View source for Mékinac Regional County Municipality

{{Other uses|Mékinac (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
|name                   = Mékinac (RCM)
|official_name          = 
|settlement_type        = [[Regional county municipality]]
<!-- images, nickname, motto --->
|image_skyline          =Herouxville 006a.jpg
|imagesize              = 250px
|image_caption          =[[Rivière à la Tortue]], [[Hérouxville]]
|image_map              = Quebec MRC Mékinac location map.svg
|mapsize                = 
|map_caption            = 
|coordinates            = {{coord|46|49|N|72|31|W|region:CA-QC|display=inline,title}}
|coor_pinpoint              = 
|coordinates_footnotes  = 
<!-- location ------------------>
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       = {{CAN}}
|subdivision_type1      = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]]
|subdivision_name1      = {{QC}}
|subdivision_type2      = [[Region (Quebec)|Region]]
|subdivision_name2      = [[Mauricie]]
|established_title      = Effective
|established_date       = January 1, 1982
<!-- seat, smaller parts ------->
|seat_type              = County seat
|seat                   = [[Saint-Tite, Quebec|Saint-Tite]]
|parts_type             = [[Municipality|Municipalities]]
|parts_style            = coll
|parts                  = <!-- parts text, or header for parts list -->
|p1                     = [[Saint-Tite, Quebec|Saint-Tite]]
|p2                     = [[Notre-Dame-de-Montauban, Quebec|Notre-Dame-de-Montauban]]
|p3                     = [[Sainte-Thècle, Quebec|Sainte-Thècle]]
|p4                     = [[Trois-Rives, Quebec|Trois-Rives]]
|p5                     = [[Hérouxville, Quebec|Hérouxville]]
|p6                     = [[Lac-aux-Sables, Quebec|Lac-aux-Sables]]
|p7                     = [[Saint-Adelphe, Quebec|Saint-Adelphe]]
|p8                     = [[Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac, Quebec|Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac]]
|p9                     = [[Saint-Séverin, Mékinac, Quebec|Saint-Séverin]]
|p10                    = [[Grandes-Piles, Quebec|Grandes-Piles]]
|p11                    = [[Lac-Boulé, Quebec|Lac-Boulé]]
|p12                    = [[Lac-Masketsi, Quebec|Lac-Masketsi]]
|p13                    = [[Lac-Normand, Quebec|Lac-Normand]]
|p14                    = [[Rivière-de-la-Savane, Quebec|Rivière-de-la-Savane]]
<!-- government type, leaders -->
|government_footnotes   = <ref name="mamrot">{{cite web  |url=http://www.mamrot.gouv.qc.ca/repertoire-des-municipalites/fiche/mrc/350/  |title=Mékinac - Résertoire des municipalités  |access-date=2008-01-11  |author=Ministère des Affaires municipale et des Régions du Québec  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220094721/http://www.mamrot.gouv.qc.ca/repertoire-des-municipalites/fiche/mrc/350/  |archive-date=2013-12-20  |url-status=dead  }}</ref>
|government_type        = [[Regional county municipality#Governance and responsibilities|Prefecture]]
|leader_title           = Prefect
|leader_name            = Alain Vallée
<!-- area ---------------------->
|area_footnotes         = <ref name="mamrot"/><ref name="census2016"/>
|area_magnitude         = 
|area_total_km2         = 5,554.90
|area_land_km2          = 5,222.10
<!-- population ---------------->
|population_footnotes           = <ref name="census2016">{{cite web |title=Census Profile, 2016 Census Mékinac, Municipalité régionale de comté [Census division], Quebec |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=2435&Geo2=PR&Code2=24&SearchText=mekinac&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |publisher=Statistics Canada |access-date=December 8, 2019}}</ref>
|population_total               = 12,358
|population_as_of               = 2016
|population_density_km2         = 2.4
|population_blank1_title= Change<br><small>2011-2016</small>
|population_blank1      = {{decrease}} 4.4%
|population_blank2_title= Dwellings
|population_blank2      = 8,324
<!-- time zone(s) -------------->
|timezone               = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
|utc_offset             = −5
|timezone_DST           = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
|utc_offset_DST         = −4
<!-- postal codes, area code --->
|postal_code_type       = [[Canadian postal code|Postal code(s)]]
|postal_code            = 
|area_codes              = [[Area codes 418 and 581|418 and 581]]
|website                = [https://www.mrcmekinac.com/ Official web site]
|footnotes              = 
}}

'''Mékinac''' ({{IPA|fr|mekinak|lang}}) is a [[regional county municipality]] (RCM) of 5,607&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> located in the administrative region of [[Mauricie]], along the [[Saint-Maurice River]], which also crosses the RCM from one end to the other, and the [[Matawin River (Quebec)|Matawin River]], a tributary of the Saint-Maurice. Located in the province of [[Quebec]], [[Canada]].

