Flin Flon | |
|---|---|
| City of Flin Flon | |
 Main Street of Flin Flon | |
 Flag | |
 City boundaries | |
  Flin Flon Location in Canada Show map of Canada Flin Flon Location in Manitoba Show map of Manitoba | |
| Coordinates:54°46′0″N101°52′40″W / 54.76667°N 101.87778°W /54.76667; -101.87778 | |
| Country | Canada |
| Provinces | Manitoba and Saskatchewan |
| District (Saskatchewan) | Northern Saskatchewan Administration District |
| Region (Manitoba) | Northern Manitoba |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Incorporated | January 1, 1933 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | George Fontaine[1] |
| • Council | Flin Flon City Council |
| • MP | Niki Ashton (NDP, MB) Gary Vidal (CPC, SK) |
| • MLA | Tom Lindsey (NDP, MB) Jordan McPhail (NDP, SK) |
| Area | |
| • Land | 11.55 km2 (4.46 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 300 m (980 ft) |
| Population (2021)[3] | |
• Total | 5,099 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Forward sortation area | |
| Area code | 204 |
| Website | http://www.cityofflinflon.ca/ |
Flin Flon (pop. 5,185 in 2016 census; 4,982 in Manitoba and 203 in Saskatchewan) is amining city, located on acorrection line on the border of the Canadian provinces ofManitoba andSaskatchewan, with the majority of the city located within Manitoba. Residents thus travel southwest into Saskatchewan, and northeast into Manitoba. The city is incorporated in and is jointly administered by both provinces.
The town's name is taken from the lead character in a 1905 paperback novel,The Sunless City byJ. E. Preston Muddock. Josiah Flintabbatey Flonatin piloted a submarine into a bottomless lake where he sailed through a hole lined with gold to enter a strange underground world. A copy of the book was allegedly found and read by prospectorTom Creighton.
When Tom Creighton discovered a high-grade exposure of copper, he thought of the book and called it Flin Flon's mine, and the town that developed around the mine adopted the name. Flin Flon shares the distinction of being named after a character in anadventure novel withTarzana, California andLe Plessis-Robinson, France.
The character of "Flinty", as he is locally known, is of such importance to the identity of the city that in 2003, the local Chamber of Commerce commissioned the minting of a $3.00 coin which was considered legal tender amongst locally participating retailers until September 2004 and a $5.00 coin[4] which was in circulation until December 31, 2008.[5] A statue representing Flinty was designed by cartoonistAl Capp and is one of the points of interest of the city. In 1978, theNational Film Board of Canada produced the short documentaryCanada Vignettes: Flin Flon about the origin of the city's name.[6]
Flin Flon was founded in 1927 byHudson Bay Mining and Smelting (Hudbay) to exploit the large localcopper andzinc ore resources. In the late 1920s, HBM&S invested in a railway, mine, smelter, and ahydroelectric power plant atIsland Falls,Saskatchewan. By 1928, the rail line reached the mine.
The town grew considerably during the 1930s as those impoverished by theGreat Depression came to work at the mines. A significant number of farmers abandoned their farms and were among those looking for work. Themunicipality was incorporated on January 1, 1933, and reached city status in 1970. The city has continued to be a mining centre with the development of several mines adding to its industrial base, although its population has been in decline since the 1960s. With a scenic setting and a number of nearby lakes, Flin Flon has also become a popular tourist destination.
Flin Flon straddles the provincial boundary of Manitoba and Saskatchewan with the majority of the city located in Manitoba. The2016 census reported 4,982 residents in the Manitoba portion and 203 in the Saskatchewan section; the Manitoba portion has a land area of 13.88 km2 (5.4 sq mi), while the Saskatchewan portion has a land area of 2.37 km2 (0.91 sq mi). Due to the zig-zag nature of the Saskatchewan-Manitoba boundary correction lines, the Saskatchewan section of town lies south of the Manitoba section, not west. Main Street crosses the provincial boundary just south of its intersection with Church Street; Hudson Street crosses the provincial boundary between its intersections with 5 Ave E. and Harrison Street, adopting the new name South Hudson Street at the point of crossing; an undeveloped stretch of Channing Drive briefly crosses into Saskatchewan before reentering Manitoba just west of the city's rural Channing neighbourhood.
