Reesor Siding

Introduction

Photo of historical plaque
Historical plaque
©Jeri Danyleyko

Reesor Siding was a small settlement located almost 3 kilometres east of Reesor. It began as a railway siding around 1916. Shortly after that, groups of Mennonite and French Canadians settled near the siding and slowly a small community began to emerge.

By the 1920s, Reesor Siding contained a small store, government-owned sawmill, a Mennonite Church and cemetery, school, and a tennis court, an oddity for such an isolated area. At its height the community had a population of about 100. By the late 40s, the school and church closed and most of the land was vacant. That should have been the end of it.

In 1963, Reesor Siding made national headlines, following one of the most horrific and bloody labour disputes in Canadian history, later known as The Reesor Siding Incident.

It began on February 10, 1963. Fuelled by an illegal strike in nearby Kapuskasing, an employer that refused to negotiate with the union, and a dispute between striking workers and contract farmers over rates, a confrontation arose between the farmers and a group of 400 strikers. One of the farmers fired a warning shot. Police protection was insufficient and by the end of night, three of strikers lay dead and five more lay injured.

A monument now stands near the site of the tragedy to commemorate the three fallen men. Learn more

How to get there!

Reesor Siding lies in Cochrane District alongside Highway 11. The monument that commemorates the Reesor Siding incident is located on the south side of the road.

View Ontario Ghost Town Map in a larger map

Nearby centre: Mattice, 14 kilometres

Please note: these maps are generated by Google. We have no control over the contents. Incorrect street data and/or similar problems must be reported directly to Google. For detailed information on roads, please consult a regular road map.

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