Notre-Dame-du-Lac, a former city in the regional county municipality of Témiscouata in Quebec, Canada, is nestled in the administrative region du Bas-Saint-Laurent. With a population of around 2200, the city is uniquely built on an amphitheatre in the heart of the Valley of Témiscouata. Prior to its merger with Cabano on 5 May 2010 to form the new city of Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac, Notre-Dame-du-Lac was the regional county municipality's chef-lieu. It was home to Témiscouata's hospital, ferry, and police station. The city's arena is renowned as the largest and best equipped in the region.
Notre-Dame-du-Lac's history dates back to 1871 when it was first established as a parish named Détour-du-Lac. Two years after receiving its first priest in 1861, the parish was adjoined with the homonymous village established in 1949, leading to its designation as a "city" in 1968. The name "Détour-du-Lac" was inspired by its geographic location, which made it an ideal place for docking and sinking into the earth.
On December 2, 1969, Notre-Dame-du-Lac experienced its worst disaster when an early morning fire at Repos du Viellard, a home for the elderly, claimed at least 51 lives. Only 22 people, including the rest home's owner, wife, and children, survived the blaze.
In 2009, a motion to merge Notre-Dame-du-Lac with the neighbouring city of Cabano was adopted by a 70% referendum vote. The latter voted favourably on the option in excess of 56%. On 5 May 2010, a decree authorizing the joining of the two cities was published in the Gazette officielle du Québec. The decree announced elections on 20 June 2010 to elect a new mayor and a new city council. The new city was temporarily named "Cabano–Notre-Dame-du-Lac" until a referendum organized in the two former cities chose Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac as the new city name.
Notre-Dame-du-Lac offers a variety of attractions for tourists. The bike trail Le Petit Témis, which stretches 135 km along the lake's banks, offers a scenic tour of nature. The city also hosts an annual "hotdog party" on the lake's beach.
During winter, an ice bridge is erected over Lake Témiscouata, allowing vehicles and pedestrians to cross the lake between Notre-Dame-du-Lac and the next parish, Saint-Juste-du-Lac. In summer, a ferry links the two banks.
Recently, Notre-Dame-du-Lac was named "Garden City" and adopted a flower emblem called "The Lady of the Lake," a variety of daylily specially designed for the occasion.
