Lac-des-Seize-Îles, Quebec


Lac-des-Seize-Îles is a village and municipality in the Laurentides region of Quebec, Canada, part of the Les Pays-d'en-Haut Regional County Municipality. The municipality surrounds and is named after Sixteen Island Lake with the village situated at the northern end of this lake.

Geography

Lac-des-Seize-Îles is located about west of Saint-Sauveur-des-Monts in the Laurentian Mountains. The municipality is rectangular in shape, completely encompassing Sixteen Island Lake. This lake is long and has an elevation of. Its descriptive name, which was in use as early as 1899 refers to its islands, however is a misnomer. There are in fact eighteen small islands on the lake, although the two smallest have no official name and have been judged too small for habitation:
One of the two unnamed islands is commonly referred to as 'Ile aux Bleuets', although another island with this name exists.
The shores of Sixteen Island Lake and most of the islands are developed with cottages, making it a popular summer location when the population swells significantly. Most cottages are inaccessible by land and must be reached by boat.

History

The first pioneers arrived in this place in 1897, coming mainly from Saint-Joachim-de-Shefford and Roxton Falls. The post office opened a year later in 1898, identified under the English name of Sixteen Island Lake. In 1901, the mission of Notre-Dame-de-la-Sagesse was established and became a parish in 1937. In 1914, the Municipality of Lac-des-Seize-Îles was formed by separating from the Township Municipalities of Montcalm and Wentworth.
Pine Lake, located 1.5 km from Lac-des-Seize-Îles, received its first share of summer vacationers in 1907. A post office, identified as Lac-des-Pins, was serving vacationers between 1922 and 1954.

Demographics

Population trend:
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 106
Mother tongue:
The Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board operates English-language public schools: