Les Escoumins is a municipality in La Haute-Côte-Nord Regional County Municipality in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec. It is located on the north shore of the maritime estuary of the St. Lawrence River.
Les Escoumins | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Location within La Haute-Côte-Nord RCM. | |
  Les Escoumins Location in Côte-Nord region of Quebec. | |
| Coordinates: 48°21′05″N 69°24′27″W / 48.35139°N 69.40750°W[1][2] | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Côte-Nord |
| RCM | La Haute-Côte-Nord |
| Settled | 1825 |
| Constituted | 5 May 1863 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | André Desrosiers |
| • Federal riding | Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix |
| • Prov. riding | René-Lévesque |
| Area (2021)[4] | |
| • Land | 265.89 km2 (102.66 sq mi) |
| • Population centre | 792.4 km2 (305.9 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[4] | |
| • Total | 1,794 |
| • Density | 6.7/km2 (17/sq mi) |
| • Population centre | 1,274 |
| • Population centre density | 1.61/km2 (4.2/sq mi) |
| • Pop 2016-2021 |  5.1% |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| Postal code(s) | |
| Area code(s) | 418 and 581 |
| Highways |  R-138 |
| Website | www |
Etymology edit
Its name has traditionally been recognized to come from the Innu-aimun iskomin, meaning "where there are many seeds" or "there are fruits or seeds", in turn from the roots isko or ishko ("as far as this/that") and min (red seeds, or wild berries in general). According to more recent theory, it could also be a variation of the Mi'kmaq term eskumunaak, meaning "lookout place". In addition, other sources say that the place is named Essipit in Innu-aimun, meaning "river of shells".[2]
Several spellings have been used over the centuries such as Uscamin, Les Escoumains, Essuie-Mains, L'Esquemin, Lesquemin, Leschemin (Champlain, 1629), L'Esquemain, and Lesquemain (1611 map of Champlain and other texts of 1626). The oldest reference to this name dates back to the map of Levasseur of 1601, that shows Escanimes; and to a contract of 1604 that included the rare spelling Esguenim.[2]
History edit
The area is considered the cradle of the Côte-Nord Amerindian, who have lived there for thousands of years. The Innu (Montagnais) and Mi'kmaq frequented the area, particularly in the spring to gather berries that covered the rocks and adorned the mossy plains.[2] [7]
The first Europeans in the area were the Basques around the 1630s. In 1723, a cross was erected in honour of Our Dame of Bon-Désir, thereafter the place was also known as Bon-Desir. That same year the Mission of Saint-Marcellin was founded. But the first permanent European settler in Escoumins was Joseph Moreau, an employee of the Hudson's Bay Company, who arrived in 1825. It wasn't until 1845 that a real village began to form when many families from the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, especially from Trois-Pistoles, Rivière-Ouelle, Rimouski, and a group of Charlevoix settled there.[2]
In 1853, the local post office opened. The timber trade caused the village to grow rapidly when logs were floated down the Escoumins River from the cutting area to the Bay des Escoumins where they were loaded in barges. In 1863, the Municipality of Les Escoumains was formed. In the beginning of 1957, the spelling of the municipality's name was corrected to the current form.[2]
Services edit
Its economy is mostly based on the service sectors, especially education, health, and tourism. The village is currently the largest of the so-called "Secteur BEST" (i.e. the municipalities of Bergeronnes, Escoumins, Sacré-Coeur, Tadoussac). It is home to a hospital (The Centre de santé de la Haute-Côte-Nord, previously known as Hôpital St-Alexandre), an Indian reserve (Essipit, an Innu community), an FM radio station, CHME, is located within Essipit.
It is accessible via The Whale Route (Route 138)[8][9] and by the sea.
By the sea edit
From Les Escoumins to the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence maritime pilots[10] experts in navigating specific sectors of the River ensure the safe efficient passage of the vessels under their care. Year-round services of the Laurentian Pilotage Authority[11] (part of the St. Lawrence Seaway).
