Grosse-Île, Quebec

Not to be confused with Grosse Isle, Quebec, an island of the Isle-aux-Grues archipelago.

Grosse-Île (French pronunciation: [ɡʁos il], lit. 'Big Island') is one of two municipalities forming the urban agglomeration of Îles-de-la-Madeleine in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region, and its population was 464 as of the 2021 Census.

Grosse-Île
Municipality
Saint Peter's By the Sea, Old Harry, Grosse-Île
Location within Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine TE.
Grosse-Île Location in eastern Quebec.
Coordinates: 47°37′N 61°31′W
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine
RCM	None
Agglomeration	Îles-de-la-Madeleine
Constituted	January 1, 2006
Government [1]
• Mayor	Gordon Burke
• Federal riding	Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj
• Prov. riding	Îles-de-la-Madeleine
Area [1][2]
• Total	96.60 km2 (37.30 sq mi)
• Land	32.28 km2 (12.46 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[2]
• Total	464
• Density	14.4/km2 (37/sq mi)
• Pop 2016-2021	0.2%
• Dwellings	252
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)	G4T 6B9
Area codes	418 and 581
Highways	R-199
Website	www.mungi.ca

History

As part of a municipal reorganization across Quebec, the seven communities (Fatima, Grande-Entrée, Grosse-Île, Havre-aux-Maisons, L'Étang-du-Nord, Havre-Aubert, and Cap-aux-Meules) of the Magdalen Islands amalgamated to form the municipality of Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine on January 1, 2002. However, after a 2004 referendum, Grosse-Île decided to split from the municipality, effective January 1, 2006.^[3]

Located on Grosse-Île island (French for Big Island) between the villages of Grande-Entrée^{[broken anchor]} (south) and House Harbour^{[broken anchor]} (southwest), it was settled during the late 18th century by Scots. French-speaking people would come and establish themselves just after, as seen by a Catholic parish founded in 1793.

Old Harry is a hamlet and fishing village located within the municipal boundaries of Grosse-Île, which lies at the junction of Île de la Grande Ouverte and Île de l'Est. It was first mapped by Joseph Frederick Wallet Des Barres (1769 and 1776) and later by Admiral Henry Wolsey Bayfield (1837), where the name was recorded as Old Harry Head. The toponym derives from Scotsman Harry Clarke, who was for many years the only occupant of the cape (or head). Many of his descendants still bear the surname Clarke.

Geography

Grosse-Ile and Entry Island are the two communities where English is the main language spoken, in the field and at sea, the age-old and daily exchanges have created and still create close relationships between the English- and French-speaking communities and individuals of the archipelago.^[4]

Demography

Grosse-Île Church

Population

Canada census – Grosse-Île community profile

	2021	2016	2011
Population	464 (-0.2% from 2016)	465 (-5.1% from 2011)	490 (-7.7% from 2006)
Land area	32.28 km2 (12.46 sq mi)	37.59 km2 (14.51 sq mi)	37.29 km2 (14.40 sq mi)
Population density	14.4/km2 (37/sq mi)	12.4/km2 (32/sq mi)	13.1/km2 (34/sq mi)
Median age	52.0 (M: 52.8, F: 51.6)	49.1 (M: 50.0, F: 48.9)	43.8 (M: 43.6, F: 44.0)
Private dwellings	252 (total)  220 (occupied)	254 (total)	229 (total)
Median household income	$86,000	$81,152	$.N/A

Notes: 2011 income data for this area has been suppressed for data quality or confidentiality reasons.
References: 2021^[5] 2016^[6] 2011^[7]

Historical Census Data - Grosse-Île, Quebec

Year Pop. ±% 1901 624 —     1911 695 +11.4% 1921 767 +10.4% 1931 308 −59.8% 1941 281 −8.8% 1951 373 +32.7% 1956 388 +4.0% 1961 451 +16.2% 1966 487 +8.0% 1971 475 −2.5%	Year Pop. ±% 1976 500 +5.3% 1981 532 +6.4% 1986 560 +5.3% 1991 569 +1.6% 1996 567 −0.4% 2001 543 −4.2% 2006 531 −2.2% 2011 490 −7.7% 2016 465 −5.1% 2021 464 −0.2%
[8][2]

Language

Canada Census Mother Tongue - Grosse-Île, Quebec[8]
Census		Total		French				English				French & English				Other
Year		Responses		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %		Count	Trend	Pop %
2021		465		65	8.3%	14.0%		380	3.8%	81.7%		15	200.0%	3.2%		0	100.0%	0.0%
2016		465		60	20.0%	12.9%		395	8.1%	85.0%		5	50.0%	1.1%		5	n/a	1.1%
2011		490		50	100.0%	10.2%		430	14.9%	87.8%		10	n/a%	2.0%		0	0.0%	0.0%
2006		530		25	66.7%	4.7%		505	9.8%	95.3%		0	0.0%	0.0%		0	0.0%	0.0%
2001		535		75	25.0%	14.0%		460	8.0%	86.0%		0	100.0%	0.0%		0	0.0%	0.0%
1996		570		60	n/a	10.5%		500	n/a	87.7%		10	n/a	1.8%		0	n/a	0.0%

Economy

Quebec's only salt mine is located on Grosse Île, and is operated by Seleine Mines, which is owned by Windsor Salt.

In 1972, the Société Québécoise d’Exploration Minière (SOQUEM)^[9] discovered 7 salt domes,^[10] including the one at Grosse-Île. In 1982, after investments of C$125 million, Seleine Mines inaugurated an active underground mine on Grosse Île. In 1988, the company was sold to the Canadian Salt Company (Windsor), and in 2009, the mine passed into the hands of the German group K+S and later to Stone Canyon Industries.

About 150 people work at Seleine Mines, and every year, more than 1,300,000 t (1,300,000 long tons; 1,400,000 short tons) metric tons of salt are extracted there, this salt is used for road deicing.

Attractions

Old-Harry (Hamlet),^[11] in port, 5 boats pulled on the wood-covered beach (slips) 1996

The Grande Échourie Beach (Former name Old-Harry Beach) stretches over 9 km between Old Harry Point and East Point where is located the Pointe de l'Est National Wildlife Area, with its unique maritime environment, the area is currently used by more than 150 bird species and 10 or so mammal species.^[12]'^[13] The Pointe de l'Est National Wildlife Area is located on La Grosse Île, the reserve occupies an area of 748 hectares of the village of Grosse-Île territory's

The hamlet of Old-Harry is located on the point of the same name, in the municipality of Grosse-Île, at the junction of Île de la Grande Entrée^{[broken anchor]} and Île de l'Est.^[14]

See also

• List of anglophone communities in Quebec
• List of municipalities in Quebec