Gros-Mécatina is a municipality on the Lower North Shore of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, near the border with Labrador in Quebec, Canada. Located near crab, lobster, and scallop fishing grounds, it is dependent on the fishing business, including a fish processing factory that contributes to regional economic activity.[1][4]
The isolated municipality can only be reached via a regular weekly ferry service, or La Tabatière Airport. The villages of La Tabatière and Mutton Bay are connected via a 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) asphalted road that has views of the gulf from the mountains; but in the winter the road is not plowed, and the only access is via snowmobile.
The name, pronounced (me-kuh-TEE-nuh) is from the Innu word makatinau, or "It is a large mountain."[5]
Exploration of the area began in 1535 when Jacques Cartier passed by during his second voyage. The place became an important hunting and fishing ground in the first part of the 18th century. From 1739, Jean-Baptiste Pommereau acquired the fishing rights of the region for a period of ten years. The Gros-Mécatina Post, built in the same time period near present-day La Tabatière, quickly became one of the most important fishing settlements of the North Shore. Big Mécatina Island also, granted to Intendant Gilles Hocquart in 1755, was a popular location with fishermen. They remained such until at least 1808 when the authorities of Quebec sold Gros-Mécatina. By then permanent settlement had begun.[1]
The Municipality of Gros-Mécatina was formed on January 1, 1994, when its territory was separated from the Municipality of Côte-Nord-du-Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent. It was named after several geographic features within its area called Gros Mécatina, including a river, cape, island, archipelago, and lake. Mecatina comes from the Innu word makatinau, meaning "large mountain."[1]
Communities
The municipality consists of two small isolated fishing villages, La Tabatière and Mutton Bay, as well as the abandoned settlements of Lac-Salé and Baie-des-Ha!-Ha! (Baie de la Terre).
La Tabatière
La Tabatière (50°49′45″N58°57′38″W / 50.82917°N 58.96056°W / 50.82917; -58.96056) is located on La Tabatière Bay, opposite Big Mecatina Island (île du Gros Mécatina), and home to a fish processing plant and reservoirs to supply vessels that serve this part of the region. According to popular opinion, the origin of its name (French for "the snuff box") refers to the loss of a tobacco pouch by a missionary. However, it is a corruption of tabaquen, possibly Innu, which became tapatienne and then tabatière. Missionary correspondence shows that the parish was at one time often referred to as Saint-Joseph-de-Tabaquen, a name said to mean "sorcery," and a priest who visited the mission in 1887 wrote that aboriginal groups who came to trade would consult a "sorcerer-magician" before leaving for their camps in the interior forests to find out the prospects for their return trip.[6]
La Tabatière has long been frequented by fishermen and traders, particularly attractive for fishing cod and seals. In 1820, Scotsman Samuel Robertson, former employee of the Gros-Mécatina Post, settled there and founded a permanent settlement that his descendants still occupy today. In 1855, he was joined by settlers from Jersey and the place became known by the English name Sparr Point.[7] In 1885, the Catholic mission Saint-Joseph-de-la-Tabatière was established and La Tabatière post office began operations on November 1, 1907.[6] In the 1930s, the seal oil rendering and fish oil factory burned down and was rebuilt as a fish-processing plant which today is the largest on the Coast.[8]
Mutton Bay
Mutton Bay (in French: Baie-des-Moutons50°46′19″N59°01′45″W / 50.77194°N 59.02917°W / 50.77194; -59.02917) is a small isolated fishing village on the namesake bay, just east of the mouth of the Big Mecatina River. The meaning of its name remains obscure since it seems unlikely that there ever were any sheep present. The name may be used as a metaphor for the white foam of waves, or for the hills that surround the bay, which are all rounded at the top.[9]
In 1804, notary Félix Têtu reported the establishment of the Baie-Moutons trading post. In the middle of the 19th century, the bay was being fished but the village was not really established until 1872 when Newfoundlanders arrived and settled there. By 1886, the local post office opened, first identified as Saint-Joseph-de-la-Tabatière, then from 1896 on as Mutton Bay. In 1983, the place name was officially anglicized to Mutton Bay, replacing Baie-des-Moutons, because of the majority of English-speaking residents. By 1988, Mutton Bay had 55 families, living mainly from fishing lobster and scallops.[9]
Notes: 2011 income data for this area has been suppressed for data quality or confidentiality reasons. References: 2021[10] 2016[11] 2011[12] earlier[13][14]
^ abcd"Gros-Mécatina (Municipalité)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
^ ab"Répertoire des municipalités - Gros-Mécatina". www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation Quebec. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
^ ab"Gros-Mécatina, Municipalité (MÉ) Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
^"Discover the region > Our villages > Mutton Bay". Tourism Lower North Shore. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
^"Innu-aimun.ca: Language resources for Innu: Words".
