Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Field Notes • Canada Places

Timmins

Timmins is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada, located on the Mattagami River in the Cochrane District.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Timmins is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada, located on the Mattagami River. It is a regional service centre with an economy historically tied to gold mining and natural resources.

Geography and size

Timmins sits in the Cochrane District of northeastern Ontario, along the Mattagami River. The city covers 3,210 square kilometres, making it one of Canada’s largest by land area. Its landscape includes boreal forest, lakes, and rivers, with four distinct seasons.

History and economy

Founded in 1911 and named after Noah Timmins, the city grew from a residential community for workers at the nearby Hollinger gold mine. Mining remains central to its identity, and Timmins now also serves as a regional hub for services, shopping, and distribution in the area.

Recreation and tourism

Outdoor recreation is a major draw, with fishing, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, golfing, and winter sports like snowmobiling and skiing. The city’s northern setting attracts visitors to its parks, rivers, and forest trails.

In short

  • Timmins is one of Canada’s largest cities by land area.
  • It was founded in 1911 as a gold-mining community.
  • Today it is a regional service and distribution centre.
  • Outdoor recreation is popular year-round.
Canadian angle

Timmins is a notable northern Ontario city for Canadian readers because of its mining history, large land area, and role as a regional centre in Northeastern Ontario.

Quick questions

Where is Timmins Ontario?
Timmins is in northeastern Ontario, Canada, in the Cochrane District, on the Mattagami River.
What is Timmins known for?
Timmins is known for its gold-mining history, natural-resource economy, and outdoor recreation in a northern landscape of forests, lakes, and rivers.
What is the population of Timmins?
Timmins had a population of 41,145 in the 2021 Canadian census, with an estimated population of 44,819 in 2023.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timmins
    Supports: Location in northeastern Ontario; population in 2021 and 2023 estimate.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/place/Timmins
    Supports: History, founding in 1911, relation to gold mining, location on the Mattagami River.
  3. City of Timmins — https://www.timmins.ca/find_or_learn_about/maps_and_locations
    Supports: City location, latitude/longitude, land area of 3,210 square kilometres.
  4. Destination Ontario — https://www.destinationontario.com/en-ca/cities-towns/timmins
    Supports: Regional location, outdoor recreation, bilingual community, distance from Sudbury and Quebec border.
  5. Ontario.ca — https://files.ontario.ca/ndmnrf-geotours-3/ndmnrf-geotours-timmins-en-2021-12-13.pdf
    Supports: Mining importance and historical role as a major mining centre.