Rimouski | |
|---|---|
| City of Rimouski Ville de Rimouski | |
 Skyline of Rimouski from St. Lawrence River | |
 Flag .svg) Coat of arms  Logo | |
| Motto: Legi patrum fidelis(Fidèles à la loi de nos pères) | |
 Location within Rimouski-Neigette RCM | |
  Rimouski Location in Quebec | |
| Coordinates:48°27′N68°32′W / 48.45°N 68.53°W /48.45; -68.53[1] | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Quebec |
| Region | Bas-Saint-Laurent |
| RCM | Rimouski-Neigette |
| Constituted | January 1, 2002 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Guy Caron |
| • Federal riding | Rimouski—La Matapédia |
| • Prov. riding | Rimouski |
| Area | |
• City | 529.50 km2 (204.44 sq mi) |
| • Land | 339.13 km2 (130.94 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 28.52 km2 (11.01 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 772.93 km2 (298.43 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[3] | |
• City | 48,935 |
| • Density | 144.3/km2 (374/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 39,840 (75th) |
| • Urban density | 1,396.9/km2 (3,618/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 53,944 (60th) |
| • Metro density | 69.8/km2 (181/sq mi) |
| • Change 2016-2021 |  0.8% |
| • Dwellings | 24,262 |
| Demonym(s) | Rimouskois, Rimouskoise |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Postal code(s) | |
| Area codes | 418 and 581 |
Highways A-20 |  R-132 R-232 |
| Geocode | 24 10043 |
| Website | www |
Rimouski (/ˌrɪmˈuːski//ˌrɪmuːˈski/rim-OO-skeeRIM-oo-SKEE;French:[ʁimuski]ⓘ) is a city inQuebec, Canada. Rimouski is located in theBas-Saint-Laurent region, at the mouth of theRimouski River. It has a population of 48,935 (as of2021).[3] Rimouski, whose motto isLegi patrum fidelis (Faithful to the law of our fathers), is located on the south shore of theSaint Lawrence Estuary, around 300 km downstream of Quebec City. It is the site ofUniversité du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR), theCégep de Rimouski (which includes theInstitut maritime du Québec) and theMusic Conservatory. It is also the home of some ocean sciences research centres (see below).
The name Rimouski has been described as likely derived from aMi'kmaq word meaning "land of the moose".[6] However, theCommission de toponymie du Québec notes that more recent research instead favors a link to theWolastoqey, likely meaning "Land of Dogs" or "Land of Poplar Blossoms".[7] The city was founded by SirRené Lepage de Ste-Claire in 1696. Originally fromOuanne in theBurgundy region, he exchanged property he owned on theÎle d'Orléans with Augustin Rouer de la Cardonnière for theSeigneurie of Rimouski, which extended along the St. Lawrence River from the Hâtée River at Le Bic to the Métis River. De la Cardonnière had been the owner of Rimouski since 1688, but had never lived there. René Lepage moved his family to Rimouski, where it held the seigneurie until 1790, when it was sold to the Quebec City businessmanJoseph Drapeau.
The "Maison Lamontagne" was built in 1750 per Marie-Agnès Lepage, granddaughter ofRené Lepage de Ste-Claire. It carries now the surname of the family that resided at it in 1844. It is one of the oldest half-timbered houses in Quebec and is within what is now called the District of Rimouski-Est.
Today, a boulevard, park and monument at the western entrance of Rimouski bear the name of René Lepage.
On May 6, 1950, Rimouski suffered a severe fire, in which 319 houses burned to the ground. This event is known asLa nuit rouge (French forRed Night). The fire originated in thePrice Brothers and Company [fr] yard on the left shore of the Rimouski River and quickly crossed the river and spread throughout the city pushed by strong winds, destroying half of the city. No one died in the blaze. Legend has it that a priest sprinkled holy water around the city's cathedral and that the fire would not cross the line.
Rimouski has ahumid continental climate (KöppenDfb) with cold, snowy winters and warm, rainy summers.
