Serving the Eastern Townships English-speaking Community since 1979

The Eastern Townships covers an area of historical English settlement encompassing the old Quebec counties of Arthabaska, Brome, Compton , Drummond, Frontenac, Mégantic, Missisquoi, Stanstead, Richmond , Shefford, Sherbrooke , and Wolfe. Today, this territory of some 16,000 km² is divided into 17 MRCs (Municipalités regionales de comté) representing the administrative regions of Estrie (zone 05) and parts of Montérégie (zone 16), Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec (zone 7) and Chaudière-Appalaches (zone 12). Nine federal electoral ridings are included in the territory.

English-speaking Townshippers have always been bound together by a strong kindred spirit. Their common roots reach back to the early days of settlement two centuries ago. The region had been surveyed into townships, an English and American system of land subdivision, and the land tenure was free. This type of land subdivision and tenure distinguished the region from the rest of Quebec , contributing to a unique regional character and strong identity.

By 1861, more English-speaking people lived in the Eastern Townships than in any other region of Quebec including Montreal . By then, this population of 89,748 had succeeded in building a network of industries, schools, churches, hospitals, social service centres, and even a bank and a university. At 59% of the total provincial population, their numbers were great enough to ensure that, after Confederation, federal and provincial cabinet posts and a senatorship were held by representatives from this region.

Throughout the 1860s, however, the numbers of English-speaking Townshippers began to decline and continued into the next century. Lured here in part by a sense of adventure, the settlers began seeing their grandchildren and great grandchildren depart, with the same frontier spirit, in search of larger farms and new opportunities in western Canada and the United States . Also contributing to this exodus was the decline of Sherbrooke as the region's important business centre, and the growth of Montreal and Toronto , which were extending their spheres of influence.

During the 1800s, particularly in mid-century, French-speaking Quebecers also settled in the region. They initially came from the neighbouring seigneurial lands that bordered the Eastern Townships along the Richelieu , St. Lawrence and Chaudière Rivers . Like the New Englanders before them, these French-speaking settlers were in search of good land. And upon their arrival here, the mutual respect and accommodation that come from living side-by-side as neighbours developed between English and French-speaking Townshippers. Throughout this evolution, relations between both linguistic groups in rural areas were good, with neighbour helping neighbour regardless of language.

But the linguistic and cultural character of the region was changing. During the decade of the 1860s, the population of English-speaking Townshippers dropped to 46% of the total population. For the first time the English-speaking community had become the linguistic minority. Now, more than a century and a half later, English-speaking Townshippers represent about 6% of the total regional population.

History of the Eastern Townships

To learn all about the history and heritage of the Eastern Townships, visit Townships Heritage WebMagazine. The WebMagazine is a window onto our fascinating region, and encourages people of all ages to visit the Townships in person.

Heritage is one of the Eastern Townships' primary attractions. Townshippers’ Association has worked with organizations that specialize in preserving our heritage and with experts in the field of tourism to present a striking picture of our region. So come and explore our heritage, past and present. Let Townships Heritage WebMagazine be your guide!

Townships Heritage WebMagazine is an initiative of Townshippers' Association, and is made possible in part by the financial support of Canada Economic Development, Canadian Heritage, and other sponsors.

http://www.townshipsheritage.com/home.html