:Gaspé, Quebec
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Gaspé
| official_name = Gaspé
| native_name =
| other_name =
| settlement_type = City
| image_skyline = Gaspé Centre-ville Nord.JPG
| imagesize =
| image_caption = North of Gaspé Bay
| image_flag =
| flag_size =
| image_seal =
| seal_size =
| image_shield =
| shield_size =
| nickname =
| motto =
| image_map = Gaspé Quebec location diagram.png
| mapsize =
| map_caption = Location within La Côte-de-Gaspé RCM
| pushpin_map = Quebec
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_label =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Quebec
| coordinates = {{coord|48|50|N|64|29|W|region:CA-QC|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Canada
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = Quebec
| subdivision_type2 = Region
| subdivision_name2 = Gaspésie–
Îles-de-la-Madeleine
| subdivision_type3 = RCM
| subdivision_name3 = La Côte-de-Gaspé
| subdivision_type4 =
| subdivision_name4 =
| established_title =
| established_date =
| established_title1 = Constituted
| established_date1 = January 1, 1971
| established_title2 =
| established_date2 =
| established_title3 =
| established_date3 =
| government_type =
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Daniel Côté
| leader_title1 = Federal riding
| leader_name1 = Gaspésie—
Îles-de-la-Madeleine
| leader_title2 = Prov. riding
| leader_name2 = Gaspé
| total_type = Total
| area_footnotes = {{cite web |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Gaspe&GENDERlist=1&STATISTIClist=1,4&DGUIDlist=2021A00052403005 |title=Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population: Profile Table – Gaspé, Ville |date=9 February 2022 |publisher=Statistics Canada |access-date=September 20, 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Rivi%C3%A8re%2Dau%2DRenard&DGUIDlist=2021S05101064,2021S05101066&GENDERlist=1&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0 |title=Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population: Profile Table – Gaspé, Quebec [Population centre]; Rivière-au-Renard, Quebec [Population centre] |publisher=Statistics Canada |access-date=15 August 2024}}
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 1356.22
| area_land_km2 = 1118.77
| area_water_km2 =
| area_water_percent =
| area_urban_km2 = 7.05
| area_blank1_title =
| area_blank1_km2 =
| elevation_m = 34.10
| population_total = 15063
| population_as_of = 2021
| population_density_km2 = 13.5
| population_urban = 3848
| population_density_urban_km2 = 545.8
| population_blank1_title = Pop (2016–21)
| population_blank1 = {{increase}} 3.4%
| population_density_blank1_km2 =
| population_blank2_title = Dwellings
| population_blank2 = 7352
| population_note =
| timezone = EST
| utc_offset = −05:00
| timezone_DST = EDT
| utc_offset_DST = −04:00
| postal_code_type = Postal code(s)
| postal_code = G4X
| area_code = 418 and 581
| blank_name = Highways
| blank_info = {{jct|state=QC|QC|132}} {{jct|state=QC|QC|198}}
| blank1_name =
| blank1_info =
| website = {{Official URL}}
| footnotes =
}}
Gaspé ({{IPA|fr|ɡaspe}}) is a city at the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula in the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region of eastern Quebec in Canada. Gaspé is about {{convert|650|km|abbr=on}} northeast of Quebec City and {{convert|350|km|abbr=on}} east of Rimouski. Gaspé has a total population of 15,063, as of the 2021 Canadian Census.
