The MRC Pontiac council of mayors held their monthly public meeting on Feb. 19 at the MRC office in Campbell’s Bay. At their January meeting, council approved the budget for the non-organized territories of Lac Nilgaut, which makes up the majority of the MRC’s land mass, and approved their budget for the maintenance of “multi-use” forest roads at the February meeting. MRC Territory Director Jason Durand explained that while there was $511,000 set out in the budget for overall TNO infrastructure maintenance, $250,000 was specifically earmarked for maintenance of these roads, which make up the primary access points to the territory. 

The roads and length of sections maintained is as follows:

– chemin Rapides des Joachims: 59 km

– chemin Schyan: 62 km

– chemin Bois Franc: 95 km

– chemin Picanoc: 75 km

– chemin Traverse Charette: 29 km

– chemin Traverse Manitou: 11 km

– chemin Rte. 20: 44 km

Durand also introduced a resolution for the purchase of a new truck for the TNO employees, which was approved unanimously 17-0, as there was no representative from the Municipality of Litchfield present. 

The truck is an F-150 4×4 purchased from Shawville Ford for $59,593, plus tax. Durand noted that they would possibly be offsetting the cost by selling the old truck to be used by the MRC’s PPJ maintenance crew. 

“We’ll probably try to sell to the PPJ if it’s serviceable,” he said.

Sculpture approved for MRC office exterior

In Sept. 2025, the previous council had approved a call for projects to create a sculpture that would sit outside the front entrance of the MRC office. At the time, MRC Pontiac socio-economic development coordinator Sabrina Ayers told THE EQUITY the MRC wanted to diversify the types of local art it showcases at its office, which consists mostly of paintings and wall-hangings. 

On Feb. 19, the winning sculpture was named The Spirit of the White-Tailed Sky by local artist Keri-Anne Chyzewsky (who is currently the president of artPontiac).

According to a depiction shown to the mayors at the meeting, the work is a male white-tailed deer with two maple leaves coming out of its back like wings “symbolizing transformation, freedom and the vitality of nature.” The sculpture is approximately 8.2 feet wide, 5.3 feet high, and two to three inches thick, weighing in at around 50 lbs. It cost $4,000 and will be constructed with “Pal Tiya”, a durable polymer material, with the wings made of copper, and finished with UV and moisture resistant varnish. The sculpture will be secured to the exterior of the building, just to the right of the main entrance. 

Tourism committee named, funding requested for digital terminal project

Council approved the naming of elected officials to the tourism advisory committee, which makes recommendations to the larger council on tourism issues. 

Mayors on the committee are Donald Gagnon (Chichester), Valerie Twolan-Graham (Bristol), Joanne Ralston (Bryson) and Jennifer Quaile (Otter Lake). MRC economic development employees Stéphanie Hébert-Potter and Danelle Bourque also sit on that committee, along with two representatives from the Pontiac Tourism Association.

Council also approved a resolution expressing its interest in a subsidy from the provincial Ministry of Tourism for an outdoor digital tourism kiosk. The MRC has been identified as an “interprovincial gateway” by the ministry and was granted an extension to apply for the funding to create an outdoor terminal, available 24/7 for tourism information.  

According to the resolution, the ministry covers 90 per cent of expenses for the terminal if approved, which would cost $54,830.76, and the MRC’s 10 per cent contribution ($5,483.07) would come from the FRR2 budget. 

Assistant director general Terry Lafleur explained that the kiosk would be installed at the MRC office, as it is the MRC’s tourism information centre. 

Several mayors, including Valerie Twolan-Graham of Bristol and Corey Spence of L’Isle-aux-Allumettes, suggested looking into options for improving the availability of tourism information at the rest stops at the MRC’s borders with other regions.

MRC warden Jane Toller said that improving the entrance points to the Pontiac is something the new tourism committee could look into.