Pointe-Fortune

Pointe-Fortune is a picturesque and modern municipality on the south shore of the Ottawa River, in the regional county municipality of Vaudreuil-Soulanges region of Montérégie, Quebec. Pointe-Fortune is specifically located northwest of the Suroît geographic region.

The village of Pointe-Fortune is located at the foot of the Carillon hydroelectric dam. It is made up of three areas: the village core (to the west), the Bois-Dansant sector (towards the centre) and the "eastern suburbs" (at the limits of Rigaud).

Understand
Nearly 40% of Pointe-Fortune's territory is covered with natural environments that are part of the Vaudreuil-Soulanges green corridor, between Pointe-Fortune and Île-Perrot. Its territory has 17 wildlife species considered at risk. The municipality has several woodlots. The municipality applies a tree planting policy, as well as the protection of trees and woodlands.

In Pointe-Fortune, biodiversity is characterized by the presence of 225 plant species, particularly around the Charette stream, which has its source in Ontario's Voyageur Provincial Park and flows to Brazeau Bay in Rigaud.

Geography
The village of Pointe-Fortune is bounded to the east by Rigaud Bay and to the northeast by the Ottawa River. Thus, shoreline activities are focused on recreational boating services: marinas, docks, etc.

History
For over 9,000 years, the area was inhabited by the Indigenous peoples of Canada. Under the French regime, what is now Pointe-Fortune was used in particular for the fur trade for the brothers François-Pierre de Rigaud de Vaudreuil and Pierre de Rigaud de Cavagnal. As part of the seigneury of Rigaud, the colonization of Pointe-Fortune began around 1860 with the arrival of Colonel William Fortune and his son, Joseph, both surveyors. Around 1860, the Lord of Rigaud granted 25 plots of land to settlers who had come to settle there.

On August 24, 1880, Point Fortune was civilly erected as a municipality. This toponym has been around since the end of the 19th century, in honour of Colonel William Fortune. On December 2, 1954, the final Frenchified toponymic designation became Pointe-Fortune.

Construction of the Carillon hydroelectric dam was completed in 1964; the first dam was built in 1881. This Hydro-Quebec dam was built in Ontario (Chute-à-Blondeau). Since the arrival of Highway 40, Pointe-Fortune has become an isolated village focused on recreational tourism with a particular emphasis on nature conservation.

The first families established in Pointe-Fortune were mostly Anglophones; since then, many Francophone families settled there.

By car
Carillon-Pointe-Fortune and Hudson-Oka ferries can take you across the Ottawa River to the Outaouais and Montagnes Laurentiennes regions on the Quebec side. In winter, ice bridges are maintained at Carillon-Pointe-Fortune and Hudson-OKA to connect the two shores.

Pointe-Fortune is accessible by exit 1 of Autoroute 40 de Québec (Trans-Canada Highway).

From Montreal: in 0:54 hours; take Highway 417 (Eastbound) to the interprovincial limit; take the first exit from Highway 40 (east); head towards the village of Pointe-Fortune.

From Ottawa: in 1:16 hours; take Highway 417 (Eastbound) to the interprovincial limit; take the first exit from Highway 40 (east); head towards the village of Pointe-Fortune.

By bicycle
Cyclists using the trail on the south side of the Ottawa River (Quebec portion) necessarily pass through Rigaud. Coming from Ontario or the Carillon-Pointe-Fortune ferry, the trail follows Chemin de la Baie; on the Montreal/Hudson side, the entrance is via Chemin de l'Anse.

Go next

 * Voyageur Provincial Park, a forested, riverside park is just across the Ontario border on westbound Autoroute 40 (Highway 417 in Ontario). It is used for camping, hiking, cycling, canoeing, etc.