Quyon, Quebec
Quyon is a village that is part of Pontiac, Quebec, in the Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais Regional County Municipality (MRC des Collines).
Geography
Quyon is located on the Ottawa River north of Aylmer, at the mouth of the Quyon River. The West Carleton-Quyon Ferry connects Quyon to the city of Ottawa (near Fitzroy Harbour) in the summer.
Landmarks of interest include St. Mary Catholic church, Gavan's Hotel, named after former proprietor Lennox Gavan. Gavan's Hotel has been a favorite of locals and Ontarians who routinely cross the river to partake in the later closing time for establishments in Quebec. Current owner of Gavan's Hotel, Nick Matechuk, was honored by having Gavan's Hotel inducted into the Ottawa Valley Hall of Fame on Sunday September 29, 2013. Nick Matechuk has owned Gavan's Hotel for more than 30 years, and is currently seeking a new owner to take over the business so he can retire. Lennox Gavan's daughter Gail, has been a local favorite entertainer who no longer resides in Quyon, however, she returns frequently to sing at Gavan's Hotel and other local events. McCann's Chips, owned and operated by Chuck Huckabone and his wife Tracey, formerly owned by Mae McCann and in earlier times her late husband Ervin, has been located in downtown Quyon for over 40 years and is one of the last surviving establishments offering food in Quyon. Many existing Quyon residents have connections to North Onslow and Wolf Lake, neighbouring communities. The primary industries in times past were forestry and farming. Three kilometres southeast of Quyon is Camp B'nai B'rith of Ottawa, a Jewish summer camp established in 1939, with campers from across North America. Today, most who reside in Quyon work in Ottawa or other locations outside of the immediate vicinity.
History
Already the site of the Sainte-Marie Mission, the village was founded in 1848 by John Egan, a lumber baron of the Ottawa Valley and mayor of Aylmer from 1847 to 1855.[1] It derived its name from the Quyon River, a tributary of the Ottawa River that was used by Egan for log driving, and was originally spelled "Quio", from the Native Algonquin word kweia (pronounced "quia"), meaning "Smaller River"[2] or "sandy bottom river".[1]
The area was heavily settled by Irish immigrants during the mid-19th century after the Great Famine forced many to emigrate for their survival. The town was incorporated on January 1, 1875, and its spelling was changed to "Quyon" to provide a compromise pronunciation equally acceptable to both French- and English-speaking residents.[3] It experienced a period of prosperity because of the railroad built by the Union Forwarding Company.[1]
The village municipality of Quyon, along with the neighbouring townships of North Onslow, South Onslow, and Eardley, was amalgamated into the municipality of Pontiac in 1975.[1]
See also
- Pontiac Pacific Junction Railway - former railway running through Quyon
References
External links
Coordinates: 45°31′N 76°14′W / 45.517°N 76.233°W
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