Mieux Connaître D'Une Province
(Better Know A Province)
Part 1 of 20
Laurentides
Capital: Saint-Jérôme
Representatives: Roland Dupond; Winoc Villeneuve; Évariste Bisset
Laurentides has long been known to have a "split personality" as far as provinces go. The southern end is bustling with activity due to its proximity to the St. Lawrence River, while the north is relatively quiet and peaceful.
Laurentides is seen by the
Montréalais as the getaway destination for those looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, and the people of the province have embraced that. The cities and towns in the south boast hotels, spas, luscious parks, and even amusement parks, all catering to the "metropolitan refugees" looking for time off. In fact, tourism is the backbone of Laurentides' economy, overtaking manufacturing and shipping over the last twenty years. In the north one could also find tourist attractions, although you are much more likely to find farms, not hotels and amusement parks. A fair amount of produce hails from northern Laurentides, such as beans, potatoes, apples, pears, grapes, and cereals. Additionally, dairies are quite common in the region. Although Laurentides is home to a thriving tourist trade and many farms, they pale in comparison to the province's main feature, the
Porte du Corridor Nord, which connects the industrial heart of Quebec with the resource rich territories in the far north. The railways and roads which serve as the arteries which bring raw resources from the north all meet in Saint-Jérôme, Laurentides' capital and largest city, where they are then relayed to the manufacturing centers on the St. Lawrence.