Eastern Townships of Quebec

In mid July, we visited the Eastern Townships of Quebec. We also did a qick tour of old Montreal on our way. We spent a week in the Townships, at at cottage in the picturesque town of North Hatley. We toured the area, and got to see the Lavender fields, and the local cities of Magog and Sherbrooke. The weather was excellent with temperatures in the high 80's. We got to spend the week with our daughter. Here are some pictures from our week.

Old Port of Montreal The Old Port of Montreal is now a must see for tourists in Montreal. It has not always been this way. This place has been the first place of trade in the city. Bordering De La Commune Street, the Old Port has seen the birth and grows of Ville-Marie and then Montreal.

Short History of the Old Port of Montreal Ground zero of Montrealists arrival in 1642, the coastline has changed a lot since. Many changes have altered the appearance of the Old Port of Montreal beginning with the construction of the five quays (Alexandra, King Edward, Jacques-Cartier and Clock, conveyors). The clock tower was built in 1922 in memory of mariners that died during the First World War.

A major retrofit While port activities are increasingly, being installed in the east end of Montreal, the occupation of the old port is discussed. Property of the Government of Canada, the space is occupied by many grains elevators, warehouses and others functional buildings. An idea then came around: To give Montrealers access to the river for on this sector. An urbanism contest is organized to have many projects to choose from, then grains silo N3 is destroyed and the water side is transforms in a large pedestrian alley (Promenade des Quais) and finally the Bonsecours Basin is built.

Touristic Old Port Since its completion in the beginning of the 90’s, the old port has seen many tourism facilities installed such as the Science Centre, Imax, bookshops and the location of various amusement machines; 4 places bikes, Segway and Rollerblades, all to use the bicycle path that goes beyond the Lachine Canal. It also became a place for shows of all kinds like the Canada Day celebrations and performances of the Cirque du Soleil. The Bonsecours Basin is even transformed into a skating rink in winter times.

One of the jewels of the Townships, North Hatley was founded in 1897 and is located at the northern tip of Lake Massawippi. Like neighbouring Hatley, the region developed thanks to the efforts of immigrants who obtained concessions in Lower Canada through the Company of Associates. Following the arrival of immigrants Henry Cull and Ebenezer Hovey from the United States in 1793, Japhet Le Baron settled on this picturesque site. Originally, colonists lived on agriculture, wood harvesting, and the production of potash, which was sold to soap manufacturers. But the charm of the place attracted rich American tourists, and in 1880, the construction of a rail line strengthened its reputation as a holiday destination. Thanks to its growing fame, it received over 2000 visitors at the beginning of the 20th century, lodged in six hotels and 250 villas.

Over the years, luxurious, century-old residences have been converted into charming inns, bed and breakfasts and artists’ studios. Other buildings house art galleries, shops, cafés and restaurants, all of which illustrate the welcoming quality that makes this village a choice vacation spot and/or home for prominent people. Since 1982, at the end of each spring, the Festival du Lac Massawippi has offered music lovers a variety of recitals in Sainte-Elizabeth Church (1913), in addition to open-air concerts every Sunday through the summer in Dreamland Park. St. Barnabas Anglican Church (1894) and the Unitarian Universalist Church (1895) are well worth a visit. The presence of the lake gives the village a natural amphitheatre shape, which has been protected by a 1986 declaration designating part of the village an official heritage site.

Route 247 South is a driver’s dream. It winds through gentle green hills, into the little 19th century village Fitch Bay on Lake Memphémagog, and over a classic covered bridge.

Lavender became the path to health and happiness for this busy executive. If you turn at Applegate Hill, you’ll come to one of the most beautiful sights in the verdant triangle that makes up the Eastern Townships of Quebec—Bleu Lavande, the largest lavender farm in Canada and the second largest in North America. Bleu Lavande isn’t just 50 fertile acres growing beautiful, aromatic plants—it’s a place that heals bodies and spawns dreams. And it’s become one of the most successful small businesses in Canada.

The story of Bleu Lavande starts with a mysterious illness. Hard-driving businessman and electrical engineer Pierre Pellerin’s career was, by conventional standards, a resounding success. He’d built his high-tech company through sweat and hard work. The job required long hours and traveling nine months of the year. Then suddenly, at age 42, Pellerin began experiencing strange neurological symptoms like uncontrolled shaking. His doctor told him to take a vacation. He didn’t listen. Several months later, in September 1998, Pellerin was poised to take his company to the next level. He had a meeting planned with investors who were ready to invest $15 million in the company. But he wanted to take an evening to think about the deal. When Pierre Pellerin ran his previous company, he didn't have time to plant flower boxes. Then Pellerin’s body simply stopped working. When he woke the following morning, he couldn’t move. His body had simply stopped. “It was terrifying,” says Pellerin.

