Malartic, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Malartic is a town on the Malartic River in northwestern Quebec
, Canada
, in the La Vallée-de-l'Or Regional County Municipality
. It is located about 80 kilometres (49.7 mi) east of the centre of Rouyn-Noranda along Quebec Route 117
and the Canadian National Railway.
In addition to the main settlement of Malartic, the municipality also includes the smaller settlement of Norrie.
's army. It was named after Anne Joseph Hippolyte de Maurès, Comte de Malartic
, aide de camp to Montcalm.
The discovery of major gold
deposits in 1923 led to a gold rush
in the Abitibi region, attracting settlers (exclusively men during the first six years) to the area in 1928. In 1935, the Canadian Malartic Gold Mines began operation, employing people from all over the province, Canada, and several east European countries. Together with Eastern Malartic and Malartic Goldfields that began operating in 1937 and 1939 respectively, these three became Quebec's largest gold mines. But newly arriving workers were not permitted to settle near the mines and would build a squatter
camp on Crown land
about 4 km north of Malartic, that became the community of Roc d'Or. The two settlements grew concurrently, duplicating services. But the parishes (Saint-Martin-de-Tours in 1928), railway station, and post office (1936) were established near the mines in Malartic.
In 1939, the Town of Malartic was incorporated under the auspices of the Quebec Ministry of Mines, in an attempt to halt the proliferation of squatter camps in the Abitibi region. In 1943, the entire community of Roc d'Or was ordered to move to Malartic by the provincial government and the settlement was demolished. Despite a mining accident in April 1947 that killed 12 miners in an underground fire, Malartic was thriving throughout the 1950s, reaching a peak of nearly 7000 residents.
But in 1965, Canadian Malartic and Malartic Goldfields closed their mines, followed by the Barnat and East Malartic mines in the 1980s. This led to rapid decline in the economy and population.
In 2008 and 2009, renewed exploration by Osisko Mining
revealed an untapped new gold deposit, estimated at approximately 9 million ounces, beneath the town. The company received approval from the government of Quebec to launch what would become Canada's largest ever open pit gold mine. The project, which will have an estimated cost of $1 billion if approved, would see most of the portion of the town lying south of Route 117
, consisting of about 200 houses and several of the town's public facilities, relocated to a new housing development in the north end of town. This move was featured in season 4 of the television show Monster Moves
. As of late 2009, most of the relocation work had been completed, and this, before the end of public consultations by Quebec's Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks
.
Federally, Malartic is located in the electoral district of Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou
, currently represented in the Canadian House of Commons
by Roméo Saganash
of the New Democratic Party
. Provincially, it is in the district of Abitibi-Est, represented in the National Assembly of Quebec
by Pierre Corbeil
of the Quebec Liberal Party.
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 1535 (total dwellings: 1653)
Mother tongue:
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 La Vallée-de-l'Or Regional County Municipality
La Vallée-de-l'Or Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Vallée-de-l'Or is a Regional County Municipality in northwestern Quebec, Canada. The seat is in Val-d'Or. It is named for its Gold deposits in the Harricana River and Bell River valleys...
. It is located about 80 kilometres (49.7 mi) east of the centre of Rouyn-Noranda along Quebec Route 117
Quebec route 117
Route 117 is a provincial highway within the Canadian province of Quebec, running between Montreal and the Quebec/Ontario border where it continues as Highway 66 east of Kearns, Ontario...
and the Canadian National Railway.
In addition to the main settlement of Malartic, the municipality also includes the smaller settlement of Norrie.
History
At the time when the Abitibi region was being surveyed and organized in 1907, the name Malartic was chosen for the geographic township and lake, following the pattern of assigning names of regiments and officers of General MontcalmLouis-Joseph de Montcalm
Louis-Joseph de Montcalm-Gozon, Marquis de Saint-Veran was a French soldier best known as the commander of the forces in North America during the Seven Years' War .Montcalm was born near Nîmes in France to a noble family, and entered military service...
's army. It was named after Anne Joseph Hippolyte de Maurès, Comte de Malartic
Anne Joseph Hippolyte de Maurès, Comte de Malartic
Anne Joseph Hippolyte de Maurès, Comte de Malartic was a French colonial governor and general, notable for his service in Canada and Mauritius. The Canadian town of Malartic is named after him....
, aide de camp to Montcalm.
