Grand-Mère, Quebec

Grand-Mère (French: [ɡʁɑ̃ mɛʁ], Canadian French: [ɡɾɑ̃ maɛ̯ɾ]) 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.

Grand-Mère
Shawinigan
Saint-Paul church in Grand-Mère
Saint-Paul church in Grand-Mère
Coordinates: 46°37′0″N 72°42′00″W
Country Canada
Province Quebec
RegionShawinigan
Founded1898
MergedJanuary 1, 2002
Electoral Districts
Federal
Champlain
ProvincialLaviolette
Government
 • TypeBorough
 • MayorMichel Angers
 • Federal MP(s)Lise St-Denis (LPC)
 • Quebec MNA(s)Marie-Louise Tardif (CAQ)
Area
[1]
 • Land62.95 km2 (24.31 sq mi)
Population
 (2001)[2]
 • Total13,179
 • Density209.4/km2 (542/sq mi)
 • Dwellings
6,710
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code819
Access Routes[3]
A-55
R-155
R-153
Websitehttp://www.shawinigan.ca
Bridge & Hydro-Quebec's dam in Grand-Mère
50e Avenue in Sainte-Flore. Sainte-Flore was a separate parish municipality until 1970 when it was amalgamated into Grand-Mère.
A plaque commemorating the 50th anniversary of Grand-Mère attached to the "old woman" rock
The Grand-Mère rock

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.

School Level Location Number of
Students
Antoine-Hallé Elementary 1001, 8e Rue 217
École de Sainte-Flore (Saint Flora's) Elementary 3351, 33e Rue 148
École secondaire du Rocher Secondary 300, 7e Rue 923
Laflèche Elementary 153, 1321, 5e Avenue 261
Saint-Paul (Saint Paul) Elementary 461, 16e Avenue 133

Mayors

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

# Mayor Taking Office Leaving
1 François Normandin 1898 1898
2 T. Desaulniers 1898 1900
3 A. Turcotte 1900 1901
4 F.-X. Gingras 1901 1902
5 A. Roy 1902 1903
6 A. Tremblay 1903 1905
7 J. Desaulniers 1905 1908
8 J.-A. Robert 1908 1910
9 Pierre-Calixte Neault[4] 1910 1916
10 Dr. G.-A. Ferron 1916 1919
9 Pierre-Calixte Neault 1919 1920
11 J.-P. Lalonde 1920 1923
12 Dr. J.-Edmond Guibord[5] 1923 1930
13 L. Trépanier 1931 1931
14 J.-Alfred Gagnon 1931 1935
15 Dr. Joseph Onésime Honorius Ricard 1935 1939
14 J.-Alfred Gagnon 1939 1943
16 Elzéar Dallaire [6] 1943 1951
17 A. Thibeault 1951 1953
18 J.-E.-A. Matteau 1953 1957
19 Joseph-Alfred Therrien [7] 1957 1965
20 H. Prud’Homme 1965 1970
21 Jean-Marie Lafontaine [8] 1970 1982
22 Jacques Marchand 1982 1994
23 Gérald Bastarache 1994 1998 [9]
24 Linda Lafrenière 1998 2001

See also

Footnotes
  1. Statistics Canada (2001). "Community Highlights for Grand-Mère". Retrieved 2010-11-01.
  2. Statistics Canada (2001). "Community Highlights for Grand-Mère". Retrieved 2010-11-01.
  3. 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.

References

46°37′0″N 72°42′0″W

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