Yamachiche

Yamachiche is a municipality in Quebec located between the Yamachiche and Petite Yamachiche rivers in the regional county municipality of Maskinongé in the administrative region of Mauricie.

Colonized from 1702, the municipality of Yamachiche was known for its wireless telegraph station which was used for communication between America and Europe. It was also a trading post for fur traders.

The toponym was first used to designate the Yamachiche River. Of Native American origin, it means (muddy river).

Even today, an eternal debate takes place in Yamachiche and the Quebec government as to whether the Y should be considered vocally as a vowel or a consonant. In other words, should we say “the municipality of Yamachiche” or “the municipality of Yamachiche”.

The original name of the colony was Sainte-Anne-d'Yamachiche, partly justifying the controversy.

Despite the advice of linguists and specialists in the field, on June 16, 1980, elected officials made the decision to use elision in the official name of the municipality.