Ville-Marie, Quebec, is a charming town nestled on the shores of Lake Temiscaming in western Quebec, Canada. As the largest city and seat of the Témiscamingue Regional County Municipality, Ville-Marie is a significant hub in the region. Known as the "Pearl of Témiscamingue," this town is steeped in history and offers a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural richness.
Ville-Marie's history dates back to 1679 when it served as a trading post between the French and indigenous Algonquians. The North West Company opened a trading post here in 1720 and built a store in 1785. This store was later acquired by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1821 when the two companies merged.
The area, originally known as Kelly Bay in honor of its first settler, James Kelly, saw the establishment of a mission in 1836. This was followed by another mission founded by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1863, who gave the town its current name, "Ville-Marie."
In 1874, Oblate missionary Joseph Moffet cleared some land and moved to Kelly Bay, which later became known as Baie-des-Pères (Bay of Fathers). The Parish of Notre-Dame-du-Saint-Rosaire-de-Ville-Marie was founded in 1886, and the Village Municipality of Ville-Marie was incorporated in 1897. On December 22, 1962, Ville-Marie was officially recognized as a town.
Today, Ville-Marie is the seat of the judicial district of Témiscamingue and continues to be a vibrant community with a rich history.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Ville-Marie had a population of 2,464 living in 1,185 of its 1,264 total private dwellings. This represented a change of -4.6% from its 2016 population of 2,584. With a land area of 5.83 km2 (2.25 sq mi), Ville-Marie had a population density of 422.6/km2 (1,094.6/sq mi) in 2021.
The majority of Ville-Marie's residents speak French as their first language (95.8%), while English is the first language for 1.3% of the population. A small percentage of residents (0.6%) are bilingual, speaking both English and French as their first language. Other languages make up 1.7% of the first languages spoken in Ville-Marie.
Ville-Marie experiences a typical continental climate, characterized by frigid winters and warm, humid summers. The town benefits from the lake's influence in winter, with temperatures significantly higher than in other towns further from the lake. Ville-Marie holds the record for the hottest day in Quebec, with a temperature of 40 °C or 104 °F recorded on July 6, 1921.
Whether you're a history buff, a nature lover, or a cultural enthusiast, Ville-Marie, Quebec, has something to offer everyone. Come and discover the charm and beauty of the "Pearl of Témiscamingue."
