Nouvelle is a municipality in eastern Quebec, Canada, on the south shore of the Gaspé Peninsula at the mouth of the Nouvelle River, where the Restigouche River widens into Chaleur Bay. It is the seat of the Avignon Regional County Municipality. In addition to Nouvelle itself, the municipality also includes the communities of Allard, Brébeuf, Drapeau, Miguasha, Miguasha-Ouest, Nouvelle-Ouest, and Provancher. Nouvelle's graphic seal is a world globe overlaid by Eusthenopteron foordi, whose fossil discovery brought worldwide fame to the Miguasha National Park, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site within the municipality. The seal's red and gray colours represent the colors of the rocks present on the fossil site.
History
Nouvelle was first settled by Acadians fleeing the deportation of 1755, fish merchants from Jersey, Channel Islands and some Irish. The name Nouvelle was used as early as the end of the 18th century and stood for the "new land" being made available West of town now called Carleton-sur-Mer. It first appeared on documents in 1787, by a Jersey business man Charles Robin, and Abbé Joseph , the first Acadian priest. In 1842, the geographic township of Nouvelle was proclaimed. In 1845, the township, which included the area now known as Escuminac, was first incorporated as Municipality of Shoolbred. It was named after John Shoolbred, who was the first owner of the seignory granted there. In 1847, the municipality was abolished but re-established in 1855. From 1861 on, it was known as the Township Municipality of Nouvelle-et-Shoolbred. On July 1, 1869, the local mission was proclaimed as a parish, known as Saint-Jean-l'Évangéliste. In 1881, the post office opened, also designated as Saint-Jean-l'Évangéliste. In 1907, the place separated from the township municipality and formed the Municipality of Nouvelle-et-Shoolbred-Partie-Nord-Est. It was renamed in 1912 to Municipality of Saint-Jean-l'Évangéliste, and then on December 5, 1953, renamed again to Municipality of Nouvelle. That same year, the post office name followed suit.
Miguasha beach. The word Miguasha comes from the Mi'kma "Mégueck Shawk" meaning longtime red, referring to the majestic red cliffs of the Bonaventure Formation
Miguasha port facility offers yachting services and ferry service from July to September.
50+ Games. The 5th edition of the Jeux des 50 ans et plus de la Gaspésie et des Îles-de-la-Madeleine will take place here June 12–15, 2008.
Education
(used to be Commisstion scolaire Tracadièche, from the Mi'kma «Place of many herons»
Elementary schools:
Highschool students attend
Climate
Recreation
Centre sportif Louis-Sleigher, named in honour of the first native of Nouvelle to play for the NHL
