:Thetford Mines
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Thetford Mines
|settlement_type = City
|image_skyline = Thetford.jpg
|image_caption = City centre
|image_flag =
|flag_size =
|image_seal =
|seal_size =
|image_shield = Blason ville ca Thetford Mines (Québec).svg
|shield_size = 120x90px
|nickname =
|motto = Fervet Opus{{spaces|2}}(Latin)
"Hard Work Prevails"
|image_map = Thetford Mines Quebec location diagram.png
|map_caption = Location within Les Appalaches RCM
|pushpin_map = Canada Southern Quebec
|pushpin_label_position =
|pushpin_label =
|pushpin_map_caption = Location in province of Quebec
|coordinates = {{coord|format=dms|region:CA-QC|display=inline,title}}
|coor_pinpoint =
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{CAN}}
|subdivision_type1 = Province
|subdivision_name1 = {{QC}}
|subdivision_type2 = Region
|subdivision_name2 = Chaudière-Appalaches
|subdivision_type3 = RCM
|subdivision_name3 = Les Appalaches
|subdivision_type4 =
|subdivision_name4 =
|established_title = Founded
|established_date = 1876
|established_title1 = Constituted
|established_date1 = October 17, 2001
|established_title2 =
|established_date2 =
|established_title3 =
|established_date3 =
|government_type =
|leader_title = Mayor
|leader_name = Marc-Alexandre Brousseau
|leader_title1 = Federal riding
|leader_name1 = Mégantic—L'Érable
|leader_title2 = Prov. riding
|leader_name2 = Lotbinière-Frontenac
|leader_title3 =
|leader_name3 =
|leader_title4 =
|leader_name4 =
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_km2 = 227.70
|area_land_km2 = 225.97
|area_water_km2 =
|area_water_percent =
|area_urban_km2 = 17.43
|area_metro_footnotes = [https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Thetford%20mines&DGUIDlist=2021A00052431084,2021S05100929,2021S0504430&GENDERlist=1&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0 Thetford Mines (Census agglomeration), Quebec 2021 Census Profile]. The census agglomeration consists of Thetford Mines, Saint-Adrien-d'Irlande and Saint-Joseph-de-Coleraine.
|area_metro_km2 = 405.92
|elevation_footnotes =
|elevation_m =
|population_total = 26072
|population_as_of = 2021
|population_density_km2 = 115.4
|population_urban = 20312
|population_density_urban_km2 = 1165.3
|population_metro = 28287
|population_density_metro_km2 = 69.7
|population_blank1_title = Pop 2016–2021
|population_blank1 = {{increase}} 2.6%
|population_density_blank1_km2 =
|population_blank2_title= Dwellings
|population_blank2 = 13059
|population_demonym = Thetfordois, Thetfordoises (Fr); Thetforder (EN)
|population_note =
|timezone = EST
|utc_offset = −5
|timezone_DST = EDT
|utc_offset_DST = −4
|postal_code_type = Postal code(s)
|postal_code = G6G & G6H
|area_code = 418 and 581
|blank_name = Highways
|blank_info = {{jct|state=QC|QC|112}}
{{jct|state=QC|QC|267}}
{{jct|state=QC|QC|269}}
{{jct|state=QC|QC|271}}
|blank1_name = Geocode
|blank1_info = 24 31084
|website = {{Official URL}}
|footnotes =
}}
Thetford Mines ({{IPA|fr|tɛtfɚd majnz, -fœʁd -}}; Canada 2021 Census population 26,072) is a city in south-central Quebec, Canada. It is the seat of Les Appalaches Regional County Municipality.
The city is located in the Appalachian Mountains, 187 km east-northeast of Montreal and 79 km south of Quebec City.[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/thetford-mines Thetford Mines], thecanadianencyclopedia.ca
It is known mostly as the asbestos capital of Canada.[https://stadiumjourney.com/news/a-stadium-reborn-in-thetford-mines/ A Stadium Reborn in Thetford Mines], stadiumjourney.com
{{TOC limit|2}}
History
File:Rpcq bien 200692 217724.jpg
File:Moulin King Amalgamate Asbestos 1909.jpg
File:Lake Asbestos. Grève in spring 1975.jpg
Before European colonization, the Abenaki inhabited the Thetford Mines region.
