The undulating land is dotted with swamps, a few small lakes, and sand and gravel deposits.

[4] The first settlers, arriving circa 1935 as part of the Vautrin Settlement Plan, came from Clermont, Montreal, and Mont-Laurier.

In 1937, they founded the Saint-Gilles-de-Clermont Parish, and two years later, the place separated from Clermont Township and was incorporated as the Municipality of Val-Saint-Gilles, named after Saint Giles.

[1][4] But because of the harsh land, the settlers could barely make a living and many soon left, reducing the population from over 600 persons to less than 200 today.

Its residents mostly commute to La Sarre and the surrounding area, working particularly in the mining and forestry sectors.