Chibougamau

Chibougamau, population 7500 (2011), is the largest regional centre in Northern Quebec. It was founded as a mining village in 1950, and was incorporated as a municipality in 1954.

History
The area has long been part of the Cree First Nation (Indigenous) territory (the Cree call themselves "Néhinaw" or "Néhiyaw"). It was in the early 17th century that French explorers and traders, including Charles Albanel in 1671, came to the Lake Chibougamau area. However, no permanent European settlements were established at that time.

In the late 19th century, the area attracted the interest of mining prospectors. When gold was discovered in 1903, there were periods of intense exploration. Due to difficulty of access, no lasting development took place until 1949 when copper was exploited, with the opening of a multi-metallic mine in the area. A permanent community was established in 1952. Chibougamau started out as a company town but soon after, in 1954, it was incorporated as a municipality. Many mines have exploited the area since. While still thought of as a mining town, Chibougamau is now also the centre of a large logging and sawmill industry.

By car
From southern Québec, the general route to Chibougamau-Chapais is Route 167 from Lac St-Jean, from where it is possible to travel to Trois-Rivières via Shawinigan and Roberval on Route 155. Western Québec and Ontario are connected to Chibougamau by Route 113, connecting to Route 117 at Louvicourt near Val-d'Or. Both routes are paved and have a speed limit of 90 km/h.

The North Road (Route du Nord), an isolated gravel road, connects Chibougamau to the James Bay Road (Route de la Baie-James).

By bus

 * Operates a bus route two days per week between Val-d'Or and Chibougamau including a stop in Senneterre. Travel time to Chibougamau from Val d'Or is 6 hours and from Senneterre is 4.75 hours. From Val d'Or, there is a route that travels to Montreal and Rouyn-Noranda.

Get around
There is no public transport in Chibougamau. There are two local taxi services on 3rd Street:

See

 * Cree communities: Chibougamau is the largest regional centre to visit the aboriginal Cree communities of Oujé-Bougoumou (47 km west) and Mistissini (86 km north). Oujé-Bougoumou was designed by renowned Canadian architect Douglas Cardinal, who designed the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Québec, and has received UNESCO recognition as a model community due to sustainable development practices and cultural preservation.
 * Wildlife abounds. Bears are sometimes visible at the municipal dump.

Do

 * Snowmobile trails lead across the province, from Rouyn-Noranda through Chibougamau to the Saguenay.
 * Snowmobile trails lead across the province, from Rouyn-Noranda through Chibougamau to the Saguenay.
 * Snowmobile trails lead across the province, from Rouyn-Noranda through Chibougamau to the Saguenay.
 * Snowmobile trails lead across the province, from Rouyn-Noranda through Chibougamau to the Saguenay.
 * Snowmobile trails lead across the province, from Rouyn-Noranda through Chibougamau to the Saguenay.
 * Snowmobile trails lead across the province, from Rouyn-Noranda through Chibougamau to the Saguenay.
 * Snowmobile trails lead across the province, from Rouyn-Noranda through Chibougamau to the Saguenay.
 * Snowmobile trails lead across the province, from Rouyn-Noranda through Chibougamau to the Saguenay.
 * Snowmobile trails lead across the province, from Rouyn-Noranda through Chibougamau to the Saguenay.

Eat
All of the following restaurants are located on 3e rue.

Drink
All of the below bars are on 3e rue.
 * Le Rendez-Vous at the Hôtel Chibougamau typically attracts a large aboriginal crowd. Pool table and gaming machines.
 * Le CabArrêt is the local strip club.
 * Le Rendez-Vous at the Hôtel Chibougamau typically attracts a large aboriginal crowd. Pool table and gaming machines.
 * Le CabArrêt is the local strip club.
 * Le CabArrêt is the local strip club.

Sleep
All of the following accommodations are located on 3e rue (Route 167):