Gaspé is where Jacques Cartier took possession of New France (now part of Canada) in the name of François I of France on July 24, 1534.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jacques-cartier/|title=Jacques Cartier|last=Allaire|first=Bernard|access-date=2016-07-18}}
The most common assumption is that "Gaspé" may come from the Miꞌkmaq word Gespeg which means "Land's end". Other theories hold that the name may be a mutation of the Basque word geizpe or kerizpe which means "shelter" or "place of refuge". Another theory is that it is named after Portuguese explorer Gaspar Corte-Real, who explored Labrador in 1500.{{cite web |url=http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/ToposWeb/fiche.aspx?no_seq=24671 |title=Gaspé (ville) |publisher=Commission de toponymie du Québec |access-date=2011-12-02 |language=fr}}
In 1600, Englishman Richard Hakluyt used the name Gaspay in his translation of Cosmosgraphie by Jean Alfonse, which became the common spelling in the early 17th century. Thereafter, many other spellings appeared, such as Gachepé, Gachepay, Gaschepay, Gaspey, Gaspèche, and Gapèche.
{{Clear left}}
History
{{See also|Municipal history of Quebec}}
File:Jacques Cartier setting up a cross at Gaspé.jpg
Gaspé claims the title of "Cradle of French America", because on June 24, 1534, explorer Jacques Cartier halted in the bay after losing an anchor during a storm and claimed possession of the area by planting a wooden cross with the king's coat of arms and the sentence Vive le Roi de France ("Long live the King of France"). Cartier met there an indigenous tribe that called the territory Honguedo, probably a Mi'kmaq word meaning "meeting place".
Following the Treaty of Paris in 1763, British officers and soldiers acquired free land in Gaspé. In 1784, they were joined by many Loyalist settlers. From then on, Gaspé became an important commercial fishing centre, especially of cod. In 1804, its post office opened.{{cite web |url=http://ville.gaspe.qc.ca/?id=15&titre=a_propos_de_Gaspe&em=48 |title=À propos de Gaspé |publisher=Ville de Gaspé |access-date=2011-12-05 |language=fr}}
In 1833 in Gaspé County there were only ten farmers, all in the Gaspé Bay area (of whom seven were also involved in the fishery), four whalers in Gaspé Bay, five shipbuilders (one a Jersey firm), one blacksmith, two lumber merchants, five shipowners (all of whom were Jerseymen), 18 fish merchants (13 of whom were Jerseymen) and 32 major fishing establishments (of which 16 were Jersey-owned).
Gaspé was incorporated as a village municipality in 1855. From 1861 to 1866, the port of Gaspé was a duty-free port, making shipping the primary economic activity. With 40 to 50 European ships docking annually, many countries opened consulates in Gaspé, including Italy, the United States, Brazil, Portugal, and Norway. By 1911, the railway reached Gaspé. But the town's ambition to become an international shipping and transportation hub ended with the growing importance of the Montreal and Halifax harbours.
During World War II, 3,000 soldiers were stationed at a naval base built at Sandy Beach to patrol the Gulf of Saint Lawrence against German submarines.
In 1959, Gaspé gained city status. In 1971, the city was greatly expanded when it amalgamated these 11 surrounding municipalities (with year of original incorporation):
{{div col}}
- Baie-de-Gaspé-Nord (1855)
- Baie-de-Gaspé-Sud (1855)
- Douglastown (1855)
- Grande-Grève (1944)
- Haldimand (1953)
- L'Anse-aux-Griffons (1870)
- Rivière-au-Renard (1933)
- Saint-Alban-du-Cap-des-Rosiers (1896)
- Saint-Majorique (1966)
- Saint-Maurice (1923)
- York (1866)
{{Div col end}}
In subsequent years, the city's area was further expanded by absorbing large tracts of adjacent unorganized territory.
A representation of a small village, with a dozen houses serving as a historical site, was opened in 2015 in front of the Place Jacques-Cartier mall and above the boardwalk along the York River. The village is a monument to Cartier and serves as a museum for tourists and locals.{{Cite web|url=http://pointeoharagaspe.ca/en/discover-the-site/project-history/|title=Project history – Site historique Gaspé, Berceau du Canada|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-18}}
Geography
In addition to the city, Gaspé's territory includes the communities of Cap-aux-Os, Cap-des-Rosiers, Douglastown, Haldimand, Jersey Cove, L'Anse-à-Fugère, L'Anse-à-Valleau, L'Anse-au-Griffon, Penouille, Petit-Cap, Petite-Rivière-au-Renard, Pointe-Jaune, Rivière-au-Renard, Rivière-Morris, Sandy Beach, Saint-Majorique, Saint-Maurice-de-l'Échouerie, Wakeham, and York Centre. The city's territory occupies {{convert|1440|km2|abbr=on}} and borders the sea and the St. Lawrence River for some {{convert|130|km|abbr=on}}. French is the first language of most of Gaspé's population, where nearly 90% of the population is of French-Canadian origin.
