Val-d'Or

{{About|the city in Quebec|the town in Malaysia|Val d'Or, Penang|the racehorse|Val d'Or (horse)}}

{{Infobox settlement

|name = Val-d'Or

|official_name =

|native_name =

|settlement_type = City

|image_skyline = Ville de Val-d'or.jpg

|imagesize =

|image_caption = Val-d'Or city

|image_flag =

|image_shield =

|motto =

|image_map = Val-d'Or Quebec location diagram.png

|map_caption = Location within La Vallée-de-l'Or RCM

| pushpin_map = Canada Western Quebec

| pushpin_label_position =

| pushpin_label =

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in western Quebec

|coordinates = {{coord|48|06|N|77|47|W|region:CA-QC|notes={{cite cgndb|EIJZE|Val-d'Or}}|display=inline,title}}

|coor_pinpoint =

|coordinates_footnotes =

|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = Canada

|subdivision_type1 = Province

|subdivision_name1 = Quebec

|subdivision_type2 = Region

|subdivision_name2 = Abitibi-Témiscamingue

|subdivision_type3 = RCM

|subdivision_name3 = La Vallée-de-l'Or

|established_title =

|established_date =

|established_title1 = Constituted

|established_date1 = January 1, 2002

|established_title2 =

|established_date2 =

|established_title3 =

|established_date3 =

|government_footnotes = {{mamrot|{{#property:P3856}}}}

|leader_title = Mayor

|leader_name = Céline Brindamour

|leader_title1 = Federal riding

|leader_name1 = Abitibi—Baie-James—
Nunavik—Eeyou

|leader_title2 = Prov. riding

|leader_name2 = Abitibi-Est

|leader_title3 =

|leader_name3 =

|area_footnotes = {{cite web |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Val%2Dd%27or&DGUIDlist=2021A00052489008,2021S0504480&GENDERlist=1&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0 |title=Val-d'Or, Ville (V) [Census subdivision] census profile |publisher=Statistics Canada |work=2021 Census data |date=29 March 2023 |access-date=2023-06-08}}

|area_magnitude =

|area_total_km2 = 3979.63

|area_land_km2 = 3536.84

|area_water_km2 =

|area_urban_footnotes = {{cite web |title=Val-d'Or [Population centre] Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=val%2Dd%27or&DGUIDlist=2021S05100965&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |publisher=Government of Canada - Statistics Canada |access-date=7 November 2023}}

|area_urban_km2 = 25.17

|area_metro_footnotes = {{cite web |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=val%2Dd%27or&DGUIDlist=2021S0504480&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&HEADERlist=0 |title=Val-d'Or Quebec [Census agglomeration] census profile |publisher=Statistics Canada |work=2021 Census data |date=29 March 2023 |access-date=2023-06-08}}. The census agglomeration includes the Indian reserve of Lac-Simon.

|area_metro_km2 = 3539.98

|elevation_m = 306

|population_footnotes =

|population_total = 32752

|population_as_of = 2021

|population_density_km2 = 9.3

|population_urban_footnotes =

|population_urban = 25473

|population_density_urban_km2 = 1011.9

|population_metro_footnotes =

|population_metro = 34037

|population_density_metro_km2 = 9.6

|population_blank1_title= Pop (2016-21)

|population_blank1 = {{increase}} 0.8%

|population_blank2_title= Dwellings

|population_blank2 = 15884

|population_note =

|timezone = EST

|utc_offset = −05:00

|timezone_DST = EDT

|utc_offset_DST = −04:00

|postal_code_type = Postal code(s)

|postal_code = J9P

|area_code = 819/873

|blank_name = Highways

|blank_info = {{jct|state=QC|QC|111}} {{jct|state=QC|QC|113}}
{{jct|state=QC|TCH|117}} {{jct|state=QC|QC|397}}

|website = {{Official URL}}

|footnotes =

}}

Val-d'Or ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|v|æ|l|d|ɔːr}} {{respell|VAL|dor}},{{cite Merriam-Webster|Val-d'Or|access-date=14 September 2019}} {{IPA|fr|val dɔʁ|lang}}, {{IPA|fr-CA|val dɑɔ̯ʁ|label=locally}}; meaning "Golden Valley" or "Valley of Gold") is a city in Quebec, Canada with a population of 32,752 inhabitants according to the 2021 Canadian census. The city is located in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region near La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve.

