The name Shawinigan has had numerous spellings over time: Chaouinigane, Oshaouinigane, Assaouinigane, Achawénégan, Chawinigame, Shawenigane, Chaouénigane. It may mean "south portage", "portage of beeches", "angular portage", or "summit" or "crest".[1] Before 1958, the city was known as Shawinigan Falls.
In 1651, the Jesuit priest Buteaux was the first European known to have travelled up the Saint-Maurice River to this river's first set of great falls. Afterwards, missionaries going to the Upper Saint-Maurice would rest here.[1] Before Shawinigan Falls was established, the local economy had been largely based on lumber and agriculture.
In 1899, the SW&P commissioned Montreal engineering firm Pringle and Son to design a grid plan for a new industrial town on the banks of the Saint-Maurice River, providing the ground work for what would become Downtown Shawinigan.[8]
In 1901, the place was incorporated as the Village Municipality of Shawinigan Falls and gained town (ville) status a year later in 1902. The hydro-electric generating station contributed to rapid economic growth and the town achieved several firsts in Canadian history: first production of aluminum (1901), carborundum (1908), cellophane pellets (1932).[1][9] Shawinigan Falls also became one of the first Canadian cities with electric street lighting.
Urban Growth
Shawinigan City Hall
For decades, the local pulp and paper, chemical and textile industries created thousands of jobs and stimulated city growth (see Sketch Map of Urban Neighborhoods in Shawinigan, 1899-1951).
Industrial prosperity fostered the mergence of new districts over the decades that followed the foundation of Shawinigan Falls.
Urban development steadily increased in Downtown Shawinigan Falls. By 1921, this sector was densely filled with commercial buildings on Fourth and Fifth street, as well as Station Avenue, one-family residences along the Riverside corridor (current-day St-Maurice Drive) and multi-story tenements elsewhere.[10]
The Olmsted Brothers design firm was hired by the city to implement a beautification program. By the late 1920s, Downtown Shawinigan Falls was home to a public market, a fire station, a technical school, several church buildings and two landscaped public parks, including the Saint-Maurice Park.[11]
Many of the opulent uphill homes located in the somewhat secluded areas of Maple Street and Hemlock Avenue were occupied by more affluent people, many of whom happened to belong to the once vibrant English-speaking community, which at times comprised more than 30% of the local population.
As industrial plants began operation eastward and northward, neighbourhoods were established in Uptown Shawinigan Falls. The emergence of these new districts was defined by and intertwined with the parish structure of the Roman Catholic Church. The Saint-Marc neighbourhood, originally known as Village St-Onge, was annexed in 1902, extending the city limits to Dufresne Street. The uptown presence of the Canadian Carborundum and Alcan no. Two plants favoured the foundation the Christ-Roi neighbourhood, which was annexed in 1925 extending the city limits to St Sacrement Boulevard. The land now occupied by the section of town currently known as Shawinigan-Est was annexed in 1932.
Uptown Shawinigan Falls had its own fire station by 1922 and its own landscaped public park and swimming pool by 1940.[12]
Westside near the Shawinigan River, the existence of the pulp and paper Belgo plant attracted enough residents to form a small, yet stable independent urban community called Baie-de-Shawinigan.
Across the Saint-Maurice River, Shawinigan-Sud (then Almaville) maintained home-rule and developed as a residential hub.
Great Depression
Local prosperity was interrupted by the Great Depression in the 1930s. Many plants were forced to temporarily reduce or stop their production, which left many residents jobless. Many families needed public assistance to survive. The City Council enacted a public works program to help families.
The promenade along the Saint-Maurice River was a project to create work during the depression.
In 1948, a cenotaph, known as Monument des Braves, was erected in downtown Shawinigan Falls at the intersection of Fourth Street and Promenade du Saint-Maurice (then Riverside Street) near the Saint-Maurice River, in honour of soldiers who died during that conflict as well as World War I.