Established in January 1982, the Mékinac RCM is made up of 10 or 11 municipalities depending on the source, [[Saint-Tite#Photos|Saint-Tite]] is the most populous city, four unorganized territories occupying two-thirds of its surface area.<ref name="Toponymy">{{cite web |title=Mékinac |url=https://toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/ToposWeb/Fiche.aspx?no_seq=141055 |website=Commission de toponymie Quebec |publisher=Government of Quebec |access-date=2023-11-24 |language=fr |date=1985-03-07 |quote=Along the Saint-Maurice River}}</ref><ref name="ékinac RCM">{{cite web |title=Regional County Municipality of Mékinac Revised Land Use Plan |url=https://www.mrcmekinac.com/wp-content/uploads/SAR3-reduit.pdf |publisher=Mékinac |access-date=2023-11-24 |pages=423 |language=fr |date=2008 |quote=Developer tool}}</ref>

==Geography==

Eleven municipalities and Unorganized Territories make up the RCM de Mékinac. It is distinguished by a huge forest dotted with more than 2,000 lakes, agriculture adapted to the environment, popular holiday sites and picturesque villages. The Mékinac RCM is located on both sides of the [[Saint-Maurice River]], between the upper and central [[Mauricie]] regions. It is adjacent to the RCMs of [[Matawinie Regional County Municipality|Matawinie]], [[Maskinongé Regional County Municipality|Maskinongé]], [[Centre-du-Québec]], [[Les Chenaux Regional County Municipality|Les Chenaux]], [[Portneuf Regional County Municipality|Portneuf]] and [[Le Haut-Saint-Maurice Regional County Municipality|Haut-Saint-Maurice]]. As part of the Mauricie administrative region, it is divided into two provincial electoral districts; [[Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier|Portneuf]] and [[Laviolette (electoral district)|Laviolette]], while the federal riding is Champlain.<ref name="ékinac RCM" />

Concentrated in the southeastern tip of the territory, agricultural land corresponds to the limit of the invasion of the [[Champlain Sea]]. There is also some land cleared for cultivation in certain settlement hamlets scattered between the [[Laurentian Mountains]], on the banks of the [[Mékinac River#Photos|Mékinac River]], and the northern portion of the [[Batiscan River#Photos|Batiscan River]].

The forest covers nearly 93% of the total area of the Mékinac RCM. It was the raison d'être of the colonization of the territory and still supports 20% of all jobs.

Forest ownership is shared between: the provincial government (public lands), the federal government (La [[La Mauricie National Park|Mauricie National Park]]) and approximately 587 private landowners, with a proportion of 79%, 1% and 20% of the forest respectively.<ref name="ékinac RCM" />

===Hydrology: [[#Photos|3 major rivers]] - 4,665 lakes===

The [[Saint-Maurice River]], the [[Batiscan River#Photos|Batiscan River]] and the [[Sainte-Anne River (Les Chenaux)#Photos|Sainte-Anne Rive]]r flow from west to east on the territory of the MRC de Mékinac, the hydrographic network includes:
*2,964&nbsp;km of permanent watercourses
*2,863&nbsp;km of intermittent rivers for a total of 5827&nbsp;km.
*Nearly 38% (2,241&nbsp;km) of this system is privately owned, with 791&nbsp;km (35%) of permanent watercourses and 1,450&nbsp;km of intermittent (65%) watercourses.
The Mékinac RCM has 4,665 lakes for a total area of 34,272.8 ha (342.7 km2).

