Redditt | |
---|---|
Designated place | |
Location of Redditt in Ontario | |
Coordinates: 49°58′51″N 94°23′30″W / 49.98083°N 94.39167°WCoordinates: 49°58′51″N 94°23′30″W / 49.98083°N 94.39167°W | |
Country | Canada |
Province | Ontario |
District | Kenora |
Part | Kenora, Unorganized |
Government | |
• Type | Local services board |
• MP | Greg Rickford (CPC) |
• MPP | Sarah Campbell (NDP) |
Area | |
• Total | 69.39 km2 (26.79 sq mi) |
Elevation | 335 m (1,099 ft) |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 153 |
• Density | 2.5/km2 (6/sq mi) |
Time zone | Central (UTC−6) |
• Summer (DST) | Central (UTC−5) |
Postal code FSA | P0X 1M0 |
Area code(s) | Area code 807 |
Redditt is an unincorporated community in Unorganized Kenora District in northwestern Ontario, Canada. It is on the MacFarlane River, and located at the northern terminus of Ontario Highway 658, 27 kilometres (17 mi) north of Kenora. Redditt is also the name of the surrounding geographic township that includes the community.
A designated place served by a local services board, Redditt had a population of 153 in the Canada 2011 Census.
Until 1985 the main street of Redditt was called Highway 666. In 1985, an Evangelical Christian church located on the road nearer to Kenora asked that the highway be renumbered, as there was a highway sign directly outside the church and they "got a lot of comments". Subsequently the main street of Redditt and the road into town were renumbered to highway 658. Members of the church had argued to the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario, that it was inappropriate for their church to be located on the "Highway to Hell". Redditt is also the starting point for what is locally known as the "English River Road", which provides access to resource (logging primarily) exploitation in the region north of Redditt.
Once a location for a Canadian National Railway roundhouse, the rail-yard operations were closed down in the early 1950s when the CNR switched to diesel and electrics from steam. At this time Ontario Central Airlines, owned by Barney Lamb, established a maintenance facility in the old roundhouse for its fleet of amphibious charter aircraft. The old switch yard was used as a landing strip for wheel aircraft after the tracks had been pulled. At this time the inflow to Corn Lake (the MacFarlane River) was dredged, and a control dam constructed at the out flow of Ena Lake to ensure an adequate water depth for the landing of amphibious aircraft, which were then towed by dolly to the former roundhouse for maintenance.