The Laurentians takes in a large area, some 22,000 sq. kilometers. Evenso, it is dwarfed by Quebec's size. It has innumerable lakes and low-level, tree-covered mountains. Once past St.Jerome, these accompany the traveler northward as he passes by towns, villages, hamlets and individual houses. In the lower Laurentians there is some very visible industry of importance: Bell helicopter and Messier-Dowty. Also the defunct GM factory of Boisbriand where Camaros and Firebirds used to be assembled and rolled out. Along with this there is the population buildup and touristic activity that cause trafic to circulate in this lower Laurentian area, summer and winter. At the same time it belies the Seigneurial original development of this area when colonists started to occupy its lands in the 17th and 18th centuries. French occupation demanded that the lands be divided up under the sponsorship of an appointed individual of some renown and worked by serious Catholics. Whereas today we are dependant on highways and roads to get to our daily destinations, then, it was horse and canoe and important to be connected to lakes and rivers. The remnants of this type of organization are the churches, manorial houses, mills, and original stone houses left behind from this era. It takes careful viewing to reconstruct the original organization behind today's suburban busyness.
The Laurentians plays an important part in allowing breathing space to those that need it. Within a short distance of Laval and Montreal, it offers many activities to those that want to get away from it all for a short while. Historically it had this function. Ste. Agathe welcomed many people suffering from tuberculosis in the late 18 and early 19 hundreds. Their lungs took in the pure, healing, mountain air which gave them hope for a cure. Today, the zest for outdoor living has brought many here to ski, climb, hike, cycle, canoe, benefit from any number of soothing, feel-better remedies offered, or invoke the talents of those who will guide your life numerically, astrologically or through the use of a medium. There is also a strong amerindian presence and there are sites which allow you to participate in their cultural activities and benefit from their cuisine and shelters.
Come visit the Laurentians. There is lots to do and people contact is a matter of course. History is never very far away here as the pioneering spirit is still in peoples' minds. Walk along the trails that were formerly railroad lines and old railway stations. Visit gardens and parks which are always within range of bed and breakfast accomodation. If I can recommend a seven-day tour spent walking in the Laurentians:
1) the first day spent walking that I can recommend starts in Morin Heights and is part of the aerobic corridor. Here starting in Morin-Heights, a quiet village in the middle of the Laurentians we walk towards Montford and Lac-des-Seize-Iles all in a day. Here lies the beautiful Laurentian landscape on either side of the trail, bees are buzzing, birds are chirping, and squirrels are nattering as you step along this trail. At the end of the day you'll be spirited to a bed and breakfast where you'll be welcomed and you'll have a choice of where you want to sup in a leisurely fashion..
2) this day we continue our walk on the same trail. We walk toward St. Adolphe de Howard where we end up at the end of the day in a bed and breakfast.
3) Today we will do the rounds of Ste. Agathe's historical buildings which will give you an idea of life here at the turn of the 20th century, and , also of who lived in this area and the reason for Ste. Agathe's existence.
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