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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Field Notes • Canada Places

Matane

Matane is a city in eastern Quebec, Canada, on the south shore of the St.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Matane is a city in eastern Quebec, Canada, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River estuary at the mouth of the Matane River. It serves as the seat of the La Matanie Regional County Municipality and functions as a regional service, transport, and industrial centre.

What it is

Matane is a mid-sized city in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, commonly described as a gateway to the Gaspé Peninsula. Its name is generally traced to a Mi'kmaq term meaning “beaver pond.” Statistics Canada reported a population of 18,474 in the 2021 Census.

Why it matters

Matane has long been a transportation and commercial centre, with a pulp-shipping port and rail-ferry connections. Its economy historically included lumbering, woodworking, furniture making, flour milling, tanning, and fishing. Today, it remains a regional port and service centre, with fisheries such as shrimp and salmon important in the surrounding area.

Key details

The city lies on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River estuary at the mouth of the Matane River. It is the seat of the La Matanie Regional County Municipality. Early Indigenous use of the area was followed by French contact and gradual settlement linked to fishing and agriculture, with stronger growth later from forestry and forest-product industries.

In short

  • Matane is a city in eastern Quebec on the St. Lawrence River estuary, serving as a regional hub.
  • Its name likely comes from a Mi'kmaq word meaning “beaver pond.”
  • The economy has historically centred on port activity, forestry, and fishing.
  • Population was 18,474 in the 2021 Census.
Canadian angle

Matane is a Quebec city of interest to Canadian readers as a regional centre in Bas-Saint-Laurent and a gateway to the Gaspé Peninsula, with ties to Quebec’s coastal economy, transportation network, and maritime tourism.[1][5][7]

Quick questions

Where is Matane located?
Matane is in eastern Quebec on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River estuary, at the mouth of the Matane River.
What is Matane known for?
It is known as a regional port and service centre, and for fisheries such as shrimp and salmon in the surrounding area.
What is the origin of the name Matane?
The name is commonly linked to a Mi'kmaq word meaning “beaver pond.”

Sources

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/place/Matane
    Supports: Location, regional role, economy, and historical industries.
  2. The Canadian Encyclopedia — https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/matane
    Supports: History, name origin, settlement, economy, and civic role.
  3. Statistics Canada — https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/3365-matane-quebec-gateway-gaspe
    Supports: 2021 population and gateway-to-Gaspé description.
  4. Ville de Matane — https://www.ville.matane.qc.ca/ma-ville/decouvrir-matane/a-propos-de-matane/
    Supports: Local description, regional role, and approximate population.
  5. Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matane
    Supports: MRC seat and regional placement, used cautiously as secondary support.