Shawinigan, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Shawinigan is a city located 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 ....
in the Mauricie
Mauricie
Mauricie is a traditional and current administrative region of Quebec. La Mauricie National Park is contained within the region, making it a prime tourist location. The region has a land area of 35,855.22 km² and a 2006 census population of 258,928 residents...
area in Quebec
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...
. It has a population of approximately 51,904 people (2006).
Shawinigan is also a territory equivalent to a regional county municipality (TE) and census division (CD) of Quebec
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....
, coextensive with the city of Shawinigan. Its geographical code is 23. Shawinigan is the seat of the judicial district
Judicial districts of Quebec
The province of Quebec is divided into 36 judicial districts by the , R.S.Q., chapter D-11. Each district has a seat where the courthouse is located, although some have more than one courthouse, service point, or itinerant court location....
of Saint-Maurice.
The name Shawinigan has had numerous spellings over time: Chaouinigane, Oshaouinigane, Assaouinigane, Achawénégan, Chawinigame, Shawenigane, Chaouénigane. It may mean "south portage", "portage of beeches", "angular portage", or "summit" or "crest". Before 1958 the city was known as Shawinigan Falls.
History
In 1651, the priest Buteaux was the first European known to have travelled up the Saint-Maurice River to this river's first set of great falls. Afterwards, missionairies going to the Upper Saint-Maurice would rest here. Before Shawinigan Falls was established, the local economy had been largely based on lumberLumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
and agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
.
Boomtown
In the late 1890s, Shawinigan Falls drew the interest of foreign entrepreneurs such as John JoyceJohn Joyce
John Stanislaus Joyce was the father of writer James Joyce, and a well known Dublin man about town. The son of James and Ellen Joyce, John Joyce grew up in Cork, where his mother's family, which claimed kinship to "Liberator" Daniel O'Connell, was quite prominent.Following his father's death in...
and John Edward Aldred
John Edward Aldred
John Edward Aldred was director of United Railways and Electric Company of Baltimore, Maryland. He was president of Consolidated Gas, Electric Light & Power in Baltimore, and the Pennsylvania Water & Power Company He was also the Chairman of the Gillette Safety Razor Company. His home was the John E...
of the Shawinigan Water & Power Company (SW&P), and of Hubert Biermans
Hubert Biermans
Hubert Biermans was a Dutch and Canadian businessman.- Youth :Born in 1865, Jean Hubert Biermans is the son of Frans Biermans and Hubertina Ruyten . His father is a baker in Herkenbosch, a village in the province of Limburg, in the Netherlands...
of the Belgo Canadian Pulp & Paper Company because of its particular geographic situation. Its falls had the potential to become a favorable location for the production of hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
.
In 1899, the SW&P commissioned Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
engineering firm Pringle and Son to design a grid plan
Grid plan
The grid plan, grid street plan or gridiron plan is a type of city plan in which streets run at right angles to each other, forming a grid...
for a new industrial town on the banks 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 ....
, providing the ground work for what would become downtown Shawinigan.
In 1901, the place was incorporated as the Village Municipality of Shawinigan Falls and gained town (ville) status a year later in 1902. The hydro-electric generating station contributed to rapid economic growth and the town achieved several firsts in Canadian history
History of Canada
The history of Canada covers the period from the arrival of Paleo-Indians thousands of years ago to the present day. Canada has been inhabited for millennia by distinctive groups of Aboriginal peoples, among whom evolved trade networks, spiritual beliefs, and social hierarchies...
: first production of aluminum (1901), carborundum (1908), cellophane
Cellophane
Cellophane is a thin, transparent sheet made of regenerated cellulose. Its low permeability to air, oils, greases, bacteria and water makes it useful for food packaging...
pellets (1932). Shawinigan Falls also became one of the first Canadian cities with electric street lighting.
For decades, the local pulp
Wood pulp
Pulp is a lignocellulosic fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating cellulose fibres from wood, fibre crops or waste paper. Wood pulp is the most common raw material in papermaking.-History:...
and paper
Paper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
, chemical
Chemical industry
The chemical industry comprises the companies that produce industrial chemicals. Central to the modern world economy, it converts raw materials into more than 70,000 different products.-Products:...
and textile
Textile industry
The textile industry is primarily concerned with the production of yarn, and cloth and the subsequent design or manufacture of clothing and their distribution. The raw material may be natural, or synthetic using products of the chemical industry....
industries created thousands of jobs. The city steadily grew eastward and northward. Meanwhile on the other side of the river, Shawinigan-Sud (then Almaville) developed as a residential hub.
