Bike WA to VT, Write History: Quyon, Quebec

street in village of Quyon

2,663 miles

Aug 17 – The village of Quyon is situated on the Quyon River, a tributary of the Ottawa River. Its name was originally transcribed by the French voyageurs as "Quio", from the Algonquin word kweia (pronounced "quia"), meaning "Smaller River" or "sandy bottom river".

Some of the earliest Anglo settlers were Scottish “United Empire” Loyalists during the American Revolution. After the Revolution, they were given free land by the English Crown to thank them for their loyalty. In the mid-1800s, the area was also settled by many Irish immigrants fleeing the Great Famine.

The town was incorporated in 1875, and its spelling was changed to "Quyon" to provide a compromise pronunciation equally acceptable to both French- and English-speaking residents. This makes it a small but true amalgamation of Algonquin, French, and English.

Quyon is still at a crossroads of cultures. A family-owned cable ferry crosses the Ottawa River from Quyon to rural Ontario, providing an important and friendly inter-provincial link. Tourists -- and even commuters from Ottawa -- also use this ferry. A ferry leaves one dock or the other every 10 minutes! Since the ferry operates on a cable, river traffic must beware of dangerous interference. The ferry service runs from April to November.