Thetford Mines

Thetford Mines Ville de Thetford Mines
—  Ville (city)  —
Rue St-Alphonse Sud in Thetford Mines.
Thetford Mines Location in Quebec, Canada
Coordinates: 46°6′N 71°18′W / 46.1°N 71.3°W / 46.1; -71.3
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Chaudière-Appalaches
Founded	1876
Current boundaries	October 17, 2001
Government
- Mayor	Luc Berthold
Area
- Total	226.82 km2 (87.6 sq mi)
Population (2006)
- Total	25,704
- Density	113.3/km2 (293.4/sq mi)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
Geographical code	24 31084
People	Thetfordois, Thetfordoises
Website	(French)Ville de Thetford Mines

Thetford Mines (Canada 2006 Census population 25,704) is a town in south-central Quebec, Canada. It is the seat of Les Appalaches Regional County Municipality.

Thetford Mines was founded in 1876 after the discovery of large asbestos deposits in the area, and the city became a hub for one of the world's largest asbestos-producing regions. In 2001 the city expanded to its current boundaries, merging with Black Lake, Robertsonville, Pontbriand and Thetford-Sud.

The current Governor General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean, originally settled in Thetford Mines, after arriving in Canada from Haiti.

Culture

The citizens of Thetford Mines truly embrace the region's four distinct seasons with a plethora of outdoor activities

WINTER Given the abundance of snow for several months in winter, it is a popular area for snowmobiling and four-wheel drive vehicles as well as for downhill and cross-country skiing.

Hockey is also a passtime of many and Thetford Mines was chosen as a top-five finalist for Kraft Hockeyville for 2009 on the February 21, 2009 Hockey Night In Canada "Hockey Day In Canada" special.

SPRING Spring is maple syrup producing time in the area. The numerous stands of maple trees in the region makes it one of the top maple syrup producing regions in the world. In March and early April, local citizens often make a ritual outing to one of the area's sugar camps (or cabanes à sucre) for sugaring off parties where maple syrup, reduced and thickened by slow boiling, is poured over fresh snow to create a delightful taffy.

SUMMER Summer brings a host of other outdoor activities. An abundance of lakes and rivers provide plenty of opportunities for outdoor gatherings and cool refreshment. A series of summer festivals add to the enjoyment of the season, with sporting events, concerts and fireworks.

AUTUMN The same maples that produce syrup in spring, provide brilliantly displays of colour in autumn.

Media

Two radio stations, CFJO ("O97,3") and CKLD ("Passion-Rock 105,5") serve Thetford Mines. Both stations air programming produced partially in Thetford Mines and partially in Victoriaville.

Famous people from Thetford Mines

• Claude Dumas, hockey player/coach (Telford Tigers, UK)
• Bob Fillion, hockey player
• Simon Gamache, hockey player
• Mario Gosselin, hockey player
• Gaétan-Yves Landry, former Chrysler Canada CEO
• Michel Louvain, singer
• Patrice Tardif, hockey player
• Thomas Lalonde, actor, see Roméo et Juliette

External links

• (French) City of Thetford Mines
• (French) Courrier Frontenac - Information portal

	Saint-Jean-de-Brébeuf	Kinnear's Mills	Saint-Pierre-de-Broughton
	Saint-Adrien-d'Irlande		Adstock
		Thetford Mines
	Irlande	Saint-Joseph-de-Coleraine

v • d • e  Administrative divisions of Chaudière-Appalaches  (Region 12) Small caps indicate municipalities with over 10,000 inhabitants (2006 census). Regional county municipalities and equivalent territories L'Islet · Montmagny · Bellechasse · Lévis · La Nouvelle-Beauce · Robert-Cliche · Les Etchemins · Beauce-Sartigan · Les Appalaches · Lotbinière Major1 municipalities Saint-Pamphile · Montmagny · Lévis · Sainte-Marie · Saint-Lambert-de-Lauzon · Beauceville · Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce · Saint-Georges · Disraeli (V) · Thetford Mines Administrative divisions of Quebec

Coordinates: 46°06′07″N 71°18′04″W / 46.102°N 71.301°W / 46.102; -71.301