Everything about Trois-rivi Res Qu Bec totally explained
Trois-Rivières is a
city in the
Mauricie region of
Quebec,
Canada, located along the densely populated
Quebec City-Windsor Corridor at the confluence of the
Saint-Maurice and
Saint Lawrence rivers. It was founded in
1634, the second permanent settlement in
New France. The current city was created in
2002 from the merging of six towns : Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Pointe-du-Lac, Sainte-Marthe-du-Cap, Saint-Louis-de-France, Trois-Rivières and Trois-Rivières-Ouest.
The city is named for the fact that the Saint-Maurice River, which is divided by two small islands at the river's opening, has three mouths at the St. Lawrence. The city's logo also illustrates this.
Trois-Rivières is also the name of a
territory equivalent to a regional county municipality (TE) of
Quebec, coextensive with the city of Trois-Rivières. Its geographical code is 371.
Together with the
regional county municipality of
Les Chenaux, it forms the
census division (CD) of
Francheville (37). The municipalities within Les Chenaux and the former municipalities that were amalgamated into Trois-Rivières formerly constituted the regional county municipality of Francheville.
Description
Trois-Rivières is the economic and cultural hub of the
Mauricie region. It lies at the halfway point between
Montreal and
Quebec City, on the north shore of the
St. Lawrence River across from the city of
Bécancour. It was founded on July 4, 1634, the second permanent settlement in
New France, after Quebec city in 1608. Its location at the three-pronged mouth of the
Saint-Maurice River is the source of its name, which is French for
three rivers. Historically, Trois-Rivières was sometimes referred to in English as
Three Rivers, although in modern times it's always referred to as Trois-Rivières in both English and French. The anglicized name still appears in many areas of the town (for example, the city's Three Rivers Academy), bearing witness to the influence of English settlers in the town. The city's inhabitants are known as "Trifluviens" (Trifluvians).
Trois-Rivières has been a world capital of the
pulp and paper industry since the 1930s; the city's other prominent industries include
metal transformation,
electronics,
thermoplastics, as well as the production of
food crops and
cabinetmaking. An industrial park adjoining
Trois-Rivières Airport also serves as a major centre for the
aeronautical industry.
The city's main street is Boulevard des Forges, an area several blocks long in the heart of the Old City composed of century-old buildings housing a great variety of cafés, restaurants, clubs, bars, and shops. In the warmer months, the area is regularly closed to vehicular traffic to accommodate various festivals and events, turning the downtown core into a
pedestrian mall. Trois-Rivières is officially the "National Poetry Capital of Quebec"; numerous plaques displaying poetic verses are installed across the centre of the city, and its International Festival of Poetry (held each year in the first week of October) honours this title.
Trois-Rivières has an internationally known racetrack named
Circuit Trois-Rivières. The track hosts
American Le Mans series,
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, and the
Formula Atlantic events. Notable landmarks include the
Forges du Saint-Maurice, a
foundry dating back to the 1730s, the
Ursulines Monastery, and
Notre-Dame-du-Cap Basilica.
On
January 1,
2002, the former city of Trois-Rivières along with the neighbouring towns of
Cap-de-la-Madeleine,
Sainte-Marthe-du-Cap,
Saint-Louis-de-France,
Trois-Rivières-Ouest, and the municipality of
Pointe-du-Lac, were amalgamated to form the new city of Trois-Rivières. The Trois-Rivières
metropolitan area also includes the city of
Bécancour.
History
For a long time, the area that would later become known as Trois-Rivières was frequented by
Algonquins who used it as a summer stopping place. The French explorer
Jacques Cartier described the site while on his second journey to the New World in
1535. The name "Trois-Rivières", however, was only given in
1599, by a certain Captain Dupont-Gravé.
In
1603, while surveying the Saint-Lawrence River,
Samuel de Champlain recommended establishing a permanent settlement in the area, which was finally done on
July 4,
1634 by the Sieur of
Laviolette. The city was second to be founded in
New France (after
Quebec City, before
Montreal) and played an important role in the colony and in the fur trade, thanks to its strategic location. The settlement became the seat of a regional government in
1665.