The Marine Environment Discovery Centre[12] is the main diving attraction in the region. It is also an interpretation centre for the fauna and flora of the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park, allowing you to discover the subarctic underwater ecosystem and hear the divers-biologists describe its particularities. (Seasonal activity)
A ferry service runs between Les Escoumins and Trois-Pistoles. (Seasonal activity)
Photos edit
- Les Escoumins
-
![St. Marcelin, Catholic parish church,[13] Hôpital street](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/%C3%89glise_de_Les_Escoumins.jpg/240px-%C3%89glise_de_Les_Escoumins.jpg)
St. Marcelin, Catholic parish church,[13] Hôpital street
![St. Marcelin, Catholic parish church,[13] Hôpital street](/wiki/File:%C3%89glise_de_Les_Escoumins.jpg)
Demographics edit
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2,212 | — |
| 1996 | 2,136 | −3.4% |
| 2001 | 2,106 | −1.4% |
| 2006 | 2,073 | −1.6% |
| 2011 | 2,000 | −3.5% |
| 2016 | 1,891 | −5.4% |
| 2021 | 1,794 | −5.1% |
| Source: Statistics Canada[4][14][15][16][17][18] | ||
In the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, Les Escoumins had a population of 1,794 living in 856 of its 983 total private dwellings, a change of -5.1% from its 2016 population of 1,891. With a land area of 265.89 km2 (102.66 sq mi), it had a population density of 6.7/km2 (17.5/sq mi) in 2021.[4]
The median age of the population in 2021 was 54.8 and 92% of the people were over 15.[4] At the same census 14.86% reported being Indigenous, almost evenly divided between Métis and First Nations.[4]
Languages spoken at the 2021 census, as a mother tongue were French (99.71%), English (0.29%), and other languages (0.29%).[4]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Les Escoumins". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
- ^ a b c d e f "Les Escoumins". Quebec Gouvernement (in French). Commission de Toponymie Quebec. 6 November 1986. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
The possibility of watching blue whales or fishing for cod attract many holidaymakers in search of sun and sea bathing.
- ^ "Les Escoumins (95025)". Répertoire des municipalités (in French). Government of Quebec. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
This gentilé is an official form, i.e. it has been the subject of a resolution of the municipal council.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Nunavut". Statistics Canada. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ "Commercial fisheries licensing policy for Eastern Canada". Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
The Licensing Policy is an integral part of a number of federal government initiatives to restructure the commercial fisheries and lay the foundation for a fishery that is environmentally sustainable and economically viable.
- ^ a b "Anse aux Basques". Quebec Gouvernement (in French). Commission de Toponymie Quebec. 5 December 1968. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
The pilot station of the Corporation des pilotes du Bas-Saint-Laurent occupies the northern part of the cove, a 61-metre-long wharf that allows boarding the pilot boat.
- ^ "Les Escoumins". Municipalité des Escoumins. 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
Heir to the forest and the sea, the village of Les Escoumins invites you to the daily celebration of the marriage between the salt waters of the St. Lawrence River and the fresh waters of the forested hinterland
- ^ "Network of observation sites along the Whale Route (Route 138)" (PDF). 21 May 2010. p. 12. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
Whale-watching sites for everyone
- ^ "Whales of the St. Lawrence river". Whales Online. 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
The estuary is home to belugas all year round. In summer, the estuary also hosts rorquals and other species of toothed whales that benefit from the abundance of krill, capelin and other small fish.
- ^ "Marine Pilot, main tasks and duties" (PDF). 29 July 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
Interest in working at sea, Excellent spatial perception, Ability to work in crisis situations and under unforeseen circumstances,
- ^ "Marine Environment Discovery Centre". 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
Discover the underwater world of the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park from starfish to the largest marine mammals.
- ^ "Saint-Marcellin Parish" (in French). Diocese of Baie-Comeau. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
639, rue de Bretagne Baie-Comeau (Québec) G5C 1X2
- ^ "96 Census: A National Overview - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1997. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Subdivisions (Municipalities), 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Quebec)". Statistics Canada. 15 August 2012. p. 21. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Quebec)". Statistics Canada. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Quebec)". Statistics Canada. 25 July 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Quebec)". Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
External links edit
