which remains part of Mont-Laurier. Geography In addition to Mont-Laurier, the municipality also consists of the following population centres: Lac-Gatineau, Saint-Jean-sur-le-Lac, and Val-Limoges. Mont-Laurier is located on the banks of the Rivière du Lièvre, a tributary of the Ottawa River, about from the river delta. Its location in the Laurentians places it at an altitude of 244 metres above mean sea level. It is surrounded by numerous lakes and mixed forests that support hunting, fishing and leisure, and the mainstay logging industry. Mont-Laurier is located roughly at the halfway point of the major roadway from Montreal to Abitibi, Route 117, about northwest of Montreal. Route 309 follows the Lievre and leads to Gatineau, Quebec and Ottawa, Ontario, to the south. Climate Mont-Laurier has a humid continental climate (Dfb). It is strongly influenced by its inland position, with significant differences between the warm summers and the very cold winters. Precipitation is high year-round, causing significant snow cover in winter. Demographics In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Mont-Laurier 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 (prior to amalgamation): Population in 2001: Des Ruisseaux: 5401 Mont-Laurier: 7365 Population in 1996: Des Ruisseaux: 5139 Mont-Laurier: 8007 Population in 1991: Des Ruisseaux: 4449 Mont-Laurier: 7862 Mother tongue: English as first language: 0.2% French as first language: 98.5% English and French as first language: 0.1% Other as first language: 1.2% Economy Mont-Laurier is the administrative and commercial centre of the Haute-Lievre area. Many residents are employed by the various governments, the schools and the hospital. Most of the economic activity is generated by tourism, road transport and forestry. There is some agriculture, mostly dairy farming, and dairy products manufacturing. Local government Michel Adrien, a black immigrant to Canada from Haiti, was elected mayor in 2003 with an 80% majority (in a town where more than 95% of the population are Caucasian, and less than 1% of the population are Black Canadians). With no opponent running against him, Adrien was reelected through acclamation in 2005, 2007 and 2009. In addition to a mayoral leader, the municipality is governed by a city council. Former mayors List of former mayors: Michel Adrien (2003–2017) Daniel Bourdon (2017–present) Notable people Sylvain Pagé, member of L'Assemblée nationale du Québec