=Climate=
In spite of its coastal position, Gaspé experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with vast seasonal differences in temperature. Summers are warm but relatively short, whereas winters are cold and long, but still far warmer than inland areas of the province given its coastal position. It stays above the subarctic range due to the seasonal lag keeping September temperatures above {{convert|10|C|F}} in daily mean. As a result of the seasonal lag, March is a proper winter month and is far colder than November. As typical of Quebec, precipitation and resulting snowfall is high due to the reliable winter temperatures below freezing.
The highest temperature ever recorded in Gaspé was {{convert|36.0|C|1}} on 27 June 2003. The coldest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|−41.7|C|1}} on 26 January 1897.
{{Weather box
|location = Gaspé Airport, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1895–present{{efn|Extreme high and low temperatures in the table below were recorded at Gaspé from August 1895 to April 1968 and at Gaspé Airport from May 1968 to present.}}
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 14.4
|Feb record high C = 13.7
|Mar record high C = 21.1
|Apr record high C = 27.5
|May record high C = 31.8
|Jun record high C = 36.0
|Jul record high C = 36.1
|Aug record high C = 35.0
|Sep record high C = 33.2
|Oct record high C = 29.4
|Nov record high C = 22.2
|Dec record high C = 15.6
|year record high C = 36.1
|Jan high C = −5.9
|Feb high C = −4.6
|Mar high C = 0.4
|Apr high C = 6.4
|May high C = 14.0
|Jun high C = 19.8
|Jul high C = 23.2
|Aug high C = 22.6
|Sep high C = 17.9
|Oct high C = 10.8
|Nov high C = 4.0
|Dec high C = −2.3
|year high C = 8.9
|Jan mean C = −11.6
|Feb mean C = −10.6
|Mar mean C = −5.3
|Apr mean C = 1.5
|May mean C = 7.7
|Jun mean C = 13.1
|Jul mean C = 16.8
|Aug mean C = 16.1
|Sep mean C = 11.6
|Oct mean C = 5.6
|Nov mean C = −0.2
|Dec mean C = −6.9
|year mean C = 3.1
|Jan low C = −17.3
|Feb low C = −16.5
|Mar low C = −10.8
|Apr low C = −3.3
|May low C = 1.3
|Jun low C = 6.3
|Jul low C = 10.4
|Aug low C = 9.5
|Sep low C = 5.2
|Oct low C = 0.3
|Nov low C = −4.4
|Dec low C = −11.4
|year low C = −2.6
|Jan record low C = −41.7
|Feb record low C = −38.9
|Mar record low C = −32.8
|Apr record low C = −20.6
|May record low C = −11.7
|Jun record low C = −3.9
|Jul record low C = -1.1
|Aug record low C = 0.0
|Sep record low C = −6.7
|Oct record low C = −12.2
|Nov record low C = −23.3
|Dec record low C = −32.2
|year record low C = −41.7
|precipitation colour= green
|Jan precipitation mm = 87.5
|Feb precipitation mm = 65.1
|Mar precipitation mm = 98.4
|Apr precipitation mm = 90.0
|May precipitation mm = 89.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 79.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 100.3
|Aug precipitation mm = 93.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 81.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 121.3
|Nov precipitation mm = 111.4
|Dec precipitation mm = 116.9
|year precipitation mm = 1135.1
|rain colour= green
|Jan rain mm= 16.2
|Feb rain mm= 7.8
|Mar rain mm= 27.3
|Apr rain mm= 50.2
