La Sarre (French pronunciation: [la saʁ]) is a town in northwestern Quebec, Canada, and is the most populous town and seat of the Abitibi-Ouest Regional County Municipality.[1][4] It is located at the intersection of Routes 111 and 393, on the La Sarre River, a tributary of Lake Abitibi.

La Sarre
Church of La Sarre
Church of La Sarre
Coat of arms of La Sarre
Motto: 
Oblivisci Nescius
Location within Abitibi-Ouest RCM
Location within Abitibi-Ouest RCM
La Sarre is located in Western Quebec
La Sarre
La Sarre
Location in western Quebec
Coordinates: 48°48′N 79°12′W / 48.800°N 79.200°W / 48.800; -79.200[1]
CountryCanada
ProvinceQuebec
RegionAbitibi-Témiscamingue
RCMAbitibi-Ouest
Settled1912
Constituted19 April 1980
Government
 • MayorYves Dubé
 • Federal ridingAbitibi—Témiscamingue
 • Prov. ridingAbitibi-Ouest
Area
 • Total
153.24 km2 (59.17 sq mi)
 • Land148.36 km2 (57.28 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[3]
 • Total
7,358
 • Density49.6/km2 (128/sq mi)
 • Pop (2016-21)
Increase 1.0%
 • Dwellings
3,698
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
Area code819
Highways R-111 R-393
Websitewww.ville.lasarre.qc.ca Edit this at Wikidata

In addition to La Sarre itself, the town's territory also includes the community of Bienvenu, located along Route 111 west of the La Sarre River.

History

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Tribute panel to the pioneer families of La Sarre, installed in the municipal park.

Before colonization, the area was home to the indigenous Algonquin who called the place Wabakin, from wàba and akin meaning "there is a mountain of hardwood", and called the La Sarre River Adikameg Sibi, which was also identified as Amikitik.[1]

The first white settlers, six in number, settled as squatters on the land in the late 19th century and were discovered during the survey of the township in 1908. Real colonization began at the time when the National Transcontinental Railway running through the Abitibi region was completed. The first permanent pioneer family arrived in 1912, followed by more settlers and development drawn to the area for its mining, forestry, and agricultural potential, and resulted in the formation of the settlement. In 1915, the post office opened, and a year later, the La Sarre Township was proclaimed, named after the La Sarre Regiment that was recognized for its part in the Battle of Carillon and the capture of Fort Oswego. In 1917, the Township Municipality of La Sarre was established, the same year as the Parish of Saint-André-de-la-Sarre. The Hudson's Bay Company opened a post in 1932, and only operated until 1941.[1][5]

In 1937, the village separated from the township and was incorporated as the Village Municipality of La Sarre. It gained town (ville) status on 17 August 1949. In April 1980, the town and township municipality merged to form the current municipality.[1]

Geography

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Climate

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La Sarre has a borderline humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), close to a subarctic climate (Dfc). Winters are very cold and snowy, with an annual snowfall of 2.47 metres or 97.24 inches, although thaws due to inflows of warm air from the southeast can raise temperatures above freezing and on 6 February 1988 temperatures rose to a remarkable 20.5 °C or 68.9 °F. The hotter half of the year is pleasantly warm, though it can rain frequently.

Climate data for La Sarre
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 7.8
(46.0)
20.5
(68.9)
17.0
(62.6)
29.0
(84.2)
31.7
(89.1)
35.0
(95.0)
37.2
(99.0)
33.3
(91.9)
32.2
(90.0)
26.1
(79.0)
17.8
(64.0)
11.1
(52.0)
37.2
(99.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −11.7
(10.9)
−8.9
(16.0)
−1.8
(28.8)
7.2
(45.0)
15.9
(60.6)
21.5
(70.7)
23.5
(74.3)
21.5
(70.7)
15.7
(60.3)
8.7
(47.7)
−0.6
(30.9)
−8.6
(16.5)
6.9
(44.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) −18.2
(−0.8)
−16.2
(2.8)
−8.8
(16.2)
0.8
(33.4)
8.9
(48.0)
14.3
(57.7)
16.9
(62.4)
15.2
(59.4)
10.3
(50.5)
4.3
(39.7)
−4.5
(23.9)
−14
(7)
0.7
(33.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −24.6
(−12.3)
−23.4
(−10.1)
−15.7
(3.7)
−5.7
(21.7)
1.8
(35.2)
7.0
(44.6)
10.3
(50.5)
8.7
(47.7)
4.7
(40.5)
−0.2
(31.6)
−8.4
(16.9)
−19.4
(−2.9)
−5.4
(22.3)
Record low °C (°F) −47
(−53)
−47
(−53)
−43.9
(−47.0)
−31.7
(−25.1)
−12
(10)
−6.7
(19.9)
−2
(28)
−3.5
(25.7)
−8.5
(16.7)
−13
(9)
−34
(−29)
−44.5
(−48.1)
−47
(−53)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 58.6
(2.31)
37.9
(1.49)
52.4
(2.06)
55.9
(2.20)
78.2
(3.08)
84.7
(3.33)
101.0
(3.98)
99.0
(3.90)
110.7
(4.36)
81.5
(3.21)
67.6
(2.66)
62.3
(2.45)
889.8
(35.03)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 5.4
(0.21)
2.8
(0.11)
14.4
(0.57)
40.5
(1.59)
74.8
(2.94)
84.7
(3.33)
101
(4.0)
99
(3.9)
110.1
(4.33)
73.5
(2.89)
30.1
(1.19)
7.3
(0.29)
643.6
(25.35)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 53.3
(21.0)
35.1
(13.8)
38
(15)
15.5
(6.1)
3.4
(1.3)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0.6
(0.2)
8.1
(3.2)
37.5
(14.8)
55
(22)
246.5
(97.4)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 14.8 11.0 10.2 10.0 12.6 13.4 14.8 14.4 16.1 14.9 15.1 16.7 164
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 0.76 0.67 3.1 7.4 12.3 13.4 14.8 14.4 15.9 13.3 5.5 1.5 103.03
Average snowy days 14.5 10.7 8.4 4.3 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 2.8 11.0 15.7 68.5
Source: Environment Canada[6]