Rise of the working class
By the early 1950s, the industrial growth in Shawinigan Falls was such that the city offered the steadiest employment and the highest wages in Quebec.[14] Due to this advantageous position, Shawinigan Falls became a hot bed for organized labor and bargaining power. The rise of its working class also favoured the presence of numerous independently owned taverns.
Labour unions
As its working class gained economic ground and political leverage, Shawinigan Falls became fertile ground for labour unions. The workers of the Belgo pulp and paper plant went on strike in 1955. In the 1952 provincial election, Shawinigan sent a Liberal member to the legislature. The gesture was largely considered an affront to PremierMaurice Duplessis, who responded by refusing to approve the construction of a new bridge between Shawinigan Falls and Shawinigan-Sud. The new bridge was not built until after the Liberal Party won the 1960 election. It was completed on September 2, 1962.[15]
Taverns
In the 1950s, a number of taverns provided a male-only social environment for industrial workers. They were mostly concentrated in Downtown Shawinigan Falls (Saint-Bernard and Saint-Pierre), as well as in the Saint-Marc neighbourhood, as Shawinigan-Sud remained a dry town until 1961,[16] and included the following venues:
Name
Also Known As
Address
Neighbourhood
Current Status
Au Pied du Courant
1885, avenue Saint-Marc
Saint-Marc
demolished
Chez Bob
Chez Maxime
413, avenue Mercier
Saint-Pierre
out of business
Chez Camille
Chez Armand, Taverne Station
902, avenue de la Station
Saint-Pierre
demolished
Chez François
Taverne Bellevue, Cabaret La Vie est Belle
2991, boulevard des Hêtres
Sainte-Croix
still in business
Chez Georges
Bar Le Transit
2172, avenue Cloutier
Saint-Marc
out of business
Chez Jos
482, 5e rue
Saint-Pierre
demolished
Chez Léo
820, 4e rue
Saint-Pierre
out of business
Chez Maurice
Jos Bar Terrasse
666, 5e rue
Saint-Pierre
still in business
Chez Paul (Bistro Bar)
303, avenue Tamarac
Saint-Bernard
out of business
Chez Paul (Taverne)
Au Gobelet
403, avenue Tamarac
Saint-Pierre
burned down
Chez Rosaire
763, rue Lambert
Saint-Marc
still in business
Corvette
822, rue Trudel
Saint-Marc
burned down in 1973
Taverne Laliberté
Taverne des Expos, Bar de l’Énergie
1572, avenue Saint-Marc
Saint-Marc
still in business
Taverne Moderne
2282, avenue Saint-Marc
Saint-Marc
still in business
Taverne des Sports
Club Social
382, 5e rue
Saint-Pierre
demolished
In 1951, the local tavern keepers formed a business association.[17]
In 1981, the provincial government enacted a law that gave women access to most taverns. By 1986, women had already been admitted in most taverns.[18]
While a handful of local taverns evolved into bistros or restaurants, most of them did not survive the industrial decline that characterized the last third of the 20th Century.
Decline
In the 1950s, Shawinigan Falls entered a period of decline that would last for several decades. Technological improvements made industries less dependent on Shawinigan Falls' geographic location. Therefore, many employers would relocate to nearby larger cities or close down.
In 1958, it received city (cité) status, and its name was abbreviated to just Shawinigan.[1]
As a reaction to declining opportunities, many residents, many of whom were English-speakers, left the area. Shawinigan High School is the only remaining English-language school in the city following the closure of St. Patrick's (closed circa 1983). Shawinigan's last English-language newspaper, the Shawinigan Standard, ceased publication at the end of 1970.[19]
In 1963, the provincial government of Jean Lesagenationalized eleven privately owned electricity companies, including SW&P. While benefiting the population in general, the decision may have been damaging to local interests.
