Municipality Of Machin

The Municipality of Machin stretches for 25 kilometres along the Trans-Canada Highway in Northwestern Ontario. It is situated only 15 kilometres west of Dryden and 90 kilometres east of Kenora. While the Municipality is peaceful and secluded, the vibrant City of Thunder Bay is only 390 kilometres east and the busy City of Winnipeg is 315 kilometres to the west. Residents can easily make it there and back to both cities within a day.

Life in rural Machin is less stressful than city living for many reasons; affordable real estate prices, low crime, no traffic jams, smaller schools, lower taxes and close access to popular outdoor activities are just a few. The general cost of living is a lot cheaper than in most areas of Ontario, so residents can afford to live well for a lot less.

Today Machin is home to 1200 people who take advantage of the peaceful and affordable way of life to raise their families or enjoy retirement. Best of all, residents of Machin do not have to forgo any important services or amenities.

Machin meets the daily living needs of its residents through a range of municipal and private services. A modern Health Centre, dentist, Canada Post office, a volunteer Fire Service, several churches and a bank, along with several restaurants and stores are just some of the available services. Access to the Dryden Regional Health Centre and the Dryden Police Services is also offered on an as needed basis.

For those looking to travel outside the area, a seasonal airstrip is located in Vermilion Bay for use by private, corporate and charter aircraft, while a paved airstrip can be found in Dryden that provides daily service to Toronto, Calgary, Halifax, Edmonton, Vancouver, Montreal and Winnipeg.

The Municipality of Machin is an equal opportunity employer that strives to attract and retain a diverse, high-performing workforce for efficient, quality service to its communities. The Municipality employs individuals throughout the year and supplements the regular workforce during spring and summer months for seasonal positions.

Machin’s local economy is also supported by the private sector that provides employment opportunities mainly in the tourism, mining and forestry industries. There are also several successful businesses including small stores, restaurants and service stations.

Families living in Machin have access to quality learning opportunities. Publicly-funded education resources for all ages are located within the three communities.

The Keewatin Patricia School Board operates one elementary school in Machin, providing classes from Junior Kindergarten through to Grade 8. Following graduation from Grade 8, students commute together by school bus to the Dryden High School. Families are also encouraged to take advantage of services at the Vermillion Bay Family Resource Centre.

For those wanting to pursue a post-secondary education, a variety of university and training courses are offered to students via Contact North/Contact Nord in Dryden. The Distance Education and Training Network provides unique learning experiences through virtual classrooms and video conferencing, allowing students to continue their education without leaving home.

Several off-campus representatives are also available to provide assistance to students who are interested in a post-secondary education at one of Northwestern Ontario’s regional colleges or universities.

• Confederation College Regional Campuses
• Lakehead University

The Municipality of Machin is business-friendly and wants to help new businesses relocate to the area and existing businesses stay in business and expand.

A list of successful Machin businesses can be found at the Machin website.

The Patricia Area Community Endeavours or PACE is a Community Futures Development Corporation and encourages local community and economic development by assisting community groups and entrepreneurs in Machin. Through small business loans, non-profit funding, counselling and support, PACE provides the tools required to build a brighter economic future in the area.

Machin is definitely a place to get away from it all and have fun! All three communities serve as jumping-off points for hiking, skiing, fishing and exploring local nature in the great outdoors.

Eagle Lake is well-known as one of the most exciting fishing locations in Northwestern Ontario and is also home to the world record Muskie, weighing in at 61lbs, 9oz. Some of the most popular game fish draw professional and amateur anglers to the local waters throughout the fishing season.

Blue Lake Provincial Park is also just minutes away from the Machin communities and offers a beautiful sandy beach, 118 campsites, a swimming area, park hiking trails, canoeing and interpretive programs.

The Municipality manages an arena, recreation centre, local beaches, ski trails, baseball diamonds and more, providing activities for residents during all four seasons.

Residents and visitors to Machin alike have an opportunity to see the legendary Big Foot; an eighteen feet high statue that weighs 3,800 pound. It was originally constructed in the early 1960’s to encourage highway travellers to stop and spend some time in the area.

Other activities and attractions include an athletic program, Egli’s Sheep Farm and an on-going community calendar full of events. Visit the community web site for a directory of upcoming events.