Cap-Chat

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title: "Cap-Chat" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["cities-and-towns-in-quebec", "designated-places-in-quebec", "incorporated-places-in-gaspésie–îles-de-la-madeleine"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cap-Chat" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameCap-Chat
settlement_typeCity
image_skylineCap-Chat, Quebec, Canada.jpg
image_captionView of the harbour at Cap-Chat, Quebec
image_mapCap-Chat Quebec location diagram.png
map_captionLocation within La Haute-Gaspésie RCM
pushpin_mapCanada Eastern Quebec
pushpin_map_captionLocation in eastern Quebec
coordinates
coordinates_footnotes
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameCanada
subdivision_type1Province
subdivision_name1Quebec
subdivision_type2Region
subdivision_name2Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine
subdivision_type3RCM
subdivision_name3La Haute-Gaspésie
established_titleSettled
established_date1815
established_title1Constituted
established_date1March 15, 2000
established_date21845
government_footnotes
leader_titleMayor
leader_nameMarcel Soucy
leader_title1Federal riding
leader_name1Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj
leader_title2Prov. riding
leader_name2Gaspé
area_footnotes
area_total_km2208.99
area_land_km2181.31
elevation_footnotes
population_footnotes
population_total2516
population_as_of2021
population_density_km213.9
population_blank1_titlePop 2016-2021
population_blank11.6%
population_blank2_titleDwellings
population_blank21405
timezoneEST
utc_offset−5
timezone_DSTEDT
utc_offset_DST−4
postal_code_typePostal code(s)
postal_codeG0J 1E0
area_codes418 and 581
blank_nameHighways
blank_info
website
::

|name = Cap-Chat |official_name = |native_name = |other_name = |settlement_type = City |image_skyline = Cap-Chat, Quebec, Canada.jpg |imagesize = |image_caption = View of the harbour at Cap-Chat, Quebec |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |nickname = |motto = |image_map = Cap-Chat Quebec location diagram.png |map_caption = Location within La Haute-Gaspésie RCM |pushpin_map = Canada Eastern Quebec |pushpin_label_position = |pushpin_label = |pushpin_map_caption = Location in eastern Quebec |coordinates = |coor_pinpoint = |coordinates_footnotes = |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = Canada |subdivision_type1 = Province |subdivision_name1 = Quebec |subdivision_type2 = Region |subdivision_name2 = Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine |subdivision_type3 = RCM |subdivision_name3 = La Haute-Gaspésie |established_title = Settled |established_date = 1815 |established_title1 = Constituted |established_date1 = March 15, 2000 |established_title2 = |established_date2 = 1845 |established_title3 = |established_date3 = |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = Mayor |leader_name = Marcel Soucy | leader_title1 = Federal riding | leader_name1 = Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj | leader_title2 = Prov. riding | leader_name2 = Gaspé |area_footnotes = |area_magnitude = |area_total_km2 = 208.99 |area_land_km2 = 181.31 |area_water_km2 = |area_water_percent = |area_blank1_title = |area_blank1_km2 = |elevation_footnotes =
|elevation_m = |population_footnotes = |population_total = 2516 |population_as_of = 2021 |population_density_km2 = 13.9 |population_blank1_title = Pop 2016-2021 |population_blank1 = 1.6% |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_blank2_title= Dwellings |population_blank2 = 1405 |population_note = |timezone = EST |utc_offset = −5 |timezone_DST = EDT |utc_offset_DST = −4 |postal_code_type = Postal code(s) |postal_code = G0J 1E0 |area_codes = 418 and 581 |blank_name = Highways |blank_info = |blank1_name = |blank1_info = |website = |footnotes =

Cap-Chat () is a town in the Canadian province of Québec, in the Regional County Municipality of Haute-Gaspésie, and in the administrative region of Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Cap-Chat is found 16 km west of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. , Cap-Chat's population is 2,516.

In addition to Cap-Chat itself, the town's territory also includes the communities of Cap-Chat-Est, Capucins, and Petit-Fonds.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/Rocher_Le_Chat_à_Cap-Chat.jpg" caption="''The Cat'' Rock in Cap-Chat"] ::

There are two theories about the origin of the town's name. One simply holds that the headland called Cap-Chat bore a likeness to a cat ("chat" in French). The other theory is a bit more fanciful. According to a local legend, a cat walking along the shore killed and ate various animals, whereupon the "cat fairy" accused him of having eaten her offspring. For his punishment, the cat was turned into stone forever.

It seems most likely, however, that the town's name is a corruption of "Aymar de Chaste", who was New France's lieutenant-general in 1603. Samuel de Champlain named this area C. de Chatte in 1612, then Cap de Chatte in 1626. The name became Cap de Chat in 1685.

The waterfront boardwalk at Cap-Chat has a display of photographs and informative plaques regarding the Second World War Battle of the St. Lawrence between U-Boats and coastal defence ships.

On October 19, 1968, The Town of Cap-Chat was formed through the merger of Parish Municipality of Saint-Norbert-du-Cap-Chat and the Village Municipality of Cap-Chat.

Cap-Chat was one of the prime viewing areas for the total solar eclipse of July 10, 1972. Unfortunately, cloudy skies prevented most observers from viewing the total phase of the eclipse.

On March 15, 2000, the Municipality of Capucins was amalgamated into the Town of Cap-Chat.{{cite web |url=http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/ToposWeb/fiche.aspx?no_seq=10407 |title=Cap-Chat (Ville) |publisher=Commission de toponymie du Québec |accessdate=2011-12-19

|language=French}}

Climate

| location = Cap-Chat (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1993–present) | metric first = yes | single line = yes | Jan record high C = 14.7 | Feb record high C = 12.9 | Mar record high C = 15.6 | Apr record high C = 21.8 | May record high C = 27.8 | Jun record high C = 33.5 | Jul record high C = 31.4 | Aug record high C = 34.5 | Sep record high C = 32.5 | Oct record high C = 24.9 | Nov record high C = 22.7 | Dec record high C = 18.1 | year record high C = 34.5 | Jan high C = -6.1 | Feb high C = -5.8 | Mar high C = -1.2 | Apr high C = 4.6 | May high C = 11.1 | Jun high C = 16.5 | Jul high C = 19.7 | Aug high C = 19.1 | Sep high C = 15.3 | Oct high C = 9.3 | Nov high C = 3.8 | Dec high C = -1.9 | year high C = 7.0 | Jan mean C = -10.0 | Feb mean C = -9.7 | Mar mean C = -5.0 | Apr mean C = 1.4 | May mean C = 7.3 | Jun mean C = 12.6 | Jul mean C = 16.1 | Aug mean C = 15.6 | Sep mean C = 11.6 | Oct mean C = 6.0 | Nov mean C = 0.8 | Dec mean C = -5.0 | year mean C = 3.5 | Jan low C = -13.9 | Feb low C = -13.3 | Mar low C = -8.7 | Apr low C = -1.9 | May low C = 3.5 | Jun low C = 8.6 | Jul low C = 12.4 | Aug low C = 12.0 | Sep low C = 7.9 | Oct low C = 2.7 | Nov low C = -2.2 | Dec low C = -8.2 | year low C = -0.1 | Jan record low C = -33.1 | Feb record low C = -29.2 | Mar record low C = -26.9 | Apr record low C = -15.6 | May record low C = -3.6 | Jun record low C = -1.2 | Jul record low C = 5.7 | Aug record low C = 2.3 | Sep record low C = -0.8 | Oct record low C = -6.0 | Nov record low C = -14.0 | Dec record low C = -26.3 | year record low C = -33.1 | time day = 15:00 LST | Jan humidity = 77.3 | Feb humidity = 76.0 | Mar humidity = 74.6 | Apr humidity = 72.5 | May humidity = 72.5 | Jun humidity = 74.2 | Jul humidity = 76.4 | Aug humidity = 76.9 | Sep humidity = 77.8 | Oct humidity = 78.6 | Nov humidity = 77.0 | Dec humidity = 79.4 | year humidity = 76.1 | source 1 = Environment and Climate Change Canada{{cite web | url = https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1991_2020_e.html?searchType=stnProv&lstProvince=QC&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=88000000&dispBack=0 | title = Cap–Chat, Quebec | work = Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 | publisher = Environment Canada | access-date = August 14, 2025}}

