La Tuque, Quebec
Encyclopedia
La Tuque is a city in south central Quebec
, Canada
, on the Saint-Maurice River
, between Trois-Rivières
and Chambord
. In 2006, it had a population of 11,821 Latuquois.
Whereas the actual town of La Tuque is fairly small, its huge territory is the second largest incorporated municipal entity in Quebec after Baie-James
and the sixth in Canada. It consists of almost the entire former regional county of Haut-Saint-Maurice
, and includes the settlements of Carignan, La Croche, Fitzpatrick, Oskelaneo
, Parent
, Rapide-Blanc, Rivière-aux-Rats, and Sanmaur. Enclosed by but administratively not part of the city are the three Indian Reserves of Coucoucache
, Obedjiwan
, and Wemotaci
.
The local economy centres on pulp and paper
; the city has a pulp-milling centre as well as a major hydroelectric station. As the gateway to the upper Mauricie, La Tuque's economy also offers outdoor tourism opportunities and caters to hunting and fishing trips in its large hinterland
; the city is known as the Queen of Haute-Mauricie and the Classique internationale de canots de la Mauricie canoe
ing race begins at La Tuque.
. In 1823-24, the explorer François Verreault described the location as:
indigenous people. In the early 1850s, settlers were drawn to the area to exploit the forest resources. The La Tuque Post Office opened in 1887, but the area remained isolated from the rest of the Mauricie until the early 1900s when the National Transcontinental Railway
was built, prompting industrial development and the growth of a community on the east bank of the Saint-Maurice River
where there was a large set of falls.
On November 15, 1909, the Village Municipality of La Tuque was incorporated, with Achille Comeau as first mayor. A few months later on April 4, 1910, the Village Municipality of La Tuque Falls was formed, with Wenceslas Plante as first mayor. Less than one year later later in March 1911, both villages merged to form the Town of La Tuque, with Wenceslas Plante as first mayor.
In the 1940s, the hydro-electric generating station on the Saint-Maurice was built, requiring the partial destruction of the rock formation that gave the town its name.
In 1972, the Municipality of Haute-Mauricie was formed out of portions from the unincorporated Carignan and Malhiot Townships, in the proximity of the Saint-Maurice Wildlife Reserve. However, its low population and constantly rising administrative costs led to the merger of Haute-Mauricie with La Tuque in August 1993.
On March 26, 2003, the Haut-Saint-Maurice Regional County
was dissolved and all its municipalities and unorganized territories were amalgamated into the new City of La Tuque, thereby becoming the largest municipality with city status in land area in Quebec, and second largest in Canada (38,000 km2). On January 1, 2006, the municipalities of La Bostonnais
and Lac-Édouard
separated and were reestablished.
In May 2010, some 120 forest fires broke out around La Tuque
, burning until June. Smoke from these fires reached portions of Eastern Ontario
and southern Quebec, including the cities of Ottawa and Montreal, as well as the northern US states.
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 5338 (total dwellings: 6438)
Mother tongue:
that connects La Tuque with Shawinigan to the south and the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region to the north. Numerous forest roads provide access to remote hunting and fishing camps, and the village of Parent is accessible by a 175 kilometres (108.7 mi) long gravel road from Mont-Saint-Michel
in the Laurentides region.
The Canadian National Railway dissects La Tuque's territory. This railway, built in 1910 by the National Transcontinental Railway
, connected Quebec City
to the Canadian Prairies
and goes through vast wilderness areas of northern Quebec and Ontario. While it was intended to ship grain from the prairies to the Port of Quebec
and to open up virgin territories, it never carried much rail traffic but is still serviced by Via Rail
at the La Tuque railway station
and Parent railway station
, with request stops at Fitzpatrick
, Oskelaneo
, and Clova
. Other sidings along the line are Casey, Hibbard, Cann, Sanmaur, Vandry, Windigo, and Rapide-Blanc-Station.
The La Tuque Airport
is located directly south of the town's centre on Route 155.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, on the Saint-Maurice River
Saint-Maurice River
The Saint-Maurice River is a river in central Quebec which flows south from Gouin Reservoir to empty into the Saint Lawrence River at Trois-Rivières, Quebec. The river is 563 km in length and has a drainage basin of 43,300 km² ....
