Many of the small villages and towns throughout Ontario are very similar in appearance. However, there is the little town of Copper Cliff, which is a company town that was built by the nickel mining corporations, lays a unique hillside of houses. They are grouped together much like Italian mountainside communities. Here lies an Italian community reminiscent of the Old Country.
The construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1883, broke open the rich mineral resources of the area. Mills, smelter shacks and headframes began to appear on the rocky knolls and hill tops around the area then known as Sudbury Junction. To avoid paying large amounts in municipal taxes, the companies built their own towns. In 1890, Copper Cliff was established by Canada Copper, which would later become known as the corporate giant Inco.
Canada Copper built Copper Cliffs with wide streets, neat company houses, stores and churches. Most people who worked in the mines settled in the town, but a small group of Italian miners decided that they’d like to have their own community. As a result there were no pre-designed homes or streets; these miners build in the traditional rural Italian style. They were strongly committed to the community and build their housing in very close proximity. Houses were built in the shape and size that was desired by the owner. No space was left for yards, little for streets and there were no driveways because these people didn’t own cars and there was no need for them.
Today, the community reminds passerby of a scene from an Italian postcard. The streets are very narrow and twist and turn around the buildings and houses squeeze together at odd angles. Each home is individually owned and the area is inhabited mainly by Italian people. There are several Italian clubs within the community and the Italian language is dominant. Within meters visitors can see the smoke belching from the smokestacks of the Inco nickel facility. This small community pays testimony to a bygone area. Its quaint atmosphere and the friendly people make it a great place for travelers to get a glimpse into Ontario’s past.