Bristol, Quebec

Bristol
Coordinates: 45°35′N 76°23′W / 45.583°N 76.383°W / 45.583; -76.383Coordinates: 45°35′N 76°23′W / 45.583°N 76.383°W / 45.583; -76.383
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Outaouais
Regional county	Pontiac
Incorporation	July 1, 1855
Government[1]
– Type	Municipality
– Mayor	Brent Orr
– Ridings:
– Federal	Pontiac
– Provincial	Pontiac
Area[1][2]
– Total	224.08 km2 (86.5 sq mi)
– Land	205.86 km2 (79.5 sq mi)
Population (2006)[2]
– Total	1,210
– Density	5.9/km2 (15.3/sq mi)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
– Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Postal Code	J0X 1G0
Access Routes	Route 148
Website	www.bristolmunicipality.qc.ca

Public beach at Norway Bay

Bristol is a municipality in the Outaouais region, part of the Pontiac Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada. It is located on the north shore of Lac des Chats (part of the Ottawa River) across from Arnprior, Ontario.

Its settlements include Bristol, Bristol Mines (Bristol-les-Mines), Bristol Ridge, Caldwell, Doherty, Elmside, Maple Ridge, Maryland, McKee, Norway Bay, and Weirstead.

History

Bristol Township, already shown on the Gale and Duberger Map of 1795, was officially created in 1834. It was named after the City of Bristol in south-west England, known for its port facilities.^[3]

The first settlers came from England, Scotland, and Ireland, followed later on by settlers from Germany, France, and Poland.^[4] In 1845, a post office is established, and in 1855, the township municipality was created together with the neighbouring hamlet of Norway Bay, a sought-after resort location on the Ottawa River.^[5] Its first mayor was William Craig and the mayor as of November 2009 is Brent Orr.^[6]

Canada's first horse-drawn railroad was in the Bristol area. It was operated by the Union Forwarding Company, and ran from Pontiac Village to Union Village until 1886.^[4]

From 1872 to 1894, iron ore was first mined. In 1956, a new open pit iron ore mine and processing facilities were built, employing up to 300 people. This was the first iron ore mining and pelletizing plant built in Quebec. It closed in 1976.^[6]

On April 24, 2004, the Township Municipality of Bristol was changed to Municipality of Bristol.^[5]

Demographics

Population:^[7]

• Population in 2006: 1210
• Population in 2001: 993
  • 2001 to 2006 population change: 21.9 %
• Population in 1996: 1129
• Population in 1991: 1116

Total private dwellings (excluding seasonal cottages): 506

Languages:

• English as first language: 80 %
• French as first language: 19 %
• Other as first language: 1 %

Tourism and attractions

Norway Bay is a popular summer destination with numerous cottages and some hotels and inns catering to tourists. Also located here is McLellan Park with a public beach and wharf on the Ottawa River.^[8]

Other outdoor activities include cycling on the Cycloparc PPJ trail, golfing on 2 golf courses, boating, fishing, and hiking.^[8]

In the winter, snowmobiling can be done on local trails.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Ministère des Affaires Municipales, Régions et Occupation du territoire - Répertoire des municipalités: Bristol
2. ^ ^{a b} Statistics Canada 2006 Census - Bristol community profile
3. ^ "Canton de Bristol" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/topos/carto.asp?Speci=8419&Latitude=45,58333&Longitude=-76,38333&Zoom=1700. Retrieved 2008-05-30. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "History of Bristol". Municipality of Bristol. http://www.bristolmunicipality.com/history.html. Retrieved 2008-06-02. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Municipalité de Canton de Bristol" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/topos/odo.asp?Speci=8422. Retrieved 2008-05-30. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "Pontiac MRC Gateway: Bristol". Pontiac MRC Gateway. http://www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/en/dossiers/dossiers.php?id_dossier=30. Retrieved 2008-05-27. ^{[dead link]}
7. ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census
8. ^ ^{a b} "Tourism in Bristol". Municipality of Bristol. http://www.bristolmunicipality.com/tourism.html. Retrieved 2008-06-03.