A village was founded in 1876 after the discovery of large asbestos deposits in the area. The village incorporated as Kingsville (named after William King, an important mine owner) in 1892. A few years later, in 1905, Kingsville was renamed after the Township of Thetford in which it was founded, which was named after the town of Thetford in Norfolk, England.
During the 20th century, Thetford Mines became a hub for one of the world's largest asbestos-producing regions.
back then being called "Asbestos Capital of the World" and the "City of White Gold". In the boom times, there were seven mines operating in the area, employing 4,000 workers.[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadas-chrysotile-business-is-dying-out Canada's Chrysotile Business Is Dying Out], thecanadianencyclopedia.ca
In 1949 and in 1975, asbestos miners in Asbestos and Thetford Mines began strikes each lasting for almost five months which were the most violent labor conflicts in the history of Quebec.{{Cite web |title=Asbestos strike (1949) |url=http://biographi.ca/en/topics/topic-match-list.php?id=2313 |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=Dictionary of Canadian Biography}}
In 2001 the city expanded to its current boundaries, incorporating the nearby towns of Black Lake, Robertsonville, Pontbriand and Thetford-Sud.
When Canada banned the use of asbestos in schools and homes, after using it for years as insulation, the mines of Thetford Mines largely exported their asbestos to areas such as southeast Asia, the Middle East, and South and Central America.[https://canadianmortgagesinc.ca/2013/01/10-worst-places-to-live-in-canada-part-11-thetford-mines-quebec.10 Worst Places to Live in Canada: Part 11, Thetford Mines, Quebecl], canadianmortgagesinc.ca However, in 2012, the city's last mine closed and Thetford Mines has developed other sectors, namely manufacturing.
The city of Thetford Mines is the seat of the judicial district of Frontenac.[http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=/D_11/D11_A.HTM Territorial Division Act]. Revised Statutes of Quebec D-11.
Climate
The Köppen–Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as humid continental (Dfb).{{cite web|title=Climate: Thetford Mines – Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table|url=http://en.climate-data.org/location/30335/|publisher=Climate-Data.org|access-date=31 August 2013}} Winters are very cold and snowy, while summers are warm and rainy when it receives more precipitation.
{{Weather box
|location = Thetford Mines, Quebec, 1981–2010 normals
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|Jan record high C = 14.0
|Feb record high C = 15.0
|Mar record high C = 19.0
|Apr record high C = 29.0
|May record high C = 31.1
|Jun record high C = 32.0
|Jul record high C = 33.0
|Aug record high C = 32.8
|Sep record high C = 32.0
|Oct record high C = 26.1
|Nov record high C = 20.5
|Dec record high C = 15.0
|Jan high C = −7.3
|Feb high C = −5.1
|Mar high C = 0.4
|Apr high C = 8.4
|May high C = 16.3
|Jun high C = 21.3
|Jul high C = 23.5
|Aug high C = 22.5
|Sep high C = 17.8
|Oct high C = 10.5
|Nov high C = 3.4
|Dec high C = −3.8
|year high C = 9.0
|Jan mean C = −11.6
|Feb mean C = −9.5
|Mar mean C = 4.0
|Apr mean C = 3.9
|May mean C = 11.1
|Jun mean C = 16.1
|Jul mean C = 18.6
|Aug mean C = 17.6
|Sep mean C = 13.2
|Oct mean C = 6.5
|Nov mean C = 0.1
|Dec mean C = −7.4
|year mean C = 4.6
|Jan low C = −15.9
|Feb low C = −13.8
|Mar low C = −8.4
|Apr low C = −0.6
|May low C = 5.8
|Jun low C = 10.9
|Jul low C = 13.7
|Aug low C = 12.8
|Sep low C = 8.5
|Oct low C = 2.6
|Nov low C = −3.2
|Dec low C = −11.0
|year low C = 0.1
|Jan record low C = −36.0
|Feb record low C = −35.0
|Mar record low C = −34.0
|Apr record low C = −19.0
|May record low C = -8.3
|Jun record low C = −1.5
|Jul record low C = 3.0
|Aug record low C = 1.0