Shawinigan Falls also had a vibrant English-speaking community, which at times comprised more than 30% of the population. Early on, members of the French-speaking majority and the more privileged English-speaking minority settled in segregated neighbourhoods.
Great Depression
Local prosperityProsperous
Prosperous is the second album by Irish folk musician Christy Moore, released in 1972. His first album, Paddy On The Road was recorded by Dominic Behan in 1969 and has long been out of print...
was interrupted by the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
in the 1930s. Many plants were forced to temporarily reduce or stop their production, which left many residents jobless. Many families needed public assistance to survive. The City Council enacted a public works
Public works
Public works are a broad category of projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community...
program to help families.
The promenade along the St Maurice was a make work project during the depression.
World War II
World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
put Shawinigan Falls, and many others cities in Canada, back on the path of economic recovery
Jobless recovery
A jobless recovery or jobless growth is an economic phenomon in which a macroeconomy experiences growth while maintaining or decreasing its level of employment...
.
During hostilities, the windows of local power plants were painted black to prevent any possible German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
aerial
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
attack.
The Shawinigan-based 81st Artillery Battery was called to active duty during World War II. Its members were trained in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
from 1940 to 1944 and contributed to the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
' effort in the Normandy Landings in 1944-45, which led to the Liberation of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
In 1948, a cenotaph
Cenotaph
A cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...
, known as Monument des Braves
Monument des Braves, Shawinigan
The Monument des Braves is a cenotaph located in Shawinigan, Quebec. It was completed in 1948, when François Roy was mayor. The monument is located in downtown Shawinigan at the intersection of Fourth Street and Promenade du Saint-Maurice near the Saint-Maurice River.It was designed by...
, was erected in downtown Shawinigan at the intersection of Fourth Street and Promenade du Saint-Maurice (then Riverside Street) near 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 ....
, in honour of soldiers who died during that conflict as well as World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Organized labor stronghold
Because of its large labor population, Shawinigan became a hot bed for trade unionTrade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
activities. The workers of the Belgo pulp and paper plant went on strike in 1955.
In the 1952 provincial election
Quebec general election, 1952
The Quebec general election of 1952 was held on July 16, 1952 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Union Nationale, led by Maurice Duplessis, won re-election, defeating the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Georges-Émile Lapalme.This was the...
, Shawinigan
Saint-Maurice (provincial electoral district)
Saint-Maurice is a provincial electoral district located in the province of Quebec, Canada. Situated in the Mauricie region, the riding was created in 1792...
sent a Liberal member to the legislature
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
. The gesture was largely considered an affront to anti-labour Premier
Premier of Quebec
The Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
Maurice Duplessis
Maurice Duplessis
Maurice Le Noblet Duplessis served as the 16th Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec from 1936 to 1939 and 1944 to 1959. A founder and leader of the highly conservative Union Nationale party, he rose to power after exposing the misconduct and patronage of Liberal Premier Louis-Alexandre...
.
Duplessis responded by refusing to approve the construction of a new bridge between Shawinigan and Shawinigan-Sud. The new bridge was not built until after the Liberal Party won the 1960 election
Quebec general election, 1960
The Quebec general election of 1960 was held on June 22, 1960 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec, Canada. It was one of the most significant elections in Quebec history, rivalled perhaps only by the 1976 general election...
.
Decline
In the 1950s, Shawinigan Falls entered a period of decline that would last for several decades. Technological improvements made industries less dependent on Shawinigan's geographic location. Therefore, many employers would relocate to nearby larger cities or close down.In 1958, it received city (cité) status, and its name was abbreviated to just Shawinigan.
As a reaction to declining opportunities, many residents, many of whom were English-speakers, left the area. Shawinigan High School is the only remaining English-language school in the city following the closure of St. Patrick's (closed circa 1983).