, between Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières means three rivers in French and may refer to:in Canada*Trois-Rivières, the largest city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada*Circuit Trois-Rivières, a racetrack in Trois-Rivières, Quebec...
and Chambord
Chambord, Quebec
Chambord is a municipality in Quebec in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region and regional county municipality of Le Domaine-du-Roy. The Chambord meteorite was found near here in 1904....
. In 2006, it had a population of 11,821 Latuquois.
Whereas the actual town of La Tuque is fairly small, its huge territory is the second largest incorporated municipal entity in Quebec after Baie-James
Baie-James, Quebec
The Municipality of Baie-James is in northern Quebec, Canada, to the east of James Bay. It covers 297,329.66 square kilometers of land, making it the largest incorporated municipality in Canada — only eight unorganized territories are larger...
and the sixth in Canada. It consists of almost the entire former regional county of Haut-Saint-Maurice
Haut-Saint-Maurice Regional County Municipality, Quebec
The Haut-Saint-Maurice Regional County Municipality is a former regional county municipality in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada. It was formed on January 1, 1982, and dissolved on March 26, 2003, when it was amalgamated in its entirety into the new City of La Tuque...
, and includes the settlements of Carignan, La Croche, Fitzpatrick, Oskelaneo
Oskelaneo, Quebec
Oskélanéo is a community in northern Quebec, Canada, within the boundaries of the City of La Tuque. It is located along the Canadian National Railway between Clova and Parent, on the shores of Lake Oskélanéo. The community is named after the eponymous lake and stream, meaning "bones" in the...
, Parent
Parent, Quebec
Parent is a community in northern Quebec, Canada, located within the City of La Tuque and about north-west of La Tuque's town centre. In 2006, it had a population of 251, and in 2001, it had 295....
, Rapide-Blanc, Rivière-aux-Rats, and Sanmaur. Enclosed by but administratively not part of the city are the three Indian Reserves of Coucoucache
Coucoucache, Quebec
Coucoucache is a tiny First Nation reserve on the north shore of Blanc Reservoir on the Saint-Maurice River in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada...
, Obedjiwan
Obedjiwan, Quebec
Obedjiwan is a First Nation reserve and village on the north shore of Gouin Reservoir in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada. It belongs to the Atikamekw d'Opitciwan band of the Atikamekw Nation....
, and Wemotaci
Wemotaci, Quebec
Wemotaci is a First Nation reserve on the north shore of the Saint-Maurice River at the mouth of the Manouane River in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada...
.
The local economy centres on pulp and paper
Pulp and Paper
Pulp and Paper is the name of the largest United States-based trade magazine for the pulp and paper industry. See also: Paper engineering, Pulp and Paper Merit Badge...
; the city has a pulp-milling centre as well as a major hydroelectric station. As the gateway to the upper Mauricie, La Tuque's economy also offers outdoor tourism opportunities and caters to hunting and fishing trips in its large hinterland
Hinterland
The hinterland is the land or district behind a coast or the shoreline of a river. Specifically, by the doctrine of the hinterland, the word is applied to the inland region lying behind a port, claimed by the state that owns the coast. The area from which products are delivered to a port for...
; the city is known as the Queen of Haute-Mauricie and the Classique internationale de canots de la Mauricie canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
ing race begins at La Tuque.
Etymology
The name, which dates to the eighteenth century, originates from a nearby rock formation which resembles the well-known French-Canadian hat known as the tuqueTuque
A – variously known as a knit hat or stocking cap among other names – is a knitted cap, originally of wool though now often of synthetic fibers, that is designed to provide warmth in winter...
. In 1823-24, the explorer François Verreault described the location as:
History
The territory of La Tuque was originally inhabited by AtikamekwAtikamekw
The Atikamekw are the indigenous inhabitants of the area they refer to as Nitaskinan , in the upper Saint-Maurice River valley of Quebec , Canada. Their population currently stands at around 4500. One of the main communities is Manawan, about northeast of Montreal. They have a tradition of...
indigenous people. In the early 1850s, settlers were drawn to the area to exploit the forest resources. The La Tuque Post Office opened in 1887, but the area remained isolated from the rest of the Mauricie until the early 1900s when the National Transcontinental Railway
National Transcontinental Railway
The National Transcontinental Railway was a historic Canadian railway between Winnipeg and Moncton. Much of the line is now operated by the Canadian National Railway.-The Grand Trunk partnership:...
was built, prompting industrial development and the growth of a community on the east bank of the Saint-Maurice River
Saint-Maurice River
The Saint-Maurice River is a river in central Quebec which flows south from Gouin Reservoir to empty into the Saint Lawrence River at Trois-Rivières, Quebec. The river is 563 km in length and has a drainage basin of 43,300 km² ....
where there was a large set of falls.
