Jonquière is a borough in the city of Saguenay, located in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec, Canada. It is situated on the Saguenay River, near the borough of Chicoutimi.

 

History of Jonquière, Quebec, Canada

Jonquière was founded in 1847 by Marguerite Belley, who settled on the Rivière aux Sables. The city was named after Jacques-Pierre de Taffanel de la Jonquière, Marquis de la Jonquière, who served as the governor of New France from 1749 to 1752.

 

The city's growth was largely driven by the construction of pulp and paper mills in the early 20th century. Between 1925 and 1928, the world's largest aluminum plant was built, along with the city of Arvida. 

 

In 1942, Alcan built a hydroelectric station at Shipshaw, which was the largest in the world at the time. Jonquière, Arvida, and Kénogami were amalgamated into the single city of Jonquière in 1975.

 

Geography of Jonquière, Quebec, Canada

Jonquière is situated on the Saguenay River, which runs through the centre of the borough. The city has a total area of 37,641.59 square kilometers, with a population density of 2.4 people per square kilometer.

 

Demographics of Jonquière, Quebec, Canada

As of the 2021 Census, Jonquière has a population of 91,073, with 45,855 men and 45,220 women. The population has grown by 1.4% since the 2016 census. The majority of the population speaks French as their first language, with 85% of the population speaking French and non-official languages, and 10% speaking English and non-official languages.

 

Development of Jonquière, Quebec, Canada

Jonquière's development was significantly influenced by the Price family, who operated a pulp and paper factory in Kénogami. Today, that factory is owned by Resolute Forest Products. Arvida is home to an aluminum plant owned by Rio Tinto Alcan.

 

Notable Events and People of Jonquière, Quebec, Canada

Jonquière hosted the Quebec Games in the winter of 1976 and the Canoe/Kayak World Championships in slalom and whitewater racing in 1979. The city is also the birthplace of the heavy metal band Voivod.

 

Notable residents include Christiane Chabot, an artist; Bernard Jean, an oboist, conductor, and music educator; Pierre Pilote, an NHL hall of famer; Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, an NHL player; Annie Villeneuve, a singer-songwriter; and Guillaume Morissette, a novelist.

 

Transportation in Jonquière, Quebec, Canada

Jonquière is the northern terminus of the Montreal–Jonquière passenger train operated by Via Rail. The train runs three round weekly trips between Jonquière station and Montreal Central Station, taking about nine hours each way.

 

Cultural Life in Jonquière, Quebec, Canada

Jonquière has a rich cultural scene, with institutions such as the Collège de Jonquière, which specializes in media communications and technology, and French as a second language. 

 

The city also hosts the Centre culturel du Mont-Jacob, which features various cultural events and houses the Centre national d'expositions. 

 

The Musée Sir-William-Price is located in an Anglican church built in 1912. Jonquière has two major festivals: La semaine mondiale de la marionnette, an international puppet and marionette festival, and a winter carnival.

 

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