Chateauguay Valley’s Best Kept Springtime Secrets: Part One
The valley may span countless kilometres, but there are treasures to be found around every nook and cranny.
Peanut Butter at Marché Sarah
Amongst the bundle of healthy treats and hard-to-find ingredients that owner Sarah Vandette carries in the Huntingdon shop, locals are raving about her Creamy All Natural peanut butter. “I can barely keep it on the shelves,” says Vandette. The shop also offers healthy, frozen meals for those on the go, along with other hard-to-find goodies for your pantry.
Serenplicity
This little gem of a shop houses a bevy of locally made treasures, from handmade pottery to darling concrete statues for the garden to imported goods from Hemmingford-based non-profit Heshima. For the more ambitious, owner Mary Sullivan hosts soap-making workshops.
Le Lavandou
Many have made the trek out to the Eastern Townships to spend a weekend tromping through the lavender fields, but it turns out that our community houses Le Lavandou, located in Franklin. From mid-June to mid-October, Le Lavandou offers visitors free entrance to their stunning grounds, offering everything from all natural bug repellent to essential oils to homemade land lotions.
River Road Coffee
oasted on the North River Road in Ormstown, homegrown River Road Roasters makes some of the best coffee in the area. From espresso to regular coffee, the Eastwood family offers a variety of blends—some of which are being touted by upscale restos in the big city. Catch them at the Huntingdon Farmer’s Market, held every Wednesday afternoon, or at the next local gathering.
Powerscourt Covered Bridge
Deemed a National Historic Site of Canada in 1984 and a Historic Monument of Quebec in 1987, the Powerscourt Covered Bridge in Elgin (or as it is more affectionately known by locals “the Percy Bridge”) is the oldest covered bridge in Canada. Spanning the Chateauguay River between the municipalities of Elgin and Hinchinbrooke, the bridge, originally the concept of Daniel McCallum, is one of the only in the country to maintain its original structure and materials.
The Drouler’s Site
The Droulers-Tsiionhiakwatha Archaeological Site Interpretation Center may not be a secret, but it is one on the most memorable spots in the Valley. Located in Saint-Anicet, the site is a reproduction of the original Iroquoian village discovered there in 1450. Overlooking the La Guerre River, the center offers guided tours of the villages and gardens, honouring the 15th century tribe that used to inhabit the land. The site will reopen to visitors in May.
Stevenson’s Apples
We all know that we live in the heart of apple country. Look left or right on any given drive down Route 202 coming into Franklin and you’re bound to set your eyes on a bountiful orchard. While we all have our favourites, Stevenson’s apple orchard in Franklin produces some of the best Honeycrisp apples in the Chateauguay Valley.
Marie Shewchuk’s Salad Dressing
A delectable mix of Dijon, maple, spices and some other mysterious ingredients that she hasn’t revealed to anyone (and by anyone, even her immediate family has no idea how she manages to make the dressing), Le Garde Manger á Marie Shewchuk’s trademark dressing makes you want to overdose on your greens.