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Trois-Rivières

Coordinates: 46°20′35″N 72°32′36″W / 46.34306°N 72.54333°W / 46.34306; -72.54333[1]
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For other uses, see Trois-Rivières (disambiguation).

Trois-Rivières
City
Ville de Trois-Rivières
From top, left to right: Downtown Trois-Rivières from the St. Lawrence River, monument to Sacré-Coeur, Trois-Rivières Cathedral, Laviolette Bridge, Pacifique Du Plessis gate, Ursulines monastery
From top, left to right: Downtown Trois-Rivières from the St. Lawrence River, monument to Sacré-Coeur, Trois-Rivières Cathedral, Laviolette Bridge, Pacifique Du Plessis gate, Ursulines monastery
Flag of Trois-Rivières
Flag
Coat of arms of Trois-Rivières
Coat of arms
Official logo of Trois-Rivières
Logo
Motto(s): 
Deus nobiscum quis contra
("If God is with us, who can be against us")
Trois-Rivières metropolitan area
Trois-Rivières metropolitan area
Trois-Rivières is located in Quebec
Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières
Location of Trois-Rivières in the province of Quebec
Trois-Rivières is located in Canada
Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières (Canada)
Coordinates: 46°20′35″N 72°32′36″W / 46.34306°N 72.54333°W / 46.34306; -72.54333[1][2]
CountryCanada
ProvinceQuebec
RegionMauricie
RCMNone
FoundedJuly 4, 1634 by Laviolette
IncorporatedJune 10, 1857
ConstitutedJanuary 1, 2002
BoroughsCap-de-la-Madeleine,
Trois-Rivières-Ouest,
Saint-Louis-de-France,
Pointe-du-Lac,
Sainte-Marthe-du-Cap
Government
[3]
 • TypeTrois-Rivières City Council
 • MayorJean Lamarche
 • Federal ridingBerthier—Maskinongé and Trois-Rivières
 • Prov. ridingChamplain and Maskinongé and Trois-Rivières
Area
 (2021)[4][5][6]
 • Land288.65 km2 (111.45 sq mi)
 • Urban
98.58 km2 (38.06 sq mi)
 • Metro
1,038.64 km2 (401.02 sq mi)
Elevation
61 m (200 ft)
Population
 (2021)[4][5][6]
 • City
139,163
 • Density482.1/km2 (1,249/sq mi)
 • Urban
128,057
 • Urban density1,299.0/km2 (3,364/sq mi)
 • Metro
161,489[7]
 • Metro density155.5/km2 (403/sq mi)
 • Pop 2016-2021
Increase 3.5%
 • Dwellings
70,411
DemonymTrifluvians
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
G8T to G8Z, G9A to G9C
Area code819
GDP (Trois-Rivières CMA)CA$6.3 billion (2016)[8]
GDP per capita (Trois-Rivières CMA)CA$40,290 (2016)
Websitewww.v3r.net
Trois-Rivières aerial view

Trois-Rivières (French: [tʁwɑ ʁivjɛʁ], Canadian French: [tʁwɔ ʁivjaɛ̯ʁ] ⓘ; lit. 'Three Rivers') is a city in the Mauricie administrative region of Quebec, Canada, at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence rivers, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River across from the city of Bécancour. It is part of the densely populated Quebec City–Windsor Corridor and is approximately halfway between Montreal and Quebec City. Trois-Rivières is the economic and cultural hub of the Mauricie region.[9] The settlement was founded by French colonists on July 4, 1634, as the second permanent settlement in New France,[10] after Quebec City in 1608.

The name of Trois-Rivières, which dates from the end of the 16th century, was used by French explorers in reference to the three channels in the Saint-Maurice River formed at its mouth with the Saint Lawrence, as it is divided by two islands, Potherie (Île Caron) and Île Saint-Quentin. The city occupies a location near where Jacques Cartier, in a 1535 trip along the St. Lawrence, stopped to plant a cross on Saint-Quentin island.

