Eeyou Istchee Baie‑James, QC
For most people, Baie‑James is synonymous with three things: wide‑open spaces, the boreal forest and large hydropower projects. You probably remember hearing about the construction of one such project, the La Grande complex, which took place from 1970 to 2000.
I’m less powerful than my four sisters, LG‑2, LG‑2A, LG‑3 and LG‑4, but I’m still the second most powerful run‑of‑river generating station (after Beauharnois) and the seventh most powerful in Québec, all categories combined.
To build me, 640,000 cubic metres of concrete were needed, enough to build a sidewalk from Montréal to Miami. That’s a lot!
Would you like to tour a huge hydropower facility? Come see me turbine the waters of the Grande Rivière before it flows into Baie James (James Bay). And feel free to ask my guides all your questions. Their knowledge is almost as vast as the territory surrounding me!
You can continue your excursion with a visit to Chisasibi, the nearby Cree community, and soak your feet in the waters of the bay. Truly refreshing!
Have a look at these pictures to get a sneak peek of your guided tour.
I’m the seventh hydropower generating station to be commissioned at the La Grande complex. Are you wondering why my name is La Grande‑1? Quite simply because we generating stations are named according to our position in relation to river’s mouth, not our chronological order of construction. So, I’m the first on the river up from the bay.
Each of my twelve generating units’ rotors spin that fast! That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t respect speed limits on the road! 😉
In the Cree language, upichiwin means a place where a rapid narrows. The Upichiwin belvedere is a meeting place that commemorates one of the coastal Crees’ oldest and most used summer fishing sites.
I’m a powerful run-of-river generating station located 45 minutes from Radisson, on the way to the Cree village of Chisasibi. I’m also the last generating station in the La Grande complex to turbine the river’s water before it flows into the bay.
1960: Beginning of the Quiet Revolution in Québec
1963: Second phase of electricity nationalization in Québec
In April 1971, Premier Robert Bourassa launched the “project of the century” in Baie‑James. One year later, the rivers that would be used were chosen: the La Grande and Eastmain rivers. Then, the huge construction sites needed to build the La Grande hydropower complex were opened. It now supplies nearly 50% of Québec’s electricity!
Robert Bourassa and Robert-A. Boyd, President of the Société d’énergie de la Baie James from 1972 to 1976 and President and CEO of Hydro-Québec from 1977 to 1981.
Source: Hydro-Québec Archives
1976: First time the Parti Québécois is elected
Don’t take our word for it: this is what the people who visited the generating station with our guides had to say.
There are seven wonders of the world. Has anyone thought of counting Baie‑James as the eighth?”
Excellent tour! Good balance between the technical information and historical facts.
A good tour experience all along. Clean, well‑maintained facilities. My congratulations.
Reservations are required at all times and must be made at least 48 hours in advance.
If the date you would like to visit is less than 48 hours away or if you have special needs (someone in your group wears a pacemaker or has reduced mobility, etc.), please call us at 1 800 291‑84861 800 291‑8486.
About 3 hours, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Visitors must arrive 15 minutes in advance to sign in.
From mid‑June to the end of August
Tours start at set times. We recommend that you arrive 15 minutes in advance.
Looking for original tours featuring science, history and technical know-how? Hydro‑Québec’s got just the ticket!
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La Grande‑1 Generating Station – Interpretation Center
Long Point Rd
Jamésie, QC
J0M 1E0
Note: Visitors must use their vehicles to get to the LG‑1 generating station.
Tel.: 1 800 291-84861 800 291-8486 (between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.)
Get in touch by email.
For additional information
Free admission
Reservations are required at all times and must be made at least
24 hours in advance.
To reserve a free guided tour in English, please call 1 800 291‑84861 800 291‑8486.
Get in touch by email.
