Shawinigan, Quebec, is a city steeped in history and culture. Located on the Saint-Maurice River in the Mauricie area, Shawinigan is home to a population of 49,620 as of the 2021 Canadian census. The city is also a territory equivalent to a regional county municipality and census division of Quebec, coextensive with the city of Shawinigan.
The history of Shawinigan, Quebec, dates back to 1651 when Jesuit priest Buteaux became the first European known to have travelled up the Saint-Maurice River to this river's first set of great falls. Before Shawinigan Falls was established, the local economy was largely based on lumber and agriculture. The name Shawinigan has had numerous spellings over time, and it may mean "south portage", "portage of beeches", "angular portage", or "summit" or "crest".
In the late 1890s, Shawinigan Falls drew the interest of foreign entrepreneurs due to its geographic situation. Its falls had the potential to become a favorable location for the production of hydroelectricity. The hydro-electric generating station contributed to rapid economic growth and the town achieved several firsts in Canadian history: first production of aluminum, carborundum, and cellophane pellets.
Urban development steadily increased in Downtown Shawinigan Falls. By 1921, this sector was densely filled with commercial buildings, one-family residences, and multi-story tenements. The city also implemented a beautification program, adding a public market, a fire station, a technical school, several church buildings, and two landscaped public parks.
The Great Depression in the 1930s interrupted local prosperity in Shawinigan, Quebec. Many plants were forced to temporarily reduce or stop their production, which left many residents jobless. The City Council enacted a public works program to help families, including a project to create work during the depression.
World War II put Shawinigan Falls, and many other cities in Canada, back on the path of economic recovery. The Shawinigan-based 81st Artillery Battery was called to active duty during World War II and contributed to the Allies' effort in the Normandy Landings, which led to the Liberation of France.
By the early 1950s, the industrial growth in Shawinigan Falls was such that the city offered the steadiest employment and the highest wages in Quebec. However, in the 1950s, Shawinigan Falls entered a period of decline that would last for several decades. Technological improvements made industries less dependent on Shawinigan Falls' geographic location, leading many employers to relocate or close down.
To offset the decline of the heavy industry, leaders in Shawinigan, Quebec, have promoted the expansion of the local hospitality industry. The most notable example of this initiative is the establishment of La Cité de l'Énergie, a theme park based on local industrial history, which has attracted thousands of visitors to the area since it opened in 1997.
In 1998, Shawinigan merged with the Village Municipality of Baie-de-Shawinigan. On January 1, 2002, Shawinigan amalgamated with much of the Regional County Municipality of Le Centre-de-la-Mauricie.
Shawinigan, Quebec, has a humid continental climate featuring cold and snowy winters coupled with warm and humid summers. In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Shawinigan had a population of 49,620 living in 25,060 of its 27,444 total private dwellings.
Shawinigan, Quebec, is home to a number of cultural events and attractions, including the Classique internationale de canots de la Mauricie, a prestigious marathon canoe race, and Grand-Mère's Fête nationale du Québec celebration. The city also boasts several attractions such as the Trou du Diable (Devil's Hole), Parc Saint-Maurice, the 62nd (Shawinigan) Field Artillery Regiment, La Cité de l'Énergie, and the Shawinigan Cataractes.
Many of the oldest streets of Shawinigan were numbered, like the streets of Manhattan, New York. Several other streets and avenues were named to honour famous people.
Shawinigan, Quebec, has two sister cities: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and Monterrey, Mexico.
