Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs (French, meaning "Our Lady of Seven Sorrows") is an island municipality in the Bas-Saint-Laurent
region of Quebec, Canada, part of the Rivière-du-Loup Regional County Municipality
. It is located on and contiguous with Île Verte (French for "Green Island") in the Saint Lawrence River
, about 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) north-east of Rivière-du-Loup.
With a population of only 62 persons, Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs is one of the smallest municipalities in Canada.
The main economic activity is fishing. Many fish smokehouses are present on the island. The presence of the oldest lighthouse in Quebec (built in 1809), its pastoral character, and heritage homes also attracts some tourism.
of 1663 following a shipwreck which forced to stay there for about ten days.
Some 200 years later in 1874, the municipality was formed out of the parish of La Décollation-de-Saint-Jean-Baptiste on November 18, which led to its name "Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs" since this date corresponded to the Day of Our Lady of Sorrows
on the liturgical calendar
at that time. However the municipality only existed on paper. The community formed in isolation and life on the island was governed by traditional customs, so people had little need for municipal management, which would have been a family affair anyway. Finally on February 5, 1912, the first council meeting took place.
Total private dwellings, excluding seasonal cottages: 35 (total: 89)
Mother tongue:
Bas-Saint-Laurent
The Bas-Saint-Laurent region is located along the south shore of the lower Saint Lawrence River in Quebec.It has a population of 200,653 and a land area of 22,232.11 km² .-Subdivisions:...
region of Quebec, Canada, part of the Rivière-du-Loup Regional County Municipality
Rivière-du-Loup Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Rivière-du-Loup is a county regional municipality of Quebec in Canada. Its most important city is Rivière-du-Loup, which contains more than half of the population of the region....
. It is located on and contiguous with Île Verte (French for "Green Island") in the Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
, about 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) north-east of Rivière-du-Loup.
With a population of only 62 persons, Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs is one of the smallest municipalities in Canada.
The main economic activity is fishing. Many fish smokehouses are present on the island. The presence of the oldest lighthouse in Quebec (built in 1809), its pastoral character, and heritage homes also attracts some tourism.
History
The island was first mentioned in the Jesuit ReportsRelations des Jésuites de la Nouvelle-France
The Jesuit Relations, also known as The Relations des Jesuites de la Nouvelle-France, are early ethnographic documents that chronicle Jesuit missions in New France...
of 1663 following a shipwreck which forced to stay there for about ten days.
Some 200 years later in 1874, the municipality was formed out of the parish of La Décollation-de-Saint-Jean-Baptiste on November 18, which led to its name "Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs" since this date corresponded to the Day of Our Lady of Sorrows
Our Lady of Sorrows
Our Lady of Sorrows , the Sorrowful Mother or Mother of Sorrows , and Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows or Our Lady of the Seven Dolours are names by which the Blessed Virgin Mary is referred to in relation to sorrows in her life...
on the liturgical calendar
Liturgical year
The liturgical year, also known as the church year, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in Christian churches which determines when feast days, including celebrations of saints, are to be observed, and which portions of Scripture are to be read. Distinct liturgical colours may appear in...
at that time. However the municipality only existed on paper. The community formed in isolation and life on the island was governed by traditional customs, so people had little need for municipal management, which would have been a family affair anyway. Finally on February 5, 1912, the first council meeting took place.
Demographics
Population:- Population in 2006: 62 (2001 to 2006 population change: 40.9 %)
- Population in 2001: 44
- Population in 1996: 42
- Population in 1991: 44
Total private dwellings, excluding seasonal cottages: 35 (total: 89)
Mother tongue:
- English as first language: 0 %
- French as first language: 100 %
- English and French as first language: 0 %
- Other as first language: 0 %