ForCanada Post purposes, residents in the Saskatchewan portion of the city retain the local Manitoba R8A postal code, and often use a Flin Flon, MB address.[7] For telephone service, however, they are located in Saskatchewan'sarea code 306 as part of theCreighton telephone exchange, rather than Manitoba'sarea code 204. However, residents in Saskatchewan may use either Saskatchewan'sSaskTel or Manitoba'sBell MTS systems for cellular services.[7] Electrical service is received fromManitoba Hydro for both the Manitoba and Saskatchewan parts of the city.[7]
The majority of Flin Flon's surface topology is exposedCanadian Shield bedrock, hence the nickname "the city built on rock". Due to this and climatic factors, agriculture is generally not possible although grain farming is found 130 kilometres (80 mi) southeast inThe Pas, Manitoba, which is south of the Canadian Shield. The extensive bedrock exposure led to some interesting adaptations. In the northwestern areas of the city, there is often not enough overburden to bury water and sewer lines, so "sewer boxes" exist above surface to house the infrastructure. Many of these are used as ad-hoc sidewalks.
Flin Flon experiences ahumid continental climate (Köppen climate classificationDfb). There is a wide range in seasonal temperatures, with warm summers and bitterly cold winters. Temperatures in January have an average low of −22.9 °C (−9.2 °F) and an average high of −14.7 °C (5.5 °F). Temperatures in July have an average high of 24.1 °C (75.4 °F) and an average low of 13.6 °C (56.5 °F).[8] The highest (reliable)[a] temperature ever recorded in Flin Flon was 101 °F (38.3 °C) on 19 July 1941.[11] The coldest temperature ever recorded was −51 °F (−46.1 °C) on 15 January 1930.[8]
| Climate data for Flin Flon, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1927–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 9.5 (49.1) | 11.7 (53.1) | 18.0 (64.4) | 29.4 (84.9) | 33.5 (92.3) | 36.0 (96.8) | 38.3 (100.9) | 35.6 (96.1) | 32.5 (90.5) | 25.0 (77.0) | 15.5 (59.9) | 8.3 (46.9) | 38.3 (100.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −14.7 (5.5) | −10.2 (13.6) | −2.1 (28.2) | 7.3 (45.1) | 15.0 (59.0) | 21.1 (70.0) | 24.1 (75.4) | 22.6 (72.7) | 15.0 (59.0) | 6.3 (43.3) | −5.0 (23.0) | −12.4 (9.7) | 5.6 (42.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −18.9 (−2.0) | −14.9 (5.2) | −7.6 (18.3) | 1.8 (35.2) | 9.4 (48.9) | 15.8 (60.4) | 18.9 (66.0) | 17.5 (63.5) | 10.8 (51.4) | 3.0 (37.4) | −8.0 (17.6) | −16.2 (2.8) | 1.0 (33.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −22.9 (−9.2) | −19.6 (−3.3) | −13.0 (8.6) | −3.6 (25.5) | 3.8 (38.8) | 10.4 (50.7) | 13.6 (56.5) | 12.4 (54.3) | 6.5 (43.7) | −0.4 (31.3) | −11.0 (12.2) | −20.0 (−4.0) | −3.6 (25.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −46.1 (−51.0) | −43.3 (−45.9) | −40.0 (−40.0) | −29.4 (−20.9) | −15.0 (5.0) | −2.8 (27.0) | 0.0 (32.0) | 0.0 (32.0) | −10.0 (14.0) | −21.7 (−7.1) | −34.4 (−29.9) | −43.3 (−45.9) | −46.1 (−51.0) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 17.5 (0.69) | 16.7 (0.66) | 15.1 (0.59) | 20.3 (0.80) | 40.9 (1.61) | 69.0 (2.72) | 77.9 (3.07) | 63.7 (2.51) | 63.4 (2.50) | 29.0 (1.14) | 21.7 (0.85) | 22.5 (0.89) | 457.6 (18.02) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.01) | 7.9 (0.31) | 39.3 (1.55) | 69.3 (2.73) | 77.9 (3.07) | 63.7 (2.51) | 64.2 (2.53) | 21.0 (0.83) | 1.1 (0.04) | 0.0 (0.0) | 344.5 (13.56) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 17.5 (6.9) | 16.7 (6.6) | 15.0 (5.9) | 12.4 (4.9) | 1.6 (0.6) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.7 (0.3) | 8.1 (3.2) | 20.6 (8.1) | 22.9 (9.0) | 115.5 (45.5) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 6.6 | 5.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 8.6 | 9.9 | 12.2 | 10.4 | 10.6 | 7.4 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 93.5 |
| Average rainy days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.11 | 2.1 | 8.4 | 10.0 | 12.2 | 10.4 | 10.5 | 5.4 | 0.36 | 0.0 | 59.3 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.2 cm) | 7.0 | 5.6 | 4.6 | 2.5 | 0.38 | 0.04 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.20 | 2.3 | 6.0 | 6.7 | 35.3 |
| Source:Environment Canada[8][11][12][13][14] | |||||||||||||
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1931 | 2,374 | — |
| 1941 | 8,860 | +273.2% |
| 1951 | 9,899 | +11.7% |
| 1956 | 10,771 | +8.8% |
| 1961 | 11,106 | +3.1% |
| 1966 | 10,201 | −8.1% |
| 1971 | 9,344 | −8.4% |
| 1976 | 8,560 | −8.4% |
| 1981 | 8,261 | −3.5% |
| 1986 | 7,591 | −8.1% |
| 1991 | 7,449 | −1.9% |
| 1996 | 6,861 | −7.9% |
| 2001 | 6,267 | −8.7% |
| 2006 | 5,836 | −6.9% |
| 2011 | 5,634 | −3.5% |
| 2016 | 5,185 | −8.0% |
| 2021 | 5,099 | −1.7% |
| Source:[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] | ||
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1931 | — | — |
| 1941 | — | — |
| 1951 | — | — |
| 1956 | 537 | — |
| 1961 | 588 | +9.5% |
| 1966 | 527 | −10.4% |
| 1971 | 471 | −10.6% |
| 1976 | 408 | −13.4% |
| 1981 | 367 | −10.0% |
| 1986 | 348 | −5.2% |
| 1991 | 330 | −5.2% |
| 1996 | 289 | −12.4% |
| 2001 | 267 | −7.6% |
| 2006 | 242 | −9.4% |
| 2011 | 229 | −5.4% |
| 2016 | 203 | −11.4% |
| 2021 | 159 | −21.7% |
| Source:[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][23][25][27][29][31] | ||
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1931 | 2,374 | — |
| 1941 | 8,860 | +273.2% |
| 1951 | 9,899 | +11.7% |
| 1956 | 10,234 | +3.4% |
| 1961 | 10,548 | +3.1% |
| 1966 | 9,674 | −8.3% |
| 1971 | 8,873 | −8.3% |
| 1976 | 8,152 | −8.1% |
| 1981 | 7,894 | −3.2% |
| 1986 | 7,243 | −8.2% |
| 1991 | 7,119 | −1.7% |
| 1996 | 6,572 | −7.7% |
| 2001 | 6,000 | −8.7% |
| 2006 | 5,594 | −6.8% |
| 2011 | 5,405 | −3.4% |
| 2016 | 4,991 | −7.7% |
| 2021 | 4,940 | −1.0% |
| Source:[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][24][26][28][30] | ||
In the2021 Census of Population conducted byStatistics Canada, the Manitoba portion of Flin Flon had a population of 4,940 living in 2,280 of its 2,533 total private dwellings, a change of0% from its 2016 population of 4,991. With a land area of 13.14 km2 (5.07 sq mi), it had a population density of376.0/km2 (973.7/sq mi) in 2021.[30]
Also in the 2021 census, the Saskatchewan portion of Flin Flon had a population of159 living in73 of its100 total private dwellings, a change of0% from its 2016 population of203. With a land area of 2.01 km2 (0.78 sq mi), it had a population density of79.1/km2 (204.9/sq mi) in 2021.[31]
| Canada 2006 Census | Population | % of total population | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visible minority group Source:[32][33] | South Asian | 15 | 0.3 |
| Chinese | 0 | 0 | |
| Black | 10 | 0.2 | |
| Filipino | 30 | 0.5 | |
| Latin American | 0 | 0 | |
| Arab | 0 | 0 | |
| Southeast Asian | 0 | 0 | |
| West Asian | 0 | 0 | |
| Korean | 0 | 0 | |
| Japanese | 10 | 0.2 | |
| Other visible minority | 0 | 0 | |
| Mixed visible minority | 0 | 0 | |
| Total visible minority population | 65 | 1.1 | |
| Aboriginal group Source:[34][35] | First Nations | 290 | 5 |
| Métis | 655 | 11.4 | |
| Inuit | 0 | 0 | |
| Total Indigenous population | 950 | 16.5 | |
| European | 4,755 | 82.4 | |
| Total population | 5,770 | 100 | |
Flin Flon is accessed byManitoba Provincial Trunk Highway 10,Saskatchewan Highway 106 andSaskatchewan Highway 167. The city also runs a small public bus system.[36]
The city operates Flin Flon Airport, which is located southeast of the city, immediately west of theBakers Narrows Provincial Park.[37] The airport has a singleasphaltrunway, and has regular flights to and fromWinnipeg throughCalm Air. There is also an airport in nearby Channing, MB for small aircraft use.
