Duhamel, a town and municipality in the Outaouais region of Quebec, Canada, is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. As the largest municipality in surface area in the Papineau Regional County Municipality, Duhamel offers a unique blend of history and natural beauty. Its western portion is mostly undeveloped, consisting of the Laurentian Hills, part of the Papineau-Labelle Wildlife Reserve. The town itself is nestled along the Petite-Nation River between Lake Simon and Lake Gagnon.
In the mid-19th century, Duhamel, then known as Preston, was formed as settlers were assigned land amidst the exploitation of the area's forests. Logging continued to be the dominant factor for its colonization. By 1880, a post office bearing the name Duhamel was established, named in honour of Joseph-Thomas Duhamel, the second bishop of Ottawa from 1874 to 1909.
In 1888, the Mission of Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel opened, and in 1892, the Township of Preston was formed. This was named after Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby, Baron of Preston, and governor general of Canada from 1888 to 1893.
The Singer Company, best known for its sewing machines, built a railway through Duhamel in 1925, linking Thurso to Lake Montjoie. This railroad was used until 1980 when it was dismantled and converted to a tourism corridor.
On August 15, 1936, the Municipality of Duhamel was formed when it separated from the United Township Municipality of Hartwell-et-Preston. Duhamel continued to expand, annexing a portion of the unorganized territories of Lac-du-Sourd and Lac-des-Écorces on December 21, 1985, and again on October 10, 1998, it annexed the northern portion of Lac-des-Écorces.
The linguistic diversity of Duhamel is a testament to its rich cultural heritage. French is the first language for 91.2% of the population, while English is the first language for 7.0%. A small percentage of the population, 0.9%, is bilingual, with both English and French as their first language. Another 0.9% of the population speaks a different language as their first language.
Discover the charm of Duhamel, Quebec, a town that beautifully blends history and nature. Whether you're a history buff, a nature lover, or a curious traveler, Duhamel has something to offer everyone.
