Opasatika is a former mill town with about 300 residents set on the Opasatika River.
This is actually pretty cool in person. Well done, Opaz.
Opaz (as it is commonly called along northern Highway 11) used to have its own mill (and supposedly, from what I was told, its own dance club), but changes to the forestry industry in northern Ontario have meant that a lot of the smaller mills are being closed. This means that communities like Opasatika, Smooth Rock, and Longlac are losing their mills, and fighting for their lives in the process. I was told that it used to be that there was a little mill in each little town from Hearst through to Smooth Rock.
Of course, Opasatika has its “some weird big thing” as you enter the town. There’s a random fish statue . There’s also a mini logging boat sitting in the field. Normally there are plaques for these kinds of things but not here – I guess everyone around here is just in-the-know. A resident emailed me to tell me that the fish was supposed to have a commemorative plaque, and be the start of a historical site. However, progress was delayed when the town mill was closed – and subsequently, all civic efforts have gone into finding a solution for the mill. That’s understandable, and unfortunate.
Take note Longlac – it is obvious what this boat’s purpose is
Opasatika (pronounced locally as Opa-set-ticka) also has a nice little waterfront park with a boat launch to the river, and two marshes – du Village and des Lambert. Sixty kilometres south of Opasatika you can find Christopher Waterfall which leads into Rufus Lake.
NO SWIMMING. Okay Opaz, you made it clear.
As for businesses, Magazin Martel is a depanneur with a little LCBO outlet. Mandy’s Beanerie serves coffee and meals as well. There might be more for food and services, but I’m not sure. I haven’t been back in a while.
There used to be a mushroom farm in Opasatika. I’m not sure if it is still running. I don’t know if it gives tours, but you could enquire – I’ve always found visiting any kind of factory/workplace type thing to actually pretty interesting. The farmhouse you see on the right is actually in Val Rita, and has some personal significance to its owner, a testament to the agriculture that used to occur in this area.
On a personal note, Opasatika is the first place where my car was chased by a dog on the journey. Imagine, if you live on Highway 11 and you have a dog that chases cars or trucks? Boy are you in trouble…
Thanks to Anick for help with Opaz.
Last weekend we spent driving around and fishing in Opaz. My son caught his first pikes ever at the boat launch, we seen our first black bear off Lambert Road, and had a great conversation with Heaven 11 owner. The people that stopped at the boat launch to see us fish were all friendly and gave us great tips. We will definitely visit again
The former Opaz Gas will be reopening soon under new ownership with the appropriate name of Heaven 11. Gas and diesel service along with Ole Smokes Coffee with pastries or stew and a pico-mart for the basic food and supplies. The RV park will reopen and the only dog park along the entire highway 11 where you can get fuel, coffee, snacks and let your canine companion have some fun at the same stop.
I just want to had a little something to this site , and this is. People should start by the beginning when it comes to history of a town and not leave things unsaid like the very first sawmill in Opasatika was owned by Albert Bernard, and was not Isabelle Brothers or Excel, but mostly no body is talking about it, that great man was my Grand Father, and I was named after him and am very proud of it, of him and of is history, thank you.
Albert Bernard.
I spent the summer of ’87 living with a family in Opaz. Made some good friends and experienced a few ‘firsts’.
Two of our parents were raised in Opasitika. We always enjoy driving by there on our way to Kapuskasing. Most people worked at woodlands. My grandmother also had a motel and would have boarders from C N R staying there regularly since the railroad would go through Opasitika. We enjoyed visiting our cousins or spending the summer at the farm.
I’ve been to the `Òpaz`
Grew up just down the road from here. Sadly the bush has reclaimed most of the homesteads.
my family are taking a fall vacation to do some fishing on and near opasatika seeing there is bridge constructon is the launch ramp & parking lot still avaiable to use ? we came up there a 3 years ago and just loved the people & the area .