Cap-de-la-Madeleine () is a

former A former is an object, such as a template, gauge or cutting die, which is used to form something such as a boat's hull. Typically, a former gives shape to a structure that may have complex curvature. A former may become an integral part of the ...

city A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agree ...

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

, Canada at the confluence of the

Saint-Maurice River The Saint-Maurice River (, ; ) is one of the main tributaries of the St. Lawrence River, after the Ottawa River, Ottawa and the Saguenay River, Saguenay Rivers and drains an area of 42,735 km2. It touches the Lac Saint-Jean, Lake Saint John waters ...

and the

St. Lawrence River The St. Lawrence River (, ) is a large international river in the middle latitudes of North America connecting the Great Lakes to the North Atlantic Ocean. Its waters flow in a northeasterly direction from Lake Ontario to the Gulf of St. Lawren ...

. It was amalgamated into the City of

Trois-Rivières Trois-Rivières (, ; ) is a city in the Mauricie administrative region of Quebec, Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice River, Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence River, Saint Lawrence rivers, on the north shore of the Sain ...

in 2002. Population (2006 census) 33,022.

History

Cap-de-la-Madeleine was founded March 20, 1651. The establishment was named by Jacques de La Ferté, who was abbot of Sainte-Madeleine de Châteaudun in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. The city is famous for its basilica, Basilique Notre-Dame du Cap, dedicated to Our Lady of the Cape. The Basilica receives thousands of pilgrims and visitors each year. Pilgrims are drawn to the site because it is considered to be the place where two miracles were performed by the

Blessed Virgin Mary Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...

, the first being the Miracle of the Ice Bridge (1879) and the other being the Miracle of the Eyes (1888). The first official pilgrimage occurred in 1883 and consisted of roughly 150 people who travelled to the location by foot. The site is considered the first pilgrimage site in North America, excluding Mexico. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

the

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...

built and operated No. 11 Elementary Flying Training School as part of the

British Commonwealth Air Training Plan The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), often referred to as simply "The Plan", was a large-scale multinational military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand during the Second Wo ...

in Cap-de-la-Madelaine. The school opened on October 14, 1940 and closed on February 11, 1944. The airfield was located in what is now a residential area near rue Saint Maurice and rue de Grandmont () The inhabitants call themselves Madelinois and Madelinoise.

Other interesting sites

*Fort Saint-François: built 1660 and late abandoned with no visible traces remaining on what is now Notre dame du Cap Sanctuary *Fort du Moulin-à-Vent: built between 1649 and 1653; now a residential area

Notable people from Cap-de-la-Madeleine

* Jean-Guy Talbot (1932–2024), hockey player (

NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

) and coach *

Charles Thiffault Charles Thiffault (January 2, 1938 – May 18, 2025) was a Canadian assistant coach in the National Hockey League (NHL). He spent 15 years as an assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens, Quebec Nordiques, and New York Rangers. Biography Thif ...

(born 1939), NHL ice hockey coach

Mediagraphy

In addition to the general works on

and

Mauricie Mauricie () is a traditional and current administrative region of Quebec. La Mauricie National Park is contained within the region, making tourism in Mauricie popular. The region has a land area of 35,860.05 km2 (13,845.64 sq mi) and a popu ...

, here are some books specifically on the Cap-de-la-Madeleine: #Maurice Loranger, ''Histoire de Cap-de-la-Madeleine (1651-1986)'', Cap-de-la-Madeleine, published on author's account, 1987, 337 pages (this book has no ISBN) #Maurice Loranger, ''Aperçu historique de la paroisse Sainte-Marie-Madeleine du Cap-de-la-Madeleine à l'occasion du tricentenaire de son érection canonique'', Cap-de-la-Madeleine, .é. 1978, 112 p. #Maurice Loranger, ''La chronique madelinoise, 1651-2001 tLes maires de Cap-de-la-Madeleine'', City of Cap-de-la-Madeleine, 2001, 103 p. #Maurice Loranger, ''125 ans de régime municipal au Cap-de-la-Madeleine'', published by "Société d'histoire du Cap-de-la-Madeleine", 1981, 66 p. #Paul-Émile Breton, o.m.i., ''Cap-de-la-Madeleine, cité mystique de Marie'', Trois-Rivières, Imprimerie Saint-Joseph, 1937, 213 pages. #François De Lagrave, ''Cap-de-la-Madeleine, 1651-2001. Une ville d'une singulière destinée'', Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Éditions of 350^e anniversaire of Cap-de-la-Madeleine, 2002, 1288 p. #''Album-souvenir des fêtes du 50^e anniversaire de la paroisse Saint-Lazare eCap-de-la-Madeleine, 1927-1977'', .é. 1977, 125 p. #Marie-Hélène Campagna, Louis-Pierre Légaré et Amilie Picard, ''Inventaire architectural. Cap-de-la-Madeleine. Rues Fusey et Sainte-Madeleine'', Département d'aménagement, Université Laval, avril 1997, 38 p. #Martin Dubois and Anne-Marie Bussières, ''Patrimoine du centre-ville de Cap-de-la-Madeleine. Historique des propriétés. Rues Fusey, Saint-Laurent et Sainte-Madeleine. (Répertoire)'', Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Rues principales de Cap-de-la-Madeleine, janvier 1999, 97 p. #Martin Dubois et Anne-Marie Bussières, ''Patrimoine du centre-ville de Cap-de-la-Madeleine. Guide d'intervention'', Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Main streets of Cap-de-la-Madeleine, January 1999, 76 p. #Yannick Gendron, ''Grandes gens, petites histoires, Cap-de-la-Madeleine, 1651-2001'', Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Corporation des fêtes du 350^e de Cap-de-la-Madeleine, 2001, 104 p. #''Répertoire des édifices anciens tHistorique des noms de rues de Cap-de-la-Madeleine'', Corporation des fêtes du 350^e anniversaire de Cap-de-la-Madeleine, 2001, 138 p. #Patri-Arch, ''Inventaire du patrimoine bâti de la ville de Trois-Rivières, Secteur Cap-de-la-Madeleine'', Trois-Rivières, City of Trois-Rivières, 2010, 85 pages. #''Cap-de-la-Madeleine 1673-1920 - Répertoire de mariages'', publication no. C002, published by "Le Club de généalogie de Longueuil", 1986, 105 p.

References

{{Authority control Populated places disestablished in 2002 Neighbourhoods in Trois-Rivières Former cities in Quebec BCATP Military history of Canada during World War II 1651 establishments in the French colonial empire

History

Other interesting sites

Notable people from Cap-de-la-Madeleine

Mediagraphy

See also

References