Val-Saint-Gilles, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Val-Saint-Gilles is a municipality
in northwestern Quebec
, Canada
, in the Abitibi-Ouest Regional County Municipality
about 24 kilometres (14.9 mi) north of La Sarre
. It covers 110.54 km² and with a population of 154 in the Canada 2006 Census
, it is the least populous incorporated municipality in the regional county.
It lies at the northern edge of the Abitibi Clay Belt
. The undulating land is dotted with swamps, a few small lakes, and sand and gravel deposits. Its high point is marked by two hills near the village with an altitude of 345 metres (1,131.9 ft). The Turgeon River, the only notable river and tributary of the Harricana River
, flows through the north-western part of the municipality.
Settlement Plan, came from Clermont
, Montreal
, and Mont-Laurier
. In 1937, they founded the Saint-Gilles-de-Clermont Parish, and two years later, the place separated from Clermont Township
and was incorporated as the Municipality of Val-Saint-Gilles, named after Saint Giles
.
But because of the harsh land, the settlers could barely make a living and many soon left, reducing the population from over 600 persons to less than 200 today. Its residents mostly commute to La Sarre and the surrounding area, working particularly in the mining and forestry sectors.
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 73 (total dwellings: 78)
Mother tongue:
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in northwestern Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, in the Abitibi-Ouest Regional County Municipality
Abitibi-Ouest Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Abitibi-Ouest Regional County Municipality is located in Northwestern Quebec. The Regional County Municipality seat is La Sarre.-Communities:*Cities and Towns**Duparquet**La Sarre**Macamic*Municipalities**Authier...
about 24 kilometres (14.9 mi) north of La Sarre
La Sarre, Quebec
La Sarre is a town in northwestern Quebec, Canada, and is the most populous town and seat of the Abitibi-Ouest Regional County Municipality. It is located at the intersection of Routes 111 and 393, on the La Sarre River, a tributary of Lake Abitibi....
. It covers 110.54 km² and with a population of 154 in the Canada 2006 Census
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
, it is the least populous incorporated municipality in the regional county.
It lies at the northern edge of the Abitibi Clay Belt
Clay Belt
The Clay Belt is a vast tract of fertile soil in northeastern Ontario, Canada, between the area of Cochrane District, and Abitibi County, Quebec covering around 29,000,000 acres in total...
. The undulating land is dotted with swamps, a few small lakes, and sand and gravel deposits. Its high point is marked by two hills near the village with an altitude of 345 metres (1,131.9 ft). The Turgeon River, the only notable river and tributary of the Harricana River
Harricana River
The Harricana River is a river in western Quebec and northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is long, has a drainage area of , and has a mean discharge of 570 m³/s...
, flows through the north-western part of the municipality.
History
The first settlers, arriving circa 1935 as part of the VautrinIrénée Vautrin
-Background:He was born on December 21, 1888 near Napierville and became an architect.-Member of the legislature:Vautrin ran as a Liberal candidate in the 1919 election for the district of Montréal-Saint-Jacques and won, but was defeated by Conservative candidate Joseph-Ambroise-Eusèbe Beaudoin in...
Settlement Plan, came from Clermont
Clermont, Quebec
There are two municipalities named Clermont in Quebec:*Clermont, Capitale-Nationale, Quebec, in Charlevoix-Est Regional County Municipality*Clermont, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, in Abitibi-Ouest Regional County Municipality...
, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, and Mont-Laurier
Mont-Laurier, Quebec
Mont-Laurier is a town and incorporated municipality in northwest Quebec, Canada, located on the banks of the Rivière du Lièvre, a tributary of the Ottawa River. Known as the “Capital of the Haute-Laurentides”, the motto of the town is Laurus elationis praemium, which translates to “Lift the...
. In 1937, they founded the Saint-Gilles-de-Clermont Parish, and two years later, the place separated from Clermont Township
Clermont, Quebec
There are two municipalities named Clermont in Quebec:*Clermont, Capitale-Nationale, Quebec, in Charlevoix-Est Regional County Municipality*Clermont, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, in Abitibi-Ouest Regional County Municipality...
and was incorporated as the Municipality of Val-Saint-Gilles, named after Saint Giles
Saint Giles
Saint Giles was a Greek Christian hermit saint from Athens, whose legend is centered in Provence and Septimania. The tomb in the abbey Giles was said to have founded, in St-Gilles-du-Gard, became a place of pilgrimage and a stop on the road that led from Arles to Santiago de Compostela, the...
.
But because of the harsh land, the settlers could barely make a living and many soon left, reducing the population from over 600 persons to less than 200 today. Its residents mostly commute to La Sarre and the surrounding area, working particularly in the mining and forestry sectors.
Demographics
Population trend:- Population in 2006: 171 (2001 to 2006 population change: 1.2 %)
- Population in 2001: 169
- Population in 1996: 187
- Population in 1991: 207
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 73 (total dwellings: 78)
Mother tongue:
- English as first language: 0 %
- French as first language: 100 %
- English and French as first language: 0 %
- Other as first language: 0 %
Municipal council
- Mayor: Benoît Sarrazin
- Councillors: Kathy Beauchesne, Ghyslain-Guy Lavoie, Jean-Marie Lavoie, Marie-Rose Lavoie, Réal Paul, Daniel Poirier