Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs, Quebec

Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs (French pronunciation: [nɔtʁədam de sɛt dulœʁ], meaning "Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows") is an island municipality in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec, Canada, part of the Rivière-du-Loup Regional County Municipality. It is located on and contiguous with Île Verte (French for "Green Island") in the Estuary of St. Lawrence, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north-east of Rivière-du-Loup. The name Île Verte was given in 1621 by Samuel de Champlain written "Isle Verte".[4]

"Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs" redirects here. For the album by Klô Pelgag, see Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs (album).

Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs
Parish municipality
chemin de l'Île
chemin de l'Île
Location within Rivière-du-Loup RCM
Location within Rivière-du-Loup RCM
ND-des-Sept-Douleurs is located in Eastern Quebec
ND-des-Sept-Douleurs
ND-des-Sept-Douleurs
Location in eastern Quebec
Coordinates: 48°00′N 69°27′W[1]
CountryCanada
ProvinceQuebec
RegionBas-Saint-Laurent
RCMRivière-du-Loup
ConstitutedJanuary 1, 1874
Government
[2]
 • MayorGilbert Delage
 • Federal ridingMontmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup
 • Prov. ridingRivière-du-Loup-Témiscouata
Area
[2][3]
 • Total142.85 km2 (55.15 sq mi)
 • Land11.53 km2 (4.45 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[3]
 • Total71
 • Density6.2/km2 (16/sq mi)
 • Pop 2016-2021
Increase 97.2%
 • Dwellings
117
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
G0L 1K0
Area code(s)418 and 581
HighwaysNo major routes
Websitewww.ileverte-municipalite.com

With a population of only 71 persons, Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs is one of the smallest municipalities in Canada. It is home to the oldest lighthouse in Quebec (built in 1809).[1]

The main economic activities are fishing and tourism. Many fish smokehouses are present on the island. In addition to the oldest lighthouse in Quebec, its pastoral character, skeleton museum, many artists and heritage homes also attract tourists.[1]

Geography

Verte Island is about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, roughly 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) long with a maximum width of 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi). It has a maximum elevation of 60 metres (200 ft).[4]

History
Lighthouse on Île Verte

The island was first mentioned in the Jesuit Reports of 1663 following a shipwreck which forced Henri Nouvel to stay there for about ten days.[1]

On 10 June 1816, half the Nova Scotia Fencibles, some 210 officers and other ranks, together with 48 wives and children, were on board the Archduke Charles when it wrecked near Green Island. Four soldiers, two wives, and two children lost their lives.

In 1874, the municipality was formed out of the parish of La Décollation-de-Saint-Jean-Baptiste on November 18, which led to its name "Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs" since this date corresponded to the Day of Our Lady of Sorrows on the liturgical calendar at that time. However the municipality only existed on paper. The community formed in isolation and life on the island was governed by traditional customs, so people had little need for municipal management, which would have been a family affair anyway. Finally on February 5, 1912, the first council meeting took place.[1]

Today, the biggest family to occupy the Island is the Fraser of Scottish Canadian descent.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs had a population of 71 living in 46 of its 117 total private dwellings, a change of 97.2% from its 2016 population of 36. With a land area of 11.53 km2 (4.45 sq mi), it had a population density of 6.2/km2 (15.9/sq mi) in 2021.[5]

Historical census populations –
Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs, Quebec
YearPop.±%
1976 121—    
1981 99−18.2%
1986 64−35.4%
1991 44−31.2%
1996 42−4.5%
YearPop.±%
2001 44+4.8%
2006 62+40.9%
2011 49−21.0%
2016 36−26.5%
2021 71+97.2%
Source: Statistics Canada[6]

Mother tongue (2021):[3]

  • English as first language: 0%
  • French as first language: 100%
  • English and French as first language: 0%
  • Other as first language: 0%

See also

References
  1. "Reference number 44874 in Banque de noms de lieux du Québec". toponymie.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec.
  2. "Geographic code 12045 in the official Répertoire des municipalités". www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation.
  3. "Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs, Paroisse (municipalité de) (PE) Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  4. "Reference number 65683 in Banque de noms de lieux du Québec". toponymie.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec.
  5. "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Quebec". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  6. 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021 census

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