The discovery of major 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...
deposits in 1923 led to a gold rush
Gold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
in the Abitibi region, attracting settlers (exclusively men during the first six years) to the area in 1928. In 1935, the Canadian Malartic Gold Mines began operation, employing people from all over the province, Canada, and several east European countries. Together with Eastern Malartic and Malartic Goldfields that began operating in 1937 and 1939 respectively, these three became Quebec's largest gold mines. But newly arriving workers were not permitted to settle near the mines and would build a squatter
Squatting
Squatting consists of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied space or building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have permission to use....
camp on Crown land
Crown land
In Commonwealth realms, Crown land is an area belonging to the monarch , the equivalent of an entailed estate that passed with the monarchy and could not be alienated from it....
about 4 km north of Malartic, that became the community of Roc d'Or. The two settlements grew concurrently, duplicating services. But the parishes (Saint-Martin-de-Tours in 1928), railway station, and post office (1936) were established near the mines in Malartic.
In 1939, the Town of Malartic was incorporated under the auspices of the Quebec Ministry of Mines, in an attempt to halt the proliferation of squatter camps in the Abitibi region. In 1943, the entire community of Roc d'Or was ordered to move to Malartic by the provincial government and the settlement was demolished. Despite a mining accident in April 1947 that killed 12 miners in an underground fire, Malartic was thriving throughout the 1950s, reaching a peak of nearly 7000 residents.
But in 1965, Canadian Malartic and Malartic Goldfields closed their mines, followed by the Barnat and East Malartic mines in the 1980s. This led to rapid decline in the economy and population.
In 2008 and 2009, renewed exploration by Osisko Mining
Osisko Mining
Osisko is a development stage precious metals mining company headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. It operates in Canada with a focus on gold mines in the Abitibi gold belt of Quebec. The company was known as Osisko Exploration LTD...
revealed an untapped new gold deposit, estimated at approximately 9 million ounces, beneath the town. The company received approval from the government of Quebec to launch what would become Canada's largest ever open pit gold mine. The project, which will have an estimated cost of $1 billion if approved, would see most of the portion of the town lying south of Route 117
Quebec route 117
Route 117 is a provincial highway within the Canadian province of Quebec, running between Montreal and the Quebec/Ontario border where it continues as Highway 66 east of Kearns, Ontario...
, consisting of about 200 houses and several of the town's public facilities, relocated to a new housing development in the north end of town. This move was featured in season 4 of the television show Monster Moves
Monster Moves
Monster Moves is a British documentary television series which began airing in 2005. A total 25 episodes have been produced across 5 seasons so far.-Format:...
. As of late 2009, most of the relocation work had been completed, and this, before the end of public consultations by Quebec's Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks
Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks (Quebec)
The Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks is responsible for the provincial reserves, parks and, environmental policy and land development in the province of Quebec.The current minister is Pierre Arcand.-External links:*...
.
Government
As of January 2011, the municipal government consists of mayor André Vezeau and councillors Jude Boucher, Sylvie Daigle, Martin Ferron, Daniel Magnan, Guy Morrissette, and Jean Turgeon.Federally, Malartic is located in the electoral district of Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou
Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou
Abitibi and Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou is a federal riding in the province of Quebec, Canada, that have been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1966."Abitibi" was created in 1966, and renamed "Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik"...
, currently represented in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
by Roméo Saganash
Roméo Saganash
Romeo Saganash, is a Canadian politician and the Member of Parliament for the Quebec riding of Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou...
of the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
. Provincially, it is in the district of Abitibi-Est, represented in the National Assembly of Quebec
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
by Pierre Corbeil
Pierre Corbeil
Pierre Corbeil, D.M.D. is a Quebec politician and dentist. He is a Member of National Assembly of Quebec for Abitibi-Est as a member of the Quebec Liberal Party and the current Minister Responsible for Indian Affairs.Corbeil went to the Université de Montréal and obtained a doctor's degree in...
of the Quebec Liberal Party.
Demographics
Population trend:- Population in 2006: 3640 (2001 to 2006 population change: -1.7 %)
- Population in 2001: 3704
- Population in 1996: 4154
- Population in 1991: 4326
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 1535 (total dwellings: 1653)
Mother tongue:
- English as first language: 4.2 %
- French as first language: 90.3 %
- English and French as first language: 0.6 %
- Other as first language: 4.9 %
Education
- École Des Explorateurs - Kindergarten to grade 6
- Polyvalente Le Tremplin High school - secondary grade 1 to 5
- Trait-d'Union - adult education