Chapais, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Chapais is a community in the Canadian
province of Quebec
, located on Route 113
near Chibougamau
in the Jamésie
region. It is surrounded by, but not a part of, the municipality of Baie-James
. The community was first settled in 1929, when prospector Léo Springer discovered deposits of copper
, silver
and gold
in the area, and was incorporated as a city in 1955. It was named for Jean-Charles Chapais
, one of the Fathers of Confederation
.
Opémisca Copper Mines operated the community's mine until 1991. More recently, with the closure of the mines the community's primary industry has been forestry
, and the community opened the first cogeneration
plant in Quebec to produce electricity from the sawmill's waste matter.
In the night of December 31, 1979, at 1:30 a.m., 48 people lost their lives when a fire
destroyed the Opémiska Community Hall. Fifty others were injured and rushed to Chibougamau hospital
. This fire was the worst to occur in Quebec for more than 40 years. The fire, which may have been triggered in wreaths of dried flowers and Christmas decorations, and the ensuing chaos that followed quickly blocked access to the main entrance. Several people managed to escape in time, but the tragedy left deep scars in the community. Several dignitaries, including Premier René Lévesque
, offered their sympathies to the victims' families.
Chapais had a population of 1,630 in the Canada 2006 Census
.
A crater on Mars
is named after this community.
Total private dwellings, excluding seasonal cottages: 661 (total: 714)
Mother tongue:
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...
province of 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....
, located on Route 113
Quebec route 113
Route 113 is a north/south two lane highway in northern Quebec, Canada. It starts at Route 117 just north of Louvicourt and continues north and north-east roughly until Waswanipi from where it continues east until it ends at Route 167 in Chibougamau...
near Chibougamau
Chibougamau, Quebec
Chibougamau is a town in central Quebec, Canada, located on Lake Gilman. It has a population of 7,563 people , which makes it the largest community in northern Quebec...
in the Jamésie
Jamésie Territory, Quebec
Jamésie is a territory equivalent to a regional county municipality of Quebec. Its geographical code is 991 .Together with the TEs of Kativik and Eeyou Istchee, it forms the administrative region and census division of Nord-du-Québec...
region. It is surrounded by, but not a part of, the municipality of Baie-James
Baie-James, Quebec
The Municipality of Baie-James is in northern Quebec, Canada, to the east of James Bay. It covers 297,329.66 square kilometers of land, making it the largest incorporated municipality in Canada — only eight unorganized territories are larger...
. The community was first settled in 1929, when prospector Léo Springer discovered deposits of copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
, silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
and gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
in the area, and was incorporated as a city in 1955. It was named for Jean-Charles Chapais
Jean-Charles Chapais
Jean-Charles Chapais, PC was a Canadian Conservative politician, and considered a Father of Canadian Confederation for his participation in the Quebec Conference to determine the form of Canada's government....
, one of the Fathers of Confederation
Fathers of Confederation
The Fathers of Confederation are the people who attended the Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences in 1864 and the London Conference of 1866 in England, preceding Canadian Confederation. The following lists the participants in the Charlottetown, Quebec, and London Conferences and their attendance at...
.
Opémisca Copper Mines operated the community's mine until 1991. More recently, with the closure of the mines the community's primary industry has been forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
, and the community opened the first cogeneration
Cogeneration
Cogeneration is the use of a heat engine or a power station to simultaneously generate both electricity and useful heat....
plant in Quebec to produce electricity from the sawmill's waste matter.
In the night of December 31, 1979, at 1:30 a.m., 48 people lost their lives when a fire
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
destroyed the Opémiska Community Hall. Fifty others were injured and rushed to Chibougamau hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
. This fire was the worst to occur in Quebec for more than 40 years. The fire, which may have been triggered in wreaths of dried flowers and Christmas decorations, and the ensuing chaos that followed quickly blocked access to the main entrance. Several people managed to escape in time, but the tragedy left deep scars in the community. Several dignitaries, including Premier René Lévesque
René Lévesque
René Lévesque was a reporter, a minister of the government of Quebec, , the founder of the Parti Québécois political party and the 23rd Premier of Quebec...
, offered their sympathies to the victims' families.
Chapais had a population of 1,630 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...
.
A crater on Mars
Chapais (crater)
Chapais is a crater on Mars, named after the community of Chapais, Quebec, Canada. Chapais Crater is located at 22.6° south latitude, and 20.6° west longitude. Its diameter is ....
is named after this community.
Demographics
Population:- Population in 2006: 1630
- Population in 2001: 1795
- 2001 to 2006 population change: -9.2 %
- Population in 1996: 2030
- Population in 1991: 2391
Total private dwellings, excluding seasonal cottages: 661 (total: 714)
Mother tongue:
- English as first language: 0.6 %
- French as first language: 94 %
- English and French as first language: 0 %
- Other as first language: 5.4 %