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. Trois-Rivières is the seat of the judicial district of the same name.[11]

City name

[edit]

The city's name, which is French for 'three rivers', is named for the fact the Saint-Maurice River has three mouths at the Saint Lawrence River, as it is divided by two islands in the river. The Trois-Rivières name was used for the first time in 1599 by Sieur François Gravé Du Pont, a geographer under Champlain, whose records confirmed the name in 1603. As Sieur Gravé Du Pont sailed upriver toward Montreal, he saw what appeared to be three separate tributaries. He did not know two large islands divide the course of the Saint-Maurice River in three parts where the latter flows into the St. Lawrence River.

Historically, in English this city was once known as Three Rivers. Since the late 20th century, when there has been more recognition of Quebec and French speakers, the city has generally been referred to as Trois-Rivières in both English and French. The anglicized name still appears in many areas of the town (e.g., 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).

History

[edit]
See also: Fort Trois-Rivières and Government of Trois-Rivières

For thousands of years, the area that would later become known as Trois-Rivières was frequented by indigenous peoples. The historic Algonquin and Abenaki peoples used it as a summer stopping place. They would fish and hunt here, as well as gather roots and nuts. The area was rich in resources. 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 not given until 1599, by Captain Dupont-Gravé, and first appeared on maps of the area dated 1601.[12]

In 1603, while surveying the Saint-Lawrence River, Samuel de Champlain recommended establishing a permanent settlement in the area. The settlement grew into a village, officially formed on July 4, 1634, by its first governor, Sieur de Laviolette. Early inhabitants of Trois-Rivières included Quentin Moral, Sieur de St-Quentin; future governor Pierre Boucher de Grosbois, François Hertel de la Fresnière (father of Joseph-François Hertel de la Fresnière), François Marguerie, René Robineau, and Jean Sauvaget, and interpreter Jean Godefroy de Lintot, who married Marie, daughter of Michel Le Neuf.[13]

Jacques Leneuf de La Poterie, who would become governor of Trois-Rivières, and acting governor of New France, and royal judge Michel Le Neuf du Hérisson, who would be acting governor of Trois-Rivières, brothers, arrived with their widowed mother, Jeanne Le Marchand, in 1636. The Le Neufs were accompanied by Jacques' wife, Marguerite, and her brothers, Pierre Legardeur de Repentigny and future governor Charles Legardeur de Tilly.[14]

The city was the second to be founded in New France (after Quebec City, before Montreal). Given its strategic location, it played an important role in the colony and in the fur trade with First Nations peoples. The settlement became the seat of a regional Government of Trois-Rivières in 1665. Ursuline nuns first arrived at the settlement in 1697, where they founded the first school and helped local missionaries to Christianize the local indigenous people, developing a class of Métis people.

French sovereignty in Trois-Rivières continued until 1760, when the city was captured as part of the British conquest of Canada during the Seven Years' War. 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 Quebec by les Bostonnais, Americans from the Boston area) during the American Revolutionary War who arrived with the goal of weakening the British settlement.

Trois-Rivières continued to grow in importance throughout this period and beyond. In 1792 it was designated as the seat of a judicial district. In 1852, the Roman Catholic church made this the see of the Diocese of Trois-Rivières.

In 1816, Captain A.G. Douglas, a former adjutant at the British military college at Great Marlow, recommended a military college for Catholic and Protestant boys be established at Trois-Rivières. He proposed it operate in a disused government house and he would be superintendent. Douglas' college was intended as a boarding school to educate the young sons of officers, amongst others, in Latin, English, French, history, geography, drawing and mathematics. This preceded the founding of the Royal Military College of Canada in 1876.[15]

In 1908, the greater part of the city of Trois-Rivières was destroyed by a fire; most of the city's original buildings, many dating to the French colonial years, were destroyed. Among the surviving buildings were 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. Many new businesses and industries became established in the town, attracting additional residents.

During the mid-century, the city became heavily industrialized and lost jobs during the later restructuring. In the 1960s, Trois-Rivières undertook a large-scale project of economic diversification, including founding 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 opened officially on December 20, 1967. In 1969, the city founded the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, known for its chiropractic school, its podiatric medical education, and its programs for primary and secondary school education.

