Cap-Chat

Cap-Chat is a town in the Canadian province of Québec, in the Regional County Municipality of Haute-Gaspésie, and in the administrative region of Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Cap-Chat is found 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) west of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. As of 2006, Cap-Chat's population is 2,777.[4]

Cap-Chat
City
Location within La Haute-Gaspésie RCM.
Location within La Haute-Gaspésie RCM.
Cap-Chat is located in Eastern Quebec
Cap-Chat
Cap-Chat
Location in eastern Quebec.
Coordinates: 49°06′N 66°41′W[1]
Country Canada
Province Quebec
RegionGaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine
RCMLa Haute-Gaspésie
Settled1815
ConstitutedMarch 15, 2000
Government
[2]
 • MayorMarie Gratton
 • Federal ridingGaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine
 • Prov. ridingGaspé
Area
[2][3]
 • Total207.40 km2 (80.08 sq mi)
 • Land181.89 km2 (70.23 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[3]
 • Total2,623
 • Density14.4/km2 (37/sq mi)
 • Pop 2006-2011
Decrease 5.5%
 • Dwellings
1,368
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
G0J 1E0
Area code(s)418 and 581
Highways R-132
Websiteville.cap-chat.ca

In addition to Cap-Chat itself, the town's territory also includes the communities of Cap-Chat-Est, Capucins, and Petit-Fonds.

History
The Cat Rock in Cap-Chat

There are two theories about the origin of the town's name. One simply holds that the headland called Cap-Chat bore a likeness to a cat ("chat" in French). The other theory is a bit more fanciful. According to a local legend, a cat walking along the shore killed and ate various animals, whereupon the "cat fairy" accused him of having eaten her offspring. For his punishment, the cat was turned into stone for ever.[5]

It seems most likely, however, that the town's name is a corruption of "Aymar de Chaste", who was New France's lieutenant-general in 1603. Samuel de Champlain named this area C. de Chatte in 1612, then Cap de Chatte in 1626. The name became Cap de Chat in 1685.[5]

The waterfront boardwalk at Cap-Chat has a display of photographs and informative plaques regarding the Second World War Battle of the St. Lawrence between U-Boats and coastal defence ships.

Cap-Chat was one of the prime viewing areas for the total solar eclipse of July 10, 1972. Unfortunately, cloudy skies prevented most observers from viewing the total phase of the eclipse.

On March 15, 2000, the Municipality of Capucins was amalgamated into the Town of Cap-Chat.[1]

Demographics
Historical Census Data - Cap-Chat, Quebec[6]
YearPop.±%
1991 2,926—    
1996 2,847−2.7%
(2000) 3,127+9.8%
2001 2,913−6.8%
2006 2,777−4.7%
2011 2,623−5.5%
Cap-Chat Church

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Cap-Chat had a population of 2,516 living in 1,225 of its 1,405 total private dwellings, a change of 1.6% from its 2016 population of 2,476. With a land area of 181.31 km2 (70.00 sq mi), it had a population density of 13.9/km2 (35.9/sq mi) in 2021.[7]

Canada census – Cap-Chat community profile
20212011
Population2,516 (+1.6% from 2016)2,623 (-5.5%% from 2006)
Land area181.31 km2 (70.00 sq mi)181.89 km2 (70.23 sq mi)
Population density13.9/km2 (36/sq mi)14.4/km2 (37/sq mi)
Median age58.8 (M: 58.8, F: 59.2)53.7 (M: 53.1, F: 54.5)
Private dwellings1,405 (total)  1,225 (occupied)1,368 (total) 
Median household income$50,800$37,511
Notes: Municipality of Capucins was amalgamated into the Town of Cap-Chat on March 15, 2000.
References: 2021[8] 2011[9] earlier[10][11]

Economy

Cap-Chat has become synonymous with wind energy. There is a wind farm there containing 76 wind generators in revenue service. Each one of these is a horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT), but there is also to be seen there one called Éole, which is the world's tallest vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) at 110 m. It is capable of producing 4 MW of power, but has not been in use for more than ten years following damages sustained during a wind storm. Everything that there is to know about wind power at Cap-Chat may be learnt at the interpretative centre at the wind farm.

Cap-Chat has other things that are worth seeing, such as the aforesaid cat-shaped headland, and a lighthouse.

Those interested in wilderness and spectacular scenery can explore the areas inland from Cap-Chat, where there was once a village called Saint-Octave-de-l'Avenir (which ironically means Saint Octavius of the Future, though it's long in the past now). Salmon fishing and moose hunting are other activities available in the Cap-Chat area, as are hiking, horseback riding, and off-road four-wheel drive excursions in the back country.

In winter, Cap-Chat has a downhill skiing centre, as well as trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

Images
  • Wind turbines at Cap-Chat
    Wind turbines at Cap-Chat
  • Wind farm
    Wind farm
  • The village, as seen from the sea
    The village, as seen from the sea
  • Lighthouse
    Lighthouse
  • Backcountry
    Backcountry

See also

References
  1. "Cap-Chat (Ville)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  2. "Cap-Chat". Répertoire des municipalités (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  3. "Cap-Chat census profile". 2011 Census data. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  4. "Cap-Chat community profile". 2006 Census data. Statistics Canada. 13 March 2007. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  5. Lahoud, Pierre (2014). "Le chat pétrifié" (PDF). Continuité (140): 49.
  6. Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census
  7. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Quebec". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  8. "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  9. "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
  10. "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
  11. "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
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