Saint-Augustin

Saint-Augustin is an isolated settlement of 425 people (2021) in Le Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent, in the northeast of the Quebec. It is a paradise for hunting, fishing, bucolic beaches, wild islands, wildlife observation, mountain biking, snowmobiling.

Understand
The Innu community of Pakuashipi is located west of the municipality, on the west bank of the Saint-Augustin River and north of Cook Township.

The community of Saint-Augustin is mostly English-speaking. The village is established at the southern tip of a peninsula, near the mouth of the Saint-Augustin River which flows into the Bay of Saint-Augustin in the form of a delta. The archipelago of Saint-Augustin located at the end of the eponymous bay has several large magnificent islands to see on a boat trip, in particular: Forgeron Island, Juniper Island, Rigolet Island, Grande Passe Island, Bayfield Island...

This isolated municipality is 218 km from Kegaska (the terminus of Route 138) and 108 km from the village of Blanc-Sablon.

Toponymy
This toponym evokes Augustin Le Gardeur de Courtemanche (1664-1717) who was the first grantee of a long strip of land extending from the river designated Kegaska to that designated "Kesesakion".

By boat

 * Bella Desgagnés (Maritime service Anticosti Island-Basse-Côte-Nord) - Departing from Rimouski, the vessel Bella Desgagnés offers weekly maritime service to the ports of Port-Menier (L'Île-d'Anticosti), Sept-Iles, Havre-Saint-Pierre and Natashquan, reaching as far as Blanc-Sablon. Operated by the Government of Quebec, this ship makes the connection between : Saint-Augustin, La Tabatière (Gros-Mécatina), Tête-à-la-Baleine, Harrington Harbour, La Romaine, Kegaska and Blanc-Sablon. This cargo-passenger ship has eight decks and can accommodate 420 passengers, including around 40 crew members. It has 63 cabins with private bathrooms to accommodate passengers, a cafeteria, a dining room, a bistro and seascape observation lounges. Internet site: -.

By snowmobile
Saint-Augustin is also accessible in winter by snowmobile via the route Blanche from Natashquan. This 525 km snow road passes through the villages of Kegaska, La Romaine, Chevery, Harrington Harbour, Tête-à-la-Baleine, Mutton Bay, La Tabatière, Saint-Augustin, Rivière-Saint-Paul (Bonne-Espérance) and Blanc-Sablon. Trail layout and conditions may vary from winter to winter. Users of this trail should act proactively by having enough fuel, geolocation instruments, a satellite telephone system, spare parts in case of breakage, mechanical repair tools, a gun, a map and survival gear. Group travel is recommended.

Get around
Saint-Augustin and Pakuashipi have a few streets and a few local roads, especially to the northeast to bypass Northeast Bay; or, on the west side of the Saint-Augustin river, the road leading to Navarre stream in Cook township. In summer, pleasure or fishing boats are good ways to get around the waterways and the bay of Saint-Augustin. In winter, the snowmobile provides access to the backcountry.

Do
Summer activities: Boat excursions, sea kayaking, wilderness camping, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) excursions, hiking, observation of sea birds, marine mammals, picking wild berries (e.g. blueberries, cloudberries), salmon fishing, hunting and fishing.

Snowmobiling, ice fishing (on the ice), snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, local winter carnival, hockey tournaments...

Connect
Founded in 1987, Community Radio CJAS Saint-Augustin (FM 93.5) serves the Lower North Shore. Cell phones are functional in Saint-Augustin thanks to three national cellular communication networks.