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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What should I wear?
The regions of “Minganie, Anticosti and Lower North Shore” are not fashion centres. You are explorers, so you should dress “comfortably and practically”. Also, a good windbreaker is needed during the summer and early fall months. Items to wear would be t-shirts, jeans, casual slacks, polo shirts and a light sweater for the cool evenings. A good raincoat (poncho) or rain suit is a must. In the warmer months of July and August and even sometimes in September, summer apparel such as shorts and skirts are recommended. Good walking shoes, sneakers and rubber boots will allow you to comfortably walk the trails, beaches, rocky sholes, plains and wetlands. And do not forget to bring a hat and sandals. At our latitude a hooded anorak or some other form of versatile outdoorwear comes in quite handy.
What accessories would you recommend I bring with me and what should I leave at home?
The cellular phone has little or no use here if you consider that on 900 kilometres of coastline there is only cell phone service in Havre-Saint-Pierre. If you wish to immerse yourself in this maritime experience and really take advantage of the beauty of this region, you could leave your I-pods and headphones at home, but do not leave home without your camera, and your binoculars. A kite to fly on the beach is great to have for the children or even for the adult who finds their inner child.
What is the temperature?
The temperature is very comfortable during the months of June to October. The summer months as of late have been exceptional, even compared to the larger urban centres such as Montreal and Quebec City. While these centres have been battling the rain and the extreme humidity, we here had, the last few years, and especially in 2009, mostly sunshine. We are after all the sunniest region in the province.
Even though the beautiful months of May and June are also known for their cool breezes and fog that tends to roll in and park itself on the Lower North Shore, as soon as the first days of summer arrive, the temperature heats up and usually lasts until the beginning of October when the wind picks up and the fogs starts rolling back in. November is windy and rainy, and in December the snow arrives and normally stays until April. However, in the winter of 2010, shoes replaced boots for most of the winter, which was a very rare occurrence. Generally, the months of February and March will bring very cold temperatures (up to -35 Celsius) which makes for a very dry winter and as the temperature heats up the sport of snowmobiling becomes extremely enjoyable as well as being the sole means of inter-village transport, on the Lower North Shore, right until the month of April.
They say that the North Shore of Quebec is infested with mosquitoes. Is this the case?
This statement is mostly for the interior territories. The coastline regions are not infested but let us say “frequented”... There are times and conditions that are more prone to their presence: for example, during a day with no wind, a planned stop along a stream may not be a wise choice… But rest assured, the oceanfront, the wind or a brisk breeze, along with the numerous accessories or lotions at your disposal, will quickly become your best friends to help you enjoy a pleasurable stay while hardly noticing the presence of our “winged fauna”.
While speaking of mosquitoes, in June between 5 and 7pm when the winds die down, some might say we could open a “Mosquito interpretation centre”. But it would quickly be forgotten because the coastline of the Gulf of St-Lawrence helps up keep them away. Not to mention, on a lovely summer night, a nice fire on the beach to keep them at bay.
Tell me about the people. How are they?
Very friendly. Generally one “Hello” brings another along with a big smile. We aren’t shy about asking questions, or talking about the weather, in order to break the ice because it may lead to more interesting perhaps even unforgettable conservations.
If the North Shore men may sometime come off as being cold and hard to approach it is only because he has a lot of hard work to do and has little time for small talk. But ask him about fishing, hunting, the capelin running, the whales, the seals, the salmon or trout, his boat and what size motor his quad has, or ask him about that “thingamabob” he is carrying in his pickup truck and he will have all the time in the world to chat and tell you all about it. You may even come away with a good story or two.
You will find the North Shore people, unless very shy, very warm, inviting and they enjoy a good conversation. In certain places, like Natashquan, the presence of a bistro will render your stay even more enjoyable and give you a chance to meet and talk with the locals.
One thing is certain, if we find you friendly, interesting, or if we feel like you enjoy our part of the country, that’s it: you are a winner. A connection is made; maybe a friendship is created and, be careful, it may last a lifetime because everyone wants to come back once they have been here. Some have even stayed.
