Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, May 27th, 2011
The Société de Développement du Parc Historique de la Pointe-du-Moulin
(SDPHPM), created in 2008 to manage the animation of the park, has
unveiled this morning the summer 2011 program as well as the
partnerships which will allow the wealth of diverse and dynamic
activities.
The organization, which is actually in its third year of operation, is
renewing both its regular and special events programming in order to
offer an unprecedented experience to regulars and new visitors alike. In
the president Michel Bourbonnais' words, « the 2011 summer program
attests our ability to learn from our successes and our failures. Our
events will be much grander, but less numerous. Our visitors will thus
get their money's worth and will feel it was worth the trip. »
Weekends filled with fun at the Pointe
The high season officially begins on the 2nd of July with the Transport
Yourself to Another Time event, where transportation is the word on
everyone's lips. Visitors will have the opportunity to wander among
vintage cars, climb aboard a horse-drawn carriage for a ride through the
park, live an adventure in a rabaska on the St-Louis lake, take part in
the construction of a canoe and, thanks to the generous contribution of
the NDIP Kayak club, take a kayak on the lake for free. As music from a
Quebec of yesteryear fills the air, molasses cookies and freshly baked
bread will be available to taste at the Miller's house, while the
vintage cars will be showcased at the entrance of the park (for those
wishing to showcase their cars, please contact Nadia Furer at
514-453-5936 ext. 6, entry is free, lunch is provided and prizes to be
won.) Finally, Swing dancing courses will be given by professionals on
our terrace.
On July 16th, the Fun and Games from Yesterday to Today event welcomes
families in particular as games from many eras will be open to visitors.
On the program for the day are : puppet shows and puppet creation
workshops, tops, cup-and-ball, marble labyrinths, archery, relay races,
piñata, limbo, face painting, kite making workshops, drawing contests
and quite a few other surprises!
On July 23rd, the city of Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot invites music fans
to concerts in the open air in honour of its yearly celebration.
On July 30th, a brand-new event, Delights at the Twilight, will take
place, and visitors will be able to take part to a happy hour with pizza
(by reservation only) followed by dessert around the campfire where
games, riddles and fearsome tales will take place. At 9 p.m., a family
film will allow everyone to relax on a beautiful summer night.
On the 13th of August, the 3rd edition of the Animation and Camping
under the Constellations evening will take place at the park, where the
Pointe's interpreters will transport visitors to the 18th century amidst
sombre tales and legends. Those fascinated with the stars will benefit
from the presence of the magnificent wooden telescopes created by Norman
Fullum, available to all who wish to stargaze. A treasure hunt will take
place in the pitch black and will allow the brave and the bold to
discover the hidden secrets of the Pointe. Finally, those who desire to
pitch their tents to stay the night, and any who make it to the morning
will be greeted with breakfast by the miller and his wife.
Summer will slowly draw to a close with A Blast of Flavour From the Past
on the 20th of August where a number of delicious things will be
offered, such as corn on the cob, bread and candy. Visitors will have
the opportunity to take part in a bread making workshop, to meet a
confectioner who will delight you with the history of Saint Catherine's
taffy, to assist a friendly and tasty competition between the 23
municipalities of the MRC or take part in our famous corn hunt.
The season will end on the 9th of September with the third edition of
the renowned casino soirée, where those attending will be able to Bet on
the Pointe at poker, blackjack and roulette tables. More than 500 prizes
will be won by 150 guests, entrées and orchestra will also be on the
menu for the evening (tickets now on sale).
In case of rain, certain events will be postponed to the next day, while
others will be cancelled. Please consult the website at
www.pointedumoulin.com for updates.
An array of new activities for visitors
In addition to the guided tours of the windmill, the Miller's house and
the interpretation centre, the coordinators of the site began offering
last year archery and rabaska tours as part of the regular programming.
With the success of these activities last year, they will once again be
offered to the visitors of the park. In the scope of constantly
improving the experience of our site, young visitors will be able to
participate in a young detectives game and scour the park for clues
about the mystery of the Pointe-du-Moulin manor. Visitors will also have
the opportunity to borrow costumes to take photos, to discover the
various kinds of trees on the site or to visit the garden of
Marie-Louise, the miller's wife.
Partners warranting the continuation of the park's animation
This summer's programming will allow thousands of visitors to discover,
or rediscover, an enchanting site with an undeniably rich history. None
of this would be possible without the help of our partners in the region
who continue to believe in the importance of animating Pointe-du-Moulin
historical park year after year. It is thus important to note the
continued support of the SODEC (55,000$), the city of
Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot (20,000$ as well as a constant support in
terms of material loans), the MRC (8,160$), the Government of Canada
(grants permitting 4 students to be employed for the season), the city
of Pincourt (6,500$), the city of Île-Perrot (5,000$) and finally
Terrasse-Vaudreuil (500$). It is with great pleasure that the managers
of the organization announced a three year recurring collaboration with
the four cities of île-Perrot for the amounts specified above. In the
scope of this collaboration, access to the site will be free for the
residents of the four cities of the island for the next three years. It
is because of these partners, the tireless work of the board of
directors, the SDPHPM team and, most of all, because of the interest
shown by all those who will come and participate in our season's
activities that the park will take a breath of fresh air this summer.
Organisations or 
