Shawinigan - city in Québec, Canada

Shawinigan is a city of 50,000 people (2011) in the Mauricie region of Quebec. It arose because of its tremendous hydro-electric generation capacity, and is now focusing on tourism.

Understand

• Tourisme Mauricie, 1882, Rue Cascade, Saint-Boniface-de-Shawinigan, +1 819-536-3334. M-F 08:30-12:00 and 13:00-16:30. Visitor centre. 2019-04-10

History

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. Before Shawinigan Falls was established, the local economy had been largely based on lumber and agriculture. In the late 1890s, Shawinigan Falls drew the interest of foreign entrepreneurs because falls had the potential to become a favourable location for the production of hydroelectricity. In 1899, the Shawinigan Water & Power Company commissioned an engineering firm 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.

In 1901, the place was incorporated as a village, and gained town (ville) status a year later. 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). Shawinigan Falls also became one of the first Canadian cities with electric street lighting. For decades, the local pulp and paper, chemical and textile industries created thousands of jobs and stimulated city growth.

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. World War II put Shawinigan Falls, and many others cities in Canada, back on the path of economic recovery. During hostilities, the windows of local power plants were painted black to prevent any possible German aerial attack.

By the early 1950s, the industrial growth in Shawinigan was such that the city offered the steadiest employment and the highest wages in Quebec. As its working class gained economic ground and political leverage, Shawinigan became fertile ground for labour unions. The workers of the Belgo pulp and paper plant went on strike in 1955.

In the 1950s, Shawinigan Falls entered a period of decline that would last for several decades. Technological improvements made industries less dependent on Shawinigan's geographic location. Many employers relocated to nearby larger cities or closed down.

In order to offset the decline of the heavy industry, leaders have promoted the expansion of the local hospitality industry.

Climate

Shawinigan has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) with cold and snowy winter coupled with mild to warm summers. Precipitation is moderate to high year round, resulting in heavy winter snowfall, typical of Eastern Canada.

Get in

By car

Shawinigan can be reached via Quebec Route 155 and Route 157 via Trois-Rivières. Quebec Route 153 and Route 155 pass through Shawinigan.

By bus

• Transport collectif Haut St-Maurice, +1-819-523-4581. Daily bus service between Trois-Rivières and La Tuque including a stop in Shawinigan. Travel time to Shawinigan from Trois-Rivières is 30 minutes and from La Tuque is 2 hours. 2022-05-11

By train

• VIA Rail Canada. Operates train routes across Canada. 2022-03-31 The following routes serve Shawigan:
  • Between Jonquière and Montreal including stops in Shawinigan, Saint-Paulin, Saint-Justin, and Joliette. Travel time to Shawinigan from Jonquière is 6.5 hours and from Montreal is 2.5 hours. Operates one day per week. Route operates as a wilderness service: a request stop may be made at any point along the route for those who want to hike and kayak in the remoter regions of Quebec that the train passes through.
  • Between Senneterre and Montreal including stops in La Tuque, Shawinigan, Saint-Paulin, Saint-Justin, and Joliette. Travel time to Shawinigan from Seneterre is 9 hours, from La Tuque is 3 hours, and from Montreal is 2.5 hours. Operates one day per week. Route operates as a wilderness service: a request stop may be made at any point along the route for those who want to hike and kayak in the remoter regions of Quebec that the train passes through.

Get around

The entire downtown can be reasonably explored on foot. Further away, the place is best explored by car.

• RTCS. Daily public transit service Saint-Georges-de-Champlain to Shawinigan-South. $3 (children 6 years old and under) 2019-04-11

See

• La Cité de l'Énergie (The city of energy), 1000, avenue Melville, 46.536001°, -72.757677°. A theme park based on local industrial history, with a 115 metre high observation tower opened in 1997. Since 2012, it has been 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. Complete visit includes the Science Centre, the historic sector with the Museum of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien: adults $25, seniors $24, students (13 and over) $20, children (6-12) $12, children under 6 free, family (2 adults, 1 child) $55, family (2 adults, 2 child) $60; partial visit - the science centre or the museum: adults $19, children (6-12) $10, children under 6 free 2019-04-10
• Eglise Notre-Dame-de-la-Presentation (Church of Our Lady of the Presentation), 825 Avenue Ozias-Leduc (Shawinigan Sud Sector), 46.52783°, -72.75013°, +1 819-539-1888. Jun-Aug: M-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 11:00-17:00. A National Historic Site of Canada. Ozias Leduc was a dominant figure of sacred art in Canada, dubbed the "Michelangelo of Quebec". The church features his work in a unique monumental decor, composed of murals, some of which represent the stages of discovery, colonization and industrialization of the Mauricie region. A heritage work with a human dimension. Adult $9, senior 65 and over $8.50, student (from 13 years old) $6.75, child upto 12 years free; prices include taxes 2019-04-11
• Shawinigan Cataractes, Centre Gervais Auto, 1200, avenue des Cèdres, 46.54683°, -72.74575°, +1 819-537-6327. Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team. 2019-04-10

