Approximately 90 miles west of Thunder Bay is the small community of Upsala, Ontario. Established in 1882, Upsala was an important railway community acting as a fuel and water stop for trains travelling on the then newly constructed Canadian Pacific Railway system.

The Upsala area is located in prime fishing country and is situated just north of the famous Lac des Mille Lacs - the "lake of 1000 lakes". Lac des Mille Lacs itself was an important fur trade waterway and today, has many fine fishing and hunting resorts located along its shores.