Emerging hospitality industry
Traditionally, Shawinigan has been home to a number of hotels and inns, including the following:
In order to offset the decline of the heavy industry, leaders have promoted the expansion of the local hospitality industry. The most notable example of that initiative is the establishment of La Cité de l'Énergie, a theme park based on local industrial history, with a 115-metre-high (377 ft) observation tower. Since it opened in 1997, it has attracted thousands of visitors to the area. It currently hosts bus tours and cruises, as well as entertainment shows and interactive exhibits. Since 2012, it is also home to the Museum of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, a venue similar to those operated by the U.S. presidential library system and which focuses on the gifts received by the former Prime Minister of Canada (1993-2003) during his official duties.[24]
Mergers
Lac-Pratte, 3 km south of the Lac-à-la-Tortue Ecological ReserveThe "Trou du Diable" falls, with the Cité de l'Énergie tower in the background.
Shawinigan has a humid continental climate (KöppenDfb) featuring cold and snowy winters coupled with warm and humid summers. Precipitation is moderate to high year round, resulting in heavy winter snowfall, typical of Eastern Canada.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Shawinigan had a population of 49,620 living in 25,060 of its 27,444 total private dwellings, a change of 0.5% from its 2016 population of 49,349. With a land area of 729.98 km2 (281.85 sq mi), it had a population density of 68.0/km2 (176.1/sq mi) in 2021.[31]
Economy
an Alcan aluminum plant: built in 1941 and located at 1100 Boulevard Saint-Sacrement, it took over the production of a 1901 structure which is located near the Saint-Maurice River and is currently managed by La Cité de l'Énergie. It has since shut down in 2015;[32]
the Belgo pulp and paper plant: AbitibiBowater Inc. ceased its production on February 29, 2008;[33]
The Laurentide Paper Company: AbitibiBowater Inc. the last major paper mill still active in Shawinigan, located in the Grand-Mère district.
The Classique internationale de canots de la Mauricie: a prestigious marathon canoe race, held annually since 1934.
Grand-Mère's Fête nationale du Québec celebration: consisting of a bonfire and a live performance from local musicians, its audience arguably ranks among the largest crowds in the Mauricie area. It takes place at the Parc de la rivière Grand-Mère.[34] The tradition goes back decades ago.[35]
Attractions
The Trou du Diable (Devil's Hole): this mysterious location consists of a swirl in the Saint-Maurice River nearby the falls. Legend has it, the Trou du Diable has no bottom, making it impossible to rescue anyone who falls into it [36]
Parc Saint-Maurice: located in downtown Shawinigan, it was part of the city's original plan.
the Shawinigan Cataractes: the only QMJHL franchise to have stayed in the same city since the league's inception in 1969. They play at the Centre Gervais-Auto
Many of the oldest streets of Shawinigan were numbered, like the streets of Manhattan, New York. Similarly, Avenue Broadway was named after the famous Manhattan thoroughfare.
Several other streets and avenues were named to honour famous people, including:
In recent years, the church attendance of Catholics in Shawinigan has been on the decline. As a result, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trois-Rivières has had difficulties maintaining its churches and merged a number of its parishes. The Catholic churches are:
Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission (English-speaking community)
773, avenue de la Station
1949
inactive closed in 1990
L’Assomption (Assumption)
4393, boulevard Des Hêtres
1951
active
Desserte Sainte Hélène (Saint Helena Mission)
2350, 93e Rue
1967
inactive closed
The current church building for Saint-Pierre was constructed between 1908 and 1937. The structure's stained glass was designed by Italian Canadian artist Guido Nincheri between 1930 and 1961.
Shawinigan is also home of the Séminaire Sainte-Marie, a private institution that provides the secondary curriculum and of the Collège Shawinigan: a CEGEP whose main campus is located at 2263 Avenue du Collège;
^Wilson, Don (22 December 1970). "Greetings of the Christmas Season: Final Edition". The Shawinigan Standard. No. 27. p. 1. It is with sincere regret and a heavy heart that we must ring down the curtain on the Standard, in its 42nd year of publication and what for the past few months has been the only English medium in the St. Maurice Valley.
^This figure does not include schools located in recently merged entities such as Shawinigan-Sud. For more details, see the article for each former municipality.
0.5%
A-55
R-153 
R-155 
R-157 
R-351 
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