Fermont
Fermont is a mining town located in the regional county municipality of Caniapiscau in the northern part of the Côte-Nord region of Quebec. This municipality includes Mont-Wright, an iron ore extraction sector, as well as Monts Severson (altitude: 840 m).
Its infrastructure makes it unique, including the "Wall", a long building serving as a screen against the north winds. It is a popular destination for hunting and fishing, as well as organized sports and recreation. Formerly isolated, with no access road, this northern town is increasingly accessible thanks to Route 389 linking Baie-Comeau to Labrador-City.
In 2021, it was home to about 2250 people.
Understand
[edit]
Along with its neighbouring towns Wabush and Labrador City in Labrador, Fermont is part of the Labrador Trough. The Mont-Wright sector has a vast mining centre from which iron ore is extracted, hence the name Fermont. The city stands out for its main building, Place Daviault, commonly known as "Le Mur". It brings together the main businesses and services of the city in addition to housing a good number of housing units. It includes a grocery store, a post office, primary and secondary schools, a hotel and various sports facilities. The building is 1.5 km (0.93 mi) long and 50 m (160 ft) high. Its nickname is not accidental, because the building actually serves as a wall protecting the city against strong winds from the north. It also aims to allow its residents to participate in a living environment integrating a range of activities and services without having to leave the building in winter. In addition to this legendary screen wall, the city has many single and row houses in the area south and southwest of the screen wall. The village covers a tip of the northern part of Lake Daviault.
- 1 Fermont Tourist Information Office (Bureau d'information touristique de Fermont), 100, rue Le Carrefour, ☏ +1 418-287-5339, toll-free: +1-855-337-6668. This tourist information office provides tourist information and travel advice for the entire region.
Climate
[edit]In Fermont, the average temperature in January is a minimum of −29 °C (−20 °F) and a maximum of −17 °C (1 °F) The average temperature in July is a minimum of 8 °C (46 °F) and a maximum of 19 °C (66 °F).
In Fermont, on average, the amount of sunshine in July is 16.5 hours, compared to 8 hours in December and January. On average, snow cover is 517 millimeters in December and 488.9 millimeters in January.
Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]Take Quebec Route 389 starts at Baie-Comeau heading north. From Baie-Comeau, it is a journey of 567 km (352 mi). Labrador City is about 27 km away along Highway 500 (Trans-Labrador Highway) in Newfoundland and Labrador, which becomes Quebec Route 389, once the highway enters Quebec.
By plane
[edit]Airport
[edit]The closest airport to Fermont is Wabush in Labrador, 32 km (via Highway 389) from downtown Fermont. The city includes an aquatic aerodrome to receive seaplanes, located in Lake Daviault, as well as a heliport (located northwest of the village).
- 1 Wabush Airport (YWK IATA) (in the northern part of the village of Wabush), ☏ +1 709-282-5412. It handles flights from other airports in Labrador such as Goose Bay (1.25 hours) and the island of Newfoundland and cities in Quebec including Montreal (3.75-4 hours including multiple stops on the flight). Rental cars are available at the airport.
By rail
[edit]A railway connects Fermont to Port-Cartier, however it is mainly used for transporting iron ore, as well as bulky mining materials and equipment.
Get around
[edit]
The centre of the village of Fermont is located 3.9 km south of Route 389 (linking Baie-Comeau to Labrador City) which passes on the north side of Mont-Wright and the village of Fermont. Heading east, from the village of Fermont, it bypasses Lac Daviault to head northeast towards Labrador City.
- 2 Location Sauvageau, 401, rue le Carr (in the village of Fermont), ☏ +1 418-287-5295. Rental service for cars, trucks, off-road vehicles (quads, snowmobiles) and accessories (gps, signaling light for service vehicles, trailer hitch...).
- 3 Enterprise Rent-A-Car, 320, rue du Fer, ☏ +1 418-287-5088. Car rental agency.
- 4 Libre Service Fermont Gas Station, 401, rue le Carr (in the village of Fermont), ☏ +1 418-287-5252. Esso service station.
See
[edit]
- 1 Mont-Wright mining complex (Complexe minier de Mont-Wright) (about 20 kilometers west from Fermont). Surface mine and iron ore mill operated by Arcelor Mittal Mining Canada. Includes an impressive fleet of mining equipment including the largest production trucks in Eastern Canada and the largest cable shovels in the world. Reservations at the Fermont tourist information office are compulsory for visits. Wearing long sleeves and closed shoes with flat heels is mandatory. The visit is prohibited for children under 10 years old. It is forbidden to bring a video camera. Free.
