The lake appears as Lac Saint-Joseph on a 1656 map by Nicolas Sanson. In the early 19th century, it was also known by the Indigenous name Ontaritzi, and it has been called Grand lac des Vents. The name Lac Saint-Joseph became official in 1912.
The town at a glance
RCMLa Jacques-Cartier
North Shorenorthwest of Québec City
Life in Lac-Saint-Joseph
The vibe
A small, heavily wooded resort town whose homes sit mostly along the shore. In summer, the Club nautique Saint-Louis livens up the lake with water-skiing and wakeboarding.
The housing
Mostly second homes and cottages. More and more of them are becoming year-round residences.
Nearby
Station touristique Duchesnay · Club nautique Saint-Louis · Fossambault-sur-le-Lac
Good to know
The town has almost no shops, so plan to do your errands elsewhere. Most properties are second homes, and the permanent population is small.
Landmarks
- Lac Saint-Joseph
- Chemin Thomas-Maher
- Mont Sorrel
History
The history of Lac-Saint-Joseph
- 1656Lake appears on a Sanson map
- 1896First summer residents arrive
- 1912Lac Saint-Joseph name made official
- 1934Thomas Maher buys the lake lands
- 1936Town is incorporated
The railway reached the area in 1869 and encouraged sawmills to open. In 1888, the Lac Saint-Joseph railway station was at Duchesnay. Notary Cyprien Labrecque, in 1896, was one of the lake’s first vacationers.
Around 1934, Thomas Maher bought the entire shoreline of the lake’s northern basin. He built a ring road and sold the lots between the road and the shore. Within a few years, most had found buyers, and cottages multiplied.
The town was incorporated on June 10, 1936, separating from Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier. Thomas Maher was elected alderman on September 30 of that year, and the road around the lake now bears his name.
Frequently asked questions about Lac-Saint-Joseph
Where is Lac-Saint-Joseph?
Northwest of Québec City, in the La Jacques-Cartier RCM. The town borders Lac Saint-Joseph to the west, north and east, while Fossambault-sur-le-Lac occupies its southeastern part.
Where does the name Lac-Saint-Joseph come from?
The town is named after the lake it borders. The name appears on maps as early as the 17th century, and the lake has also been called Ontaritzi and Grand lac des Vents.
What is Station touristique Duchesnay?
A Sépaq resort park covering 89 km² around Lac Saint-Joseph. Visitors can hike, cross-country ski, snowshoe and canoe there, and stay at the Auberge Duchesnay or in a shelter.
How do I find an apartment for rent in Lac-Saint-Joseph?
Rental units managed by Lease Lane in Lac-Saint-Joseph will soon be listed on the site, along with the online rental application. In the meantime, Cléo can notify you as soon as a unit is posted.
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