Kirkland Lake is the ninth largest community in northeastern Ontario. It was founded in 1911 as a gold mining camp, and gold mining remains the primary economic driver.
Kirkland Lake Gold Inc. is the town’s major employer, operating the Macassa Mine in the heart of the community as well as owning the Taylor and Holt mines, located outside of the municipality. The other major players include Alamos Gold operating the Young Davidson mine in Matachewan, and Agnico Eagle’s pending startup operations at the Upper Beaver and Upper Canada mine sites. A small but dynamic mining service and support sector also calls KL home. This includes industry leaders such as Alex McIntyre and Associates, Heath and Sherwood 1964 and Canadian Exploration Services Ltd.
Secondary industrial activity includes environmental companies such as Kirkland Lake Power Corporation and Aevitas Hazardous Waste Management and heavy motor specialists Northpoint Technical Services. Forestry has declined from the predominant position it had in the past but remains important to the local economy. Rosko Forestry Operations provides stump to market services, including a full line sawmill, while Kirkland Lake Manufactured Wood Products operates a finger joint plant in nearby Kenogami. These industries are supported by a number of smaller heavy equipment operators.
Kirkland Lake also has a strong professional services sector comprising government services, education and health. In part, this reflects the town’s position as the economic centre of the north Temiskaming District, serving a combined population of approximately 12,000 people. Major entities include the Kirkland and District Hospital, three school boards operating seven schools in the community, the District of Timiskaming Social Services Administration Board, Ontario ministries including Natural Resources and Forestry, Energy, Northern Development and Mines and other similar agencies. Kirkland Lake is also home to a Veterans Affairs Canada service centre administering programs throughout central/eastern Canada.
The retail sector is fairly limited. A good range of quality stores provide the day to day necessities. This is supplemented by online shopping and visits to larger regional centres such as Rouyn-Noranda, Timmins and Sudbury. Financial services include four banks and advisory services. Entrepreneurial activity is focused on niche services to the business sector and private consumption (print and design, fitness, pets, etc.).
