La Macaza is a municipality and village in the province of Quebec, Canada. The village is located in the Laurentian Mountains, in the Laurentian region, in Antoine-Labelle Regional County Municipality. Its population was 1094 in the 2021 Canadian census.

La Macaza
La Macaza in winter
Location within Antoine-Labelle RCM
Location within Antoine-Labelle RCM
La Macaza is located in Central Quebec
La Macaza
La Macaza
Location in central Quebec
Coordinates: 46°22′N 74°46′W / 46.367°N 74.767°W / 46.367; -74.767[1]
CountryCanada
ProvinceQuebec
RegionLaurentides
RCMAntoine-Labelle
Settled1866
ConstitutedJanuary 1, 2006
Government
 • MayorYves Bélanger
 • Federal ridingLaurentides—Labelle
 • Prov. ridingLabelle
Area
 • Total175.92 km2 (67.92 sq mi)
 • Land161.42 km2 (62.32 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[3]
 • Total1,094
 • Density6.8/km2 (18/sq mi)
 • Pop (2016–21)
Decrease 4.9%
 • Dwellings
997
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
Area code819
HighwaysNo major routes
Websitewww.munilamacaza.ca Edit this at Wikidata

It is home to the La Macaza – Mont Tremblant International Airport that serves the region. A medium security federal penitentiary is located next to the airport.

There is a covered bridge that runs over the Macaza River, built in 1904, and is an international tourist attraction. There are many lakes and beaches in the municipality.

According to the Geographic Names of the Province of Quebec (1921), "Macaza is the name of a native chief from the region", possibly the name of an old Amerindian who camped on the shores of Lake Macaza.[1]

History

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Although indigenous peoples had lived in the area, the first European settlers arrived circa 1866. In 1904, La Macaza was established when the parish of Notre-Dame-du-Divin-Pasteur (Our Lady of Divine Shepherd) was founded. In 1930, the municipality was formed when its territory was detached from the municipality of Marchand (now part of Rivière-Rouge).[1]

It was first a farming community and later on its inhabitants worked mostly in logging, but today La Macaza receives a flood of vacationers each year.[1]

On December 18, 2002, La Macaza was merged into the new town of Rivière-Rouge when the Québec government forced certain province-wide mergers that were alleged to save citizens money. In 2004 the residents voted to separate from the city and on January 1, 2006, the municipality was reinstated.[1]

Geography

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Climate

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Climate data for La Macaza 1981−2010 normals, extremes 1976–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 12.0
(53.6)
12.2
(54.0)
20.0
(68.0)
30.0
(86.0)
35.0
(95.0)
36.0
(96.8)
35.0
(95.0)
35.0
(95.0)
35.0
(95.0)
26.1
(79.0)
19.5
(67.1)
12.5
(54.5)
36.0
(96.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −7.1
(19.2)
−4
(25)
2.0
(35.6)
10.1
(50.2)
18.0
(64.4)
23.1
(73.6)
25.1
(77.2)
23.8
(74.8)
18.6
(65.5)
10.7
(51.3)
3.6
(38.5)
−3.8
(25.2)
10.0
(50.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) −13.3
(8.1)
−11.1
(12.0)
−4.8
(23.4)
4.0
(39.2)
11.0
(51.8)
16.3
(61.3)
18.6
(65.5)
17.4
(63.3)
12.8
(55.0)
5.8
(42.4)
−0.5
(31.1)
−8.9
(16.0)
3.9
(39.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −19.5
(−3.1)
−18
(0)
−11.4
(11.5)
−2.3
(27.9)
3.9
(39.0)
9.4
(48.9)
12.2
(54.0)
11.1
(52.0)
6.9
(44.4)
0.9
(33.6)
−4.7
(23.5)
−13.9
(7.0)
−2.1
(28.2)
Record low °C (°F) −45
(−49)
−41.7
(−43.1)
−39
(−38)
−21.5
(−6.7)
−8
(18)
−2.5
(27.5)
−0.6
(30.9)
−1.5
(29.3)
−6.7
(19.9)
−12.0
(10.4)
−26.1
(−15.0)
−41
(−42)
−45
(−49)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 68.8
(2.71)
54.1
(2.13)
62.7
(2.47)
72.4
(2.85)
93.6
(3.69)
102.8
(4.05)
115.9
(4.56)
100.9
(3.97)
99.7
(3.93)
98.3
(3.87)
88.1
(3.47)
71.5
(2.81)
1,028.8
(40.51)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 18.7
(0.74)
15.4
(0.61)
33.4
(1.31)
64.1
(2.52)
93.3
(3.67)
102.8
(4.05)
115.9
(4.56)
100.9
(3.97)
99.6
(3.92)
95.3
(3.75)
67.8
(2.67)
21.1
(0.83)
828.3
(32.6)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 50.1
(19.7)
38.7
(15.2)
29.3
(11.5)
8.3
(3.3)
0.4
(0.2)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.1
(0.0)
3.0
(1.2)
20.3
(8.0)
50.4
(19.8)
200.6
(78.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 13.5 10.5 10.5 11.8 12.7 13.3 13.7 12.5 13.4 14.6 14.0 13.8 154.3
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 2.2 2.2 4.9 10.9 12.7 13.3 13.7 12.5 13.3 14.3 9.4 3.3 112.7
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 11.8 9.1 6.5 1.9 0.07 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.03 0.65 5.5 11.0 46.55
Source: Environment Canada[4]

