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Grosse-Île, Quebec

Coordinates: 47°37′N 61°31′W / 47.617°N 61.517°W / 47.617; -61.517
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Not to be confused with Grosse Isle, Quebec, an island of the Isle-aux-Grues archipelago.

Grosse-Île
Municipality
Saint Peter's By the Sea, Old Harry, Grosse-Île
Saint Peter's By the Sea, Old Harry, Grosse-Île
Location within Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine TE.
Location within Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine TE.
Grosse-Île is located in Eastern Quebec
Grosse-Île
Grosse-Île
Location in eastern Quebec.
Coordinates: 47°37′N 61°31′W / 47.617°N 61.517°W / 47.617; -61.517
Country Canada
Province Quebec
RegionGaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine
RCMNone
AgglomerationÎles-de-la-Madeleine
ConstitutedJanuary 1, 2006
Government
[1]
 • MayorGordon Burke
 • Federal ridingGaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine
 • Prov. ridingÎles-de-la-Madeleine
Area
[1][2]
 • Total
96.60 km2 (37.30 sq mi)
 • Land32.28 km2 (12.46 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
 • Total
464
 • Density14.4/km2 (37/sq mi)
 • Pop 2016-2021
Decrease 0.2%
 • Dwellings
252
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
G4T 6B9
Area code(s)418 and 581
Highways R-199
Websitewww.mungi.ca

Grosse-Île is one of two municipalities forming the urban agglomeration of Îles-de-la-Madeleine in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region, and its population was 464 as of the 2021 Census.

History

[edit]

As part of a municipal reorganization across Quebec, the seven communities (Fatima, Grande-Entrée, Grosse-Île, Havre-aux-Maisons, L'Étang-du-Nord, Havre-Aubert, and Cap-aux-Meules) of the Magdalen Islands amalgamated to form the municipality of Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine on January 1, 2002. However, after a 2004 referendum, Grosse-Île decided to split from the municipality, effective January 1, 2006.[3]

Located on Grosse-Île island (French for Big Island) between the villages of Grande-Entrée[broken anchor] (south) and House Harbour[broken anchor] (southwest), it was settled during the late 18th century by Scots. French-speaking people would come and establish themselves just after, as seen by a Catholic parish founded in 1793.

Old Harry is a hamlet and fishing village located within the municipal boundaries of Grosse-Île, which lies at the junction of Île de la Grande Ouverte and Île de l'Est. It was first mapped by Joseph Frederick Wallet Des Barres (1769 and 1776) and later by Admiral Henry Wolsey Bayfield (1837), where the name was recorded as Old Harry Head. The toponym derives from Scotsman Harry Clarke, who was for many years the only occupant of the cape (or head). Many of his descendants still bear the surname Clarke.

Geography

[edit]

Grosse-Ile and Entry Island are the two communities where English is the main language spoken, in the field and at sea, the age-old and daily exchanges have created and still create close relationships between the English- and French-speaking communities and individuals of the archipelago.[4]

Demography

[edit]
Grosse-Île Church

Population

[edit]
Canada census – Grosse-Île community profile
202120162011
Population464 (-0.2% from 2016)465 (-5.1% from 2011)490 (-7.7% from 2006)
Land area32.28 km2 (12.46 sq mi)37.59 km2 (14.51 sq mi)37.29 km2 (14.40 sq mi)
Population density14.4/km2 (37/sq mi)12.4/km2 (32/sq mi)13.1/km2 (34/sq mi)
Median age52.0 (M: 52.8, F: 51.6)49.1 (M: 50.0, F: 48.9)43.8 (M: 43.6, F: 44.0)
Private dwellings252 (total)  220 (occupied)254 (total)  229 (total) 
Median household income$86,000$81,152$.N/A
Notes: 2011 income data for this area has been suppressed for data quality or confidentiality reasons.
References: 2021[5] 2016[6] 2011[7] earlier[8][9]
Historical Census Data - Grosse-Île, Quebec
YearPop.±%
1901 624—    
1911 695+11.4%
1921 767+10.4%
1931 308−59.8%
1941 281−8.8%
1951 373+32.7%
1956 388+4.0%
1961 451+16.2%
1966 487+8.0%
1971 475−2.5%
YearPop.±%
1976 500+5.3%
1981 532+6.4%
1986 560+5.3%
1991 569+1.6%
1996 567−0.4%
2001 543−4.2%
2006 531−2.2%
2011 490−7.7%
2016 465−5.1%
2021 464−0.2%
[10][2]