In 1963, the provincial government
Politics of Quebec
The politics of Quebec are centred on a provincial government resembling that of the other Canadian provinces, namely a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The capital of the province is Quebec City, where the Lieutenant Governor, Premier, the legislature, and cabinet reside.The...
of Jean Lesage
Jean Lesage
Jean Lesage, PC, CC, CD was a lawyer and politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as the 19th Premier of Quebec from 22 June 1960, to 16 August 1966...
nationalized
Hydro-Québec
Hydro-Québec is a government-owned public utility established in 1944 by the Government of Quebec. Based in Montreal, the company is in charge of the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity across Quebec....
eleven privately-owned electricity companies, including SW&P. While benefiting the population in general, the decision may have been damaging to local interests.
Emerging hospitality industry
Following numerous failed attempts to jump start the local economy, an effort has led to the development of the hospitality industryHospitality industry
The hospitality industry consists of broad category of fields within the service industry that includes lodging, restaurants, event planning, theme parks, transportation, cruise line, and additional fields within the tourism industry. The hospitality industry is a several billion dollar industry...
. The most notable example of that initiative is the establishment of La Cité de l'Énergie
La Cité de l'Énergie
La Cite de l'Énergie is a theme park based on local industrial history and located in Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada.-Facilities:*A science centre, which includes a high observation tower and features a multimedia show as well as a permanent interactive exhibit...
, a theme park based on local industrial history, with a 115 metre high observation tower. Since it opened in 1997, it has attracted thousands of visitors to the area.
Mergers
Baie-de-Shawinigan
Baie-de-Shawinigan is a small industrial community within the City of Shawinigan in the Canadian province of Quebec. The place is named after its location on a bay of the Saint-Maurice River...
.
On January 1, 2002, Shawinigan amalgamated
Municipal reorganization in Quebec
The most recent episode of municipal reorganization in Quebec, Canada, was undertaken in 2002 by the Parti Québécois Government of Quebec, headed by Premier Lucien Bouchard and his successor Bernard Landry....
with much of the Regional County Municipality of Le Centre-de-la-Mauricie
Le Centre-de-la-Mauricie Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Le Centre-de-la-Mauricie is a former regional county municipality in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada. Prior to its dissolution, it consisted of:Villes* Grand-Mère* Shawinigan* Shawinigan-SudMunicipalities* Charette* Lac-à-la-Tortue...
. The following municipalities were part of the merger:
| Municipality | Year of Foundation | Population (1996) |
| Shawinigan | 1901 | 18,678 |
| Grand-Mère Grand-Mère, Quebec Grand Mère is a settlement and former municipality in central Quebec, Canada on the Saint-Maurice River. As a result of the municipal reorganization in Quebec which took effect at the beginning of 2002, Grand-Mère now forms part of the City of Shawinigan. Population in 2001 was... |
1898 | 14,223 |
| Shawinigan-Sud Shawinigan-Sud, Quebec Shawinigan-Sud is a predominantly French-speaking settlement in the Mauricie area in Quebec, Canada on the Saint-Maurice River. In 1996, its population was 11,804. -History:... |
1912 | 11,804 |
| Saint-Georges-de-Champlain Saint-Georges-de-Champlain, Quebec Saint-Georges-de-Champlain is a community in the Canadian province of Quebec. Formerly a separate municipality in the Le Centre-de-la-Mauricie Regional County Municipality, it has been one of the seven sectors of the city of Shawinigan since the municipal amalgamation of January 1, 2002... |
1915 | 3,929 |
| Lac-à-la-Tortue Lac-à-la-Tortue, Quebec Lac-à-la-Tortue is a small community of 2,500 inhabitants in Quebec. Formerly a separate municipality, it has been one of the seven sectors of the city of Shawinigan since the municipal amalgamation of January 1, 2002. The name Lac-a-la-Tortue is French for Turtle Lake.-Mayors:From 1895 to 2001,... |
1895 | 3,169 |
| Saint-Gérard-des-Laurentides Saint-Gérard-des-Laurentides, Quebec Saint-Gérard-des-Laurentides is a community in the Canadian province of Quebec. Formerly a separate parish municipality in the Le Centre-de-la-Mauricie Regional County Municipality, it has been one of the seven sectors of the city of Shawinigan since the municipal amalgamation of January 1, 2002.... |
1924 | 2,155 |
| Saint-Jean-des-Piles Saint-Jean-des-Piles, Quebec Saint-Jean-des-Piles is a community in the Canadian province of Quebec. Formerly a separate parish municipality in the Le Centre-de-la-Mauricie Regional County Municipality, it has been one of the seven sectors of the city of Shawinigan since the municipal amalgamation of January 1,... |
1897 | 693 |
Sport
The Shawinigan CataractesShawinigan Cataractes
The Shawinigan Cataractes are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The team is based out of Shawinigan, Quebec. The Cataractes have been previously known as the Shawinigan Bruins until 1973, and were called the Shawinigan Dynamos from 1973–78.The Cataractes play their...
of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
play out of the Centre Bionest de Shawinigan in Shawinigan. It is the only team in the league still operating in the same city of its founding.
