Rivière-Beaudette (French pronunciation: [ʁivjɛʁ bodɛt]) is a municipality of Quebec, Canada, located in the southwest corner of the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Regional County Municipality on the border with Ontario along the St. Lawrence River. The population as of the 2021 Canadian census was 2,489.

The area is primarily made up of farmland with residential development along the St. Lawrence River.

History

This location was first identified as "Pointe au Baudet" as early as 1686 on a map by Deshayes. This name, also spelled "Beaudet" and "Baudette" over time, refers to a small peninsula in St. Lawrence River, and was also given to the stream that empties into the St. Lawrence next to it. Various theories exist as to why this location was called baudet, since this name could refer to a donkey, a type of folding bed with canvas straps, or a trestle for cutting wood.

In 1734, Pointe au Baudet was included in the seigneury granted to Paul-Joseph Le Moyne de Longueuil. By 1787, a sawmill existed at the "Baudet" River. In 1855, the Grand Trunk Railway was constructed through the area, and two years later, the "River Beaudette" post office opened.

In 1887, the Village Municipality of Rivière Beaudette was formed out of territory ceded by Saint-Zotique.

In 1916, the Parish Municipality of Sainte Claire d'Assise was created, also out of territory ceded by Saint-Zotique. On April 1, 1978, it was renamed to the Parish Municipality of Rivière-Beaudette.

On January 17, 1990, the parish and village merged to form the Municipality of Rivière-Beaudette.

Demographics

Historical Census Data - Rivière-Beaudette, Quebec

Year Pop. ±% 1976 824 —     1981 989 +20.0% 1986 1,047 +5.9% 1991 1,292 +23.4% 1996 1,381 +6.9%	Year Pop. ±% 2001 1,464 +6.0% 2006 1,720 +17.5% 2011 1,885 +9.6% 2016 2,097 +11.2% 2021 2,489 +18.7%
Population amounts prior to 1990 are total of Rivière-Beaudette (VL) and Rivière-Beaudette (P). Source: Statistics Canada

Language

Canada Census Mother Tongue - Rivière-Beaudette, Quebec
Census		Total		French				English				French & English				Other
Year		Responses		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %
2021		2,465		2,170	18.3%	88.0%		195	21.9%	7.9%		60	100.0%	2.4%		45	10.0%	1.8%
2016		2,080		1,835	14.7%	88.2%		160	5.9%	7.7%		30	0.0%	1.4%		50	16.7%	2.4%
2011		1,860		1,600	8.1%	86.0%		170	10.5%	9.1%		30	n/a%	1.6%		60	140.0%	3.2%
2006		1,695		1,480	10.4%	87.3%		190	123.5%	11.2%		0	100.0%	0.0%		25	n/a%	1.5%
2001		1,440		1,340	16.5%	93.1%		85	43.3%	5.9%		15	25.0%	1.0%		0	100.0%	0.0%
1996		1,350		1,150	n/a	85.2%		150	n/a	11.1%		20	n/a	1.5%		30	n/a	2.2%

Local government

Rivière-Beaudette federal election results

Year		Liberal		Conservative		Bloc Québécois		New Democratic		Green
	2021	23%	323	30%	420	34%	483	7%	100	0%	0
	2019	27%	328	11%	156	48%	675	8%	119	3%	45

Rivière-Beaudette provincial election results

Year		CAQ		Liberal		QC solidaire		Parti Québécois
	2018	49%	670	18%	249	12%	168	12%	167
	2014	0%	0	46%	509	12%	138	37%	418

Rivière-Beaudette forms part of the federal electoral district of Salaberry—Suroît and has been represented by Claude DeBellefeuille of the Bloc Québécois since 2019. Provincially, Rivière-Beaudette is part of the Soulanges electoral district and is represented by Marilyne Picard of the Coalition Avenir Québec since 2018.

List of former mayors (since formation of current municipality):

• Richard Leroux (1990–2006)
• Denis Brodeur (2006–2009)
• Patrick Bousez (2009–present)

Attractions

Rivière-Beaudette is home to nine-hole golf course which integrates the natural landscape of the site to maximize the golfers’ experience. This course offers at each hole a choice of 5 different ways to start, allowing many distance and difficulty variations.

Education

Commission Scolaire des Trois-Lacs operates Francophone schools.

Lester B. Pearson School Board operates Anglophone schools.

• Soulanges Elementary School in Saint-Télesphore or Evergreen Elementary and Forest Hill Elementary (Junior Campus and Senior campus) in Saint-Lazare

See also

• List of municipalities in Quebec