Low, Quebec#Paugan Hydroelectric Station
{{use Canadian English|date=March 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Low
| official_name =
| settlement_type = Township municipality
| image_skyline = Low QC.jpg
| imagesize = 260px
| image_caption =
| image_flag =
| flag_size = 120x100px
| image_shield =
| shield_size = 120x100px
| nickname = Paugan
| motto =
| image_map =
| mapsize =
| pushpin_map = Canada Western Quebec
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_label =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in western Quebec
| coordinates = {{coord|45|49|N|75|57|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 = Outaouais
| subdivision_type3 = RCM
| subdivision_name3 = La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau
| established_title =
| established_date =
| established_title1= Constituted
| established_date1 = 1 January 1858
| established_title2 =
| established_date2 =
| government_type =
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Carole Robert
| leader_title1 = Federal riding
| leader_name1 = Pontiac—Kitigan Zibi
| leader_title2 = Prov. riding
| leader_name2 = Gatineau
| leader_title3 =
| leader_name3 =
| area_total_km2 = 276.32
| area_land_km2 = 257.78
| area_water_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes=
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 1020
| population_as_of = 2021
| population_density_km2 = 4.0
| population_blank1_title= Pop (2016–21)
| population_blank1 = {{increase}} 3.9%
| population_blank2_title= Dwellings
| population_blank2 = 864
| timezone = EST
| utc_offset = −05:00
| timezone_DST = EDT
| utc_offset_DST = −04:00
| postal_code_type = Postal code(s)
| postal_code = J0X 2C0
| area_code = 819
| blank_name = Access Routes
| blank_info = {{jct|state=QC|QC|105}}
| website = {{Official URL}}
| footnotes =
}}
Low is a township municipality in the La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau Regional County Municipality of western Quebec, Canada. It is situated along the Gatineau River north of Wakefield, and it is located within Canada's National Capital Region. Its 2021 population was 1,020.
Low received its name from Charles Adamson Low, a lumber merchant who held timber rights in the Gatineau Valley.
A section of Low called Tucker Lake was home of the Gatineau Clog, a country music festival founded by Wayne Rostad in 1980 until 1995.
The mayor of Low is Carole Robert, who was elected in November 2017. The two most recent former mayors were Morris O'Connor and Michael Francis, who was mayor back in the mid-eighties, and was re-elected in 1997. Francis announced his retirement in the summer of 2009, and finished his term in November 2009.
Geography
Low is situated in a corner of mountainous terrain on the edge of the Gatineau Hills, but conducive to agriculture. It is dotted with an abundance of lakes, most notably Sainte-Marie, Island, Doyle, Cameron, and Venosta Lakes.{{cite web |url=http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/topos/carto.asp?Speci=37339&Latitude=45,83333&Longitude=-76,01666&Zoom=1700 |title=Canton de Low |accessdate=2008-07-21 |publisher=Commission de toponymie du Québec |language=French}}
In addition to the village of Low itself, other communities in the township municipality are Brennan's Hill,{{Cite cgndb |ELHVH |Brennan's Hill |access-date=29 March 2023}} Fieldville,{{Cite cgndb |EKITR |Fieldville |access-date=29 March 2023}} Martindale,{{Cite cgndb |EJXZA |Martindale |access-date=29 March 2023}} North Low,{{Cite cgndb |EKNGD |North Low |access-date=29 March 2023}} Paugan Falls,{{Cite cgndb |EKVFY |Paugan Falls |access-date=29 March 2023}} Stagsburn,{{Cite cgndb |EIEUL |Stagsburn |access-date=29 March 2023}} and Venosta.{{Cite cgndb |EIKRE |Venosta |access-date=29 March 2023}}
History
Low represents a rare case where the township was formed after the municipality; the township dates back to 1859 whereas the municipality was founded in 1848 and the municipality township was officially established on 1 January 1857, and came into force on 1 January 1858. It was named after Charles Adamson Low, an important timber merchant of the region in the mid-19th century, a time when many Irish immigrants settled here. Its post office was established in 1854.{{cite web |url=http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/topos/carto.asp?Speci=37349&Latitude=45,81667&Longitude=-75,95&Zoom=1700 |title=Municipalité de Canton de Low |accessdate=2008-07-21 |publisher=Commission de toponymie du Québec |language=French}}
In 1928, the village of Low built the Paugan hydroelectric dam. This caused the voluntary flooding of the village to the north, Lac Saint Marie, Quebec. Because of the dam, 90% of the village of Lac Saint Marie had to be relocated to higher ground.
Demographics
{{Historical populations
|title = {{Nowrap|Historical census populations –}} Low, Quebec
|align = none
|cols = 2
|percentages =
|footnote =
|source = Statistics Canada1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021 census
| 1976 |891
| 1981 |881
| 1986 |875
| 1991 |892
| 1996 |807
| 2001 |852
| 2006 |956
| 2011 |920
| 2016 |982
| 2021 |1020
}}
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Low had a population of {{val|1020|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|495|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|864|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:1020-982}}|982|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|982|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{convert|257.78|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|1020|257.78|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.
- English as first language: 53%
- French as first language: 42%
- English and French as first language: 4%
- Other as first language: 1%
Paugan Hydroelectric Station
The Paugan Station (Centrale de Paugan), built in 1928, is a run-of-river hydroelectric power station and dam on the Gatineau river, operated by Hydro-Québec. It has a head of {{convert|40.5|m|abbr=on}}, and 8 turbines with a total capacity of 202 MW. Its reservoir is {{convert|30|km2|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.hydroquebec.com/production/hydroelectrique/gatineau/paugan/index.html |title=Centrale de Paugan |publisher=Hydro-Québec |accessdate=2008-07-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929094225/http://www.hydroquebec.com/production/hydroelectrique/gatineau/paugan/index.html |archivedate=September 29, 2007 }}
Local government
List of former mayors:
{{Incomplete list|date=November 2019}}
- Michael Francis (...–2009)
- Morris O'Connor (2009–2017)
- Carole Robert (2017–present)
See also
References
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.lowquebec.ca/ Official website]
{{Geographic Location
| Centre = Low
| North = Kazabazua
| Northeast = Lac-Sainte-Marie
| East = Denholm
| Southeast =
| South = La Pêche
| Southwest =
| West = Alleyn-et-Cawood
| Northwest =
}}
{{Haute-Gatineau RCM|state=expanded}}
{{authority control}}