In 1938, the settlement was founded, first called Colonie Bertrand, after its first parish priest Achille-Augustin Bertrand. In 1941, it was renamed to Champneufs (French for "new fields"), but also known by the parish name of Saint-François-d'Assise-de-Champneufs during the 1950s. At one point and for unknown reasons, the name was changed from the plural to the singular Champneuf. In 1964, the place was incorporated as a municipality.[1]
Climate type is dominated by the winter season, a long, cold period with short, clear days, relatively little precipitation mostly in the form of snow, and low humidity. The Köppen climate classification subtype for this climate is "Dfc"(Continental Subarctic Climate).