CALEB NICKERSON
PORTAGE DU FORT
Aug. 11, 2018
On Saturday, the Artistes de la Riviere (AR) held their annual walking tour in the historic village of Portage du Fort.
A tour of the stone buildings in the village brought out a crowd of around 20 to the Lady Head monument, looping up to finish at St. James the Greater Catholic Church.
Pontiac Historical Society President Chris Seifried led the tour, spelling off with Fr. Basil Tanguay, a lifelong Portage resident with deep connection to the local lore. In fact, one of the stone buildings on the tour was Tanguay’s childhood home.
Along the path, many AR members had their studios open and their work on display for the visitors to admire.

Simultaneous to the tour, there was a garden party being held at the home of Sharon and Les Brinkworth. There was plenty of food and drink, as well as live music provided by Charlie Brinkworth and David Pollard.
Sharon explained that this is the third year they have had the party and said for the past two years they have donated towards upgrades for the children’s park in town. This year, she said the money they raised would be going towards historic plaques for the heritage buildings in town.
“There’s stories behind all these houses,” she said, noting that her own home, which has been in Les’ family since the 1950s, was built in the mid 1800s.
Both the Stone School Gallery and St. James the Greater Catholic Church were open with works by various local artists on display.