Petawawa

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title: "Petawawa" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["lower-tier-municipalities-in-ontario", "municipalities-in-renfrew-county", "populated-places-on-the-ottawa-river", "towns-in-ontario"] topic_path: "general/lower-tier-municipalities-in-ontario" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petawawa" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
namePetawawa
official_nameTown of Petawawa
settlement_typeTown (lower-tier)
image_skylineEmerald Necklace Trail, Petawawa Ontario.JPG
image_captionEmerald Necklace Trail and the Petawawa River
flag_size120x100px
shield_size120x100px
pushpin_reliefyes
pushpin_mapCAN ON Renfrew#Canada Southern Ontario#Ontario#Canada#North America
coordinates
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameCanada
subdivision_type1Province
subdivision_type2County
subdivision_name1Ontario
subdivision_name2Renfrew
established_titleIncorporated (town)
established_dateJuly 1, 1997
leader_titleMayor
leader_nameGary Serviss
leader_title1Governing Body
leader_name1Petawawa Town Council
leader_title2MPs
leader_name2Cheryl Gallant
leader_title3MPP
leader_name3Billy Denault
area_footnotes
area_land_km2164.70
population_total18,160
population_as_of2021
population_density_km2110.3
population_footnotes
postal_code_typePostal code
postal_codeK8H
timezoneEST
utc_offset−5
timezone_DSTEDT
utc_offset_DST−4
website
::

| name = Petawawa | official_name = Town of Petawawa | settlement_type = Town (lower-tier) | image_skyline = Emerald Necklace Trail, Petawawa Ontario.JPG | imagesize = | image_caption = Emerald Necklace Trail and the Petawawa River | image_flag = | flag_size = 120x100px | image_shield = | shield_size = 120x100px | pushpin_relief = yes | pushpin_map = CAN ON Renfrew#Canada Southern Ontario#Ontario#Canada#North America | pushpin_mapsize = | coordinates = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Canada | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name1 = Ontario | subdivision_name2 = Renfrew | established_title = Incorporated (town) | established_date = July 1, 1997 | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Gary Serviss | leader_title1 = Governing Body | leader_name1 = Petawawa Town Council | leader_title2 = MPs | leader_name2 = Cheryl Gallant | leader_title3 = MPP | leader_name3 = Billy Denault | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = | area_land_km2 = 164.70 | area_water_km2 = | population_total = 18,160 | population_as_of = 2021 | population_density_km2 = 110.3 | population_footnotes = | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = K8H | timezone = EST | utc_offset = −5 | timezone_DST = EDT | utc_offset_DST = −4 | website =

Petawawa ( ) is a town located in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada. Situated in the Ottawa Valley, with a population of 18,160 (2021 Census), Petawawa is the most populous municipality in Renfrew County.

History

The earliest settlement in the Petawawa area was inhabited by the Algonquin First Nation. The name of Petawawa originates from a local Algonquin language word, biidaawewe, meaning "where one hears a noise like this". The original spelling of the name of the town was Petewawa and while there are no sources showing when it officially changed to Petawawa, Privy Council documents indicate the name Petawawa being formally used in correspondence as early as 27 March 1907. Research of photographs after 1916 with the former spelling have not been found. While the records of the official name change are non-existent, it has been speculated that the influx of immigration to the area changed the pronunciation of the word from its native roots to a more European pronunciation. Over time this may have changed the spelling of the Town's name into the present day format.

In the late 19th century, the area was surveyed and settled by emigres from Scotland, Ireland and Germany. The land was unsuitable for crops, but the heavily forested surroundings were useful for logging. Petawawa was incorporated as a township in 1865. The Canadian military acquired land in the area in 1905, which later became Canadian Forces Base Petawawa. During this period it was used as an internment camp for German POWs during World War I. and World War II. Later, it became home to the Canadian Airborne Regiment before it was disbanded in 1995. Today, it is one of Canada's largest ground forces bases with members deployed throughout the world on various missions supporting the United Nations in peacekeeping or the war on terror.

In 1961, the urban area of Petawawa was incorporated as a separate village municipality. On July 1, 1997, the village and township amalgamated to form the Town of Petawawa.

Geography

The town lies on the west bank of the Ottawa River, at the confluence of the Petawawa River. Situated across the Ottawa River from the Laurentian Mountains, and east of Algonquin Park, Petawawa is a favourite stop for outdoor enthusiasts, anglers, hikers, canoers, and kayakers.

In addition to the primary urban core of Petawawa, the town also comprises the communities of Black Bay, Kramer Subdivision, Laurentian View, McGuire, Petawawa Point, Pine Meadows, Pine Ridge, Pinehurst Estates and Riverview.

