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Québec Montréal Lanaudière Capitale-Nationale Centre-du-Québec

Shawinigan

Located at the heart of the region, Shawinigan is a perfect base camp for exploring the surroundings. Proud of its past and the role it played in the country’s industrialization (with remnants still evident in the city), it is equally proud of its unparalleled proximity to the surrounding nature. La Mauricie National Park, Parc de l’île Melville, and the Saint-Maurice River are vast adventure lands easily accessible from downtown, making Shawi a territory without compromise!

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A Little Bit of History…

Shawinigan boasts a rich past that never ceases to amaze. Closely tied to the Saint-Maurice River that winds throughout the territory, this past was initially witnessed by artists and tourists coming to enjoy the postcard-like panorama offered by the river’s falls.

In the 19th century, Shawinigan embarked on the path of industrialization through the exploitation of the hydroelectric potential of those same falls. Through log driving, the Saint-Maurice River – now lined with logs! – served as a communication route between the northern lumber camps and the paper mills of Shawinigan and Trois-Rivières (you can learn more about this fascinating past at the Village du Bûcheron). Two names stand out during this time: the Shawinigan Water and Power Company and Laurentide, which were at the origin of the development of Shawinigan and Grand-Mère respectively.

The SW&P also initiated the arrival of large industries such as Belgo and Alcan. It was also the one that commissioned the firm T. Pringle and Son to draft an urban development plan, making Shawinigan one of the first cities in Canada to benefit from such a plan! The goal? To model the city after New York, as evidenced by Broadway Street, the street numbering system (with the main one named “5th Street”), and its green space right in the middle of the city.

Furthermore, the SW&P, with its 9 power plants on the Saint-Maurice, elevated Canada to the 2nd largest electricity producer in the world after the United States. At that time, Shawinigan supplied 700 cities and 50,000 farms over nearly 650,000 km2. When it was built, Shawinigan 2 was the most powerful power plant in North America. And it is currently the oldest Hydro-Québec plant still in operation.

Finally, Shawinigan played a significant role during World War II with the production of ammunition, aircraft parts, and other supplies that contributed to the Allies’ victory.

The 1960s witnessed the industrial decline of the city, which gradually gave way to adventure tourism. The logs disappeared from the Saint-Maurice River in favor of leisure boaters. The footprint of large factories became less and less noticeable. And nature expeditions, supported by the beauty of La Mauricie National Park, Parc de l’île Melville, and the Saint-Maurice River, multiplied to the delight of today’s visitors!

Source: History of Our Places – https://www.histoiresdecheznous.ca/v2/riviere-saint-maurice_river/>

Other Astonishing Facts about Shawinigan

While the history of Shawinigan is itself a surprising fact, the territory (now consisting of 7 municipalities each harboring hidden treasures, namely Shawinigan, Shawinigan-Sud, Lac-à-la-Tortue, Grand-Mère, Saint-Georges de Champlain, Saint-Gérard-des-Laurentides, and Saint-Jean-des-Piles) is not short on surprises! Here are 3 more. 447

  1. It was in Lac-à-la-Tortue that bush aviation was born thanks to forest engineer Ellwood Wilson. In 1919, he proposed a new method to detect fires: flying over the forest in a seaplane.

  2. A pioneer in canoe construction, the company Canots Cadorette from Saint-Jean-des-Piles (the first light boat company in Mauricie) supplied its own canoes to all athletes participating in the 2nd edition of the Classic International Canoe Race of Mauricie (founded in 1934). These characteristic events from Saint-Jean-des-Piles’ past are palpable in many places and businesses in the village, including Maison Cadorette.

  3. Shawinigan is the birthplace of former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. Moreover, a museum is dedicated to him at the Cité de l’énergie, where you can also learn more about the city’s industrial past.

Must-Sees

Shawinigan combines city and nature like no other. While downtown Shawinigan and the villages of Sainte-Flore and Saint-des-Piles are brimming with great restaurants and local treasures, La Mauricie National Park, Parc de l’île Melville, Vallée du parc, and the Saint-Maurice River offer a plethora of nature adventures. And the best part? All of this is just a stone’s throw away, allowing us to enjoy everything and its opposite in one single day!

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For more tips and activities, ask the pros!

Tourisme Mauricie is like a doting mother. She had 6 offspring – the 6 territories of the region – whom she loves equally (or almost. Everyone knows the mischievous one is always the most endearing 92b). As a good mother with no bias, she’ll tell you that her children are the BEST. So, don’t hesitate to consult them for a wealth of tips and activities related to their respective territories! (Did we really just compare ourselves to a doting mother?)

Visit the Tourisme Shawinigan website

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