A City Is Born ... ELLIOT LAKE

A City is Born ... ELLIOT LAKE

Source: Archives of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie Copyright: Public domain Digitized: May 2019 oF tt /orrrEr{s s.T.JOSEFH ARCFII,VES

''l;:N FIOTEL ALbtt.' -';:, ONTARIO ELL6-I. 1..* A City is Born.. . BLLIOT LAKN

A hardy breed of pioneerCanadian men and women are building the "uranium capital of the wodd" among picture-like forests and wealth-ladenrocks in south centralOntario. Vith daring, foresight, and raw couragethey are building a model community' They are working raw stufi into the concrete realization of Sir Vilfred Laurier's famous dream.Vith their minds and hands they are truly proving that this century belongsto Canada. This is their story . . . the story of Elliot Lake and the wealth uPon which it is founded. lhe Roinbow's End How lf Begcrn

T just I HE Algoma Basin is figuratively the rainbow,s The community of Elliot Lake didn't grow. end. For deep in its rocks rests the energy fuel Detailed thought was given to its most complex of the Atomic Age. It is a bonanzain billions_ development before a single tree was blazed. C.ommunity planning a lode of wealrh-in-the-rawthat is the reasonfor was started in the spring of Elliot Lake's very existence. 1954 by the district discoverer, Geologist Franc. Joubin, who was then president of Algom. Vith This new community was born of an urgenr his engineeringaides, R- C. Hart and \[. H. Hut- needto accommodatethe employeesof the Algoma chison and severalOntario Provincial Departments Basin's two pioneer including Mines, Planning and Development,Lands mines, the Algom euirke and Algom Nordic. But prospecting continued and the and Forests,Highways, and later Municipal Affairs, first plans for Elliot Lake grew apace. Education, and Health, every single aspect of a central community was considered. Consolidated Denison led the processionof other mines to follow. Can Met, Buckles, Lake The primary function of the community was Nordic, SpanishAmerican, panel, Lake Milliken, to housethe working forces of two mines,about 12 Stanleigh, and Stanrock all developedin rapid miles apart. There was then the distinct possibiliry, successionduring the following two years. The now realized,that more mines would be developed. end is not yet in sight-there may be still more mines to come. After careful study, it was decidedthat one central community from which all mine and mill This means thar out of the inquisitive tap_ employeescould commute would offer many ad- ping of the geologists'hammers, and the probing vantagesover two or more small settlements,Some of their diamond drills, have come e dozen mines of the principal arguments for this decisionwere: and new jobs for 2,000 men. By l95S thesework_ -One community would eliminate costly du- ing men with their families will swell the total plication of essential municipal services, population to at least 2jr000 men, women, and thereby allowing for higher standardsin a children. central town. -A simple and high standard public com- The chosen setting was, and is, gem-like. munity would be socially more desirable Trees, mountains, streams and lakes provide a than severalsmall "company towns." deceptively pastoral scene- deceptive because -A central community supported by several during the present turbulent construction perid mines presumably would be longer lived its quiet is shattered by the roar of bulldozers, than single mine villages and this, in turn, chattering rock drills, and the clatter of 20-ton should simplify federal, provincial, and trucks. bank financing over normal amortizetion the periods for both municipal services and At conclusionof the examining tour, a housingconstruction. generalmeeting of the town planners was held at the Pronto mine. All present expressedsatisfac- This last assumptionwas not to be quickly realized,,however. tion with the area nestling between Elliot Lake, Horne and Nordic Lakeswhich straddledthe mine accessroad built by Algom and later to become Selection of Sire Highway 612. The decision was made in favour of one central community. But what should the new town be called? Joubin instructedAlgom managerR. C. Ffart, Hart's view was asked and he suggested"Elliot who was aided by Professor George Langford of Lake." A Department of Mines olf,cial suggested the University of Toronto as consultant, to selecr "Joubin" but the discoverygeologist ashed to have the bestpossible site for a central community. his name withdrawn and for it substituted Engineer Hart, lanky, soft-spoken, and "Nordic." "Elliot Lake" was the choice of the meticulous enough to satisfy even perfectionist majority. Jotrbin, surveyedthe large areasof forest. Finally his choicewas made and recommenda- Soon ground studies,aerial photography, and tions presented.A tour of the district was topographicalmapping, soil testing, drainageand arranged. Representativesof several provincial water studieswere all commenced.Since the area government departments were in the pafty, covered mining claims of the Algom company, it together with officialsof Algom and other pros- was also necessaryto drill and study the ore- pecting companiesof the district. bearing conditions under the town area. The third step was: full speedahead with a fhe Go-Aheod crash construction program. The world wanted and neededuranium and to get it Elliot Lake had The planning specificationsread: design a com- to be built soundly-and fast. munity which is pleasant,safe, and convenient; provide an environment which will satisfy the The greatestproblem that this uranium centre physicaland aestheticneeds of all its inhabitants. had to facc was prejudice born of ignorance. Uranium is a new metal and the skeptical or over- cautious looked to the five-year duration The first step was to lay out the boundary. of the presentproduction contracts and they could not To allay fears that shack towns might fringe the seebeyond. This "five-yearphobia" asJoubin calls squaremiles were set planned development,396 it has led to much muddled thinking and more aside,giving the urban section in the centre a than the usual amounr of red tape from olficialdom. buffer of some 18 miles of classic forest play- ground between it and the likelihood of undesir- Although many of the world's great financial able building. houses, including major banks of Britain, the U.S. and Canadahave readily financed the opening of mines, Canada'sown governmental and private The secondstep was to set up an organization municipal and housing finance institutions have to plan, to executethose plans, and administerthe been reluctant to participate in this new com- community. A council of three trustees was munity. appointed by Order-In-Council until such time as Mosr communitiesenjoy a 20 to 25 year amor- the posts can becomeelective. The first Board of tization period for municipal servicesand housing Franc. as Chairman, Trusteesconsisted of Joubin, finance.At Elliot Lake, however, this is not yet E. B. Gillandersas Vice-Chairman(now resigned) (1957) possible.Provincial-municipal financing and V. E. Villoughby, all of Toronto. The is bcing forced to comply with a ren-yearpattern. trusteesare served by a capablemunicipal staff under Percy Brown, Secretary-Treasurer.They This, then, is the paradox. Insistenceon the are advisedon town planning and land use by the highest possiblestandards of municipal development in the face Department of Planning and Development and of exceptionalfinancing problems.One answerwould be to lower the standards. counselledin municipal administration by the However, the provincial government departments Department of Municipal Afiairs. They work concerned and the Board of Trustees have been closely with numerousother govemment dcprrrt- firm in their view that no compromisewith the ments as specific problems arise. highest of standardswill be allowed. fhe How of lr AII "neighbourhood" type of community. To date, five neighbourhoods are planned and in course of development. Each neighbourhood contains J00 Some one had to take the initiative and Algom did. \[ith someassistance from the Department of to 1,500 single-family residenceswith its own Mines and the vigorous direction of Joubin and neighbourhoodshopping centre and school. There Hart the mine accessroad from Highway 17 to I is, in addition, one large central commercial Quirke Lake was built. The ConsolidatedDenison I district, a heavy industrial district, a municipal mine later helpedtoward its cost and maintenance. ofrce centre and a high school centre to serve all Two yearslater, in December,1956, the Depart- neighbourhoods. ment of Highways completed construction of the 92 million Highway 612, essentiallyover the same All lots, either businessor residence,are to be route as the Algom accessroad. cleared, sturnps removed, water and sewer mains Hydro-Electric power was soon delivered to laid, roads built, and preparations for power and the district thanks to the personal interest and telephoneservice are arrangedby the municipality. attention of the late Hydro-Electric Power Com- Residencelots, so improved, are leasedfor a stated mission Chairman, Robert H. Saunders. period at a fraction of the total cost of improvement. If the lesseebuil& within a stated period of The first discoveries in the Basin aree about one year, he is granted clear title to the lot. occurred during 1953. Presenceof the first two mines was establishedby 1974. The spring of l95J This procedure effectively prevents land specula- saw rrhestart of the "Elliot Lake" townsite clear- tion and insuresthat improved lots are built upon ing, improvement and construction. PfomPtly.

The community was planned as a city of Only businesslots are cleared of all timber. predominantly single-family self-contained houses Residencelots retain an attractive green belt on lots large enough to provide "living space"both betwecn rows of houses.Beachland along the in and out of doors. shores of Elliot Lake has been excluded from

The topography, a rather hilly tcrrain of private sale and will serve the municipality for sandy flats and rock ridges,physically dictatcd e boating,swimming, parks and picnicssites. Some 300 homes were f,nished and another SchoolBoard, would like to seethe district support 500 started during 1916-7 while land improve- a mining industry technical institute at Elliot mentsprepared additional areas for 1,500homes to Lakc. go up during 1957-8. A section sct aside as a A hospital of up to 100 beds is planned and temporary shopping cenrre, which has served constructionshould start late in 1957.lt will be adequatelysince 1956, will disappearsomerime in financed jointly by the federal, provincial, and 1957 when the central commercialdistricr will be municipal governments, the mines, and public ready for permanentoccupancy. subscription.

Population during rhe summer of l9i7 was Police and fire serviceswere among the first composedof some3,000 permanentresidents and municipal responsibilities to get attention. The about 7,000 construction workers.By the end of police corps is a well-staffed detachment of the 1917, permanent residents will number over Ontario Provincial Police. Fires are fought by 10,000.By late 1958 the populationof Elliot Lake experiencedsalaried officers and a large corps of is expectedto be over 20,000. volunteer firemen. The department of Lands and Forests will have a forest fire fighting station The first public school, of three rooms, was within the community as vell. built by Algom Mine in 1956. A modern l0-room municipally financed school was completed in There are trailer residences(mobile houses) 1957. Also under construction in 1957 were a by the hundreds in and around Elliot Lake. Most secondl0-room schooland a 10-roomhigh school. of them are occupied by transient construction It is expectedthat provision will soon be made for workers. However, it appearsthat hundreds may a seParateschool. soon be required for the mine employeesfor vary- ing periodsof time. The municipality will provide Both for the present and the future, Ellior someproperly servicedtrailer parks which will be Lrhe's plans for education are as big as the subject to rental and municipal assessments;in uranium field that is around it. Franc. the Joubin, other casesit will designate"selected areas" where presentChairman of Trusteesand Chairman of the trailers may be permitted to stay.

l0 Pioneers in Plush fhc Why of lr Atl

Elliot Lake, becauseof its newness,is a frontier. There are many "whys" for Elliot Lake'sexistance. But becauseof its accessibility(1S milesfrom the Geologist Franc. Joubin supplied the first mid-way point on the Trans-CanadaHighway "*hy." He and his team of procpectorsand geolo- stretching betweenSudbury and Sault Ste. Marie) gists discoveredimmense quantities of uranium in many of the usualfrontier hardshipsare removed. a basin-like formation within the rocks.

