Lac-au-Saumon | |
Settlement Type: | Municipality |
Flag Size: | 120x80px |
Pushpin Map: | Canada Eastern Quebec |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in eastern Quebec. |
Coordinates: | 48.4167°N -88°W |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Type1: | Province |
Subdivision Type2: | Region |
Subdivision Name2: | Bas-Saint-Laurent |
Subdivision Type3: | RCM |
Subdivision Name3: | La Matapédia |
Established Title: | Settled |
Established Date: | 1896 |
Established Title1: | Constituted |
Established Date1: | December 17, 1997 |
Government Footnotes: | [1] |
Leader Title: | Mayor |
Leader Name: | Gérard Grenier |
Leader Title1: | Fed. riding |
Leader Name1: | Avignon—La Mitis— Matane—Matapédia |
Leader Title2: | Prov. riding |
Leader Name2: | Matane-Matapédia |
Area Total Km2: | 84.40 |
Area Land Km2: | 81.05 |
Population Total: | 1488 |
Population As Of: | 2021 |
Population Density Km2: | 18.4 |
Population Blank1 Title: | Pop 2016-2021 |
Population Blank1: | 2.6% |
Population Blank2 Title: | Dwellings |
Population Blank2: | 646 |
Population Demonym: | Saumonois |
Timezone: | EST |
Utc Offset: | −5 |
Timezone Dst: | EDT |
Utc Offset Dst: | −4 |
Postal Code Type: | Postal code(s) |
Postal Code: | G0J 1M0 |
Area Code: | 418 and 581 |
Blank Name: | Highways |
Lac-au-Saumon is a municipality in the Canadian province of Quebec, located in La Matapédia Regional Council Municipality in the Matapédia Valley.
The municipality had a population of 1,488 as of the Canada 2021 Census.
The village is located on the shores of the eponymous Lac au Saumon (French for "Salmon Lake") that is an enlargement of the Matapédia River. It was known as a spawning ground for salmon, but major pollution from mills made this a thing of the past.[2]
The area opened up to colonization in 1863, and the Mission of Saint-Edmond-du-Lac-au-Saumon was founded in 1876. But it was not until 1896 that real settlement began with the arrival of a group of Acadians from the Magdalen Islands. The following year the Lac-au-Saumon post office opened.[2] [3]
In 1904, the Municipality of Saint-Edmond was incorporated when it separated from the Parish Municipality of Saint-Benoît-Joseph-Labre (now Amqui). The following year, the Village Municipality of Lac-au-Saumon was established.[2] [3]
On December 17, 1997, the Village Municipality of Lac-au-Saumon and the Municipality of Saint-Edmond were amalgamated to form the new Municipality of Lac-au-Saumon.[2]
Lac-au-Saumon is located approximately 10 kilometers between the two main towns of La Matapédia, Amqui and Causapscal, on Route 132 which is the main communication axis of Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie. The latter passes on the north side of the lake although the bulk of the village is located to the south. North of the lake, we find the Notre Dame Mountains which are part of the Chic-Chocs mountains.
Canada Census data before 2001 (pre-merger):[4]
Lac-au-Saumon currently host two softball teams from the local league.[5]
Mayors of the Municipality of Lac-au-Saumon
(following the merger with Saint-Edmond)
Mayors of the former Village Municipality of Lac-au-Saumon