*The number of lakes of one hectare or more is 1,869.
*Lakes of less than one hectare account for nearly 60% (2,797 ha) of all bodies of water in the MRC.
*The largest is Lake Mékinac measuring 2,297 ha (23.0 km2). It is divided between the Mékinac RCM and the La Tuque agglomeration, where most (79.9%) is in the Mékinac RCM.
*Most of the lakes (53.4%) in the MRC are classified as very small (1 to 5 ha) according to Bazoge and Blais (2005) with a surface area of less than 5 ha.
*Conversely, there are only three very large lakes (625 ha or more) in the RCM, lakes [[Mékinac Lake|Mékinac]], Normand and Salone. Source: MRC de Mékinac Regional Plan for Wetlands and Bodies of Water<ref name="Plan régional des milieux humides et hydriques">{{cite web |author1=Andrée-Ann Cloutier |title=Plan régional des milieux humides et hydriques- MRC de Mékinac-  Document de travail |url=https://sambba.qc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2021-09-29-Portrait_ENV_Mekinac.pdf |publisher=Société d'aménagement et de mise en valeur du bassin de la Batiscan  (SAMBBA) |pages=67 |language=fr |date=2021-09-29  |access-date=2023-11-24|quote=Bassin versant Saint-Maurice}}</ref>

== Photos ==
The [[Mauricie]] region river's [[Saint-Maurice River|Saint-Maurice]], [[Batiscan River|Batiscan]], [[Sainte-Anne River (Les Chenaux)|Sainte-Anne (Les Chenaux)]] and their tributaries cross the territory of Mékinac RCM

<gallery mode="packed" caption ="Three majors rivers">
File:Riviere Saint Maurice 1994 002.jpg|[[Saint-Maurice, Quebec|Saint-Maurice]], [[lumber]] floating, (formerly [[Saint-Jean-des-Piles, Quebec|Saint-Jean-des-Piles]]) [[Shawinigan]] 1994
File:Embouchure rivière Batiscan, Batiscan 006.jpg|[[Batiscan River#Photos|Batiscan]], near its mouth, iron bridge, [[Chemin du Roy#Photos|Chemin du Roy]], [[Batiscan, Quebec#Photos|Batiscan]]
File:Glace 005 Jeffrey-Alexandre-Rousseau bridge.jpg|[[Sainte-Anne River (Les Chenaux)#Photos|Sainte-Anne (Les Chenaux)]], [[Jeffrey Alexandre Rousseau|Jeffrey-Alexandre-Rousseau]] Bridge, [[Chemin du Roy#Photos|Chemin du Roy]], [[Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade#Photos|Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade]]
</gallery>

<gallery mode="packed" caption =" Permanent watercourses tributary to major rivers"> 
File:Riviere a la Tortue 003.jpg| Dam, [[Rivière à la Tortue#Photos|Turtle River]], [[Lac-à-la-Tortue, Quebec|Lac-à-la-Tortue sector]], Shawinigan
File:Herouxville 0024.jpg| [[South Mékinac River#Photos|South Mékinac River]], Petit Lac du Castor Road, [[Hérouxville#Photos|Hérouxville]]
File:Rivière des Envies mai 2020.jpg| [[Rivière des Envies#Photos|Rivière des Envies]], Goulet Falls, [[Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka#Photos|Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka]]
File:Saint Tite 089.jpg| [[Rivière des Envies#Photos|Rivière des Envies]], from bridge P-03960, steel-wood (1918),<ref name="Bridge 039608">{{cite web |author1=Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable |title=Inventaire et inspection des structures |url=https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/fr/projets-infrastructures/structures/Pages/inventaires-structures.aspx |publisher=Government of Quebec |access-date=2023-11-26 |language=fr |quote=Location and description of the condition of bridges, culverts, retaining walls and tunnels}}</ref> rang du Haut-du-Lac Nord, [[Saint-Tite#Photos|Saint-Tite]]
</gallery>

==Toponymy==
<blockquote>Mékinak, (Algonquin). — Lake, river and township of Champlain County. The [[Mékinac River]] flows into the [[Saint-Maurice River|Saint-Maurice]] twelve miles upstream of Les Piles, and 57 miles from [[Trois-Rivières]].
A few spell it Mékinac, but the geographic office of Canada considers the ending in k.
This word means turtle, and according to Father N. Caron, it was given because of a mountain that had more or less the shape of a turtle.

