There's no question that Canadian artists are the best! But there are a handful of songs out there about Northeastern Ontario that we feel are a cut above the rest.
Whether you're cruising the TransCanada Highway, sitting around the campfire, or lounging on the dock, these songs are sure to pep up your summer playlist and make you fall deeper in love with Northeastern Ontario.
It shouldn't be a surpirse that the Hip are no stranger to this list, and their song "Fly" mentions Moonbeam, Ontario as a place to go. Moonbeam owes its name to early residents who claimed to have seen flashing lights – what they called moonbeams – falling from the sky. Home to Rémi Lake and the nearby René Brunelle Provincial Park, Moonbeam is a northern gem.
It should come as no surprise to see Stompin' Tom Connors' Sudbury anthem on the list. Known for other BIG-name tunes such as "The Hockey Song" and "Bud the Spud," Stompin' Tom is also said to have gotten his big break in Timmins, Ontario. Fans can pose for a photo op and pay homage to the artist at his commemorative statue near the Sudbury Arena in downtown Sudbury, northern Ontario's largest city.
Ok, ok, we know this song doesn't mention Cochrane by name. But it's the region where the wreckage of Toronto Maple Leafs legend Bill Barilko's plane was found after disappearing roughly 100 km north of Cochrane. He was returning from a fishing trip. Barilko disappeared in 1951 and was missing for 11 years, before discovery in 1962. Today, he rests in Timmins.
If you've ever driven through northern Ontario during the winter months, you can relate to this upbeat tune named after the beautiful community of Mattawa. A popular stop on any TransCanada journey, make sure to stop in and say 'Hi' the next time you're heading east (or west) on Highway 17!
This remote First Nation and largely Cree community is settled on the Attawapiskat River just west of James Bay. Attawapiskat is a special place to Tragically Hip front man Gord Downie, who has been known to take fishing trips "up north." Anyone heading to Attawapiskat arrives by train, plane, or ice road during the winter months.
Harlan Pepper and his song, "Great Lakes." While this catchy folk tune isn't about a specific town in Northeastern Ontario, it pays homage to Ontario's Great Lakes system, including our own Lake Huron – parent of the beautiful Georgian Bay, and home of Manitoulin Island and the North Channel.
