The population of Notre-Dame-du-Lac is around 2200. The city is built on an amphitheatre in the middle of the Valley of Témiscouata. Until its joining with Cabano, Notre-Dame-du-Lac was the chef-lieu de la regional county municipality and the hospital, ferry, and police station of Témiscouata were located there. The arena of Notre-Dame-du-Lac is also well known as the largest and best equipped in the region.
History
First created as a parish in 1871, with the name «Détour-du-Lac», two years after the parish which received its first priest in 1861, Notre-Dame-du-Lac obtained "city" status in 1968 as a result of an adjoinment with the homonymous village established in 1949. The name «Détour-du-Lac» was given because of its geographic situation which made the place by excellence where to come alongside it and sink into the earth. On December 2, 1969, Notre-Dame-du-Lac suffered its worst disaster in history when at least 51 people were killed in an early morning fire at Repos du Viellard, a home for the elderly. Only 22 people survived the blaze, including the rest home's owner, wife and children
Adjoinment with Cabano
On 21 June 2009, the motion to join Notre-Dame-du-Lac with the neighboring city of Cabano was adopted by 70% by referendum. The latter voted favorably on the option in excess of 56%. On 5 May 2010, a decree authorizing the joining of the two cities was published in the Gazette officielle du Québec. This decree announced the holding of elections on 20 June 2010, to elect a new mayor and a new city council. While awaiting the adoption of a new permanent name, the new city was designated "Cabano–Notre-Dame-du-Lac". A referendum organized in the two former cities made the choice of Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac as the new name of the city.
Tourism
The bike trail Le Petit Témis which follows the banks of the lake reveals its lake and the island in a tour of nature. Each year, the "hotdog party" occurs on the beach of the lake.
Pont de Glace
In the winter, a bridge of ice is erected over Lake Témiscouata which allows, to vehicles as well as pedestrians, crossing the lake between Notre-Dame-du-Lac and the next parish: Saint-Juste-du-Lac. In summer, a ferry links the two banks.
Notre-Dame-du-Lac "Garden City"
Notre-Dame-du-Lac was recently named "Garden City" and has a flower emblem called "The Lady of the Lake," a variety of daylily specially designed for the occasion.