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Cap-Chat had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of 181.31 km2, it had a population density of in 2021. |location = Cap-Chat |2021_population=2,516 | 2021_pop_delta=+1.6 | 2021_land_area=181.31 | 2021_pop_density=13.9 |2021_median_age=58.8 | 2021_median_age_m=58.8 | 2021_median_age_f=59.2 |2021_total_pvt_dwell=1,405 |2021_occ_pvt_dwell=1,225 |2021_mean_hh_income=50,800 |2021_geocode=2021A00052404047 | 2021_access_date=2023-10-19 |2016_population=2,476 | 2016_pop_delta=-5.6% | 2016_land_area=182.05 | 2016_pop_density=13.6 |2016_median_age=57.0 | 2016_median_age_m=56.5 | 2016_median_age_f=57.4 |2016_total_pvt_dwell=1,333 | 2016_mean_hh_income=44,971 | 2016_access_date=2024-08-02 |2011_population=2,623 | 2011_pop_delta=-5.5% | 2011_land_area=181.89 | 2011_pop_density=14.4 |2011_median_age=53.7 | 2011_median_age_m=53.1 | 2011_median_age_f=54.5 |2011_total_pvt_dwell=1,368 | 2011_mean_hh_income=37,511 | 2011_access_date=2014-01-28 |2006_population=2,777 | 2006_pop_delta=-4.7 | 2006_land_area=181.89 | 2006_pop_density=15.3 |2006_median_age=50.1 | 2006_median_age_m=49.6 | 2006_median_age_f=50.6 |2006_total_pvt_dwell=1,347 | 2006_mean_hh_income=31,051 | 2006_access_date=2011-12-19 |2001_population=2,913 | 2001_pop_delta=-6.8 | 2001_land_area=181.89 | 2001_pop_density=16.0 |2001_median_age=45.9 | 2001_median_age_m=45.0 | 2001_median_age_f=46.9 |2001_total_pvt_dwell=1,373 | 2001_mean_hh_income=27,864 | 2001_access_date=2011-12-19 |notes=

| title= Historical Census Data - Cap-Chat, Quebec | percentages = | shading = off | align = none | cols = 2 | footnote = | source = | 1971 |3868 | 1976 |3617 | 1981 |3464 | 1986 |3202 | 1991 |2926 | 1996 |2847 | 2001 |2913 | 2006 |2777 | 2011 |2623 | 2016 |2476 | 2021 |2516

Economy

Cap-Chat has become synonymous with wind energy. There is a wind farm there containing 76 wind generators in revenue service. Each one of these is a horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT), but there is also to be seen there one called Éole, which is the world's tallest vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) at 110 m. It is capable of producing 4 MW of power, but has not been in use for more than ten years following damages sustained during a wind storm. Everything that there is to know about wind power at Cap-Chat may be learnt at the interpretative centre at the wind farm.

Cap-Chat has other things that are worth seeing, such as the aforesaid cat-shaped headland, and a lighthouse.

Those interested in wilderness and spectacular scenery can explore the areas inland from Cap-Chat, where there was once a village called Saint-Octave-de-l'Avenir (which ironically means Saint Octavius of the Future, though it's long in the past now). Salmon fishing and moose hunting are other activities available in the Cap-Chat area, as are hiking, horseback riding, and off-road four-wheel drive excursions in the back country.

In winter, Cap-Chat has a downhill skiing centre, as well as trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

Local government

List of former mayors:

  • Claude Jourdain (1968–1973)
  • Jacques Gagné (1973–1976)
  • Joseph Francois Alphonse Gagnon (1976–1977, 1981–1985)
  • Gérard Côté (1977–1979)
  • Julien Lepage (1979–1981)
  • J. Augustin St-Laurent (1985–1993)
  • Jean Yves Bérubé (1993–1996)
  • Georgette Pelletier (1996–2000)
  • Judes Landry (2000–2017)
  • Marie Gratton (2017–2021)
  • Marcel Soucy (2021–present)

Images

File:Capchatwindturbines.png|Wind turbines at Cap-Chat File:Cap-chat_032.JPG|Wind farm File:Cap_Chat_-_panoramio.jpg|The village, as seen from the sea File:Phare de Cap-Chat.jpg|Lighthouse File:Arriere pays.jpg|Backcountry

References

References

  1. {{mamrot. {{#property:P3856
  2. "Cap-Chat census profile". Statistics Canada.
  4. (15 November 2023). "Cap-Chat community profile". Statistics Canada.
  5. Lahoud, Pierre. (2014). "Le chat pétrifié". Continuité.
  6. [[Canada 1996 Census. 1996]], [[Canada 2001 Census. 2001]], [[Canada 2006 Census. 2006]], [[Canada 2011 Census. 2011]], [[Canada 2016 Census. 2016]], [[Canada 2021 Census. 2021]] census
  7. "Répertoire des entités géopolitiques: Cap-Chat (ville) 19.10.1968 - ...". Institut généalogique Drouin.

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cities-and-towns-in-quebecdesignated-places-in-quebecincorporated-places-in-gaspésie–îles-de-la-madeleine