Another "*hy" rests in the faith and energy Public spirited citizenshave donateda public of people.People lil,e Hirshhorn the financier who library; Kinsmen and Lions Clubs are formed; a had faith in Joubin and in uranium. It is faith that Rod and Gun Club is rapidly filling its membership does not falter despite the physical problems, rolls; the Chamber of Commerce is formed and financial frustrations, early government timidity, active; a Boating club is planned;curling, boxing, and originally sceptical public, and even an over- ceutious "five-year phobia" that regards the wrestling and hockey are already organized winter uranium industry as lasting only as long as its first sports; a hilltop beauty spot is set asidefor con- production contracts. struction of an auditorium and community centre; Prosaicfigures, however,give a clearerpicture a radio station, television transmitter and local of what the Algoma Basin uranium district means. newspaperare planned. Present production contracts already total more than billion for the 12 mines. The community alreadyis servicedby a com- $l.l pletely modern and licenced40-room hotel with The annual rate of uranium production from excellent dining room. this district will be over 9220 millions. This will be derivedfrom l1 mills treating t4,tOO tons of ore per day. Churchesof severaldenominations are building. A Roman Catholic Church and community More than 960 millions will be paid to labour hall are alreedy finished. Anglican, Baptist, each year. Over g5 millions will be paid annually in provincial taxes; over Lutheran, the United Church, and Salvation Army $100 millions will be paid in federal taxes afrer Corps groups are proceedingwith construction. 1960.

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To start production flowing, more than $255 Uraniurn is the Start millions have been spent or committed in mills for production. equippingthe minesand The ore that contains the uranium also contains Most Canadian banks, together with some pyrite (iron sulphide) and therein lies a clue to a American and United Kingdom banks have further industrial dream. lf /when realized it will participatedin this financing. havea major impact on Elliot Lake. Pyrite is about half iron and half sulphur. To providea townsitethoroughly plannedfor Potential production of pyrite could be as high as healthy and happing living, more than $20 300,000tons per year if marketsfor the processed millions worth of municipal services are products-sulphur, sulphuric acid, and iron ore requiredand arein the processof installation. sinter-encouraged its recov€ry. So far, this is entirely in the realm of speculation but it cannor Cost of housing for miners' families is be overlooked that this district is easily accessible boostingthe total community investmentby to important establishedsteel, chemical, pulp and plastics industries which use the ingredients of an additionalg36 millions. pyrite.

Businessmenare expected to spend a further Thorium, too, may become a commercially gl0 millions in store and other business attractive product. There are important quantities premisesto profit from the tremendouspur- of thorium in the Algoma Basin and it can be extracted on a low-cost by-product basis. chasing power this new communitY Thousandsof poundsof thorium could be produced commands. daily once markets are developed.

And theseare only the surfacestatistics. Prospects are present for some copper and cobalt production in the areaas well. They do allow, however, for the drawing of The district has other resources besides much interesting comparisons.For example, as minerals. The Algoma disrict has always been capital is going into the readyingof the minesfor rich in soft and hardwood timber, with scenery production as will be spentin constructionof the and game too, which spell tourism: both major entire Trans-Canadagas pipeline. The annualgross industriesin themselves. valueof uranium producedin this district by 1958 But it is obvious that uranium production is will be more than 80% of.the value of all metals the purpose of the current Algoma Basin activity producedin the 25-year-oldSudbury district last and the reasonfor Elliot Lake's amazingdevelop- ment and growth. year.

It t+ S|STERSoF sT.JOSEPH ARCHTVES

Vhat is so amazingabout this accomplishmentis thac Canada'smost modern small city is building in record time despitemany dilficulties.

The results will be important and long lasting. The Algoma Basin's gI billion-plus production during the first 6ve yearsof its life will be a netional record for mineral output. Few other Canadianmining districts have producedas much wealth even over a 25-yearperiod.

It will be producing a metal which, theoretic- ally, can produce from one pound the energy contained in 1,300 tons of coal. It and its derivatives, the isotopes and radio-isotopes, can do many wondrous things in the fields of industry and medicine. The technique of controlled uranium fission,in fact, has beencompared in importance to man's discoveryand harnessingof fire.

In turn, Elliot Lake standsas a monument to the free enterprisesystem. It was the scicntific and financial courage of free enterprise that revealed the uranium riches of the Algoma district and produced Elllot Lake to serve this new Onterio industry. Because of its remarkably accessible location, huge orebodies,and large mills with low production costs, it appearsthat Elliot Lake will not only soon attain but continue to hold for many years to come the title of "URANIUM CAPITAL OF THE'V'ORLD!"