| Shawinigan | |
| Official Name: | French: Ville de Shawinigan |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Flag Size: | 125px |
| Image Blank Emblem: | Shawinigan logo.png |
| Blank Emblem Type: | Logo |
| Nickname: | The City of Electricity |
| Motto: | Age Quod Agis (Do what you are doing) |
| Pushpin Map: | Quebec#Canada |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Quebec##Location in Canada. |
| Coordinates: | 46.5667°N -117°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Canada |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Quebec |
| Subdivision Type2: | Region |
| Subdivision Name2: | Mauricie |
| Subdivision Type3: | RCM |
| Subdivision Name3: | None |
| Established Title: | Settled |
| Established Date: | 1851 |
| Established Title1: | Constituted |
| Established Date1: | January 1, 2002 |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Michel Angers |
| Leader Title1: | Federal riding |
| Leader Name1: | Saint-Maurice—Champlain |
| Leader Title2: | Prov. riding |
| Leader Name2: | Laviolette and Saint-Maurice |
| Area Total Km2: | 798.80 |
| Area Land Km2: | 729.98 |
| Area Urban Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Urban Km2: | 31.77 |
| Population Total: | 49,620 |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Density Km2: | 68 |
| Population Density Urban Km2: | 1225.4 |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Pop 2016-2021 |
| Population Blank1: | 0.5% |
| Population Blank2 Title: | Dwellings |
| Population Blank2: | 27,444 |
| Timezone: | EST |
| Utc Offset: | −5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −4 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code(s) |
| Postal Code: | G9N to G9R |
| Area Code: | 819 |
| Blank Name: | Highways |
| Blank Info: | |
Shawinigan is a city located on the Saint-Maurice River in the Mauricie area in Quebec, Canada. It had a population of 49,620 as of the 2021 Canadian census.
Shawinigan is also a territory equivalent to a regional county municipality (TE) and census division (CD) of Quebec, coextensive with the city of Shawinigan. Its geographical code is 36. Shawinigan is the seat of the judicial district of Saint-Maurice.[2]
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".[3] Before 1958, the city was known as Shawinigan Falls.
Shawinigan is the birthplace of former Prime Minister of Canada Jean Chrétien.
In 1651, the Jesuit 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, missionaries going to the Upper Saint-Maurice would rest here.[3] Before Shawinigan Falls was established, the local economy had been largely based on lumber and agriculture.
In the late 1890s, Shawinigan Falls drew the interest of foreign entrepreneurs such as John Joyce and John Edward Aldred of the Shawinigan Water & Power Company (SW&P), and of Hubert Biermans 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.[4]
In 1899, the SW&P commissioned Montreal engineering firm Pringle and Son to design a grid plan for a new industrial town on the banks of the Saint-Maurice River, providing the ground work for what would become Downtown Shawinigan.[5]
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: first production of aluminum (1901), carborundum (1908), cellophane pellets (1932).[6] Shawinigan Falls also became one of the first Canadian cities with electric street lighting.
For decades, the local pulp and paper, chemical and textile industries created thousands of jobs and stimulated city growth (see Sketch Map of Urban in Shawinigan, 1899-1951).
Urban development steadily increased in Downtown Shawinigan Falls. By 1921, this sector was densely filled with commercial buildings on Fourth and Fifth street, as well as Station Avenue, one-family residences along the Riverside corridor (current-day St-Maurice Drive) and multi-story tenements elsewhere.[7]
The Olmsted Brothers design firm was hired by the city to implement a beautification program. By the late 1920s, Downtown Shawinigan Falls was home to a public market, a fire station, a technical school, several church buildings and two landscaped public parks, including the Saint-Maurice Park.[8]
Many of the opulent uphill homes located in the somewhat secluded areas of Maple Street and Hemlock Avenue were occupied by more affluent people, many of whom happened to belong to the once vibrant English-speaking community, which at times comprised more than 30% of the local population.
