Gatineau << gah tee NOH >> (pop. 291,041) is a sprawling industrial city in southern Quebec. It lies on the Ottawa River. Ottawa, Canada’s capital, faces Gatineau across the river. Gatineau was first created in 1975 through a merger of seven communities. In 2002, Gatineau merged with the nearby municipalities of Aylmer, Buckingham, Hull, and Masson-Angers.
The area that makes up Gatineau was once primarily a center for the production of paper and lumber. But in the 1970’s, the federal government moved some departments and agencies from Ottawa to the Gatineau area. Today, the provincial and federal governments employ much of Gatineau’s work force. The Université du Québec (University of Quebec) has a campus in the city. Gatineau hosts a major hot-air balloon festival each fall. The city has a small airport.
See Ottawa.
