Grand-Mère, Quebec Explained

Grand-Mère
Settlement Type:Shawinigan
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Type2:Region
Subdivision Name2:Shawinigan
Seat Type:Electoral Districts
Federal
Seat:
Champlain
Parts Type:Provincial
Parts:Laviolette
Government Type:Borough
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Michel Angers
Leader Title1:Federal MP(s)
Leader Name1:François-Philippe Champagne (LPC)
Leader Title2:Quebec MNA(s)
Leader Name2:Marie-Louise Tardif (Independent)
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:1898
Established Title2:Merged
Established Date2:January 1, 2002
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Land Km2:62.95
Population As Of:2001
Population Footnotes:[2]
Population Total:13,179
Population Density Km2:209.4
Population Blank1 Title:Dwellings
Population Blank1:6710
Timezone:EST
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Coordinates:46.6167°N -72.7°W
Area Code:819
Blank Name:Access Routes[3]
Blank Info:

Website:http://www.shawinigan.ca

Grand-Mère (pronounced as /fr/, pronounced as /fr-CA/) 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 13,179.

History

Grand-Mère was founded in 1898. Like some of its neighbouring towns, it owes its economic origins to the St-Maurice river on which it is located. A major hydroelectric dam that was built on the river in 1916 was one of the oldest and largest Hydro-Québec generating stations. The dam was replaced by a larger dam in 2004. The abundance of relatively inexpensive electricity led to the development of industry, primarily based on the production of paper. Logs which were used for the paper pulp were floated downstream on the St-Maurice to the paper mill from more northerly areas. The mill, which has changed ownership over the decades, has had a lasting impact on the town, from the creation of its award-winning golf course to the construction of several of the town's historic buildings.

The surrounding area consists of forested hills, lakes, and flat plains and farms, with much glacial activity still evident. The Mauricie region in which Grand-Mère is located has been struggling economically for decades, and boasts some of the most inexpensive real estate in Canada.

The name of the town comes from a rock formation that resembles an old woman with a hair bun at the base of her head ("grand-mère" is French for grandmother). The formation formerly stood in the rapids of the Saint-Maurice River adjacent to the town. When the hydroelectric dam was built, the formation was moved in 1916 and rebuilt. It is now in a small park overlooking the St-Maurice River, at the corner of 4e and 5e Avenues.

The area's biggest attraction is La Mauricie National Park.

Education

There are five public schools. All of them are affiliated to the Commission scolaire de l'Énergie school board.

bgcolor=#cccccc Schoolbgcolor=#cccccc Levelbgcolor=#cccccc Locationbgcolor=#cccccc Number of
Students
Antoine-HalléElementary1001, 8e Rue217
École de Sainte-Flore (Saint Flora's)Elementary3351, 33e Rue148
École secondaire du RocherSecondary300, 7e Rue923
LaflècheElementary153, 1321, 5e Avenue261
Saint-Paul (Saint Paul)Elementary461, 16e Avenue133

Mayors

From 1898 to 2001, Grand-Mère had its own mayor and its own city council. The mayors were:

bgcolor=#cccccc
bgcolor=#cccccc Mayorbgcolor=#cccccc Taking Officebgcolor=#cccccc Leaving
1François Normandin18981898
2T. Desaulniers18981900
3A. Turcotte19001901
4F.-X. Gingras19011902
5A. Roy19021903
6A. Tremblay19031905
7J. Desaulniers19051908
8J.-A. Robert19081910
9Pierre-Calixte Neault[4] 19101916
10Dr. G.-A. Ferron19161919
9Pierre-Calixte Neault19191920
11J.-P. Lalonde19201923
12Dr. J.-Edmond Guibord[5] 19231930
13L. Trépanier19311931
14J.-Alfred Gagnon19311935
15Dr. Joseph Onésime Honorius Ricard19351939
14J.-Alfred Gagnon19391943
16Elzéar Dallaire [6] 19431951
17A. Thibeault19511953
18J.-E.-A. Matteau19531957
19Joseph-Alfred Therrien [7] 19571965
20H. Prud’Homme19651970
21Jean-Marie Lafontaine [8] 19701982
22Jacques Marchand19821994
23Gérald Bastarache19941998 [9]
24Linda Lafrenière19982001

See also

References

46.6167°N -72.7°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Community Highlights for Grand-Mère. 2010-11-01. Statistics Canada. 2001.
  2. Web site: Community Highlights for Grand-Mère. 2010-11-01. Statistics Canada. 2001.
  3. http://www.quebec511.gouv.qc.ca/fr/carte_routiere/ Official Transport Quebec Road Map
  4. Neault served as the Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly for the district of Champlain from 1900 to 1912.
  5. Guibord served as the Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly for the district of Laviolette from 1939 to 1944. He finished second.
  6. Dallaire ran as the Liberal candidate for the district of Laviolette in the 1944 provincial election. He finished second.
  7. Therrien ran as the Liberal candidate for the district of Laviolette in the 1960 and 1962 provincial elections. Each time, he was defeated by Romulus Ducharme.
  8. Lafontaine ran as the Union Nationale candidate for the district of Laviolette in the 1973 provincial election. He finished fourth.
  9. Bastarache lost re-election as a mayor against Linda Lafrenière in 1998.