A love song to my home

KAMOURASKA, QUE.—We had a celebration here for the 350th anniversary of the founding of Kamouraska this week. There were parties, music, food, and drink. And people from the village joined together to celebrate. The events marked the signing of the documents for the seigneury of Kamouraska in 1674 by Olivier Morel, the seigneur of La Durantaye, near Quebec. He had heard the fishing was good downriver, and decided to take on the land for a fishing camp. When an expedition provided no fish, he lost interest in Kamouraska, and sold it to Charles Aubert de la Chesnaye. De la Chesnaye brought a handful of pioneers to Kamouraska in 1694, but the real influx began after 1709. On the space where the original colony was established stands le Berceau de Kamouraska, “the cradle.” All this to say our 350th celebrations are a bit of a fraud, as there were no settlers here for decades in the 17th century except the Indigenous Peoples, who lived here. However, the actual history was secondary to having a good time. Nonetheless, this weekend, the village was bustling with tourists. The Centre d’Art at the old courthouse was packed for a festival, and the wharf and beach rang to the sounds of children’s laughter. Meanwhile, in an orchard not far from the Berceau, a series of tents were assembled for two events for the people of the village: a poutine supper, and the celebration of the Berceau. They are the farmers and workers who live here year-round and make it through a long winter to welcome a few months of glorious summer. The poutine supper was organized and sponsored by several local cultivateurs. One of them, Gilles Michaud, is a prosperous potato grower, and the former mayor. He took the time to show me his spectacular collection of restored tractors, dating back to 1923, 1933, and 1945, each speaking of a different era. While Kamouraska clearly faces challenges, it is one of the most beautiful villages in Canada. Demographically, two-thirds of the population is over the age of 60. In terms of image, we have a tough time attracting new people to live here, as city folk think we are in the boonies, despite great quality of life and services. And when someone purchases a 200-year-old home, the urge to modernize it runs into our comprehensive heritage standards. Kamouraska may faces challenges, but it is one of the most beautiful villages in Canada, and a place to connect to nature and recharge amid political turmoil, writes Andrew Caddell. Photograph courtesy of Andrew Caddell Meanwhile, while we are one of the richest villages in the Lower Saint Lawrence region, we try to keep taxes low, but we need $5-million to repair the wharf, which is a focal point of the town. On the morning of July 14, I discovered a bird that perched in our hanging plant for two months had flown the nest with her two babies. Then I joined my wife and cycling friend Nathalie to chat over coffee. The previous day, we had cycled 75 kilometres around the area before 10 a.m. In the afternoon, we welcomed cousins for drinks, and later joined friends for a swim as the tide came in. The rolling of the tide still fascinates me, 70 years after I first saw it. My ancestors came here 140 years ago, and had the same attachment to the river, as do my kids. Most Canadians have their own Kamouraska: their cottage, their cabin, their camp, their tent, their refuge in the country. It could be anywhere, but it allows us to unwind and marvel at nature. It is what we keep in our heart in the harshness of winter, and when we are away. That connection with nature helps to define us. All of this takes place in a world that seems to be falling apart, with campaigns seeking to drive wedges between us, with raging insults on social media, where the former head of state of our closest neighbour is targeted for an assassination, and we are not surprised. I have been writing this column for seven years this week, and sometimes I need to take a break from writing about all the conflicts in this world when so much is negative. It is times like these we need to be reminded that life isn't perfect, but it can be amazing when we just take a step back and listen to nature, and one another. Andrew Caddell is retired from Global Affairs Canada, where he was a senior policy adviser. He previously worked as an adviser to Liberal governments. He is a town councillor in Kamouraska, Que. He can be reached at pipson52@hotmail.com. The Hill Times

A love song to my home

At times like these, we need to be reminded that life isn't perfect, but it can be amazing when we just take a step back and listen to nature, and one another.

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A love song to my home

At times like these, we need to be reminded that life isn't perfect, but it can be amazing when we just take a step back and listen to nature, and one another.

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