Economy and industry
- an AlcanAlcanRio Tinto Alcan Inc. is a Canadian company based in Montreal. It was created on November 15, 2007 as the result of the merger between Rio Tinto PLC's Canadian subsidiary, Rio Tinto Canada Holding Inc., and Canadian company Alcan Inc. On the same date, Alcan Inc. was renamed Rio Tinto Alcan Inc..Rio...
aluminum plant: built in 1941 and located at 1100 Boulevard Saint-Sacrement, it took over the production of a 1901 structure which is located near the Saint-Maurice River and is currently managed by La Cité de l'Énergie. It is expected to be shut down by 2015; - the Belgo pulp and paper plant: AbitibiBowater Inc. ceased its production on February 29, 2008;
- The Laurentide Paper Company: AbitibiBowater Inc. the last major paper mill still active in Shawinigan, located in the Grand-Mère district.
- large hydroelectric complex at Shawinigan Falls: the Shawinigan 2 (1911) and Shawinigan 3 (1948) power plants, established by the Shawinigan Water & Power Company, they have been the property of Hydro-QuébecHydro-QuébecHydro-Québec is a government-owned public utility established in 1944 by the Government of Quebec. Based in Montreal, the company is in charge of the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity across Quebec....
since 1963 and are also located near the Saint-Maurice River.
Religion
In recent years, the church attendance of Catholics in Shawinigan has been on the decline. As a result, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trois-Rivières has had difficulties maintaining its churches and merged a number of its parishes. The Catholic churches are:| Church | Location | Year of Foundation | Status |
| Saint-Pierre (Saint Peter) | 792, avenue Hemlock | 1901 | active |
| Saint-Marc (Saint Mark) | 1852, avenue Georges | 1911 | active |
| Sacré-Cœur (Sacred Heart) | 17, rue de l'Église, Baie-de-Shawinigan |
1911 | active |
| Saint-Bernard (Saint Bernard) | 562, 2e Rue | 1912 | inactive closed in 2005 |
| Christ-Roi (Christ the King) | 1250, rue Notre-Dame | 1938 | inactive closed in 1994 demolished in 2002 |
| Sainte-Croix (Holy Cross) | 2153, rue Gignac | 1949 | inactive closed in 2004 |
| Saint-Charles-Garnier (Saint Charles Garnier) | 2173, avenue De la Madone | 1949 | active |
| Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission (English-speaking community) |
773, avenue de la Station | 1949 | inactive closed in 1990 |
| L’Assomption (Assumption) | 4393, boulevard Des Hêtres | 1951 | active |
| Desserte Sainte Hélène (Saint Helena Mission) | 2350, 93e Rue | 1967 | inactive closed |
The current church building for Saint-Pierre was constructed between 1908 and 1937. The structure's stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
was designed by Italian Canadian artist Guido Nincheri
Guido Nincheri
Guido Nincheri was a Canadian artist working mainly in stained glass and fresco.-Biography:Born in Prato, Italy, he studied art in Florence and immigrated to Montreal in 1915 after a short stay in Boston where he decorated the Boston Opera House.Nincheri designed the interior decoration of many...
between 1930 and 1961.
Members of the Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
community attend church at Centre Évangelique de Shawinigan, located at 773, avenue de la Station.
