Fort Frances in Rainy River District, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Jacques de Noyon

1668-1745

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 16, 2024

1. Jacques de Noyon (marker south side • English)

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

[English] Jacques de Noyon was the first white man to explore this region. Born in Trois-Rivieres. Noyon worked in the fur trade as a coureur de bois. In 1688 he led an expedition beyond Lake Superior into territory previously unknown to fur traders. He and his men ascended the Kaministiquia River, crossed Dog Lake, and through several portages, reached Rainy Lake. After wintering southwest of here on the Rainy River, they pushed on to Lake of the Woods in 1689. There Assiniboines told Noyon of a route to Lake Winnipeg and the Red River. Noyon’s report on his trip was used by La Verendrye when he explored westward to Red River in 1732.

[Français] Jacques de Noyon est le premier homme blanc à avoir explorer cette région. Né à Trois-Rivières, de Noyon travaille dans le commerce de la fourrure comme coureur de bois. En 1688, il mène une expédition au-delà du lac Supérieur, en territoire jusqu’alors inconnu des marchands de fourrure. Avec ses hommes, il remonte la Kaministiquia, traverse le lac du Chien et, de portage en portage, atteint le lac à la Pluie. Il passe l’hiver au bord de la rivière La Pluie, au sud-ouest d’ici, et parvient au lac des Bois en 1689. Là, les Assiniboines lui indiquent un itinéraire conduisant au lac Winnipeg et à la rivière Rouge. La relation qu’il fit de son voyage sera utilisé par La Vérendrye qui, en 1732, gagnera cette rivière lors de son exploration de l’ouest.

Erected by Ontario

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Heritage Foundation / Fondation du patrimoine ontarien.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1688.

Location. 48° 39.178′ N, 93° 18.421′ W. Marker is in Fort Frances, Ontario, in Rainy River District. It can be reached from Trans-Canada Highway (Noden Causeway) (Provincial Highway 11) 4.6 kilometers east of Frog Creek Road (Couchiching Road), on the left when traveling east. The marker is located at the Noden Causeway boat launch and wayside on Rainy Lake. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Frances ON P9A 3M2, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Ontario

and specifically in Northwest Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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

Jacques de Noyon (<i>marker north side • Français</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 16, 2024

2. Jacques de Noyon (marker north side • Français)

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Robert J. N. Pither (approx. 5.5 kilometers away); Fort St. Pierre / Le Fort Saint-Pierre (approx. 5.5 kilometers away); Sieur De La Vérendrye (1685- 1749) (approx. 5.5 kilometers away); Calder History (approx. 5.6 kilometers away); The North West Mounted Police on the Dawson Route (approx. 7.2 kilometers away); History of the Lookout Tower (approx. 7.2 kilometers away); La Verendrye Parkway (approx. 7.4 kilometers away); The Sorting Gap (approx. 7.5 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Frances.

Also see . . . Jacques de Noyon (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: A French Canadian explorer, sergeant and coureur des bois. He is the first known European to visit the Boundary Waters region west of Lake Superior. In 1688, de Noyon and three others traveled from the Montreal area to Fort Caministigoyan on Lake Superior, located at present-day Thunder Bay, Ontario. From there they traveled inland up
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 16, 2024

3. Jacques de Noyon Marker
The marker was surrounded by parked road equipment at the time of these photos, as the wayside was being repaved.
the Kaministiquia River. His group followed the Indigenous canoe route over the Laurentian Divide, past the present-day site of Atikokan, Ontario, through what is now Quetico Provincial Park and Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota. He built a fort, established ties to the local Assiniboine people, and spent the winter on the shore of Rainy Lake.

(Submitted on November 27, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Jacques de Noyon Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 16, 2024

4. Jacques de Noyon Marker

Looking north across the wayside; Rainy Lake is in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 26, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 177 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 27, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.