Timiskaming is a word from the Algonquin Temikami or Temikaming, from tim meaning "deep" and kami meaning "open waters". Alternate spellings include: Temiskaming, Témiscaming, Témiscamingue. The word Temagami comes from the same root.
Controversy exists over the spelling of this word. A movement to change the spelling of the District of Timiskaming to Temiskaming (an e instead of an i) cites a typographical error by a government official, but the act of parliament that led to the name change granted this official authority to correct the spelling. What he considered to be a spelling correction, some people today call a spelling mistake.
The spelling controversy goes back to the 18th century. English maps from that century show the spelling of the lake as Temiscamin, Temescaming, Temiscaming, Timiscaming, and Temiscamino, with Temiscaming being the most common. Spelling of the name of the aboriginal tribe presented even more alternatives. In all cases, though, there is no k. The 21st Century has inherited a debate from the 18th Century.
It refers to the following places, all in Canada:
Lake Timiskaming (in French: Lac Témiscamingue)Nipissing—Timiskaming, a federal riding in the province of OntarioTimiskaming—Cochrane (provincial electoral district), a provincial riding of OntarioTimiskaming District, a census division of OntarioTemiskaming Shores, city in the Timiskaming DistrictUnorganized East Timiskaming District, an unorganized territory in the Timiskaming DistrictUnorganized West Timiskaming District, an unorganized territory in the Timiskaming DistrictAbitibi—Témiscamingue, a federal electoral district in QuebecRouyn-Noranda–Témiscamingue, a provincial electoral district in QuebecAbitibi-Témiscamingue, a region located in western QuebecTémiscamingue Regional County Municipality, Quebec, a regional county municipality RCM in Abitibi-TémiscamingueTimiskaming, Quebec, a First Nation reserve in Témiscamingue RCMTémiscaming, a city in Témiscamingue RCMLes Lacs-du-Témiscamingue, Quebec, an unorganized territory in Témiscamingue RCMFort Témiscamingue, a former trading post and National Historic Site near Ville-MarieThe name was also used in several abolished federal and provincial ridings:
Timiskaming (provincial electoral district)Timiskaming (electoral district) (federal)Timiskaming—Cochrane (federal)Timiskaming—French River (federal)Timiskaming North (federal)Timiskaming South (federal)Témiscamingue (electoral district) (formerly known as Rouyn-Noranda—Témiscamingue), a federal electoral district in Quebec