Although historically an important centre of commerce, trade and population, Trois-Rivières has been superseded by the two major cities of Quebec: the metropolis of Montreal and the capital of Quebec City. It remains as one of the principal medium-sized cities of Quebec, along with Saguenay, Sherbrooke, and Gatineau.

Geography

[edit]

Islands

[edit]
See also: Lake Saint Pierre

Saint-Quentin Island lies at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice River and St. Lawrence River, where the city of Trois-Rivières developed. With the islands Saint-Christophe and De La Poterie, it creates three channels at the mouth of the Saint-Maurice River, where it flows into St. Lawrence River. The island was named in honour of judge Quentin Moral, also said to be a fur trader and one of the first dealers on this island.[16] It is now a centre of popular outdoor activities and relaxation at the heart of city. The patron saint of the island is Quentin de Rome.

It was first inhabited by an Algonquin tribe who cultivate corn in the lowlands of the river. On October 7, 1535, Jacques Cartier planted a cross on the island and proclaimed the sovereignty of France on this territory. A commemorative wrought iron cross was erected at the site associated with Cartier's claim. The natural environment of Saint-Quentin has remained virtually unchanged. For nearly a century, it was not developed or cultivated.

Since 1930, the island has become more important as a destination for recreation. The island belonged at the time to Quebec Savings and Trust Company Limited and the Canada Power and Paper Corporation. The city bid for the land in 1933, but did not take ownership until November 3, 1947. During World War II, it was the site of a training camp for the Royal Canadian Navy. Services were gradually introduced in 1950.

The park and the beach on the island Saint-Quentin were officially inaugurated on June 24, 1962, in the presence of 5,000 people. There were more than 100 000 visitors that year.[17] Since then, many facilities have been developed on the island, including a marina, a bike path, an interpretative trail, an ice rink, and camping ground. Several happenings and festivals are held annually on the island.

Climate

[edit]

The area has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb). Winters are long, cold, and snowy: the January high is −5.6 °C (21.9 °F),[18] with lows dropping to −20 °C (−4 °F) on 27 nights per year and to −30 °C (−22 °F) on 2.9 nights. Snowfall averages 274.4 cm (108.0 in),[18] with reliable snow cover from December to March. Summers are warm, with an average July high of 25.1 °C (77.2 °F),[18] and high temperatures reach 30 °C (86 °F) on 5.5 days per summer. Spring and autumn are short and crisp. Precipitation averages 1,001.7 mm (39.44 in), and is the greatest during summer.[18]

The highest temperature ever recorded in Trois-Rivières was 37.8 °C (100.0 °F) on 17 July 1953.[19] The coldest temperature ever recorded was −41.7 °C (−43.1 °F) on 5 February 1923.[20]