The Algonquin toponym of the town is Ozawaconia Odena.« L'homme de Neawigak : et autres histoires algonquine » de Joseph 'Josie' Mathias, {{ISBN|2-920579-12-6}}. Fiche sur le site de la {{dead link|titre=Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec|url=http://services.banq.qc.ca/sdx/coba/query_notice.xsp?v=Histoires+algonquines&f=sujet&sortfield=bureau&order=ascendant|date=December 2023}}

History

File:Rue Centrale Val Or.jpg

Gold was discovered in the area in 1923. The name of the town is French for "Valley of Gold." While gold is still mined in the area today, base metals, such as copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) have become increasingly important resources. The ore is usually found in volcanic rocks that were deposited on the sea floor over 2.7 billion years ago. They are referred to as volcanic-hosted (or volcanogenic) massive sulphide deposits (VMS).{{cite web |url=http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/ToposWeb/fiche.aspx?no_seq=64787 |title=Val-d'Or (Ville) |publisher=Commission de toponymie du Québec |access-date=2010-12-03 |language=fr}}

The city is known for its vast parks, cycle tracks, and forests. Some other attractions include the City of Gold and the mining village of Bourlamaque, which were officially proclaimed historic sites in 1979.

The city hosted the Quebec Games in 1987. The local hockey team, the Val-d'Or Foreurs, have played in the QMJHL since 1993, winning the league championship in 1998, 2001 and 2014 to claim a spot in the Memorial Cup. They play at Centre Air Creebec. The Foreurs' mascot is called Dynamit, named after dynamite which was extensively used by the mining industry of Val-d'Or.

Val-d'Or was once home to CFS Val-d'Or, a Canadian Forces Station.

In the municipal reorganizations of January 1, 2002, Val-d'Or was merged with the neighbouring municipalities of Dubuisson, Sullivan, Val-Senneville and Vassan.

The Radio-Canada investigative television program, Enquête, revealed in October 2015 numerous allegations of assault and sexual abuse of local aboriginal women by members of the provincial police, the Sûreté du Québec.{{cite web |url=http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/ToposWeb/fiche.aspx?no_seq=64787http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/aboriginal-women-s-claims-of-police-sex-abuse-under-investigation-1.3282845 |title=Aboriginal women's claims of police sex abuse under investigation |publisher=CBC News |access-date=2015-10-29 |language=en}} The news propelled the town into the national spotlight, causing Québec's Public Safety Minister, Lise Thériault, to suspend the officers and launch an independent investigation led by the Montréal police force.{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/police-sex-abuse-aboriginal-val-dor-reacts-1.3285406 |title=Quebec police officers put on leave pending sex abuse investigation |publisher=CBC News |access-date=2015-10-29 |language=en}}

Geography

Val-d'Or is situated on the Canadian Shield at an elevation of 1100 feet (330m) above sea level. Although its name refers to a valley ("Val"), the city is actually situated on a vast, slightly undulating plain.

Val-d'Or is at the heart of a vast hydrographic network which includes to the north Lake Blouin, the head water of the Harricana River and to the south Baie Carrière, a reservoir which feeds the Ottawa River.{{cite web| url=http://www.ourroots.ca/e/page.aspx?id=806869 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115143929/http://www.ourroots.ca/e/page.aspx?id=806869 | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 15, 2013 | title=Unknown}}

=Climate=

Val-d'Or has a humid continental climate (Köppen Climate Classification Dfb), closely bordering on a subarctic climate (Dfc) with warm, humid summers and severely cold winters. Winters are snowy with a January mean of {{convert|-17.4|C|1}}. There are 18.4 days where the temperature will fall below {{convert|-30|C|1}} although with the wind chill factored in, it can occasionally drop below {{convert|-40|C|1}}. Snowfall totals are heavy, averaging {{convert|288|cm|in|0}} with reliable snow cover from November to April. Summers are warm with a July daily high of {{convert|23.7 |C|1}} though highs reach above {{convert|30.0|C|1}} an average of 4.3 days per year. Val-d'Or receives {{convert|905|mm|in|0}}

of precipitation per year which is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, though precipitation is heaviest during the warmest months. Val-d'Or receives 1853 hours of sunshine per or about 39.5 of possible daylight hours, ranging from a low of 19.2% in November to a high of 52.9% in July.