| Climate data for Rimouski (1981−2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 14.5 (58.1) | 12.5 (54.5) | 24.0 (75.2) | 29.0 (84.2) | 32.8 (91.0) | 35.0 (95.0) | 36.0 (96.8) | 35.5 (95.9) | 33.0 (91.4) | 26.5 (79.7) | 21.5 (70.7) | 15.0 (59.0) | 36.0 (96.8) |
| Mean maximum °C (°F) | 5.3 (41.5) | 3.9 (39.0) | 7.9 (46.2) | 15.8 (60.4) | 23.3 (73.9) | 26.7 (80.1) | 28.0 (82.4) | 27.3 (81.1) | 24.5 (76.1) | 19.7 (67.5) | 14.2 (57.6) | 7.7 (45.9) | 29.7 (85.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −7.1 (19.2) | −5.7 (21.7) | 0.1 (32.2) | 7.3 (45.1) | 15.1 (59.2) | 20.8 (69.4) | 23.5 (74.3) | 22.5 (72.5) | 17.7 (63.9) | 10.3 (50.5) | 3.7 (38.7) | −2.9 (26.8) | 8.8 (47.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −11.0 (12.2) | −9.6 (14.7) | −3.9 (25.0) | 3.2 (37.8) | 10.2 (50.4) | 15.7 (60.3) | 18.6 (65.5) | 17.8 (64.0) | 13.4 (56.1) | 7.0 (44.6) | 0.9 (33.6) | −5.8 (21.6) | 4.7 (40.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −14.6 (5.7) | −13.6 (7.5) | −7.8 (18.0) | −0.9 (30.4) | 5.2 (41.4) | 10.7 (51.3) | 13.7 (56.7) | 13.1 (55.6) | 9.1 (48.4) | 3.6 (38.5) | −1.8 (28.8) | −9 (16) | 0.6 (33.1) |
| Mean minimum °C (°F) | −24.6 (−12.3) | −23.7 (−10.7) | −18.8 (−1.8) | −8.8 (16.2) | −1.1 (30.0) | 3.5 (38.3) | 7.6 (45.7) | 6.6 (43.9) | 1.4 (34.5) | −3.0 (26.6) | −10.1 (13.8) | −18.7 (−1.7) | −26.0 (−14.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −33 (−27) | −32 (−26) | −25.5 (−13.9) | −22 (−8) | −7.2 (19.0) | 0.0 (32.0) | 3.0 (37.4) | 0.0 (32.0) | −1.1 (30.0) | −7.8 (18.0) | −16.5 (2.3) | −30.6 (−23.1) | −33 (−27) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 71.0 (2.80) | 65.8 (2.59) | 64.0 (2.52) | 73.2 (2.88) | 81.8 (3.22) | 81.2 (3.20) | 93.9 (3.70) | 80.2 (3.16) | 91.0 (3.58) | 96.3 (3.79) | 77.5 (3.05) | 89.5 (3.52) | 965.4 (38.01) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 11.1 (0.44) | 5.6 (0.22) | 14.0 (0.55) | 54.0 (2.13) | 80.4 (3.17) | 81.2 (3.20) | 93.9 (3.70) | 80.2 (3.16) | 91.0 (3.58) | 94.3 (3.71) | 56.8 (2.24) | 24.6 (0.97) | 687.0 (27.05) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 61.3 (24.1) | 58.7 (23.1) | 50.9 (20.0) | 17.2 (6.8) | 1.4 (0.6) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 2.0 (0.8) | 21.3 (8.4) | 66.4 (26.1) | 279.2 (109.9) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 14.1 | 11.8 | 11.6 | 12.3 | 13.9 | 14.1 | 15.4 | 13.0 | 13.8 | 14.8 | 12.7 | 13.9 | 161.0 |
| Average rainy days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 1.6 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 9.9 | 13.7 | 14.1 | 15.4 | 13.0 | 13.8 | 14.7 | 8.6 | 3.1 | 112.0 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.2 cm) | 13.0 | 10.8 | 9.0 | 3.5 | 0.36 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.40 | 5.3 | 12.2 | 54.6 |
| Averagedew point °C (°F) | −13.5 (7.7) | −12.7 (9.1) | −8.4 (16.9) | −2.5 (27.5) | 3.8 (38.8) | 9.0 (48.2) | 12.5 (54.5) | 12.0 (53.6) | 8.5 (47.3) | 2.8 (37.0) | −2.9 (26.8) | −8.8 (16.2) | 0.0 (32.0) |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 52.8 | 89.3 | 134.3 | 155.4 | 192.2 | 217.2 | 231.5 | 221.1 | 157.7 | 95.8 | 55.3 | 51.9 | 1,654.5 |
| Percentagepossible sunshine | 19.4 | 31.3 | 36.5 | 38.0 | 40.8 | 45.1 | 47.7 | 49.8 | 41.6 | 28.5 | 19.9 | 19.9 | 34.9 |
| Source 1:Environment Canada[8][9] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: weatherstats.ca (for dewpoint and monthly&yearly average absolute maximum&minimum temperature)[10] | |||||||||||||
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1871 | 1,186 | — |
| 1881 | 1,417 | +19.5% |
| 1891 | 1,429 | +0.8% |
| 1901 | 1,804 | +26.2% |
| 1911 | 3,097 | +71.7% |
| 1921 | 3,612 | +16.6% |
| 1931 | 5,589 | +54.7% |
| 1941 | 7,009 | +25.4% |
| 1951 | 11,565 | +65.0% |
| 1956 | 14,630 | +26.5% |
| 1961 | 17,739 | +21.3% |
| 1966 | 20,330 | +14.6% |
| 1971 | 26,934 | +32.5% |
| 1976 | 27,897 | +3.6% |
| 1981 | 29,120 | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 29,672 | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 30,873 | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 31,773 | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 31,305 | −1.5% |