Demographics

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In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, La Sarre had a population of 7,358 living in 3,493 of its 3,698 total private dwellings, a change of 1% from its 2016 population of 7,282. With a land area of 148.36 km2 (57.28 sq mi), it had a population density of 49.6/km2 (128.5/sq mi) in 2021.[3]


Canada census – La Sarre community profile
202120162011
Population7,358 (+1.0% from 2016)7,282 (-5.7% from 2011)7,719 (+5.2% from 2006)
Land area148.36 km2 (57.28 sq mi)148.50 km2 (57.34 sq mi)148.74 km2 (57.43 sq mi)
Population density49.6/km2 (128/sq mi)49.0/km2 (127/sq mi)51.9/km2 (134/sq mi)
Median age50.4 (M: 48.8, F: 52.8)48.2 (M: 46.3, F: 50.5)46.6 (M: 44.9, F: 47.9)
Private dwellings3,698 (total)  3,493 (occupied)3,643 (total)  3,617 (total) 
Median household income$59,600$52,119$43,315
References: 2021[7] 2016[8] 2011[9] earlier[10][11]
Historical Census Data - La Sarre, Quebec
YearPop.±%
1941 2,167—    
1951 2,744+26.6%
1956 3,155+15.0%
1961 3,944+25.0%
1966 4,798+21.7%
1971 5,185+8.1%
1976 4,978−4.0%
1981 8,861+78.0%
YearPop.±%
1986 8,622−2.7%
1991 8,513−1.3%
1996 8,345−2.0%
2001 7,728−7.4%
2006 7,336−5.1%
2011 7,719+5.2%
2016 7,282−5.7%
2021 7,358+1.0%
Source: Statistics Canada[12]
Canada Census Mother Tongue - La Sarre, Quebec[12]
Census Total
French
English
French & English
Other
Year Responses Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop % Count Trend Pop %
2021
7,310
7,175   0.6% 98.2% 35   22.2% 0.5% 40   100.0% 0.5% 40   0.0% 0.5%
2016
7,235
7,130   5.1% 98.5% 45   30.8% 0.6% 20   33.3% 0.3% 40   33.3% 0.6%
2011
7,665
7,510   5.8% 98.0% 65   30.0% 0.9% 30   20.0% 0.4% 60   33.3% 0.8%
2006
7,220
7,100   5.6% 98.3% 50   66.7% 0.7% 25   16.7% 0.4% 45   18.2% 0.6%
2001
7,635
7,520   8.0% 98.5% 30   20.0% 0.4% 30   0.0% 0.4% 55   450.0% 0.7%
1996
8,240
8,175 n/a 99.2% 25 n/a 0.3% 30 n/a 0.4% 10 n/a 0.1%

Economy

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The main local resource is the forest, which covers over 4,700 square kilometres (1,800 sq mi) and provides lumber to the town's main employers Norbord and Tembec, as well as agriculture, with over 60% of its land under cultivation. The mining industry, together with small service sector businesses, complements the economy.[1][5] The area's flying needs are served by La Sarre Airport.

Government

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Municipal council

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  • Mayor: Yves Dubé
  • Councillors: Pierre Bourget, Steve Fontaine, Réjean Fournier, Victor Fournier, Karine Goulet, Renée Thiboutot

List of mayors

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Former mayors of La Sarre were:[13]

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "La Sarre (Ville)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  2. ^ a b "La Sarre". Répertoire des municipalités (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "La Sarre (Code 2487090) Census Profile". 2021 census. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada.
  4. ^ "Région 08: Abitibi—Témiscamingue (page 3)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 May 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Histoire de La Sarre" (in French). Ville de La Sarre. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  6. ^ Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000, accessed 23 July 2010
  7. ^ "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  8. ^ "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  9. ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  10. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. 20 August 2019.
  11. ^ "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. 18 July 2021.
  12. ^ a b 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021 census
  13. ^ "Historique des maires" (in French). Ville de La Sarre. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
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