|Sep record low C = −6.0
|Oct record low C = −11.0
|Nov record low C = −22.2
|Dec record low C = −34.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 107.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 86.5
|Mar precipitation mm = 89.1
|Apr precipitation mm = 88.3
|May precipitation mm = 105.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 130.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 133.3
|Aug precipitation mm = 135.3
|Sep precipitation mm = 100.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 112.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 104.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 117.2
|year precipitation mm = 1309.6
|unit precipitation days = 0.2mm
|Jan precipitation days = 17.9
|Feb precipitation days = 14.7
|Mar precipitation days = 14.3
|Apr precipitation days = 13.6
|May precipitation days = 15.2
|Jun precipitation days = 15.6
|Jul precipitation days = 16.3
|Aug precipitation days = 14.1
|Sep precipitation days = 13.4
|Oct precipitation days = 16.2
|Nov precipitation days = 17.2
|Dec precipitation days = 18.6
|year precipitation days = 186.9
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 25.9
|Feb rain mm = 15.5
|Mar rain mm = 27.0
|Apr rain mm = 65.7
|May rain mm = 102.9
|Jun rain mm = 130.0
|Jul rain mm = 133.3
|Aug rain mm = 135.3
|Sep rain mm = 100.1
|Oct rain mm = 105.6
|Nov rain mm = 70.6
|Dec rain mm = 33.6
|year rain mm = 945.5
|unit rain days = 0.2mm
|Jan rain days = 3.0
|Feb rain days = 2.5
|Mar rain days = 2.0
|Apr rain days = 11.0
|May rain days = 15.1
|Jun rain days = 15.6
|Jul rain days = 16.3
|Aug rain days = 14.1
|Sep rain days = 13.4
|Oct rain days = 15.4
|Nov rain days = 11.0
|Dec rain days = 4.6
|year rain days = 126.9
|Jan snow cm = 82.1
|Feb snow cm = 71.0
|Mar snow cm = 62.0
|Apr snow cm = 23.1
|May snow cm = 2.0
|Jun snow cm = 0.0
|Jul snow cm = 0.0
|Aug snow cm = 0.0
|Sep snow cm = 0.0
|Oct snow cm = 6.6
|Nov snow cm = 34.0
|Dec snow cm = 83.6
|year snow cm = 364.5
|unit snow days = 0.2 cm
|Jan snow days = 16.0
|Feb snow days = 13.4
|Mar snow days = 11.1
|Apr snow days = 5.0
|May snow days = 0.47
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.04
|Oct snow days = 1.8
|Nov snow days = 8.1
|Dec snow days = 15.6
|year snow days = 71.4
|Jan snow depth cm = 52
|Feb snow depth cm = 70
|Mar snow depth cm = 76
|Apr snow depth cm = 32
|May snow depth cm = 0
|Jun snow depth cm = 0
|Jul snow depth cm = 0
|Aug snow depth cm = 0
|Sep snow depth cm = 0
|Oct snow depth cm = 0
|Nov snow depth cm = 4
|Dec snow depth cm = 26
|year snow depth cm =
{{cite web
|url = https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?searchType=stnName&txtStationName=thet&searchMethod=contains&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=5542&dispBack=1
|publisher = Environment and Climate Change Canada
|title = 1981 to 2010 Canadian Climate Normals – Station: Thetford Mines, Quebec
|date = 25 September 2013
|access-date = January 31, 2023
}}
}}
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Thetford Mines had a population of {{val|26072|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|12216|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|13059|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:26072-25403}}|25403|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|25403|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{convert|225.97|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|26072|225.97|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}}
Activities
{{Multiple issues|{{Essay-like|section|date=November 2019}}
{{More citations needed section|date=November 2019}}|section=yes}}
=Winter=
Given the abundance of snow for several months in winter, it is a popular area for snowmobiling and four-wheel drive vehicles as well as for downhill and cross-country skiing.