As industrial plants began operation eastward and northward, neighbourhoods were established in Uptown Shawinigan Falls. The emergence of these new districts was defined by and intertwined with the parish structure of the Roman Catholic Church. The Saint-Marc neighbourhood, originally known as Village St-Onge, was annexed in 1902, extending the city limits to Dufresne Street. The uptown presence of the Canadian Carborundum and Alcan no. Two plants favoured the foundation the Christ-Roi neighbourhood, which was annexed in 1925 extending the city limits to St Sacrement Boulevard. The land now occupied by the section of town currently known as Shawinigan-Est was annexed in 1932.
Uptown Shawinigan Falls had its own fire station by 1922 and its own landscaped public park and swimming pool by 1940.[9]
Westside near the Shawinigan River, the existence of the pulp and paper Belgo plant attracted enough residents to form a small, yet stable independent urban community called Baie-de-Shawinigan.
Across the Saint-Maurice River, Shawinigan-Sud (then Almaville) maintained home-rule and developed as a residential hub.
Local prosperity was interrupted by the Great Depression 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 program to help families.
The promenade along the Saint-Maurice River was a project to create work during the depression.
World War II put Shawinigan Falls, and many others cities in Canada, back on the path of economic recovery.
During hostilities, the windows of local power plants were painted black to prevent any possible German aerial attack.
The Shawinigan-based 81st Artillery Battery was called to active duty during World War II. Its members were trained in Ontario and the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1944 and contributed to the Allies' effort in the Normandy Landings in 1944-45, which led to the Liberation of France.[10]
In 1948, a cenotaph, known as Monument des Braves, was erected in downtown Shawinigan Falls at the intersection of Fourth Street and Promenade du Saint-Maurice (then Riverside Street) near the Saint-Maurice River, in honour of soldiers who died during that conflict as well as World War I.
By the early 1950s, the industrial growth in Shawinigan Falls was such that the city offered the steadiest employment and the highest wages in Quebec.[11] Due to this advantageous position, Shawinigan Falls became a hot bed for organized labor and bargaining power. The rise of its working class also favoured the presence of numerous independently owned taverns.
As its working class gained economic ground and political leverage, Shawinigan Falls became fertile ground for labour unions. The workers of the Belgo pulp and paper plant went on strike in 1955. In the 1952 provincial election, Shawinigan sent a Liberal member to the legislature. The gesture was largely considered an affront to Premier Maurice Duplessis, who responded by refusing to approve the construction of a new bridge between Shawinigan Falls and Shawinigan-Sud. The new bridge was not built until after the Liberal Party won the 1960 election. It was completed on September 2, 1962.[12]
In the 1950s, a number of taverns provided a male-only social environment for industrial workers. They were mostly concentrated in Downtown Shawinigan Falls (Saint-Bernard and Saint-Pierre), as well as in the Saint-Marc neighbourhood, as Shawinigan-Sud remained a dry town until 1961,[13] and included the following venues:
| bgcolor=#cccccc | Name | bgcolor=#cccccc | Also Known As | bgcolor=#cccccc | Address | bgcolor=#cccccc | Neighbourhood | bgcolor=#cccccc | Current Status |
| Au Pied du Courant | 1885, avenue Saint-Marc | Saint-Marc | demolished | ||||||
| Chez Bob | Chez Maxime | 413, avenue Mercier | Saint-Pierre | out of business | |||||
| Chez Camille | Chez Armand, Taverne Station | 902, avenue de la Station | Saint-Pierre | demolished | |||||
| Chez François | Taverne Bellevue, Cabaret La Vie est Belle | 2991, boulevard des Hêtres | Sainte-Croix | still in business | |||||
