Rivière-au-Tonnerre (French pronunciation: [ʁivjɛʁ o tɔnɛʁ]), municipality located on the North shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, in Côte-Nord region, Minganie Regional County Municipality, in the province of Quebec, Canada.
Rivière-au-Tonnerre | |
|---|---|
 Thunder river, Gulf of St. Lawrence | |
  Rivière-au-Tonnerre Location in Côte-Nord region of Quebec | |
| Coordinates: 50°16′N 64°47′W / 50.267°N 64.783°W[1] | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Côte-Nord |
| RCM | Minganie |
| Settled | 1853 |
| Constituted | December 14, 1925 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Jacques Bernier |
| • Federal riding | Manicouagan |
| • Prov. riding | Duplessis |
| Area | |
| • Total | 641.71 km2 (247.77 sq mi) |
| • Land | 605.14 km2 (233.65 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 15.20 m (49.87 ft) |
| Population (2021)[3] | |
| • Total | 281 |
| • Density | 0.5/km2 (1/sq mi) |
| • Pop (2016-21) |  0.7% |
| • Dwellings | 326 |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Postal code(s) | |
| Area code(s) | 418 and 581 |
| Highways |  R-138 |
| Website | www |
Rivière-au-Tonnerre is member of Villages-Relais Quebec[5]
Toponymy
editThe eponymous Tonnerre River (Minganie) (French: Riviere au Tonnerre), which flows through the municipality, has a series of waterfalls at 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) upstream, from its mouth in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. These falls with a total drop of about 50 metres (160 ft) have a roar that reminds one of the noise caused by thunder. In the past, the place was nicknamed Boom Boom River.[1]
History
edit
The first permanent settlers arrived circa 1853 or 1854, and founded Sheldrake and Riviere-au-Tonnerre as fishing settlements. In 1875, more pioneers followed, originating notably from Paspébiac in the Gaspésie region. At the same time, the first chapel was built and the Parish of Saint-Hippolyte was formed. However it was commonly called Rivière-au-Tonnerre, like the settlement. In 1890, the post office opened under the English equivalent name of "Thunder River" (Frenchized in 1933). By 1908, there were 70 families engaged in agriculture. In 1925, the Municipality of Riviere-au-Tonnerre was formed.[1]
In 1948, electricity was installed in the town, and in 1976, its isolation ended when Route 138 was officially opened between Sept-Îles and Sheldrake.[6]
In 1988, its factory closed, leading to an exodus of its inhabitants.[6]
Geography
editIn addition to Riviere-au-Tonnerre itself, the communities within the municipality include the hamlets of Rivière-Pigou,[7] Rivière-aux-Graines,[8] and Sheldrake,[9] all located along the Gulf of St. Lawrence and accessible via Quebec Route 138 (The Whale Route).[1]
Climate
editRivière-au-Tonnerre has a subarctic climate (Dfc) with mild summers, rainy autumns and long, cold and snowy winters with annual snowfall averaging 99 inches (251 cm). Winter typically starts in late October or early November and lasts through most of, if not all of April.
