History of Shawinigan, Québec, Canada

It was in 1889 that Mr. John Foreman had a hydraulic power plant built there to supply energy to his pulp mill. It exports paper pulp to the United States.

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1895 - Shawenegan / Saint Boniface
Shawenegan, shà-wen-e-gān', or Saint Boniface, a post-village in St. Maurice co., Quebec, on the river St. Maurice, 23 miles N.W. of Three Rivers. It contains saw- and grist-mills. The Falls of the Shawenegan, 150 feet high, are in the vicinity. Pop. 250.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

In 1897, the Shawinigan Water & Power Company was founded by John Edward Aldred, John Joyce and H. H. Melville, originally from Boston.
This company would become famous in Quebec until the nationalization of electric power in 1944. The Shawinigan Water and Power Company acquired land and built the first hydroelectric power station in 1898. Then, the Northen Aluminum plant, another industrial giant in the province, opened its doors there.
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1903 - Village of Shawingan Falls becomes a town
Towards the end of the 19th century, on the territory of the current city of Shawingan, there were several municipalities such as: Shawinigan Falls, Grand-Mère, Saint-Pierre-de-Shawinigan, Sainte-Flore, Saint-Boniface-de- Shawinigan, Baie-de-Shawinigan, Almaville, Turcotte (renamed Saint-Georgesen 1919), Saint-Bernard and Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel. The village of Shawinigan Falls was the largest and in 1903 it was incorporated as a town. The same year, the first power line connected Shawinigan Falls and Montreal.
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In 1904, the Pittsburgh Reduction Company (future Alcan) built the second power plant in the region, which encouraged the establishment of several factories that required a lot of energy.
Six years later, in 1910, the Shawinigan-2 hydroelectric power station was built.
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The Canadian Pacific Railway Station was built in 1927

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In the 1930s, Shawinigan was home to the largest petrochemical plant in the country, Union Carbide, which around 1931 produced the first cellophane film in Canada.

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1930 - Where our Christmas Customs came from
Have you ever stopped to wonder why, at Christmas time, people put gaily decorated pine trees in their homes, bedeck their rooms and windows with mistletoe and holly, send greeting cards to friends, and finish off their feasting with good mince pie?

These and other Christmas customs that seem so natural and ageless to us, all had a beginning somewhere, and the origin of most of them are very interesting.

The practice of putting up evergreen trees, for example, was originally an ancient Roman custom and was once roundly denounced by Tertullian, an early Roman writer. In the Rome of the Caesars, the pagan citizens adorned their house with sprigs of evergreen at the time of the New Year festival. In Germany and Holland began the custom of decorating evergreen trees during summer festivals, and in ancient Alsace, the celebration of the New Year was marked by the erection of an evergreen tree in fountains and public squares. These trees were decorated and were kept in place the... Read MORE...

On February 6, 1958, the city of Shawinigan Falls became Shawinigan.
Then, over the years, a series of mergers and regroupings of municipalities led to the creation of the current city of Shawinigan on January 1, 2002.
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Here's a list of places to go and things to do in and around Shawinigan:
La Mauricie National Park: This stunning national park is just a short drive from Shawinigan and is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Explore the park's vast wilderness, which includes forests, lakes, and waterfalls. You can go hiking, canoeing, kayaking, or simply enjoy a picnic amidst breathtaking natural scenery.

Observation Tower at La Cité de l'Énergie: Climb the towering observation tower located at La Cité de l'Énergie to get a bird's-eye view of Shawinigan and the surrounding landscape. It's a great spot for panoramic photos and appreciating the city's industrial heritage.

La Cité de l'Énergie: This interactive science center is housed in a former hydroelectric power plant. It's a fascinating place to learn about the history of hydroelectricity in Québec and the role Shawinigan played in it. Don't miss the guided tours and the multimedia show, which take you through the plant's history.

Downtown Shawinigan: Stroll through downtown Shawinigan to soak in its charm and... Read MORE...