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Thompson (population 13,678) is the largest city in the Northern Region of Manitoba and is situated along the Burntwood River, north of Winnipeg. Originally founded in 1956 as a mining town, it now primarily serves as the "Hub of the North", providing goods and services such as healthcare and retail trade to the surrounding communities. Thompson's trade area is larger than New Mexico, yet it has fewer than 15,000 residents, with many of the smaller communities accessible only by air or winter road. Despite its isolated location in the heart of Canada's boreal forest, it is connected to Winnipeg via paved highway, railway (Via Rail), and Thompson Airport. It also has modern amenities, such as fibre optic internet and a large retail scene, including half a dozen shopping malls and several large chain stores (e.g., Walmart, Giant Tiger, Safeway, Shoppers Drug Mart and Canadian Tire). Thompson's natural and undisturbed surroundings make it popular with outdoor enthusiasts. The largest marina in Manitoba is south in Paint Lake Provincial Park, hundreds of kilometres of snowmobile trails are maintained, and the lack of light pollution and Thompson's northern latitude allows for occasional viewing of the northern lights, even within the city limits. [edit] History
The Thompson area was first inhabited by nomadic Paleo-Indian hunters around 6000 BC, sometime after the collapse of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. For a 10-year period beginning in 1946, Inco Limited explored northern Manitoba for nickel deposits; on February 4, 1956, a major ore body was discovered, and the modern history of Thompson began.[1] Thompson, named after Inco's chairman at the time, Dr. John F. Thompson (1881–1968), was founded following the December 3, 1956, agreement between the Government of Manitoba and Inco Limited. On March 25, 1961, Inco formally opened the first integrated nickel mining-smelting-refining plant in the Western Hemisphere (in Thompson) and the second largest nickel-producing operation in the world (after Inco's Sudbury operations). Thompson was incorporated as a town in 1967 on Canada's Centennial Anniversary; in 1970 Thompson gained city status in the royal presence of Queen Elizabeth II. The community was initially planned for a population of 8000,[1] but Thompson grew rapidly to 19,001 residents by the 1971 Census; the population has even been estimated as high as 26,000 residents prior to the recession in 1971. Major layoffs at Inco Limited in 1971 and 1977 led to Thompson's population declining to 14,288 by the 1981 Census. Thompson's rapid boom and bust was attributed to changes in the nickel market; during the 1960s, following large increases in the demand for nickel, 6 additional mines (Birchtree, Soab North, Soab South, Pipe Number 1, Pipe Number 2, and Pipe Open Pit) were constructed near Thompson. After the Soviet Union gained access to the world nickel market in 1970, world supply of nickel exceeded world demand;[2] in response, four nickel mines (Soab North, Soab South, Pipe Number 1, and Pipe Number 2) were closed in 1971 and 30% of Inco's workforce in Thompson was laid off. In 1977, when nickel prices declined substantially, a fifth mine (Birchtree) was put on care and maintenance and an additional 650 Inco employees in Thompson were laid off.[2]
As Inco's workforce dwindled from over 4000 in the 1970s to around 850 in 2018, the economic driver of Thompson shifted to providing goods and services (e.g., retail, healthcare, social services) to the surrounding communities, earning Thompson the nickname, "The Hub of the North". [edit] Research Tips
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