^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Highway of Energy (Quebec, Canada)

Mauricie, Centre-du-Québec

image by Olivier Touzeau, 7 September 2011

Description of the flag

See also:

Description of the flag

On October 19th 2010, the regions of Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec unveiled a flag designed to promote the highway of Energy and clearly identify the area served by the highway, with the motto "Au coeur des énergies" (in the heart of energies).

As stated by the press release about the new flag, source: http://www.uqtr.ca/media/Comm2010/Octobre/drapeaux_autoroute_energie.pdf:

"Several municipalities, businesses, organizations and economic institutions have raised the new flag in their respective communities. The area affected by this initiative spreads throughout the course of the highway of Energy from Shawinigan to Sainte-Eulalie, even stretching north to the town of La Tuque. The authors of this project are two citizens of the region: Jacques Begin, Acting Director of the partnership and support to the academic development of the University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières (UQTR), and Donald M. Angers, Director of Business Development and Networking Center of Excellence in Energy Efficiency of Shawinigan."

"Dedicated to the development of the region, in connection with the energies, the two men wanted to do their part by launching this flag project which aims to be gathering people and to be promotional. Requested by these visionaries, leaders of the UQTR have decided to support this initiative through active involvement in the project."

" 'As a partner in regional development, we felt it was important that the UQTR involved in this company and allowed it to materialize, according to Lucie Guillemette, vice-president for graduate studies and research of the UQTR. We congratulate and thank all participants who proudly display since this morning, the colors of the large region in the heart energy. We hope that this deployment has a positive impact and raises the advent of several projects in the Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec, in the energy sector. Our university is also particularly affected by this industry, especially since we conduct research in the areas of hydrogen, renewable energy and biomass.' "

"By deploying these flags, the project sponsors also encourage regional actors to highlight their initiatives related to energy or energy efficiency. 'The projects will be publicized on the occasion of Day of Energy Efficiency to be held on June 21, the longest day of the year when solar energy is at its maximum. This date was also chosen to celebrate the birthday of the new flag. We want to bring people and the region around a mobilizing project related to energy, to encourage innovation and stimulate networking', says MM. Begin and Angers."

"Graphic elements making up the new flag were chosen to reflect the theme of "the heart of energy." The green color refers to the earth, ecology. The color red symbolizes the fire and color blue represents water and gas. The wave at the center of the flag refers to several concepts: wave of energy, technology wave, backbone of the economy and evolutionary movement. Finally, the slogan "in the heart of energies" is highlighted in the lower portion of the flag. "

"In June 2009, the section of Highway 55 located between Shawinigan and Saint-Eulalie was called "Highway of Energy", with the approval of the entire regional community. For the deployment of new flags identifiers, developers wanted to expand the territory "in the heart of energies" to La Tuque. 'Our region is unique in Canada, says Mr. Bégin. Nowhere else in the country, one can find many sources of energy on such a small territory, spanning some 200 km. In fact, our path of energy has seven different energy sources. In Becancour, there is a nuclear power plant and production of silicon for solar panels. South Shore also benefits from the presence of natural gas. In Trois-Rivières, UQTR illustrated in the field of hydrogen and Marmen company produces wind turbines. For its part, the city of Shawinigan is the cradle of Canadian hydropower, while the town of La Tuque has enormous potential of forest biomass. We should be proud of these strengths, develop and promote them to our visitors. The launch of new flags is intended as a step in that direction.' "

"So far, the flag project "in the heart of energies" has received formal support of the regional conference of elected officials of the Mauricie region and the regional conference of elected officials of Centre-du-Québec. The flags were sold in several participating municipalities, the number is growing. In the world of education, colleges and school boards, as well as UQTR, joined the project, which also receives an enthusiastic welcome from the business. All chambers adjacent to the highway of Energy have also raised the new flag."

Olivier Touzeau, 7 September 2011