^ ab"La Tabatière (village)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gros-Mécatina.
Association Touristique Gros Mecatina
January 07, 2023
gros, mécatina, quebec, gros, mécatina, municipality, lower, north, shore, gulf, saint, lawrence, near, border, with, labrador, quebec, canada, located, near, crab, lobster, scallop, fishing, grounds, dependent, fishing, business, including, fish, processing, . Gros Mecatina is a municipality on the Lower North Shore of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence near the border with Labrador in Quebec Canada Located near crab lobster and scallop fishing grounds it is dependent on the fishing business including a fish processing factory that contributes to regional economic activity 1 4 Gros MecatinaMunicipalityGros Mecatina harbourLocation within Le Golfe du Saint Laurent RCM Gros MecatinaLocation in Cote Nord Region of Quebec Coordinates 50 50 N 58 58 W 50 833 N 58 967 W 50 833 58 967 Coordinates 50 50 N 58 58 W 50 833 N 58 967 W 50 833 58 967 1 Country CanadaProvince QuebecRegionCote NordRCMLe Golfe du Saint LaurentConstitutedJanuary 1 1994Government 2 MayorRandy Jones Federal ridingManicouagan Prov ridingDuplessisArea 2 3 Total1 407 00 km2 543 25 sq mi Land742 15 km2 286 55 sq mi Highest elevation59 m 194 ft Lowest elevation0 m 0 ft Population 2021 3 Total356 Density0 5 km2 1 sq mi Pop 2016 202121 1 Dwellings243Time zoneUTC 4 AST Postal code s G0G 1T0Area code s 418 and 581HighwaysNo major routesGNBC CodeEPSNXNTS Map012J15The isolated municipality can only be reached via a regular weekly ferry service or La Tabatiere Airport The villages of La Tabatiere and Mutton Bay are connected via a 10 kilometres 6 2 mi asphalted road that has views of the gulf from the mountains but in the winter the road is not plowed and the only access is via snowmobile The name pronounced me kuh TEE nuh is from the Innu word makatinau or It is a large mountain 5 Contents 1 History 2 Communities 2 1 La Tabatiere 2 2 Mutton Bay 3 Demographics 3 1 Language 4 Education 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditExploration of the area began in 1535 when Jacques Cartier passed by during his second voyage The place became an important hunting and fishing ground in the first part of the 18th century From 1739 Jean Baptiste Pommereau acquired the fishing rights of the region for a period of ten years The Gros Mecatina Post built in the same time period near present day La Tabatiere quickly became one of the most important fishing settlements of the North Shore Big Mecatina Island also granted to Intendant Gilles Hocquart in 1755 was a popular location with fishermen They remained such until at least 1808 when the authorities of Quebec sold Gros Mecatina By then permanent settlement had begun 1 The Municipality of Gros Mecatina was formed on January 1 1994 when its territory was separated from the Municipality of Cote Nord du Golfe du Saint Laurent It was named after several geographic features within its area called Gros Mecatina including a river cape island archipelago and lake Mecatina comes from the Innu word makatinau meaning large mountain 1 Communities EditThe municipality consists of two small isolated fishing villages La Tabatiere and Mutton Bay as well as the abandoned settlements of Lac Sale and Baie des Ha Ha Baie de la Terre La Tabatiere Edit La Tabatiere 50 49 45 N 58 57 38 W 50 82917 N 58 96056 W 50 82917 58 96056 is located on La Tabatiere Bay opposite Big Mecatina Island ile du Gros Mecatina and home to a fish processing plant and reservoirs to supply vessels that serve this part of the region According to popular opinion the origin of its name French for the snuff box refers to the loss of a tobacco pouch by a missionary However it is a corruption of tabaquen possibly Innu which became tapatienne and then tabatiere Missionary correspondence shows that the parish was at one time often referred to as Saint Joseph de Tabaquen a name said to mean sorcery and a priest who visited the mission in 1887 wrote that aboriginal groups who came to trade would consult a sorcerer magician before leaving for their camps in the interior forests to find out the prospects for their return trip 6 La Tabatiere has long been frequented by fishermen and traders particularly attractive for fishing cod and seals In 1820 Scotsman Samuel Robertson former employee of the Gros Mecatina Post settled there and founded a permanent settlement that his descendants still occupy today In 1855 he was joined by settlers from Jersey and the place became known by the English name Sparr Point 7 In 1885 the Catholic mission Saint Joseph de la Tabatiere was established and La Tabatiere post office began operations on November 1 1907 6 In the 1930s the seal oil rendering and fish oil