plans which document virtually all aspects of municipal rights, responsibilities and activities. Including council, administration, finance, waterworks, roads, planning, hydro-electrical power, building, engineering, public transportation, parks, recreation, telephone, welfare, police and fire service.
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Restrictions on access
Access to all records in the fonds is governed by the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Use of these records is governed by the City of Thunder Bay Archives and Rules and Regulations for Researchers. Although the majority of the records in the fonds can be reproduced, the Archives reserves the right to refuse to copy records which are fragile or which are subject to restrictions under Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation. Photocopies of documents are available to the general public at $.55 per page and students at $.25 per page. Copies of photographs, maps, etc. are provided at cost. Researchers may be required to pay a deposit when large orders are requested.
Finding aids
File lists are available.
Associated materials
Accruals
Some additional accruals are anticipated.