Saint-Michel-des-Saints is a charming municipality nestled in the Matawinie Regional County Municipality of Quebec, Canada. This region is known for its thriving agriculture, forestry, recreation, and tourism sectors.
The history of Saint-Michel-des-Saints dates back to 1863 when Thomas-Léandre Brassard settled near the falls of Pine Lake (Lac des Pins). He built a mill and a manor, and within three years, the population grew to 136 inhabitants. The post office opened in 1870, and by 1883, the Parish of Saint-Michel-des-Saints was officially formed. The parish municipality followed in 1885.
The name Saint-Michel-des-Saints was chosen by Ignace Bourget at the suggestion of Father Brassard, in honour of Michael de Sanctis who lived from 1591 to 1625. In 1929, the construction of a dam on the Matawin River led to the formation of the Taureau Reservoir. This reservoir submerged the neighbouring village of Saint-Ignace-du-Lac (founded in 1877), which was then annexed by Saint-Michel-des-Saints in 1931, increasing its territory by about 15 square kilometres (5.8 sq mi).
In 1979, the Parish Municipality of Saint-Michel-des-Saints and the United Township Municipality of Masson-et-Laviolette (founded in 1914) merged to form the new Municipality of Saint-Michel-des-Saints. The region faced a flood in late April and early May 2018.
Saint-Michel-des-Saints is the largest and northernmost municipality in the Lanaudière region, excluding the unorganized territories. The village is located at the northern end of Quebec Route 131 along the Matawin River, near the south-western corner of Taureau Reservoir.
The municipality is home to several large lakes, including Durand, Beauséjour, Hazen, and Kaiagamac. These, along with many others, attract numerous summer cottage vacationers. The area's forests are popular for hunting and trapping.
According to the 2011 Census, Statistics Canada initially reported that Saint-Michel-des-Saints had a population of 2,201 living in 979 of its 1,774 total dwellings, marking an 18.9% change from its 2006 population of 2,713. However, Statistics Canada later amended the 2011 census results to a population of 2,436 living in 1,084 of its 1,990 total dwellings, a -10.2% change from 2006. With a land area of 501.28 km2 (193.55 sq mi), it had a population density of 4.8596/km2 (12.5862/sq mi) in 2011.
The mother tongue distribution in Saint-Michel-des-Saints is as follows:
Saint-Michel-des-Saints is twinned with the community of Saint-Varent in the Deux-Sèvres department in western France, fostering cultural exchange and mutual understanding.
