Rivière-au-Tonnerre, Quebec

Coordinates: 50°16′N 64°47′W / 50.267°N 64.783°W / 50.267; -64.783
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Rivière-au-Tonnerre
Municipality
Mouth of Thunder river, village, Gulf of St. Lawrence
Mouth of Thunder river, village, Gulf of St. Lawrence
Rivière-au-Tonnerre is located in Côte-Nord region, Quebec
Rivière-au-Tonnerre
Rivière-au-Tonnerre
Location in Côte-Nord region of Quebec
Coordinates: 50°16′N 64°47′W / 50.267°N 64.783°W / 50.267; -64.783[1]
CountryCanada
ProvinceQuebec
RegionCôte-Nord
RCMMinganie
Settled1853
ConstitutedDecember 14, 1925
Government
[2]
 • MayorJacques Bernier
 • Federal ridingManicouagan
 • Prov. ridingDuplessis
Area
[2][3]
 • Total641.71 km2 (247.77 sq mi)
 • Land605.14 km2 (233.65 sq mi)
Elevation
[4]
15.20 m (49.87 ft)
Population
 (2021)[3]
 • Total281
 • Density0.5/km2 (1/sq mi)
 • Pop (2016-21)
Increase 0.7%
 • Dwellings
326
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
G0G 2L0
Area code(s)418 and 581
Highways R-138
Websitewww.riviere-au-tonnerre.ca Edit this at Wikidata

Rivière-au-Tonnerre, 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.

In addition to Riviere-au-Tonnerre itself, the communities within the municipality include the hamlets of Rivière-Pigou,[5] Rivière-aux-Graines,[6] and Sheldrake,[7] all located along the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and accessible via Quebec Route 138 (The Whale Route).

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]

Toponymy[edit]

The 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]

Cod processing in Riviere-au-Tonnerre, 1920s

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]

Built heritage[edit]

Saint-Hippolyte church[edit]

Saint-Hyppolyte Parish Church, at the mouth of the Thunder River

The Saint-Hippolyte church makes Rivière-au-Tonnerre famous. This Catholic place of worship is of heritage interest for its architectural value: historical, landscape and social.

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.[8]

Demographics[edit]

Population[edit]

Canada census – Rivière-au-Tonnerre community profile
202120162011
Population281 (+0.7% from 2016)279 (-9.1% from 2011)307 (-21.3% from 2006)
Land area605.14 km2 (233.65 sq mi)619.24 km2 (239.09 sq mi)619.20 km2 (239.07 sq mi)
Population density0.5/km2 (1.3/sq mi)0.5/km2 (1.3/sq mi)0.5/km2 (1.3/sq mi)
Median age60 (M: 60, F: 59.6)57.9 (M: 60.1, F: 55.0)55.2 (M: 56.2, F: 53.5)
Private dwellings326 (total)  157 (occupied)302 (total)  150 (occupied)335 (total) 
Median household income$57,200$48,256$.N/A
Notes: 2011 income data for this area has been suppressed for data quality or confidentiality reasons.
References: 2021[9] 2016[10] 2011[11] earlier[12][13]
Historical Census Data - Rivière-au-Tonnerre, Quebec
YearPop.±%
1921 465—    
1931 509+9.5%
1941 882+73.3%
1951 847−4.0%
1956 895+5.7%
1961 940+5.0%
YearPop.±%
1966 827−12.0%
1971 589−28.8%
1976 587−0.3%
1981 603+2.7%
1986 606+0.5%
1991 526−13.2%
YearPop.±%
1996 476−9.5%
2001 415−12.8%
2006 390−6.0%
2011 307−21.3%
2016 279−9.1%
2021 281+0.7%
Source: Statistics Canada[14][15]

Language[edit]

Canada Census Mother Tongue - Rivière-au-Tonnerre, Quebec[15]
Census Total
French
English
French & English
Other
Year Responses Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop %
2011
305
 305 Decrease 21.8% 100.00% 0 Steady 0.0% 0.00% 0 Steady 0.0% 0.00% 0 Steady 0.0% 0.00%
2006
390
 390 Decrease 6.0% 100.00% 0 Steady 0.0% 0.00% 0 Steady 0.0% 0.00% 0 Steady 0.0% 0.00%
2001
415
 415 Decrease 11.7% 100.00% 0 Steady 0.0% 0.00% 0 Steady 0.0% 0.00% 0 Steady 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%

Climate[edit]

Rivière-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]

Local government[edit]

List of former mayors:[16]

  • 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)

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "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
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b "Rivière-au-Tonnerre, Quebec (Code 2498055) Census Profile". 2021 census. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  4. ^ 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
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  10. ^ "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  11. ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  12. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
  13. ^ "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ a b 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 census
  16. ^ "Répertoire des entités géopolitiques: Rivière-au-Tonnerre (municipalité) 14.12.1925 - ..." www.mairesduquebec.com. Institut généalogique Drouin. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  17. ^ Chutes Manitou (in French), Rando Québec, retrieved 2019-09-13

External links[edit]

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