Feeling nostalgic for 2025? You’ll enjoy
THE EQUITY’s 2025 Year in Review. Over the course of our January issues, we’re taking some time to look back on some of last year’s most memorable stories.
July 2
Thorne receives fire services from Shawville-Clarendon department
As of July 1, the municipality of Thorne began receiving fire services from the Shawville-Clarendon department, instead of Pontiac North. The agreement, in effect until 2028, will see the SCFD provide the territory with emergency coverage. Thorne will pay $80,000 per year plus service fees, and will remain responsible for fire hall costs, inspection of vehicles and equipment, as well as the recruiting, training and development of its firefighters.
Gord Graham retires after 25 years at PHS
Long-time Pontiac High School history teacher Gordon Graham retired at the end of this school year, after spending 25 years at the institution. Graham spoke with THE EQUITY about his love for relaying the history of the region to his students. “I have passion for the story and fitting them within it. Everything we talk about, we lead it back to here, so they can see themselves in it, they can relate to it. You can see the light go on when their imagination starts to put themselves into the people of the past.”
Quyon mill re-opens to public
Bristol farmers Marc Bergeron and Isabelle Lajoie re-opened the historic Egan Mill in Quyon on June 28, inviting the community to an open house to celebrate. The couple purchased the building in 2022 and began extensive renovations, including a small museum about the region’s history. The mill has the capacity to produce 4.5 million kilos of flour annually, according to the owners. “It means so much to me to see this place have a second lease on life. [ . . . ] To know that there are people who are willing to take that risk, I think, means a lot to everybody here,” said Pontiac MNA André Fortin, who was present for the opening.
July 9
Lightning blasts through walls, explodes lamp in Shawville home
Shawville nurse Liz Buehlow had a nasty surprise on July 3, as lightning struck her home on Maple Street, exploding a lamp and thankfully injuring no one. Buehlow heard a loud bang and discovered shards of her lamp scattered around her bedroom, along with a small hole blasted in the plaster of her wall. “[The current] just followed the steel mesh and just blew random holes in through the wall in different rooms,” Shawville-Clarendon Fire Chief Lee Laframboise said, adding he had never seen anything like it.
Ten medals for Sensei Timmy
Twelve members of the Chapeau Karate Club attended a tournament in Toronto on July 2, bringing home 12 medals.
The club’s “Itosu-Kai” karate style was brought to the area by Sensei Tim Sullivan, who passed away in 2020, but whose teachings live on within the club. “Everyone in the club owes it to the legacy of Tim Sullivan [ . . . ] he was known for the basics, and Chapeau continued that. We stand out because of that,” said Jacob Demers, who studied under Sullivan as a kid and is now one of eight senseis with the club.
Donna Cahill retires after 40 years in special needs education
Donna Cahill spoke with THE EQUITY about her 40 years in special education in the Pontiac, working at both Dr. S.E. McDowell Elementary School and Pontiac High School. Over the years, Cahill made the space at PHS a home away from home for hundreds of students, many of whom had learning disabilities, were in foster homes, or faced other kinds of educational challenges. She built the centre to be a welcoming space that taught students not only how to learn in school, but how to survive in life. She said even though it wasn’t always the easiest job, she wouldn’t change anything about her journey.
“If I was doing my life all over again, I don’t think I would do anything different. I have really loved my career, and I still love it.”
July 16
BEI closes investigation into fatal 2024 incident at Campbell’s Bay police station
The public prosecutor (DPCP) declined to press any charges in connection with a Mar. 2024 incident in which a woman fell unconscious while being detained at the Campbell’s Bay police station and died in hospital days later.
“Based on the information obtained during the investigation, it can be concluded that the obligations of the police officers and the director of the police department involved . . . were met,” said a July 10 press release from the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI), which conducted the investigation into the incident, and later provided its findings to the DPCP for its analysis.
The woman had been arrested and placed in an interrogation room Mar. 1 where she collapsed and appeared to convulse, according to the BEI report. The woman was pronounced dead on Mar. 4, the autopsy revealing the woman had died as a result of “polyintoxication to drugs of abuse,” according to the DPCP.
Two Campbell’s Bay councillors announce intention to run for warden
Campbell’s Bay councillors Josey Bouchard and Jean-Pierre Landry confirmed that they would be seeking the warden’s chair in the fall’s municipal elections. Bouchard has worked as a teacher for over 30 years, is a co-founder of local healthcare advocacy group Pontiac Voice, and was in her first term as councillor. She was also campaign manager for her mother, former Pontiac MNA Charlotte L’Ecuyer, when she ran for warden in 2017. Landry retired from a 33-year career with Services Québec, and was in his second consecutive term as councillor, having served for a time in the 1990s. He also taught part-time and served on several boards within the community.
Campbell’s Bay man drowns near Otter Lake
The body of a 25-year-old Campbell’s Bay man was recovered from a lake in the municipality of Otter Lake on July 13, after he was reported missing the evening of July 12. Emergency crews were called to a small lake off of Rte. 301 at around 9 p.m. to search for the man. “For now what we can understand is that people were on a floating dock and were trying to get back on shore but one was not able to do that. People tried to rescue him but they were not able to,” said police spokesperson Sgt. Marc Tessier. Police divers recovered the body the following afternoon.
July 23
Quebec reverses education cuts, local school boards get significant funding back
The Western Quebec School Board and other school service centres in the Outaouais are breathing a sigh of relief after receiving news the province has restored $540 million to Quebec’s education budget, from which it had slashed $570 million just a month earlier. The board had spent the previous month crunching numbers to figure out how it was going to trim its share of this slash – $3.6 million – from its 2025-2026 budget.“It’s not the way we would have preferred all of this to happen, but that’s out of our control. [ . . . ] Clearly somebody was listening to the pushback,” said WQSB director general George Singfield, citing a petition launched by the Parti Quebecois in the National Assembly calling on the government to reverse the cuts that had received over 158,000 signatures by the time of publication.
Local docs express concern about Bill 106
Local physicians spoke with THE EQUITY in July regarding what was then known as Bill 106, which restructured doctor’s pay. The stated purpose of the bill was to improve Quebecers’ access to family physicians. Dr. Thomas O’Neill, a long-time physician in the area, voiced his concerns about the bill. “What it’s basically doing is it’s linking doctors’ pay with provincial objectives – not with their individual objectives, but objectives that are completely out of their hands,” he said, explaining his interpretation of the bill. “For example, doctors in the Pontiac will have their pay reduced if doctors in Trois-Rivières, Quebec City, or Gaspé Bay don’t meet a certain set of government objectives, but they’ve got no control over that.”
Ownership of Luskville’s 141-year old church passes to municipality
Luskville’s historic Saint-Dominique Catholic church, constructed in 1884, was passed over to the Municipality of Pontiac free of charge, to be turned into a community space. “Due to the deceased priests and the low turnout of our parishioners, we were facing a major battle for finances,” said Geoffrey Garceau, president of La Fabrique, the church’s board of volunteers. “We came to realize that we could no longer support the church.” Members say a study ordered by the municipality gave the building a clean bill of health, impressive for a building of its age. “All we want to do now, we want to save the building, to take it over. Then next year, we’ll be able to go look for grant money,” said mayor Roger Larose.
July 30
Pontiac ball players represent Quebec at Canada Games
Cade Kuehl of Shawville and Hunter Beauregard of Campbell’s Bay represented the Pontiac with Team Quebec’s Fastpitch Softball team at the Canada Games in St. John’s Newfoundland this summer. THE EQUITY caught up with them in July for a profile before a game they were playing with the Quyon Flyers at Shawville’s Elwood Dale Park. The two spoke about their bond on and off the field, the long trips to practice with the rest of the provincial squad, as well as the local players who helped them on their way.
Toller announces she won’t seek re-election
On July 23, MRC Pontiac warden Jane Toller announced that she would not be seeking re-election after two terms in the position. She made the declaration at the Spruceholme Inn in Fort-Coulonge standing in front of paintings of her great-great-grandparents George Bryson Sr. (who served as warden in 1862) and his wife Robina Cobb.
She said that she intended to focus on her Doctor of Ministry, which she had recently begun, to invest more time developing the businesses she owns, and to spend more time with her family. “My children need to see more of me. And I want my grandchildren to know me. I want to play an important role in their lives,” Toller said.
