Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours is a municipality in the Outaouais region of Quebec
, Canada
. It is located along the Ottawa River
, about 55 kilometres (34.2 mi) east of Gatineau
. It is the least populated municipality in the Papineau Regional County Municipality
.
The northern portion of the municipality is undeveloped wilderness, mostly part of the Kenauk Reserve. This 260 square kilometres (100.4 sq mi) protected wilderness domain was formerly known as "Reserve de la Petite Nation", but is now a privately-owned fish and game reserve of Château Montebello
.
, formed in 1674 and originally owned by François de Laval
, the first bishop of New France
. The seigneury was acquired in 1803 by Joseph Papineau
, who became its first civilian lord, and later sold to his son Louis-Joseph Papineau
.
The area became of interest economically when England was forced to rely on its colonies for wood for construction of its vessels during the Napoleonic blockade of 1807. It was full of oaks, pines, and maples regarding which Surveyor Joseph Bouchet wrote in 1815: "the terrain rises and is covered with wood of the best species: oaks are of high quality and particularly of large size, suitable for the construction of vessels."
In 1815 the original mission of Notre Dame de Bonsecours was created and in 1821 a chapel dedicated to Notre-Dame de Bonsecours (Our Lady of Good Help) was constructed. On September 31, 1831, the bishop of Quebec Bernard-Claude Panet
granted a petition signed by Denis-Benjamin Papineau
and over 75 tenants for the formation of a parish. His decree called the new parish Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours-de-la-Petite-Nation and also recommended the people of Bonsecours to acquire the civil recognition of the Governor General of Canada, Lord Aylmer
.
On June 18, 1845, the Governor General of the Provinces of Canada, Charles Metcalfe
, enacted the establishment of local and municipal authorities in Lower Canada, including the Municipality of Petite-Nation which included the Parish of Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours-de-la-Petite-Nation. However, this municipality was abolished in 1847.
On July 1, 1855, Queen Victoria sanctioned the Municipal Act which allowed the parish to get official civilian recognition, known as Parish Municipality of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours-de-la-Petite-Nation.
On August 22, 1878, Montebello
separated from the parish municipality.
In 1918, the large rural and forested area of the parish municipality separated and formed the Parish Municipality of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours-Partie-Nord. In 1951, the Parish Municipality of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours became the Municipality of Fassett
. And in 2003, the Parish Municipality of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours-Partie-Nord became the Municipality of Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours.
Total private dwellings (excluding seasonal cottages): 118
Languages:
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...
. It is located along the Ottawa River
Ottawa River
The Ottawa River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. For most of its length, it now defines the border between these two provinces.-Geography:...
, about 55 kilometres (34.2 mi) east of Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
. It is the least populated municipality in the Papineau Regional County Municipality
Papineau Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Papineau is a county regional municipality of Quebec in Canada located in the Outaouais region. The regional seat is Papineauville.-Communities:*Cities and Towns**Thurso*Municipalities** Boileau** Bowman** Chénéville** Duhamel** Fassett...
.
The northern portion of the municipality is undeveloped wilderness, mostly part of the Kenauk Reserve. This 260 square kilometres (100.4 sq mi) protected wilderness domain was formerly known as "Reserve de la Petite Nation", but is now a privately-owned fish and game reserve of Château Montebello
Château Montebello
The Fairmont Le Château Montebello or simply Château Montebello is a hotel and resort complex in Montebello, Quebec, Canada. The setting for the retreat is of forested wildlife sanctuary and 70 lakes on the shore of the Ottawa River, between Ottawa and Montreal.-Construction:In the late 1920s,...
.
History
The area was part of the Petite-Nation SeigneurySeigneurial system of New France
The seigneurial system of New France was the semi-feudal system of land distribution used in the North American colonies of New France.-Introduction to New France:...
, formed in 1674 and originally owned by François de Laval
François de Laval
This article is in part a sermon and generally comes close to hagiography.Blessed François-Xavier de Montmorency-Laval was the first Roman Catholic bishop of Quebec and was one of the most influential men of his day. He was appointed when he was 36 years old by Pope Alexander VII. He was a member...