In the Cree idiom, this word also has the same meaning.
In his lexicon of the [[Algonquin language]], Father Cuoq translates Micinimakina as "big turtle" and brings this word of mici which would have lengthened in micini, and mikinak.<br>
—Translate from french, source: Publications de la Société du Parler français au Canada 1906<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rouillard |first1=Eugene |title=Noms géographiques de la province de Québec et des provinces maritimes empruntés aux langues sauvages |url=https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/3254887 |website=Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec |publisher=Publications de la Société du Parler français au Canada 1906 |access-date=19 June 2023 |page=61}}</ref>
</blockquote>

The Algonquin Mikinak means turtle. Native Americans often referred to places based on the naming of the animal kingdom. Once well known, the toponym made it possible to refer to the same place in conversations. The designation Mikinak would have been assigned to a nearby mountain. However, it remains possible that the abundance of turtles in this portion of the territory explains this name<ref>{{cite web |title=Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac, origin and signification |url=https://toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/ToposWeb/Fiche.aspx?no_seq=57594 |website=Commission de toponymie Quebec |publisher=Quebec Gouvernement |access-date=20 June 2023 |language=fr}}</ref>

However, the name is also similar to the historical Algonquin word mekanâc, pronounced /me:kana:ʃ/, meaning "small path". The toponym Mekinac was assigned to the [[Mékinac River]], [[Mékinac Lake]], at [[Mékinac (township)]], in the ex-municipality of [[Saint-Joseph-de-Mékinac, Quebec]], and town of [[Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac]].

The foothills of the [[Laurentian Mountains|Laurentians]] are located in [[Saint-Tite#Photos|Saint-Tite]]. The Laurentide hinterland is developed for hunting and fishing; it includes, among others, the Tawachiche, Gros-Brochet and Chapeau-de-Paille zecs, as well as the [[Saint-Maurice Wildlife Reserve]]<ref name="Toponymy" />

== Municipalities of RCM Mékinac ==
The RCM has 14 entities

{| class="wikitable"
! Municipality
! Status
! Surface<br/>km2
! Population (2011)<ref>Recensement de 2011 du Canada</ref>
! Density<br/>hab./km2
|- valign="top"
| [[Grandes-Piles, Quebec|Grandes-Piles]]
| [[Types of municipalities in Quebec|Village municipality]]
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:120.53}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:361}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:3.0}}
|-
| [[Hérouxville, Quebec|Hérouxville]]
| [[Types of municipalities in Quebec|Parish municipality]]
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:53.04}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:1340}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:25.3}}
|-
| [[Lac-aux-Sables, Quebec|Lac-aux-Sables]]
| [[Types of municipalities in Quebec|Parish municipality]]
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:270.38}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:1373}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:5.1}}
|-
| [[Lac-Boulé, Quebec|Lac-Boulé]]
| [[Unorganized area (Canada)|Unorganized area]]
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:22.96}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:0}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:0.0}}
|-
| [[Lac-Masketsi, Quebec|Lac-Masketsi]]
| [[Unorganized area (Canada)|Unorganized area]]
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:213.29}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:0}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:0.0}}
|-
| [[Lac-Normand, Quebec|Lac-Normand]]
| [[Unorganized area (Canada)|Unorganized area]]
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:2038.09}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:5}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:0.0}}
|-
| [[Notre-Dame-de-Montauban, Quebec|Notre-Dame-de-Montauban]]
| [[Types of municipalities in Quebec|Municipality]]
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:165.37}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:747}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:4.5}}
|-
| [[Rivière-de-la-Savane, Quebec|Rivière-de-la-Savane]]
| [[Unorganized area (Canada)|Unorganized area]]
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:1088.02}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:0}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:0.0}}
|-
| [[Saint-Adelphe, Quebec|Saint-Adelphe]]
| [[Types of municipalities in Quebec|Parish municipality]]
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:137.45}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:952}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:6.9}}
|-
| [[Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac, Quebec|Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac]]
| [[Types of municipalities in Quebec|Parish municipalityh]]
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:144.59}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:438}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:3.0}}
|-
| [[Saint-Séverin, Mauricie, Quebec|Saint-Séverin]]
| [[Types of municipalities in Quebec|Parish municipality]]
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:62.28}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:860}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:13.8}}
|-
| '''[[Saint-Tite, Quebec|Saint-Tite]]'''
| [[Types of municipalities in Quebec|City]]
| align ="right"| {{formatnum:92.53}}
| align ="right"| {{formatnum:3880}}
| align ="right"| {{formatnum:41.9}}
|-
| [[Sainte-Thècle, Quebec|Sainte-Thècle]]
| [[Types of municipalities in Quebec|Municipality]]
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:213.46}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:2478}} 
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:11.6}}
|-
| [[Trois-Rives, Quebec|Trois-Rives]]
| [[Types of municipalities in Quebec|Municipality]]
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:603.94}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:490}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:0.8}}
|-
| colspan="2" | '''Total'''
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:5226.08}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:12919}}
| align ="right" | {{formatnum:2.47}}
|}
<gallery mode="packed" caption ="Some municipalities of the MRC">
File:Herouxville 006a.jpg|[[Rivière à la Tortue]], rang Saint-Pierre Sud, [[Hérouxville]]
File:Riviére Batiscan, Notre-Dame de Montauban 002.jpg|[[Batiscan River#Photos|Batiscan River]], spring flood, [[Notre-Dame-de-Montauban]]
File:Saint Adelphe 039.jpg|Patrick Douville Fire Station (1930), Principale Street, [[Saint-Adelphe]]
File:Saint-Severin 008.jpg|[[Rivière des Envies#Photos|Rivière des Envies]], chemin des Moulins, [[Saint-Séverin, Mauricie, Quebec|Saint-Séverin]]
File:Saint Tite 075.jpg| Catholic Church and Presbytery, Notre-Dame Street, [[Saint-Tite]]
</gallery>

