William Dale – Local Journalism Initiative
Published online August 26, 2026, at www.pontiacjournal.com
CAMPBELL’S BAY — The MRC Pontiac has officially adopted its Built Heritage Inventory, fulfilling provincial requirements under section 120 of the Cultural Heritage Act to document local structures constructed before 1940. The initiative follows a comprehensive 2025 study characterizing regional buildings and sites with heritage potential, which was formally adopted by council resolution in May 2026. The complete inventory is now accessible to the public via the Quebec Cultural Heritage Directory (Répertoire du patrimoine culturel du Québec).
To keep the inventory updated, field teams mandated by the MRC will be traveling across all municipalities in the territory through 2028 to photograph and document selected properties. Initial site visits have already begun in Fort-Coulonge, Campbell’s Bay, and Alleyn-et-Cawood, though the MRC confirmed there is no fixed timeline assigning specific weeks or months to individual towns.
“Fieldwork is planned based on several operational considerations, including weather conditions, lighting and visibility for building photography, and travel logistics across the MRC territory,” explained Economic Development Commissioner Marie Gionet. “To maximize efficiency and flexibility, multiple municipalities are grouped together, allowing the field team to adjust its schedule as needed.”
Gionet noted that all municipalities within the MRC Pontiac will ultimately be included in the survey, though there is no predetermined sequence for future visits. Teams may also return to previously surveyed towns to capture additional photos or information that could not be adequately documented during initial visits due to seasonal vegetation or poor visibility.
Residents should note that field staff—including clearly identified student workers—will strictly survey and photograph building exteriors, with no interior visits taking place. Furthermore, the MRC clarified that being listed in the inventory serves primarily as an informational tool and does not grant automatic legal heritage status or restrict standard building work, though property owners should still confirm local municipal regulations before undertaking renovations.
While current efforts are focused on completing fieldwork, community members will eventually have a formal opportunity to contribute local knowledge.
“While residents may bring potential heritage properties to the attention of the project team, formal opportunities for public input will be provided at a later stage through public information and consultation sessions, the dates of which will be announced once confirmed,” Gionet added. “Information gathered through public participation will help inform the overall project and ensure that local perspectives are considered as part of the heritage inventory.”
Cutline: The MRC Pontiac has launched a built heritage survey to identify and document historical structures across the municipalities of Bryson, Campbell’s Bay, and Alleyn-and-Cawood. (Poster credit MRC Pontiac Facebook)