Climate data for Trois-Rivières

WMO ID: 71724; coordinates 46°21′13″N 72°30′58″W / 46.35361°N 72.51611°W / 46.35361; -72.51611 (Trois-Rivières); elevation: 6 m (20 ft); 1991−2020 normals, extremes 1920−present[a]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high humidex 11.7 8.7 15.6 26.8 35.6 41.2 44.7 43.3 37.7 30.1 21.3 12.7 44.7
Record high °C (°F) 12.0
(53.6) 		9.3
(48.7) 		16.1
(61.0) 		25.4
(77.7) 		31.5
(88.7) 		34.0
(93.2) 		37.8
(100.0) 		32.3
(90.1) 		30.8
(87.4) 		24.8
(76.6) 		18.9
(66.0) 		12.8
(55.0) 		37.8
(100.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −5.6
(21.9) 		−3.9
(25.0) 		1.2
(34.2) 		8.8
(47.8) 		17.3
(63.1) 		22.5
(72.5) 		25.1
(77.2) 		24.1
(75.4) 		19.8
(67.6) 		12.2
(54.0) 		4.9
(40.8) 		−2.0
(28.4) 		10.4
(50.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) −9.9
(14.2) 		−8.5
(16.7) 		−3.1
(26.4) 		4.6
(40.3) 		12.6
(54.7) 		18.1
(64.6) 		20.9
(69.6) 		19.9
(67.8) 		15.5
(59.9) 		8.5
(47.3) 		1.8
(35.2) 		−5.3
(22.5) 		6.2
(43.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −14.1
(6.6) 		−13.1
(8.4) 		−7.3
(18.9) 		0.3
(32.5) 		7.9
(46.2) 		13.6
(56.5) 		16.7
(62.1) 		15.6
(60.1) 		11.0
(51.8) 		5.1
(41.2) 		−1.3
(29.7) 		−8.6
(16.5) 		2.1
(35.8)
Record low °C (°F) −32.3
(−26.1) 		−41.7
(−43.1) 		−26.4
(−15.5) 		−15.6
(3.9) 		−1.3
(29.7) 		3.8
(38.8) 		9.0
(48.2) 		6.7
(44.1) 		0.9
(33.6) 		−4.9
(23.2) 		−18.3
(−0.9) 		−30.6
(−23.1) 		−41.7
(−43.1)
Record low wind chill −42.3 −39.6 −38.6 −25.9 −5.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 −10.4 −25.0 −35.5 −42.3
Average precipitation mm (inches) 83.1
(3.27) 		65.9
(2.59) 		76.3
(3.00) 		87.3
(3.44) 		83.4
(3.28) 		104.5
(4.11) 		124.5
(4.90) 		95.7
(3.77) 		96.9
(3.81) 		100.5
(3.96) 		88.0
(3.46) 		94.7
(3.73) 		1,100.7
(43.33)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 30.3
(1.19) 		16.1
(0.63) 		29.4
(1.16) 		69.7
(2.74) 		89.3
(3.52) 		104.8
(4.13) 		133.1
(5.24) 		103.1
(4.06) 		96.5
(3.80) 		99.2
(3.91) 		68.2
(2.69) 		32.8
(1.29) 		872.5
(34.35)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 60.8
(23.9) 		53.0
(20.9) 		50.0
(19.7) 		14.1
(5.6) 		0.1
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		3.5
(1.4) 		24.4
(9.6) 		68.6
(27.0) 		274.4
(108.0)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 13.8 11.3 11.6 11.6 13.2 13.3 15.5 11.5 11.7 14.2 13.5 14.8 156
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 3.4 2.3 5.4 10.4 14.1 14.2 16.3 12.8 12.4 14.6 10.1 4.1 120.1
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 12.9 10.2 7.5 2.8 0.06 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.63 5.8 11.7 51.6
Average relative humidity (%) (at 1500 LST) 73.7 68.8 63.8 59.2 57.4 62.6 64.4 63.2 64.0 65.6 70.4 75.9 65.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 84.5 110.4 157.3 166.9 208.7 220.9 257.9 205.3 158.2 121.3 69.3 62.2 1,823.1
Percent possible sunshine 30.1 37.9 42.7 41.1 45.0 46.9 54.1 46.8 41.9 35.8 24.4 23.1 39.1
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada[18] (July maximum)[19] (February minimum)[20] Sunshine data recorded at Nicolet[23]

Demographics

[edit]
Trois-Rivières
YearPop.±%
1665455—    
1667213−53.2%
1681150−29.6%
1685227+51.3%
1688216−4.8%
1692343+58.8%
1695349+1.7%
1698358+2.6%
1706203−43.3%
1739378+86.2%
1754808+113.8%
1765644−20.3%
17901,213+88.4%
18252,908+139.7%
18616,058+108.3%
18717,570+25.0%
18818,670+14.5%
18918,334−3.9%
19019,981+19.8%
191113,691+37.2%
192122,367+63.4%
193135,450+58.5%
194142,007+18.5%
195146,074+9.7%
195650,483+9.6%
196153,477+5.9%
196657,540+7.6%
197155,869−2.9%
197652,518−6.0%
198150,466−3.9%
198650,122−0.7%
199149,426−1.4%
199648,419−2.0%
200146,264−4.5%
2006126,323+173.0%
2011131,338+4.0%
2016134,413+2.3%
2021139,163+3.5%
From Statistics Canada, The important increase between 2001 and 2006 was caused by the 2002 municipal reorganization

