Sainte-Thècle

Sainte-Thècle, QC
Municipality
Motto:  Scatter goodness along your path
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Mauricie
RCM	Mékinac
Watershed	Batiscan River
Constituted	June 7, 1989
Government
• Mayor	Alain Vallée
• Federal riding	Saint-Maurice—Champlain
• Prov. riding	Laviolette
Area
• Municipality	221.60 km2 (85.56 sq mi)
• Land	213.46 km2 (82.42 sq mi)
• Urban	2.25 km2 (0.87 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Municipality	2,478
• Density	11.6/km2 (30/sq mi)
• Urban	1,296
• Urban density	580/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
• Change (2006–11)	0.3%
• Dwellings	1,413
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)	G0X 3G0
Area code(s)	418 and 581
Website	www.ste-thecle.qc.ca

Sainte-Thècle is a Canadian municipality located in the province of Quebec in the Mékinac Regional County Municipality, in the watershed Batiscanie and in the administrative region of Mauricie. This municipality of 216 square km is particularly known for its resorts around the 55 lakes that dot the area. The forest and mountain scenery offer exceptional views for tourists and vacationers. Sainte-Thècle is also a paradise for hunting, fishing, snowmobile/all-terrain vehicles and other outdoor sports. The church, rectory and cemetery, located on the dominant hill of the village is a heritage of great interest. The agricultural and forestry industries have marked its history.

Geography

Sainte-Thècle is located at the junction of roads 153 and 352. Road 153, running north-south links Yamachiche to Lac-aux-Sables, via St-Tite. On his way to Sainte-Thècle, route 153 covers the path of the great rang St-Georges, Notre-Dame street, St-Jacques street and road St-Pierre-North. While the route 352 from Trois-Rivières, pass through Saint-Stanislas and Saint-Adelphe and then arrives at Sainte-Thecle, on the path of road Charest, then chemin St-Thomas, ending at the intersection of road 153 in the village of Sainte-Thècle.

The territory of Sainte-Thècle is characterized by three river basins:

• River-des-Envies which crosses the rang St-Joseph (southbound), taking its source at Lake Traverse; then the river runs through the territory of Saint-Tite (via the "Rang des Pointes"), Proulxville and empties into the Batiscan river in Saint-Stanislas;

• Pierre-Paul River takes its source at Lake Pierre-Paul, located in the east of the territory of Saint-Tite. This river drains the largest part of row St. George (South) and row St-Thomas of Sainte-Thècle. Its main course goes to the extreme south of the row St. Thomas, cut the row St-Émile (in Saint-Adelphe) and empties into the Batiscan, up to the village of Saint-Adelphe;

• The river Tawachiche runs through the village of Hervey Junction and along the southwestern boundary of the municipality and of St-Rémi du Lac-aux-Sables, she throws herself into the river Batiscan, on the edge of Lac-aux-Sables and Sainte-Thècle, in an area designated as "Pee-Wee".

In Indian history, these three rivers are deemed to have served as a form of transport to reach with canoes upstream lakes. Many beaver dams slowed their rates. These rivers were also used to transport wood and some saw mills were established along the way.

Batiscan River flowing southward 177 km, has its source in Lake Edward in Haute-Mauricie. It flows through the reserve Portneuf through Rivière-à-Pierre (River of stones), Notre-Dame-de-Montauban, Lac aux Sables, Sainte-Thècle (limit), Saint-Adelphe, Saint-Stanislas, Saint-Narcisse and Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan.

Demographics

Population trend:

Year	Population	Variation (%)
2011	2,478	-0,3 %
2006	2,486	-1,1 %
2001	2,513	-6,9 %
1996	2,698	-2,5 %
1991	2,766	-4,2 %
1986	2,887	-

Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 1157 (total dwellings: 1413)

Mother language of Sainte-Thècle's citizens:

• French as first language: 98.2%
• English as first language: 0.4%
• English and French as first language: 0.4%
• Other as first language: 1.0%

Main attractions

• Parc St-Jean, located in the village on the shores of Lake Croche. This public site includes a municipal beach, a dock for boats, a boat ramp, a leisure center, the picnic tables, a volley ball ... In winter, skating trails are very popular.

