Looking for a total change of scenery this summer? Want to feel as if you’re on the other side of the world? Then head to Îles de la Madeleine (Magdalen Islands; link in French only)—an archipelago in the middle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence comprising a dozen islands, six of which are linked by sandbars. The land area stretches across 187 square kilometres.
You can get there by plane, by boat or by car, in which case you need to catch a ferry in Souris, Prince Edward Island for the five-hour trip, but apparently, it’s really worth it!
Endless white sand beaches, red cliffs, green hills, sunsets, seafood, kites, sea kayaking and the colourful houses of Îles de la Madeleine are just some of the things that make this part of Quebec so charming. Each island has its own charm, but anyone who visits will tell you that they all have one thing in common: the warm welcome from the Madelinots.
You can count the smiles at the Îles by the thousands. In 2021, the population of Îles de la Madeleine was 12,654, up 1.4% from 2016. This included 1,415 people aged 0 to 14 years, 7,650 aged 15 to 64 years, and 3,585 aged 65 and older.
In 2021, 1,125 people reported working in the health care and social assistance sector, the highest in any sector. There were 910 people working in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and 780 people in the retail trade sector. The accommodation and food services sector employed 365 people.
Grosse-Île, Île du Havre-aux-Maisons, Île de Cap-aux-Meules and Île-du-Havre-Aubert—to name a few—await you this summer. And after you’ve roamed some of the 300 kilometres of beaches, treat yourself to some local specialties, such as lobster, cheese, clam chowder (“tchaude” aux palourdes to locals), or bagosse, also called “bière des Îles” (a local fruit wine).
Contact information
For more information, contact the Statistical Information Service (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).