Bois-Franc, Quebec

Bois-Franc (French pronunciation: [bwa fʁɑ̃]) is a municipality in the La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) north of Maniwaki. Its territory is along the western shores of the upper Gatineau River.

Bois-Franc
Municipality
Bois-Franc is located in Western Quebec
Bois-Franc
Bois-Franc
Location in western Quebec
Coordinates: 46°30′N 75°59′W[1]
CountryCanada
ProvinceQuebec
RegionOutaouais
RCMLa Vallée-de-la-Gatineau
ConstitutedNovember 17, 1920
Government
[2]
 • MayorJulie Jolivette
 • Federal ridingPontiac
 • Prov. ridingGatineau
Area
[2][3]
 • Total74.31 km2 (28.69 sq mi)
 • Land71.56 km2 (27.63 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[3]
 • Total411
 • Density5.7/km2 (15/sq mi)
 • Pop (2016–21)
Decrease 2.4%
 • Dwellings
215
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
J9E 3A9
Area code819
Websitewww.bois-franc.ca

The adjective franc has its origin in the western regions of France and means "excellent, good, strong, solid, hard." Therefore the name Bois-Franc can be translated as "hardwood" and is a reference to magnificent stands of hardwoods found within the municipality, including beech, ash, maple and birch.[4]

History

Its first European settlers came in 1870.[5] Its post office, named Bois-Franc, opened in 1886. In 1920, the Municipality of Bois-Franc was founded when it separated from the Egan Municipality Township.[4]

Demographics
Historical census populations – Bois-Franc, Quebec
YearPop.±%
1921 481—    
1931 461−4.2%
1941 441−4.3%
1951 406−7.9%
1956 430+5.9%
1961 409−4.9%
1966 321−21.5%
1976 358+11.5%
1981 482+34.6%
YearPop.±%
1986 471−2.3%
1991 437−7.2%
1996 425−2.7%
2001 422−0.7%
2006 449+6.4%
2011 447−0.4%
2016 421−5.8%
2021 411−2.4%
Source: Statistics Canada[6]

Private dwellings occupied by usual residents (2021): 192 (out of 215 total)[3]

Languages:

  • French as first language: 95.1%
  • English as first language: 3.7%
  • Other as first language: 0%

Economy
Rural scene in Bois-Franc

Its primary industry is logging and forestry. Industrial Park "Réjean Lafrenière" is home to the oriented strand board factory Louisiana-Pacific Canada ltd. Division Quebec; one of the largest plants of its kind in North America.[5]

Government

List of former mayors:[7]

  • Joseph Brosseau (1921–1923)
  • Léon Lyrette (1923–1929)
  • Arthur Branchaud (1929–1954)
  • Jean-Claude Branchaud (1954–1977)
  • Gabriel Pilon (1977–1987)
  • Marcel Hubert (1987–1991)
  • Neil Brennan (1991–1997)
  • Joël Branchaud (1997–2003)
  • Armand Hubert (2003–2013)
  • Julie Jolivette (2013–present)

References
  1. "Reference number 6639 in Banque de noms de lieux du Québec". toponymie.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec.
  2. "Geographic code 83085 in the official Répertoire des municipalités". www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation.
  3. "Bois-Franc, Quebec (Code 2483085) Census Profile". 2021 census. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada.
  4. "Bois-Franc (Municipalité)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
  5. "Bois-Franc" (in French). MRC de La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau. Archived from the original on 2008-06-11. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
  6. 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 census
  7. "Histoire de la Municipalité de Bois-Franc". www.bois-franc.ca. Municipalité de Bois-Franc. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
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