• Church erected from 1903 to 1905. Built under the direction of Priest Maxime Masson, the church of Sainte-Thècle is one of the finest religious heritage of La Mauricie and Quebec.

• Cemetery of upper village, located behind the church. It features the "Stations of the Cross" carved in stone, a beautiful "calvaire" and many old monuments remembering our ancestors.

Municipal chronology

• In September 23, 1874: the "municipality of the parish of Sainte-Thècle" is officially constituted following the publication of the governmental decree in the Official Newspaper of Quebec (Gazette officielle du Québec).
• In April 27, 1909: the "municipality of the village of Sainte-Thècle" is created. Its territory (village of the church and village of the station) gets loose from the "municipality of the parish".
• 1958: The sector of the lower village gets loose from the "municipality of the parish" and merges to the "municipality of the village".
• In January 1, 1982: implementation of the "RMC of Mékinac" (Regional Municipality of County - "Municipalité régionale de comté") which replaced the "corporation of county" which had been set up in 1855. The "RMC of Mékinac" is a supramunicipale organization for the territory which includes all the municipalities of the Mékinac area. The powers of RMC lean at the same time on statutory compulsory skills and on additional skills according to the will of the municipalities of its territory for common services.
• June 7, 1989: merger between the "municipality of the parish" and that of the village of Sainte-Thècle in order to form the "municipality of Sainte-Thècle".

School chronology

• 1878: creation of the first "Sainte-Thècle school board" (Commission scolaire de Sainte-Thècle). The first meeting of the school board was held on March 4, 1878 in Théophile Magnan's residence.
• 1915: Separation of the territory of Sainte-Thècle in two school board: village and parish.
• 1949: Merger of both school board in only one.
• 1965: Foundation of the CSRM ("Regional School Board of Mauricie area" - "Commission scolaire régionale de la Mauricie") in order to organize all the secondary education level. Whereas the school board of Sainte-Thècle continues to organize the education of primary level.
• 1969: Cessation of the teaching of secondary level 3 and more, in June, 1969, in Sainte-Thècle. Furthermore, this secondary level education is dispensed in "Polyvalente Paul Le Jeune" in Saint-Tite which opened its doors in September, 1969.
• As of July 1, 1972: merger of the "School Board of Sainte-Thècle" (Commission scolaire de Sainte-Thècle) with the "School Board of Normandie" ("Commission scolaire de Normandie") which already had the responsibility since 1969 of the teaching of primary level.
• As of July 1, 1998: the "School Board of Normandy"(Commission scolaire de Normandie) is dissolved on June 30, 1998, to give way on July 1, 1998 to the "School Board of the Energy"(Commission scolaire de l'Énergie) which is furthermore responsible to administer the elementary and the secondary sector on the same territory as the previous CSRM (territory: from Mount-Carmel, up to Parent in Abitibi).

