Municipality of Sioux Lookout

Sioux Lookout is a modern, full-service community of 5500 residents, 536 sq km in size. Located at latitude 50o N and longitude 92o W and situated on Pelican Lake on the English River system. The Municipality is connected to the Trans-Canada Highway (65 km to the south) by Highway 72. The CN Rail mainline passes through Sioux Lookout which accommodates VIA Rail Passenger Service. Sioux Lookout is the only scheduled stop in Northwestern Ontario for VIA Rail, which stops seven days a week for refuelling purposes. As a result, over 80,000 VIA Rail passengers take advantage of Sioux Lookout's modern and welcoming amenities.

Sioux Lookout is home to Northwestern Ontario's second busiest airport with over 165,000 scheduled passengers accessing the airport in 2007. There are daily scheduled flights between Sioux Lookout and Winnipeg to the west; and Thunder Bay to the east. Flight time is about an hour in each case. Sioux Lookout is served by two major airlines -- Bearskin Airlines which flies to destinations both east and west, including Ottawa and Winnipeg; and Wasaya Airways LP which services 25 First Nation communities to the north as well as Winnipeg, Thunder Bay and Red Lake. Wasaya Airways LP is 100% First Nation owned. There are over 200 scheduled flights leaving the Sioux Lookout Municipal Airport weekly.

Sioux Lookout has one of the most dynamic economies in Northwestern Ontario. The Municipality's present economy can be attributed to its ability to adapt to changing technology and its broad economic base. Sioux Lookout's strategic location has allowed past civilizations to thrive and the modern-day community to take advantage of changing transportation modes and knowledge-based economies. Sioux Lookout also derives benefits from developments in other nearby major cities such as Winnipeg and Thunder Bay. Our 25,000 Northern Neighbours from the outlying 29 First Nation communities have helped shape Sioux Lookout as a modern service, transportation, communication, health and education centre.

Historically, Sioux Lookout has benefited from the resource sectors of forestry, mining and tourism. Presently, Sioux Lookout has become a hub for the knowledge-based economies of education, health and IT communications. In recent years, the community has benefited significantly from its close relationship with northern First Nations communities and providing services to these communities has become a major facet in Sioux Lookout's booming economy. Tourism continues to draw 20,000 visitors a year to our community, many dreaming of catching a world record fish, moose or deer. In March 2008, the Provincial Ministry of Health and Long Term Care announced funding in the amount of $130 million to construct a new, state-of-the-art, health care facility in Sioux Lookout to provide modern health care services to the residents of the Sioux Lookout area, including the 29 First Nation communities located north of the community. Additionally, the construction of a $12 million hostel to accommodate First Nation patients travelling from the North has commenced. The new health care facility will also be a Centre of Excellence in health research and education, providing experience to medical interns from the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. The construction of a new skilled-trades training school in Sioux Lookout will have a great impact and measurable benefits to the education and training of First Nation apprentices as well as increasing the number of professionals in the skilled trades in the region. Brock University, Lakehead University and Confederation College have campuses in Sioux Lookout, further increasing the opportunities for northern youth to access programs in post-secondary education using modern and state-of-the-art IT communications technology.

Sioux Lookout has a long history in the tourism sector and many families have created multi-generational businesses as tourist operators on the many pristine lakes and shores of our community. With an estimated 20,000 guests to the area's outpost camps each year, Sioux Lookout has proven to be one of the most amazing tourist destinations in the region.

The forest industry is an important part of Sioux Lookout's economy. Having a long history in the forest industry, much employment has been derived from this resource sector. The Municipality is proud to have McKenzie Forest Products operating within Sioux Lookout and continues to encourage businesses focused on value-added wood products to the area.

Hudson is a small urban settlement area 25 km west of urban Sioux Lookout with a population of approximately 400 people. The community is predominantly a residential community but is home to a few commercial uses clustered in its core.

The community of Hudson is strategically located between two very unique bodies of water. To the south of Hudson is Big Vermilion Lake -- a clear, deep-water lake known for excellent trout and bass fishing and also renowned for Big Vermilion beach, one of the nicest swimming spots in the area. Lost Lake, on the northern boundary of Hudson, provides direct access to Lac Seul, well known across the continent for its Northern Pike, Muskie, and Walleye fishing.

Hudson also has a public school, a volunteer fire service, one church and a few small industrial services. The community is also the departure point for three tourist operators with houseboat, boat launch and air charter services. The CN Railway mainline passes through the community, with an amazing view of the shoreline, while Highway 664 provides access to McKenzie Forest Products sawmill which lies just over a kilometre to the west of Hudson. Recreational amenities include nearby Boat Bay recreational area which offers a picnic shelter, washrooms, a boat launch, a series of walking trails, and beautiful sand beach. A community hall, outdoor ice surface, well maintained walking trails and ball diamond are also available for public use. The Ojibway Power Toboggan Club maintains trails from Sioux Lookout to Hudson and the surrounding areas such as Dryden and Ignace that can be accessed in the winter months.