Despite the city’s young age, the land on which Dieppe stands has been inhabited for centuries. Monuments have been erected throughout the city to highlight the contributions of these first inhabitants, and some areas have also been designated as heritage sites. As well, several streets bear the names of some of our founders.
The first Acadians settled on the land now known as Dieppe in 1730. In 1910, the area known as French Village was renamed Leger’s Corner, and later became the Village of Dieppe in 1946. The name, Dieppe, was chosen to honour the memory of the 913 Canadians who died in combat on the beaches of Dieppe, France, on August 19, 1942, during WW2.
The Village of Dieppe became the Town of Dieppe on January 1, 1952. It then achieved city status on January 1, 2003.
A number of mayors have come and gone since 1952:
- Adélard Savoie: 1952-1953
- J. Alphée LeBlanc: 1954-1956
- Régis LeBlanc: 1956-1971
- William Malenfant: 1971-1977
- Clarence Cormier: 1977-1983
- William Malenfant: 1983-1998
- Yvon Lapierre: 1998-2005
- Achille Maillet: 2005-2008
- Jean LeBlanc: 2008-2012
- Yvon Lapierre: 2012-present
Dieppe’s population has continued to grow since the city’s incorporation. In 1952, our population was 3,500, and we are now up to 28,114.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 28,114 |
| 2016 | 25,384 |
| 2011 | 23,310 |
| 2006 | 18,565 |
| 2001 | 14,951 |
| 1996 | 12,497 |
| 1991 | 10,650 |
| 1986 | 9,016 |
| 1981 | 8,511 |
| 1976 | 7,460 |
| 1971 | 4,277 |
| 1966 | 3,847 |
| 1961 | 4,032 |
| 1956 | 3,876 |
| 1951 | 3,042 |
*Source: Statistics Canada