Sainte-Adèle, Quebec, is a charming municipality nestled in the Les Pays-d'en-Haut Regional County Municipality. Located approximately 70 kilometres north-west of Montreal, this town is a popular destination for tourists, thanks to its thriving skiing and hotel industry. As of 2011, Sainte-Adèle boasted a population of 12,137.
The history of Sainte-Adèle, Quebec, dates back to 1842 when Augustin-Norbert Morin purchased land in the area. The town was officially founded in 1855, and by 1891, the first Canadian Pacific Railway train arrived in the town, primarily transporting wood, cattle, dairy products, and mail.
The growth of Sainte-Adèle, Quebec, took a significant turn in 1938 with the opening of Le Chantecler Hotel, a 45-room inn on the shores of Lac Rond. Today, this hotel has evolved into a world-class resort and convention centre.
In 1939, the Ste. Adele Lodge was developed in the heart of the community. This site has a rich history dating back to 1910 when it was occupied by l’Hotel Rochon. In 1939, Montreal businessman Tom G. Potter bought the site, demolished the old building, and built the Ste. Adele Lodge.
The lodge featured a main building with an attached dance hall known as the Red Room, deluxe hotel rooms in a building called The Cedars, and less expensive rooms in The Pines. The lodge also boasted the largest swimming pool in Quebec outside Montreal and two ski hills.
The municipal status of Sainte-Adèle, Quebec, and its surrounding areas has been a subject of personal, local, provincial, and national politics several times in its history. Key events include the separation of Mont-Rolland from Sainte-Adèle in 1918, the division of Sainte-Adèle into Sainte-Adèle-en-Haut and Sainte-Adèle-en-Bas in 1922, and their reunion in 1964. In 1997, Sainte-Adèle and Mont-Rolland were rejoined.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Sainte-Adèle, Quebec, had a population of 14,010 living in 6,896 of its 8,002 total private dwellings. This represented an 8.4% increase from its 2016 population of 12,919. The town has a land area of 119.67 km2, resulting in a population density of 117.1/km2 in 2021.
The population trend over the years has been steadily increasing. The population in 2011 was 12,137, which represented a 14.1% increase from 2006. The population in 2006 was 10,634, a 15.4% increase from 2001.
In terms of mother tongue, 90% of the population reported French as their first language, 5% reported English, 1% reported both English and French, and 4% reported other languages.