According to the 2021 Canadian census, Trois-Rivières had a population of 139,163 an increase of 3.5% from its 2016 population of 134,413. This population lived in 66,822 of its 70,411 total private dwellings. With a land area of 288.65 km2 (111.45 sq mi), the city had a population density of 482.1/km2 (1,248.7/sq mi) in 2021.[4]

The Trois-Rivières metropolitan area as defined by Statistics Canada comprises Trois-Rivières itself and six other municipalities. Saint-Maurice, Yamachiche, Champlain and Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes are all located on the North shore and except for Saint-Luc (which is separated from it by Saint-Maurice) are also directly adjacent to Trois-Rivières. The city of Bécancour and the enclaved Indian reservation of Wôlinak are located opposite Trois-Rivières on the South shore of the Saint Lawrence River. In 2021 the population of the census metropolitan area was 161,489 in a land area of 1,038.64 km2 (401.02 sq mi) giving a population density of 155.5/km2 (402.7/sq mi)[5]

In 2021 the population centre had 128,057 people in an area of 98.58 km2 (38.06 sq mi) giving a population density of 1,299.0/km2 (3,364.4/sq mi)[6]

Prior to amalgamation in 2001, the new city of Trois-Rivières was divided among six municipalities.

Municipal population, pre-amalgamation (December 14, 2000)[24]
Municipality Population
Trois-Rivières 48,285
Cap-de-la-Madeleine 32,927
Trois-Rivières-Ouest 24,170
Saint-Louis-de-France 7,798
Pointe-du-Lac 6,846
Sainte-Marthe-du-Cap 6,428
Total 126,454

In 2021,[25] the median age in Trois-Rivières was 47.2 years, compared to the Canadian average of 41.6. Slightly more than a quarter (26.3%) of the population was of retirement age (65 and older) compared to 19% in Canada as a whole.

Language

[edit]

French was the sole mother tongue of 93.9% of residents of Trois-Rivières. The next most common first languages cited were English (1.2%), Spanish (1.1%), and Arabic (0.8%). 0.7% claimed both English and French as a first language, while 0.5% claimed both French and a non-official language.

Religion

[edit]

In 2021, 71.0% of Trois-Rivières residents were Christian, down from 89.9% in 2011.[26] 64.6% of residents were Catholic, 4.4% were Christians of unspecified denomination, and 0.7% were Protestants. All other Christian denominations and Christian-related traditions accounted for 1.3% of the population. 26.8% of residents were nonreligious or secular, up from 9.1% in 2011. All other religions and spiritual traditions account for 2.1% of the population. The largest non-Christian religion was Islam (1.6%).

Ethnicity

[edit]
Jacques Cartier Cross on Saint-Quentin Island

According to the 2021 census, Approximately 92.1% of residents were White, 1.9% were Indigenous and 6.0% were visible minorities. The largest visible minority groups in Trois-Rivières were Black (2.8%), Latin American (1.2%), and Arab (1.0%).

Panethnic groups in the City of Trois-Rivières (2001−2021)
Panethnic
group 		2021[4] 2016[27] 2011[28] 2006[29] 2001[30]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
European[b] 123,100 92.09% 122,690 95.1% 122,315 96.33% 120,365 97.42% 43,990 97.63%
Black 3,735 2.79% 1,810 1.4% 1,175 0.93% 610 0.49% 295 0.65%
Indigenous 2,555 1.91% 1,780 1.38% 1,430 1.13% 1,035 0.84% 375 0.83%
Latin American 1,610 1.2% 1,090 0.84% 820 0.65% 500 0.4% 80 0.18%
Middle Eastern[c] 1,395 1.04% 810 0.63% 630 0.5% 505 0.41% 90 0.2%
East Asian[d] 500 0.37% 330 0.26% 300 0.24% 215 0.17% 25 0.06%
Southeast Asian[e] 400 0.3% 245 0.19% 180 0.14% 225 0.18% 200 0.44%
South Asian 205 0.15% 150 0.12% 40 0.03% 45 0.04% 0 0%
Other[f] 185 0.14% 90 0.07% 70 0.06% 50 0.04% 10 0.02%
Total responses 133,675 96.06% 129,010 95.98% 126,975 96.68% 123,555 97.81% 45,060 97.4%
Total population 139,163 100% 134,413 100% 131,338 100% 126,323 100% 46,264 100%
  • Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses.

