Petawawa (/ˈpɛtəwɒwɒ/ PET-ə-WAW-waw) is a town located in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario. Situated in the Ottawa Valley, with a population of 18,160 (2021 Census), Petawawa is the most populous municipality in Renfrew County.
Petawawa | |
|---|---|
| Town of Petawawa | |
 Emerald Necklace Trail and the Petawawa River | |
  Petawawa  Petawawa | |
| Coordinates: 45°54′N 77°17′W / 45.900°N 77.283°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| County | Renfrew |
| Incorporated (town) | July 1, 1997 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Gary Serviss |
| • Governing Body | Petawawa Town Council |
| • MPs | Cheryl Gallant |
| • MPP | John Yakabuski |
| Area | |
| • Land | 164.70 km2 (63.59 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 18,160 |
| • Density | 110.3/km2 (286/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Postal code | K8H |
| Website | www |
History
editThe earliest settlement in the Petawawa area was inhabited by the Algonquin First Nation. The name of Petawawa originates from a local Algonquin language word, biidaawewe, meaning "where one hears a noise like this". The original spelling of the name of the town was Petewawa and while there are no sources showing when it officially changed to Petawawa, Privy Council documents indicate the name Petawawa being formally used in correspondence as early as 27 March 1907.[2] Research of photographs after 1916 with the former spelling have not been found.[3] While the records of the official name change are non-existent, it has been speculated that the influx of immigration to the area changed the pronunciation of the word from its native roots to a more European pronunciation. Over time this may have changed the spelling of the Town's name into the present day format.
In the late 19th century, the area was surveyed and settled by emigres from Scotland, Ireland and Germany. The land was unsuitable for crops, but the heavily forested surroundings were useful for logging. Petawawa was incorporated as a township in 1865. The Canadian military acquired land in the area in 1905, which later became Canadian Forces Base Petawawa. During this period it was used as an internment camp for German POWs during World War I.[4] and World War II. Later, it became home to the Canadian Airborne Regiment before it was disbanded in 1995. Today, it is one of Canada's largest ground forces base with members deployed throughout the world on various missions supporting the United Nations in peacekeeping or the War on Terror.
In 1961, the urban area of Petawawa was incorporated as a separate village municipality. On July 1, 1997, the village and township amalgamated to form the Town of Petawawa.[5]
Geography
editThe town lies on the west bank of the Ottawa River, at the confluence of the Petawawa River. Situated across the Ottawa River from the Laurentian Mountains, and east of Algonquin Park, Petawawa is a favourite stop for outdoor enthusiasts, anglers, hikers, canoers, and kayakers.
In addition to the primary urban core of Petawawa, the town also comprises the communities of Black Bay, Kramer Subdivision, Laurentian View, McGuire, Petawawa Point, Pine Meadows, Pine Ridge, Pinehurst Estates and Riverview.
Climate
editPetawawa has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) with long, cold, snowy winters and warm summers.
| Climate data for Petawawa | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high humidex | 10.0 | 14.8 | 24.2 | 36.3 | 42.3 | 42.6 | 47.5 | 46.3 | 43.1 | 32.6 | 22.5 | 18.1 | 47.5 |
| Record high °C (°F) | 11.7 (53.1) |
16.5 (61.7) |
24.5 (76.1) |
32.0 (89.6) |
34.0 (93.2) |
36.4 (97.5) |
38.9 (102.0) |
38.9 (102.0) |
35.0 (95.0) |
28.5 (83.3) |
21.7 (71.1) |
15.6 (60.1) |
38.9 (102.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −6.4 (20.5) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
1.9 (35.4) |
10.8 (51.4) |
19.3 (66.7) |
23.3 (73.9) |
26.3 (79.3) |
24.5 (76.1) |
19.0 (66.2) |
11.9 (53.4) |
4.0 (39.2) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
10.5 (50.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −12.9 (8.8) |
−11.1 (12.0) |
−4.3 (24.3) |
4.4 (39.9) |
11.9 (53.4) |
16.1 (61.0) |
19.1 (66.4) |
17.6 (63.7) |
12.5 (54.5) |
6.3 (43.3) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
−9.4 (15.1) |
4.1 (39.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −19.1 (−2.4) |
−17.8 (0.0) |
−10.6 (12.9) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
4.5 (40.1) |
8.9 (48.0) |
11.8 (53.2) |
10.8 (51.4) |
6.0 (42.8) |
0.6 (33.1) |
−4.8 (23.4) |
−14.9 (5.2) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −41.1 (−42.0) |
−39.4 (−38.9) |
−33.8 (−28.8) |
−22.2 (−8.0) |
−9.4 (15.1) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
2.0 (35.6) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−5.2 (22.6) |
−12.6 (9.3) |
−24.8 (−12.6) |
−37.9 (−36.2) |
−41.1 (−42.0) |
| Record low wind chill | −51.7 | −46.0 | −38.4 | −25.8 | −11.6 | −4.3 | 1.0 | −3.4 | −7.9 | −14.1 | −33.3 | −45.3 | −51.8 |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 52.0 (2.05) |
46.4 (1.83) |
60.4 (2.38) |
61.8 (2.43) |
68.5 (2.70) |
81.3 (3.20) |
76.5 (3.01) |
81.1 (3.19) |
79.0 (3.11) |
75.1 (2.96) |
67.2 (2.65) |
67.1 (2.64) |
816.2 (32.13) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 7.6 (0.30) |
9.7 (0.38) |
29.5 (1.16) |
51.3 (2.02) |
67.3 (2.65) |
81.3 (3.20) |
76.5 (3.01) |
81.1 (3.19) |
78.9 (3.11) |
72.1 (2.84) |
46.2 (1.82) |
14.7 (0.58) |
615.9 (24.25) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 53.9 (21.2) |
42.2 (16.6) |
33.9 (13.3) |
11.6 (4.6) |
1.0 (0.4) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.1 (0.0) |
3.3 (1.3) |
23.1 (9.1) |
59.5 (23.4) |
228.5 (90.0) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 16.8 | 12.5 | 13.2 | 11.6 | 11.7 | 12.9 | 11.8 | 12.8 | 14.1 | 13.8 | 15.9 | 18.2 | 165.2 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 2.8 | 2.3 | 6.2 | 9.3 | 11.6 | 12.9 | 11.8 | 12.8 | 14.0 | 12.9 | 10.1 | 4.2 | 110.9 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 16.3 | 12.0 | 9.4 | 3.6 | 0.41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.18 | 1.8 | 8.8 | 16.8 | 69.2 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 93.9 | 124.6 | 145.5 | 179.9 | 230.3 | 246.0 | 276.5 | 240.8 | 150.3 | 120.4 | 67.4 | 66.1 | 1,941.5 |
| Source 1: Environment Canada[6] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Environment Canada[7] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
editIn the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Petawawa had a population of 18,160 living in 6,762 of its 7,174 total private dwellings, a change of 5.7% from its 2016 population of 17,187. With a land area of 164.7 km2 (63.6 sq mi), it had a population density of 110.3/km2 (285.6/sq mi) in 2021.[1]
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pre-2001 figures are for the Village of Petawawa; 2001 figures onward are for the Town of Petawawa. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Economy
editPetawawa's primary employer is the Canadian Government. Most of Petawawa's residents work as civilian employees, or as members of the Canadian Forces at CFB Petawawa which is home to 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group and 4 Canadian Division Support Group.[8]
Another major employer is Chalk River Laboratories located nearby in Chalk River.[9]
Transportation
editOntario Highway 17, Ontario Northlands bus service from Ottawa and the local commercial airport (Pembroke Airport) located in Petawawa, all provide access to this town.
Notable residents
edit- Roy Giesebrecht, hockey player[10]
- Tom Green, comedian, actor[10]
- Tommy Mac, musician[10]
- Lloyd Mohns, hockey player[10]
- Matthew Peca, hockey player
- Joe Reekie, hockey player[10]
- Mike Rowe, hockey player[10]
- Ray Sheppard, hockey player[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Petawawa (Code 3547076) Census Profile". 2021 census. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
- ^ Memorandum for the Honourable Prime Minister from Deputy Minister Aubrey White that includes copies of telegrams between Honourable J. P. Whitney, Premier of Ontario, 1905-1914, and Sir Frederick Borden, Minister of Militia and Defence, 1896-1911. (Privy Council document 1795)
- ^ Canada, Government of Canada, Library and Archives. "Archives Search - Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Internment Camps in Canada during the First and Second World Wars, Library and Archives Canada".
- ^ "Census Profile, 2016 Census - Renfrew, Town [Census subdivision], Ontario and Petawawa, Town [Census subdivision], Ontario". 2.statcan.gc.ca. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
- ^ "Petawawa A, Ontario". Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000 (in English and French). Environment Canada. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
- ^ "Petawawa Nat Forestry, Ontario". Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000 (in English and French). Environment Canada. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
- ^ "Welcome to 2 CMBG". National Defence Canada. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
- ^ "NRU Status Report #4". Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. Archived from the original on 2009-05-24. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
- ^ a b c d e f g nurun.com. "A hall of fame for Petawawa?". Pembroke Daily Observer.
External links
edit
Media related to Petawawa at Wikimedia Commons- Official website
