Chapeau, Quebec, a quaint village nestled in the Canadian province, is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Situated along the Culbute Channel of the Ottawa River, this charming village is part of the municipality of L'Isle-aux-Allumettes in the Pontiac Regional County Municipality.
The name "Chapeau" (French for "hat") has sparked much speculation. Some believe the village's geography, which vaguely resembles a hat with three flat edges, inspired the name. Others suggest it comes from a rock in the Ottawa River shaped like a French military headgear. Another theory links the name to a unique hairstyle of a Native American chief. It could also derive from the French surnames Chappeau and Chapeau, common during the era of New France. However, none of these theories can be definitively confirmed.
In 1874, Chapeau separated from the Île-aux-Allumettes Township and became a municipality. On December 30, 1998, Chapeau Village, along with the township municipalities of L'Isle-aux-Allumettes and L'Isle-aux-Allumettes-Partie-Est, were consolidated into the new Municipality of L'Isle-aux-Allumettes.
In 1883, Agapit Maloney built the Chapeau hotel on Main Street, which he owned and operated until his death in 1918. The hotel was later purchased by Fred Meilleur in the 1940s and transformed into "Fred's Restaurant-Hotel". Unfortunately, this local historic landmark was completely destroyed by an overnight fire on August 26, 2008.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Chapeau had a population of 325 living in 145 of its 168 total private dwellings. This represented a decrease of 12.9% from its 2016 population of 373. With a land area of 5.75 km2 (2.22 sq mi), the village had a population density of 56.5/km2 (146.4/sq mi) in 2021.
A bridge carries Chemin Pembroke over the Ottawa River and Rapide du Chapeau, providing a scenic route for travelers. Since January 4, 2021, Transcollines has offered a public transit service from Chapeau to Gatineau via Québec Route 148 on bus line 910, making it easier for residents and visitors to explore the region.
