The hamlet of Porquis Junction is about 10 minutes from Iroquois Falls. Porquis Junction used to be a small agricultural centre, with its own agricultural hall and even a John Deere dealership (Jensen’s Sales and Service) which serviced farms from Iroquois Falls to Matheson up until the early 1990s.
Reminder of agricultural days of yore in northern Ontario
As far as I can tell, it is not pronounced Por-kee but Pork-wiss, which to me sounds like a brand of tinned ham. The town should nominate someone as the official ‘Marquis of Porquis’ every year at the end of the Blues Fest or Ag Festival. Why? Because it just sounds cool.
Porquis must be the festival capital of the north as it hosts a number of different celebrations despite its relatively small size. Known across the north, the Porquis Blues Festival is held on a small covered stage behind the community centre every July. The town also hosts an Agricultural Fall Fair in August. In 1986, the town made the news when the Porquis Fun Days festival attracted world-famous wrestler André the Giant, who then proceeded to eat the hamlet out of house and home.
Porquis is about 10 minutes off Highway 11, on the way to Iroquois Falls. This was the second time, after Opasatika, that I had been chased by a dog while taking pictures – I guess he was bored. Or just very protective of the Porquis Junction Agricultural Hall.
Old Cunigold Mines Truck, sent in by Linus
MY NAME IS RALPH RUSSELL. I LIVED IN THE PORQUIS AREA FOR MANY YEARS AND ATTENDED PORQUIS PUBLIC SCHOOL. I CURRENTLY LIVE IN LINDSAY ONTARIO. I REMEMBER MANY GOOD TIMES AT THE FRIDAY NIGHT DANCE AT THE PORQUIS AGRICULTURAL HALL. THEO LARIVIERRE WAS THE BAND LEADER
Luxury hotels (including 5 star hotels and 4 star hotels) and cheap Porquis Junction hotels (with best discount rates and
Thank you Dan Cashmore.
Does anyone know Patrick Scott from Wilson Lake, and John Benson, Ethel Benson’s son? I’d like to know where they are, and if they are doing well. I hope they are. Please let me know anything about these two men.
Great to see former student from IFHS Name on Facebook.
Where are you located and are you enjoying good health
Hi Faye
Dan Cashmore here. I am Carl and Helen Cashmore’s son. Your sister, Gayle, worked for my dad for a while at the mill. Anyways, from time to time I take a look at the Porquis Blog page and saw your inquiry about John Benson. You can find his brother, Les, on Facebook. Les shows a friend as John Ralph Charles Benson who lives in Lawrencetown, NS (who is also on Facebook). I’m pretty sure it is John Benson. Hope all is well with you. Best Regards!
I went to elementary School in Porquis. I would like to know whether Patrick Scott (from Wilson Lake) is in the area, & is he doing well? Also, John Benson, son of Ethel, is he in the area and is he fine? Please tell me anything you know about them.
Pregnant girl up the street is real bitch, my wife’s parents over on Evelyn are assholes.. Don’t want to raise my daughter here…
This comment is fake and impersonating as I Michelle Perreault did NOT write this! Remove this comment please!
Hate this place and these people. Want to go back to Timmins..
This comment is also fake and impersonatting! I Michelle Perreault did NOT write this! Remove this posts also please.
My name is Andy and I’m originally from Kapuskasing, (further North on Highway 11). Highway 11 used to go right through the town of Porquis Junction, until they built a by-pass around the town, probably in the early 60′s. that’s why I remember the place…Little side story – back in 2012 or 2013, I was living in Belgium and took a side trip to visit the Canadian Vimy memorial in France. At the nearby museum/gift shop, a number of young Canadian exchange students were spending 6 months in Vimy to act as tour guides and staff at the museum.
When I asked one young girl where she was from in Canada, she told me that she was from Porquis Junction! I don’t know if she was trying to brush me off or just being perfectly honest, but she sure was surprised when I said I knew where Porquis Junction was, Porquis being very close to Iroquois Falls, and such. She was somewhat speechless after that…
Reply ↓
My name is Andy and I’m originally from Kapuskasing, (further North on Highway 11). Highway 11 used to go right through the town of Porquis Junction, until they built a by-pass around the town, probably in the early 60’s. that’s why I remember the place…Little story – back in 2012 or 2013, I was living in Belgium and took a side trip to visit the Canadian Vimy memorial in France. At the nearby museum/gift shop, a number of young Canadian exchange students were spending 6 months in Vimy to act as tour guides and staff at the museum.
When I asked one young girl where she was from in Canada, she told me that she was from Porquis Junction! I don’t know if she was trying to brush me off or just being perfectly honest, but she sure was surprised when I said I knew where Porquis Junction was, Porquis being very close to Iroquois Falls, and such. She was somewhat speechless after that.
I should have mentioned that I have many memories of Porquis from grocery shopping there and visiting friends of my mother. Very sorry to see the old landmarks, such as the train station, disappear but I guess that is all part of the modernization era we are in.