Low, Quebec

Low is a township municipality in the La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau Regional County Municipality of western Quebec, Canada. It is situated along the Gatineau River north of Wakefield, and it is located within Canada's National Capital Region. Its 2021 population was 1,020.

Low
Township municipality
Nickname: 
Paugan
Low is located in Western Quebec
Low
Low
Location in western Quebec
Coordinates: 45°49′N 75°57′W[1]
CountryCanada
ProvinceQuebec
RegionOutaouais
RCMLa Vallée-de-la-Gatineau
Constituted1 January 1858
Government
[2]
 • MayorCarole Robert
 • Federal ridingPontiac
 • Prov. ridingGatineau
Area
[2][3]
 • Total276.32 km2 (106.69 sq mi)
 • Land257.78 km2 (99.53 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[3]
 • Total1,020
 • Density4.0/km2 (10/sq mi)
 • Pop (2016–21)
Increase 3.9%
 • Dwellings
864
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
J0X 2C0
Area code819
Access Routes R-105
Websitewww.lowquebec.ca

Low received its name from Charles Adamson Low, a lumber merchant who held timber rights in the Gatineau Valley.

A section of Low called Tucker Lake was home of the Gatineau Clog, a country music festival founded by Wayne Rostad in 1980 until 1995.

The mayor of Low is Carole Robert, who was elected in November 2017. The two most recent former mayors were Morris O'Connor and Michael Francis, who was mayor back in the mid-eighties, and was re-elected in 1997. Francis announced his retirement in the summer of 2009, and finished his term in November 2009.

Geography
View of the Gatineau River from the Paugan Dam

Low is situated in a corner of mountainous terrain on the edge of the Gatineau Hills, but conducive to agriculture.[4] It is dotted with an abundance of lakes, most notably Sainte-Marie, Island, Doyle, Cameron, and Venosta Lakes.[5]

In addition to the village of Low itself, other communities in the township municipality are Brennan's Hill,[6] Fieldville,[7] Martindale,[8] North Low,[9] Paugan Falls,[10] Stagsburn,[11] and Venosta.[12]

History

Low represents a rare case where the township was formed after the municipality; the township dates back to 1859 whereas the municipality was founded in 1848 and the municipality township was officially established on 1 January 1857, and came into force on 1 January 1858. It was named after Charles Adamson Low, an important timber merchant of the region in the mid-19th century, a time when many Irish immigrants settled here. Its post office was established in 1854.[4]

In 1928, the village of Low built the Paugan hydroelectric dam. This caused the voluntary flooding of the village to the north, Lac Saint Marie, Quebec. Because of the dam, 90% of the village of Lac Saint Marie had to be relocated to higher ground.

Demographics
Historical census populations – Low, Quebec
YearPop.±%
1976 891—    
1981 881−1.1%
1986 875−0.7%
1991 892+1.9%
1996 807−9.5%
YearPop.±%
2001 852+5.6%
2006 956+12.2%
2011 920−3.8%
2016 982+6.7%
2021 1,020+3.9%
Source: Statistics Canada[13]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Low had a population of 1,020 living in 495 of its 864 total private dwellings, a change of 3.9% from its 2016 population of 982. With a land area of 257.78 km2 (99.53 sq mi), it had a population density of 4.0/km2 (10.2/sq mi) in 2021.[3]

Mother tongue (2021):[3]

  • English as first language: 53%
  • French as first language: 42%
  • English and Frence as first language: 4%
  • Other as first language: 1%

Paugan Hydroelectric Station
Paugan Station

The Paugan Station (Centrale de Paugan), built in 1928, is a run-of-river hydroelectric power station and dam on the Gatineau river, operated by Hydro-Québec. It has a head of 40.5 m (133 ft), and 8 turbines with a total capacity of 202 MW. Its reservoir is 30 km2 (12 sq mi).[14]

Local government

List of former mayors:

  • Michael Francis (...–2009)
  • Morris O'Connor (2009–2017)
  • Carole Robert (2017–present)

References
  1. "Reference number 37349 in Banque de noms de lieux du Québec". toponymie.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec.
  2. "Geographic code 83010 in the official Répertoire des municipalités". www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation.
  3. "Low, Canton (municipalité de) (CT) Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  4. "Municipalité de Canton de Low" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
  5. "Canton de Low" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
  6. "Brennan's Hill". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  7. "Fieldville". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  8. "Martindale". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  9. "North Low". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  10. "Paugan Falls". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  11. "Stagsburn". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  12. "Venosta". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  13. 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021 census
  14. "Centrale de Paugan". Hydro-Québec. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
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