Language

[edit]
Canada Census Mother Tongue - Grosse-Île, Quebec[10]
Census Total
French
English
French & English
Other
Year Responses Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop %
2021
465
 65 Increase 8.3% 14.0% 380 Decrease 3.8% 81.7% 15 Increase 200.0% 3.2% 0 Decrease 100.0% 0.0%
2016
465
 60 Increase 20.0% 12.9% 395 Decrease 8.1% 85.0% 5 Decrease 50.0% 1.1% 5 Increase n/a 1.1%
2011
490
 50 Increase 100.0% 10.2% 430 Decrease 14.9% 87.8% 10 Increase n/a% 2.0% 0 Steady 0.0% 0.0%
2006
530
 25 Decrease 66.7% 4.7% 505 Increase 9.8% 95.3% 0 Steady 0.0% 0.0% 0 Steady 0.0% 0.0%
2001
535
 75 Increase 25.0% 14.0% 460 Decrease 8.0% 86.0% 0 Decrease 100.0% 0.0% 0 Steady 0.0% 0.0%
1996
570
 60 n/a 10.5% 500 n/a 87.7% 10 n/a 1.8% 0 n/a 0.0%

Economy

[edit]

Quebec's only salt mine is located on Grosse Île, and is operated by Seleine Mines, which is owned by Windsor Salt.

In 1972, the Société Québécoise d’Exploration Minière (SOQUEM)[11] discovered 7 salt domes,[12] including the one at Grosse-Île. In 1982, after investments of C$125 million, Seleine Mines inaugurated an active underground mine on Grosse Île. In 1988, the company was sold to the Canadian Salt Company (Windsor), and in 2009, the mine passed into the hands of the German group K+S and later to Stone Canyon Industries.

About 150 people work at Seleine Mines, and every year, more than 1,300,000 t (1,300,000 long tons; 1,400,000 short tons) metric tons of salt are extracted there, this salt is used for road deicing.

Attractions

[edit]
Old-Harry (Hamlet),[13] in port, 5 boats pulled on the wood-covered beach (slips) 1996

The Grande Échourie Beach (Former name Old-Harry Beach) stretches over 9 km between Old Harry Point and East Point where is located the Pointe de l'Est National Wildlife Area, with its unique maritime environment, the area is currently used by more than 150 bird species and 10 or so mammal species.[14]'[15] The Pointe de l'Est National Wildlife Area is located on La Grosse Île, the reserve occupies an area of 748 hectares of the village of Grosse-Île territory's

The hamlet of Old-Harry is located on the point of the same name, in the municipality of Grosse-Île, at the junction of Île de la Grande Entrée[broken anchor] and Île de l'Est.[16]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Répertoire des municipalités: Geographic code 01042". www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation.
  2. ^ a b c "Census Profile, 2021 Census: Grosse-Île, Municipalité [Census subdivision], Quebec". Statistics Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  3. ^ "Reconstitution de la Municipalité de Grosse-Île" (PDF). La Gazette officielle du Québec. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  4. ^ Stéphanie Arseneau Bussières; Hélène Chevrier (2007). "Socio-economic profile of the Magdalen Islands' English-speaking community". Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. p. 90. Retrieved March 8, 2024. Two linguistic communities have shared the archipelago right from its early settlement: the French- and English-speaking communities.
  5. ^ "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  6. ^ "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  7. ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  8. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
  9. ^ "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
  10. ^ a b Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census
  11. ^ "SOQUEM's mineral exploration leader in Quebec". Retrieved March 15, 2024. The company has participated in hundreds of mining projects that have led to major gold, diamond, and lithium discoveries, as well as the finding of various other mineral deposits.
  12. ^ "Salt deposits in Quebec" (PDF). Énergies et ressources Québec (in French). Ministère de l'Énergie et des Ressources naturelles - Gouvernement du Québec. November 11, 1979. pp. 40 of 42. Retrieved March 15, 2024. Deposit located in salt formations where volcanic and clay facies predominate
  13. ^ "Sentier vents et marées, carte, étape" (PDF). May 25, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2024. Attractions and services, Grosse-Île Église, food, restaurants, Old Harry Museums, beach, shops, CLSC (first aid).
  14. ^ Miroslav M. Grandtner (May 20, 2017). "A string of islands and beaches, the Magdalen Islands" (PDF) (in French). p. 4. Retrieved March 1, 2024. All beaches are formed of sand composed of pure quartz.
  15. ^ "Pointe de l'Est National Wildlife Area". Government of Canada. March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2024. Main habitats are dunes, marshes, ponds, barrens, stunted forests
  16. ^ "Old-Harry". Commission de toponymie Quebec. Government of Quebec. December 1, 1983. Retrieved March 1, 2024. The hamlet of Old-Harry is located on the point of the same name, in the municipality of Grosse-Île, at the junction of Île de la Grande Entrée and Île de l'Est


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