|May rain mm= 84.1
|Jun rain mm= 79.6
|Jul rain mm= 100.3
|Aug rain mm= 93.7
|Sep rain mm= 81.6
|Oct rain mm= 116.1
|Nov rain mm= 75.8
|Dec rain mm= 46.5
|year rain mm= 779.2
|snow colour = green
|Jan snow cm= 80.2
|Feb snow cm= 63.2
|Mar snow cm= 71.8
|Apr snow cm= 36.8
|May snow cm= 4.6
|Jun snow cm= 0.0
|Jul snow cm= 0.0
|Aug snow cm= 0.0
|Sep snow cm= 0.0
|Oct snow cm= 4.0
|Nov snow cm= 36.2
|Dec snow cm= 75.0
|year snow cm= 371.8
|humidity colour= green
|time day = 1500 LST
|Jan humidity= 65.3
|Feb humidity= 62.6
|Mar humidity= 62.1
|Apr humidity= 61.0
|May humidity= 58.0
|Jun humidity= 59.3
|Jul humidity= 63.4
|Aug humidity= 62.0
|Sep humidity= 62.7
|Oct humidity= 64.9
|Nov humidity= 70.0
|Dec humidity= 71.5
|year humidity= 63.6
|unit precipitation days= 0.2 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 14.8
|Feb precipitation days = 12.1
|Mar precipitation days = 13.9
|Apr precipitation days = 13.0
|May precipitation days = 13.9
|Jun precipitation days = 13.0
|Jul precipitation days = 15.4
|Aug precipitation days = 12.9
|Sep precipitation days = 11.9
|Oct precipitation days = 14.6
|Nov precipitation days = 14.6
|Dec precipitation days = 16.2
|year precipitation days= 166.3
|unit rain days= 0.2 mm
|Jan rain days = 2.3
|Feb rain days = 2.0
|Mar rain days = 4.0
|Apr rain days = 8.8
|May rain days = 13.7
|Jun rain days = 13.0
|Jul rain days = 15.4
|Aug rain days = 12.9
|Sep rain days = 11.9
|Oct rain days = 14.1
|Nov rain days = 8.9
|Dec rain days = 4.5
|year rain days= 111.4
|unit snow days= 0.2 cm
|Jan snow days = 13.7
|Feb snow days = 11.4
|Mar snow days = 11.7
|Apr snow days = 6.7
|May snow days = 1.3
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 1.5
|Nov snow days = 8.0
|Dec snow days = 14.3
|year snow days= 68.5
|Jan sun = 106.4
|Feb sun = 128.6
|Mar sun = 154.0
|Apr sun = 162.5
|May sun = 211.7
|Jun sun = 236.7
|Jul sun = 251.3
|Aug sun = 231.8
|Sep sun = 176.8
|Oct sun = 131.5
|Nov sun = 90.1
|Dec sun = 88.5
|year sun = 1970.1
|Jan percentsun = 39.2
|Feb percentsun = 44.3
|Mar percentsun = 41.8
|Apr percentsun = 39.6
|May percentsun = 44.8
|Jun percentsun = 49.2
|Jul percentsun = 51.6
|Aug percentsun = 52.1
|Sep percentsun = 46.7
|Oct percentsun = 39.1
|Nov percentsun = 34.5
|Dec percentsun = 34.6
|year percentsun = 43.0
|source 1 = Environment Canada{{Cite web
| work = Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010
| title = Gaspé A
| date = 25 September 2013
| publisher = Environment Canada
| url = http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?stnID=5794&autofwd=1
| access-date = 27 July 2016}}{{Cite web
| work = Canadian Climate Data
| title = Daily Data Report for January 1897
| date = 31 October 2011
| publisher = Environment Canada
| url = http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=%7C&dlyRange=1895-08-01%7C1985-01-31&mlyRange=1895-01-01%7C1984-12-01&StationID=5793&Prov=QC&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&selRowPerPage=25&Line=0&searchMethod=contains&txtStationName=gaspe&timeframe=2&Year=1897&Month=1#
| access-date = 27 July 2016}}{{Cite web
| work = Canadian Climate Data
| title = Gaspé
| date = 31 October 2011