{{Weather box

|location = Val-d'Or (1981−2010)

|metric first = Y

|single line = Y

|Jan maximum humidex = 10.6

|Feb maximum humidex = 11.9

|Mar maximum humidex = 17.9

|Apr maximum humidex = 29.0

|May maximum humidex = 39.3

|Jun maximum humidex = 46.0

|Jul maximum humidex = 47.9

|Aug maximum humidex = 41.5

|Sep maximum humidex = 39.9

|Oct maximum humidex = 31.5

|Nov maximum humidex = 20.8

|Dec maximum humidex = 16.2

|year maximum humidex = 47.9

|Jan record high C = 9.7

|Feb record high C = 12.3

|Mar record high C = 25.0

|Apr record high C = 28.2

|May record high C = 32.8

|Jun record high C = 34.0

|Jul record high C = 36.1

|Aug record high C = 36.1

|Sep record high C = 32.2

|Oct record high C = 26.1

|Nov record high C = 18.3

|Dec record high C = 13.7

|year record high C = 36.1

|Jan high C = -10.9

|Feb high C = -7.9

|Mar high C = -1.5

|Apr high C = 7.2

|May high C = 15.9

|Jun high C = 21.1

|Jul high C = 23.7

|Aug high C = 21.9

|Sep high C = 16.0

|Oct high C = 8.9

|Nov high C = 0.2

|Dec high C = -7.0

|year high C = 7.3

|Jan mean C = −17.4

|Feb mean C = −14.7

|Mar mean C = -8.1

|Apr mean C = 1.4

|May mean C = 9.2

|Jun mean C = 14.6

|Jul mean C = 17.5

|Aug mean C = 15.9

|Sep mean C = 10.5

|Oct mean C = 4.4

|Nov mean C = -4.1

|Dec mean C = −12.5

|year mean C = 1.4

|Jan low C = -23.9

|Feb low C = -21.4

|Mar low C = -14.7

|Apr low C = -4.5

|May low C = 2.5

|Jun low C = 7.9

|Jul low C = 11.3

|Aug low C = 9.8

|Sep low C = 5.0

|Oct low C = -0.2

|Nov low C = -8.3

|Dec low C = -18.0

|year low C = -4.5

|Jan record low C = -43.9

|Feb record low C = -42.2

|Mar record low C = -36.1

|Apr record low C = -26.1

|May record low C = -11.1

|Jun record low C = -3.9

|Jul record low C = -0.1

|Aug record low C = -2.8

|Sep record low C = -6.2

|Oct record low C = -13.3

|Nov record low C = -30.0

|Dec record low C = -40.6

|year record low C = -43.9

|Jan chill = -55.2

|Feb chill = -53.5

|Mar chill = -47.2

|Apr chill = -32.8

|May chill = -18.7

|Jun chill = -9.2

|Jul chill = 0.0

|Aug chill = -2.9

|Sep chill = -10.0

|Oct chill = -18.3

|Nov chill = -36.0

|Dec chill = -50.1

|year chill = -55.2

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 51.7

|Feb precipitation mm = 39.3

|Mar precipitation mm = 58.6

|Apr precipitation mm = 66.4

|May precipitation mm = 85.1

|Jun precipitation mm = 90.4

|Jul precipitation mm = 97.4

|Aug precipitation mm = 93.5

|Sep precipitation mm = 94.8

|Oct precipitation mm = 83.7

|Nov precipitation mm = 83.9

|Dec precipitation mm = 60.4

|year precipitation mm = 905.1

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 5.6

|Feb rain mm = 4.2

|Mar rain mm = 16.5

|Apr rain mm = 35.3

|May rain mm = 82.3

|Jun rain mm = 90.3

|Jul rain mm = 97.4

|Aug rain mm = 93.5

|Sep rain mm = 93.3

|Oct rain mm = 70.8

|Nov rain mm = 40.9

|Dec rain mm = 9.4

|year rain mm = 639.4

|snow colour = green

|Jan snow cm = 52.2

|Feb snow cm = 39.6

|Mar snow cm = 44.3

|Apr snow cm = 29.9

|May snow cm = 2.6

|Jun snow cm = 0.07

|Jul snow cm = 0.0

|Aug snow cm = 0.0

|Sep snow cm = 1.5

|Oct snow cm = 12.6

|Nov snow cm = 46.6

|Dec snow cm = 58.8

|year snow cm = 288.1

|unit precipitation days= 0.2 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 18.3

