Wawa in Algoma District, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Aime Breton

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 7, 2022

1. Aime Breton Marker

Inscription.

Aime Breton. . , Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario in August, 1907, Joseph Ernest Aime Breton was raised in a large family whose parents were involved in the hotel industry. Aime loved the wilderness and people. He could run a hotel just as easily as he could trap, prospect, and entertain with his boxing prowess and famous one-man wrestling match. During the Depression years, Aime found work at the Grace Gold Mine and the Wawa Gold Fields on the south shore of Wawa Lake. In 1935 he moved his wife Bea and family from Sault Ste. Marie to Wawa after purchasing the town's only hotel, the Lakeview. When the hotel burned on Easter Weekend in 1944, the Breton's rebuilt the current Lakeview, sold it to the Perkovich family and returned to Sault Ste. Marie to run the Central Hotel on Queen Street East. , Aime was always interested in mining and recognized the potential value of Northern Ontario's vast undiscovered mineral resources. He is celebrated as playing a significant role in the initial discovery of the substantial uranium deposits between Blind River and Sudbury. The claims he staked in 1948 were later transformed into 12 uranium mines, 10,000 employees and the prosperous town of Elliot Lake in 1954. Aime's prospecting ventures also resulted in the 1959 discovery of copper in a creek bed along Highway 17 south of Wawa which later became a mine operated by Tribag Mining Company. , In the spring of 1973 Wawa residents mourned the passing of Aime who lost his life on Lake Superior after his small fishing boat drifted off shore. As a result of this tragic incident, Ontario's search and rescue protocols and policies were revamped and readjusted to provide local communities with stronger and more efficient channels of communication with various emergency response teams. , Aime Breton was one of Algoma's many colourful pioneers whose hard work, perseverance and dedication to family and community were the cornerstone of life in this unique corner of Northern Ontario. , Story written by Johanna Rowe www.wawahistory.com

Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario in August, 1907, Joseph Ernest Aime Breton was raised in a large family whose parents were involved in the hotel industry. Aime loved the wilderness and people. He could run a hotel just as easily as he could trap, prospect, and entertain with his boxing prowess and famous one-man wrestling match. During the Depression years, Aime found work at the Grace Gold Mine and the Wawa Gold Fields on the south shore of Wawa Lake. In 1935 he moved his wife Bea and family from Sault Ste. Marie to Wawa after purchasing the town's only hotel, the Lakeview. When the hotel burned on Easter Weekend in 1944, the Breton's rebuilt the current Lakeview, sold it to the Perkovich family and returned to Sault Ste. Marie to run the Central Hotel on Queen Street East.

Aime was always interested in mining and recognized the potential value of Northern Ontario's vast undiscovered mineral resources. He is celebrated as playing a significant role in the initial discovery of the substantial uranium deposits between Blind River and Sudbury. The claims he staked in 1948 were later transformed into 12 uranium mines, 10,000

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

employees and the prosperous town of Elliot Lake in 1954. Aime's prospecting ventures also resulted in the 1959 discovery of copper in a creek bed along Highway 17 south of Wawa which later became a mine operated by Tribag Mining Company.

In the spring of 1973 Wawa residents mourned the passing of Aime who lost his life on Lake Superior after his small fishing boat drifted off shore. As a result of this tragic incident, Ontario's search and rescue protocols and policies were revamped and readjusted to provide local communities with stronger and more efficient channels of communication with various emergency response teams.

Aime Breton was one of Algoma's many colourful pioneers whose hard work, perseverance and dedication to family and community were the cornerstone of life in this unique corner of Northern Ontario.

Story written by Johanna Rowe www.wawahistory.com

Erected 2011 by Wawa Heritage Doors.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is August 1907.

Location. 47° 59.869′ N, 84° 46.284′ W.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 7, 2022

2. Aime Breton Marker

Marker is in Wawa, Ontario, in Algoma District. It is on Broadway Avenue just north of Mackey Street, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located in the Wawa Mining Heritage Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wawa ON P0S 1K0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma Area

and in Northern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Great North Woods,

on Lake Superior’s North Shore,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Rod Morrison (here, next to this marker); Francis Hector Clergue (a few steps from this marker); Thomas Surluga (a few steps from this marker); Mickey Clement (a few steps from this marker); Artillo Berdusco (a few steps from this marker); Place of Clear Wawa Water (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 7, 2022

3. Aime Breton Marker

(looking southeast • Broadway Avenue & Mackey Street intersection in right background)

line); Monument to Mining (about 150 meters away); Wawa's Golden Hills & Mountains of Iron (about 150 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wawa.

Also see . . .
1. The Lakeview Hotel.

Mr. Perkovich bought the Hotel in 1949 from Aime Breton and completed a number of renovations, enlarging the Hotel and redecorating. Built in 1945 by Mr. Aime Breton, the new Lakeview Hotel replaced the previous one that burned on Palm Sunday in 1944. Breton had bought the old Hotel from Mr. Alex Rahal who had re-named it the Lakeview (previously Balmoral Hotel).

(Submitted on March 20, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Wawa Heritage Doors - portals into our past!.

"Wawa's Heritage Doors are a truly creative and effective way to combine history and art in a visually attractive cultural display for both Wawa residents and visitors to enjoy!"

(Submitted on March 20, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 19, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 505 times since then and 82 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 20, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.