Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Matagami had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.

Population trend:

  • Population in 2021: 1,526 (2016 to 2021 population change: −3.5%)
  • Population in 2016: 1,555
  • Population in 2011: 1,526
  • Population in 2006: 1,555
  • Population in 2001: 1,939
  • Population in 1996: 2,243
  • Population in 1991: 2,467
  • Population in 1986: 2,738
  • Population in 1981: 3,794
  • Population in 1976: 4,043
  • Population in 1971: 2,411
  • Population in 1966: 2,244

Mother tongue:

  • English as first language: 1.8%
  • French as first language: 94.6%
  • English and French as first language: 0.7%
  • Other as first language: 2.1%

Economy

The two primary employers in the city are Xstrata and Domtar. Domtar has been in Matagami since 1988 when the company bought out Bisson & Bisson.

Xstrata entered Matagami in 2006 when it acquired Falconbridge Ltd. In 2008, Xstrata put Perseverance, a zinc-copper volcanogenic massive sulfide ore deposit, into production. Perseverance has a mine life of 5.5 years. Since 1957 ten deposits, including the world class Matagami Lake deposit (25.6 million tonnes grading 8.2% Zn, 0.56% Cu, 20.91 g/t Ag, 0.41 g/t Au), have been discovered and mined out for a total of "44.4 million tonnes with a similar average grade."

Further exploration is continuing in the camp through a 50–50 joint venture agreement between Xstrata and Donner Metals. In late 2008, Donner Metals Ltd. announced that Xstrata Zinc Canada was in the process of completing a scoping study at their jointly owned Bracemac-McLeod property. It is the nearest city to the Lac Doré Vanadium Deposit.

The community is also one of the distribution points for goods and services to the James Bay Hydroelectric Project. As well, Matagami has a small tourism industry due to the popularity of fishing and hunting in northern Quebec. Hotel Matagami and motel caribou include full-service bars.

Government

Police and crime

Policing in Matagami is done by the Surete du Quebec.

Media

Matagami is served by a community radio station, CHEF-FM, as well as by a rebroadcaster of Première Chaîne's CHLM-FM.

Notable people

  • Marianne Limpert, won the silver medal in the 200m Individual Medley at the 1996 Summer Olympics, born in Matagami
  • Lorne Stamler, former NHL Hockey Player, graduated from Galinee High School in Matagami, Quebec, in 1969

References

  • Ville de Matagami
  • Xstrata Zinc Matagami
  • Donner Metals Ltd.
  • Domtar Matagami