| 2006 | 42,240 | +34.9% |
| 2011 | 46,860 | +10.9% |
| 2016 | 48,664 | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 48,935 | +0.6% |
| Source: Statistics Canada | ||
In the2021 Census of Population conducted byStatistics Canada, Rimouski had a population of48,935 living in23,470 of its24,849 total private dwellings, a change of0.6% from its 2016 population of48,664. With a land area of 339.13 km2 (130.94 sq mi), it had a population density of144.3/km2 (373.7/sq mi) in 2021.[11][failed verification]
| 2021 | 2016 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 48,935 (+0.6% from 2016) | 48,664 (+3.8% from 2011) | 46,860 (+3.7% from 2006) |
| Land area | 339.13 km2 (130.94 sq mi) | 339.64 km2 (131.14 sq mi) | 339.84 km2 (131.21 sq mi) |
| Population density | 144.3/km2 (374/sq mi) | 143.3/km2 (371/sq mi) | 137.9/km2 (357/sq mi) |
| Median age | 47.2 (M: 45.2, F: 49.2) | 47.5 (M: 44.7, F: 49.9) | 46.4 (M: 44.2, F: 48.2) |
| Private dwellings | 24,849 (total) 23,470 (occupied) | 24,262 (total) | 22,703 (total) |
| Median household income | $66,000 | $56,728 | $57,841 |
The 2021 census found that French was the mother tongue of 97.2% of the population. The next most common mother tongues were English (0.8%), Spanish (0.3%), Arabic (0.2%), and Swahili (0.1%).[15][failed verification]
| Language | Population | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|
| English | 230 | 1% |
| French | 47,910 | 98% |
| Other | 295 | 1% |
One of Rimouski's primary economic fields is its maritime sector. Around 1900, the port was important for operatingmail tenders such asHMCS Lady Evelyn for transatlantic liners. These could take mail from an arriving ship in the mouth of the St Lawrence, then speed it by rail to Quebec, arriving long before the ship. The town welcomes students at the Institut Maritime du Québec, which offers exclusively marine-related programs of studies. Rimouski is also the home of many marine research centres, such as theInstitut des sciences de la mer (ISMER), theCentre de recherche sur les biotechnologies marines and theCentre interdisciplinaire de développement en cartographie des océans.
Rimouski is also home to the headquarters of theSt. Lawrence Global Observatory,[2] an inter-institutional group seeking to provide, through its Internet portal, an integrated and rapid access to data and information concerning the global ecosystem of the St. Lawrence, in order to promote sustainable management.
A ferry used to cross over fromForestville twice daily from May to September, but it is not currently running.[16][17][18]
The port operates five berths ranging from 130 to 213 metres in length, with a water depth of 7.3 metres, and is mainly used for thetransshipment of salt.[19]
The tide station located at Pointe-au-Père serves as the reference point for measuring mean sea level for theNorth American Vertical Datum of 1988, which is the reference point for determining altitude in North America.[20]
Rimouski has an active cultural life, being host of festivals likeFesti Jazz International since 1982, theGrandes Fêtes du Saint-Laurent [fr], a familial musical event taking place the first week-end of July and an international film festival, theCarrousel international du film de Rimouski.
In November, the town is the host of the yearly Salon du Livre de Rimouski, the oldest event of its kind in the province of Quebec. It was created in 1964 by a group of women with a passion for literature, who wished to make literature more accessible to young readers. Every year, more than 125 authors from the region and its surroundings participate in the event, and over 300 Quebec Publishers distribute about 75 stands among themselves. Supported by Canada Heritage, the Canada Council of the Arts, the Society of development of the cultural companies of Quebec and the city of Rimouski, the event attracts more than 8000 visitors per year.
The Music Conservatory of Quebec at Rimouski, founded in 1973, is one of musical institutions that form the network of theConservatoire of Music and Drama in Quebec.