Religious chronology

• 1873 - March 14 - canonical erection of the "Catholic parish of Sainte-Thècle" (Paroisse catholique de Sainte-Thècle).
• 1876 - September 19 - Land gift by notarial act from Lord John E. Price to the "Fabrique de Sainte-Thècle" with the aim of setting up a chapel there.
• From 1877 to 1879 - Construction of the chapel in the lower village.
• 1880 - Opening of the registers of baptismal certificates, marriages and graves of Sainte-Thècle. Previously, acts relative to the residents of the Lac-aux-Chicots (Sainte-Thècle) were registered on the registers of Saint-Tite.
• 1893 - Enlargement of the chapel of the lower village, following a new decree of the bishop as of October 6, 1892. This enlargement allowed the addition of 75 benches while initially the chapel contained 97 benches in its surrounding wall.
• 1903 - Choice of the future church site at the highest site of the sector and beginning of the construction of the church.
• 1903 - Maxime Masson's arrival, on February 6, 1903, as priest (curé) of Sainte-Thècle. His cure lasted 52 years (up to 1955).
• 1904 - Approval on November 18, 1904 of the new cemetery site, located at the top of the highest hillside, between both villages: the station village and the lower village.
• 1905 - September 18 - Last grave in the cemetery of the lower village. It is about Marie Paquin's skin, wife of François Béland.
• 1905 - September 24 - First religious celebration in the new church. The sale of benches was made on same Sunday after the big mass.
• 1905 - Construction of the Cross path inside the church.
• 1907 and 1908 - Erection of the Cross path inside the sacristy.
• 1914 - Acquisition of big organ of the church, as a replacement the former organ which resulted from the chapel.
• 1932 - New phase of arrangement of the finish of the inside of the church, in particular by the famous painter Louis-Édouard Monti.
• 1938 - August 3 - A hurricane brings down both bell towers of the church of Sainte-Thècle. Several houses and the other buildings were damaged.
• 1939 - April - the Beginning of the works of realization of paintings decorating walls and vault of the church, by Louis-Édouard Monty, artist of Montreal. The Priest Maxime Masson realizes paintings in the ceiling of the sacristy.
• 1938 - Manufacturing by the priest Maxime Masson of a lion in cement, settled on an outside base of the northeast side of the church, symbolizing that the "Fabrique de Sainte-Thècle" is released from the debt generated by the construction of the church from 1903 till 1905.
• 1965 - March - Installation of a new altar in the choir of the church so that from now on, the priest face is oriented toward people.
• 1987 - Reconstruction of the high altar in the choir of the church.

Slogan

"Scatter goodness along your path".

Coat of arms of Sainte-Thècle

Since the mid-20th century, the town of Sainte-Thècle uses this blazon trifecta that comes from the College of Arms of Canada. Its original interpretation was tinged with the spirit of Christianity. This blazon was published on April 14, 1958, in the regional newspaper "Le Nouvelliste" (published in Trois-Rivières, QC). On January 17, 1973, René Veillette summarized the original interpretation in a column on the history of Sainte-Thècle, in the journal “Le Dynamique” (published in Saint-Tite, QC). This interpretation has been actualized by the historian Gaétan Veillette in 2012.

The golden triangle in the upper part of the shield symbolizes the saints and heroes of the history, whose example inspired morality and customs. Widely used in heraldic domain, the golden color means brightness, righteousness, faith, strength and constancy. At the center of the first trifecta, the heart means kindness and dedication, recalling the life and accomplishment of Thècle, parish patron. Crown affixed over the heart evokes her sanctification.

The second trifecta, colored in blue azure, symbolizes purity. The fir tree represents the timber industry that dominated the local economy with agriculture throughout history. This fir tree is planted on a hill, which indicates the highest point of the village, the site of the church.

In the third trifecta, at the right of the shield, bees embody the workforce and bravery. Recognized as being laborious, bees inspire respect. In harmony with nature, their role is crucial in the eco-system. The red background shows solidarity and perseverance of this population throughout the difficulties of life and collective issues.

The twig of maple branches in the background characterizes the beauty and symbolic value of this common tree in Sainte-Thècle. They evoke that many maple groves produced the legendary maple syrup. Maple leaf is also the emblem of the country.

The bottom banner features the official motto of Sainte-Thècle: "Scatter goodness along your path". This motto reflects an attitude to be adopted by each citizen in every action of his life. Finally, the red ribbon that binds the two branches of maple leaves is a sign of unity.