| Climate data for Rivière-au-Tonnerre | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 8.9 (48.0) |
7 (45) |
10.6 (51.1) |
18 (64) |
27 (81) |
27 (81) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
27.5 (81.5) |
19.4 (66.9) |
14 (57) |
9 (48) |
29 (84) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −8.6 (16.5) |
−6.5 (20.3) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
4.2 (39.6) |
10.6 (51.1) |
16.1 (61.0) |
19.1 (66.4) |
18.5 (65.3) |
13.9 (57.0) |
8 (46) |
1.8 (35.2) |
−5.1 (22.8) |
5.9 (42.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −14.2 (6.4) |
−12 (10) |
−6.3 (20.7) |
0.2 (32.4) |
5.8 (42.4) |
11.1 (52.0) |
14.4 (57.9) |
13.7 (56.7) |
9.4 (48.9) |
3.9 (39.0) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
−10.2 (13.6) |
1.1 (34.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −19.8 (−3.6) |
−17.5 (0.5) |
−11.4 (11.5) |
−3.8 (25.2) |
1 (34) |
6.2 (43.2) |
9.7 (49.5) |
8.9 (48.0) |
4.8 (40.6) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
−6.3 (20.7) |
−15.4 (4.3) |
−3.7 (25.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −40 (−40) |
−33.9 (−29.0) |
−32 (−26) |
−27 (−17) |
−12 (10) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−1 (30) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−15 (5) |
−25 (−13) |
−42 (−44) |
−42 (−44) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 68.6 (2.70) |
51.5 (2.03) |
72.2 (2.84) |
86.6 (3.41) |
92.8 (3.65) |
101.3 (3.99) |
99 (3.9) |
97.8 (3.85) |
120.9 (4.76) |
118 (4.6) |
91.4 (3.60) |
80.4 (3.17) |
1,080.3 (42.53) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 11.3 (0.44) |
10.1 (0.40) |
29 (1.1) |
71 (2.8) |
90.4 (3.56) |
101.3 (3.99) |
99 (3.9) |
97.8 (3.85) |
120.9 (4.76) |
116 (4.6) |
67 (2.6) |
15.1 (0.59) |
828.9 (32.63) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 57.3 (22.6) |
41.4 (16.3) |
43.2 (17.0) |
15.5 (6.1) |
2.3 (0.9) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1.9 (0.7) |
24.4 (9.6) |
65.4 (25.7) |
251.4 (99.0) |
| Source: Environment Canada[4] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
editPopulation
edit| 2021 | 2016 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 281 (+0.7% from 2016) | 279 (-9.1% from 2011) | 307 (-21.3% from 2006) |
| Land area | 605.14 km2 (233.65 sq mi) | 619.24 km2 (239.09 sq mi) | 619.20 km2 (239.07 sq mi) |
| Population density | 0.5/km2 (1.3/sq mi) | 0.5/km2 (1.3/sq mi) | 0.5/km2 (1.3/sq mi) |
| Median age | 60 (M: 60, F: 59.6) | 57.9 (M: 60.1, F: 55.0) | 55.2 (M: 56.2, F: 53.5) |
| Private dwellings | 326 (total) 157 (occupied) | 302 (total) 150 (occupied) | 335 (total) |
| Median household income | $57,200 | $48,256 | $.N/A |
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: Statistics Canada[15][16] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Language
edit| Canada Census Mother Tongue - Rivière-au-Tonnerre, Quebec[16] | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Total | French
|
English
|
French & English
|
Other
| |||||||||||||
| Year | Responses | Count | Trend | Pop % | Count | Trend | Pop % | Count | Trend | Pop % | Count | Trend | Pop % | |||||
2011
|
305
|
305 |  21.8%
|
100.00% | 0 |  0.0%
|
0.00% | 0 | 0.0%
|
0.00% | 0 | 0.0%
|
0.00% | |||||
2006
|
390
|
390 | 6.0%
|
100.00% | 0 | 0.0%
|
0.00% | 0 | 0.0%
|
0.00% | 0 | 0.0%
|
0.00% | |||||
2001
|
415
|
415 | 11.7%
|
100.00% | 0 | 0.0%
|
0.00% | 0 | 0.0%
|
0.00% | 0 | 0.0%
|
0.00% | |||||
1996
|
470
|
470 | n/a | 100.00% | 0 | n/a | 0.00% | 0 | n/a | 0.00% | 0 | n/a | 0.00% | |||||
Local government
editList of former mayors:[17]
- Honoré Bezeau (1926–1943)
- Élie Boudreau (1943–1949)
- Arthur Beaudin (1949–1957, 1961–1963)
- Walter Bond (1957–1960)
- John Anglehart (1960–1961)
- Delphis Lebrunb (1963–1971)
- Julien Bourque (1971–1978, 1981–1983)
- Réjean Boudreau (1978–1981, 1983–1985, 1987–1990)
- Régis Moreau (1985–1986)
- Rénald Lapierre (1986–1987, 1990–1995, 2001–2005)
- Leonilda Duguay (1995–1998)
- Carmine Leblanc (1998–1999)
- Renaud Touzel (1999–2001)
- Jeannot Boudreau (2005–2013)
- Aline Beaudin (2013–2017)
- Lorenza Beaudin (2017–2020)
- Jacques Bernier (2020–present)
Built heritage
editSaint-Hippolyte church
edit
The Saint-Hippolyte Roman Catholic church[19] makes Rivière-au-Tonnerre famous. This Catholic place of worship is of heritage interest for its architectural value: historical, landscape and social.[18]
The religious building was built between 1905 and 1912, according to the plans of Eudist Father Joseph Hesry from Normandy, the architectural style was inspired by his native region, in France.
