Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon

Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon is a municipality in the D'Autray Regional County Municipality in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada.

History
The first settlers, mostly Irish and Scottish Loyalists, came around 1825 to the shores of Lake Maskinongé, where they formed a community that was known as Lake Maskinongé Settlement by 1827, and later as the Mission of Lac-Maskinongé. In 1837, the name Saint-Gabriel-du-Lac-Maskinongé came in use but was changed to Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon in 1840. This name refers to the angel Gabriel and the geographic township of Brandon that was proclaimed in 1827 and in which it is located.

In 1851, the Parish of Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon was founded and the post office opened that same year. In 1855, the parish municipality was established with the same name.

In 1892, the main settlement on Lake Maskinongé separated from the parish municipality and became the Village Municipality of Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon (now known as the Town of Saint-Gabriel).

On June 14, 2014, Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon changed from parish municipality to a (regular) municipality.

Demographics
Population trend:
 * Population in 2021: 2,684 (2016 to 2021 population change: 1.9%)
 * Population in 2016: 2,635
 * Population in 2011: 2,679
 * Population in 2006: 2,800
 * Population in 2001: 2,590
 * Population in 1996: 2,608
 * Population in 1991: 2,161
 * Population in 1986: 2,042
 * Population in 1981: 1,758
 * Population in 1976: 1,519
 * Population in 1971: 1,304
 * Population in 1966: 1,225
 * Population in 1961: 1,184
 * Population in 1956: 903
 * Population in 1951: 1,026
 * Population in 1941: 936
 * Population in 1931: 923
 * Population in 1921: 1,170
 * Population in 1911: 1,960
 * Population in 1901: 2,154
 * Population in 1891: 3,735
 * Population in 1881: 3,454
 * Population in 1871: 4,199
 * Population in 1861: 3,962

Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 1,304 (total dwellings: 1,585)

Mother tongue:
 * English as first language: 0.7%
 * French as first language: 97.0%
 * English and French as first language: 0.9%
 * Other as first language: 1.3%

Education
The Commission scolaire des Samares operates francophone public schools:
 * École secondaire Bermon

The Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board operates anglophone public schools, including:
 * Joliette Elementary School in Saint-Charles-Borromée
 * Joliette High School in Joliette