Grand-Métis, Quebec

Grand-Métis is a village in the La Mitis Regional County Municipality within the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec. The village is situated where the Mitis River meets the Saint Lawrence River.

The historic Reford Gardens (Jardins de Métis) are located nearby. These gardens, now maintained by Les Amis des Jardins de Métis, are the result of Elsie Reford's extraordinary passion for horticulture. An International Garden Festival is held here each summer. The garden's symbol, the Himalayan Blue Poppy ("Meconopsis betonicifolia"), can be found growing there in summer.

The names "Métis" and "Mitis" are said to come from a Mi'kmaq word meaning "meeting place" or another referring to willow or poplar trees.

Metis-Sur-Mer is also a summer community with cottages in which people congregate from all over North America and other parts of the world. It is known for its fresh air (a tuberculosis hospital was built nearby),) pretty sunsets, good golf and pretty surrounding countryside.

According to the Canada 2001 Census:
*Population: 281
*% Change (1996-2001): 1.8
*Dwellings: 187
*Area (km²): 25.67 km²
*Density (persons per km²): 10.9

External links

* [http://www.jardinsmetis.com/english/ Jardins de Métis/Reford Gardens]
* [http://collections.ic.gc.ca/metis/ahome.html Les Jardins de Métis]