Chris Lowrey
PONTIAC August 21, 2017
The Ottawa River on the Quebec side has been deemed a historic site by the provincial government.
The announcement was made on Aug. 21 by Minister of Culture and Communications and Minister responsible for the Protection and Promotion of the French Language, Luc Fortin.
The designation brings Quebec into line with Ontario, who deemed the river a historic site last year.

The Ottawa River was the main transportation route in the area for generations. It was the route that brought Samuel Champlain into the region and served as a highway of sorts for the burgeoning lumber industry.
It’s this sense of history that was the main driver behind the designation.
“The Ottawa River is the longest river in Quebec and a determinant in our history,” Fortin said in a press release. “It plays an important role in several spheres including business, transportation, tourism and the economy of the Outaouais region.”
The Ottawa River is the main tributary of the St. Lawrence River, which was the first river to receive heritage designation.