Toponymy

The name of the municipality results from saint Thècle, martyred virgin of the 1st century, converted to the Christianism and educated by saint Paul during its first journey missionary. Thècle was born in Isaurie in Turkey. Tite and Thècle having lived at the same time, the name of this virgin was retained for the canonical foundation of this parish of the Mid Mauricie as of March 15, 1873 decree promulgated by Mgr. François-Xavier Laflèche, bishop of the diocese of Trois-Rivières. Moreover, Moïse Proulx, priest of Saint-Tite served the parish of Sainte-Thècle until 1880, or until the arrival of the first resident priest.

The toponymy of the rows ("rangs" in French) of the parish embodies the run-up of Christendom of the 19th century: Saint-Joseph, Saint-Michel, Saint-Pierre, Saint-Georges, and Saint Thomas which is of this last one to be merge to the municipality of Sainte-Thècle in 1891.

The main arteries of the village are the old Notre-Dame, Saint-Jacques, Masson, Grenier, Lacordaire, Tessier, Station, and Du Pont. The latter street derives its name from the floating bridge on Lake Croche, which connected the lower village to road St-Michel (north). With the expansion of the village, the names of new streets was a common surname: Bédard street, Veillette, Valley, Piché, Proteau Square, Cloutier Square, Marcotte road, Marchand road ... Centennial Street (rue du Centenaire) was erected at major festivals 1973-74, in parallel to the Villeneuve street. Several roads were designated according to their geographical context: Chemin de l'Anse (Cove Road), Lake-of-Jesuit, Lake Traverse, Lake Aylwin, Township Lejeune, Lake Button ... Finally, "Joseph St-Amant" road in Canton Lejeune makes tribute to this businessman of Saint-Tite, who has greatly contributed to the forest industry. He owned a sawmill located on "Ruisseau Le Bourdais" street in the town of Saint-Tite.

At the end of the nineteenth century, the village of Sainte-Thècle was divided in two zones: the lower village (that is the oldest, located between the lake Croche and the lake-aux-Chicots) and the village of the station (which was formed with the economical impact of the railroad, arrived in Sainte-Thècle in 1887). Finally the erection of the church, from 1903 to 1905, engendered the construction of streets Saint Jacques and Masson.

Main personalities linked to the locality

• Éric Bédard, Olympic champion in speed skating.
• Josaphat Groleau, a businessman in the lumber industry.
• Maxime Masson, pastor of parish of Sainte-Thècle from 1903 to 1955.
• Laurent Naud, a businessman in the lumber industry and commerce.
• Jeffrey Veillet, businessman in the lumber industry and commerce.

Publishing about the history of Sainte-Thècle

1. " Répertoire des baptêmes de Sainte-Thècle (1869-2012)" (Directory of the baptisms of Sainte-Thècle), including 182 acts written in the registry of Saint-Tite (neighbor parish) from 1869 to 1880. Edited in French by "Fabrique de Sainte-Thècle". This book of 354 pages contains 11 135 baptisms.

• « Répertoire des naissances et des baptêmes de Sainte-Thècle (1880 à 1940)» (Directory of births and baptisms of Sainte-Thècle), edited in 2001, 262 pages. Author : Jacques Delisle. (Edition sold out)

2. " Répertoire des mariages de Sainte-Thècle - 1880 à 2004" (Directory of the marriages of Sainte-Thècle - From 1880 to 2004), published in French in 2005 by the "Fabrique de Sainte-Thècle", 52 pages. Authors: Yolande Saint-Amand, André B Veillette. Associates: Andréanne, Daniel, Gaétan and Lorraine Veillette.

