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Mont-Laurier
Mont-Laurier
	Du Lièvre River in Mont-Laurier
	; Coat of arms
	; Coat of arms
	; Mont-Laurier Location in Quebec, Canada
	Coordinates: 46°33′N 75°30′W / 46.55°N 75.5°W
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Laurentides
Regional County	Antoine-Labelle
Settled
Incorporated	January 1, 2003
	Government
- Type	Ville
- Mayor	Michel Adrien
- Federal riding	Laurentides—Labelle
- Prov. riding	Labelle
	Area
- Land	590.35 km2 (227.9 sq mi)
Elevation	244 m (801 ft)
	Population (2006)
- Total	13,405
- Density	22.7/km2 (58.8/sq mi)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Postal Code	J9L
Area code(s)	819
Website	www.villemontlaurier.qc.ca

Mont-Laurier is a town and incorporated municipality in northwest Quebec, Canada located on the banks of the Rivière du Lièvre, a tributary of the Ottawa River. It is known as the "Capital of the Haute-Laurentides". The motto of the town is Laurus elationis praemium, which translates to "Lift the laurels of reward".

In 2003, Mont-Laurier was merged with its neighbouring towns of Des Ruisseaux and Saint-Aimé-du-Lac-des-Îles, with the name Mont-Laurier being chosen for the combined municipality. Following a 2004 demerger referendum vote, Saint-Aimé-du-Lac-des-Îles left Mont-Laurier in 2006 to be reconstitued as an independent municipality. The de-almagation did not affected Des Ruisseaux, which remains within Mont-Laurier.

According to the Canada 2006 Census, the population is 13,405. Mont-Laurier is the seat of Antoine-Labelle Regional County Municipality.

[edit] History

Rapide-de-l'Orignal was founded at the current location of Mont-Laurier, on the Lievre River, in 1885, by Solime Alix. The name was changed in 1909 to honour Canada's Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier. In 1940, a road from Mont-Laurier to Abitibi was built. This facilitated the growth of the trucking industry.

[edit] Law and government

The current mayor of Mont-Laurier is Michel Adrien, a black immigrant from Haiti. He was elected in 2003. It is notable that M. Adrien was elected with an 80% majority in a town where more than 99% of the population is white. A city council is also in place. With no opponent running against him, Adrien was reelected through acclamation in 2005, 2007 and 2009.

[edit] Geography

In addition to Mont-Laurier, the municipality also consists of the following population centres: Lac-Gatineau, Saint-Jean-sur-le-Lac, and Val-Limoges.

Mont-Laurier is located on the banks of the Rivière du Lièvre, a tributary of the Ottawa River, about 200 kilometers (124 mi) from its mouth. Its location in the Laurentian range of mountains places it at an altitude of 244 metres above sea level. It is surrounded by numerous lakes and mixed forests that support hunting, fishing and leisure, but also logging.

Mont-Laurier is located at the halfway point of the major roadway from Montreal to Abitibi, Route 117, about 250 kilometers (155 mi) northwest of Montreal. Route 309 follows the Lievre and leads to Hull and Ottawa, 216 kilometers (134 mi) to the south.

[edit] Economy

Mont-Laurier is the administrative and commercial centre of the Haute-Lievre area. Many residents are employed by the various governments, the schools and the hospital. Most of the economic activity is generated by tourism, road transport and forestry. There is some agriculture, mostly dairy farming, and dairy products manufacturing.