Education
There are eight public schools. Seven of them are under the supervision of the Commission scolaire de l'Énergie school board.| School | Level | Location | Number of Students |
| Carrefour Formation Mauricie | Vocational education Vocational education Vocational education or vocational education and training is an education that prepares trainees for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic, and totally related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation... |
5105, avenue Albert-Tessier | 808 |
| Centre d'éducation des adultes du Saint-Maurice | Adult education Adult education Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers... |
1092, rue Trudel | 1,353 |
| École secondaire des Chutes | Secondary | 5285, avenue Albert-Tessier | 714 |
| Immaculée-Conception (Immaculate Conception) | Elementary | 153, 8e Rue | 220 |
| Saint-Charles-Garnier (Saint Charles Garnier) | Elementary | 2265, rue Laflèche | 157 |
| Saint-Jacques (Saint James) | Elementary | 2015, rue Saint-Jacques | 220 |
| Saint-Joseph (Saint Joseph) | Elementary | 1452, rue Châteauguay | 155 |
Children who meet Charter of the French Language
Charter of the French Language
The Charter of the French Language , also known as Bill 101 and Loi 101, is a law in the province of Quebec in Canada defining French, the language of the majority of the population, as the only official language of Quebec, and framing fundamental language rights for everyone in the province...
guidelines can attend Shawinigan High School. Its campus is located at 1125, rue des Cèdres and is affiliated to the Central Québec school Board.
Shawinigan is also home of the Séminaire Sainte-Marie
Séminaire Sainte-Marie
Séminaire Sainte-Marie is a French-speaking and Catholic private school based in Shawinigan, Quebec.-History:The institution was founded in 1950 as an all-boy classical college...
, a private institution that provides the secondary curriculum and of the Collège Shawinigan: a CEGEP
Cégep
CEGEP is an acronym for , which is literally translated as "College of General and Vocational Education" but commonly called "General and Vocational College" in circles not influenced by Quebec English. It refers to the public post-secondary education collegiate institutions exclusive to the...
whose main campus is located at 2263 Avenue du Collège;
Transportation
Many of the oldest streets of Shawinigan were numbered, like the streets of ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Similarly, Avenue Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
was named after the famous Manhattan thoroughfare.
Several other streets and avenues were named to honor famous people, including:
- George-Étienne CartierGeorge-Étienne CartierSir George-Étienne Cartier, 1st Baronet, PC was a French-Canadian statesman and Father of Confederation.The English spelling of the name, George, instead of Georges, the usual French spelling, is explained by his having been named in honour of King George III....
- Samuel de ChamplainSamuel de ChamplainSamuel de Champlain , "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608....
- Dollard des OrmeauxAdam Dollard des OrmeauxAdam Dollard des Ormeaux, , also known as Adam Daulaut, Daulac, or simply as Dollard des Ormeaux, was a colonist and soldier of New France...
- Peter Julian EymardPeter Julian EymardSaint Peter Julian Eymard was a French Catholic priest, founder of two religious orders, and a canonized saint....
- Comte de FrontenacLouis de Buade de FrontenacLouis de Buade, Comte de Frontenac et de Palluau was a French soldier, courtier, and Governor General of New France from 1672 to 1682 and from 1689 to his death in 1698...
- King George VGeorge V of the United KingdomGeorge V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
- Lomer GouinLomer GouinSir Jean Lomer Gouin, PC, KCMG was a Canadian politician.-Biography:He was born in Grondines, Quebec and served as 13th Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec, as a Cabinet minister in the federal government of Canada, and as the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec.On May 24, 1888, he married...
- Victor HugoVictor HugoVictor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
- Pierre Le Moyne d'IbervillePierre Le Moyne d'IbervillePierre Le Moyne d'Iberville pronounced as described in note] Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville pronounced as described in note] Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville pronounced as described in note] (16 July 1661 – 9 July 1702 (probable)was a soldier, ship captain, explorer, colonial administrator, knight of...
- Marshal Joseph JoffreJoseph JoffreJoseph Jacques Césaire Joffre OM was a French general during World War I. He is most known for regrouping the retreating allied armies to defeat the Germans at the strategically decisive First Battle of the Marne in 1914. His popularity led to his nickname Papa Joffre.-Biography:Joffre was born in...
- Pope John XXIIIPope John XXIII-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
- Curé LabelleAntoine LabelleFrançois-Xavier-Antoine Labelle was a Roman Catholic priest and the person principally responsible for the settlement of the Laurentians...
- Monsignor Louis-François LaflècheLouis-François Richer LaflècheLouis-François Laflèche, , was a Catholic bishop of the diocese of Trois-Rivières, in the province of Quebec, Canada.-Early life and career:...
