Témiscaming, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Témiscaming is a town located at the south end of Lac Témiscamingue
on the upper Ottawa River
in the Témiscamingue Regional County Municipality
of western Quebec
, Canada
. Also nearby is Lake Kipawa.
, and missionaries. Some of the notable travelers passing by Témiscaming were Radisson
and des Groseilliers
, Saint-Lusson
, Charles le Moyne
and Pierre Le Moyne
, and Chevalier de Troyes
. A small chapel had existed there for the trappers and fur traders en route to Ottawa.
The area began to be developed circa 1850 when forestry companies began logging the land. Some of these logging crews had brought their families, and together with some pioneer families, they had formed a settlement of about 13 families by 1880. It was originally called "Long Sault", taken from the name of the rapids on the Ottawa River at this place. From 1884 on, Long Sault became an important stopover for colonists traveling upstream to Lake Timiskaming, leading to the construction of a hotel, wharfs, stores, and a railroad to Mattawa
. On August 12, 1886, the first train arrived at Long Sault, also called Gordon's Creek by then.
In 1888, the Municipality of Témiscaming was officially incorporated. Its name, also spelled Témiskaming, was taken from Lake Timiskaming
and in turn came from the Algonquin
tim ("deep"), and kami ("open water"). In the fall of that same year, Alex Lumsden built a sawmill on Gordon Creek and the settlement came to be known as Lumsden's Mill. Around 1909 work began on the dam across the Ottawa River.
The place experienced major growth when the Riordon Pulp and Paper Company built the Kipawa Mills pulp and paper mill there in 1918. It bought the Lumsden Mill as well as all the property in Long Sault. For all the construction workers and mill employees, a new town was built, designed according to a Garden City plan by Scottish architect Thomas Adams
.
In 1920, Témiscaming gained town status under the name "Kipawa" but the name was replaced by the original name the following year. On paper, there was a municipal council, but in reality, Témiscaming was a company town
. The Canadian International Paper Company
, that had bought out the Riordon Company in 1925, had total control by owning every property, appointing the mayor and council members, and even applying the law. No municipal elections were held for 35 years.
On November 1, 1935, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake had its epicentre a few kilometres east of Témiscaming
. In 1936, the road between North Bay and Témiscaming was completed. In 1956, the Canadian International Paper Company declared Témiscaming as an "open town" and sold all its infrastructure. W.N. Irwin became the town's first mayor elected in a municipal election. In 1972, when the company decided to close the mill, the employees formed Tembec
to take over the operation of the mill.
In 1988, the Municipality of Letang, incorporated in 1980, was merged into Témiscaming.
, a community radio station based in Ville-Marie
has a retransmitter in Témiscaming.
Junior "A" ice hockey
team of the Ontario
-based Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
.
:
Population trend:
Lake Timiskaming
Lake Timiskaming is a large freshwater lake on the provincial border between Ontario and Quebec, Canada. The lake, which forms part of the Ottawa River, is in length and covers an area of almost . Its water level ranges between and above sea-level, with a mean annual average of . The lake is...
on the upper 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:...
in the Témiscamingue Regional County Municipality
Témiscamingue Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Témiscamingue is a county regional municipality in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of western Quebec, Canada. The county seat is Ville-Marie....
of western 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....
, 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...
. Also nearby is Lake Kipawa.
History
The Ottawa River had long been used by natives, explorers, coureur des boisCoureur des bois
A coureur des bois or coureur de bois was an independent entrepreneurial French-Canadian woodsman who traveled in New France and the interior of North America. They travelled in the woods to trade various things for fur....
, and missionaries. Some of the notable travelers passing by Témiscaming were Radisson
Pierre-Esprit Radisson
Pierre-Esprit Radisson was a French-Canadian fur trader and explorer. He is often linked to his brother-in-law Médard des Groseilliers who was about 20 years older. The decision of Radisson and Groseilliers to enter the English service led to the formation of the Hudson's Bay Company.Born near...
and des Groseilliers
Médard des Groseilliers
Médard Chouart des Groseilliers was a French explorer and fur trader in Canada. He is often paired with his brother-in-law Pierre-Esprit Radisson who was about 20 years his junior...
, Saint-Lusson
Simon-François Daumont de Saint-Lusson
Simon-François Daumont de Saint-Lusson was a military officer of New France and deputy of Jean Talon. Saint-Lusson was sent to Sault Ste...
, Charles le Moyne
Charles le Moyne de Longueuil, Baron de Longueuil
Charles le Moyne de Longueuil, Baron de Longueuil was the first native-born Canadian to be made Baron in New France....
and Pierre Le Moyne
Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville
Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville pronounced as described in note] Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville pronounced as described in note] Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville pronounced as described in note] (16 July 1661 – 9 July 1702 (probable)was a soldier, ship captain, explorer, colonial administrator, knight of...
, and Chevalier de Troyes
Pierre de Troyes, Chevalier de Troyes
Pierre de Troyes, Chevalier de Troyes , a captain in the French army arrived at Quebec in August 1685 with reinforcements for the colony...
. A small chapel had existed there for the trappers and fur traders en route to Ottawa.
