Jocelyn, Ontario
Jocelyn is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, located on St. Joseph Island in the Algoma District. Jocelyn is home to Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site.
The primary community in the township is Kentvale, located on the boundary with the Township of St. Joseph. Other rural communities include Beech Beach, Carterton, Outlook, and Tenby Bay.
History
In 1792, the North West Company established a trading post on what is known today as Rains Point. In 1796, Fort St. Joseph was built just to the west. Two years later, the Chippewa sell St. Joseph Island to the English.Settlement of the township began in 1838 when Major William Kingdom Rains relocated from Milford Haven in neighbouring Hilton Township to a point of land which he named Hentlan.
In 1881, an Anglican Church was built in Jocelyn, and on July 1 of that same year, the Jocely Post Office opened. In 1886, Joceylyn Township was incorporated with Jesse G. Reesor as first reeve.
The Kentvale general store was opened in 1888 by Emily M. Kent and Frederick B. Kent. The original operation consisted of a grist and saw mill operated by Frederick and a store that Emily ran, operating under the name Kentvale General Merchants. A community outdoor hockey rink on the property provided recreation for this farming community for many years. It was operated by the Kent family and volunteers from the community.
In September 2024, the Ontario Ombudsman released a report on Jocelyn Township council, finding that certain closed meetings did not comply with the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements and recommending improved transparency and procedural adherence. In 2023 and 2024, the township experienced significant political turmoil, including the resignation of two councillors and senior staff amid allegations of improper governance and hiring practices. An integrity commissioner’s investigation later concluded that Reeve Mark Henderson breached the township’s code of conduct by acting disrespectfully toward the public and failing to follow hiring policies.