Several renowned musicians, among othersAndré Laplante,Marcelle Deschênes, Stéphane Lemelin,[21] Gaston Brisson,[22]David Jalbert,Josée and Martin Caron, Gilles Rioux andJoseph Rouleau, were born in the city or in the surrounding area.[23]
One of the town's main tourist attractions is theSite historique maritime de la Pointe-au-Père, which features an exhibit on theRMSEmpress of Ireland disaster and thePointe-au-Père lighthouse. The museum's exhibit on the RMS Empress of Ireland disaster commemorates the loss of 1,012 persons in the most fatal peacetime shipwreck in the 20th century, after the infamousTitanic tragedy.
The town is also enthusiastic about sporting events. The town hosted theJeux du Québec in 2001 and was the host of theMemorial Cup Tournament in 2009, and again in 2025.
Since 1995, the town has been home to aQMJHL team, theRimouski Océanic. Former Océanic players includeSidney Crosby,Vincent Lecavalier,Michel Ouellet,Brad Richards andAlexis Lafrenière.
The city is divided into 11 districts. Six of those districts (Pointe-au-Père, Sainte-Blandine, Rimouski-Est, Sainte-Odile-sur-Rimouski and Le Bic) were small communities but weremerged within Rimouski in 2002, except for Le Bic, which was merged in 2009. The municipal council is composed of themayor and eleven councillors, each one representing a district.
| mandate | fonctions | name(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021–2025 | Mayor | Guy Caron |
| Districts | ||
| #1 Sacré-Coeur | Sébastien Bolduc | |
| #2 Nazareth | Rodrigue Joncas | |
| #3 Saint-Germain | Philippe Cousineau Morin | |
| #4 Rimouski-Est | Cécilia Michaud | |
| #5 Pointe-au-Père | Julie Carré | |
| #6 Sainte-Odile | Gregory Thorez | |
| #7 Saint-Robert | Jocelyn Pelletier | |
| #8 Terrasse Arthur-Buies | Réjean Savard | |
| #9 Saint-Pie X | Mélanie Bernier | |
| #10 Sainte-Blandine/Mont-Lebel | Dave Dumas | |
| #11 Le Bic | Mélanie Beaulieu |
Source: Ville de Rimouski[24]
The city is served by the municipalRimouski Airport (IATA airport code YXK), which caters to general aviation and cargo aircraft, and by the regionalMont-Joli Airport (YYY), 35 km to the east of Rimouski, which caters to commercial passenger aircraft. There are daily passenger flights to destinations in Quebec (Quebec City, Montreal, and others) andNewfoundland and Labrador.
Between April and October, the CNM Evolution, aferry service, operates across theSaint Lawrence River between Rimouski andForestville, Quebec. This ferry is the fastest in the province ofQuebec, crossing the river in only 55 minutes.[citation needed]
One end of theNordik-Express line is in Rimouski; other stops (on the North Shore) of this weekly 1150 km-long line are inSept-Îles,Port-Menier,Havre-Saint-Pierre,Natashquan,Kegaska,La Romaine,Harrington Harbour,Tête-à-la-Baleine,La Tabatière,Pointe-à-la-truite,Blanc Sablon andSt. Barbe.[25] All stops are in the Quebec, except St. Barbe, which is in Newfoundland and Labrador.
TheCanadian National south shore railway passes through town, and there is aVIA Railservice three times weekly in each direction, which heads westbound toward Quebec City (Sainte-Foy) and Montreal and eastbound toward Moncton and Halifax.[26]
TheOrleans Express bus service also serves Rimouski;Rimouski station is on the main thoroughfare from Quebec City to the maritime provinces.
The largest employer in Rimouski and the region is the Regional Hospital of Rimouski with 2200 employees and 170 doctors. It handles a budget of more than 150 million dollars. Since 2004 the hospital is known as CSSS Rimouski-Neigette. The hospital serves the large majority of patients in the region as far asGaspé. Several medical specialties are present at the hospital such as cardiology, endocrinology, fertility, gastroenterology, hematology, obstetric-gynecology, neurology, oncology, otorhinolaryngology, orthopedic, pediatric, rheumatology, surgery, and urology. The hospital also has several departments such as emergency, intensive care, and pharmacy. Several medical clinics surround the hospital located on Rouleau Avenue. The CLSC however is located in front of the obstetrics and gynecology clinic on du Gouverneur Street.
Rimouski istwinned with:
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| Subdivisions ofRimouski-Neigette Regional County Municipality | |
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