Hales Island is a small island located in the middle of the Saint Lawrence River, east of Montreal in Quebec, Canada.
The island has an area of 1.6 km² and a population of around 285 residents as of the 2017 Census. It gained some international notoriety in the late 1990s after it was discovered to be the most northerly mainland location in North America where the critically endangered Woodland Caribou still roam freely.
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History
The island was originally settled by the Odawa people in the early 1700s. It then passed through various hands before being acquired by Pierre-Henri Haldimand, 1st Baron Haldimand de La Mothe Cadillac in 1785. The island was renamed after James Henry Hale who donated it to the city of Montreal in 1874.
Since 2000, there has been a collaborative partnership between Parks Canada and USFWS , the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service to conserve Woodland Caribou on Hales Island by fencing off the island’s remaining 6 isolated herds of 50-200 animals that are free roaming across Canada, Ontario, Michigan and Ohio.
In 2008 a statue commemorating James Henry Hale was installed where he founded Montreal in 1783.
Climate
The climate is moderated by the Saint Lawrence River and is Humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfb). The annual average temperature ranges from −7.6 °C in January to 24.8 °C in July, while the annual precipitation averages 594 mm.
In 1747 the Odawa Chief “Ikwe”, and his wife, Teresa , arrived at Hales Island with their seven children. The couple met Father Louis-Pierre Thibaudeau when they heard that a missionary was coming to this area where numerous Ojibwa were living along the St. Lawrence River in Quebec (then Lower Canada).
Culture
The Odawa are an aboriginal people from the Great Lakes region who first inhabited Hales Island in the early 1700s. The island is now administered by Parks Canada as part of Parc national du Haut-Saint-Laurent.
There are a few remaining cultural attractions, such as the James Henry Hale Statue and Aboriginal Heritage Centre, which celebrates Ojibwa and First Nations culture on the island.
Politics
The island is part of the city of Montreal and is represented in the National Assembly of Quebec by Marc Garneau, a Liberal MP.
In 2004, the island became home to an 8.7 hectare (21 acre) park that featured a replica of Île aux Coudres which was founded in 1732 by James Henry Hale and has been maintained by Parks Canada since 1995 as one of Canada’s first national parks.
Uniformed rangers conduct daily tours, adults $5 per person from 9:00am–5:00pm seven days week.
Tourism
The main attraction on the island is the James Henry Hale Statue, which was erected in 1903 by Louis-Philippe to commemorate the man who first visited and explored the area.
There are also a few cultural attractions, such as the Aboriginal Heritage Centre. There is no year-round population.
There are other recreational and outdoor activities such as biking or canoeing on the Lac Saint-Pierre, hiking in Parc national du Haut St Laurent and historical (old buildings) located around Montreal.
Transport
The island is accessible by ferry from Montreal or Quebec City. The ferry terminal is located near the Bridge (Exit 24 off route 40 in Quebec City) and receives both summer traffic, with up to 20 sailings a week.
The Summer traffic goes from Hales Island towards Yeuill Island while the winter season service connects it to Parc national du Mont-Tremblant.
Cuisine
There is no cuisine specifically associated with Hales Island, however there are many restaurants located in the neighbouring municipalities of Saint-Henri– Sovereignty–Saint-Laurent and Ville de Montreal.
Hales Island is also a Francophone Chedabone village located in the Marguerite-Bourgeoys riding. Geography
Hales Island is the largest of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine group in territory but is only 2.5 km long and wide making it one that easily disappears into a sea of trees along its perimeter although some high land does exist.
Wildlife
The wildlife on the island consists primarily of ducks, geese and other waterfowl. The provincial park that surrounds Hales Island is also home to deer, moose and black bears . In the spring, you’ll also find a variety of wildflowers including dandelions, chicory and mayapples that carpet the island’s hills.
History
The original inhabitants were nomadic Native Americans who hunted on its shores for deer and helped to cultivate agricultural land in 1614 (after they first settled) called Sieur de Denys but struggled due to changes within their communities. Hales Island was eventually settled in the 17th Century by French settlers.
The island is named after Capt. John Hales who established a trading post there before he died and his wife sold it to the Crown two years later, although she remained behind living on one of its smaller closest southern points called “Grossepeche” or Little Rock).
Conclusion
Hales Island is a small uninhabited island located just off the coast of Nova Scotia in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is accessible by land only by a 4-kilometre causeway which was constructed starting in 1951 and completed in 1954.
The island is currently privately owned and operated as a bird sanctuary by the Hales family. The Hales Island Sanctuary has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
FAQ
What Is The Population Of Hales Island?
As of the 2017 Census, there are 285 residents on Hales Island. The landmass of 1.6 km² is divided between only three owners; the Government of Canada, Hales family and 15 individual residents who rent a small plot each year with Kinsmen Services Corp.
What Are The Types Of Land At Hales Island?
Land cover on Hales Island is largely forest, with about one-third used for agriculture by renters. There are more than 450 houses in the city centre area that predate 1950 and some three dozen second home sites as well.
The inhabitants of these former homes mainly reside in Greater Moncton,, New Brunswick today. No buildings have been built since 2007 due to fires spread through building materials .
What Are Some Of The Land Use Concerns On Hales Island?
When Canada purchased Little Tobique in 1855, a portion was reserved for future expansion to accommodate farms. The remainder would be “passive forest” (now known as Big Lake Ecological Reserve), open meadow and marsh habitat for nature’s diversity.
Since about 1950 it has been progressively converted into residential development of townhomes, cottages or houses . This development has occurred through the Hales Island land acquisition business, which was founded in 1972.
What Is Known As “Wildlife Habitat” Today On Hales Island?
As it currently exists, wildlife habitat comprises only 30% of what were formerly 1800 acres or 2200 hectares of Big Lake Ecological Reserve [see photo at foot].
The majority is pieced together from previously cleared woods and small privately owned lots that had been built between 1950 and 2007.
These land uses, along with many others like them are now destroying the natural ecosystem on Hales Island as well [see photo at foot].
In What Ways Is Wildlife Habitat Being Destroyed?
Development pressures vary in importance but they generally fall into three categories: (1) erosion from hilly undeveloped or lightly developed lots; (2) clearing of formerly forested areas for new development; and (3) degradation by impacts on wildlife.
These three are interrelated and unfortunately any compromise in one area inevitably affects the others as well.
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