Climate

Petawawa has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) with long, cold, snowy winters and warm summers. |location = Petawawa Airport (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1915–present) |metric first = yes |single line = yes |collapsed = |Jan maximum humidex = 10.0 |Feb maximum humidex = 14.8 |Mar maximum humidex = 30.4 |Apr maximum humidex = 36.3 |May maximum humidex = 42.3 |Jun maximum humidex = 42.8 |Jul maximum humidex = 47.5 |Aug maximum humidex = 46.3 |Sep maximum humidex = 43.1 |Oct maximum humidex = 36.1 |Nov maximum humidex = 24.9 |Dec maximum humidex = 18.1 |year maximum humidex = 47.5 |Jan record high C = 14.4 |Feb record high C = 13.8 |Mar record high C = 27.8 |Apr record high C = 32.0 |May record high C = 35.5 |Jun record high C = 36.4 |Jul record high C = 39.4 |Aug record high C = 38.9 |Sep record high C = 35.6 |Oct record high C = 31.1 |Nov record high C = 23.3 |Dec record high C = 17.2 |year record high C = 39.4 |Jan high C = -6.1 |Feb high C = -3.6 |Mar high C = 2.7 |Apr high C = 10.8 |May high C = 19.2 |Jun high C = 24.0 |Jul high C = 26.3 |Aug high C = 25.2 |Sep high C = 20.6 |Oct high C = 12.8 |Nov high C = 4.8 |Dec high C = -2.4 |year high C = 11.2 |Jan mean C = −11.9 |Feb mean C = −10.2 |Mar mean C = -3.7 |Apr mean C = 4.5 |May mean C = 12.0 |Jun mean C = 17.0 |Jul mean C = 19.3 |Aug mean C = 18.4 |Sep mean C = 14.0 |Oct mean C = 7.5 |Nov mean C = 0.3 |Dec mean C = −7.3 |year mean C = 5.0 |Jan low C = -17.9 |Feb low C = -16.6 |Mar low C = -10.0 |Apr low C = -2.0 |May low C = 4.5 |Jun low C = 10.0 |Jul low C = 12.3 |Aug low C = 11.6 |Sep low C = 7.3 |Oct low C = 2.1 |Nov low C = -4.1 |Dec low C = -11.9 |year low C = -1.2 |Jan record low C = -41.1 |Feb record low C = -39.4 |Mar record low C = -37.2 |Apr record low C = -26.1 |May record low C = -9.4 |Jun record low C = -2.5 |Jul record low C = 2.0 |Aug record low C = -1.1 |Sep record low C = -5.2 |Oct record low C = -12.6 |Nov record low C = -24.9 |Dec record low C = -38.9 |year record low C = -41.1 |Jan chill = -51.7 |Feb chill = -46.0 |Mar chill = -39.9 |Apr chill = -25.8 |May chill = -11.6 |Jun chill = -4.3 |Jul chill = 0.0 |Aug chill = -3.4 |Sep chill = -7.9 |Oct chill = -14.1 |Nov chill = -33.3 |Dec chill = -45.3 |year chill = -51.8 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 68.1 |Feb precipitation mm = 51.0 |Mar precipitation mm = 57.7 |Apr precipitation mm = 79.0 |May precipitation mm = 84.8 |Jun precipitation mm = 96.1 |Jul precipitation mm = 89.1 |Aug precipitation mm = 90.3 |Sep precipitation mm = 83.4 |Oct precipitation mm = 83.1 |Nov precipitation mm = 77.2 |Dec precipitation mm = 71.8 |year precipitation mm = 931.5 |rain colour = green |Jan rain mm = 17.8 |Feb rain mm = 12.5 |Mar rain mm = 28.9 |Apr rain mm = 64.1 |May rain mm = 84.1 |Jun rain mm = 96.1 |Jul rain mm = 89.1 |Aug rain mm = 90.3 |Sep rain mm = 83.4 |Oct rain mm = 79.1 |Nov rain mm = 51.7 |Dec rain mm = 23.9 |year rain mm = 720.9 |Jan snow cm = 49.4 |Feb snow cm = 38.0 |Mar snow cm = 26.5 |Apr snow cm = 11.1 |May snow cm = 0.5 |Jun snow cm = 0.0 |Jul snow cm = 0.0 |Aug snow cm = 0.0 |Sep snow cm = 0.0 |Oct snow cm = 3.4 |Nov snow cm = 25.0 |Dec snow cm = 45.1 |year snow cm = 199.0 |unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm |Jan precipitation days = 16.6 |Feb precipitation days = 13.4 |Mar precipitation days = 12.2 |Apr precipitation days = 13.0 |May precipitation days = 14.2 |Jun precipitation days = 14.2 |Jul precipitation days = 13.9 |Aug precipitation days = 13.3 |Sep precipitation days = 14.0 |Oct precipitation days = 15.9 |Nov precipitation days = 16.4 |Dec precipitation days = 17.4 |year precipitation days = 174.4 |unit rain days = 0.2 mm |Jan rain days = 3.5 |Feb rain days = 3.1 |Mar rain days = 5.9 |Apr rain days = 11.7 |May rain days = 14.1 |Jun rain days = 14.2 |Jul rain days = 13.9 |Aug rain days = 13.3 |Sep rain days = 14.0 |Oct rain days = 15.4 |Nov rain days = 11.1 |Dec rain days = 5.7 |year rain days = 125.8 |unit snow days = 0.2 cm |Jan snow days = 15.3 |Feb snow days = 12.1 |Mar snow days = 7.6 |Apr snow days = 2.6 |May snow days = 0.26 |Jun snow days = 0.0 |Jul snow days = 0.0 |Aug snow days = 0.0 |Sep snow days = 0.0 |Oct snow days = 0.82 |Nov snow days = 7.3 |Dec snow days = 13.6 |year snow days = 59.4 |time day = 15:00 LST |Jan humidity = 67.1 |Feb humidity = 59.5 |Mar humidity = 53.0 |Apr humidity = 48.1 |May humidity = 48.2 |Jun humidity = 54.4 |Jul humidity = 54.0 |Aug humidity = 56.6 |Sep humidity = 59.7 |Oct humidity = 61.7 |Nov humidity = 68.4 |Dec humidity = 72.8 |year humidity = 58.6 |Jan sun = 93.9 |Feb sun = 124.6 |Mar sun = 145.5 |Apr sun = 179.9 |May sun = 230.3 |Jun sun = 246.0 |Jul sun = 276.5 |Aug sun = 240.8 |Sep sun = 150.3 |Oct sun = 120.4 |Nov sun = 67.4 |Dec sun = 66.1 |year sun = 1941.5 |Jan percentsun = 33.3 |Feb percentsun = 42.7 |Mar percentsun = 39.5 |Apr percentsun = 44.3 |May percentsun = 49.7 |Jun percentsun = 52.3 |Jul percentsun = 58.1 |Aug percentsun = 54.9 |Sep percentsun = 39.8 |Oct percentsun = 35.4 |Nov percentsun = 23.6 |Dec percentsun = 24.5 |year percentsun = 41.5 |source 1 = Environment and Climate Change Canada (sun 1971–2000){{cite web | url = https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1991_2020_e.html?searchType=stnProv&lstProvince=ON&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=193000000&dispBack=0 | title = Petawawa A, Ontario | work = Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 | publisher = Environment and Climate Change Canada | access-date = April 6, 2025}}{{cite web | url = https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?searchType=stnProv&lstProvince=ON&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=4353&dispBack=0 | title = Petawawa Nat Forestry, Ontario | work = Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000 | publisher = Environment Canada | access-date = April 6, 2025}} | url = https://dd.weather.gc.ca/climate/ltce/daily/temperature/ON/climate_LTCE_Temperature-Records_ON_VSON112.csv | title = Long Term Climate Extremes for Petawawa Area (Virtual Station ID: VSON112) | work = Daily climate records (LTCE) | publisher = Environment Canada | access-date = April 6, 2025}} |date=August 2010

