Welcome to Knowlton, Quebec

Knowlton, Quebec (Lac Brome) is one of the most beautiful villages in Quebec. Situated in southern region of a region known as The Eastern Townships, this quiet Victorian town is an oasis of natural beauty and cultural diversity known for its diverse festivals, historical charm and laid back atmosphere. A rural setting with just enough cosmopolitan flair, Knowlton is close to all major attractions yet has somehow managed to remain un-spoiled by the development of the surrounding Townships.

Situated on the shores of Brome Lake, the Knowlton area of the town of Brome Lake (Knowlton, West Brome, Foster, Fulford, Iron Hill, Bondville and East Hill),has a combined population of just over 5000.

Within a leisurely drive from Montreal, Knowlton is also close to Vermont and New York State making it a popular spot for the many tourists and visitors who find Knowlton to be a veritable jewel of the region with friendly residents and the right mixture of attractions, restaurants and recreational activities.

Knowlton's strength is the natural beauty and architecture of the town which dates back to Victorian times. The center of the village has a large green space bordering an old Mill Pond with a flowing waterfall and glorious churches standing magnificently on the banks of the pond. Walking trails lead to the public beach on the shores of Brome Lake where swimmers share the sandy beach with the famous Brome Lake Ducks who have become quite tolerant of people and enjoy getting their picture taken!

Knowlton prides itself in remaining more of a quaint village with art galleries, incredible restaurants, antique stores and variety stores that cater to the eccentric side and are beyond the big stores we see in most towns these days. Small shops and boutiques line the streets and huge green trees create a cathedral overhead for the wide variety of birds, from finches to jays, to sing from.

A marina sits on the shores of Brome Lake and several world-class golf courses are within ten minutes of the village making summer a busy time for lovers of the outdoors. Provincial Parks like Mount Orford, Mount Megantic and Yamaska Park are all a short hop from Knowlton and Mount Sutton, Bromont and Mount Glen are ideal places for recreation from hiking and cycling to picnics and canoeing. With so many natural wonders being so close to Knowlton it is becoming a choice travel destination for all visitors to Quebec.

The town museum boasts a large collection of historical artifacts from the region and tracing the heritage of the Eastern Townships wouldn't be possible without considering the importance of Knowlton. The old fashioned corner store is alive and well in Knowlton and a visit to Flannagans general store is like taking a step back in time about 100 years.

With the Big Brome Fair held in the Fall, the Duck Festival, The Festival of lights in the winter and the popular Tour Des Arts it is almost impossible to keep up with the wide range of events in the area.


Beyond the special occasions, Knowlton is a town with a forward thinking and vibrant future. The recently completed Community Center is a testament to the spirit of the residents of the region and the number of active clubs and community groups in Knowlton, from sports to music to visual arts and seniors organizations, is an example of the close-knit spirit the town shares. Life in Knowlton is akin to an era where our grandparents could leave their doors unlocked, knew everyone in the town by name, and said hello to anyone they passed in the streets.

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Sutton, Quebec Art Gallery Events

With Knowlton being such a central village in the Eastern Townships we have the benefit of being close to a number of bsuy centers featuring art and entertainment. Sutton is so close and yet has a wonderfully distinct ambiance and anyone visiting Knolwton shouldn't miss the chance to visit Sutton.

Now on in Sutton until August 19, the Arts Sutton Gallery will showcase the work of Hélène Coulombe and Suzanne Reid.

Hélène Coulombe is exhibiting Debout (ou La vie crue), a series of paintings using acrylic on canvas. Coulombe’s recent work aims to draw attention to the temporary and fleeting phases of the act of creation. "I’m interested in the notion of movement and the effort required to take action … to create and to overcome inertia". In addition to painting, Hélène Coulombe works with mixed media and video. A native of Shawinigan, she held her first solo exhibition in 2002.

Suzanne Reid is presenting Traces, a collection of refined prints created using woodcuts. In the 1970s, Quebec experienced a renaissance in the field of contemporary printmaking. Reid draws inspiration for her work from master printmakers such as Albert Dumouchel, Richard Lacroix, Pierre Ayot and René Derouin. In addition to her prolific pace of production, Reid has spent more than 20 years promoting and disseminating Québécois engraving at home and around the world. She works in Rigaud and in Montréal .

Curators: Yves L.-Ph.Cousineau and Jules Arbec.

The Arts Sutton Gallery is located on rue Academy in Sutton and is open Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Arts Sutton Gallery elects a new Board of Directors
Also of note at the Sutton Gallery: On June 30, 2007, members of Arts Sutton present at the organization’s Annual General Meeting elected a new Board of Directors.

The Arts Sutton Gallery is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the visual arts and visual artists who work in this region and elsewhere in Québec. Yves L.-Ph. Cousineau will continue to act as Chairman of the Board, assisted by Clément Richard as Vice-Chairman. Other seats are held by Claire Adamczyk, Huguette Bernard, Giorgio Fontana and Val Girard.

As well, the Board is pleased to welcome three new members: Lina G. Allard as Secretary, Françoise Guenette as Treasurer, and Serge Trudeau. Lina Allard has held a number of management positions within Radio-Canada in the television news sector, and in 2001 she created the ARTV television channel. Françoise Guenette has acted as Vice-President – Communications and Public Relations for a number of major corporations. Mr. Trudeau is a Corporate Director and sits on the Board of various corporations. Photo courtesy of Claude Dagenais.

The new Board’s objectives are clear: to aim for excellence and to continue to enhance the Gallery’s activities. This year’s programme includes 10 exhibitions and a number of workshops and presentations. The Gallery is also organizing its annual Casino fundraiser to be held on September 15 at the Auberge West-Brome. Details of this event will soon be made available.

The Arts Sutton Gallery is open Thursday through Sunday from 11am to 5pm. Entry is free! Individual memberships cost $36 per year and family memberships are $48.

More information: Catherine Audet, Galerie Arts Sutton450.538.2563 info@artssutton.com http://www.artssutton.com/

Resident Sabotages Town with Vandalism

As if Knowlton doesn't have enough challenges already it seems that someone has taken it upon themselves to vandalize the new signage directing visitors to the new public market in Knowlton. The signs are brand new and were placed on Lakeside near the beach, in front of City Hall on the corner of Victoria and on Knowlton Road. The signs were put in place to help visitors and residents find the new and popular Saturday Lac Brome Farmers Market which is now officially part of the joy of living in the Eastern Townships; visiting the small tucked away markets and Eastern Townships farmers markets like the one in Sutton.

Just when most of us thought there was only one "Village Idiot" in town it seems there may be another nimrod seeking the limelight! Vandalising public property? Hmmm...tearing and painting signs directing traffic to a Marketplace at night could be called juvenile delinquency but that would be an insult to juveniles!

Most people in Brome Lake are glad to see such a beneficial attraction in town. Every Saturday visitors come early to buy fresh produce and meet friends in the outdoor, relaxed atmosphere of the local neighbourhood market, and the streets are full of vibrant and happy people who enjoy bringing their recycled shopping bags and communal sentiment together to rejoice in the fellowship of the market. The children love it and young and old alike share a peaceful few hours together in the new market on Bruce Street.

Before the market came Saturday morning were typically quiet with only the usual gar(b)age sales happening in what seemed like a never-ending stretch of junk sales and ram shackle tables set-up on Knowlton Road with a hodge-podge of hawkers trying to make a few cents by cleaning out their attics.

When the enthusiastic Henri Laban took the initiative with the backing of the Town of Lac Brome and created the Market in Knowlton it was seen as a positive step; with so many stores vacant due to the often high rents of absentee landlords it was good to see something positive take seed in Knowlton.

But now, for some reason, someone has decided to vandalize the lovely signs directing traffic to the market. Yep...believe it or not...some idiot tore down the red arrow signaling the way to get to the market. To stop confusion the town had to repair the sign quickly as it looked very sad indeed plus the sign without the arrow was no help at all but no sooner had the sign been repaired that the same moron decided to spray paint over the sign, completely ruining it and making it look like some failed juvenile attempt at making a statement!

This person then spread paint over the sign in front of our lovely City Hall! Goodness...this is the first thing many tourists see when they come into town! What were they even thinking? I think the person who did this was trying to make a statement but the statement that comes across most clearly is "I am a complete stupid ass!" I mean, What sort of dim-wit would first cut and then spray paint over not one but two important signs in Knowlton? That is a question perhaps only a professional with qualified abilities to diagnose mental deficiency could understand!

But wait...for someone to go through the trouble of vandalising property in Knowlton they must really be upset (we've already established they are stupid so let's pretend they have some reason to be upset) and therefore maybe consider that they have a motive to do such damage. What could be the reason that someone in Knowlton would crawl out of their house under cover of darkness like a coward and destroy the hard work of someone else? Who would have such an axe to grind?

I am no Hercule Poirot but it doesn't take more than two twists of my moustache to deduce two possibilities as to whom is behind this idiotic vandalism:

Hypothesis 1: A local business is upset because the market features out-of-town businesses who come into Lac Brome to visit the market once a week thus enjoying the sudden surge of visitors yet they have little rent or taxes to pay and thus take business away from the resident businesses in Knowlton.

Ok...if this is the case then a local business owner is making the town look like a backstreet in Saint-Henri! This won't help anyone as the market brings in visitors who certainly do the tour of Knowlton so in the end everyone benefits. Most business owners would realize this and so it seems unlikely but still...would a local business owner be so lacking in creativity to actually think that vandalism was a bright idea? Sounds unlikely doesn't it?

Hypothesis 2: A local resident who lives near the market is upset because suddenly their Saturday mornings are interrupted by the hustle and bustle of the marketplace.

If one of the residents on the street objects to the Market then they should take it up with the Town under the proper rules of engagement and not resort to cowardly actions like vandalism and graffiti; which are some of the lowest form of expression requiring no special skill or even intelligence.

If a resident doesn't like the market then approach those who organize it! Don't make the whole town look bad by vandalising the signs! That is so pathetic it makes me wonder who it could be on that street that objects to a lively family event once a week...are are they so closed minded that they think everything should fit into your little bubble of silent reality? Even that sounds beyond possibility.

But still...these are the only two scenarios that get my "spidey senses" tingling!

There are many people who rely on the market every week for their livelihood including the part time help who get up early every week-end to come to Knowlton. Maybe if whoever destroyed taxpayer property would look out beyond their belly-button they would see that Knowlton needs things like a market to encourage visitors and create a vibrant community and we should be glad to have people like Mr. Laban who helped create the event.

If anyone knows who is behind such acts of cowardice then perhaps you could try and talk real slow to the person responsible so they understand that painting and ruining property is not the way to make a point! Step up to the plate and be a man and use the proper channels to voice your objections; newspapers, town meetings, billboards, are some traditional way, heck you could even create a ranting internet blog and voice your displeasure! But destroying property is beyond comprehension.

Lac Brome is trying to build a solid economy and our tax dollars are needed in important areas around town for road construction and lake restoration; the merchants do what they can and special events like the market are bonuses for Knowlton that bring in people and money into our town.

We need positivity and not people bent on destruction for self-indulgent and egotistical reasons! I for one hope that the person responsible for this destruction of property is unmasked so I can offer them them free tickets to the Dr. Phil show for some much needed therapy!

All we can say to the person marring our town is: SHAME ON YOU!

**And if the person responsible feels they have a valid reason to not want the Market to take place then I challenge you to share your name and reveal your motives...sign your name here and leave a comment on this blog!

Remember the Knowlton Public Market is open every Saturday from 8am to 1pm starting running to October 6th. The Market is located just down the street from the vintage corner store, Flannegans, at 40 Maple Street. Ask anyone in town where the market is...we'll be glad to show you the way! While in Knowlton don't forget to visit the local businesses who work hard to make Knowlton what it is!

Read More About The Knowlton Summer Market

Knowlton Celebrates Canada's Birthday

July First marked the 140th Birthday Party of Canada and residents of Knowlton braved the un-seasonably cold weather to show spirit and tenacity by filled the Lions Park for a day of fun and games and alot of good-old fashioned carnival style food!

Despite the grey clouds overhead the day was a huge success with the bike parade being the highlight of the day for many kids who came out with decorated bikes and painted faces. Even many of the dogs were gussied up with the red and white maple leaf today!

There was a petting zoo and alot of games for the kids and a raucous group gathered under the big top to hear the karoake singers take to the stage. One young chap's verison of a Shania Twain song had the crowd cheering for the sheer boldness of turning a well known song sung by one of our favorite divas into somewhat of an odd rendition sung by a fellow! The crowds appreciated the efforts though although the extended rounds of clapping might have also been partly to help keep warm!

There was music into the night courtesy of some great country and blues artists and the bright field lights illuminated the large crowd who seemed to take he weather in stride. There was much laughing, dancing, visiting, eating and of course a bit of refreshments enjoyed by everyone!

Around 9:30 the cars filled the parking lot of the Community Center and folks set-up lawn chairs on the fields around the Lions Park and the Duck Farm to watch the Knowlton fireworks display. When 10:15 rolled around the car horns started honking like they used to do at the drive-in when the movie was late!People were getting restless...we whistled and cheered and the honking grew louder...

Finally the huge field lights dimmed and a huge cheer went up into the night air as if the winning touchdown had been scored in the dying seconds of the big game! Moments later the thrilling fireworks lit up the sky and sent booming echoes across the hills. The kids cheered and sometimes held their little ears as the cracklers, sparklers and screaming witches danced overhead!

It was another great show and all the organizers deserve a big pat on the back!

Also, when we celebrate Canada's birthday it is also a good time to remember our brave soldiers around the world who are working hard at keeping the world a safer place; their sacrifices and those of their comrades before them should not be forgotten!

More pictures from the Knowlton Canada Day Festivities from Last Year