The Centre-du-Québec is a region halfway between Québec City and Montréal, on the south side of the St. Lawrence River. The Centre-du-Québec is a primarily agricultural region known as the breadbasket of Quebec.
The Centre-du-Québec is a region halfway between Québec City and Montréal, on the south side of the St. Lawrence River. The Centre-du-Québec is a primarily agricultural region known as the breadbasket of Quebec.
1 Bécancour — located on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River at the confluence of the Bécancour River, opposite Trois-Rivières
2 Drummondville — "Quebec's Capital of Expression and Traditions", with attractions focusing on culture, past and present
3 Victoriaville — famous as a producer of hardwood products, including furniture, caskets, and hockey sticks
4 Plessisville — the self-declared maple syrup capital of the world
"Centre-du-Quebec" literally means the "Centre of Quebec". This is a historic term that has not been geographically accurate since 1912, when a large amount of northern territory was added to the Province of Quebec. However, since the vast majority of Quebec's population lives in the southernmost area of the province (along the St.Lawrence River) and most of Quebec's northern territory is relatively inaccessible, the "Centre-du-Quebec" remains the "centre" of the province for most people's purposes.
Its major agricultural products include livestock and poultry, dairy products, as well as food crops such as cereals, vegetables, and fruits such as apples and cranberries. Forestry is also a major industry; there is a high density of hardwood forests in the area. Other major industries of the area include transportation, recycling, woodworking and cabinetmaking.
For other uses of Bois-Franc, see Bois-Franc (disambiguation). Region in Quebec, CanadaCentre-du-QuébecRegionMap of Centre-du-Québec in relation to Quebec.Coordinates: 46°17′N 72°04′W / 46.283°N 72.067°W / 46.283; -72.067Country CanadaProvince QuebecGovernment • Table des MRC du Centre-du-Québec (Regional conference of elected officers)Lionel Fréchette (President)Area • Land6,930.05 km2 (2,675.71 sq mi)Population (2016) • Total242,399 • Density35/km2 (91/sq mi)Websitewww.centreduquebec.gouv.qc.ca Centre-du-Québec (French pronunciation: [sɑ̃tʁ dy kebɛk], Central Quebec) is a region of Quebec, Canada. The main centres are Drummondville, Victoriaville, and Bécancour. It has a land area of 6,930.05 square kilometres (2,675.71 sq mi) and a 2016 census population of 242,399 inhabitants.
[edit] Open farmland—A typical scene in the Centre-du-Québec. The Centre-du-Québec region was established as an independent administrative region of Quebec on July 30, 1997 (in effect August 20 upon publication in the Gazette officielle du Québec); prior to this date, it formed the southern portion of the Mauricie–Bois-Francs region (the northern part of which is now known simply as Mauricie). Centre-du-Québec is not located in the geographic centre of Quebec, though it is approximately located in the centre of the southern portion of the province. Some consider the name Bois-Francs to be synonymous with the Centre-du-Québec region; others see it as being synonymous with Arthabaska Regional County Municipality, with its main city Victoriaville earning the title Capitale des Bois-Francs ('capital of the Bois-Francs'). The Centre-du-Québec is a primarily agricultural region known as the breadbasket of Quebec; major products include livestock and poultry, dairy products (the region produces more dairy products than all of Canada’s maritime provinces combined), as well as food crops such as cereals, vegetables, and fruits such as apples and cranberries. The city of Plessisville, located in the region, is known for its maple syrup production and is known as the Maple Capital of the World (Capitale Mondiale de l’Érable). Forestry is also a major industry; the name "Bois-Francs" refers to the French term for hardwood, referring to the high density of hardwood forests in the area. Other major industries of the area include transportation, recycling, woodworking and cabinetmaking. The Centre-du-Québec region derives great benefit from its central location; major centres such as Montreal and Quebec City are within an hour and a half's drive, while secondary centres such as Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières are close at hand. The region borders Mauricie, right across the St. Lawrence River, to the north, Montérégie to the west, Chaudière-Appalaches to the east and Estrie to the south. The Laviolette Bridge, which connects the region to Trois-Rivières, is located in Bécancour and is the only structure in Quebec located in between Montreal and Quebec City that connects both the north and south shores of the St. Lawrence.
