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Coordinates: 49°42′N, 83°40′W

Centre of Hearst

Hearst (2001 census population 5,825; 2006 census population 5,620) is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is located in Northern Ontario, approximately 92 km (57 miles) west of Kapuskasing, approximately 964 km (600 miles) north of Toronto and 520 km (323 miles) east of Thunder Bay on Highway 11.

The town came into being due to the construction of the National Transcontinental Railway in 1913. Established as a divisional point, Hearst is 207.7 km (129.08 miles) west of Cochrane and 201.3 km (125.11 miles) east of the divisional point of Grant.

Hearst was named to honour William Hearst, then, Minister of Forests and Mines. Many settlers of this town originally came from the province of Quebec.

Hearst is the furthest town in terms of North latitudes accessible by car in Ontario. Towns north of Hearst must be reached via helicopter or plane.

Hearst is one of Ontario's majority franco-ontarian towns. The town is a dynamic and warm community where the population is 96% francophone. Most of them are white but different cultures can be found in Hearst such as Chinese, Portuguese, Greek, Ukrainian, First Nations and also African-Canadians.

The town is home to the Université de Hearst, a federated school of Laurentian University in Greater Sudbury. The primary industry of Hearst is forestry, with both mills and tree-planting organizations. Hearst is a four season destination. Many years ago, the town proclaimed itself the Moose Capital of Canada. It's a marvelous place for hunting and fishing. It is also known for many outdoor activities such as snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, camping, swimming. canoeing, golf and much more. There are also a multitude of events throughout the year.

• Ontario - Hearst
• Ontario Highway 11 Homepage - Hearst

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