Located in a valley that bears the same name, the Témiscouata region extends along Lake Témiscouata and lies south-east of the Rivière-du-Loup RCM. Twenty municipalities are home to approximately 22,504 people (January 2004). The common values of the inhabitants of this RCM are marked by a strong attachment to the land and its resources.

The Témiscouata RCM is the second largest in the Lower St. Lawrence, after La Matapédia RCM, covering 3,920 square kilometres. Témiscouata’s key highways make it the third gateway to Québec and the main transportation corridor between the Atlantic provinces and the rest of Canada, even though the first intercolonial road passed through La Matapédia. It is a strategic region, thanks to its geographical position bordering New Brunswick and the State of Maine (United States). This RCM has mainly been developed in the mountainous area of the Notre Dame Mountains, which are part of the Appalachians, and along two major southbound highways: the Trans-Canada Highway and the Transcontinental Highway.

In this part of the Lower St. Lawrence, the forest industry is the main driving force of the local economy, thanks in large part to the presence of the Norampac plant, Division Cabano, and Cercueils Saint-Laurent in Saint-Juste-du-Lac. In addition, Témiscouata has greatly strengthened its economic base by setting up a large number of export companies in the agriculture, maple product and forestry sectors. In fact, close to 30% of the export industries in the Lower St. Lawrence are found in this RCM. Worthy of mention is Glendyne, a mine that quarries world-class slate, the only open-pit mine in Canada that also has underground operations. Also worthy of note is the fact that Témiscouata produces almost two-thirds of the Lower St. Lawrence’s maple syrup. The opening in 2003 of the Centre d’expertise et de transfert technologique en acériculture (CETTA) in Pohénégamook will surely help to accentuate Témiscouata’s prominent position in this sector.

It is also in this RCM, in Pohénégamook to be exact, that you will find one of the most prized year-round outdoor activity centres in Quebec and abroad. Other major tourist attractions include Le Petit Témis, a 135 km bicycle path that links Rivière-du-Loup to Edmunston (New Brunswick) and runs right across Témiscouata, the musée du Domaine which is considered to be one of the finest antique car museums in North America, and ASTER, the Lower St. Lawrence’s scientific station.

Témiscouata… Naturally beautiful. Great living.

Name origins: In Amerindian language, Témiscouata means “it’s deep everywhere”.

Last Update : 2005-02-25 | Printable version