Macamic, Quebec

Macamic
—  Town  —
Motto: Vois juste, probité engendre honneur ("Do right, integrity begets honour")
Macamic
Coordinates: 48°45′N 79°00′W / 48.75°N 79°W / 48.75; -79Coordinates: 48°45′N 79°00′W / 48.75°N 79°W / 48.75; -79
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Regional county	Abitibi-Ouest
Settled	1913
Formed	March 6, 2002
Government[1]
– Mayor	Daniel Rancourt
– Federal riding	Abitibi—Témiscamingue
– Prov. riding	Abitibi-Ouest
Area[2]
– Land	202.34 km2 (78.1 sq mi)
Population (2006)[2]
– Total	2,726
– Density	13.5/km2 (35/sq mi)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
– Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Postal Code	J0Z 2S0
Area code(s)	819
Website	www.villemacamic.qc.ca

Macamic is a ville in northwestern Quebec, Canada, in the Abitibi-Ouest Regional County Municipality. It covers 191.95 km² and had a population of 2,838 in the Canada 2006 Census.

In addition to Macamic itself, the town's territory also includes the community of Colombourg.

History

Colonization began at the time when the National Transcontinental Railway running through the Abitibi region was completed. The first pioneers, arriving circa 1913, were originally from Saint-Ignace-du-Lac, Pierreville, Stanfold, Nicolet, and Shawinigan. They settled south of Lake Macamic and the new settlement took the lake's name, often written also as Makamik. In the Algonquin language, the name Makamik means "limping beaver", from makis (crippled or disabled) and amik (beaver).^[3]

In 1914, Makamik had 100 residents. In 1915, the year the post office opened, it had grown to 300, and the following year, when the Parish of Saint-Jean-l'Évangéliste-de-Macamic was formed, there were 500 persons. By 1918, the population had jumped to 1750 and the area was incorporated as the United Township Municipality of Royal-Roussillon-et-Poularies, named after the Royal-Roussillon Regiment of Montcalm's army and after lieutenant-colonel François-Médard de Poularies, commander of this regiment.^[3][4]

In 1919, the village itself separated from the united township and was incorporated as Village Municipality of Macamic, having a population of 2300 persons by 1920. In 1924, Poularies Township also separated from Royal-Roussillon-et-Poularies, which became the Parish Municipality of Royal-Roussillon-de-Macamic in 1952, and officially shortened to just Macamic in 1961.^[3]

In 1955, the Village Municipality of Macamic changed its status to town (ville), and was regrouped with the Parish Municipality of Macamic on June 13, 2001, to form the new Town of Macamic. On March 2, 2002, the Municipality of Colombourg (incorporated in 1926) was merged into Macamic.^[3]

Demographics

Population trend:^[5]

• Population in 2006: 2726 (2001 to 2006 population change: -3.9 %)
• Population total in 2001: 2838
  • Town of Macamic: 1519
  • Parish Municipality of Macamic: 570
  • Municipality of Colombourg: 749
• Population in 1996:
  • Town of Macamic: 1711
  • Parish Municipality of Macamic: 549
  • Municipality of Colombourg: 780
• Population in 1991:
  • Town of Macamic: 1833
  • Parish Municipality of Macamic: 584
  • Municipality of Colombourg: 799

Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 1045 (total dwellings: 1127)

Mother tongue:^[2]

• English as first language: 0 %
• French as first language: 99.6 %
• English and French as first language: 0.4 %
• Other as first language: 0 %

Municipal council

• Mayor: Daniel Rancourt
• Councillors: Denise Dubois, Dianne Duchesne, Marc Frappier, Rock Morin, Éric Poiré, Yvan Verville

References

1. ^ "Macamic" (in French). Répertoire des municipalités. Ministère des Affaires Municipales, Régions et Occupation du territoire. http://www.mamrot.gouv.qc.ca/repertoire-des-municipalites/fiche/municipalite/87058/. Retrieved 2011-01-05. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Macamic community profile". 2006 Census data. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=2487058&Geo2=PR&Code2=24&Data=Count&SearchText=Macamic&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=. Retrieved 2011-01-05. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d} "Macamic (Ville)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/ToposWeb/fiche.aspx?no_seq=37692. Retrieved 2011-01-05. 
4. ^ "Les carillons" (in French). Ville de Macamic. http://www.villemacamic.qc.ca/fr/a-propos/details.cfm?ID=4. Retrieved 2011-01-06. 
5. ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census