Sophie Demers
Published online December 3, 2025, at www.pontiacjournal.com.
RIVIÈRE-DU-LOUP – MRC Pontiac’s Route 148: Your Best Vanlife in the Outaouais tourism project received the Silver Azimut Award on November 6. The award recognizes innovative tourism initiatives across Quebec and was presented during Les Journées de l’accueil touristique (JAT), an annual gala hosted by the Government of Quebec. This year’s edition was held at Hôtel Levesque in Rivière-du-Loup.
Economic Development Commissioner Stéphanie Hébert Potter attended the ceremony to accept the award from Tourism Minister Amélie Dionne and Deputy Minister Jessy Baron.
Route 148 promotes recreational vehicle and vanlife travel through a 20-stop circuit across the Pontiac. The route highlights scenic landscapes, local producers, artisans, and village experiences, while offering affordable accommodation and encouraging travellers to explore the region at a slower pace.
“This award is a wonderful recognition of the collective work carried out to showcase our territory in a new way. Route 148 invites people to explore the Pontiac with curiosity, respect, and the pleasure of taking the time to enjoy each discovery,” said Pontiac Warden Jane Toller.
Stops highlighted in the Route 148 network include Pure Conscience Farm, Parc des Chutes Coulonge, Mill Dam Park, Little Red Wagon Winery, Parc Leslie Campground, Hotel Pontiac, Esprit Lodge & Rafting, and McConnell Lake Campground, among others.
The project supports the tourism economy by encouraging travellers to eat, shop, stay, and participate in local activities. It was developed in collaboration with Visages Régionaux, a firm specializing in content creation, graphic design, and regional development strategy.
Photo – Stéphanie Hébert Potter (centre) accepts the Silver Azimut Award for Route 148 on behalf of MRC Pontiac, joined by Deputy Minister Jessy Baron (left) and Tourism Minister Amélie Dionne (right).
