Our name
When it was created in 1998, our council chose the name “Grandes Rivières” in homage to one of our great local treasures. This name was suggested by Mr. Jos Matko, a school counselor at the time. Our name reminds us of the beauty of the nature that surrounds us, which we must protect.
Our great rivers also have a lot of history! At the end of the XNUMXth century, Sieur d'Iberville traveled on the Abitibi River to reach James Bay. Also, for hundreds of years, the Voyageurs sailed the Missinaibi River, between James Bay and the Great Lakes, for the fur trade. This river is today recognized worldwide for canoe trips.
Today bordered by the majority of the cities of our beautiful region, several rivers crisscross our territory. From Calstock, in the west, to Marten River, in the east, we find:
- Kabinakgami;
- Mattawishquia;
- Missinaibi;
- Opasatika;
- Kapuskasing;
- Groundhog;
- Mattagami;
- Frederickhouse;
- Abitibi;
- Wabi;
- Montreal;
- Martin;
- and many others.