Val-Jalbert facts for kids
Val-Jalbert is a famous ghost town located in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean area of Quebec, Canada. It's about 8 kilometers (5 miles) northwest of the town of Chambord.
This village was started in 1901 and quickly became successful because of a pulp mill built by Damase Jalbert. The mill was located right next to the powerful Ouiatchouan Falls. However, this success didn't last long. The mill suddenly closed in 1927, and everyone left the village, turning it into a ghost town.
In 1960, Val-Jalbert became a park. Today, it has more than 70 original buildings that are still standing. Many people say Val-Jalbert is the best-preserved ghost town in all of Canada.
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What's in a Name? Val-Jalbert's Story
The village was founded by a man named Damase Jalbert (1842–1904). In 1901, he also started the Ouiatchouan Pulp Company. That same year, the village was first called Saint-Georges-de-Ouiatchouan, named after the river that flows through it. Later, in 1913, another company called Chicoutimi Pulp Company renamed it Val-Jalbert to honor its founder, Damase Jalbert.
Val-Jalbert's Past: A Company Town and Ghost Town
How Val-Jalbert Became a Company Town
Val-Jalbert was built in 1901 by Damase Jalbert from Lac-Bouchette. It was located between the towns of Chambord and Roberval. Mr. Jalbert built a paper mill there to make pulp and paper. There was a big demand for newsprint (paper used for newspapers) in countries like Britain and the USA.
The location was perfect because two large waterfalls on the Ouiatchouan River could provide all the power needed for the mill's machines. One waterfall was 72 meters (236 feet) high, and the other was 35 meters (115 feet) high.
After Damase Jalbert passed away in 1904, American investors bought his company. They planned the community carefully, building different types of homes for the workers. The houses were located uphill, away from the main business area down by the mill. The company also built modern things for the time, like electricity, sewers, running water, and even telephone service in this remote area.
In 1909, Julien-Édouard-Alfred Dubuc's Chicoutimi Pulp Company bought the company and continued to develop the village. Sadly, about ten years later, the Spanish flu spread through the small community, affecting many people.
Why Val-Jalbert Became a Ghost Town
In 1927, the Quebec Pulp and Paper Mills Ltd., which had owned the mill for only a year, stopped all operations. This happened because there was less demand for the type of paper pulp they made. Many workers hoped the market would improve and stayed in town until 1929. However, the company eventually told everyone to leave and boarded up all the homes. The local priest and the nuns who taught at the school also left in September 1929.
The company went out of business in 1949. The Quebec government then took ownership of the land, buildings, and the powerful waterfalls of the former village.
Val-Jalbert as a Tourist Attraction
In the 1960s, the site was first opened to visitors by the tourism office. Later, in 1987, it was given to a parks agency called SEPAQ. Their goal was to develop the village's full potential as a tourist spot.
In 1996, the Quebec Ministry of Culture and Communications officially recognized the village as a heritage site, meaning it's important to protect its history. Today, the site is part of the municipality of Chambord.
In the 2000s, the site's management was transferred to the local government of Domaine-du-Roy. In 2009, they received a large amount of money from the Quebec and federal governments to improve the facilities. This was done to attract even more visitors each year.
The Ouiatchouan River: A Dam Project Debate
In October 2009, a group called the "Energy Community Society of Lac St-Jean" announced plans to build a new power plant. This plant would use the Ouiatchouan Falls to create electricity. They wanted to build a dam upstream from the historic mill.
Many people in Roberval and nearby areas were worried about this project. They shared their concerns during public meetings in 2012. About 75% of the comments received were against building the dam. Even though many people were against it, a report in July 2012 supported the dam project.
The historic village of Val-Jalbert is a very popular place for tourists in the Lac St-Jean region. Many visitors come specifically to see its beautiful waterfall. The company planning the dam said they would make sure a certain amount of water would still flow over the falls during the day in summer. However, this amount was much less than what tourists were used to seeing. At night and during the six winter months, even less water would flow, which worried many people who wanted to protect the natural beauty of the falls.
Groups like the Coalition to Safeguard Ouiatchouan Val-Jalbert (CSOV) and the Fondation Rivières spoke out against the project. They wanted to protect the Ouiatchouan River and its falls. Despite their efforts, the Quebec government approved the construction of the power plant and dam in December 2012.
In early 2013, a survey showed that more than half of the people in the Lac St-Jean area were against the dam project. Even though a government minister stopped other similar dam projects, the Val-Jalbert one was allowed to continue, which upset many who opposed it. Construction on the power station began in February 2013. Another survey found that most people wanted to stop or pause the construction.
The Innu people of the Masteuiatsh community were also concerned. They filed a petition because they felt they had not been properly consulted about the project. Some activists even tried to block construction by barricading themselves in tourist cabins, but they were arrested. The debate about the dam project continued to be a big topic in the area.
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See also
In Spanish: Val-Jalbert para niños
