Rimouski Ville (city) on the western part of Gaspé Peninsula in eastern Quebec, on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River. Population (2001 census) 41,549.
Rimouski is a major regional capital and is home of several institutions such as Université du Québec à Rimouski and CEGEP de Rimouski .
On May 6, 1950, Rimouski was the theater of a terrible fire that burnt to the ground some 319 houses. This event is known as "La nuit rouge" (French for the red night). The fire originated in the Price Brothers Company yard on the left shore of the Rimouski River and quickly crossed the river and spread throughout the city pushed by strong winds, destroying half of the city. No one died in the blaze. Legend has it that a priest sprinkled Holy water around the city's cathedral and that the fire stopped right then and there.
Rimouski has a rich cultural life. Each year, it hosts a jazz festival (Festi Jazz International de Rimouski) and a film festival for children (Carrousel international du film de Rimouski).
One of its main tourist attraction is the "Musée de la mer" (museum of the sea), which is centered on the Empress Of Ireland disaster and the Pointe-au-Père lighthouse.
In 2002 Rimouski amalgamated with the following communities. (2001 populations)
- Rimouski (31,305)
- Pointe-au-Père (4,171)
- Sainte-Blandine (2,218)
- Rimouski-Est (2,058)
- Sainte-Odile-sur-Rimouski (1,463)
- Mont-Lebel (334)
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