TheHudson Bay Railway operates railway freight service on its railway line betweenThe Pas and Flin Flon.
The rail line toChurchill was washed out in June 2017 and remained out of service for over a year when then-owner Omnitrax refused to repair it. The City of Flin Flon purchased shares in One North, one of the partners of purchasing consortium Arctic Gateway Group Limited Partnership. The rail line was subsequently repaired by Cando Rail Services andParadox Access Solutions.[38]
Note that the number of workers with the classification of "Mining" will be highly variable following the June 2022 closure of the 777 mine and the planned impending closure of the majority of theHudbay Flin Flon operations.[39][40]
| Company | Service | Number of employees |
|---|---|---|
| Hudbay | Mining | 900 |
| Flin Flon School Division | Education | 137 |
| Victoria Inn | Hotel | 57 |
| Walmart | Retail | 32 |
| Canadian Tire | Automotive supplies and service | 30 |
The economy of Flin Flon was primarily reliant on base metal production (primarily copper and zinc with lesser gold and silver). Since the late 1910s, approximately 17 mines have operated in the Flin Flon vicinity. The most recent mine, the 777 Mine, closed in June 2022 with decommissioning completed shortly thereafter.[39]
Sphalerite (zinc) concentrate was produced and processed on-site to refined zinc while chalcopyrite (copper) concentrate was produced and sold for external copper production. Prior to the smelter closure in 2010, the chalcopyrite concentrate was refined on location.[42] Although processing of anysulphide material usually emits large amounts ofsulfur dioxide, the Hudbay plant uses a zinc pressure leaching (ZPL) process which greatly reduces emissions.
Flin Flon gained international notoriety in 2002 when the Government of Canada awarded a four-year contract toSaskatoon-basedPrairie Plant Systems for the production ofmedicinal marijuana. The company set up operations in a mined-out area of the then-active Trout Lake Mine, an underground copper/zinc mine located just over 5 km (3 miles) northeast of Flin Flon city limits and owned by the Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Company (laterHudbay) to produce approximately 400 kilograms (882 lbs) of medicinal marijuana annually. The entire operation was situated approximately 120 metres (400') underground for security and climate control reasons.
In 2009, Prairie Plant Systems discontinued operation at the mine due to the expiry of their lease and the uncertainty regarding the pending closure of the mine, which occurred in 2011.[43]
Flin Flon has an active local arts and culture scene. The Flin Flon Arts Council has been instrumental in building the local arts scene, and has also brought high-quality performers, such as theRoyal Winnipeg Ballet, into the community for special events. The R.H. Channing Auditorium in the Flin Flon Community Hall hosts concerts and theatrical performances, including those produced by the local theatre troupe "Ham Sandwich".
In 2010, the Northern Visual Arts Centre (or NorVA) was established as a studio and gallery space for local visual artists. NorVA frequently hosts workshops, concerts and other community arts-based events.