Two residents of Rivière-au-Tonnerre, John Cody and James Boudreau, supervised the construction, several members of the community participated in the construction and the making of the ornamentation that decorated the interior of the place of worship.
In the 1960s, the cladding of the exterior envelope of the church was changed from wood planks to asbestos shingles. In recent decades, the covering has reverted to the original shiplap wood planks. The exterior of the church has been almost unchanged since then, giving this Catholic place of worship an excellent state of authenticity.[20]
Fishermen's Wharf
editIn 1990, the Department of Public Works and Government Services Canada rebuilt the Fishermen's Wharf by the Grandmont Bridges and Viaducts Company at a cost of $1,509,000 CAD. The mouth of the Thunder River is a natural harbour giving access to the Gulf of St. Lawrence.[21][22]
The main and almost exclusive local economic activity is crab fishing. A factory which processes the crab meat sustains the bulk of the population.[1]
Transportation
editBy the sea
editWhen the first permanent settlement arrived by sea, there was no road. In winter, harsh weather conditions, combined with ice, block access to the sea, and the mission, for months. The various obstacles were not insurmountable for the pioneers, a transport system was set up by cométique, i.e. by sled dogs.[6]
Sled dogs
editUntil 1957, in winter, the survival of the inhabitants of Rivière-au-Tonnerre depended on the transport system by dog sled and the use of snowshoes.[6]
For the people of Quebec's North Shore, the dog sled, or cométique, was a vehicle used to transport people, equipment and mail in winter over long distances. Originally, it was equipped with two driftwood or bone runners on which a series of sleepers in a similar material were placed.[23]
Bush aviation
editIn Canada, bush aviation appeared at the end of the First World War (1914-1918). With its many lakes and rivers, Côte-Nord shore offered landing pads for seaplanes in the summer and ski-equipped aircraft in the winter.[24] In the 1930s, it became possible to charter a bush plane and fly almost anywhere. Rivière-au-Tonnerre was serviced by planes belonging to the company Les Ailes du Nord et Pacifique Canadienne.[6]
- Means of transportation over time
-
Fur Trader in Toboggan oil painting by Cornelius Krieghoff, (1815 – 1872). -
Nine-passenger Nordic seaplane operated by Waasheshkun Airways Ltd, Mistissini, 2005 -
![Fishermen's wharf,[21] sheds, fishing vessels and zodiac, Tonnerre River](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Riviere_au_Tonnerre_018.jpg/240px-Riviere_au_Tonnerre_018.jpg)
![Fishermen's wharf,[21] sheds, fishing vessels and zodiac, Tonnerre River](/wiki/File:Riviere_au_Tonnerre_018.jpg)
See also
edit- Sault Plat River, exceptional geological site
- On Manitou River, west of Bouleau River, is the dramatic Manitou Falls, near the Quebec road 138.[25]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Rivière-au-Tonnerre". Quebec Gouvernement (in French). Commission de Toponymie Quebec. 1968-12-05. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
Takes its name from a series of waterfalls about 50 m high located 5 km from its mouth, the sound of their crashes is reminiscent of thunder
- ^ a b "Répertoire des municipalités: Geographic code 98055". www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
- ^ a b "Rivière-au-Tonnerre, Quebec (Code 2498055) Census Profile". 2021 census. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
- ^ a b "Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000 Station Data". Environment and natural resources Canada. Government of Canada. 2024-03-27. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
Temperature and Precipitation Graph for 1971 to 2000 Canadian Climate Normals
- ^ "Villages-relais". Quebec Gouvernement. Transports et de la Mobilité durable. 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
offer travellers cultural and natural attractions, quality amenities and an environment that suits them, making visitors want to extend their stay.