- Sieur de La SalleRené-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La SalleRené-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, or Robert de LaSalle was a French explorer. He explored the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada, the Mississippi River, and the Gulf of Mexico...
- Wilfrid LaurierWilfrid LaurierSir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
- Calixa LavalléeCalixa LavalléeCalixa Lavallée, , born Calixte Lavallée, was a French-Canadian-American musician and Union officer during the American Civil War who composed the music for O Canada, which officially became the national anthem of Canada in 1980.-Biography:Calixa Lavallée was born at Verchères, a suburb of...
- Honoré MercierHonoré MercierHonoré Mercier was a lawyer, journalist and politician in Quebec, Canada. He was the ninth Premier of Quebec from January 27, 1887 to December 21, 1891, as leader of the Parti National or Quebec Liberal Party ....
- Marquis de MontcalmLouis-Joseph de MontcalmLouis-Joseph de Montcalm-Gozon, Marquis de Saint-Veran was a French soldier best known as the commander of the forces in North America during the Seven Years' War .Montcalm was born near Nîmes in France to a noble family, and entered military service...
- Pierre LaportePierre LaportePierre Laporte was a Canadian lawyer, journalist and politician who was the Deputy Premier and Minister of Labour of the province of Quebec before being kidnapped and killed by members of the group Front de libération du Québec during the October Crisis. Mr...
- Cardinal Richelieu
- Basile RouthierAdolphe-Basile RouthierSir Adolphe-Basile Routhier was a Canadian judge, author, and lyricist. He wrote the lyrics of the original French version of the Canadian national anthem O Canada. He was born in Saint-Placide, Quebec to Charles Routhier and Angélique Lafleur.Routhier studied law at Université Laval and graduated...
- Jean TalonJean TalonJean Talon, Comte d'Orsainville was a French colonial administrator who was the first and most highly regarded Intendant of New France under King Louis XIV...
- Major General Georges VanierGeorges VanierMajor-General Georges-Philéas Vanier was a Canadian soldier and diplomat who served as Governor General of Canada, the 19th since Canadian Confederation....
Landmarks and notable institutions
- The Trou du Diable (Devil's Hole): this mysterious location consists of a swirl in the Saint-Maurice RiverSaint-Maurice RiverThe 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 ....
nearby the falls. Legend has it, the Trou du Diable has no bottom, making it impossible to rescue anyone who falls into it - Parc Saint-MauriceParkA park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
: located in downtown Shawinigan, it was part of the city's original plan. - the 62nd (Shawinigan) Field Artillery Regiment: a militia unit of the Canadian Army which was called to active duty during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
- La Cité de l'ÉnergieLa Cité de l'ÉnergieLa Cite de l'Énergie is a theme park based on local industrial history and located in Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada.-Facilities:*A science centre, which includes a high observation tower and features a multimedia show as well as a permanent interactive exhibit...
- the Shawinigan CataractesShawinigan CataractesThe Shawinigan Cataractes are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The team is based out of Shawinigan, Quebec. The Cataractes have been previously known as the Shawinigan Bruins until 1973, and were called the Shawinigan Dynamos from 1973–78.The Cataractes play their...
: the only QMJHL franchise to have stayed in the same city since the league's inception in 1969. They play at the Centre Bionest - the Shawinigan-Sud Tax CenterIncome taxes in CanadaIncome taxes in Canada constitute the majority of the annual revenues of the Government of Canada, and of the governments of the Provinces of Canada...
Famous people
The city is home to:- Peter BlaikiePeter BlaikiePeter Macfarlane Blaikie is a prominent Canadian lawyer and a fluently bilingual statesman from Quebec.-Genealogy:Blaikie was born in Shawinigan, Mauricie on May 10, 1937. He was the son of Kenneth Guy "Bill" Blaikie and Mary Petrie Black....
, a prominent lawyer - Jean ChrétienJean ChrétienJoseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
, Prime Minister of CanadaPrime Minister of CanadaThe Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
from 1993 to 2003 - Louise ForestierLouise ForestierLouise Forestier is a singer, songwriter and actor.-Biography:Forestier was trained in acting at the National Theatre School in Montreal, but it was as a singer that she first became known in 1966, when she received the Renée Claude Trophy from Le Patriote, a boîte à chansons in east-end...