Economy

[edit]
Trois-Rivières, 1760

Trois-Rivières is Canada's oldest industrial city, with its first foundry established in 1738.[31] The forge produced iron and cast for 150 years, much of it being shipped to France to be used in French navy ships.[32] The first port facility was built in 1818 near rue Saint-Antoine, and today handles 2.5 million tonnes of cargo annually.[33] The first railway was built in 1879 to support the growing lumber industry.[34]

From the late 1920s until the early 1960s, the city was known as the pulp and paper industry capital of the world.[35] The city once had five mills in operation (Trois-Rivières Ouest, Wayagamack, C.I.P., and St-Maurice Paper). Today, there are three mills left operating (Kruger Trois-Rivières Ouest, Kruger Wayagamack and Cascades Lupel ex-St-Maurice Paper); the closures resulted largely to a decline in newsprint demand and globalization. The closures were not limited to just the pulp and paper industry. Trois-Rivières had an industrial decline in the 1980s and 1990s, when several textile mills were closed after owners moved jobs offshore. Unemployment rose to 14 percent in the 1990s.[36]

Trois-Rivières is attempting an industrial revitalization by establishing technology parks and taking advantage of its central location to both Montreal and Quebec City, its university and port. An example of the new economy is Marmen Incorporated, which manufactures wind turbine towers and employs 1,000 people between its operations in Trois-Rivières and Matane.

The city's other prominent industries include metal transformation, electronics, thermoplastics, and cabinet making. An industrial park adjoining Trois-Rivières Airport serves also as a major centre for the aeronautical industry. Also, the production of food crops is still important to the economy.

Arts and culture

[edit]

Trois-Rivières hosts the FestiVoix de Trois-Rivières, a 10-day summer music festival which attracts in excess of 300,000 visitors annually.[37] The city also hosts the Festival International de la Poésie – an international poetry festival – as well as the Festival International Danse Encore,[38] and the MetalFest de Trois-Rivières every November. In 2009, Trois-Rivières was designated as the 2009 Cultural Capital of Canada for cities having a population of 125,000 or more.[39]

Trois-Rivières is officially the "Poetry Capital of Quebec".[40][41] Numerous plaques displaying poetic verses are installed throughout the centre of the city. An International Festival of Poetry is held annually in the first week of October.

Attractions

[edit]

Cityscape

[edit]
See also: Our Lady of the Cape

The city's main thoroughfare is Boulevard des Forges, an area several blocks long in the heart of the Old Town 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.

Notable landmarks include the Forges du Saint-Maurice, a foundry dating back to the 1730s, the Ursulines Monastery, and Notre-Dame-du-Cap Basilica.

  • The Sieur de Laviolette, founder of Trois-Rivières. The Laviolette Bridge is his namesake.
    The Sieur de Laviolette, founder of Trois-Rivières. The Laviolette Bridge is his namesake.
  • Architecture in old Trois-Rivières.
    Architecture in old Trois-Rivières.
  • The front of the Ursulines Monastery, on rue des Ursulines.
    The front of the Ursulines Monastery, on rue des Ursulines.

Sports

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Trois-Rivières has an internationally known racetrack named Circuit Trois-Rivières. The track has hosted American Le Mans Series, SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series, Star Mazda Series, World RX of Canada and the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series events.[42]

In baseball, Trois-Rivières is represented by the Frontier League's Trois-Rivières Aigles which play their home games at Stade Quillorama. In professional ice hockey, the city is host to the ECHL's Trois-Rivières Lions (farm team of the Montreal Canadiens) beginning with the 2021–22 season, and has had several teams in the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey, typically with home games at the Colisée de Trois-Rivières. The city is also the site of the only remaining pari-mutuel (wagering) harness racing track in Quebec, Hippodrome de Trois-Rivières, which operates live standardbred racing from May through October. In 2014, the hippodrome has resurrected the Prix d'Été, a once major Canadian race for four-year-old pacers that had been contested in Montreal until 1992.

