Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac

Understand

This municipality has a territory of 155.5 square kilometres (60.0 sq mi) where 438 inhabitants reside. The municipality is split into two by the Saint-Maurice river. Its economy is supported by the forestry industry and recreational tourism activities.

Economy In Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac, the lumber industry has been dominant in local history. Excluding the current Arbec sawmill, there are eight sawmills in local history: Moulin JA Rouleau, Moulin Georges Vaugeois Fils, Moulin Michel Matthieu, Scierie GL, Moulin Clément Trudel, Moulin Camille Mongrain, Moulin Groleau & Fils and the sawmill Gérard Crête & Fils. Route 155 linking Grand-Mère to La Tuque generates significant traffic, especially in summer. Consequently, jobs are turning to the offer of recreational tourism activities (vacationing, hunting & fishing, mountain biking, snowmobiling, swimming, camping, etc.).

History Bishop F.-X. Laflèche, bishop of the diocese of Trois-Rivières, visited on August 16, 1887, the site of Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac. The canonical erection took place on August 5, 1905. The civil erection was promulgated in 1905 by detaching part of the territory of Saint-Jean-des-Piles. The territory of Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac covers part of the former seigneury of Batiscan and the canton of Radnor. The first settlers' settlements date from 1880. According to the 1887 accounts of Father Napoléon Caron, a great 19th-century traveller in remote corners of the Mauricie, the Mékinac mission already numbered 131 souls and 25 families, including three heads of family designated farmer. The locality of Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac proved to be a relay station for the transport of provisions and goods on human backs. The first boarding house in the village was near the mouth of the Mékinac river (it is now Auberge Mékinac). In the past, the Saint-Maurice River was the only outward traffic route. Nevertheless, the development at the end of the 19th century of the road between Saint-Tite and Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac

Getting there

The village of Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac is accessible by road, snowmobile, all terrain vehicles or by river.

By car From Montreal (200 km (120 mi). Time: 2 hr 15 min. take highway 40 (north shore) eastbound, to Trois-Rivières; take highway 55 (northbound) to Grand-Mère, which becomes route 155 and then cross the Saint-Maurice river bridge; take road 155, to the village of Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac. From Quebec City (145 km (90 mi). Time: 1 hr 50 min. Take highway 40 west; take road 359 (northbound) passing through the village of Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes, then Lac-à-la-Tortue; then take route 153 (eastbound); take road 155 (northbound), crossing the villages of Grandes-Piles up to the village of Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac.

Getting around

Charging station for electric vehicle 1 Bornes de recharge - Camping Marina Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac, 501, route Ducharme (route 155). Charging stations installed on the site of the municipal campsite and marina. (updated Oct 2021)

See

1 Parc du Moulin (Church of Saint-Joseph-de-Mékinac). Park located between the east bank of the Saint-Maurice river and the Ducharme road (route 155), that is to say north of the village of Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac. (updated Oct 2021)

Do

1 Marina municipale de Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac (Municipal marina of Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac), 501, rue Ducharme, ☏ +1 819-646-5500. Rental service for water sports equipment. free. (updated Oct 2021)

Scenic routes Route panoramique Saint-Tite-Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac (Panoramic road Saint-Tite-Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac) (from the intersection of route 153 and route 159 in Saint-Tite). 14:00. From the intersection of routes 153 and 159, west of the village of Saint-Tite, take Chemin du Haut du Lac Sud (north-west). Visitors then walk along the meandering part of the Rivière des Envies, that is to say the old Kapibouska lake which flooded this area because of beaver dams, until the end of the 19th century. Visitors can make a stop (by appointment at +1 418-365-6728) at the "Musée Souvenirs d'autrefois" (museum memories of yesteryear), 240, route 159 (Haut du Lac Sud), Saint-Tite. Then the road spans the Mékinac du Sud River (starting at Tavibois, Hérouxville), then the Mékinac du Nord river. After the agricultural zone, the resort has developed along the Mékinac du Nord river which originates at Lake Roberge, in the municipality of Grandes-Piles. On Chemin Petite Mékinac, visitors then walk along the magnificent Lac Roberge, whose mountains opposite reach 417 m. This lake receives the Castor river (coming from Saint-Thècle) and the discharge of the second Roberge lake. The mountainous and forest scenery of this wild and encaved valley is splendid, particularly in the season of colorful trees. Visitors then cross the intersection of Chemin du lac Fontaine (resort lake); this road joins Chemin Joseph St-Amand in Sainte-Thècle and Lac du Jésuite (resort lake). Opposite this intersection, it is the start of Chemin du lac des îles and very close to Chemin du Lac Clair. The national trail arrives in this area at Route 159. Continuing on Route 159, visitors enter Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac and follow Second Lac Roberge and Lac Méduse. Finally, visitors arrive at the village of Saint-Roc

Eat

There are no restaurants in Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac. Saint-Tite, which is 19 km southeast on Route 159, has several to choose from.

Sleep

Camping 1 Camping municipal et Marina Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac, 501, route Ducharme, ☏ +1 819-646-5500, +1 819-646-4635, [email protected]. Campsite offering 200 sites fitted out for tents, trailers, fifth-wheelers or motorized vehicles. Located along the Saint-Maurice river. (updated Oct 2021)

Outfitter Although located in the municipality of Trois-Rives, this accommodation is only accessible via Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac.

2 Domaine Batchelder, chemin du domaine Bachelder, Trois-Rives (road at km 32 of route 155), ☏ +1 819-531-1057. Outfitter offering eight private cabins with a capacity of 2 to 8 people, and a community chalet with a capacity of 25 people. Vacationers can fish for speckled trout on 10 lakes; boats provided. Main activities: bow and firearm hunting, hiking, mountain biking, water sports, canoeing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. (updated Oct 2021)

Chalet, gîte, inn 3 Chalet la Sainte-Paix, chalet le St-Roch, 2321, route Ducharme (route 155), ☏ +1 819-386-5304, [email protected]. Chalet located in front of the Saint-Maurice river. (updated Oct 2021) 4 Chalet Le Repère, 2565, route Ducharme, ☏ +1 418-931-0107, [email protected]. Luxury chalet located by the river, facing the Parc de la Mauricie. Private dock. Landing stage nearby. Kayak provided. Water activities. Capacity: up to 12 people. (updated Oct 2021) 5 Chez la famille Mongrain, 1126, rue Principale, ☏ +1 438-877-0503, [email protected]. Century house in the village of Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac. Large terrace, outdoor furniture, bar and kitchen with barbecue (gas or briquette). (updated Oct 2021) 6 Gîte de la Maison sous les arbres (Cottage of the Hous