Explore the Area
The Prescott and Russell region hugs the South shore of the Ottawa River, between Ottawa and Montreal. Come and enjoy the great outdoors and year-round fun for the whole family, set in a bilingual way of life! Agro-tourism, festivals and events, welcoming B & B’s, country shops, friendly people and great scenery await you, just a few minutes away from the city.
History and Culture
History
Hawkesbury, the Town with a promising future
The Town of Hawkesbury is located in the County of Prescott which forms part of what is called “The Golden Triangle”. The Town is situated on the south shore of the Ottawa River half way between Montreal, Canada’s metropolis and Ottawa, the capital of our great country.
We agree that it was indeed a historic day back in 1859 when Hawkesbury achieved the distinction of becoming a duly incorporated village. Now, more than 150 years later, we should all pause together to look back on its remarkable progress and to look forward to its future development.
We like to think of ourselves as fellow-citizens striving towards a common goal: the proper utilization of all the resources that surround us to build a better life for us all in a better, brighter community.
If we succeed in this high purpose, refusing to surrender to temporary difficulties and overcoming the inevitable obstacles on the way, then we will have earned the gratitude of those who will come after us to observe other milestones in Hawkesbury’s history.
To learn more about the history of Hawkesbury, the Hawkesbury Public Library has a fine reference collection which includes the book entitled “Histoire des comtés unis de Prescott et Russell” written by Lucien Brault in 1965. Richly illustrated with never seen photos, the book commemorating the 125th anniversary of Hawkesbury, entitled “125 Hawkesbury 1859-1984” is also part of the collection. It is an exciting story, a source of historical reference, highly recommended to anyone interested in the history of the Town of Hawkesbury.
Culture
Hawkesbury has a community where a strong majority of residents have French as their primary language. In fact, nearly 80% of people speak French in Hawkesbury. Furthermore, Hawkesbury is proud of being a place where harmonious and respectful cohabitation between anglophones and francophones is found. Most businesses strive to serve their customers in the two country’s official languages. The Town of Hawkesbury’s services and activities are offered to its residents in both French and English.
The Conseil des arts Prescott Russell Arts Council (CAPRAC)
The Conseil des arts Prescott Russell Arts Council (CAPRAC) is a non-profit organization whose mission consists in:
- Informing the community about the various cultural, artistic and heritage events in the region.
- Bringing together actors from the spheres of culture, arts and heritage.
- Supporting the implementation of unifying initiatives; and
- Promoting Prescott and Russell’s arts, culture and heritage.
What to Do
Hawkesbury offers a variety of activities to suit a public of all ages. Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast, an amateur athlete, a consumer of arts and culture, a gourmet or a fanatic shopper, Hawkesbury and the Prescott and Russell region offers something for everyone.
Regardless of whether you are visiting for business or pleasure, Hawkesbury is yet to be discovered.