Old Fort Bay

From Lower North Shore

Contents 1 Village of Old Fort Bay, Quebec 2 Services 3 Photo Gallery 4 School 5 Lodging 6 Organizations 7 Attractions and Services

Village of Old Fort Bay, Quebec

Old Fort Bay

The name Old Fort is said to be derived from ruins of fortifications built in the vicinity by Augustin Legardeur, Le Sieur de Courtemanche, a French fur trader and former French military officer. Courtemanche traded with local Montagnais for fur while running a small seal fishery. The fort was said to have been destroyed by invading Inuit who clashed regularly with the colonising europeens along the coast over traditional hunting and fishing grounds.

Today, Old Fort Bay, one of the three villages in the municipality of Bonne-Esperance, is a tranquil community situated at the western end of a XX kilometre portion of the provincial 138 highway beginning at the Quebec-Labrador border near Blanc-Sablon. Local inhabitants rely on the fishing industry. Many skilled outdorsmen from this town are known to work as guides and cooks during the summer months in remote outfitting camps. Most of the remaining population still practice the transhumance ritual every summer by migrating to the islands of the Old Fort archipelago.

First settling to the area began with the Courtemanche outpost in 1702. After being destroyed during the confrontation with the Inuit and the French later moved to the Bradore Bay area. During the late 1800's, many families first came from the Gaspe peninsula and then from Newfoundland and settled here, such as the MacDonalds, Robins, Fequets, Haywards, Wellmans, Woodlands and Buckles. As early as 1825, Englishman John Goddard was said to have lived here but then moved to nearby Saint-Paul’s River. Landmarks and historical sites

It is said that French explorer Jacques Cartier landed at Port-Saint-Servan, just west of the present day Old Fort community at the mouth of the Old Fort River and planted a cross. This event was said to have taken place a full month before the now famous Gaspe landing.

Also, the location of the 16th century Breton fishing capital of Brest is believed to be at the Old Fort site as well.

Many artifacts such as weapons and bullets have been unearthed around the community and corroborate many of the speculations regarding the Courtemanche settlement and early Inuit and Montagnais confrontation. Attractions

The Dog Island Cultural Centre is situated on the island bearing the same name which emanates from a rock formation resembling a sleeping dog. Tours can be arranged during the summer months. Community Events

Spring: Hockey tournament, winter Carnival, Church sales and darts tournaments

Services

Secretariat de la Nation Metis au Quebec Region Basse-Cote-Nord Post Office Box 3 Old Fort Bay Quebec G0G 2G0 For More information contact Bryce Fequet at 418-379-2638 or e-mail : nationmetisquebecregionbcn@globetrotter.net

Metis Nation Secretariat de la Metis Communaute de Bonne-Esperance Post Office Box 3 Old Fort Bay Quebec G0G 2G0 For more information contact Bryce Fequet at 418-379-2638 or e-mail : nationmetisquebecregionbcn@globetrotter.net

Napetipi River Outfitting Salmon and trout fishing Contact : Mr. Riess Bilodeau

Tel. (418) 379-2183 Fax (418) 379-2221 E-mail: lfrbilodeau@globetrotter.net Web Page : www.napetipioutfitters.com

Dwight's General Store Tel. (418) 379-2650 Fax : (418) 379-2651 E-Mail : dogisle@globetrotter.

Chez Nellies ( Grocery Store ) Tel. (418) 379-2227

Photo Gallery

Minke Whale A minke and another kind of whale competing for food )	Kids on the bar watching whales Minke whales chasing capin into the beach at Old Fort Bay )	Time for birds to fly south.)	Raging seas off Lourdes de Blanc Sablon Photo by Dwight Bilodeau
Baby Sea Gulls Photo by Dwight Bilodeau	This owl was hoping I would hurry and leave the well because it had killed a partridge for it's lunch. Photo by Dwight Bilodeau	I was lucky enough to get this picture a few years ago. Photo by Dwight Bilodeau)	Marcel Wellman with baby seal Photo by Dwight Bilodeau. There were thousands of seals around when this photo was taken several years ago
Soft juicy bakeapple Doesn't this make your mouth water? Photo by Dwight Bilodeau )	No problem to fill up my jug here. Photo by Dwight Bilodeau. Location (&$#@!) A secret. )	Blackberries Imagine the taste of these in a home made pie. )	Flat Fish.)
Halibut caught by the Bilodeaus Imagine catching this one on a red devil. )	Seal Fishery Old Fort Island many moons ago. )	Catching a snow bird Just a few steps more and I'll catch you )

School

Mountain Ridge (418)-379-2297

Lodging

N/A

Organizations

Quebec Metis Nation. Nation Metis du Quebec Region Basse-Cote-Nord. Nation Metis du Quebec Communaute de Bonne-Esperance. Founder, Executive Administrator and President: Bryce D.Fequet P.O. Box 3, Old Fort Bay, Quebec G0G 2G0 E-mail: nationmetisquebecregionbcn@globetrotter.net Tel. (418) 379-2638 Fax. (418) 379-1205

Societe Historique du Canton de Pontchartrain President : Dwight Bilodeau P.O. Box 122, Old Fort Bay, Quebec, G0G 2G0 Tel. (418) 379-2650

Sports & Leisure Committee President : Dean McDonald Tel. (418) 379-2227

A.C.W. ( Anglican Church Women ) President : Leatrice Woodland Tel. (418) 379-2016

Old Fort Crowd 4-H Club President : Kady Bilodeau P.O. Box 114, Old Fort Bay, Quebec, G0G 2G0

Attractions and Services

Hiking trail which overlooks the village

Jacques Cartier trail rest areas with information panels

Fish Processing plant

Public dock