Côte-Nord, a region fashioned by glaciers

In Baie-Comeau, in the magnificent Côte-Nord region, an integrated center for interpretation, exploration and education on the last ice age opened its doors in June 2009. Located on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, in the heart of the Manicouagan-Uapishka World Biosphere Reserve, the Jardin des glaciers—the Garden of the Glaciers—is the fruit of 20,000 years of nature’s labours. Crafted by climate change, the formation of the ancient seas and the melting of the Laurentian ice cap, this site has imprinted the region with a distinctive natural landscape unmatched in Quebec.

The brainchild of the Corporation Plein air Manicouagan, the center offers a glimpse into the geological past of this exceptional site and into the migration of its first inhabitants. The general public and academics alike are invited to explore and study the geomorphologic phenomena—the grooves, crevasses, moraines and shell deposits—that arose from the retracting of the Laurentide Ice Sheet that defined this territory, as well as the traces left behind by the migratory peoples.

The site’s three distinct zones—Multimedia, Nature and Adrenalin—use interactive exhibits, shows and a research laboratory to explain the natural phenomena that gave rise to the Côte-Nord region, raise awareness about the complex and fragile nature of the planet and enable visitors to enjoy unique outdoor experiences. Indeed, the pedagogical, scientific and sporting activities the Garden has to offer add to its appeal as an educational as well as a recreational tourism destination.

In 2010, the Garden of the Glaciers won Quebec Tourism Awards in the ecotourism and adventure tourism (silver medal) and outdoor recreational activities (bronze medal) categories, while its director was named tourism personality of the year. The center would never have seen the light of day without the dedicated work of local players, regional socioeconomic stakeholders and the municipal administration of Baie-Comeau. All of these partners showed proof of unwavering determination in carrying out this project, an initiative that necessitated an overall investment of nearly $10,000,000 and resulted in the creation of some 30 jobs in the area.

Canada Economic Development saw it as essential to lend its financial support to a project as promising for the Côte-Nord region as the Jardin des glaciers.

By virtue of its uniqueness, this establishment promises to help further the tourism development of the Côte-Nord region as well as the economic diversification of the Manicouagan RCM, an area still heavily dependent on the aluminum and pulp and paper industries.  The center is an additional asset for Baie-Comeau, a city looking to expand its tourism offering in order to become more than just a mere port of call, but rather a premium destination for international cruise ships. The Jardin des Glaciers expects to open its doors to more than 35,000 visitors a year, nearly a quarter of them from outside Quebec.

Nature has truly worked its magic on the Côte-Nord region: breathtaking landscapes, varied plant and animal life, all against the spectacular backdrop of the Jardin des glaciers. Though shaped by its past, the region clearly has its eyes trained to the future, as we can see from the many efforts it is making to strengthen its economy.