Exploring Abitibi

March 30, 2022 | Abitibi-Temiscamingue, Québec

Moving to Abitibi-Temiscamingue was a significant change for me, but it quickly became a region I adored living in. This area is known for its lush forests, diverse wildlife and booming mining industry.

The mining industry is central to the development of the cities and towns in this region. Many local geological and mining-related museums showcase the progress in the mining field and the history of the founding and development of these towns. Log houses that early miners lived in when they initially settled here are preserved as if they were suspended in an earlier time. There is an animal sanctuary for local and exotic wildlife that is also a very popular attraction. Youth in the region enjoy spending their time outdoors. Many youths in the area make use of the cold winter weather. They ice fish on the lakes, use snowmobiles to travel and ski, or snowboard at the local ski mountains. The forest trails in the region are excellent throughout the year. One of the activities that brought me the most joy was skating down the icy tracks in the forest. It truly makes you feel like you are gliding through something magical. 

Additionally, there are paths for those who want to snowshoe or cross country ski through the conservation trails. There are local conservation parks like École buissonnière where you can feed the chickadee birds in the winter. With the change of the seasons, the youth bike all around the city in the warmer weather as we are fortunate to have designated bike lanes. Another lovely part of living in Abitibi is the number of local farms you can visit. There are local dairy farms and bee farms that you can explore. Apart from the places and things you can explore, I think what makes Abitibi so special is the welcoming warm spirits of the people in the region.

Author
Gimhani Costa
Youth Cultural Ambassador (Abitibi-Temiscamingue)
for Y4Y’s You are Here: The Belonging Project