Demographics

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Canada census – La Macaza community profile
202120162011
Population1,094 (-4.9% from 2016)1,150 (9.2% from 2011)1,053 (7.4% from 2006)
Land area161.42 km2 (62.32 sq mi)163.48 km2 (63.12 sq mi)162.78 km2 (62.85 sq mi)
Population density6.8/km2 (18/sq mi)7.0/km2 (18/sq mi)6.5/km2 (17/sq mi)
Median age58.4 (M: 57.2, F: 59.2)55.6 (M: 54.7, F: 56.4)53.7 (M: 53.9, F: 53.4)
Private dwellings997 (total)  509 (occupied)1,043 (total)  1,020 (total) 
Median household income$58,000$42,944$29,096
References: 2021[5] 2016[6] 2011[7] earlier[8][9]
Historical census populations – La Macaza
YearPop.±%
1931 421—    
1941 470+11.6%
1951 537+14.3%
1956 536−0.2%
1961 604+12.7%
1966 1,144+89.4%
YearPop.±%
1971 1,168+2.1%
1976 651−44.3%
1981 840+29.0%
1986 863+2.7%
1991 900+4.3%
1996 1,020+13.3%
YearPop.±%
2001 1,015−0.5%
2006 980−3.4%
2011 1,053+7.4%
2016 1,150+9.2%
2021 1,094−4.9%
Source: Statistics Canada[10]

Mother tongue (2021):[3]

  • English as first language: 3.9%
  • French as first language: 91%
  • English and French as first language: 1.7%
  • Other as first language: 3.9%

Government

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La Macaza municipal hall

List of former mayors:

  • Christian Bélisle (2006–2013)
  • Céline Beauregard (2013–2021)
  • Yves Bélanger (2021–present)

Education

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Sainte Agathe Academy (of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board) in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts serves English-speaking students in this community for both elementary and secondary levels.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "La Macaza (Municipalité)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
  2. ^ a b "Répertoire des municipalités - La Macaza". www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "La Macaza, Municipalité (MÉ) Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  4. ^ Environment CanadaCanadian Climate Normals for La Macaza. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  5. ^ "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  6. ^ "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  7. ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  8. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
  9. ^ "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
  10. ^ 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census
  11. ^ "About Us." Saint Agathe Academy. Retrieved on September 4, 2017. See Elementary zone map Archived 2017-09-04 at the Wayback Machine and Secondary zone map Archived 2017-09-04 at the Wayback Machine - Note that all areas covered in the elementary map are also covered in the secondary one.
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