Swastika, Mining settlement in Kirkland Lake, Canada
Swastika is a small community in northeastern Ontario, near the edge of the Canadian Shield. It sits at a railway junction where tracks split toward northern destinations and westward routes through mining country.
The settlement grew after 1907 when a gold mine opened, lending its name to the place. Decades later, during World War II, local residents rejected a proposed renaming and kept the original designation.
When Ontario officials attempted to rename the town Winston during World War II, residents maintained their original name with determination and historical pride.
The railway station serves as a transfer point where travelers can switch to buses heading to Kirkland Lake. Connections run seasonally and follow the schedules set by Ontario Northland Railway.
The settlement's name comes from a Sanskrit symbol that was considered a good-luck charm and common in mining circles at the time. This meaning was only lost later when the symbol was co-opted for political purposes.
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