On November 15, 1909, the Village Municipality of La Tuque was incorporated, with Achille Comeau as first mayor. A few months later on April 4, 1910, the Village Municipality of La Tuque Falls was formed, with Wenceslas Plante as first mayor. Less than one year later later in March 1911, both villages merged to form the Town of La Tuque, with Wenceslas Plante as first mayor.
In the 1940s, the hydro-electric generating station on the Saint-Maurice was built, requiring the partial destruction of the rock formation that gave the town its name.
In 1972, the Municipality of Haute-Mauricie was formed out of portions from the unincorporated Carignan and Malhiot Townships, in the proximity of the Saint-Maurice Wildlife Reserve. However, its low population and constantly rising administrative costs led to the merger of Haute-Mauricie with La Tuque in August 1993.
On March 26, 2003, the Haut-Saint-Maurice Regional County
Haut-Saint-Maurice Regional County Municipality, Quebec
The Haut-Saint-Maurice Regional County Municipality is a former regional county municipality in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada. It was formed on January 1, 1982, and dissolved on March 26, 2003, when it was amalgamated in its entirety into the new City of La Tuque...
was dissolved and all its municipalities and unorganized territories were amalgamated into the new City of La Tuque, thereby becoming the largest municipality with city status in land area in Quebec, and second largest in Canada (38,000 km2). On January 1, 2006, the municipalities of La Bostonnais
La Bostonnais, Quebec
La Bostonnais is a municipality in the Mauricie region of the province of Quebec in Canada. The community is about north of La Tuque's town centre along Quebec Route 155....
and Lac-Édouard
Lac-Édouard, Quebec
Lac-Édouard is a municipality in the Mauricie region of the province of Quebec in Canada. Its village centre is located along the Canadian National Railway at the north end of the eponymous Lake Édouard.-Demographics:Population trend:...
separated and were reestablished.
In May 2010, some 120 forest fires broke out around La Tuque
May 2010 Quebec wildfires
The May 2010 Quebec wildfires were a series of wildfires that affected over from late May to June 2010. Over 120 fires broke out in one week, with most near La Tuque, northeast of Montreal...
, burning until June. Smoke from these fires reached portions of Eastern Ontario
Eastern Ontario
Eastern Ontario is a subregion of Southern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario which lies in a wedge-shaped area between the Ottawa River and St. Lawrence River...
and southern Quebec, including the cities of Ottawa and Montreal, as well as the northern US states.
Demographics
Population trend:- Population in 2006: 11,821 (2001 to 2006 population change: −5.3 %)
- Population in 2001: 11,298 (or 12,488 when adjusted for 2006 boundaries)
- Population in 1996: 12,102
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 5338 (total dwellings: 6438)
Mother tongue:
- English as first language: 1.6 %
- French as first language: 95.6 %
- English and French as first language: 0.2 %
- Other as first language: 2.6 %
Transportation
The main highway is Quebec Route 155Quebec route 155
Route 155 is a north/south highway on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada. Its northern terminus is in Chambord at the junction of Route 169, and the southern terminus is the Piles Bridge in Shawinigan...
that connects La Tuque with Shawinigan to the south and the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region to the north. Numerous forest roads provide access to remote hunting and fishing camps, and the village of Parent is accessible by a 175 kilometres (108.7 mi) long gravel road from Mont-Saint-Michel
Mont-Saint-Michel, Quebec
Mont-Saint-Michel is a municipality in the Laurentides region of Quebec, Canada, part of the Antoine-Labelle Regional County Municipality.-Demographics:Population:* Population in 2006: 625 * Population in 2001: 619...
in the Laurentides region.
The Canadian National Railway dissects La Tuque's territory. This railway, built in 1910 by the National Transcontinental Railway
National Transcontinental Railway
The National Transcontinental Railway was a historic Canadian railway between Winnipeg and Moncton. Much of the line is now operated by the Canadian National Railway.-The Grand Trunk partnership:...
