In 1807, a group of Scots settled in the southern part of the Blanche River valley, in the township known at the time as Lochaber Gore.

Around the same time construction began on a 90 kilometres (56 mi) long railroad for the transportation of lumber from the interior (which closed in 1986[4]).

[5] Mother tongue:[3] Thurso is known for the unpleasant odour emanating from its paper mill, which originates from the burning of chemical residue when the pulp is manufactured and the smell was there well before the retaining basin was built.

Fortress Paper employs 335 people in Thurso to produce 250,000 tonnes of hardwood kraft market pulp.

The Lauzon sawmill was another major employer for the community, but its building was destroyed by a fire on March 8, 2007, putting 100 workers temporarily out of work.

Bill Clement, another NHL player who went on to become a well-known hockey commentator, also came from Thurso during the same time period as Lafleur.