Region La Minerve

Still fairly forested and covered with many lakes, its southern portion is part of the Papineau-Labelle Wildlife Reserve. The first settler, Isaac Grégoire, arrived in 1885, and in the fall of the same year, notary Joseph Lefebvre, from Waterloo in the Eastern Townships, and some of his friends came to the area taking possession of some lots in La Minerve. Lefebvre opened a flourmill and a sawmill on the shores of Lake Desert.

The 30 January 1886 edition of La Minerve reported: "The site of the village is wonderful. At two miles away, opposite Lake Desert, is Chapleau Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in this region. There is a beautiful island of 3200 acres of land, fertile and well wooded, which belongs to the Honorable Secretary of State. There is enough to make a princely mansion and enjoy in summer all the benefits of country life and the most beautiful lakes."

In 1998, it obtained a new legal status to became the Municipality of La Minerve with a population of about 1300 inhabitants. The area is popular for cottage vacationing. In the summer, the small local population swells with nearly 15,000 tourists.