|Feb precipitation days = 15.6

|Mar precipitation days = 14.4

|Apr precipitation days = 13.8

|May precipitation days = 14.3

|Jun precipitation days = 14.4

|Jul precipitation days = 15.1

|Aug precipitation days = 14.5

|Sep precipitation days = 16.6

|Oct precipitation days = 17.8

|Nov precipitation days = 20.6

|Dec precipitation days = 21.4

|year precipitation days = 196.8

|unit rain days = 0.2 mm

|Jan rain days = 2.1

|Feb rain days = 1.5

|Mar rain days = 4.0

|Apr rain days = 8.9

|May rain days = 13.7

|Jun rain days = 14.4

|Jul rain days = 15.3

|Aug rain days = 14.4

|Sep rain days = 16.6

|Oct rain days = 13.8

|Nov rain days = 7.7

|Dec rain days = 2.7

|year rain days = 115.1

|unit snow days = 0.2 cm

|Jan snow days = 18.2

|Feb snow days = 14.9

|Mar snow days = 12.6

|Apr snow days = 8.3

|May snow days = 1.7

|Jun snow days = 0.27

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 1.0

|Oct snow days = 6.9

|Nov snow days = 16.3

|Dec snow days = 20.9

|year snow days = 101.0

|Jan sun = 86.5

|Feb sun = 124.4

|Mar sun = 162.3

|Apr sun = 177.8

|May sun = 220.7

|Jun sun = 243.0

|Jul sun = 255.9

|Aug sun = 227.2

|Sep sun = 139.9

|Oct sun = 99.0

|Nov sun = 53.7

|Dec sun = 62.9

|year sun = 1853.4

|Jan percentsun = 31.5

|Feb percentsun = 43.3

|Mar percentsun = 44.1

|Apr percentsun = 43.5

|May percentsun = 47.0

|Jun percentsun = 50.7

|Jul percentsun = 52.9

|Aug percentsun = 51.3

|Sep percentsun = 37.0

|Oct percentsun = 29.4

|Nov percentsun = 19.2

|Dec percentsun = 24.0

|year percentsun = 39.5

|source 1 = Environment Canada{{cite web

| publisher = Environment Canada

| url = ftp://ftp.tor.ec.gc.ca/Pub/Normals/English/

| title = Val-D'Or A

| work = Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200714071822/ftp://ftp.tor.ec.gc.ca/Pub/Normals/English/

| archive-date = 2020-07-14

| url-status = dead

| access-date = November 6, 2013}}

|date=August 2010

}}

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Val-d'Or had a population of {{val|32752|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|15033|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|15884|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:32752-32491}}|32491|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|32491|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{convert|3536.84|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|32752|3536.84|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.

{{Canada census

|2021_population=32,752 | 2021_pop_delta=+0.8 | 2021_land_area=3536.84 | 2021_pop_density=9.3

|2021_median_age=43.2 | 2021_median_age_m=42.0 | 2021_median_age_f=44.0

|2021_total_pvt_dwell=15,884 |2021_occ_pvt_dwell=15,033 | 2021_mean_hh_income=75,500 | 2021_access_date=2023-11-07

|2016_population=32,491 | 2016_pop_delta=+2.0 | 2016_land_area=3550.70 | 2016_pop_density=9.2

|2016_median_age=42.5 | 2016_median_age_m=41.4 | 2016_median_age_f=43.8

|2016_total_pvt_dwell=15,352 |2016_occ_pvt_dwell=14,565 | 2016_mean_hh_income=64,864 | 2016_access_date=2023-11-07

|notes=

}}

{{Historical populations

|title = {{Nowrap|Historical census populations –}} Val-d'Or

|align = none

|cols = 3

|percentages =

|footnote = Population counts are not adjusted for boundary changes.

