Nestled in the Bellechasse Regional County Municipality, Saint-Malachie, Quebec is a charming village with a population of about 1,500. The village is part of the Chaudière-Appalaches administrative region and is beautifully bisected by the Etchemin River.
Saint-Malachie was colonized by the Irish and Scottish shortly after the War of 1812. The land, initially given to several British soldiers, was later owned by Gilbert Henderson (1785-1876), who became a major landowner in the area. The first settlers hailed mostly from Armagh, a religious town in Northern Ireland, and the town was named St. Malachy after the Arch Bishop of Armagh.
The town was officially established in 1874 and was initially named Saint-Malachi-de-Frampton. However, the name was changed to Saint-Malachie in 1948. The town is also known for the toad invasion of 1873, a significant event that is still remembered in its culture and history. La Crapaudière, a mountain named after the toad invasion, is now a popular tourist attraction.
The original Saint-Malachie cemetery, dating back to the late 1820s, was the first Catholic cemetery in the upper Châteauguay Valley. Although there was no official parish at that time, the cemetery served all residents in Saint-Malachie and surrounding areas. Today, the cemetery site is privately owned farmland, and the monuments have been dispersed locally. Henderson Manor, a historical landmark, is located along the Etchemin River at the South end of the village.
The coat of arms of Saint-Malachie primarily uses the color yellow, representing the village's dominant industry - agriculture. The two croziers symbolize St. Malachy, the namesake of the municipality, who was the Archbishop of Armagh, Ireland. The toad in the coat of arms is a nod to the toad infestation of 1873, which gave rise to the name La Crapaudière. The shamrocks symbolize the Irish roots of Saint-Malachy's pioneers.
Saint-Malachie is surrounded by Tough Creek and the South Etchemin River, among other bodies of water and lakes. It's a great spot for hunting and fishing, especially for speckled trout. The village is also home to Mont Kinsella, a mountain peak that provides a panoramic view of the town. The Committee footpath, a scenic trail measuring 27.3 kilometers long, runs along the forest areas and is equipped with resting areas, stairs, and panels indicating the species and natural vegetation along the path.
Saint-Malachie experiences the four distinct seasons of spring, summer, winter, and fall. The village follows three types of climate throughout the seasons: humid, subarctic, and arctic. The daily sunshine duration is eight hours in December, the shortest time of the year.
The small population of Saint-Malachie is renowned for its agriculture and parishes. The religious architectural heritage is very prevalent in this town and displays much of the Irish presence. The village is also home to international artist Viviane Gruais Domenge and two-time Olympic athlete Marie-Michèle Gagnon. In 2009, the Portage Rehabilitation Centre was established in Saint-Malachie, catering to French-speaking adolescents dealing with drug abuse issues.
Saint-Malachie hosts multiple organizations catering to a wide spectrum of people. These include Circle Farming Saint-Malachie, Knights of Columbus, Hunting and Fishing Club Inc., Couples Escorts South Shore Regional, St. Patrick's Society, Coupling Saint-Malachie Club, and Club FADOQ Saint-Malachie.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Saint-Malachie had a population of 1,667 living in 699 of its 812 total private dwellings, a change of 9.9% from its 2016 population of 1,517. With a land area of 101.07 km2 (39.02 sq mi), it had a population density of 16.5/km2 (42.7/sq mi) in 2021.
