Longlac was off the beaten path of early fur traders as far as main communication lines were concerned but it was an important feeder area of furs to the early traders through the Pic via McKay Lake and the Pic River and to the Hudson's Bay Company (1814-21) through the Kenogami and Albany Rivers.
There is good evidence that the earliest white men here were French speaking coureurs de bois. The first organized traders, those of the Northwest Company, were of course largely Scots but they had many Freanch speaking persons in their work force, the famous voyageurs on whom the early canoe transportation depended so heavily.
The Hudson's Bay Company men arrived in from Albany House via the Albany and Kenogami Rivers and traded in opposition to the Northwesters. until amalgamation of the two companies in 1821. The Hudson's Bay men were largely Scots and English.
Surveys through here for the Canadian Pacific in 1870 brought new blodod to the area and again when the Canadian National was built in the period 1910-14. Prospecting in the period 1932-38 brought in many nationalities and, since this area reminded Finns, Norwegians and Swedes of their native countries many Scandinavians settled here in the wake of railway construction.
Early woods operations in 1929-39 were conducted largely by Finns, and when the Longlac Pulp and Paper Company (Kimberly-Clark of Canada) started in 1937 its work force was made up of many nationalities but was heavy to Finns, Central Europeans, Swedes and Norwegians. When short wood lengths hand-piled gave away to the skidding of 16' wood this was for which the French Canadian "bucheux" were particularly adept and most were accustomed to the care and handling of horses through their experience on Quebec farms. Wages and working conditions in Northern Ontario were good. Consequently the work force changed to one predominantly French speaking.
Today there is a broad spectrum of ethnic origins present in the Longlac population, the single largest group being French speaking. Native Indians still make up a large segment of the population, although many have left the fishing and trapping life for the type practised by their white friends. There is a sizeable group of Finns, many Italians, Germans, Ukranians, English and lesser numbers of other nationalities such as Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Hungarian, Japanese, Czechs, Poles.... Among many other things remarkable about our community and general area, not the least is its cosmopolitan character where a man is not judged on the country of his ancestors but rather on his ability and character.
In 1938, the total white population of Longlac was about 100 persons, and the adjacent Indian population was about 200. Through year round employment, financial backing for the building of homes by responsible employees and a general helpful attitude towards community developement by the wood company operating here, the village populatin of 1964 had climbed to 1,215 persons and the Indian population of the two reserves adjacent to the community, had reached 500 persons.
In addition to the major employer Kimberly-Clark of Canada, (pulp cutting, sawmill, slasher) Weldwood of Canada opened a plywood plant in 1965 and added a chipboard plant in 1973. Another contributor to our village economy is the Canadian National Railways, as are the tourist operators, merchants, Department of Lands and Forests, and various local commerces.
The Area has been served by the Roman Catholic church continuously since about 1860 and the first Catholic church continuously since about 1884. There are presently two Catholic churches here, on the Indian Point served by a Jesuit Priest, and one in thevillage served by the parish priest. The area has been served by Anglican priests as early as the mid 1920's. Longlac has a resident protestant minister and has had an interdenomitial protestant church since 1947.
Modern schooling is provided by a sixteen room Seperate and Bilingual school for aproximately 30 Kindergarden to Gr VIII students and a five-room Public school for about 130 students. Seconday school students are bussed to the District Composite High School 21 miles west of Longlac.
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