Français
Welcome Page
Properties for sale
Regional History
Laurentian Place Names
What's It Worth
Associations
E-mail us

W

e all know that to get anywhere we have to see where we are going. We have to visualise our destination. The referendum and its aftermath have helped me to do just that. I have discovered that I am not a 'Québécois', and more importantly I have discovered that no matter how long I, or my children, live in rural Quebec, we will never be Québécois. We are something else. We are 'Montréalais'. A 'Montréalais' is a citizen of a modern, pluralistic society with its own rich history, who generally speaks more than one language and lives in the influence of more than one culture. I can't be a 'Québecois', because the vision does not encompass my experience. It excludes much of what I am. I am a happy Canadian, because being a Canadian is also being a citizen of a modern, pluralistic society.

This simple and seemingly obvious observation has greatly changed my perspective on our local market. I am a proud Canadian from a distinct, multicultural region of the country: Montreal. I live in the Laurentians because it is a beautiful recreational environment close to a very special city.

Montreal is the third largest English-speaking city in Canada and the third largest French-speaking city in the world (after Paris and Kinshasa, Zaire). It is a trading city whose business people have connections all over the world and it is a major port. It boasts some of the finest food in North America, and not only in the restaurants, it is safe at night, it has world-class entertainment, and of course it has one of the best recreational areas imaginable only a quick hour north. On top of all that, it is ours; it belongs to all of its peoples. That certainly is something to build on. Let's maintain a vision of our city and our culture as we wish it to be. It is time for us to embrace and start sharing our own vision of our society. The previous municipal administration together with the Liberal provincial government of the time, commissioned a task force to rethink Montreal. When this task force report is eventually acted upon it will empower the region in a way that will make Québec City less relevant to our futures. The study was called "Montreal, a city region" (also known as the Pichette report) and among its goals, it visualises "A distinct city- region ... where the citizens, the majority of whom are bilingual, can take advantage of a superior standard of living at an affordable price and in a stable, safe social climate." (pg 10, common goals).

The Laurentian market will exist even if the Lauretians becomes part of a separate Québec, and the lakes will continue to be enjoyed by Canadians. Around some of the lakes, almost forty percent of the mailing addresses are not in Québec. In the case of one large lake, it seems that over 50% live primarily outside of Canada. While it is true that many of those property owners used to live in Montreal, many others simply chose to have a vacation spot in the Laurentians. A purchase here is good value compared to other areas in North America or elsewhere, and the world is small enough that deals are heard about even across oceans. Travel has become so simple that, even with the added cost of a plane ticket, it is still cheaper to maintain a vacation home here than in many other places. Our unique Laurentian villages are a quaint backdrop to our different seasons, and the Laurentian market, like any other, responds to the market forces.

Consider the facilities: We have more than 50 lakes within a seven mile radius of Ste Agathe, in many of which the water is drinkable. We have the Red and the Devil rivers, not to mention the North river that follows the Linear Park through the heart of the territory. We have ski trails, ski-doo trails, walking trails, ski-hills, parks, a first rate road system and even an airport. Many of our lakes have organised communities with activities, there are camps for kids, reliable workers and all variety of restaurants and shops.

The Laurentians will continue to be there for us to enjoy. It is up to each one of us to decide what that is worth. The problems that we confront are only different, not more severe, than problems that we would have to face elsewhere.

Return to What's it Worth index