, connected Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
to the Canadian Prairies
Canadian Prairies
The Canadian Prairies is a region of Canada, specifically in western Canada, which may correspond to several different definitions, natural or political. Notably, the Prairie provinces or simply the Prairies comprise the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, as they are largely covered...
and goes through vast wilderness areas of northern Quebec and Ontario. While it was intended to ship grain from the prairies to the Port of Quebec
Port of Quebec
The Port of Quebec is an inland port located in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. It is the oldest port in Canada, and the second largest in Quebec after the Port of Montreal.-History:...
and to open up virgin territories, it never carried much rail traffic but is still serviced by Via Rail
VIA Rail
Via Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
at the La Tuque railway station
La Tuque railway station
La Tuque railway station is a staffed Via Rail station located on Rue St-Louis in La Tuque, Quebec, Canada.-External links:...
and Parent railway station
Parent railway station
Parent railway station is a staffed Via Rail station located on rue Commerciale in the Parent community of La Tuque, Quebec, Canada.-External links:...
, with request stops at Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick railway station
Fitzpatrick railway station is a Via Rail stopover, indicated only by a signpost, in the village of Fitzpatrick, Quebec, Canada.-External links:...
, Oskelaneo
Oskelaneo, Quebec
Oskélanéo is a community in northern Quebec, Canada, within the boundaries of the City of La Tuque. It is located along the Canadian National Railway between Clova and Parent, on the shores of Lake Oskélanéo. The community is named after the eponymous lake and stream, meaning "bones" in the...
, and Clova
Clova railway station
Clova railway station is an unmanned Via Rail stopover located at 5 rue Latagne in Clova, Quebec, Canada. It was designated a Heritage Railway Station in 1995.-External links:...
. Other sidings along the line are Casey, Hibbard, Cann, Sanmaur, Vandry, Windigo, and Rapide-Blanc-Station.
The La Tuque Airport
La Tuque Airport
La Tuque Airport, , is located adjacent to La Tuque, Quebec, Canada....
is located directly south of the town's centre on Route 155.
List of mayors
The Mayor is the municipality's highest elected official. La Tuque has had fifteen mayors, since its incorporation as a city.| # | Mayor | Taking Office | Leaving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wenceslas Plante | 1911 | 1915 |
| 2 | Alphondor Roy | 1915 | 1920 |
| 3 | Donat E. Hardy | 1920 | 1921 |
| 4 | Wellie Juneau | 1921 | 1921 |
| 5 | Réal Gravel | 1921 | 1923 |
| 1 | Wenceslas Plante | 1923 | 1927 |
| 6 | François-Xavier Lamontagne | 1927 | 1935 |
| 7 | Joseph-Omer Journeault | 1935 | 1944 |
| 8 | Omer Veillette | 1944 | 1947 |
| 7 | Joseph-Omer Journeault | 1947 | 1951 |
| 9 | Léo-Joffre Pilon | 1951 | 1955 |
| 10 | J.-Onésime Dallaire | 1955 | 1961 |
| 11 | Lucien Filion | 1961 | 1985 |
| 12 | Clément Filion | 1985 | 1985 |
| 13 | André Duchesneau | 1985 | 1991 |
| 14 | Gaston Fortin | 1991 | 2003 |
| 15 | Réjean Gaudreault Réjean Gaudreault Réjean Gaudreault is a Canadian politician and the former Mayor of La Tuque, Mauricie in Canada.-Career:He once served as Mayor of Haute-Mauricie and was a supporter of the province-wide municipal merging of 2001.... |
2003 | 2009 |
Famous residents
- Félix LeclercFélix LeclercFélix Leclerc, was a French-Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, writer, actor and Québécois political activist. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada on December 20, 1968...
, poet and singer - Sylvie RoySylvie RoySylvie Roy is a politician in Quebec, Canada, and the Action démocratique du Québec Member of the National Assembly for the electoral district of Lotbinière....
, politician - Maude Guérin, actress
- Jean-Philippe TremblayJean-Philippe TremblayJean-Philippe Tremblay is the musical director and orchestra conductor of L'orchestre de la francophonie canadienne.-External links:*...
: Photographe - Fondateur de Exode Magazine - Steven Guilbault, environmentalist
- Jean-Jacqui Boutet, actor
- Dominique Trottier, TV reporter