Violent storm leaves thousands powerless
A powerful thunderstorm on the evening of July 24 left thousands of Pontiacers in the dark due to rain and high winds. The municipalities of Pontiac, Bristol, Clarendon, Portage-du-Fort and Shawville were hardest hit, with around 5,000 homes without power immediately following the storm, thanks to the many downed trees and power lines across the region. Some 21,000 homes across the Outaouais were also hit with power outages caused by the storm. It wasn’t until Friday evening, and for some, Saturday morning, that most power was restored to Pontiac homes.
Aug. 6
Quyon man missing in Ottawa River found dead
The body of a Quyon man was recovered in the Ottawa River after a two-day search. Police said the man jumped from his pontoon boat near Mohr Island to help a woman in distress but was not wearing a life jacket and sank. The woman was rescued. A coroner’s inquest was to determine the circumstances, though police indicated the death appeared accidental.
Quyon’s family centre treads water after losing biggest funder
Quyon’s Maison de la Famille faced a funding crisis after losing a provincial grant, forcing layoffs and putting the organization’s future in doubt. In July, board members said they were working to stabilize finances, reopen communication with the Ministère de la Famille and address building issues that hindered funding. Volunteer staff, community donations and support from the Quyon Lions Club helped keep programs running temporarily.
Pontiac athletes score two medals at Jeux du Québec
Pontiac athletes earned podium finishes at the 59th Jeux du Québec in Trois-Rivières. Luskville cyclist Isabelle Marie Holt helped the Outaouais team win gold in the U17 team time trial, while Breckenridge swimmer Aleni Brochu captured silver in the 400m freestyle. Other local athletes Layla Brennan in beach volleyball and Manohé Beaulieu in baseball contributed to strong regional representation at the Games.
Aug. 13
Pontiacs to return to play in Shawville
Pontiac Senior Comets head coach Darcy Findlay announced he had bought the team and would be relocating it to Shawville under the Shawville Pontiacs name. Findlay had played and coached the Comets for part of the season before realizing that the team might have better success in Shawville. When he heard the team was being put up for sale, he decided to act on it. “We had over 300, 400 people per game, so we’re hoping to see those numbers again this year,” said Comets player-owner Danick Boisvert of the few regular-season games the team had played in Shawville. Findlay congratulated the Coulonge ownership group for their dedication to the team and the community.
Four small forest fires broke out in Pontiac county between Aug. 9 and 11, prompting Quebec fire protection agency SOPFEU to send planes to the county to extinguish the blazes. “The conditions were ripe for a wildfire to ignite,” said SOPFEU spokesperson Melanie Morin. While the fires were mostly located in the bush and did not threaten people or structures, Morin said the damage could have been worse. “These are fires that, if they had been near cabins or different structures, could have done damage,” she said, emphasizing the importance of following municipalities’ recommendations when it comes to burning.
ESSC students receive Firefighter 1 certificates
A class of 16 graduates from École secondaire Sieur-de-Coulonge received certificates from their Firefighter 1 training course at a ceremony on Aug. 11. The program, a first in Quebec, allows students to complete the Firefighter 1 training course while attending regular high school classes. Captain Emma Rochon said she will be continuing with plans to become a paramedic. “It changed what I wanted to do,” she said of the course, which took over 300 hours to complete. Course instructor Martin Bertrand said he was proud of the students. “They took the hard way. Extra learning, extra reading, extra practices. I saw them grow, and I saw a lot of them really mature,” he said.
Aug. 20
LeTerrain becomes region’s first dark sky park
A business in La Pêche called LeTerrain was officially designated as a dark sky preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, the first place in the capital region to receive this certification. Owner Steve Durand, who rents cabins and maintains trails on his 465-acre property, said he wants to help people discover how preserving the dark sky is connected with the protection of wilderness. He said people who pay the $20 entry fee to his property may do some stargazing. “There’s a big awareness and education element in it,” Durand said.
4-H members test skills at Achievement Day
Shawville 4-H members showed off their animal projects and tested their showmanship and conformation skills before taking them to the Shawville Fair. This annual gathering is a tradition for the club, which sees members stroll their animals around the perimeter of the arena in front of an audience of judges. Lyric McIntyre won the Supreme Champion Showperson, while Tyson Childs won Reserve Champion Showperson. “Winning this means I’ve actually gained some skill and value in my life,” said McIntyre.
Chapeau annual island party
L’Isle-aux-Allumettes hosted its annual Island Fest party featuring sports tournaments, an expanded Chapeau Market, and a Lions Club canteen. Saturday morning Merv Fleming dumped a front-end loader filled with 750 rubber ducks over the Chapeau bridge for the Lions’ annual duck race fundraiser, an event that was won by Everlee Charlebois when her #732 duck crossed the finish line first. “It’s everyone working together to throw a big party and share the benefits,” said L’Isle-aux-Allumettes community development coordinator Chantal Lair.
Aug. 27
MRC hires new finance director
The MRC Pontiac approved the hiring of new finance director Andrea Lafleur at its Aug. 20 meeting. Lafleur was previously the director general for Otter Lake for 14 years, and applied to the position vacated by longtime finance director Annie Vaillancourt following her departure in May. “She has that management experience that we need [ . . . ] there’s her accounting experience, plus knowing how to manage public funds,” said MRC assistant director general Terry Lafleur.
Cell phone ban arrives at Pontiac high schools
The full cellphone ban announced by the provincial government in the spring of 2025 came into effect in time for the new school year. Under the new policy, students are prohibited from having personal electronic devices on their person during the school day, including during the lunch period, but are allowed to have them on school buses. “The key for us is I think we really have to look at unstructured time, to make sure we have robust activities as an alternative to cellphones,” said PHS principal Luke McLaren.
Graham crowned Shawville Fair ambassador
Bristol teen Laura Graham was awarded the title of 2025 Shawville Fair Ambassador after a selection process involving three other youths. After each contestant delivered speeches, Graham’s speech about the fair’s horticulture division earned the top nod. “I hope to bring local horticulture the attention it deserves, so that youth may be encouraged to diversify the agriculture industry in the Ottawa Valley and start farms,” she said. “There’s a world of opportunity for whoever can find a niche in [agriculture].”
Sept. 3
Sun sets on another Shawville Fair
The 169th edition of the Shawville Fair went ahead in Shawville, bringing thousands of people to the town over the fair weekend. Traditional offerings such as the horse pulls, cattle shows and demolition derby were popular, and musical performances from Glass Tiger, Parmalee and Brett Kissel yielded packed crowds to the fairgrounds. New additions this year included categories for charcuterie board, daycare crafts and paint night creations. Winners of the fair’s lifetime service awards were Rick Younge and Elwyn Lang.
Chapeau to get 24 affordable housing units
L’Isle-aux-Allumettes celebrated new money for an affordable housing complex near Centennial Street and Rochon Street in Chapeau’s lower town. The building was one of 11 projects across the province to receive money as part of Quebec’s affordable housing program. The municipality owns the land, and donated it to the Office de l’habitation de l’Outaouais (OHO), which will own and manage the building. Winston Sunstrum, manager of Chapeau’s senior housing complex Residence Meilleur, said the housing responds to a community need, especially among seniors.
MRC finalizes immigration plan
The MRC Pontiac presented the final version of its immigration plan to the public at Mansfield-et-Pontefract’s Pourvoirie Magnum. The plan was created in collaboration with a firm that helped the MRC lead a series of public consultations earlier in the year to poll newcomers about their experiences moving to the MRC Pontiac. The plan will have three areas of focus: enhancing the quality of reception when immigrants first arrive, fostering a sense of inclusion in community life, and supporting immigrant retention. “There is more baby boomers than there is new life coming into the system [ . . . ]
immigration will fill part of that gap,” said CISSSO Pontiac director Nicole Boucher-Larivière.
Sept. 10
Zimmerling celebrates 100th birthday
Shawville resident Elden Zimmerling celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by friends and family at the Shawville United Church hall. Zimmerling, who grew up in Otter Lake, had a career as a contractor and worked on many buildings in the Pontiac including apartments, churches and others. In his time, Zimmerling has seen lightning strike twice and endured a fall off scaffolding, breaking his legs and forcing him to re-learn how to walk. Zimmerling still remains spry and loves to garden. He and his sons still go hunting at the family camp up the Picanoc. “He has no excuse, he could sit right on the deck and hunt off the deck,” said son Doug.
Fort Coulonge hosts first Salon du livre
Over 30 francophone authors gathered in Fort-Coulonge to celebrate the written word in the language of Molière. The full-day event saw over 250 attend, and featured presentations and panels centred around the preservation of the French language through literature. “French isn’t only a language, it’s the culture. It’s in our DNA. It’s what we laugh about. It’s our food,” said Sand Bay author Sandra Lemire Wolf, who played a role in organizing the event. Fort-Coulonge mayor Christine Francoeur said the event was a welcome addition to the cultural vibrancy of the village, especially considering that the municipality had closed its library.
Rusenstrom cousins eyeing bright hockey future
Pontiac Lions alumni Pierce Rusenstrom and Gavin Rusenstrom laced up to prepare for their seasons at two high-level prep schools. Pierce, a 16-year-old defenceman from Bristol, entered his first year with prep school OHO in Whitby, Ont., and Gavin Rusenstrom entered his third and final year with Bishop’s College in Lennoxville. The boys, who are cousins, remarked at how lucky they were to be able to pursue the opportunities, while adding that they are working hard to make it to the next level and play junior hockey.
Sept. 17
Study finds Shawville arena needs $17M in renos
A study received by the Municipality of Shawville recommended almost $17 million in repairs and upgrades to the town’s arena, including work to the ice system the council says it needs to prioritize just to keep the facility operational. Mayor Bill McCleary said a $3.5-million quote for the arena floor prompted the municipality to look into what it might cost to make the needed fixes versus building new. The arena ran a $177K deficit in 2024, with more money than ever going toward the repair and hydro costs of the ice plant. “We can no longer continue to fund the whole deficit as one municipality,” said councillor Richard Armitage. “We’re hopeful that parents will go to their respective councils and say, ‘Look, you guys have to step up a bit.’”
Shawville’s Kuehl next up to bat for Canada
Shawville softball prospect Cade Kuehl was selected to the final roster of Canada’s U18 national team that would later travel to an international tournament in Argentina. The 18-year-old catcher had a scorching summer, winning a silver medal with Team Quebec at the Canada Games and a bronze at the U20 men’ s softball championships in Saskatoon. “It’s a goal that I’ve been working toward for as long as I remember, so just to finally hear that it was official is pretty cool,” said Kuehl. Coach and mentor Matt Greer said he has seen the impact of Kuehl and other softball talents on the next generation. “I’m definitely seeing a lot more energy with young people saying, ‘Maybe I could do that,’” he said.
Kendyl Smith-Trimm fundraiser brings in $30K for CHEO
The parents of a young girl who died of bone cancer in 2023 raised over $30,000 for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, the facility where the girl was cared for before her passing. The second annual fundraiser event, hosted at the Harrington Community Hall in Chapeau, featured a guest speaker, a childhood cancer survivor and Paralympian, raffles, food and door prizes. The first fundraiser, hosted the previous September, raised $66,500 for children and their families seeking treatment at CHEO in a fund created by the family. The $30K raised at this year’s fundraiser also went to the same fund.
Sept. 24
Mayors approve $350K for abattoir
The MRC Pontiac announced at its September council meeting the approval of a 30-year agreement between the MRC and the Pontiac AgriSaveur Solidarity Cooperative, the group of local producers who are preparing to re-open the Shawville abattoir. The agreement specified each group’s obligation toward the abattoir building, and required the co-op to handle all maintenance and upkeep. At the end of the agreement, all assets will belong to the MRC. The council approved $353,638 of additional funding from the 2025/26 FRR component 2 to carry out essential work on the abattoir building to make it operational.
PHS Terry Fox Run raises over $2K for cancer research
Students at Pontiac High School gathered for their annual 10-kilometre run, walk or bike around the neighbourhood, followed by a barbeque at the school. The school’s 300 or so students raised just over $2,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation. Other interesting events throughout the day included a speech from former PHS student Olivier Muratori-Dousett, who was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive bone cancer when he was 15 years old.
Toller reverses course, joins warden race
MRC Pontiac warden Jane Toller announced she would indeed be running for a third term as warden in the upcoming municipal elections, back-tracking on a prior announcement that she would not seek re-election. In the prior announcement she said she wanted to spend more time with family, on her religious studies and at her businesses, but more recently said she received feedback from the community asking her to reconsider. “I find now that I have the time for everything [ . . .] I’m leaving everything in God’s hands,” she said.
NEXT WEEK, THE LAST FOUR MONTHS OF THE YEAR IN REVIEW
