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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Shigawake, Quebec
Shigawake is a municipality in the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region of the province of Quebec in Canada. Shigawake is bordered to the west by Saint-Godefroi and to the east by Port-Daniel–Gascons.

The place name is taken from the river that flows through the village and is of Mi'kmaq origin, meaning either "land of the rising sun" or "white water".

The Municipality of Shigawake has an eight kilometre stretch of coastline behind high red cliffs on the Gaspe Coast. It has been officially designated as an Anglophone community among the largely Francophone population of Quebec. The community is only home to, among many small houses, a municipal building, the Anglican church of St Paul's (built in the 1860s), and a former Rectory converted to the Community Centre. The United Church was decommissioned in 2012, formerly the site of a temperance hall.

Shigawake has held the Shigawake Fair annually since 1909, also now paired with the Shigawake Music Festival which has showcased local talent.

Shigawake is also the site of Seagro, an organic fertiliser and composting firm.

The oldest farmhouse on the entire coast continuously inhabited by one family, the Old Homestead, was built early in the first decade of the 1800s. The founding of Shigawake is described in The Alford Saga, an eight book series of a romantic adventures by Paul Almond, an officer of the Order of Canada.

The area's fields, once so productive, are now used mainly for hay and its forests for harvest of sawlogs and firewood.

History

It is believed that the first settlers were probably sailors on a ship transporting slaves at the end of the 18th century.

In 1864, its post office opened, and the parish was formed in 1873. But it was only on December 15, 1924, more than 50 years afer, that Shigawake was officially created by splitting away from the Township of Saint-Godefroy.

Demographics

Canada census – Shigawake community profile
202120162011
Population333 (+14.0% from 2016)292 (-13.6% from 2011)338 (-5.3% from 2006)
Land area76.82 km (29.66 sq mi)76.82 km (29.66 sq mi)75.68 km (29.22 sq mi)
Population density4.3/km (11/sq mi)3.8/km (9.8/sq mi)4.5/km (12/sq mi)
Median age49.6 (M: 52.4, F: 48.0)55.1 (M: 55.6, F: 54.3)52.3 (M: 53.5, F: 51.2)
Private dwellings167 (total)  144 (occupied)171 (total)  163 (total) 
Median household income$55,600$42,560$.N/A
Notes: 2011 income data for this area has been suppressed for data quality or confidentiality reasons.
References: 2021 2016 2011 earlier
Historical Census Data - Shigawake, Quebec
YearPop.±%
1931 578—    
1941 642+11.1%
1951 604−5.9%
1956 609+0.8%
1961 550−9.7%
1966 493−10.4%
YearPop.±%
1971 462−6.3%
1976 516+11.7%
1981 549+6.4%
1986 492−10.4%
1991 430−12.6%
1996 302−29.8%
YearPop.±%
2001 372+23.2%
2006 357−4.0%
2011 338−5.3%
2016 292−13.6%
2021 333+14.0%
Source: Statistics Canada

Mother tongue (2021):

  • English as first language: 58.2%
  • French as first language: 37.3%
  • English and French as first language: 4.5%
  • Other as first language: 0%

Government

List of former mayors:

  • John A. Le Callais (1925–1929)
  • Claude A. Skene (1929–1933)
  • James P. Robinson (1933–1935, 1937–1941)
  • Garvin Almond (1935–1937)
  • Earle Almond (1941–1949)
  • Edmund Vautier (1949–1953)
  • Gillis Hayes (1953–1957)
  • George Sullivan (1957–1973)
  • Garry Hayes (1973–1987)
  • Kenneth Duguay (1987–2013)
  • Denzil Ross (2013–2017)
  • Colette Dow (2017–2021)
  • Rolande Couture-Beebe (2021–present)

Notable people

Major Sydney Valpy Radley-Walters of the Sherbrooke Fusiliers has lived in Shigawake, who in World War II was credited with putting out of action 18 enemy tanks and assault guns.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Shigawake (Municipalité)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2011-12-22.
  2. ^ "Répertoire des municipalités: Geographic code 05010". www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  3. ^ "Shigawake census profile". 2021 Census data. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  4. ^ Paul Almond - Author of 8 books based on a decade of research on the founding of Shigawake - http://www.paulalmond.com
  5. ^ "Répertoire des entités géopolitiques: Shigawake (municipalité) 15.12.1924 - ..." www.mairesduquebec.com. Institut généalogique Drouin. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  6. ^ "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  7. ^ "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  8. ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved 2014-01-30.
  9. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
  10. ^ "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
  11. ^ 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021 census
  12. ^ "Rad". mapleleafup.ca. Maple Leaf Up. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
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