| publisher = Environment Canada
| url = http://climate.weather.gc.ca/historical_data/search_historic_data_stations_e.html?searchType=stnName&timeframe=1&txtStationName=gaspe&searchMethod=contains&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&optLimit=specDate&Year=1895&Month=8&Day=1&selRowPerPage=25
| access-date = 27 July 2016}}{{Cite web
| work = Canadian Climate Data
| title = Daily Data Report for March 2012
| date = 31 October 2011
| publisher = Environment Canada
| url = http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=1965-02-24%7C2013-03-14&dlyRange=1968-05-01%7C2013-03-13&mlyRange=1968-01-01%7C2013-03-01&StationID=5794&Prov=QC&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&selRowPerPage=25&Line=4&searchMethod=contains&txtStationName=gaspe&timeframe=2&Year=2012&Month=3#
| access-date = 27 July 2016}}
| date = July 2016
}}
Demographics
File:Gaspé - Rue de la Reine.jpg
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Gaspé had a population of {{val|15063|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|6780|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|7352|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:15063-14568}}|14568|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|14568|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{convert|1118.77|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|15063|1118.77|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000202&geocode=A000224 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Quebec | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 9, 2022 | accessdate=August 29, 2022}}
{{Canada census
|location = Gaspé
|2021_population=15,063 | 2021_pop_delta=+3.4 | 2021_land_area=1,118.77 | 2021_pop_density=13.5
|2021_median_age=50.4 | 2021_median_age_m=49.6 | 2021_median_age_f=50.8
|2021_total_pvt_dwell=7,352 |2021_occ_pvt_dwell=6,780 |2021_mean_hh_income=72,000
|2021_geocode=2021A00052403005 | 2021_access_date=2023-10-19
|2016_population=14,568 | 2016_pop_delta=-3.9 | 2016_land_area=1121.43 | 2016_pop_density=13.0
|2016_median_age=50.0 | 2016_median_age_m=49.3 | 2016_median_age_f=50.6
|2016_total_pvt_dwell=7,074 | 2016_mean_hh_income=59,819 | 2016_access_date=2021-04-16
|2011_population=15,163 | 2011_pop_delta=+2.2 | 2011_land_area=1121.07 | 2011_pop_density=13.5
|2011_median_age=47.5 | 2011_median_age_m=47.0 | 2011_median_age_f=48.0
|2011_total_pvt_dwell=6,897 | 2011_mean_hh_income=52,898 | 2011_access_date=2014-01-27
|2006_population=14,834 | 2006_pop_delta=-0.7 | 2006_land_area=1120.62 | 2006_pop_density=13.2
|2006_median_age=45.2 | 2006_median_age_m=44.7 | 2006_median_age_f=45.6
|2006_total_pvt_dwell=6,428 | 2006_mean_hh_income=44,266 | 2006_access_date=2011-12-02
|2001_population=14,932 | 2001_pop_delta=-9.6 | 2001_land_area=1120.63 | 2001_pop_density=13.3
|2001_median_age=41.9 | 2001_median_age_m=41.4 | 2001_median_age_f=42.4
|2001_total_pvt_dwell=6,280 | 2001_mean_hh_income=39,216 | 2001_access_date=2011-12-02
|notes=Includes [http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/census06/corrections/updatepages/Cgen001.cfm?Lvl=H corrections and updates for 2006.]
