Wikipedia

Listowel, Ontario

For the Irish town, see Listowel.

Listowel /ˈlɪstəwəl/ is an unincorporated community in Ontario, Canada, located in the Municipality of North Perth. Incorporated as the Town of Listowel in 1875, it was dissolved in 1998 following amalgamation with several other communities in the northern section of Perth County. Its population was 9,539 at the Canada 2021 Census in a land area of 6.73 square kilometres; at the time there were 3,910 occupied dwellings.[1]

Listowel
Unincorporated community
Main Street
Main Street
Listowel is located in Ontario
Listowel
Listowel
Location of Listowel in Ontario
Coordinates: 43°43′54″N 80°57′13″W / 43.73167°N 80.95361°W / 43.73167; -80.95361
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
CountyPerth
TownshipNorth Perth
Settled1857
Incorporated (village)1867
Incorporated (town)1875
AmalgamatedJanuary 1, 1998 into North Perth
Government
 • TypeMunicipality of North Perth
Elevation
382 m (1,253 ft)
Population
 (2021 Census)
 • Total
9,539
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Forward sortation area
N4W
Area code(s)519, 226

History

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Listowel was founded in 1852,[2] and was originally called Mapleton. It was renamed in June 1856 after a post office was established, and named after the town of Listowel, in County Kerry, Ireland.[3]

Economic expansion

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In 1871 the Wellington, Grey and Bruce Railway extended its line to Listowel. It was joined in 1873 by a second railway, the Stratford and Huron Railway, and Listowel soon became an important shipping point. The arrival of the railway hastened development and Listowel became a Town with a population of 2,054 in 1875 in what is now North Perth in Perth County, Ontario.[4][5]

In 1877, the first elementary school opened.[6]

Electricity came to Listowel in 1897, and in 1900 the Listowel Furniture Company opened. By 1902 the population had increased to 2,661, and a woolen mill, a planing mill, a flour mill, a brewery and a dairy products exporting company were operating in the town.[7][4]

1950s – present

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On February 28, 1959, the roof of the Listowel Memorial Arena collapsed under heavy snow, burying a boys' hockey team playing a scrimmage game. Seven players, along with a referee and recreation director, were killed in the collapse in what was described by the Waterloo Region Record as "Listowel's darkest day".[8][9][10] The arena was rebuilt and closed in 2017 following the construction of the Steve Kerr Memorial Complex. The arena was demolished on February 2, 2021.[11][12]

On March 17, 2011, the local dollar store caught fire and its roof collapsed, killing volunteer firefighters Ray Walter (30) and Ken Rea (56).[13] Listowel mourned the loss, closing major streets and posting black ribbons all over town in honour of the fallen firefighters.[14] Paddyfest festivities continued to honour Kinsman Ray Walter, but in a somber fashion.[15]

Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses, Listowel's population grew by 26.7 percent, helping drive North Perth's population growth to 18.3 percent.[16]

Education

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Public education in Listowel is administered by the Avon Maitland District School Board, who manage Listowel District Secondary School and elementary schools Listowel Eastdale Public School and North Perth Westfield Elementary School. North Perth Westfield Elementary School, an amalgamation of Wallace Public School and Listowel Central School, accepted its first cohort of students in September 2016.[17]

Culture

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The Bookery (now the Salvation Army Thrift Store) is located across from Veky's International Cuisine Restaurant. This Celtic-inspired book store stocks about 25,000 books and traditional Celtic, Irish and Scottish jewellery in silver. In addition, they provide gallery space for local artists to display their work.[18] Listowel has also raised musicians from many genres, such as Thirteen O'Clock,[19] and Brian Vollmer (lead singer of Helix).[20]

Paddyfest

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The official spokesperson for Paddyfest is chosen yearly in the Paddyfest Ambassador Competition. Contestants must perform a speech, impromptu question and interview with the judges and receive the overall highest score to be awarded this position. A separate award of Talent is given out to the contestant with the highest score in the talent competition. Runner-up and Congeniality are also awards which are available. The Paddyfest Ambassador Competition changed its name and official status from being Miss Paddyfest when first created.[21]

Events at the Fest include arm wrestling[22] and a parade.[23]

Sports

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Listowel Cyclones home game

Listowel has a Jr. "B" hockey team from the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (Mid-West Conference). They are called the Listowel Cyclones.[24] The town also hosts a baseball team, the Listowel Jr. Legionnaires.[25] Part II Bistro Ladies Classic, a curling bonspiel takes place in Listowel Curling Club.[26] Carl Tremaine - born in Listowel on August 26, 1899 - Boxing - undisputed junior-feather world champion