Do
[edit]- 1 Walking path Mini-beach (Sentier pédestre Mini-plage), 38, rue du Lac (on the shore of Lake Daviault).
- 2 Mont-Daviault hiking trail (Sentier pédestre du Mont-Daviault), rue Duchesneau (start of the trail, near Lac Daviault, south of the village).
- 3 Outdoor skating rink (Patinoire extérieure), 13, rue du Camp, ☏ +1 418-287-5471.
- 4 Carheil Lake Beach (Plage du lac Carheil) (9 km south of the centre). Magnificent beach in a forest area.
- 5 Multifunctional centre (Centre multifonctionnel) (in the central area of the screen wall). Theatre.
- 6 Municipal swimming pool of Fermont (Piscine municipale de Fermont) (in the central area of the screen wall). Indoor pool.
- 7 Jean-Fortin Park (Parc Jean-Fortin) (on the north side of the screen wall). Municipal park.
Events
[edit]- 8 Taiga Challenge (Festival) (Défi Taïga (Festival)), 3, Venelle 5 (west of the screen wall), ☏ +1 418-341-0355. The Taiga Challenge is the longest sled dog race in Eastern Canada. This competition turns out to be the main activity of the Taïga Carnaval de Fermont.
Buy
[edit]- Metro Coop Fermont, 299, rue le Carr, local 7 (in the shopping centre), ☏ +1 418-287-3468. Grocery store.
Eat
[edit]- Casse-croûte de l'aréna (in the arena of Fermont), ☏ +1 418-287-9444.
- 1 L'Authentique Bistro, 299, rue le Carr (in the shopping centre), ☏ +1-418-287-3005.
- 2 Resto-Bar Zonix, 299, rue le Carr (in the shopping centre), ☏ +1 418-287-5250.
- 3 MFQ Cafeteria (Cafétéria MFQ), 388, rue du Fer. Restaurant.
- 4 VardyMadden Ltd, rue Bertrand, ☏ +1 514-478-1963. Restaurant.
- , 401, le Carrefour, ☏ +1 418-287-5044. Sunday breakfast Sep-Jun: 08:00-12:00
- Dyailo Restaurant, 299 le Carrefour, Fermont, ☏ +1 418-287-3161.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Hotel Fermont, 299, rue le Carr (in the screen wall), ☏ +1 418-287-5451, fax: +1 418-287-3732, hotel.fermont@diffusionfermont.ca. Poor reviews online. Reception open 11:00-20:00 only. Arrive 30 minutes before closing. $195, breakfast not included.
- 2 Motel Vent Du Nord, 115, rue de l'Hématite (near the screen wall), toll-free: +1-855-841-5005, reservation@motelventdunord.com. 20 rooms with refrigerator. The motel offers a dining area equipped with a convection oven, a toaster, two microwaves, etc. Common area with magnificent fireplace and giant screen. Queen bed $150, 2 double beds $175.
Gîtes
[edit]- 3 Gite at Alexis (Gîte chez Alexis), 3, Venelle 5, ☏ +1 709-987-0355, toll-free: +1-418-287-5041, gitechezalexis@gmail.com.
- Chambres Fermont, ☏ +1 709-280-1819, info@chambresfermont.com. Several rooming houses and apartments for rent in Fermont.
Camping
[edit]- Fermont Outdoor Leisure Association (Association loisir plein air de Fermont), 300, rue des Lagopèdes, ☏ +1 418-287-3927. Check-in: Open in summer.
- 4 Fermont Campground (Camping de Fermont) (on the west shore of Lac Daviault).
- 5 Camping auxiliary park (Parc auxiliaire de camping) (at southwest of the village, bordering a bay of Lac Daviault). Auxiliary campground.
Cope
[edit]- 5 Caisse Desjardins des travailleuses et des travailleurs unis, 357, rue le Carr. ATM.
- 6 Hematite Health Centre (Centre de santé l'Hématite), 1, rue Aquilon, ☏ +1 418-287-3280.
- 7 Evangelical Church of Fermont (Église évangélique de Fermont), 235, rue le Carr, ☏ +1 418-287-9385.
Connect
[edit]- 8 Canada-Post (in the shopping centre).
Go next
[edit]| Routes through Fermont |
| END ← Baie-Comeau ← | W  E |
→ becomes  → Labrador City → Happy Valley-Goose Bay |