, who is a singer and an actress - Martin GélinasMartin GelinasMartin Gélinas is a former professional ice hockey forward and the current director of player development with the Nashville Predators.-Playing career:Gelinas made a splash in 1987–88 with the Hull Olympiques of the QMJHL with a 63-goal, 131-point campaign...
, a National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) playerIce hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take... - Jacques LacoursièreJacques LacoursièreJacques Lacoursière, CM, CQ is a French-speaking TV host, author and historian from Quebec, Canada.-Life and career:Lacoursière was born in Shawinigan, Mauricie, and currently resides in Beauport in the Greater Quebec area....
, a renowned historian - Carole LaureCarole LaureCarole Laure is an actress and singer from the province of Quebec in Canada.-Career:Throughout most of her career, Carole Laure primarily collaborated with Anglophone singer, songwriter, producer, and director Lewis Furey, whom she met in 1977 and who later became her husband...
, an actress - Jacques PlanteJacques PlanteJoseph Jacques Omer Plante was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. During a career lasting from 1947–1975, he was considered to be one of the most important innovators in hockey...
, an NHL goaltenderGoaltenderIn ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring... - Andre PronovostAndre PronovostAndré Joseph Armand Pronovost is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward.Pronovost began his career with the Montreal Canadiens in 1956 where he played on four Stanley Cup-winning teams in 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960. He also played with the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota North...
, NHL player - Camil SamsonCamil SamsonCamil Samson was a politician in Quebec, Canada, Member of the National Assembly of Quebec , and leader of the Ralliement créditiste du Québec and other political parties.-Background:...
, who was Member of the provincial legislatureNational Assembly of QuebecThe National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
for the district of Rouyn-Noranda and the Leader of the Ralliement créditiste du QuébecRalliement créditiste du QuébecThe Ralliement créditiste du Québec was a provincial political party in Quebec, Canada that operated from 1970 to 1978. It promoted social credit theories of monetary reform, and acted as an outlet for the expression of rural... - Aline ChrétienAline ChrétienAline Chrétien is the wife of Canada's twentieth Prime Minister, Jean Chrétien.Born Aline Chaîné in Saint-Boniface-de-Shawinigan, Quebec, she married lawyer Jean Chrétien on September 10, 1957...
, Wife of former Prime Minister Jean ChrétienJean ChrétienJoseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003.... - Sylvain CossetteSylvain CossetteSylvain Cossette is a French-Canadian singer-songwriter from Grand-Mère, Quebec . Sylvain was a founding member of the Quebec-based English language band Paradox in 1984, before becoming a French language solo artist by 1994...
, Singer - Antoine DufourAntoine DufourAntoine Dufour is a French-Canadian acoustic guitarist currently signed to CandyRat Records.-Biography:Dufour started playing guitar at the age of fifteen. He went on to study at the CEGEP in Joliette, where he listened to the music of Leo Kottke, Don Ross, and Michael Hedges at the behest of his...
, Acoustic Guitarist
Annual events
- The Classique internationale de canots de la Mauricie: a prestigious marathon canoe raceCanoe racingThis article discusses canoe sprint and canoe marathon, competitive forms of canoeing and kayaking on more or less flat water. Both sports are governed by the International Canoe Federation ....
, held annually since 1934. - Grand-Mère's Fête nationale du QuébecFête nationale du QuébecQuebec's National Holiday is celebrated annually on June 24, St. John the Baptist DayIn Quebec, the national holiday is a paid statutory public holiday covered under the Act Respecting Labour Standards...
celebration: consisting of a bonfire and a live performance from local musicians, its audience arguably ranks among the largest crowds in the MauricieMauricieMauricie is a traditional and current administrative region of Quebec. La Mauricie National Park is contained within the region, making it a prime tourist location. The region has a land area of 35,855.22 km² and a 2006 census population of 258,928 residents...
area. It takes place at the Parc de la rivière Grand-MèreGrand-Mère, QuebecGrand Mère is a settlement and former municipality in central Quebec, Canada on the Saint-Maurice River. As a result of the municipal reorganization in Quebec which took effect at the beginning of 2002, Grand-Mère now forms part of the City of Shawinigan. Population in 2001 was...
. The tradition goes back decades ago.
External links
Shawinigan official site- Tourisme Mauricie Regional tourist office