Economy

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The Campbell Soup Company was a major local employer for 48 years, operating a frozen, foodservice and specialty food plant in Listowel. This relationship ended abruptly with the announcement of the factory's pending closure on April 28, 2008.[27] In 2010 the former Campbell Soup plant was purchased by Erie Meat Products and expected to ship 50-60 million pounds of poultry to world markets on an annual basis.[28]

Since 1996 the area around Listowel has attracted new industries.[29]

Notable people

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Knox Presbyterian church
 
Christ Church (Anglican)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Listowel 2021 Census". Statistics Canada
  2. ^ "The Founding of Listowel". www.ontarioplaques.com. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  3. ^ "Listowel". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  4. ^ a b Deborah Welch And Michael Payne. "Listowel". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
  5. ^ Cook, Wayne (2013). "Historical Plaques of Perth County". Wayne Cook. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  6. ^ John George Hodgins (1910). The establishment of schools and colleges in Ontario, 1792-1910. L. K. Cameron. p. 277.
  7. ^ Johnston, William (2015). "History of Perth County 1825-1902 - Listowel, Ontario". Listowel Org Free. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  8. ^ Davis, Brent (2009-02-27). "Remembering Listowel's darkest day". TheRecord.com. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  9. ^ "Community bids farewell to Listowel Memorial Arena". Dec 13, 2017 by Dan McNee Listowel Banner
  10. ^ "Listowel Arena Collapse: Friends of '59".
  11. ^ Miller, Scott (2 February 2021). "Demolition begins on Listowel Memorial Arena". CTV News London.
  12. ^ "Listowel Memorial Arena set to be demolished in 2020". Kitchener. 16 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Two volunteer firefighters killed in Listowel, Ont. | The Star". thestar.com. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  14. ^ "Thousands honour Listowel firefighters as 'heroes' | The Star". thestar.com. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  15. ^ "Tributes to fallen Listowel firefighters pour in as community mourns". TheRecord.com. 2011-03-20. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  16. ^ Montanini, Chris. "Stratford's growth keeps pace with provincial average". stratfordbeaconherald. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  17. ^ Avon Maitland Schools
  18. ^ "The Bookery". Ontariobusinessguide.com. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
  19. ^ "Thirteen O'Clock". Supernova.com. November 2, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
  20. ^ "The Official Site of Helix". Planethelix.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
  21. ^ "Brennan crowned 2018 Paddyfest Ambassador". Mar 07, 2018 by Andrew Smith Listowel Banner
  22. ^ "Local captures championship belt at Belleville arm wrestling event", Wellington Advertiser, Summer edition 2018. by Chris Daponte
  23. ^ "Listowel's Paddyfest". The Record.
  24. ^ "Cyclones Win First Ever Sutherland Cup". Blackburn News, By Ryan Drury May 2, 2018
  25. ^ "Listowel Legionnaires Confident Heading Into 2018 Midwestern Ontario Senior Baseball League Season". Blackburn News, By Ryan DruryMay 11, 2018
  26. ^ "Listowel Ladies Classic begins". BlackburnNews.com. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  27. ^ "Campbell's plant to close, throwing 400 out of work". Toronto Star. April 28, 2008. Archived from the original on May 2, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
  28. ^ "Commercial Investment Prospectus - Listowel" (PDF). Municipality of North Perth. 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  29. ^ "Opportunities" (PDF). Perth County Economic Development. Winter 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  30. ^ "Listowel’s Corey Connors Has Solid Second Round At Canadian Open". Blackburn News, By Ryan Drury July 27, 2018
  31. ^ "List of nominations" Archived 2010-10-11 at the Wayback Machine. Gemini Awards
  32. ^ "John Smale obituary: Procter & Gamble CEO and G.M. chairman dies at 84". Los Angeles Times. November 22, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
  33. ^ Paul White (2006). Great Centremen: Stars of Hockey's Golden Age. Heritage House Publishing Co. p. 133. ISBN 978-1-55439-097-7.
  34. ^ "Hardcover Advice & Misc". The New York Times. February 19, 2012.
  35. ^ "2012 Book Awards". Christianity Today.

Further reading

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  Media related to Listowel, Ontario at Wikimedia Commons

43°43′55″N 80°57′12″W / 43.73194°N 80.95333°W / 43.73194; -80.95333

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