New Focus on Growth in Historic Town of Cobalt

Cobalt, Ontario is a former bustling mining town that once hosted a stock exchange and a professional hockey team, and was nicknamed Ontario’s “most historic town” by TVO. 

Like many rural Ontario communities, Cobalt has seen prosperous industry come and go, and residents along with it. 

In 2024, the Town entered a new era focused on growth. To set themselves up for success, the Town invested $38,000 from the CCBF to update its Official Plan including an in-depth review of the Comprehensive Zoning By-Law. This is the first time in 20 years the Official Plan has been updated.

Additionally, Cobalt wants to ensure that its work aligns with other coordinated efforts to grow the population across Northern Ontario.  

Located north of Sudbury and near the Quebec border, expansion is difficult, but Town Manager Steven Dalley thinks it’s been a “long time coming.” He says the new Official Plan “answers a lot of questions” about potential options for forward progress.

Business growth nearby in Temiskaming Shores has provided a source of optimism that Cobalt can rebound and become a place for people to come for a new start. With a combination of modern infrastructure and relaxed lifestyle, Cobalt hopes to attract a new generation and demonstrate the growth that is possible for similar communities across Ontario and Canada.

Photos courtesy of Cobalt.ca