He missed his meeting. At 11 o’clock, the owner of the condo were he was staying noticed Pellerin’s absence and became concerned. He knocked on the door, but Pellerin couldn’t answer. The landlord called for an ambulance. “My doctor told me to change my life or life would change me forever,” he says quietly, recalling the doctor’s somber advice. Pellerin knew without a doubt that his lifestyle was killing him. He called his attorney, within four hours, had sold the business he’d lovingly built. It took attorneys four months to sort out the paperwork and close the deal. Pellerin, his body still wracked with strange neurological symptoms, wondered what to do with his life. Could he ever work again? He was too young to retire. What would he do with his drive and his creative energy? He had no idea.

What Now? On December 18, 1998, Pellerin drove along route 247 S. He noticed a for sale sign posted on a graceful hill. On impulse, he turned and drove up the gravel road. The property was 260 acres of fields and forest. There were no buildings or improvements, just trees and rolling hills of grasses. He called the realtor and made an offer. “Somehow I knew this is where I’d restore my health,” he says. Today, Bleu Lavande boasts more than 3,000 certified lavender plants and plenty of places to picnic. When Pellerin traveled in France, he’d seen acres and acres of lavender. He’d heard that lavender was good for health, especially as a stress reliever. Despite the fact that he had no experience farming, Pellerin decided he’d grow lavender. In the spring, he contacted Minister of Agriculture and told him of his plan. “He said I was crazy,” Pellerin says smiling. “He told me you can’t grow lavender in Quebec.” Undaunted by the skepticism, Pellerin began the long process of getting the proper permits, finding the right vendors, and the back breaking task of transforming acres of grassland into farm fields. He started with 400 lavender plants. He knew the process would be a long one.

Two years later, Pellerin decided that he knew enough to expand his farming operation. He ordered 70,000 plants and planted them in his fields. “That was the year of no rain,” he says ruefully. “No rain and no snow. It was just bone-chilling cold.” When the snow melted in the spring, his beloved plants lay dead. “I cried when I saw my lavender,” he says. The one saving grace of the icy winter of 2001 was that he’d met Christine Deschesnes, the love of his life. “She encouraged me to replant, to not give up,” Pellerin says. He slogged out to the ruined fields. Not everything was lost. “We retrieved and replanted 10,000 plants from the fields that were still alive,” he says. “We re-planted them by hand.” In the midst of failure, Pellerin met his wife Christine Deschesnes. He learned from his mistakes. He planted earlier. He ordered 15,000 starts of a heartier variety from Australia. And he searched for a way to protect his tender plants from another episode of devastating cold. Then he saw a neighboring strawberry farmer removing giant rolls of straw from his fields, he was intrigued. “The farmer told me the straw, which he baled with wire into long rolls, keep his plants warm when there’s no snow to insulate them.”

Sweet Success That fall, Pellerin and his workers spread baled straw over the fields. He following spring, the plants were perfect. He was on his way to becoming a real lavender farmer. His health was returning too. The physical work, the fresh air, and being around lavender all the time had a healing effect. Though he still had moments of weakness, he felt stronger, healthier and happier than he’d been in years. “My dream was to be a gentleman farmer,” he says. “I wanted to farm for six months of the year and head to the South of France for six months.” Now married, his wife Christine had always wanted to open a small boutique. Selling products made from Pellerin’s lavender was perfect combination. Pellerin had a small space built for Christine’s store. They stocked it with some lavender plants and a few lavender scented soaps and lotions. In 2004, Canada TV got wind of the lavender farm and came to film a story. “The next morning 100 people were waiting outside the gate,” Pellerin recalls, chucking. “We sold every plant and ran out of boutique items.” Bleu Lavande boutiques have become one of the most successful parts of the company. Today, they keep coming. More than 200,000 visitors per year (6-7,000/day) stream through the gate to stroll through two types of 300,000 ISO certified organic lavender plants, eat soup, sandwiches, and lavender fudge at the café, enjoy an outdoor leg and foot massage, and learn about the process of distilling lavender (it takes a half ton of lavender flowers to make 1-2 liters of essential oils and 40 liters of lavender water).

They also come to browse through Christine’s elegant white and lavender themed boutique. Unlike the early days when they sold just a few items, Bleu Lavande’s Boutique boasts hundreds of products from soaps, cosmetics, and lotions to lavender honey and edible lavender for cooking. In fact, the boutique business has become one of the most successful aspects of Bleu Lavande. Two hundred retailers all over Canada carry Bleu Lavande’s lavender products. They operate eight stand-alone Bleu Lavande Boutiques and re opening mini-boutiques in several hotels. They’re also brokering a deal for Bleu Lavande Boutiques to operate in select Hudson’s Bay stores. Bleu Lavande focuses on lavender products, all made with certified lavender grown on their farm. Isn’t this the kind of success that drove Pellerin into ill health in the first place? “I do business completely differently now,” says a decidedly relaxed CEO. “I used to try to do everything myself. Now, I have other people to do a lot of the work and, you know, they do a good job.” And in mid-August, Pellerin and Christine head to France for a month’s vacation.

Bleu Lavande www.bleulavande.ca