|source = Statistics Canada

| 1941 |4385

| 1951 |8685

| 1956 |9876

| 1961 |10983

| 1966 |12147

| 1971 |17421

| 1976 |19915

| 1981 |21371

| 1986 |22252

| 1991 |23842

| 1996 |24285

| 2001 |22748

| 2006 |31123

| 2011 |31862

| 2016 |32491

| 2021 |32752

}}

Mother Tongue (2021):

English: 2.6%
French: 93.3%
English and French: 1.1%
Other only: 2.4%

Economy

File:Val-d'Or mine.jpg

Air Creebec, a regional airline, has its headquarters in Val-d'Or and the Val-d'Or Airport serves as its hub."[http://www.aircreebec.ca/english/main.html Contact Us] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080122113851/http://www.aircreebec.ca/english/main.html |date=2008-01-22 }}." Air Crebeec. Retrieved on May 29, 2009.

Val-d'Or's proximity to the Abitibi gold belt has made it a large gold producer, being part of a region that produced 45 million ounces of gold since the 1930s.{{cite web|url=http://niogold.com/projects/projects-sub-1/|title=titan resources plans exploration of abitibi gold belt, val d'or property|date=2010-02-10}}{{cite web|url=http://niogold.com/projects/projects-sub-1/|title=malartic val d'or projects|access-date=2010-05-03}}

In 2012, Quebec Lithium Corp. re-opened a lithium mine which had operated as an underground mine from 1955–65, planning to carve an open pit mine over pegmatite dikes. the mine is about {{convert|60|km|mi}} north of Val d'Or, {{convert|38|km|mi}} southeast of Amos, and {{convert|15|km|mi}} km west of Barraute. Access to the mine is via paved road from Val d'Or.{{cite web

| url = http://www.canadalithium.com/s/QuebecLithium.asp

| access-date = 2013-03-07

| title = Quebec Lithium

| publisher = Canada Lithium Corp.

| archive-date = 2013-03-10

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130310044550/http://www.canadalithium.com/s/QuebecLithium.asp

| url-status = dead

}}

A Canadian National line passes through the community. The Val-d'Or station formerly served Canadian National and Via Rail passenger trains.{{Cite journal |last=Dionne |first=Yves |date=1986 |title=Abitibi : gare aux gares! |url=https://www.erudit.org/fr/revues/continuite/1986-n30-continuite1051235/18068ac/ |journal=Continuité |language=fr |issue=30 |pages=36 |issn=0714-9476}}{{Cite web |title=Railway stations in Val d'Or Quebec |url=https://www.canada-rail.com/quebec/uv/valdor.html |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=www.canada-rail.com}}{{Cite web |title=Gare de Val-d'Or {{!}} Le monde en images - des collections pour l'éducation |url=https://monde.ccdmd.qc.ca/ressource/?demande=impression&id=35092 |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=monde.ccdmd.qc.ca}}

Transit and paratransit services within Val-d'Or are provided by a contractor.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-19 |title=Transport collectif |url=https://ville.valdor.qc.ca/services/services-municipaux/transport-collectif |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=Ville de Val-d’Or |language=fr}} Intercity bus service from and to Val-d'Or is provided by {{ill|Autobus Maheux|fr}}.

Government

City council (as of 2022):{{Cite web|url=https://ville.valdor.qc.ca/la-ville/democratie/conseil-municipal|title = Conseil municipal}}

Mayor: Céline Brindamour
Councillors: Maxime Gagné, Benjamin Turcotte, Èveline Laverdière, Martin Lavoie, Jean St-Jules, Sylvie Hébert, Lisyane Morin, Yvon Rodrigue

List of former mayors since 2002 amalgamation:

Fernand Trahan (2002–2013)
Pierre Corbeil (2013–2021)
Céline Brindamour (2021–present)

Education

The Centre de services scolaire de l'Or-et-des-Bois operates French-language public schools, while the Western Quebec School Board operates English-language public schools.

The city also hosts campuses of Cégep de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue and of UQAT.

Media

Almost all media in Val-d'Or and the nearby city of Rouyn-Noranda serves both cities. Although the cities are far enough apart that radio and television stations in the area serve the cities from separate transmitters, almost every broadcast station in either city has a rebroadcaster in the other city. The only nominal exceptions are the cities' separate Énergie stations, although at present even these stations share the majority of their broadcast schedule.