What language or languages are spoken?
The coast of Jacques-Cartier was unilingual. Innu was the language spoken at that time. Today, we can say three languages are spoken, depending on the community, along the 900 kilometre coastline. In Minganie, between Sheldrake and Natashquan as well as Port-Menier on Anticosti Island, French is mostly spoken but some are bilingual should you wish to speak in English and if you meet a member of the First Nations community, you may get a chance to speak the few words of Innu that we have taught you. On the Lower North Shore, depending on the village you are visiting, you may be conversing in English, French or Innu.
How do we get around on this “coast”?
A trip with the Cooperative for a Sustainable Tourism Environment (Voyages CoSte), and you are pretty much guaranteed to use the real means of transport for the people of the North Shore: by road, in a boat (Nordik Express), by airplane or seaplane, zodiac or motor boat (taxis-boat) accredited for the transport of passengers, ATV or snowmobile (scooter des neiges) could eventually be added (depending on the package) to the list of transportation used by Voyages CoSte. In the beginning of winter, you would even have a chance to get from Harrington Harbour to Chevery by helicopter. The train is the only means of transportation missing from your coastal experience because train travel is non-existant at this latitude, in the land of granite and peat bogs.
What are the native people (the Innu) like?
The native Innu established themselves on the North Shore territory thousands of years ago, after years and years of seasonal migration into the hinterland, the sedentation was implemented by the government and the administration in the beginning of the 20th century, with the instalment of the reserves.
But, still today, the Innu return “to the land” to hunt, to get back in touch with his inner self, or at least to get back where he recognises himself: his forest, his fir, his birch and his spruce trees as well as his rivers and lakes..
My voyage to discovery on the “Coast” has a limited time frame. Will I make it back in time for my return flight, in order to get back to my daily routine?
The answer is YES. Voyages CoSte foresees an extra day as a buffer for unexpected delays. Unforeseen changes in the planned itinerary are always a possibility for reasons of fog, high winds, or other circumstances such as a transporter not being able to respect their schedule. However, Voyages CoSte will try to return to the best of its hability all passengers experiencing delays. In the case of lengthy delays, there is always the possibility that an activity or excursion be dropped from the program.
On the other hand, every client who has purchased this trip of a lifetime is encouraged to, themselves, plan for an additional day (ex : “re-enter the country”, return home or get back to their routine after the holidays) because, on the coast, the conditions described above may occur.
Could I get by on my own, plan my own itinerary, make reservations for what I would see in your program and, in addition, save myself some money by not purchasing a tour package?
The type of tour package offered by Voyages CoSte is unique. The contacts have been established through our cooperative and its members as well as numerous arrangements have been made with establishments and service providers who we know, have tried and have deemed professional, in order to offer you a unique, authentic visit. Also, the prices offered by CoSte regroup an ensemble of products and various fees which are the same as a person would pay if he were to purchase them individually but he would probably have difficulty finding and coordinating them. The advantage to traveling with CoSte? We take you on a journey much deeper into the country. Beyond the landscapes, we get a taste of chosen experiences, we benefit from real contacts, more precise information coming directly from experienced guides or resource persons who represent CoSte in each village visited.
I have taken packaged tours before… will I be a prisoner of rigid schedules that oblige me to follow a group?
Traveling with CoSte, you will definitely not be part of a larger group. At the most, you will be 10 or 12, but most of the time you will be alone, as a couple, or with a few people who happen to be traveling on the same boat trip or airplane flight as you, and who also have chosen to “experience the coast and its people”. You will be asked to stay together as a group during excursions for reasons of scheduling arrivals and departures (in a new village, at your Inn or hotel, at the site of a visit or at a meeting). If you wish to stay on your own and not participate in an organised visit, you may do so as long as you are on time for the next leg of your trip. The “coast” is sometimes best discovered alone, but in order to be on time for arrivals and departures, one must be advised of its particularities and ruggedness. Bon voyage!
© 2012 Voyages Coste
Coste is an travel agency holder of a licence of the office de la protection du consommateur of Quebec