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Petawawa had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of 164.7 km2, it had a population density of in 2021.

|title = Historical populations |type = Canada |align = centre |cols = 2 |percentages = |footnote = Pre-2001 figures are for the Village of Petawawa; 2001 figures onward are for the Town of Petawawa. |1951|1017 |1961|4509 |1966|5574 |1971|5784 |1976|5815 |1981|5520 |1986|5580 |1991|5793 |1996|6540 |2001|14398 |2006|14651 |2011|15988 |2016|17187 |2021|18160 Special Note: According to the 1961 Census Of Canada, in CS92-539, Table 6, Page 113, the Village Of Petawawa was Incorporated out of territory formerly belonging to the Township Of Petawawa on January 1, 1961. Thus any earlier pre-1961 population figures for urban Petawawa were for unincorporated communities still belonging to the Township Of Petawawa at that time.

Mother tongue (2021):

  • English as first language: 83.5 %
  • French as first language: 9.9 %
  • English and French as first languages: 1.8 %
  • Other as first language: 4.0 %

Economy

Petawawa's primary employer is the Canadian Government. Most of Petawawa's residents work as civilian employees, or as members of the Canadian Forces at CFB Petawawa which is home to 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group and 4 Canadian Division Support Group.

Another major employer is Chalk River Laboratories located nearby in Chalk River.

Transportation

Ontario Highway 17, Ontario Northlands bus service from Ottawa and the local commercial airport (Pembroke Airport) located in Petawawa, all provide access to this town.

Notable residents

References

References

  1. {{SCref. (2021)
  2. Memorandum for the Honourable Prime Minister from Deputy Minister Aubrey White that includes copies of telegrams between Honourable J. P. Whitney, Premier of Ontario, 1905-1914, and Sir Frederick Borden, Minister of Militia and Defence, 1896-1911. (Privy Council document 1795)
  3. Canada, Government of Canada, Library and Archives. "Archives Search - Library and Archives Canada".
  4. "Internment Camps in Canada during the First and Second World Wars, Library and Archives Canada".
  5. (8 February 2017). ["Census Profile, 2016 Census - Renfrew, Town [Census subdivision], Ontario and Petawawa, Town Census subdivision], Ontario". 2.statcan.gc.ca.
  6. "Welcome to 2 CMBG". National Defence Canada.
  7. "NRU Status Report #4". [[Atomic Energy of Canada Limited]].
  8. nurun.com. "A hall of fame for Petawawa?".

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lower-tier-municipalities-in-ontariomunicipalities-in-renfrew-countypopulated-places-on-the-ottawa-rivertowns-in-ontario