7 Ontario Towns Losing People So Fast They May Not Exist by 2035

0:00 A countdown of seven Northern Ontario communities experiencing population decline and the unique economic factors shaping their futures. 1:18 Dubreuilville 3:27 Smooth Rock Falls 5:36 Manitouwadge 7:45 Atikokan 10:00 Temiskaming Shores 11:53 Cobalt 13:50 Elliott Lake What happens when the jobs return, but the people do not? I count down seven Northern Ontario communities shaped by mine closures, mill shutdowns, demographic decline, and unexpected attempts to rebuild. I look at Dubreuilville, Smooth Rock Falls, Manitouwadge, Atikokan, Temiskaming Shores, Cobalt, and Elliott Lake through their population histories and economic turning points. Along the way, I explore the Island Gold mine, a town built around uranium, silver mining in Cobalt, and the unusual retirement strategy that helped Elliott Lake grow. I also examine what the 2021 census reveals, why these communities are not expected to disappear by 2035, and how population growth in Northern Ontario may concentrate in larger centers rather than smaller towns.