• " Répertoire des mariages de Sainte-Thècle (on 1880 in 1973)" (Directory of the marriages of Sainte-Thècle), published in French in 1974 during the Centenary of Sainte-Thècle, 149 pages. Co-authors: Nicole V. Béland, Daniel Veillette, Gaétan Veillette, René Veillette and Yolande St-Amand-Veillette. (Edition sold out).
• First appendix " Annexe au Répertoire des mariages de Sainte-Thècle (1974-1979) (First Appendix to the Directory of the marriages of Sainte-Thècle (1974-1979))", containing 169 marriages. Edited in French. Author: Yolande Saint-Amand-Veillette (Edition sold out)
• Second appendix " Annexe au Répertoire des mariages de Sainte-Thècle (1974 à 2004) (Second Appendix to the Directory of the marriages of Sainte-Thècle (1974-2004))", published in French in 2005, 52 pages. Authors: Yolande Saint-Amand and André B Veillette.

3. " Obituaire - Lac-aux-Chicots-Sainte-Thècle de 1870 à 1975 (Obituary Lac-aux-Chicots-Sainte-Thècle from 1870 to 1975)", edited in French by "Éditions du bien public", published in 1976. Authors: Geneviève Leblanc and Marie-Ange B. Plamondon. 152 pages. (Edition sold out).

• First appendix entitled " Obituary Lac-aux-Chicots-Sainte-Thècle from 1975 to 1979 ", Edited in French by "Éditions du bien public", p. 153 - 176, published in 1980, by Geneviève Leblanc and Marie-Ange B. Plamondon. This appendix contains in particular the data of the census of 1895 written by the priest Michel E. Jannelle. (Edition sold out).
• The second appendix entitled " Obituary Lac-aux-Chicots-Sainte-Thècle from 1975 to 2003 ", p. 170 - 289, Edited in French. (Edition sold out)

4. Monograph of Sainte-Thècle Centenary entitled " Une ville du Nord, Saint-Thècle - Cent ans d'histoire" (A city of the North, Sainte-Thècle, Hundred years of history) - 1874-1974", Edited by "Éditions du bien public", 229 pages, published in French in March, 1974 during the festivities of the Centenary of Sainte-Thècle. Text: Dr Jean-René Marchand . Documentation: Charles Magnan. Associates: Michelle Trépanier and Father Étienne Morin, o.p.

5. Book " Sainte-Thècle - Comté de Champlain" (Sainte-Thècle - County of Champlain), containing the censuses of 1886, 1891, 1895, on 1896 and 1897 of Sainte-Thècle. Published in French in Trois-Rivières (Three Rivers) in 1987. 320 pages. Compiled by Brigitte Hamel, S.C.O.

6. "Des semailles aux glanures : répertoire des objets anciens de Ste-Thècle" (Sowings to glanures: directory of the antiques of Ste-Thècle). Texts writer, Odette St-Amand; supervised by Armande Rompré-St-Amand. Published in French by the " Sociocultural Committee of Ste-Thècle " (Comité socio-culturel de Sainte-Thècle), 1984, Arquienne printing office.

7. Book "Sainte-Thècle - Le temps d'une vie mémorable ... pendant un quart de siècle - 1935 à 1960" (Time for a memorable life ... for a quarter of a century - from 1935 to 1960). Author: Fernand Cloutier. 295 pages. Published in French in August 2012 by the author.

See also

• Maxime Masson
• Rivière des Envies
• Batiscan River
• Batiscanie, Quebec
• Mékinac Regional County Municipality
• Laviolette (electoral district)

External links

• Municipality of Sainte-Thècle: Official websiteTemplate:Fr
• Regional Municipality of County (RMC) of Mékinac: Official website
• Promotion Sainte-Thècle: Official websiteTemplate:Fr
• Solidarity Cooperative Health Sainte-Thècle (Coopérative de Solidarité Santé de Sainte-Thècle): Official websiteTemplate:Fr
• Maps of Sainte-Thècle Official website
• Missionary Paul Le Jeune who is associated to a few related geographic names in Sainte-Thècle: Jesuit Lake, Le Jeune Lake, "Canton Le Jeune" Road, Canton (Township) Le Jeune; and in Lac-aux-Sables (Hervey-Jonction sector), with "Lac du missionnaire" (Missionary Lake).