In 1993, the town of Plessisville trademarked itself as the maple capital of the world (Capitale mondiale de l’Érable). Citadelle is a producers’ cooperative located in the town that exports maple syrup to more than 45 countries. The town produces 23.7 million pounds of syrup per year and has a warehouse containing up to 95,000 barrels or 52 million pounds of the product. However, another Quebec town, Mirabel, makes a rival claim of being the international maple capital (Capitale internationale de l’Érable).
Tourisme Centre-du-Québec information centres (Aug 2019):
Princeville: 25 St-Jacques Est, ☏ +1 819-364-7177 ext 300
Nicolet: 20 rue Notre-Dame, ☏ +1-866-279-0444, early Sept to late June: M-F 08:30-16:30; late June to early Sept: daily 09:00-18:00.
Plessisville: 1280 avenue Trudelle, ☏ +1-800-360-2989 ext 1285, mid-June to end of Aug: daily 09:00-19:00; Sept to Mid-June: W F 11:00-17:00, Th 11:00-20:00, Sa Su 09:00-17:00
Saint-Léonard-d'Aston: 180 rang du Moulin Rouge, tourist information terminal at Madrid 2.0 Esso gas station and highway rest stop (24 hr)
Drummondville: 1350 rue J.-B. Michaud, toll-free: ☏ +1-877-235-9569. Sep to early Jun: M-F 08:30-16:30; mid-Jun to mid-Aug: daily 08:30-18:00; mid-Aug to early Sep: daily 08:30-16:30.
Bécancour: 1005 boulevard de Port-Royal, ☏ +1-888-233-4676, daily 08:30-17:30.
Victoriaville: 20 rue de Bigarré, ☏ +1-888-758-9451, mid-Apr to May: daily 10:00-19:00: Jun to early Sep: daily 09:00-21:00; early Sep to early Oct: daily 10:00-19:00
The Centre-du-Québec region lies on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River roughly halfway between Montreal and Quebec City. The Trans-Canada Highway/Autoroute 20, Intercity highway coach service (provided by Orléans Express and Groupe La Québécoise), and Via Rail passenger services run between those two cities through the region.
It is also easily accessible from Trois-Rivières on Highway 55.
There are two scenic driving routes through the area: Route des Jardins and the Route des antiquaires.
The Laurier Museum in Victoriaville commemorates the summer home of Canadian former Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier and is a National Historic Site of Canada.
Le Village Québécois d'Antan in Drummondville is a re-creation of village life in the 19th century; it an old farm, period costumes, a restaurant and several festivals throughout the year.
The Centre de la Biodiversité du Québec in Bécancour just outside of Trois-Rivières, is a science museum that educates about and promotes the conservation of Quebec's native species.
The Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville (FIMAV) takes place in the spring.
In late August, the Festival de la Poutine in Drummondville offers concerts, and celebrates poutine, a Canadian dish of Quebecois origin. The basic dish is a mess of French fries, gravy, and cheese curds.
[edit] Regional county municipalities[edit] Regional County Municipality (RCM) PopulationCanada 2016 Census Land Area Density(pop. per km2) Seat of RCM Arthabaska 72,014 1,890.18 km2 (729.80 sq mi) 38.1 Victoriaville Bécancour 20,404 1,144.67 km2 (441.96 sq mi) 17.85 Bécancour Drummond 103,397 1,600.26 km2 (617.86 sq mi) 64.6 Drummondville L'Érable 23,366 1,286.81 km2 (496.84 sq mi) 18.2 Plessisville Nicolet-Yamaska 23,159 1,007.09 km2 (388.84 sq mi) 23.0 Nicolet Nation Waban-Aki[edit] The Centre-du-Québec region is home to several thousand members of the Wabanaki Nation. They are scattered throughout the region, with two major population centres: Odanak, Quebec Wôlinak, Quebec
[edit] Bécancour Daveluyville Drummondville Nicolet Pierreville Plessisville Princeville Saint-Christophe-d'Arthabaska Saint-Cyrille-de-Wendover Saint-Germain-de-Grantham Saint-Léonard-d'Aston Victoriaville Warwick Wickham
[edit] Le Madrid Restaurant in Saint-Léonard-d'Aston, at exit 202 of Autoroute 20/Autoroute 55. The highways and roads that serve the region are: Autoroute 20 Autoroute 30 Autoroute 55 Autoroute 955 Route 116 Route 122 Route 132 Route 139 Route 143 Route 161 Route 243 Route 255 Route 265