}}
| class="wikitable" |
| Census
| ! Total |colspan="1"| !colspan="3"|{{center|French}} |colspan="1"| !colspan="3"|{{center|English}} |colspan="1"| !colspan="3"|{{center|French & English}} |colspan="1"| !colspan="3"|{{center|Other}} |
|---|
| Year
| ! Responses | ! Count ! Trend ! Pop % | ! Count ! Trend ! Pop % | ! Count ! Trend ! Pop % | ! Count ! Trend ! Pop % |
| {{center|2021}}
| | {{center|14,940}} | | 12,945 | {{increase}} 3.9% | 86.6% | | 1,560 | {{decrease}} 0.6% | 10.4% | | 275 | {{increase}} 57.1% | 1.8% | | 135 | {{increase}} 68.8% | 0.9% |
| {{center|2016}}
| | {{center|14,300}} | | 12,460 | {{decrease}} 4.8% | 87.1% | | 1,570 | {{decrease}} 7.4% | 11.0% | | 175 | {{increase}} 2.9% | 1.2% | | 80 | {{increase}} 45.5% | 0.6% |
| {{center|2011}}
| | {{center|15,010}} | | 13,090 | {{increase}} 5.2% | 87.2% | | 1,695 | {{decrease}} 10.1% | 11.3% | | 170 | {{increase}} 61.9% | 1.1% | | 55 | {{decrease}} 63.3% | 0.4% |
| {{center|2006}}
| | {{center|14,585}} | | 12,445 | {{decrease}} 2.1% | 85.3% | | 1,885 | {{increase}} 4.7% | 12.9% | | 105 | {{decrease}} 8.7% | 0.7% | | 150 | {{increase}} 233.3% | 1.0% |
| {{center|2001}}
| | {{center|14,670}} | | 12,710 | {{decrease}} 7.9% | 86.6% | | 1,800 | {{decrease}} 19.5% | 12.3% | | 115 | {{increase}} 666.6% | 0.8% | | 45 | {{decrease}} 78.0% | 0.3% |
| {{center|1996}}
| | {{center|16,250}} | | 13,795 | n/a | 84.9% | | 2,235 | n/a | 13.8% | | 15 | n/a | 0.1% | | 205 | n/a | 1.3% |
{{Historical populations
| title= Historical Census Data – Gaspé, Quebec
| percentages =
| align = none
| cols = 3
| shading = off
|source = Statistics Canada1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021 census
| 1881 |174
| 1891 |307
| 1901 |454
| 1911 |606
| 1921 |764
| 1931 |919
| 1941 |924
| 1951 |1692
| 1956 |2194
| 1961 |2603
| 1966 |2938
| 1971* |17211
| 1976 |16842
| 1981 |17261
| 1986 |17350
| 1991 |16402
| 1996 |16517
| 2001 |14932
| 2006 |14834
| 2011 |15163
| 2016 |14568
| 2021 |15063
| footnote = (*) Gaspé annexed the Municipality of Baie-de-Gaspé-Sud, the Municipality of Grande-Grève, the Municipality of Haldimand, the Municipality of L’Anse-aux-Griffons, the Municipality of Rivière-au-Renard, the Municipality of Saint-Alban-du-Cap-des-Rosiers, the Municipality of Saint-Majorique, the Municipality of York, the Parish of Saint-Maurice, the Township of Baie-de-Gaspé-Nord and the Township of Douglas.
}}
Economy
File:Forillon National Park of Canada 2.jpg]]
The regional hospital is the main employer in the city. Tourism is a very important part of the city and the region's economy. Many visitors come to the city to enjoy the environment and the surrounding attractions, such as Forillon National Park that is fully within the city's boundaries. One of the main summer attractions for tourists is salmon fishing. The York River, Saint John's River, and the Dartmouth River are where tourists and locals come to fish. It is not required to have a guide while fishing these rivers but a private guide can be hired upon request. Other tourist attractions include Haldimand Beach, Jacques Cartier's Cross (stone monument), and a local museum which shelters the World War I and World War II cenotaph commemorating Gaspésian veterans.