Government

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Main articles: Trois-Rivières (electoral district) and Trois-Rivières (provincial electoral district)
See also: Trois-Rivières (Province of Canada) and Trois-Rivières (Lower Canada)

City council

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Main article: List of mayors of Trois-Rivières

Since its incorporation in 1845, the city has had thirty-six mayors. The mayor presides over the Trois-Rivières City Council.

Municipal reorganization

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See also: Francheville Regional County Municipality

On January 1, 2002, the former city of Trois-Rivières along with its 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 combined to form the new city of Trois-Rivières.

Trois-Rivières federal election results[43]
Year Liberal Conservative Bloc Québécois New Democratic Green
2021 28% 19,974 28% 19,985 30% 21,061 10% 7,145 1% 908
2019 26% 19,005 24% 17,976 29% 21,673 17% 12,655 2% 1,841
2015 30% 20,814 19% 13,001 17% 11,943 32% 22,131 2% 1,205
Trois-Rivières provincial election results[44]
Year CAQ Liberal QC solidaire Parti Québécois
2018 46% 33,676 21% 15,308 15% 11,329 14% 10,429
2014 28% 20,319 36% 26,938 7% 5,020 28% 20,661

Infrastructure

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Main articles: Quebec Autoroute 40, Quebec Autoroute 55, Quebec Route 138, and Chemin du Roy
See also: Trois-Rivières railway station and Quebec Gatineau Railway
Historical marker commemorating the Sieur de Laviolette, founder of Trois-Rivières in Trois-Rivières.

Local bus service is provided by the Société de transport de Trois-Rivières. The Laviolette Bridge links Trois-Rivières to Bécancour of the Centre-du-Québec administrative region on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River. The Laviolette Bridge is the only bridge across the Saint Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec City; therefore it provides an important connection between the north and south shores of the river. Known for its impressive structure, its elegant aesthetics, the bridge has become a major landmark of Trois-Rivières and the Mauricie region. Approximately 40,000 vehicles cross the bridge each day. An airport also serves the city.

Passenger rail service was provided to Trois-Rivières station as recently as 1990, but was suspended as part of service cuts by Via Rail. However, in 2022 Via Rail proposed adding passenger rail service again to Trois-Rivières as part of its High Frequency Rail project that would link Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal and Québec City.

On April 8, 2014, during morning commute an SUV fell into a giant pothole in Trois-Rivières caused by heavy rain accumulation. Nobody was injured during the incident.[45]

The city hosts a major ice-free port on the Saint Lawrence River, handling about 300 ships per annum.[46]

Education

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Trois-Rivières is home to the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, and the Mauricie Campus of the Université de Montréal, a satellite campus for the university's faculty of medicine.[47]

Media

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Main article: Media in Trois-Rivières

Notable people

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Sister cities

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See also

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Notes

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Explanatory notes

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  1. ^ Climate data was recorded at Cap-de-la-Madeleine[21] from December 1920 to April 1932 and at Trois-Rivières from November 1934 to present.[22]
  2. ^ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
  3. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
  4. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
  5. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
  6. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.

