View from the old Government Dock looking North
View from the old Government Dock looking North
The results of the recent municipal election are in the Declaration of Office shown here. Congratulations to the newly elected mayor and Councillors and a big "thank-you" for those not returning. The Inaugural Meeting and Swearing-in is scheduled for November 30th. It will be in-person AND on-line.
Our beautiful island is located comfortably between Manitoulin Island to the east and Drummond Island to the west. Roughly 30 km south of the town of Thessalon.
In 1881, with a growing constituency of homesteaders, fisheries workers, logging and saw mill workers, ‘Cockburn Island’ became a township. Early in the 1900’s, in its hay day, it boasted over 1000 residents. Four generations later it was considered a ghost town. (See Ghost Towns of Ontario).
When the islands remaining store shut down in the 1960’s and the ferry service stopped most of the remaining residents were leaving. The ‘Cockburn Island’ first nation residents left as well to a new reserve on Manitoulin Island. However, today they still have land and a spiritual centre on the western edge of Cockburn.
Effective with the 2023 season Bev House will be our new Cockburn Island Dockmaster. We wish her well on her new duties with the Township and ask for everyone's cooperation as she becomes accustomed to this important community role.
The municipal road project at the 12th and 15th is completed and all roads are now open. If all goes to plan the large pile of rock near the dock will be moved into the water in the summer of 2023 to increase the size of the marina breakwall as we prepare to protect this important asset for the long term. A permit for this work has been issued by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Please be mindful of the compromised dock parking area until this is completed.