Ursuline nuns first arrived at the settlement in
1697, establishing the first school and helping local missionnaries to Christianize the local Aboriginals and
Métis.
French sovereignty in Trois-Rivières continued until
1760, when the city was captured as part of the
British conquest of Québec. Sixteen years later, on
June 8,
1776, it was the theatre of the
Battle of Trois-Rivières (part of the ill-fated
Invasion of the province of Québec by
Americans from the
Boston area—
les Bostonnais) during the
American Revolutionary War.
Trois-Rivières continued to grow in stature throughout the period and beyond; in
1792 it became the seat of a judicial district, and that of a Roman Catholic
diocese in
1852.
The greater part of the city of Trois-Rivières was destroyed by a fire in
1908. The majority of the city's original buildings, many of which dated back to French colonial years, were destroyed. Only a few were spared, including the Ursuline Monastery and the De Tonnancour Manor. As a result of the destruction, a major redesign and renovation of the city was undertaken, including the widening and renewal of many of the city's roads. As well, many new businesses and industries became established in the town, which attracted many new residents.
In the
1960s, Trois-Rivières undertook a large-scale project of economic diversification, including the establishment of several cultural institutions and attractions. The Old City of Trois-Rivières was declared an "historic sector" in 1964. The
Laviolette Bridge, linking Trois-Rivières to Bécancour and the south shore of the Saint-Lawrence River, was inaugurated on
December 20,
1967. Finally, in
1969, the city appeared on Canada's academic map with the inception of the
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, known for its
chiropractic school and its excellent programs for primary and secondary school education.
Although historically an important center of commerce, trade and population, Trois-Rivières has relinquished much of its earlier importance to the two major cities of Quebec, the
metropolis of
Montreal and
capital of
Quebec City. It does, however, remain one of the principal medium-sized cities of Quebec, along with
Saguenay,
Sherbrooke and
Gatineau.
Demographics
Trois-Rivières Metro Area (2001)
Ethnic origin
Age Structure
- 0-14 years: 16.1%
- 15-64 years: 68.6%
- 65 years and over: 15.3%
Religious Groups
Catholic: 93.7%
Protestant and other Christian: 2.7%
No religious affiliation: 3.3%
The information regarding ethnicities above is from the 2001 Canadian Census
. The percentages add to more than 100% because of dual responses (for example "French-Canadian" generates an entry in both the category "French" and the category "Canadian".) Groups with greater than 1,250 responses are included.
Media
Radio
88.1 FM - CBF-FM-8 La Première Chaîne
89.1 FM - CFOU, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières campus radio
94.7 FM - CHEY, RockDétente adult contemporary
98.1 FM - CHOI, rock music (from Quebec City)
100.1 FM - CJEB, Rythme FM hot adult contemporary
102.3 FM - CIGB, Énergie FM pop
106.9 FM - CHLN, French news/talk
Television
Channel 8 - CHEM, TVA
Channel 13 - CKTM, SRC
Channel 16 - CFKM, TQS
Channel 45 - CIVC, Télé-Québec
Print
Le Nouvelliste
Le Journal de Trois-Rivières
Notables
Jean Béliveau, hockey player for the Montreal Canadiens (ret., HoF)
Steve Bégin, hockey player for the Montreal Canadiens since 2003
Guy Bertrand, radio personality and CBC French Radio and Television official linguistic advisor (French links: (External Link)(External Link))
Maurice Duplessis, premier of Quebec (1936-39, 1944-59)
Madeleine Ferron, writer
Gérald Godin, politician and poet
Félix Leclerc, songwriter; worked in a Trois-Rivières radio station.
Martyr (band), a technical death metal band
Jean Nicolet, French-Canadian explorer
Jean-Guy Talbot, ex-hockey player, arena with his name
Mgr Claude Thompson, musical director of the children choir Les Petits Chanteurs de Trois-Rivières (1956-97)
Luc Tousignant, the only French Canadian to start as quarterback in the Canadian Football League (Montreal Concordes)
Kevin Belle-Isles, Hockey Player for Boston Bruins in 1984
Rene Robert,Hockey Player for Buffalo Sabres in 1974Further Information
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