Lac-Simon, Outaouais, Quebec

Lac-Simon is a town and municipality in the Outaouais region of Quebec, Canada, part of the Papineau Regional County Municipality.

Not to be confused with Lac-Simon, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec.
Lac-Simon
Municipality
Location within Papineau RCM
Lac-Simon
Location in western Quebec
Coordinates: 45°54′N 75°06′W[1]
Country Canada
Province Quebec
RegionOutaouais
RCMPapineau
Settled1845
ConstitutedJanuary 1, 1881
Government
 • MayorGaston A. Tremblay
 • Federal ridingArgenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel
 • Prov. ridingPapineau
Area
 • Total121.90 km2 (47.07 sq mi)
 • Land97.48 km2 (37.64 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[3]
 • Total944
 • Density9.7/km2 (25/sq mi)
 • Pop 2011-2016
 4.1%
 • Dwellings
1,373
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
J0V 1E0
Area code(s)819
Highways Route 315
Route 321
Websitewww.lac-simon.net

It is known for its sandy beaches on Lake Simon and provides services to vacationers and campers.

History

In 1845, the Métis Amable LeBlanc and his wife Marie-Louise Cimon, the niece of Basile Outik, chief of the Oka Indian tribe, went to settle on an island in the middle of a lake located 121 kilometres (75 mi) north-west of Oka. Eight families left with him to this region where hunting and fishing were very good. Three of these families were related to the parents of his wife and from then on, the residents of Oka, and later those of Montebello, called this lake "Lake Cimon", which became "Lake Simon".[4] The largest island in the lake is now called White Duck Island (Île du Canard Blanc) in honour of Amable LeBlanc who was nicknamed "White Duck" in reference to his slightly lighter skin colour as compared to his native relatives.[5]

Amable "White Duck" LeBlanc and his wife Marie-Louise Cimon

Starting in 1852, Franco-Catholic colonists began to settle at the lake, working as log drivers, loggers, or farmers.[5] In 1857, a mission was established.[1] In 1864, Hartwell Township is formed (named after a place in central Buckinghamshire, England),[6] followed a few years later by the United Township Municipality of Hartwell-et-Suffolk. In 1880, the mission attained the status of parish under the name of Saint-Felix-de-Valois.[1]

In 1881, Hartwell-et-Suffolk separated and formed the Township Municipality of Hartwell and the Township Municipality of Suffolk. In 1893, Hartwell was merged with Preston Township, becoming the United Township Municipality of Hartwell-et-Preston.

In 1936, the united townships were separated again and formed the Township Municipality of Hartwell and the Municipality of Duhamel. In 1958, Hartwell became the Parish Municipality of Chénéville and finally became the Municipality of Lac-Simon in 1965.[1]

Lac-Simon's development as a resort area began in the 1950s, and accelerated when the provincial government acquired sites bordering the lake and opened a campground. Today, Lac-Simon is a popular year-round vacation resort.[5]

Demographics
Canada census – Lac-Simon, Outaouais, Quebec community profile
2016 2011
Population: 944 (-4.1% from 2011) 984 (13.2% from 2006)
Land area: 97.48 km2 (37.64 sq mi) 97.37 km2 (37.59 sq mi)
Population density: 9.7/km2 (25/sq mi) 10.1/km2 (26/sq mi)
Median age: 59.6 (M: 60.4, F: 58.8) 57.5 (M: 58.0, F: 56.9)
Total private dwellings: 1,373 1,145
Median household income: $57,088
References: 2016[7] 2011[8] earlier[9]
Historical census populations – Lac-Simon, Quebec
YearPop.±%
1986 471—    
1991 583+23.8%
1996 667+14.4%
2001 683+2.4%
2006 869+27.2%
2011 984+13.2%
2016 944−4.1%
Lac-Simon

Mother tongue:[3]

  • English as first language: 3.7%
  • French as first language: 94.7%
  • English and French as first language: 0%
  • Other as first language: 1.6%

References
  1. Reference number 33359 of the Commission de toponymie du Québec (in French)
  2. Geographic code 80095 in the official Répertoire des municipalités (in French)
  3. "(Code 2480095) Census Profile". 2016 census. Statistics Canada. 2017.
  4. "Lac Simon (lake)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2008-12-02.
  5. "Centre touristique du Lac-Simon, History". La Sépaq. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  6. "Hartwell (Canton)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
  7. "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 21, 2017. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  8. "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  9. "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.

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