Every two years, the Flin Flon Community Choir performs a largely extravagant musical production for the community. In 2013, the Flin Flon Community Choir presentedChicago: The Musical, to great acclaim. They presentedLes Miserables in 2015, Grease in 2017, andMama Mia in 2019. Past performances have includedBeauty and the Beast,Fiddler on the Roof, andBombertown, among many others.
Culture Days, a national festival celebrating arts and culture, is a popular event in Flin Flon. Culture Days is held on the last weekend of September each year. In 2018, Flin Flon ranked second in the country, only following Winnipeg, for the number of free events (including concerts, workshops, artist talks and kids' activities) offered to community members and visitors. Toronto followed Flin Flon with the number of events, ranking third, down from second in 2017.[44]
Flin Flon is the fictional home of the comic book superheroCaptain Canuck.[45]
The city operates the Joe Brain Petting Zoo. It is open from June through August, weather permitting. It features a picnic area, playground, basketball hoops, and a wading pool.[46]
Flin Flon is the home of theFlin Flon Bombers of theSaskatchewan Junior Hockey League and the birthplace ofNHL great andHall of Fame memberBobby Clarke. As captain of the team, he led the Philadelphia Flyers to two NHL Stanley Cup championships in the 1970s, and was a star on the 1972 Team CanadaSummit Series roster. Other NHLers hailing from Flin Flon includeKen Baird,Ken Baumgartner,Matt Davidson,Kim Davis,Dean Evason,Al Hamilton,Ted Hampson (who was captain of the Flin Flon Bombers Memorial Cup team in 1957 and the second player to ever receive theBill Masterton Memorial Trophy),Gerry Hart,Ron Hutchinson,George Konik,Ray Maluta,Tom Gilmore,Dunc McCallum,Eric Nesterenko,Mel Pearson,Reid Simpson,David Struch, andErnie Wakely.
Newspapers & magazines
Books
Radio
Television
Television in Flin Flon began in June 1962 with the opening ofCBC Television station CBWBT channel 10. The station broadcastkine recordings, sent to the transmitter fromCBWT Winnipeg. On March 1, 1969, the province-wide microwave system replaced the kine recordings originating at CBWT, giving citizens of Flin Flon access to live television.[47] The repeater (along withRadio-Canada repeaterCBWFT-2 channel 3) closed down July 31, 2012, due to the CBC's closure of its rebroadcasters.[48]
The operations of the City of Flin Flon are administered by the city council, whose members set the policies. The city council consists of a mayor and six councillors who are elected and serve a term of four years. The current council was elected on October 24, 2018, and consists of the following members:
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Mayor | George Fontaine |
| Councillor | Alison Dallas-Funk |
| Councillor | Judy Eagle |
| Councillor | Bill Hanson |
| Councillor | Steve Lytwyn |
| Councillor | Heather Richardson |
| Councillor | Mike Slipp |
| Year | Liberal | Conservative | New Democratic | Green | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13% | 259 | 45% | 887 | 29% | 579 | 3% | 60 | |
| 2019 | 10% | 234 | 45% | 1,037 | 38% | 881 | 5% | 113 | |
| Year | PC | New Democratic | Liberal | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 38% | 658 | 52% | 887 | 5% | 85 | |
| 2016 | 27% | 480 | 33% | 583 | 26% | 453 | |
| Year | Saskatchewan | New Democratic | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 40% | 16 | 56% | 22 | |
| 2016 | 58% | 39 | 29% | 20 | |
Flin Flon is in the southwest corner of the Manitoba provincial electoral districtof the same name, and is the only urban centre within the district. The currentMember of the Legislative Assembly isTom Lindsey of theNDP. He has served in theLegislative Assembly of Manitoba since2016.
The Saskatchewan portion of Flin Flon is in the electoral district ofCumberland. It is represented byDoyle Vermette of theNDP. He has served in theLegislative Assembly of Saskatchewan since2008.
The Manitoba portion of Flin Flon is in the federal riding ofChurchill—Keewatinook Aski, whose currentMember of Parliament (MP) isNDP memberNiki Ashton. She has served in theHouse of Commons of Canada since2008.
The Saskatchewan portion of Flin Flon is in the electoral district ofDesnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, whose current MP isCPC memberGary Vidal.[53] He has served in the House of Commons since2019.
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