Urban sectors

• Grand-Mère, 46.612943°, -72.694889°. Former city of Quebec founded in 1898 and merged with the daughter of Shawinigan in 2002. Located on the shores of the Saint-Maurice river, including the Saint-Georges-de-Champlain sector (east shore of Saint-Maurice), it is a city residential, industrial, commercial and government services. This sector of Shawinigan has a large hydroelectric dam just downstream from the suspended iron bridge spanning the Saint-Maurice River. 2021-11-22
• Shawinigan-Sud, 46.52315°, -72.74389°. This former city was merged with Shawinigan in 2002. This sector of Shawinigan is at the head of the falls of the same name. This city had been incorporated because of the industrial development of Shawinigan Falls. 2021-11-22
• Saint-Gérard-des-Laurentides, 46.59962°, -72.84332°. Former parish municipality, this municipality was merged in 2002 with the city of Shawinigan. This urban sector of Shawinigan has above all a residential and recreational tourism vocation. 2021-11-22
• Lac-à-la-Tortue, 46.6124°, -72.6323°. Former municipality, founded in 1895 and merged with the city of Shawinigan in 2002. It has become one of the seven sectors of Shawinigan. The municipality takes its name from the lake of the same name, which is part of the hydrographic slope of Batiscania, despite its proximity to the course of the Saint-Maurice river. The Eastern section of the lake is part of the territory of Hérouxville. 2021-11-22
• Saint-Jean-des-Piles, 46.69239°, -72.79231°. Former parish municipality, merged with the city of Shawinigan in 2002. This municipality, established on the western edge of the Saint-Maurice River, is the main gateway to La Mauricie National Park. It is considered the capital of the canoe. 2021-11-22
• Saint-Georges-de-Champlain, 46.6213°, -72.6583°. A former city of Quebec, incorporated in 1915 and merged with the city of Shawinigan in 2002. 2021-11-22

Do

• D'Arbre en Arbre (From tree to tree), Parc de l'Ile Melville, 1900 Avenue Melville, 46.53372°, -72.7556°, +1 819-536-7155. 24 Jun-25 Aug: daily 09:30-16:00; spring and autumn: available for group bookings. Ziplines, suspended footbridges, Tarzan lianas, rope bridge. Four aerial courses that total 87 suspended challenge-games, in rope and flexible cables. Each course is adapted for different ages in terms of height and difficulty of games. Adults $21-31, youth $16-19, children $12-16; families with 2 adults and 2 children get $1-2 off per person 2019-04-10

Buy

• Marche Public Shawinigan, 2093 Avenue Champlain, 46.55464°, -72.74305°, +1 819-537-7404. Th F 08:00-18:00, Sa Su 09:00-17:00. Public market founded in 1902. 30 merchants. 2021-11-21

Eat

• Zele, 3230 50E Avenue, 46.61573°, -72.73603°, +1 819-729-0466. W-Sa 17:30 - 22:00, Su 17:30 - 21:00. Restaurant du secteur de Grand-Mère. Mains $28-42 2021-11-21
• Restaurant Cite d'Angkor, 880 Promenade du St-Maurice, 46.54014°, -72.75299°, +1 819-536-2488. Tu-Sa 12:00-20:00. Cambodian family cuisine overlooking the St-Maurice River. Bring your own beer or wine. Mains $13-18, lunch $10-13 2021-11-21
• Cafe Bucolique, 3240 Chemin Sainte Flore, 46.56156°, -72.73622°, +1 819-538-1735. W-F 10:00-16:00, Sa Su 09:00-16:00. Coffee, soups, baked goods. 2019-04-11

Drink

• Brasserie Chez Tonio, 41, 1083 avenue (Secteur Sainte-Georges-de-Champlain), 46.61998°, -72.66607°, +1 819-538-8068. 2021-11-21
• Le Trou du diable - Broue Pub et Restaurant (The Devil's Hole Brew Pub and Restaurant), 412 Av Willow, 46.54031°, -72.75341°, +1 819-537-9151. Pub: Su-Tu 15:00-23:00, W Th 15:00-01:00, F Sa 15:00-01:30; kitchen: Tu-Su 17:00-21:00. 2021-11-21

Sleep

Hôtels

• Auberge Gouverneur Shawinigan, 1100, Promenade du Saint-Maurice (on the banks of the Saint-Maurice river, in front of the Cité de l’énergie), 46.5409°, -72.7545°, +1 819-537-6000. 106 rooms and suites. Bar and Italian restaurant (the Pacini), terrace. A salted and heated indoor swimming pool, whirlpool bath, fitness room & a massage therapy, orthotherapy and physiotherapy service. Free private parking, ski room. Tour packages of the region are also offered by the hotel. Accepted animals. From $119 2019-04-12
• Hotel Marineau Shawinigan, 2223 Hanna Street (Grand-Mère Sector), 46.61474°, -72.68900°, +1 819 533-5766, +1 800 565-5766. 42 rooms, renovated in November 2018, free coffee in rooms, air conditioning, cable TV, free continental breakfast, free Wi-Fi. From $88 2019-04-12

Chalets, lodges and inn

• Motel Laviolette, 701, route de Lac-à-la-Tortue (Lac-à-la-Tortue Sector), 46.61088°, -72.63259°, +1 819 538-8613. 2021-11-22
• Le Manoir du Rocher, 85, av. de Grand-Mère (Grand-Mère Sector), 46.61893°, -72.68539°, +1 819 538-8877. Gîte. 2021-11-22
• Auberge Pique-Nique, 581, 28eme rue, 46.61893°, -72.68539°, +1 819-731-9887, info@aubergepiquenique.com. 2021-11-22
• Gîte Chez Baza, 1339 Victory Street (2 minutes from the exit Garnier, highway 55), 46.55045°, -72.75312°, +1 819-537-7299. Two B&B rooms with private bath. Big screen TV, free Wi-Fi, fully air-conditioned house, heated swimming pool in season, whirlpool in the yard, free parking. $99-139 2019-04-12
• Parc de l'Île Melville, Shawinigan (Melville Island Park, Shawinigan), 1900, avenue Melville (on a peninsula on the east side of Melville Island, on the banks of the Saint-Maurice River), 46.53372°, -72.75554°, +1 819-537-7299, info@ilemelville.com. Offer of camping, ready-to-camp, cabins and inn 2019-04-12

Go next

Parks or reserves nearby

Nearby municipalities