Thurso, Quebec

Thurso

Coat of arms
Coordinates:
Country Canada
Province Quebec
Region Outaouais
Incorporation January 16, 1886
Government
 • Type City
 • Mayor Maurice Boivin
Area[1]
 • Total 6.77 km2 (2.6 sq mi)
 • Land 6.27 km2 (2.4 sq mi)
Population (2006)[2]
 • Total 2,299
 • Density 366.9/km2 (950.3/sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Postal Code J0X 3B0
Area code(s) 819
Access Routes Route 148
Route 317
Website ville.thurso.qc.ca

Thurso is a city in the Papineau Regional County Municipality in the Outaouais region of western Quebec. It is located on the Ottawa River, and is within Canada's National Capital Region. Its 2006 census population was 2,299.[3]

Contents

Demographics

Population:[4]

Total private dwellings (excluding seasonal cottages): 974

Languages:

Transportation

Thurso's main access roads are currently Route 148 (running west-east) and Route 317 (running south-north). Autoroute 50, approximately 3 km north of Thurso along Route 317 complements Route 148 as Thurso's second connection to Gatineau and Ottawa; however, the connection along Autoroute 50 to Montreal between Thurso and Grenville is still incomplete.

Industry

Thurso is known for the unpleasant odour emanating from its paper mill, which originates from the burning of chemical residue when the pulp is manufactured and the smell was there well before the retaining basin was built. Fortress Paper employs 335 people in Thurso to produce 250,000 tonnes hardwood kraft market pulp. However, the company had financial difficulties and led to its operations temporarily being shut down in 2006 and again for an eight-week period in 2009.

The Lauzon sawmill was another major employer for the community, but its building was destroyed by a fire on March 8, 2007, putting 100 workers temporarily out of work. However, plans for relaunching the production activity started shortly after the event.

Thurso's only bar/hotel, The Lafontaine, burned twice in 2009; once in February and again a month later, with the latter fire resulting in complete destruction. Plans are in place to reconstruct the historic landmark in the fall of 2009.

Earthquake

An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.5 was centered north in Thurso at 8:39 pm, on February 24, 2006. an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.1 was centered in thurso at 3;39pm on september 18,2011

Famous people from Thurso

Hockey legend Guy Lafleur was born in Thurso and has an arena and street named after him.

Bill Clement, another NHL player who went on to become a well-known hockey commentator, also came from Thurso during the same time period as Lafleur.

References and notes

External links