Lac-aux-Sables, Quebec, is a parish municipality nestled in the Mékinac Regional County Municipality, in the administrative district of the Mauricie region. This charming community is home to two population centres, Lac-aux-Sables and Hervey-Jonction, each offering a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty.
Since its inception, the Hervey-Jonction sector, with its 300 inhabitants, has been an integral part of Lac-aux-Sables' history. This area is a haven for adventure seekers, dotted with vacation cottages, rivers, lakes, and wild forests. The Catholic parish St. Leopold d'Hervey-Jonction serves the local population, while the sector is also integrated into the municipality of Lac-aux-Sables.
Hervey-Jonction is home to the Hervey-Jonction Station, a historical railway station built in 1905. Today, it serves as a switching point for two passenger Via Rail trains, the Abitibi and Saguenay.
Lac-aux-Sables is located approximately 95 kilometers northwest of Quebec City, in the populated part of the Mékinac Regional County Municipality. The Batiscan River divides the municipal territory into two parts, with the right bank of the river having two major tributaries: the Propre River and Tawachiche River.
The name "Lac aux Sables" originates from the lake of the same name, which has three tributaries, the most significant being the outlet of "Brulé Lake". The lake's mouth flows south into the Propre River, which passes through Huron Lake.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Lac-aux-Sables had a population of 1,380 living in 744 of its 1,157 total private dwellings. This represented a 6.8% increase from its 2016 population of 1,292. The majority of the population speaks French as their first language, with a small percentage speaking English.
The territory of Lac-aux-Sables began to be developed in 1871 with the construction of a road from Notre-Dame-des-Anges to Lac-aux-Sables. The area began to be settled in the 1880s, and the parish of Saint-Rémi of Lac-aux-Sables was canonically erected in 1897. The municipality was renamed Lac-aux-Sables in 1983.
Today, the resort and forestry sectors are the main economic drivers, with agriculture playing a secondary role. Services in Lac-aux-Sables include a post office, telephone service, an electric power network, a waterworks, waste collection, a fire protection service, a planning and municipal development, a water treatment plant, and a waste recovery service.
Discover more about the rich history and culture of Lac-aux-Sables, Quebec, through various publications that delve into the community's past.