Another big employer is the LM Wind Power Canada Inc. factory that makes the windmill blades to then have them transported elsewhere.[https://web.archive.org/web/20221127015218/https://creneaueolien.ca/en/?team=lm-windpower-2/ creneaueolien.ca: "LM Wind Power Canada Inc."] The windmill factory is a tourist attraction where tourist can see the big size of the blades and have the opportunity to take a picture next to one. The factory was expanded in 2015 by a joint venture with Senvion to produce long-blade turbine components for the Mesgi'g Ugju's'n wind farm,{{cite press release |url=http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/senvion-inaugurates-the-serial-production-of-the-longest-blade-with-anti-icing-system-in-canada-for-its-32m114-ccv-turbines-with-lm-wind-power-529809341.html |via=Cision |title=Senvion inaugurates the serial production of the longest blade with anti-icing system in Canada for its 3.2M114 CCV turbines with LM Wind Power |publisher=Senvion Canada Inc. |date=28 September 2015 |access-date=14 October 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.lmwindpower.com/en/stories-and-press/stories/sustainability/launching-canadas-longest-blade |title=lmwindpower.com: "Launching Canada's longest blade" |access-date=2017-05-29 |archive-date=2018-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421163011/https://www.lmwindpower.com/en/stories-and-press/stories/sustainability/launching-canadas-longest-blade |url-status=dead }} developed by Longueuil, Quebec-based Innergex in Avignon Township.{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/energy-and-resources/innergex-migmaq-communities-plan-365-million-gaspe-wind-farm/article17634075/ |title=Innergex, Mi'gmaq communities join forces on planned $365-million Gaspé wind farm |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |last=Marotte |first=Bertrand |date=24 March 2014 |access-date=14 October 2024}} The $365-million project, one of over two dozen financed by Hydro-Quebec and the provincial government,[https://web.archive.org/web/20150909073649/http://www.mern.gouv.qc.ca/english/energy/wind/wind-projects.jsp mern.gouv.qc.ca: "Wind energy projects in Québec"] was completed on time in December 2016.[https://web.archive.org/web/20150714130356/http://www.innergex.com/en/site/mesgig-ugjusn/ innergex.ca: "Mesgi’g Ugju’s’n"]
Attractions
=Cross of Gaspé=
{{main|Cross of Gaspé}}
File:Gaspé, Quebec (37075900106).jpg]]
In 1934, the Canadian government commissioned the installation of a monolithic granite cross in Gaspé, for the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Jacques Cartier in Gaspé as of July 24, 1534. This {{convert|32|ft|adj=on}} high monolithic cross had been cut from a block of gray granite extracted from the stone quarry of Augustus Dumas, in Rivière-à-Pierre in the Portneuf region, on North Shore of the Saint Lawrence River. The Cross of Gaspé weighs more than 42 tons and was transported by two railcars of the Canadian National Railway from Rivière-à-Pierre. The cross was carried on a coaster to the Gaspé wharf. The cross was erected on its base using a rail system of pulleys and cables, driven by horses. The original craftsmen would be listed at the top of the cross.Journal Le Soleil, August 22, 2009, journalist Johanne Martin, article "Croix de Gaspé: des origines reconnues"("Cross of Gaspé: origins recognized"), describing the unveiling of August 23, 2009, a commemorative plaque located at the foot of the cross of Gaspé, in memory of the craftsmen who made the cross in 1934. {{in lang|fr}} This cross is the largest monolithic granite cross crafted in Canada.
A commemorative plaque located at the foot of the Cross in Gaspé was inaugurated on August 23, 2009, in memory of artisans from Rivière-à-Pierre who extracted and cut the block of granite. A replica of the Cross of Gaspé was crafted by Rivière-à-Pierre craftsmen and erected in the heart of the village of Rivière-à-Pierre. That granite cross is half the height of the original cross.
