Val-d'Or facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Val-d'Or
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City
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Val-d'Or city
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Location within La Vallée-de-l'Or RCM
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 Val-d'Or
Location in Western Quebec
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Abitibi-Témiscamingue |
| RCM | La Vallée-de-l'Or |
| Constituted | January 1, 2002 |
| Area | |
| • City | 3,979.63 km2 (1,536.54 sq mi) |
| • Land | 3,536.84 km2 (1,365.58 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 25.17 km2 (9.72 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 3,539.98 km2 (1,366.79 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 306 m (1,004 ft) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • City | 32,752 |
| • Density | 9.3/km2 (24/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 25,473 |
| • Urban density | 1,011.9/km2 (2,621/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 34,037 |
| • Metro density | 9.6/km2 (25/sq mi) |
| • Pop (2016-21) |  0.8% |
| • Dwellings | 15,884 |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| Postal code(s) |
J9P
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| Area code(s) | 819/873 |
| Highways |  Route 111  Route 113  Route 117 (TCH)  Route 397 |
Val-d'Or is a city in Quebec, Canada. Its name means "Golden Valley" or "Valley of Gold" in French. In 2021, about 32,752 people lived there. The city is in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, close to the La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve. The local Algonquin name for the town is Ozawaconia Odena.
Contents
History of Val-d'Or
Gold Discovery and Mining
Gold was first found in this area in 1923. This is why the city is called "Valley of Gold." Even today, gold is still mined here. Other important metals like copper, zinc, and lead are also found. These metals are usually in rocks that formed from ancient volcanoes under the sea. These rocks are over 2.7 billion years old!
Local Attractions and Sports
Val-d'Or is famous for its many parks, bike paths, and forests. You can visit the Cité de l'Or, also known as the City of Gold. There's also the old mining village of Bourlamaque. Both of these places became official historic sites in 1979.
The city hosted the Quebec Games in 1987. Val-d'Or has a junior hockey team called the Val-d'Or Foreurs. They play in the QMJHL. The Foreurs have won the league championship three times: in 1998, 2001, and 2014. Their mascot is named Dynamit, after the dynamite used in mining.
Val-d'Or was once home to CFS Val-d'Or, a base for the Canadian Forces.
City Growth and Mergers
On January 1, 2002, Val-d'Or grew bigger. It merged with the nearby towns of Dubuisson, Sullivan, Val-Senneville, and Vassan.
Geography of Val-d'Or
Val-d'Or sits on the Canadian Shield, which is a large area of ancient rock. It is about 1100 feet (330 meters) above sea level. Even though its name means "valley," the city is actually on a wide, mostly flat plain.
The city is part of a large water system. To the north is Lake Blouin, which is where the Harricana River starts. To the south is Baie Carrière, a reservoir that feeds the Ottawa River.
People of Val-d'Or
In 2021, the city of Val-d'Or had a population of 32,752 people. This was a small increase of 0.8% from 2016. Most people in Val-d'Or speak French (93.3%). A smaller number of people speak English (2.6%).
Economy of Val-d'Or
Major Industries
Air Creebec, a regional airline, has its main office in Val-d'Or. The Val-d'Or Airport is an important hub for them.
Val-d'Or is very close to the Abitibi gold belt. This area has produced a lot of gold since the 1930s. Mining gold is a big part of the city's economy.
In 2012, a lithium mine near Val-d'Or reopened. It had been an underground mine before, but now it's an open pit mine. Lithium is used in batteries for many devices.
Transportation and Education
A Canadian National Railway line goes through Val-d'Or. The Val-d'Or station used to serve passenger trains.
Local bus services are available within Val-d'Or. You can also take intercity buses to other towns through Autobus Maheux.
For schooling, there are French-language public schools run by the Centre de services scolaire de l'Or-et-des-Bois. The Western Quebec School Board runs English-language public schools. The city also has campuses for college (Cégep de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue) and university (UQAT).
Media in Val-d'Or
Most TV and radio stations in Val-d'Or also serve the nearby city of Rouyn-Noranda. Even though the cities are far apart, many stations have transmitters in both places. This means people in both cities can enjoy the same news and entertainment.
Notable People from Val-d'Or
- Yolette Lévy – Politician and activist
- Serge Aubin – Hockey player
- Dany Bédar – Musician and singer
- Pierre Brassard – Actor and comedian
- Lucien Cliche – Politician
- Boom Desjardins – Singer
- Raôul Duguay – Singer and poet
- Sophie Dupuis – Director
- Robin L'Houmeau – Actor
- Anthony Mantha – Hockey player
- Dany Sabourin – Hockey player
- Diane Tell – Singer
- Pierre Yergeau – Writer
Images for kids
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Val-d'Or city
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Location within La Vallée-de-l'Or RCM
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Open pit mine in Val-d'Or. Mining forms a major part of its economy.
See also
In Spanish: Val-d'Or para niños
