A short history of Kenora.
Originally known as "Rat Portage" from an Indian word, which means the "road to the country of the muskrat" the name of the town, was finally changed to
KENORA in 1905. The KE was taken from Keewatin, Kenora's sister town, the NO from Norman and RA from Rat Portage,.In the early 1800's the Hudson's Bay Company established a post on the river near the town. Trappers from all over the region would bring their furs here to be shipped to the East.
Throughout 1870 to 1884 Ontario and Manitoba disputed over the ownership of this territory until finally, in 1882, Manitoba had the town of Kenora Incorporated as a Manitoba township. Ontario took the case to the Privy Council in London, England where, in 1892, the ruling came down in their favour and Kenora was once again part of Ontario.
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