Government
List of former mayors:
{{Incomplete list|date=April 2021}}
- Arthur Drolet (–2003)
- François Roussy (2003–2013)
- Daniel Côté (2013–present)
Infrastructure
File:QC Gaspe2 tango7174.jpg in Gaspé]]
Gaspé is accessible by automobile or Orléans Express bus service via Quebec Route 132, and the Michel-Pouliot Gaspé Airport.
The town is also accessible by Quebec Route 198 that passes through the interior of the peninsula. Select travellers can also access the town during the winter via one of the many snowmobile trails that run through the interior and connect with many other towns on the northern and southern coasts of the peninsula. In the summer the same trails are open to all-terrain vehicle travellers as well.
File:Gaspé VIA Rail.jpg train station in Gaspé]]
Via Rail's Montreal–Gaspé train was terminated due to unsafe trackage sometime in 2013. The VIA Rail Train to Gaspé was being turned in New Carlisle, {{convert|104|mi|km|order=flip}} west of Gaspé. Via was offering bus service between New Carlisle and Gaspé. The line was undergoing repairs since December 2011. At present time Via has no plans to reinstate service on this line.{{cite news |url=http://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/709804/train-passagers-gaspesie-incertitude |title=Gaspésie : le retour du train de passagers incertain |trans-title=Gaspésie: the uncertain return of the passenger train |language=fr |work=Radio-Canada |date=4 March 2015 |access-date=20 November 2016}}
The Port of Gaspé has a two-sided wharf; on the one, it measures {{convert|175|m|ft}}, with a depth of {{convert|8|m|ft}}, and on the other measures {{convert|180|m|ft}} with a depth of {{convert|10|m|ft}}. The Port of Gaspé is accessible year-round with the occasional help of an icebreaker.{{cite web |url=http://www.qsl.com/fr/ports/gaspe.html |website=qsl.com |title=Port de Gaspé: Terminal Sandy Beach |language=fr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021063127/http://www.qsl.com/fr/ports/gaspe.html |archive-date=October 21, 2014}}
Its near neighbour Chandler is a port of call for Le Vacancier, a ferry which links Montréal to the Îles-de-la-Madeleine.[https://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/portal/page/portal/Librairie/Publications/fr/maritime/CarteTraversesDesertesMaritimes.pdf gouv.qc.ca: "Traverses et dessertes maritimes du Quebec"] {{dead link|date=November 2016}}
Education
Centre des services scolaire des Chic-Chocs operates Francophone schools.{{cite web|url=https://csscc.gouv.qc.ca/ecoles-et-centres/|title=Les écoles et les centres |trans-title=Schools and centres |publisher=Centre des services scolaire des Chic-Chocs|access-date=17 July 2024 |language=fr}}
- École secondaire Antoine-Roy
- École secondaire C.-E.-Pouliot
- École Aux Quatre-Vents
- École Notre-Dame-de-Liesse
- École Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Cœur
- École Saint-Joseph-Alban
- École Saint-Paul
- École Saint-Rosaire et de la Découverte
Eastern Shores School Board operates Anglophone schools. It is zoned to Gaspé Polyvalent School and Gaspé Elementary School.{{cite web |url=https://www.essb.qc.ca/ |title=News and Events |publisher=Eastern Shores School Board |access-date=17 July 2024}}
Sister cities
Gaspé is twinned with:
- Puerto Montt, Chile (2005)
- Saint-Malo, France (2009)
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
= Notes =
{{Notelist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Gaspé}}
- [http://www.ville.gaspe.qc.ca/ Ville de Gaspé]
{{Geographic location
| title = Adjacent Municipal Subdivisions
| Centre = Gaspé
| North = Honguedo Strait
| East = Gulf of St. Lawrence
| South = Percé
| Southwest = Mont-Alexandre
| West = Rivière-Saint-Jean
| Northwest =
}}
{{La Côte-de-Gaspé RCM|state=expanded}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaspe, Quebec}}
Category:Cities and towns in Quebec