Citations

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  1. ^ "Trois-Rivières". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  2. ^ "Banque de noms de lieux du Québec: Reference number 63803". toponymie.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec.
  3. ^ "Répertoire des municipalités: Geographic code 37067". www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation.
  4. ^ a b c d Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (October 26, 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Trois-Rivières, Quebec, [Census metropolitan area]". December 16, 2022. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Trois-Rivières, Quebec, [Population centre]". December 16, 2022. Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  7. ^ includes Trois-Rivières, Bécancour, Champlain, Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes, Yamachiche, Saint-Maurice and Wôlinak
  8. ^ "Table 36-10-0468-01 Gross domestic product (GDP) at basic prices, by census metropolitan area (CMA) (x 1,000,000)". Statistics Canada. January 27, 2017. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  9. ^ Trois Rivières Archived November 10, 2018, at the Wayback Machine at The Canadian Encyclopedia, accessed September 7, 2019
  10. ^ Roy-Sole, Monique. "A Tale of Tenacity", Canadian Geographic Magazine, April 2009, Vol. 129, No. 2, p. 31.
  11. ^ Territorial Division Act Archived September 26, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. Revised Statutes of Quebec D-11.
  12. ^ untitled[dead link‍]
  13. ^ Report Concerning the Archives of Canada for the year 1905. Vol I. of III., p. li.
  14. ^ Lamontagne, Léopold (1966). "LENEUF DE LA POTERIE, JACQUES". Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 1. University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. Archived from the original on December 23, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  15. ^ Richard Preston, Canada's RMC: A History of the Royal Military College of Canada, U of Toronto Press for RMC Club.
  16. ^ "Parc de l'île Saint-Quentin (Québec, Canada)". Parc de l'île Saint-Quentin (Québec, Canada). Archived from the original on September 24, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  17. ^ Trois-Rivières, Ville de. "Accueil - Site officiel de la Ville de Trois-Rivières". Ville de Trois-Rivières. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved June 16, 2004.
  18. ^ a b c d e "Trois-Rivières". Canadian Climate Normals 1991-2020. Environment and Climate Change Canada. October 1, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Daily Data Report for July 1953". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. October 31, 2011. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  20. ^ a b "Daily Data Report for February 1923". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. October 31, 2011. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  21. ^ "Cap De La Madeleine". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. October 31, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  22. ^ "Trois Rivieres". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. October 31, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  23. ^ "Nicolet". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment and Climate Change Canada. Retrieved January 11, 2017. [permanent dead link‍]
  24. ^ "Ville de Trois-Rivières". Laville.v3r.net. Archived from the original on June 9, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  25. ^ "2021 Census Profile-Trois-Rivières, Ville". Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  26. ^ "NHS Profile, Trois-Rivières, V, Quebec, 2011". Statistics Canada. May 8, 2013. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  27. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (October 27, 2021). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  28. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (November 27, 2015). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  29. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (August 20, 2019). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  30. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (July 2, 2019). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on September 24, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  31. ^ "Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site of Canada". Parks Canada. Archived from the original on November 20, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
  32. ^ Roy-Sole, Monique. "A Tale of Tenacity", Canadian Geographic Magazine, April 2009, Vol. 129, No. 2, p. 32
  33. ^ "Le Port de Trois-Rivières". Archived from the original on August 20, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
  34. ^ Roy-Sole, Monique. "A Tale of Tenacity", Canadian Geographic Magazine, April 2009, Vol. 129, No. 2, p. 35
  35. ^ Roy-Sole, Monique. "A Tale of Tenacity", Canadian Geographic Magazine, April 2009, Vol. 129, No. 2, p. 36
  36. ^ Roy-Sole, Monique. "A Tale of Tenacity", Canadian Geographic Magazine, April 2009, Vol. 129, No. 2, p. 37
  37. ^ "Le FestiVoix de Trois-Rivières". Archived from the original on April 13, 2008. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
  38. ^ "Accueil". Festival encore. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  39. ^ Roy-Sole, Monique. "A Tale of Tenacity", Canadian Geographic Magazine, April 2009, Vol. 129, No. 2, p. 38
  40. ^ "Tourisme Trois-Rivières". Archived from the original on April 13, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  41. ^ "Festival International de la Poésie". Archived from the original on March 12, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  42. ^ "Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières". Gp3r.com. Archived from the original on March 2, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  43. ^ "Official Voting Results Raw Data (poll by poll results in Trois-Rivières)". Elections Canada. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  44. ^ "Official Voting Results by polling station (poll by poll results in Trois-Rivières)". Elections Québec. December 3, 2021. Archived from the original on August 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  45. ^ "Giant pothole swallows SUV". Archived from the original on April 10, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  46. ^ "Port of Trois Riviere". findaport.com. Shipping Guides Limited. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  47. ^ "Mauricie". Université de Montréal. Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trois-Rivières, Quebec.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Trois-Rivières.
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