- ^ a b c d e "The village of Rivière-au-Tonnerre" (in French). Municipality of Rivière-au-Tonnerre. 2014–2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
The gateway to Minganie, the municipality of Rivière-au-Tonnerre includes two villages (Sheldrake and Rivière-au-Tonnerre) with a total population of 279 inhabitants
- ^ "Rivière-Pigou (Québec : Hameau)". Canadian Archival Information Network, BAnQ – Sept-Îles. 1953–1961. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
The "Pigou Station" which was used by those who operated the telegraph and those who delivered mail on the coast in winter.
- ^ Vincent Rioux-Berrouard (1 September 2022). "Rivière-aux-Graines" (in French). Le Nord_Côtier.
Located 100 km east of Sept-Îles, the small hamlet of Rivière-aux-Graines seems to have been forgotten by time.
- ^ "Sheldrake hamlet". Côte-Nord between nature and excesses. 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
The name Sheldrake comes from an old British word for the American merganser, also called a sawbill.
- ^ "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
- ^ "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
- ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
- ^ "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
- ^ "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
- ^ "1971 Census of Canada - Population Census Subdivisions (Historical)". Catalogue 92-702 Vol I, Part 1 (Bulletin 1.1-2). Statistics Canada: 76, 139. July 1973.
- ^ a b 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 census
- ^ "Répertoire des entités géopolitiques: Rivière-au-Tonnerre (municipalité) 14.12.1925 - ..." www.mairesduquebec.com. Institut généalogique Drouin. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Saint-Hippolyte Church". Quebec Religious Heritage Council. Inventory of Places of Worship in Quebec. September 2003. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
Interior plan: Nave with 3 naves, 2 rear galleries, 2 side galleries, exterior chapel on the plan, high windows
- ^ "Church Route, North Shore, Duplessis". Tourist destination (in French). The Côte-Nord / Duplessis region is full of magnificent churches that bear witness to the history and culture of the region. 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
Discover the wonders of Quebec, a dream destination where wild nature, historical heritage and warm hospitality meet.
- ^ Quebec government. "Saint-Hippolyte Church". Inventory of the built heritage of the MRC de Minganie (in French). Culture and Communications Quebec. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
The red roof of the church is reminiscent of the colour used at the time to distinguish the building from the sea.
- ^ a b "Rivière-au-Tonnerre – Reconstruction of the fishermen's wharf" (in French). Grandmont, bridges and viaducts. 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
Photos of the site by the work executioner, 1990
- ^ Mitchell Campbell (September 1958). "Rivière-au-Tonnerre wharf". BAnQ Sept-îles (in French). Bibliothèque Nationale du Québec. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
Campbell, Mitchell, manager of the Moisie Fishing Club, 1936-1980 period.
- ^ "The sled skate, historical synthesis". Pointe-à-Callière, cité d'archéologie et d'histoire de Montréal (in French). Archéolab Québec. 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
The sled skid is a component of a dog sled that allows the vehicle to glide over the snow
- ^ "Bush Flying in Canada". The Canadian encyclopedia. February 2006 – February 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
Air services became accessible to trappers and missionaries as well as geologists and surveyors.
- ^ Chutes Manitou (in French), Rando Québec, retrieved 2019-09-13
External links
edit
- Municipalité de Rivière-au-Tonnerre, Official website (French), 2024
- Rivière-au-Tonnerre, List of municipalitys in Quebec, Government of Quebec, 6 mai 2024