Bécancour, Quebec, a city nestled in the Centre-du-Québec region of Canada, is a place where history and modernity coexist. As the seat of the Bécancour Regional County Municipality, it is strategically located on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River, at the confluence of the Bécancour River, opposite Trois-Rivières.
The history of Bécancour, Quebec, is rich and diverse. The town is home to Wôlinak, an Abenaki Indian reserve, whose inhabitants arrived from Norridgewock, Maine (formerly Acadia) following Father Rale's War. The town also witnessed a small migration of Acadians in 1759, who fled from present-day New Brunswick to avoid the British Expulsion from the Maritimes during the St. John River Campaign.
Bécancour, Quebec, was established on October 17, 1965, through the amalgamation of eleven municipalities, making it one of Quebec's first amalgamated cities. Today, Bécancour is divided into six sectors: Bécancour, Saint-Grégoire, Gentilly, Précieux-Sang, Sainte-Angèle-de-Laval, and Sainte-Gertrude. The sectors of Bécancour, Saint-Grégoire, and Gentilly, each located near the shore of the Saint Lawrence River, are considered the main urban centres.
Bécancour, Quebec, is part of the Trois-Rivières metropolitan area, and many of its residents commute daily across the Laviolette Bridge for work. The economy of Bécancour, once primarily agricultural, shifted towards heavy industry and manufacturing in the 1970s and 1980s. The city is home to an industrial park that attracts producers of aluminum, magnesium, refractory metals, and petroleum products, as well as machine shops and related services.
Despite its proximity to Trois-Rivières, Bécancour, Quebec, boasts a vibrant culture and identity of its own. The city hosts a hot air balloon festival, a weekly public marketplace, a biodiversity museum and interpretation centre, and a maritime pumpkin race.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Bécancour, Quebec, had a population of 13,561 living in 6,034 of its 6,348 total private dwellings, a change of 4.1% from its 2016 population of 13,031.
Bécancour, Quebec, is composed of several communities, including Bécancour, Gentilly, Précieux-Sang, Sainte-Angèle-de-Laval, Sainte-Gertrude, and Saint-Grégoire.
Bécancour, Quebec, has a sister city relationship with Joué-lès-Tours, France, fostering cultural exchange and mutual understanding.
The emblems and symbols of Bécancour, Quebec, reflect its rich history and vibrant culture, embodying the spirit of this unique city.