| Chez Georges | Bar Le Transit | 2172, avenue Cloutier | Saint-Marc | out of business | |||||
| Chez Jos | 482, 5e rue | Saint-Pierre | demolished | ||||||
| Chez Léo | 820, 4e rue | Saint-Pierre | out of business | ||||||
| Chez Maurice | Jos Bar Terrasse | 666, 5e rue | Saint-Pierre | still in business | |||||
| Chez Paul (Bistro Bar) | 303, avenue Tamarac | Saint-Bernard | out of business | ||||||
| Chez Paul (Taverne) | Au Gobelet | 403, avenue Tamarac | Saint-Pierre | burned down | |||||
| Chez Rosaire | 763, rue Lambert | Saint-Marc | still in business | ||||||
| Corvette | 822, rue Trudel | Saint-Marc | burned down in 1973 | ||||||
| Taverne Laliberté | Taverne des Expos, Bar de l’Énergie | 1572, avenue Saint-Marc | Saint-Marc | still in business | |||||
| Taverne Moderne | 2282, avenue Saint-Marc | Saint-Marc | still in business | ||||||
| Taverne des Sports | Club Social | 382, 5e rue | Saint-Pierre | demolished |
In 1951, the local tavern keepers formed a business association.[14]
In 1981, the provincial government enacted a law that gave women access to most taverns. By 1986, women had already been admitted in most taverns.[15]
While a handful of local taverns evolved into bistros or restaurants, most of them did not survive the industrial decline that characterized the last third of the 20th Century.
In the 1950s, Shawinigan Falls entered a period of decline that would last for several decades. Technological improvements made industries less dependent on Shawinigan Falls' 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.[3]
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). Shawinigan's last English-language newspaper, the Shawinigan Standard, ceased publication at the end of 1970.[16]
In 1963, the provincial government of Jean Lesage nationalized eleven privately owned electricity companies, including SW&P. While benefiting the population in general, the decision may have been damaging to local interests.
Traditionally, Shawinigan has been home to a number of hotels and inns, including the following:
| bgcolor=#cccccc | Name | bgcolor=#cccccc | Also Known As | bgcolor=#cccccc | Address | bgcolor=#cccccc | Neighbourhood | bgcolor=#cccccc | Year Completed | bgcolor=#cccccc | Current Status |
| Cascade Inn | 695, 7e rue | Saint-Pierre | 1901 | burned down in 1986 | |||||||
| Château de la Mauricie | Hôtel La Mauricie | 822, rue Trudel | Saint-Marc | burned down in 1973 | |||||||
| Château Turcotte | 1000, avenue Melville | Saint-Pierre | 1858 | burned down in 1878 | |||||||
| De Lasalle | Hôtel Central, Grand Central | 590, 3e rue | Saint-Paul, Grand-Mère | damaged by fire in 2012, out of business[17] | |||||||
| Des Chutes | Riverside | 856, 4e rue | Saint-Pierre | burned down in 1992 | |||||||
| Dufresne | 702, 4e rue | Saint-Pierre | 1905 | in business until 1914, later demolished | |||||||
| Escapade | 3383, rue Garnier | Saint-Charles-Garnier | 1977 | out of business - 2017 | |||||||
| Gouverneur | 100, promenade du Saint-Maurice | Saint-Pierre | 1998 | still in business | |||||||
| Grand-Mère Inn | Laurentide Inn | 10, 6e avenue | Saint-Paul, Grand-Mère | 1897 | burned down in 2004, demolished in 2010[18] | ||||||
| La Rocaille | 1851, 5e avenue | Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Grand-Mère | still in business | ||||||||
| Laviolette | 1608, avenue Saint-Marc | Saint-Marc | demolished | ||||||||
| Royal | 693, 4e rue | Saint-Bernard | 1901 | demolished | |||||||
| Shawinigan Hotel[19] | Hôtel Racine | 602, 5e rue | Saint-Pierre | 1903 | burned down in 1990 | ||||||
| Vendôme | New Vendôme | 943, avenue Cascade | Saint-Pierre | circa 1908 | burned down in 1958[20] | ||||||
| Windsor | 1787, avenue Champlain | Saint-Marc | 1905 | in business until the 1930s, later demolished |
