Bowman, Quebec is a charming village and municipality nestled in the Outaouais region of Quebec, Canada. Situated in the picturesque Laurentian Hills, Bowman is a mere 72 kilometres (45 mi) north-east of Gatineau, making it an accessible and appealing destination for tourists and history enthusiasts alike.
Bowman, Quebec is bordered to the east by the Du Lièvre River and to the north-west by Whitefish Lake (lac du Poisson Blanc). The municipality's terrain is characterized by several deep lakes, including Reservoir l'Escalier, and a hilly landscape with altitudes ranging between 200 meters (660 ft) and 430 meters (1,410 ft). This diverse geography makes Bowman a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.
Bowman Township was established in 1861 and named in honour of Baxter Bowman, one of the first inhabitants of the area. Bowman was a prominent figure in the late nineteenth century, operating a sawmill at Dufferin Chutes in Buckingham and owning a large tract of forest in the Outaouais region.
On 1 January 1885, Bowman was merged with Villeneuve Township to form the United Township Municipality of Bowman-et-Villeneuve. In 1913, the two townships separated, with Villeneuve being renamed to Val-des-Bois in 1958. The Township Municipality of Bowman was formed, and in 1954, its statutes were amended again to become the Municipality of Bowman.
Bowman, Quebec also has a place in recent history, having been affected by the 2010 Central Canada earthquake. The earthquake caused some damage to a 50 metre wide area of land near a bridge, leading to a temporary diversion of traffic on Route 307 while Transport Canada assessed the damage. Fortunately, there were no fatalities.
Bowman, Quebec is a predominantly French-speaking community, with 88.6% of the population citing French as their first language. English is the first language for 9.8% of the population, while 0.8% of residents are bilingual, speaking both English and French as their first language. Other languages make up 1.5% of the first languages spoken in Bowman.
