Project to save Duhamel's traditional sawmills

Duhamel - David Pharand, Mayor of Duhamel, and Pierre Bernier, General Manager of North Nation Mills Corporation, owner of the Patrimoine et Chutes de Plaisance and Patrimoine Papineau designations, joined forces today to announce an important heritage and tourism project: the economuseum of Duhamel's ancestral sawmills.

On behalf of the non-profit organizations, Pierre Bernier noted that this is a project with an estimated value of $1.5 million. "We began our efforts in Duhamel in the spring of 2020, and we immediately had a very good reception and cooperation from the municipal council, whose financial support to date is close to $15,000," he said.

Mayor David Pharand pointed out that this project fits perfectly with his municipality's vision of tourism and a diversified range of services for residents, cottagers and tourists, especially as the infrastructure will be located in the village center. The mayor added that the economuseum and related activities will have a positive impact on local businesses.

Mr. Bernier hopes to be able to inaugurate the ancestral sawmill in the spring of 2023, but may have to adjust the schedule depending on the availability of materials contractors. For the time being, we're working on studies and technical solutions," he concludes. Later, we'll tackle the architectural plans and construction. As this infrastructure will be built on the banks of the Petite Nation river and close to the village, great care will be taken to avoid any water or noise pollution. A conclusive noise impact study has already been carried out on a sawmill of the same type, and an ecological study is currently underway.

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Source:
Pierre Bernier
cnnmills711@gmail.com
819 500-3311