factory burned down and was rebuilt as a fish processing plant which today is the largest on the Coast 8 Mutton Bay Edit Mutton Bay in French Baie des Moutons 50 46 19 N 59 01 45 W 50 77194 N 59 02917 W 50 77194 59 02917 is a small isolated fishing village on the namesake bay just east of the mouth of the Big Mecatina River The meaning of its name remains obscure since it seems unlikely that there ever were any sheep present The name may be used as a metaphor for the white foam of waves or for the hills that surround the bay which are all rounded at the top 9 In 1804 notary Felix Tetu reported the establishment of the Baie Moutons trading post In the middle of the 19th century the bay was being fished but the village was not really established until 1872 when Newfoundlanders arrived and settled there By 1886 the local post office opened first identified as Saint Joseph de la Tabatiere then from 1896 on as Mutton Bay In 1983 the place name was officially anglicized to Mutton Bay replacing Baie des Moutons because of the majority of English speaking residents By 1988 Mutton Bay had 55 families living mainly from fishing lobster and scallops 9 Demographics EditCanada census Gros Mecatina community profile 202120162011Population356 21 1 from 2016 451 9 6 from 2011 499 11 8 from 2006 Land area742 15 km2 286 55 sq mi 790 07 km2 305 05 sq mi 804 80 km2 310 74 sq mi Population density0 5 km2 1 3 sq mi 0 6 km2 1 6 sq mi 0 6 km2 1 6 sq mi Median age55 6 M 56 0 F 55 2 53 1 M 53 9 F 52 2 47 1 M 47 9 F 46 0 Total private dwellings243269270Median household income 58 000 54 528 N ANotes 2011 income data for this area has been suppressed for data quality or confidentiality reasons References 2021 10 2016 11 2011 12 earlier 13 14 Historical Census Data Gros Mecatina QuebecYearPop 1991674 1996622 7 7 2001573 7 9 2006566 1 2 YearPop 2011499 11 8 2016451 9 6 2021356 21 1 2016 count amended 15 Source Statistics Canada 16 Language Edit Canada Census Mother Tongue Gros Mecatina Quebec 16 Census Total French English French amp English OtherYear Responses Count Trend Pop Count Trend Pop Count Trend Pop Count Trend Pop 2021 355 10 50 0 2 8 340 16 0 95 8 5 n a 1 4 0 100 0 0 0 2016 425 20 20 0 4 7 405 13 8 95 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 n a 1 2 2011 495 25 0 0 5 1 470 13 0 95 0 0 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2006 575 25 28 6 4 4 540 3 7 93 9 10 50 0 1 7 0 0 0 0 0 2001 575 35 14 3 6 1 520 11 1 90 4 20 50 0 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 1996 625 30 n a 4 8 585 n a 93 6 10 n a 1 6 0 n a 0 0 Education EditCommission scolaire du Littoral operates St Lawrence School anglophone in Mutton Bay 17 See also EditHa Ha River List of municipalities in QuebecReferences Edit a b c d Gros Mecatina Municipalite in French Commission de toponymie du Quebec Retrieved 2010 09 22 a b Repertoire des municipalites Gros Mecatina www mamh gouv qc ca in French Ministere des Affaires municipales et de l Habitation Quebec Retrieved 5 May 2022 a b Gros Mecatina Municipalite ME Census Profile 2021 Census of Population www12 statcan gc ca Government of Canada Statistics Canada Retrieved 5 May 2022 Discover the region gt Our villages gt Mutton Bay Tourism Lower North Shore Retrieved 2010 09 22 Innu aimun ca Language resources for Innu Words a b La Tabatiere village in French Commission de toponymie du Quebec Retrieved 2010 09 22 Townsend Charles W In Audubon s Labrador The Auk vol 34 no 2 1917 pp 142 https www jstor org stable 4072478 Discover the region gt Our villages gt La Tabatiere Tourism Lower North Shore Retrieved 2010 09 22 a b Mutton Bay village in French Commission de toponymie du Quebec Retrieved 2010 09 22 2021 Community Profiles 2021 Canadian Census Statistics Canada February 4 2022 Retrieved 2022 08 23 2016 Community Profiles 2016 Canadian Census Statistics Canada August 12 2021 Retrieved 2022 05 05 2011 Community Profiles 2011 Canadian Census Statistics Canada March 21 2019 Retrieved 2014 02 09 2006 Community Profiles 2006 Canadian Census Statistics Canada August 20 2019 2001 Community Profiles 2001 Canadian Census Statistics Canada July 18 2021 Population and dwelling count amendments 2016 Census www12 statcan gc ca Government of Canada Statistics Canada Retrieved 22 November 2019 a b Statistics Canada 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 census Schools and centers Archived 2017 09 23 at the Wayback Machine Commission scolaire du Littoral Retrieved on September 23 2017 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gros Mecatina Association Touristique Gros Mecatina Lower North Shore Community Web Site La Tabatiere Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gros Mecatina Quebec amp oldid 1128500740, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
