Large communities include Elliot Lake, Kapuskasing, Hearst, Espanola, Wawa, Manitouwadge, Blind River, Sables-Spanish Rivers, Chapleau, and Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands.

It consisted of most of Algoma District except the extreme north and northwestern portions, and Sault Ste.

In 1976, the district was expanded to the north, and to include the suburbs of Sault Ste.

Marie, Whitefish River Indian Reserve, and more of the southwestern part of Sudbury District.

Most of the riding was redistributed in 2003 into Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, with small parts going to Nickel Belt and Sault Ste.