1. Abitibi / Outaouais
2. CÔte-Nord
3. Eastern Ontario
4. Estrie (Eastern townships)
5. GaspÉsie / New Brunswick
6. Laurentians / LanaudiÈre
7. Laval / Rive-Nord
8. Mauricie / Bois-Franc
9. MontÉrÉgie / Rive-Sud
10. Montreal Region
11. QuÉbec City/ Charlevoix
12. Saguenay / Lac Saint-Jean
Where we serve
Saguenay / Lac Saint-Jean
History:
The history of this vast region dates back to 1535, when Jacques Cartier first sailed up the great Saguenay fjord from the St. Lawrence River. Cartier called the region, "The Kingdom of the Saguenay." Many years later Pierre Chauvin established the first fur trading post in North America at present day Tadoussac.
Population:
The region boasts a population of 300,000 of which 130,000 live in the twin cities of Chicoutimi/Jonquière. The people of the region are gracious, hospitable, spontaneous and deeply independent. They are affectionately called "Bleuets" (blueberries), because of the abundance of the little berries that cover much of the breath-taking landscape of wild rivers and lakes.
Economy:
The fur trade dominated the region’s economy for over 200 years, but eventually the "kingdom" was colonized and industrialized. The main activities relate to the pulp and paper industry, hydroelectric development and aluminum factories in the upper Saguenay.
Ministry:
There are five French Fellowship Baptist churches in the region. They are located in Saint-Félicien (11,000), Alma (31,000), Jonquière (57,000), Chicoutimi (64,000) and Chibougamau, further north. All the churches in this region grew out of the Saint-Félicien/Roberval work that was planted by Gabriel and Nita Cotnoir in the 1970s. The church in Chibougamau was started in the same decade by John and Lise Francis. In June 2007, they moved back to the mining town of Chibougamau in an effort to revitalize the church that had been without a pastor for many years.
Missionaries serving in this region:
John and Lise Francis