This municipality with a very long name was founded following the administrative restructuring of the township. The community became a distinct municipality on June 30, 1906 by an order of the Lieutenant Governor, separating it from the northern part of the Township, which has today become the municipality of St. André de Restigouche.
St. Fidèle de Restigouche was separated from the municipality on October 6, 1936 to become a distinct municipality. Prior to that, the municipality encompassed the communities of Sillarsville, Broadlands, Kempt Road, New Glasgow and St. Fidèle. Because St. Fidèle occupied the northeastern part of the township, our municipality took the name « The South East part of the Townships of Ristigouche» because of its geographic location. During the 1980s, after the adoption of Bill 101, the Commission de toponymie du Québec (toponymy commission) gave the municipality a french language version of its name. The township of Restigouche is bordered to the north by the Assemetquagan Township and to the east by the Mann township, to the south by the Restigouche River and to the west by the Matapedia Township. As throughout most of Canada, the area was host to various periods of immigration from different ethnic groups. Today, we can see the English, French, Acadian, Scottish and Irish heritage in the surnames of today's residents. History buffs and genealogy enthusiasts are invited to visit the website of Wendy Cosper, at www.restigouchekemptroad.net where old documents can be viewed and each tombstone at the Kempt road cemetery has been photographed. |
