Close to the nation's capital is the rural municipality of Cantley, Quebec. Its first pioneers settled here in the 1820's; a local government was established in 1889. Today it is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Canada.
Cantley 1889 was founded by volunteers interested in discovering Cantley's roots from the early 19th century - its logging on the Gatineau River, mining mica from the rocky Canadian Shield, farming its rolling hills and fields. Our mandate is to discover, document,protect and promote Cantley's history and heritage.
We are a registered not-for-profit voluntary organization. Your membership supports Cantley 1889. We welcome your stories and photos of Cantley’s past and your volunteer help.
Cantley 1889 received these awards recognizing its work to discover, document, protect and promote Cantley's history and heritage.
... please see the notice – attached... RSVP
Please consider joining our board of Directors and/or volunteering as a “non-Board” member volunteer if you have any particular skill or interest (for example, administrative work, translation, social media, organizing archives, assisting the treasurer ...)
We will be briefly reviewing this year’s work and the start of our exciting new “Map of Old Cantley” project which inspired us to invite you to a relaxing and entertaining afternoon of stories the following Sunday....
... please see the notice – attached... RSVP
We hope you will join us for an entertaining afternoon of memories and stories of Cantley when “life was hard, but life was good”.
Some guests (who wish to) will share stories inspired by our images and artefacts from Cantley’s Farming Era.
You can help: (let us know)
- Please invite anyone who might enjoy listening to, or sharing, stories of Cantley’s past.
- If you would like a ride, or if you can offer to drive someone, please let us know.
- Donations of cookies or squares will be gratefully appreciated.
Thank you!
Read Cantley 1889 articles, our monthly column on Cantley's heritage and topics of local historical interest originally published in the Cantley Echo community newspaper.
Most recent article - October 2024:
The Pomeroy Heritage Farm
Images and videos of Cantley's history and heritage showing Cantley's historical artefacts, buildings and sites.
Created by Cantley 1889, Valérie Crevier and photographer Pierre Bélisle.
Cantley’s restored Tugboat and Mine Car with their descriptive panels situated with a unique view of the Gatineau River.
In 2017, L'Embâcle, a sculpture carved from river logs, was installed here showing the symbolism of the river’s history.
This site is a memorial to Cantley’s early pioneers,
and to Cantley’s first European settler, Andrew Blackburn
For cemetery information, visit The Blackburn Pioneer Cemetery.
The cemetery is open to visitors.
60, chemin River, Cantley QC