Looking for a getaway? Ilot du Milieu Island is the perfect place for you! This remote island is located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and offers everything you need for a delightful natural holiday. Visitors can hike, kayak, cycle, and swim, among other activities. There’s also plenty to do if you prefer to stay indoors, including reading, playing games, and taking in the views from the island’s many vantage points. Ilot du Milieu Island is the perfect place to disconnect from the everyday stress of life and Chillax!
Contents
All Discussion Of Ilot du Milieu
History
Ilot du Milieu Island has a long and interesting history. First discovered by Jacques Cartier in 1535, the island was named for its central location on the middle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence – between Baie des Chaleurs to the north, Baie des Sables à la Roche to the south, and Île aux Chevaliers to the west. In 1605, Samuel de Champlain landed on Ilot du Milieu in order to build a trading post. It was known as the Island of Three Harbors, until 1716 when it became known as Ilot du Milieu and finally just named that today.
Visitors can interpret this island’s history by visiting Champlain Park at the northern end of Frances Point by taking two stairways down from Barachois Trail, on land which is owned and maintained personally by our ancestors!
Climate
Ilot du Milieu is an island located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and has a maritime climate with cool to cold winters, and hot summers. Summers can be quite humid while Winter is quite windy with rain and snow. Summer highs can reach the low 30s F while Winter lows consistently dip below freezing. Storm season runs between May-August with heavy rainfall, high winds and flooding occurring near storm tracks during this time.
Annual humidity for Ilot du Milieu generally stays between 40-60%, making temperatures feel much colder than actual readings. Because of this, the island sees a very small amount of snowfall with 39″ on record as recorded by Météo Quebec in 2016 and 21 years since 150 centimetres was measured in 1993 due to an early start to winter storms.
Culture
Ilot du Milieu is known for their contribution to the maritime fur trade, and as such has a rich history dating back to 1605. Today, visitors can explore Champlain Park which offers stunning views of the island and Gulf of St Lawrence. The park also features an information centre about the island’s culture and its importance in Canadian history. The Basilica at the island’s northern tip was built in 1891 by order of Pope Leo XIII and marks the spot where explorer Jacques Cartier first set foot on Canadian soil.
Politics
Ilot du Milieu is a part of the Regional County Municipality of Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine. The island feels very distant from the provincial politics, due to its isolation and sparse population. As of January 2015, Ilot du Milieu is represented by Honorabean Micard (Conservative) in Federal Politics who holds Canadian citizenship as well as his four local MHAs alongside Éric Cousineau (Ind.), Chantal Lacombe-Vallières et Jérémie Dallaire (NPD), André Lamont agne (Green) and Michel Timmins (Liberal). The island is also represented by eight to eleven administrative councillors in Gaspé municipal politics.
Government services
As Ilot du Milieu doesn’t have its own health clinic, residents are served by the Health Centre of Les Pins-de-la-Madeleine on the mainland. There is also a post office, police station and store on the island. Notable people François Larocque is elected MP for the riding of La Haute-Gaspésie in 2001. In 2011, Jean Charest was elected Premier and stayed until 2014. Gaspé’s major employers are the pulp mill and naval dock. Many concessions on mainland make up a large percentage of Gispé residents’ income as well
Tourism
Being a very small island, there is not much tourism on Ilot du Milieu. The only attraction is the Basilica at its northern tip. Summer is spent on the mainland, with activities ranging from boating to hiking. Manufacturing is Ilot du Miloirs’ main source of income. The marine industry, wood and the pulp mill are major portions of that market suppliers include Thales Canada, Barrette Pillerault Bois et Papier Ltd., Sipralium Inc or Troco Convenience Group (Troco). Concessions make up 53% to home-based businesses like restaurants kitchen shops.
Transport
There is no public transport available on Ilot du Milieu.Residents must use the ferry to get to Les Pins-de-la-Madeleine, or they can drive if they have a car. The Catholic Basilica of Notre Dame de l’Assomption is located on the main island’s north end. The Cégep de Gaspésie-La Mitis provides post secondary education to its students via Gatineau and Les Pins campus sites in Ilots du Milieu, Pointe aux Perroquets (Gatineaus: St-Georges) and New Richmond on Île d’ Orléans.
Cuisine
Like much of the Gaspésie, Ilot du Milieu’s cuisine is heavily reliant on seafood. The island’s proximity to the Gulf of St Lawrence means that there is a large abundance of lobster and crab available, as well as cod, haddock and salmon. There are also many foods typical to the mainland such as cheese puffs, pies and tarts. Chevrotage is a local specialty, made from lobster meat and cream. Houses that make it can be found across the islands of Les Pins-de-la-Madeleine and Portneuf.
Wildlife
Ilot du Milieu’s main attraction is its proximity to the Gulf of St Lawrence. This means that there is a large abundance of marine life, both algae and fish. There are also various birds which can be seen on the island, including ospreys and golden eagles. Ilot du Milieu’s proximity to the Gulf of St Lawrence has also brought great attention in regards to tourism.
There are various companies who will bring tourists onto the island, like Pelagic Tours or Quebec Fishing Tide Guide Service. Companies and organizations that provide tour activities include Tour Les Pins-Les Îles Gaspébec (Tourist Planning Committee), Université Laval Tourisme des Îles de la Madeleine , Inc. (the island’s tourism office), Association pour la Protection du Trou-de-l’Ecrivain and Les Pins Sightseeing Cruises.
Conclusion
Ilot du Milieu Island is located in the St-Lawrence River, between Quebec City and Montreal. The island is covered in mixed forests, with a large part of it designated as a nature reserve. The island is also home to a research station operated by the National Research Council.
FAQs
1.Is Ilot Du Milieu Island Accessible By Car?
Ans: You can reach the island by boat or on foot.
2.What’s The Climate Like On Ilot Du Milieu Island?
Ans: The climate is temperate, with average temperatures ranging from 18°C to 25°C during winter and from 21°C to 30°C in summer.
3.Is There A Tourist Office On Ilot Du Milieu Island?
Ans: Yes, the island has an official website that contains information about the island.
4.What Language Can I Speak Or Use?
Ans: French is the official language, but English is widely spoken by tourists and locals alike.
5.What Can I Do At Ilot Du Milieu Island?
Ans: visitors can explore the forest, hike and bike, kayak or paddle in the waters around the island, swim or sunbathe on the beaches.
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