The area began to be developed circa 1850 when forestry companies began logging the land. Some of these logging crews had brought their families, and together with some pioneer families, they had formed a settlement of about 13 families by 1880. It was originally called "Long Sault", taken from the name of the rapids on the Ottawa River at this place. From 1884 on, Long Sault became an important stopover for colonists traveling upstream to Lake Timiskaming, leading to the construction of a hotel, wharfs, stores, and a railroad to Mattawa
Mattawa, Ontario
Mattawa is a town in northeastern Ontario, Canada, at the confluence of the Mattawa and Ottawa Rivers in Nipissing District. Mattawa means "Meeting of the Waters" in Ojibwa...
. On August 12, 1886, the first train arrived at Long Sault, also called Gordon's Creek by then.
In 1888, the Municipality of Témiscaming was officially incorporated. Its name, also spelled Témiskaming, was taken from Lake Timiskaming
Lake Timiskaming
Lake Timiskaming is a large freshwater lake on the provincial border between Ontario and Quebec, Canada. The lake, which forms part of the Ottawa River, is in length and covers an area of almost . Its water level ranges between and above sea-level, with a mean annual average of . The lake is...
and in turn came from the Algonquin
Algonquin language
Algonquin is either a distinct Algonquian language closely related to the Ojibwe language or a particularly divergent Ojibwe dialect. It is spoken, alongside French and to some extent English, by the Algonquin First Nations of Quebec and Ontario...
tim ("deep"), and kami ("open water"). In the fall of that same year, Alex Lumsden built a sawmill on Gordon Creek and the settlement came to be known as Lumsden's Mill. Around 1909 work began on the dam across the Ottawa River.
The place experienced major growth when the Riordon Pulp and Paper Company built the Kipawa Mills pulp and paper mill there in 1918. It bought the Lumsden Mill as well as all the property in Long Sault. For all the construction workers and mill employees, a new town was built, designed according to a Garden City plan by Scottish architect Thomas Adams
Thomas Adams (architect)
Thomas Adams was a pioneer of urban planning. Born on a farm near Edinburgh and a farmer in his early years, Adams moved to London where he worked as a journalist...
.
In 1920, Témiscaming gained town status under the name "Kipawa" but the name was replaced by the original name the following year. On paper, there was a municipal council, but in reality, Témiscaming was a company town
Company town
A company town is a town or city in which much or all real estate, buildings , utilities, hospitals, small businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations, and other necessities or luxuries of life within its borders are owned by a single company...
. The Canadian International Paper Company
Canadian International Paper Company
The Canadian International Paper Company was a Montreal-based forest products company, a former subsidiary of International Paper. It was originally formed as the St. Maurice Lumber Company in 1919 but was renamed in 1925...
, that had bought out the Riordon Company in 1925, had total control by owning every property, appointing the mayor and council members, and even applying the law. No municipal elections were held for 35 years.
On November 1, 1935, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake had its epicentre a few kilometres east of Témiscaming
1935 Timiskaming earthquake
The 1935 Timiskaming earthquake was a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that occurred on November 1, 1935 in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of Quebec...
. In 1936, the road between North Bay and Témiscaming was completed. In 1956, the Canadian International Paper Company declared Témiscaming as an "open town" and sold all its infrastructure. W.N. Irwin became the town's first mayor elected in a municipal election. In 1972, when the company decided to close the mill, the employees formed Tembec
Tembec
Tembec Inc. is a paper company in Canada. Tembec has approximately 6000 employees located in Canada, United States, and France. Tembec's operating divisions include Forest Products, Pulp, Paper & Paperboard, and Chemicals....
to take over the operation of the mill.
In 1988, the Municipality of Letang, incorporated in 1980, was merged into Témiscaming.
Media
CKVM-FMCKVM-FM
CKVM-FM is a French-language Canadian radio station located in Ville-Marie, Quebec.Owned and operated by Radio Témiscamingue , it broadcasts on 93.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 18,400 watts using an omnidirectional antenna...
, a community radio station based in Ville-Marie
Ville-Marie, Quebec
Ville-Marie is a town on Lake Temiscaming in western Quebec, Canada. It is the largest city and seat of the Témiscamingue Regional County Municipality, Quebec. As one of the oldest towns in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, it is considered the cradle of north-western Quebec and nicknamed "Pearl of...
has a retransmitter in Témiscaming.
Sports
From the 2007-08 season on, Temiscaming is the home of the Temiscaming RoyalsTemiscaming Royals
The Temiscaming Royals were a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Témiscaming, Quebec, Canada. They were members of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, but originated in the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League.-History:...
Junior "A" ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team of the Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
-based Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Canadian Junior Hockey League, the Northern Ontario Hockey Association, and Hockey Canada. The winner of the NOJHL playoffs competes for the Dudley Hewitt Cup with the winners of the Ontario...
.
Demographics
According to the Canada 2006 CensusCanada 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...
:
- Population: 2,697
- % Change (2001-2006): -7.1
- Area (km²): 717.87
- Density (persons per km²): 3.8
- Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 1126 (total dwellings: 1259)
- Mother tongue:
- English as first language: 27.9 %
- French as first language: 69.0 %
- English and French as first language: 0.7 %
- Other as first language: 2.4 %
Population trend:
- Population in 2006: 2697 (2001 to 2006 population change: -7.1 %)
- Population in 2001: 2903
- Population in 1996: 3112
- Population in 1991: 2944