Isle Madame
Encyclopedia
Isle Madame is a Canadian
island
located at off the southeastern corner of Cape Breton Island
in Nova Scotia
.
The island was settled by France as part of its colony of Île-Royale (present-day Cape Breton Island). It is presumed to have been named for Madame de Maintenon
, the second wife of France's King Louis XIV
. After the fall of Louisbourg in 1758, 4,000 inhabitants were deported. However, a group of ten Acadian families from Port-Toulouse fled to this Isle Madame where their descendants still live today. Following the Seven Years' War
, Île-Royale and its constituent territories such as Isle Madame, reverted to British control. Some Acadian families also made their way from Massachusetts
to Isle Madame in 1766.
Measuring 16 km long and 11 km wide, giving approximately 45 km2, Isle Madame is jurisdictionally part of Richmond County
and is separated from Cape Breton Island by a narrow strait
named Lennox Passage.
Initially crossed by ferries
, the first bridge crossing Lennox Passage to connect with Isle Madame was constructed beginning in 1916 and opening in 1919. The Grandique Ferry service also crossed the passage between Martinique and Louisdale. In the early 1970s the old bridge was demolished and the ferry service was terminated after a new combined causeway
and bridge
(the Burnt Island Bridge) was built across Lennox Passage.
Isle Madame is also connected by bridge
to neighbouring Petit-de-Grat Island
and by causeway
and bridge to Janvrin Island
.
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...
island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
located at off the southeastern corner of Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
.
The island was settled by France as part of its colony of Île-Royale (present-day Cape Breton Island). It is presumed to have been named for Madame de Maintenon
Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon
Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon was the second wife of King Louis XIV of France. She was known during her first marriage as Madame Scarron, and subsequently as Madame de Maintenon...
, the second wife of France's King Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
. After the fall of Louisbourg in 1758, 4,000 inhabitants were deported. However, a group of ten Acadian families from Port-Toulouse fled to this Isle Madame where their descendants still live today. Following the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
, Île-Royale and its constituent territories such as Isle Madame, reverted to British control. Some Acadian families also made their way from Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
to Isle Madame in 1766.
Measuring 16 km long and 11 km wide, giving approximately 45 km2, Isle Madame is jurisdictionally part of Richmond County
Richmond County, Nova Scotia
Richmond County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-History:Named in honour of Sir Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond and Lennox, who was Governor General of British North America 1818-1819, Richmond County was created in 1835....
and is separated from Cape Breton Island by a narrow strait
Strait
A strait or straits is a narrow, typically navigable channel of water that connects two larger, navigable bodies of water. It most commonly refers to a channel of water that lies between two land masses, but it may also refer to a navigable channel through a body of water that is otherwise not...
named Lennox Passage.
Initially crossed by ferries
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
, the first bridge crossing Lennox Passage to connect with Isle Madame was constructed beginning in 1916 and opening in 1919. The Grandique Ferry service also crossed the passage between Martinique and Louisdale. In the early 1970s the old bridge was demolished and the ferry service was terminated after a new combined causeway
Causeway
In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated, usually across a broad body of water or wetland.- Etymology :When first used, the word appeared in a form such as “causey way” making clear its derivation from the earlier form “causey”. This word seems to have come from the same source by...
and bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
(the Burnt Island Bridge) was built across Lennox Passage.
Isle Madame is also connected by bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
to neighbouring Petit-de-Grat Island
Petit-de-Grat Island
Petit-de-Grat Island is a Canadian island off the coast of Cape Breton Island, in Richmond County, Nova Scotia. The islands main community is Petit-de-Grat. The first settlers came from the Basque region of Spain in 1714....
and by causeway
Causeway
In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated, usually across a broad body of water or wetland.- Etymology :When first used, the word appeared in a form such as “causey way” making clear its derivation from the earlier form “causey”. This word seems to have come from the same source by...
and bridge to Janvrin Island
Janvrin Island
Janvrin Island is a Canadian island off the coast of Cape Breton Island Nova Scotia in Richmond County.Janvrin Island, named for the family of Valpy dit Janvrin, merchant traders of Jersey, Channel Islands, is connected by a bridge to neighbouring Isle Madame...
.
Communities
Isle Madame is home to approximately 4,300 residents located in the following communities on the island:- Alderney PointAlderney Point, Cap BretonThe village of Aldreney Point is a community in Isle Madame, dating back to the 18th century. It is a district of Richmond County.-External links:...
- ArichatArichat, Nova ScotiaThe village of Arichat is one of the oldest communities in Nova Scotia, dating back to the 18th century. It is a district of Richmond County on Isle Madame....
- BoudreauvilleBoudreauville, Nova ScotiaBoudreauville is a small community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Richmond County on Isle Madame.-References:*...
- Cape AuguetCape Auguet, Nova ScotiaCape Auguet is a small community in Isle Madame, in the province of Nova Scotia, located in Richmond County.-References:*...
- Cap La RondeCap La Ronde, Nova ScotiaCap La Ronde is a small community in Isle Madame, in the province of Nova Scotia, located in Richmond County on Isle Madame.-References:*...
- D'EscousseD'Escousse, Nova ScotiaD'Escousse is situated on the north-eastern side of Isle Madame. It is on Nova Scotia Route 320. It has had a church since 1845. It was a settlement in the early 18th century. Ships would enter the D'Escousse harbour from the Grandique Ferry and Lennox Passage. Well-known writer Silver Donald...
- LennoxLennox, Nova ScotiaLennox is a small community in Isle Madame, in the province of Nova Scotia, located in Richmond County.-References:*...
- Petite AnsePetite Anse, Cap BretonThe village of Petite Anse is one of the oldest communities in Isle Madame, in Cape Breton, dating back to the 18th century. It is a district of Richmond County.This is the hometown of Nova Scotia legend Ricky Forgeron. -External links:...
- LochsideLochside, Nova ScotiaLochside is a small community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Richmond County on Isle Madame.-References:*...
- MartiniqueMartinique, Nova ScotiaMartinique is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Richmond County .-References:*...
- Petit de Grat
- PoiriervillePoirierville, Nova ScotiaPoirierville is a small community in Isle Madame in the province of Nova Scotia, located in Richmond County on Isle Madame.-References:*...
- PondvillePondville, Nova ScotiaPondville is a small community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Richmond County on Isle Madame.-References:* It has many beaches including Pondville Beach....
- Pondville SouthPondville South, Nova ScotiaPondville South is a small community in Isle Madame, in the province of Nova Scotia, located in Richmond County on Isle Madame.-References:*...
- Port RoyalPort Royal, Nova Scotia (Isle Madame)Port Royal is a small community in Isle Madame, Cape Breton, in the province of Nova Scotia. Also located in Richmond County.-References:*...
- PoulamonPoulamon, Nova ScotiaPoulamon is a community in Isle Madame, in the province of Nova Scotia, located in Richmond County .-References:*...
- Rocky BayRocky Bay, Nova ScotiaRocky Bay is a small community in Isle Madame, in the province of Nova Scotia, located in Richmond County.-References:*...
- Samson's CoveSamson's Cove, Nova ScotiaSamson's Cove is a small community in Isle Madame, in the province of Nova Scotia, located in Richmond County.-References:*...
- St. MarysSt. Marys, Richmond, Nova ScotiaSainte Marie is a small community in Isle Madame, in the province of Nova Scotia, located in Richmond County.-References:*...
- West Arichat