The city is home to the minor-pro ice hockey team the Thetford Mines Assurancia, who are members of the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (LNAH). They play home games at Centre Mario Gosselin. Thetford Mines is the only city to have hosted an LNAH team in every season since the league's 1996 inception. The city has ringette and hockey organisations for the youth, and there are yearly tournaments for ringette and minor Hockey players, as well as old-timers hockey tournaments.
Thetford Mines was chosen as a top-five finalist for Kraft Hockeyville for 2009 on the February 21, 2009 Hockey Night In Canada "Hockey Day In Canada" special.
=Spring=
Spring is maple syrup producing time in the area. The numerous stands of maple trees in the region makes it one of the top maple syrup producing regions in the world. In March and early April, local citizens often make a ritual outing to one of the area's sugar camps (or cabanes à sucre) for sugaring off parties where maple syrup, reduced and thickened by slow boiling, is poured over fresh snow to create a delightful taffy.
=Summer=
Summer brings a host of other outdoor activities. An abundance of lakes and rivers provide plenty of opportunities for outdoor gatherings and cool refreshment. A series of summer festivals add to the enjoyment of the season, with sporting events, concerts and fireworks.
=Autumn=
The same maples that produce syrup in spring, provide brilliant displays of colour in autumn.
Media
Two radio stations, CFJO ("O97,3") and CKLD ("Passion-Rock 105,5") serve Thetford Mines. Both stations air programming produced partially in Thetford Mines and partially in Victoriaville.
Notable people
- Bob Fillion (1920–2015), late hockey player with the Montreal Canadiens
- Raymond Setlakwe (1928–2021), entrepreneur, lawyer, and former Quebec senator
- Armand Vaillancourt (born 1929), Canadian sculptor, painter and performance artist
- Michel Louvain (1937–2021), French Canadian singer and television presenter
- Roch Thériault (1947–2011), cult leader and polygamist known for his totalitarian leadership of the Ant Hill Kids.
- Janel Gauthier (b. 1950), psychologist
- Michaëlle Jean (b. 1957), former Governor General of Canada and current Secretary-General of La Francophonie.
- Jean-François Lisée (b. 1958), former leader of the Parti Québécois, former Leader of the Opposition in Quebec, and former member of the National Assembly of Quebec for the electoral district of Rosemont
- Daniel Poudrier (b. 1964), retired hockey player, city councillor
- Mario Gosselin (b. 1963), hockey player
- Patrice Tardif (b. 1970), hockey player, formerly in the NHL
- Simon Gamache (b. 1981), hockey player, formerly in the NHL
- John Mervin Nooth (1737–1828), physician, army officer, scientist, and superintendent general of hospitals in Lower Canada.
- Andrew Stuart Johnson (1848–1926) prominent farmer, lumber merchant, mining company founder and political figure in Quebec.
Gallery
File:Downtown Thetford Mines.jpg
File:Downtown Thetford Mines III.jpg
File:Downtown Thetford Mines IV.jpg
File:Asbestos mining thetford mines.jpg|Asbestos miners in Thetford Mines in the 1920s
References
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{in lang|fr}} [http://www.ville.thetfordmines.qc.ca/ City of Thetford Mines]
{{Geographic location
| Northwest = Saint-Jean-de-Brébeuf
| North = Kinnear's Mills
| Northeast = Saint-Pierre-de-Broughton
| West = Saint-Adrien-d'Irlande
| Centre = Thetford Mines
| East = Adstock
| Southwest = Irlande
| South = Saint-Joseph-de-Coleraine
| Southeast =
}}
{{Les Appalaches RCM}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Cities and towns in Quebec