Between 2006 and 2011, the population grew by 2.0%. The RCM has 8,237 private dwellings whose 6,096 private dwellings are occupied by usual residents. The median age of the population is 52.6 years old. Statistics Canada reports that in 2011, 88.5% of the population was aged 15 and over, meanings 11,430 individuals (including 5700 men and 5730 women), divided into 3,940 private households. This census indicates that 2,070 people lived alone. Of this population, 1,880 individuals have mastered both French and English, or 14.6%.<ref name="cp2011"/>

==Transportation==
===Access routes===
Highways and numbered routes that run through the municipality, including external routes that start or finish at the county border:<ref>[http://www.quebec511.gouv.qc.ca/fr/carte_routiere/ Official Transport Quebec Road Map]</ref>

{{col-begin|width=75%}}
{{col-4}}
* '''Autoroutes'''
** None
{{col-4}}
* '''Principal Highways'''
** {{jct|state=QC|QC|153}}
** {{jct|state=QC|QC|155}}
** {{jct|state=QC|QC|159}}
{{col-4}}
* '''Secondary Highways'''
** {{jct|state=QC|QC|352}}
** {{jct|state=QC|QC|363}}
** {{jct|state=QC|QC|367}}
{{col-4}}
* '''External Routes'''
** None
{{col-end}}

==See also==
* [https://www.environnement.gouv.qc.ca/eau/atlas/index.htm Atlas de l’eau], Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs Québec (French)
* [https://sambba.qc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/SAMBBA_BATISCAN_PDEfinal.pdf Plan directeur de l’eau de la rivière Batiscan], Société d’aménagement et de mise en valeur du bassin de la Batiscan (SAMBBA) (2015), 359 pages (French)
* [https://www.mrcmekinac.com/amenagement-du-territoire/cartographie-et-geomatique/ Cartographie et géomatique], MRC de Mékinac (French)
* [[List of regional county municipalities and equivalent territories in Quebec]](French)
* [[Batiscanie, Quebec]]
* [[Batiscan River]]
* [[Rivière des Envies]]
* [[North Mékinac River]]
* [[South Mékinac River]]
* [[Rivière du milieu (Mékinac)]]
* [[Rivière aux eaux mortes (Mékinac)]]
* [[Tawachiche River]]
* [[Tawachiche West River]]
* [[Pierre-Paul River]]
* [[Saint-Maurice River]]
* [[Mékinac River]]
* [[Mékinac Lake]]
* [[Missionary Lake]]
* [[Lake Jesuit]]
* [[Lake Traverse (Mékinac)]]
* [[Regional County Municipality]]
* [[Irénée-Marie Ecological Reserve]]
* [[Grande-Anse (Mékinac)]] (hamlet)

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="cp2011">{{SCref |unit=cd |code=2435}}</ref>

}}
<br>
{{Geographic location
 | title = Adjacent Counties & Equivalent Territories
 | Northwest = 
 | North = [[La Tuque (census division)|La Tuque TE]]
 | Northeast =  
 | West = [[Matawinie Regional County Municipality|Matawinie RCM]]
 | Centre = Mékinac RCM
 | East = [[Portneuf Regional County Municipality|Portneuf RCM]]
 | Southwest = 
 | South = [[Maskinongé Regional County Municipality|Maskinongé RCM]] / [[Shawinigan|Shawinigan (TE)]]
 | Southeast = [[Les Chenaux Regional County Municipality|Les Chenaux RCM]]
}}
<br>
{{Administrative divisions of Quebec region|Mauricie|state=expanded}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mekinac}}
[[Category:Mékinac Regional County Municipality| ]]