, the first bishop of New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
. The seigneury was acquired in 1803 by Joseph Papineau
Joseph Papineau
Joseph Papineau was a notary, seigneur and political figure in Lower Canada.Joseph Papineau was the father of Louis-Joseph Papineau who had the great distinction of being a fiery player in the history of the French dominated British colony called Lower Canada...
, who became its first civilian lord, and later sold to his son Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau , born in Montreal, Quebec, was a politician, lawyer, and the landlord of the seigneurie de la Petite-Nation. He was the leader of the reformist Patriote movement before the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837–1838. His father was Joseph Papineau, also a famous politician in Quebec...
.
The area became of interest economically when England was forced to rely on its colonies for wood for construction of its vessels during the Napoleonic blockade of 1807. It was full of oaks, pines, and maples regarding which Surveyor Joseph Bouchet wrote in 1815: "the terrain rises and is covered with wood of the best species: oaks are of high quality and particularly of large size, suitable for the construction of vessels."
In 1815 the original mission of Notre Dame de Bonsecours was created and in 1821 a chapel dedicated to Notre-Dame de Bonsecours (Our Lady of Good Help) was constructed. On September 31, 1831, the bishop of Quebec Bernard-Claude Panet
Bernard-Claude Panet
Bernard-Claude Panet was a Roman Catholic priest and Archbishop of Quebec.Born in Quebec City, the son of Jean-Claude Panet, he was from a family of 14 children...
granted a petition signed by Denis-Benjamin Papineau
Denis-Benjamin Papineau
Denis-Benjamin Papineau was joint premier of the Province of Canada for Canada East from 1846 to 1848. His joint premiers for Canada West during this period were William Henry Draper and Henry Sherwood....
and over 75 tenants for the formation of a parish. His decree called the new parish Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours-de-la-Petite-Nation and also recommended the people of Bonsecours to acquire the civil recognition of the Governor General of Canada, Lord Aylmer
Matthew Whitworth-Aylmer, 5th Baron Aylmer
Matthew Whitworth-Aylmer, 5th Baron Aylmer was a British military officer and colonial administrator.- Napoleonic Wars :...
.
On June 18, 1845, the Governor General of the Provinces of Canada, Charles Metcalfe
Charles Metcalfe, 1st Baron Metcalfe
Charles Theophilus Metcalfe, 1st Baron Metcalfe, Bt, KCB, PC , known as Sir Charles Metcalfe, Bt between 1822 and 1845, was a British colonial administrator...
, enacted the establishment of local and municipal authorities in Lower Canada, including the Municipality of Petite-Nation which included the Parish of Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours-de-la-Petite-Nation. However, this municipality was abolished in 1847.
On July 1, 1855, Queen Victoria sanctioned the Municipal Act which allowed the parish to get official civilian recognition, known as Parish Municipality of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours-de-la-Petite-Nation.
On August 22, 1878, Montebello
Montebello, Quebec
Montebello is a municipality located in the Papineau Regional County Municipality of Western Quebec . As of the 2001 census, there were 1,039 permanent residents. The village has a total area of , and is located at the eastern edge of Canada's National Capital Region.The village is world famous for...
separated from the parish municipality.
In 1918, the large rural and forested area of the parish municipality separated and formed the Parish Municipality of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours-Partie-Nord. In 1951, the Parish Municipality of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours became the Municipality of Fassett
Fassett, Quebec
Fassett is a municipality and village in the Papineau Regional County Municipality in Quebec, Canada, located on the north shore of the Ottawa River east of Montebello.Its main access road is Route 148...
. And in 2003, the Parish Municipality of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours-Partie-Nord became the Municipality of Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours.
Demographics
Population:- Population in 2006: 275
- Population in 2001: 284
- 2001 to 2006 population change: -3.2 %
- Population in 1996: 273
- Population in 1991: 248
Total private dwellings (excluding seasonal cottages): 118
Languages:
- English as first language: 7 %
- French as first language: 82 %
- English and French as first language: 0 %
- Other as first language: 11 %