Bonaventure, Canada Summary

The most easterly resort on the bay is BONAVENTURE, whose tiny centre, beside Hwy 132, edges the marshy delta and man-made lagoon of the river that sports its name. The town is, uniquely, a centre for the production of fish-leather products such as purses and wallets, but it’s usually visited for its salmon fishing and sandy beach. A wildlife observation centre, Bioparc de la Gaspésie, 123 rue des Vieux Ponts (early June to early Oct daily 9am-6pm; $10), showcases the region’s animals – caribou, lynx, otters and mountain lions included – in their respective ecosystems. But Bonaventure is really known for being a stronghold of Acadian culture. Their traditions and heritage are celebrated at the Musée Acadien du Québec, 95 ave Port-Royal (late June to early Sept daily 9am-6pm; early Sept to mid-Oct 9am-5pm; mid-Oct to late June Mon-Fri 9am-noon & 1-5pm, Sat & Sun 1-5pm; $5), set in an imposing blue and white wooden building, once the church hall, in the town centre. Highlights of the collection include some delightful handmade furniture dating from the eighteenth century and a whole range of intriguing photographs that encapsulate something of the hardships of Acadian rural life.