Mont-Albert, Quebec

Mont-Albert
—  Unorganized territory  —
Mount Albert
Mont-Albert
Coordinates:
Country  Canada
Province  Quebec
Region Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine
Regional county La Haute-Gaspésie
Formed January 1, 1986
Government[1]
 • Federal riding Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia
 • Prov. riding Matane
Area[1][2]
 • Total 3,511.58 km2 (1,355.8 sq mi)
 • Land 3,470.44 km2 (1,339.9 sq mi)
Population (2006)[2]
 • Total 218
 • Density 0.06/km2 (0.2/sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Postal Code
Area code(s) 418 and 581

Mont-Albert is an unorganized territory in the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region of Quebec, Canada.

The only population centre within the territory is Cap-Seize, located 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) south of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts along Quebec Route 299. It was established circa 1940 as a forestry centre and named after the nearby Cap-Seize Creek, a tributary of the Sainte-Anne River. While the name literally means "Cape Sixteen", it is actually a transformation of the English word "capsize", the creek's original name. A post office operated there from 1946 to 1969.[3]

The ghost town of Saint-Octave-de-l'Avenir is about 18 kilometres (11 mi) south-southeast of Cap-Chat, at an altitude of 380 metres (1,250 ft). It was formed in 1932 as part of the Vautrin Settlement Plan to encourage colonization of Gaspésie's interior and intended to bring relief during the Great Depression of the 1930s. The settlement was named after founding priest Louis-Octave Caron (1879-1942) and a hopeful outlook of the future (avenir is French for "future"). It grew to 1200 residents in 1937, but then declined until it was abandoned in 1971. Only summer camps remain.[4]

The territory is home to the Chic-Choc Wildlife Reserve and Gaspésie National Park where the eponymous Mount Albert and Mont Jacques-Cartier are located. Mount Albert, with a 1,151 metres (3,776 ft) high peak, is the 9th highest peak in Quebec. It was named in honour of Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha because geologist Alexander Murray made the first recorded ascent of the mountain on the Prince's birthday, 26 August 1845. Mount Jacques-Cartier, with an altitude of 1,270 metres (4,170 ft), is Quebec's second highest mountain.[5][6]

Both mountains are popular with hikers (the International Appalachian Trail traverses them both) and share an unique ecology for its latitude: snow cover for 9 months of the year and alpine tundra vegetation. Furthermore the territory is also home to migratory woodland caribou, the only remaining herd south of the Saint Lawrence.[5][7]

Demographics

Population:[10]

References

  1. ^ a b "Mont-Albert" (in French). Répertoire des municipalités. Ministère des Affaires Municipales, Régions et Occupation du territoire. http://www.mamrot.gouv.qc.ca/repertoire-des-municipalites/fiche/municipalite/04902/. Retrieved 2011-12-20. 
  2. ^ a b "Mont-Albert community profile". 2006 Census data. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=2404902&Geo2=PR&Code2=24&Data=Count&SearchText=Mont-Albert&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=. Retrieved 2011-12-20. 
  3. ^ "Cap-Seize" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/ToposWeb/fiche.aspx?no_seq=10499. Retrieved 2011-12-21. 
  4. ^ "Saint-Octave-de-l'Avenir" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/ToposWeb/fiche.aspx?no_seq=110267. Retrieved 2011-12-21. 
  5. ^ a b "Mont Albert" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/ToposWeb/fiche.aspx?no_seq=710. Retrieved 2011-12-21. 
  6. ^ "Mont Jacques Cartier". Peakery. http://peakery.com/Mont-Jacques-Cartier/. Retrieved 2011-12-21. 
  7. ^ "Parc National de la Gaspesie". Sepaq. http://www.sepaq.com/pq/gas/. Retrieved 2011-12-22. 
  8. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. 2009-02-24. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/index.cfm?Lang=E. Retrieved 2011-12-20. 
  9. ^ "2001 Community Profiles". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. 2007-02-01. http://www12.statcan.ca/english/profil01/CP01/Index.cfm?Lang=E. Retrieved 2011-12-20. 
  10. ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census