Saint-Casimir is a municipality located in Portneuf RCM, Capitale-Nationale region, Quebec, Canada. It is bathed by Sainte-Anne (Les Chenaux), Blanche (Saint-Casimir), Noire (Sainte-Anne River tributary) and Niagarette rivers.

Historical Notes

St. Casimir (BAnQ 2645733).jpg First named Rapide-de-la-Rivière-Sainte-Anne, because of the numerous rapids of the river (around 1835), the name Saint-Casimir pays tribute to Joseph-Casimir Dury or Duret, notary of Sainte-Anne -de-la-Pérade, who provided a large sum of money to build, in 1898 and 1899, the Catholic church of the parish Sacred Heart of Jesus. The pioneers of Saint-Casimir arrived around 1721, to exploit the forest riches. At the beginning of the 19th century, new settlers came from Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade and Grondines. The post office opened in 1852.

Floods and Ice Jam

At the Park of the statue of the Virgin, built in 1972, on the boat-shaped structure at the tip of Grandbois Island, a high water mark bathes in the waters of the rivers combined, these markers remind us of the power of the blows water. From memory: When the dark line is no longer visible, there is water in the basements! The Sainte-Anne, Noire and Niagarette rivers cross the heart of Saint-Casimir. The village has a rich history of struggles against the overflowing of these rivers. On the banks, the built heritage bears witness to coexistence with floods and ice jam. In the summer of 1973, a wave on the Niagarette River devastated a small area, where it joins the Sainte-Anne River. A few houses were destroyed by the powerful water wave, due to strong rain, and debris that blocked the small river for a few hours.

Saint-Casimir Church

Monumental and grandiloquent, the catholique Saint-Casimir Church occupies a central position in the village. It faces the iron bridge that spans the Sainte-Anne River, clearly visible from both banks. Built in 1898 by the architect Joseph-Georges Bussières, the church is located in an institutional complex composed of the former presbytery, the former convent and the former parish hall. The impeccable state of authenticity of the main building gives it an exceptional heritage value.

Trou du Diable (Devil's Hole)

The Trou du Diable, the second largest cave in Quebec, with a little over a kilometer of underground galleries, is located northeast of the village of Saint-Casimir, in the Portneuf Regional Natural Park. From mid-May to the beginning of December, the Portneuf Regional Natural Park offers two routes: discovery and educational visits, for a fee. The tourist route, lasting 1h30, is intended to be an introduction to caving accessible to all. The adventure course, lasting 3 hours, is more difficult to access and physically demanding. The Jean Lamarre section is done by crawling in a wet and muddy space, under a very low ceiling, to end on all fours parts with water up to your neck. The adventure provides a wave of emotions and a good swim. Humidity 100%.

Human Interest

On the morning of 22 March 1997, five members of the Order of the Solar Temple died in a mass suicide in Saint-Casimir. A small house exploded into flames, leaving behind five charred bodies for the police to pull from the rubble. Three teenagers, the children of one of the couples who died in the fire, were discovered in a shed behind the house, alive but heavily drugged.

Demographics

Population trend: Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 670 (total dwellings: 736) Mother tongue: