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Franklin Today
Our municipality offers a unique quality of life where nature and environmental respect are paramount. It is a place where life is good, and where everyone finds their place, whether young or old. The municipal council places great importance on families and seniors, recognizing them as the community’s wealth.
Ask the residents of Franklin what they love about their municipality; they will immediately speak of the beauty of the landscapes, the mountains, and the breathtaking views it offers, but above all, for the exceptional quality of life they enjoy. It is therefore not surprising to see people from all walks of life choosing Franklin to settle down. Whether they are retirees, outdoor sports enthusiasts, remote workers, or entrepreneurs, they find their happiness in Franklin. The region, interesting and inviting, is attracting more and more investors.
If you believe in the proverb “It takes a village to raise a child”, then Franklin is an ideal place to raise your family.
The Heart of Agritourism
During the summer season (from May until mid-October), the municipality has approximately 15,000 residents, mainly coming from Camping du Lac-des-Pins, the second-largest campground in Quebec, as well as from the Ecological and Naturist Center (La Pommerie), where everyone lives naked, in harmony with nature, respecting each other in what is considered one of the most beautiful sites in Quebec.
The municipality being an integral part of the Circuit des Paysans, at the foothills of the Adirondacks, you will delight in the most beautiful rural landscapes of Montérégie, discovering unique products. The Circuit du Paysan is recognized as one of the best gourmet routes in the province. Several themes and events take place there from May to October.
The picking of small fruits and apples, the vineyards, cider houses, cheese and deli shops, honey and mead, livestock farms, and lavender production are the main featured products.
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Portrait of Franklin
Franklin is a municipality located in the Haut-Saint-Laurent Valley in Montérégie and is part of the Regional County Municipality (MRC) of Haut-Saint-Laurent, Quebec. Situated near the American border, granting access to the state of New York, its area covers 113 square kilometres. Franklin stretches along the mountainside, where the ground level ranges from 100 metres to 320 metres in altitude from north to south, irrigated by the Rivière aux Outardes Est and Mitchell Creek.
The municipality is home to approximately 1,765 residents and 90% of its 11,219 hectares are in agricultural zones. The forest potential is also significant, as nearly half of the territory is covered by forests.
The landscape of Franklin is characterized by the abundance and beauty of orchards and maple groves, the presence of small stone walls along Route 202 (scenic) traversing the territory, its rich built heritage, and several centuries-old churches.
Today, the municipality boasts two post offices, a recreational and community centre, two elementary schools (Saint-Antoine-Abbé Central School in French and Franklin School in English), two low-rent housing units, three daycare centres (CPE) including one reserved for employees of the largest employer in the MRC, Les Vergers Leahy, a processing plant with its own brand (Applenax-DéliPomme). Additionally, there is a century-old artisan bakery, several restaurants, and a microbrewery.
Designated as a rural centre, the territory of Franklin includes the Pin-Rigide Ecological Reserve, the largest known population of Pin-Rigide in Quebec, and the Franklin Woods, an area of concentration for white-tailed deer (see the biodiversity section).
To reach Franklin, you can take Route 201 via Route 138, with Routes 209 and 202 also being options depending on your starting point.
Access to the United States is via Route 209, with the neighbouring American town of Churubusco at the entrance of New York State.
The Coat of Arms
In 1967, the Municipality of Franklin adopted a coat of arms. They were created by Mr. Brent Harrison of Franklin Studio, a local artisan located on Route 202. Rich in symbols, the coat of arms aims to be a summary of the local economy and the activities that contribute to the municipality’s development. They depict agriculture and its products, tourism, and the business sectors of our economy. They also proudly display the Latin inscription Loca malus olas ruri amoena, which can be translated as “the pleasant region of the apple country”.
The Logo
In 2016, following recommendations from the BC2 Group resulting from the Strategic Planning process initiated by the Municipality, municipal officials commissioned a specialized firm to design a logo representing a clear and distinctive image of the Municipality’s signature elements.
Statistical and Demographic Profile
According to the forecasts from the Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ), the population of Franklin is expected to increase by 12% by 2031, representing an absolute increase of 200 individuals. This growth is three times higher than the estimated growth for the Haut-Saint-Laurent MRC. The Institute also predicts a significant increase in the number of households by 2031, reaching 846 households, which is a 21% increase.
Biodiversity
The municipality of Franklin boasts the highest number of wetlands in the Haut-Saint-Laurent MRC, and its territory is crisscrossed by several watercourses, including the Rivière aux Outardes, Rivière Noire, and the Mitchell, Grimshaw, and Brand streams.
Ecological Reserve of Pin-Rigide
This ecological reserve covers an area of 63.1 hectares and protects a forest of pitch pine, a species designated as threatened since 2005. It is currently the only known significant population in Quebec.
A unique habitat for a rare species in Quebec: the Pin-Rigide ecological reserve
Pitch pine thrives in this type of environment. It forms a group whose physiognomy and floristic composition vary depending on the thickness of the substrate and its drainage. For example, a very thin soil (less than 10 centimetres), dry and poor in nutrients, supports an open population with small trees. Although pitch pine is not considered a large tree, its dimensions are significantly more interesting in deeper soils. It is not uncommon to find individuals of 45 years old reaching a diameter of about 25 centimetres and a height of 10 to 12 metres.
The flora of the pine forest is rather poor; 68 vascular species and 24 non-vascular species have been recorded. Among these species is the Virginia snakeroot, which is likely to be designated as threatened or vulnerable.
The fauna is also quite limited in diversity. However, there are three species with precarious status: striped chorus frog (designated as vulnerable), the four-toed salamander, and the short-billed wren, both of which are likely to be designated as threatened or vulnerable.
Covey Hill, an Iconic Site of Our Natural Heritage
Pink lady’s-slipper, Covey Hill (Photo by CNC)
Located near the American border, Covey Hill rises to over 340 metres above sea level, overlooking the Châteauguay River Valley. This vast forested massif primarily spans the territories of the municipalities of Havelock and Franklin in Montérégie, and even extends into the state of New York. Covey Hill is a true natural gem with idyllic landscapes, featuring clear streams, rich woodlands, and charming orchards and vineyards.
This natural environment, of immeasurable ecological value, provides refuge for many rare plants and animals. Indeed, it serves as habitat for large-ranging mammals such as the bobcat, fisher, and black bear. Furthermore, the site is home to the greatest variety of salamanders in Quebec. About ten different species inhabit this area, including the mountain dusky salamander, which is only found in two locations in Canada: Covey Hill and near the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario.
The Unique Features of Covey Hill
One of the notable features of this site is the presence of a 55-hectare peatland at its summit. It stores rainwater in layers of sphagnum moss accumulated over nearly 15,000 years. As a result, it helps maintain the flow of the numerous surrounding streams during dry periods, while also influencing the water cycle throughout the Châteauguay River watershed.
This site is also important for recharging the regional aquifer, the permeable hydrogeological formation that maintains an underground water table. Several municipalities rely on it for their drinking water supply. Therefore, it is an ecosystem of great ecological value that deserves to be known and preserved.
Contributing to the Preservation of This Rich Biodiversity
Spring Salamander
Spring Salamander
In Quebec, in the lowlands of the St. Lawrence, nestled on Covey Hill, lives a population of a very special species: the spring salamander.
This nocturnal amphibian is the largest lungless salamander, animals that require a moist habitat for cutaneous respiration. The spring salamander can reach 20 centimetres in length; its preferred habitat is cool, clear mountain streams fed by springs. Its survival is threatened when these streams become turbid due to sedimentation and when their well-oxygenated water becomes polluted.
The spring salamander hunts at night, often feeding on other smaller salamander species. It can escape its main predator, the trout, by seeking refuge on land.
We know only a few populations of spring salamanders in Canada; the species is designated as of concern on the COSEWIC list. On Covey Hill, the northern extension of the Adirondacks in Canada, CNC and its partners are actively working to protect its habitat.
The vast peatlands, pine barrens, and natural springs in the region are essential for the spring salamander and for a number of other endangered plant and animal species. Among the other Appalachian salamanders reaching the northern limit of their range are the four-toed salamander and the mountain dusky salamander, a threatened species nationwide.
They share the region with the twin-scaped bladderwort, a rare plant in Quebec, avian species such as wild turkey and Cooper’s hawk, as well as mammals like the bobcat and black bear.
La Petite Séduction
In 2010, Franklin was the setting for an episode of La Petite Séduction, featuring author Fabienne Larouche and Dany Turcotte as special guests.
Relive some moments from this visit by clicking on the following link: