The event was the third in a series of talks organized by the Regional Association of West Quebecers (RAWQ) meant to illuminate the region’s anglophone history.

Graham, a former teacher at Pontiac High School, presented a talk encouraging the packed crowd to put themselves in the shoes of the original Pontiac settlers, many of whom were Irish Catholics, Irish Protestants and Scottish immigrants, while others yet were Loyalists who had come north from America to Canada to remain loyal to the British Crown.

“By 1810, there were people living in the Quyon area, most of them were Loyalists,” said Graham, adding that many settlers came for the promise of land and vast open spaces.

“Land gave you independence, it gave you the means to support yourself, and for so many from the British Isles who were tenants, here was the true link to liberty.”

Graham described the early conditions that many settlers had to face, including having to clear the land before building on it. Then, once the land was cleared and a house was built, many of life’s necessities we take for granted today were well-earned.

“How many hours do we have to devote today to our food and shelter, compared to what they would have [done]?,” he asked, noting that every family member played a crucial role in the workings of the farmstead.

“The wife was so key to the farmstead. She did the dairy, did the milking, looked after the livestock, made sure there was food on the table when you came in.”

Graham guided attendees through the transition from sparse rough-shod settlements to, in the late 1800s, an emerging timber industry that was a major economic driver of the region.

“The timber industry was really good for the Pontiac, because the farmers could supply the timber industry with food, with hay, with oats
[ . . . ] and the merchants were the link between the farmers and the timber industry.”

Graham said that is the “traditional” story of the Pontiac, the one we have heard over and over. But he said it is often the “fiddly bits”, or the small details, of history that make it interesting to us today even though they were taken for granted in a previous time.

“A lot of this stuff was common sense, but who writes it down? Everybody knew.”

Graham also encouraged attendees to reflect on some of these “unanswered” questions from the history of the Pontiac – questions he said cannot easily be found in the history books.

What was everyday life like in the lumber camps? How did settlers decide where on their big lots to build their houses? Why did the original settlers come here? Did those settlers consider themselves as immigrants?

Graham summed up his talk by adding that the Pontiac story is the Canadian story in a nutshell, featuring themes such as industry, boom and bust, language diversity, and more.

“We’re part of the Canadian story right here. Every theme in Canadian history [is] right here.”

RAWQ director Alina Holmes, who organized the event alongside three other events in the Outaouais celebrating the anglophone heritage of the region, said the idea was to connect the history of English-speaking communities in Aylmer, Wakefield, the Pontiac and beyond.

“What I wanted to do was have a series [ . . . ] that went place to place throughout the Outaouais and connected all of these spots, because they’re so intertwined and I think it’s so important for people to understand why there are so many English speakers in this area,” she said.

Holmes said when she found out Graham was retiring in the spring (and that suddenly he’d have a bit more time on his hands) she asked him to be a part of the series.

“Gord has an incredible database of knowledge in his brain about local history. He’s also a phenomenal speaker and has a way of relaying that knowledge that is engaging and relatable,” she said.

“It’s often forgotten how we got here and why we’re here, and why it’s so important that the knowledge and the vitality of these communities is promoted and supported.”

Barb Haughton (foreground, right) was one of several dozen people to attend the talk, which featured ample opportunity for audience participation. Photo: K.C. Jordan

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