In order to offset the decline of the heavy industry, leaders have promoted the expansion of the local hospitality industry. The most notable example of that initiative is the establishment of La Cité de l'Énergie, a theme park based on local industrial history, with a 115adj=midNaNadj=mid observation tower. Since it opened in 1997, it has attracted thousands of visitors to the area. It currently hosts bus tours and cruises, as well as entertainment shows and interactive exhibits. Since 2012, it is also home to the Museum of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, a venue similar to those operated by the U.S. presidential library system and which focuses on the gifts received by the former Prime Minister of Canada (1993-2003) during his official duties.[21]
In 1998, Shawinigan merged with the Village Municipality of Baie-de-Shawinigan.[3]
On January 1, 2002, Shawinigan amalgamated with much of the Regional County Municipality of Le Centre-de-la-Mauricie. The following municipalities were part of the merger:
| bgcolor=#cccccc | Municipality | bgcolor=#cccccc | Year of Foundation [22] | bgcolor=#cccccc | Population (1996) [23] |
| Shawinigan [24] | 1901 | 18,678 | |||
| Grand-Mère[25] | 1898 | 14,223 | |||
| Shawinigan-Sud | 1912 | 11,804 | |||
| Saint-Georges-de-Champlain | 1915 | 3,929 | |||
| Lac-à-la-Tortue | 1895 | 3,169 | |||
| Saint-Gérard-des-Laurentides | 1924 [26] | 2,155 | |||
| Saint-Jean-des-Piles | 1897 | 693 |
Shawinigan has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) featuring cold and snowy winters coupled with warm and humid summers. Precipitation is moderate to high year round, resulting in heavy winter snowfall, typical of Eastern Canada.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Shawinigan had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of 729.98km2, it had a population density of in 2021.[27]
The Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League play out of the Centre Gervais Auto in Shawinigan. It played host to the 2012 Memorial Cup hockey tournament and won the Championship, defeating the London Knights in the final.
Many of the oldest streets of Shawinigan were numbered, like the streets of Manhattan, New York. Similarly, Avenue Broadway was named after the famous Manhattan thoroughfare.
Several other streets and avenues were named to honour famous people, including:
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:
| bgcolor=#cccccc | Church | bgcolor=#cccccc | Location | bgcolor=#cccccc | Year of foundation | bgcolor=#cccccc | Status |
| Saint-Pierre (Saint Peter) | 792, avenue Hemlock | 1901 | active | ||||
| Saint-Marc (Saint Mark) | 1895, avenue Champlain | 1911 | active | ||||
| Sacré-Cœur (Sacred Heart) | 17, rue de l'Église, Baie-de-Shawinigan | 1911 | active | ||||
| Saint-Bernard (Saint Bernard) | 562, 3e Rue | 1912 | inactive closed in 2005 [33] | ||||
| Christ-Roi (Christ the King) | 1250, rue Notre-Dame | 1938 | inactive closed in 1994 demolished in 2002 [34] | ||||
| Sainte-Croix (Holy Cross) | 2153, rue Gignac | 1949 | inactive closed in 2004 [35] | ||||
| 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 was designed by Italian Canadian artist Guido Nincheri between 1930 and 1961.
There are eight public schools.[36] Seven of them are under the supervision of the Commission scolaire de l'Énergie school board.
| bgcolor=#cccccc | School | bgcolor=#cccccc | Level | bgcolor=#cccccc | Location | bgcolor=#cccccc | Number of students |
| Carrefour Formation Mauricie | Vocational education | 5105, avenue Albert-Tessier | 808 | ||||
| Centre d'éducation des adultes du Saint-Maurice | Adult education | 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 requirements for instruction in English can attend Shawinigan High School. Its campus is located at 1125, rue des Cèdres and is operated by the Central Québec School Board.
Shawinigan is also home of the Séminaire Sainte-Marie, a private institution that provides the secondary curriculum and of the Collège Shawinigan: a CEGEP whose main campus is located at 2263 Avenue du Collège;