JULY
The Quebec Anglophone Heritage network filmed several episodes of its Raising Spirits: Exploring the Cemeteries, Crossroads, and Vanishing Places of Rural Quebec documentary series at locations in Saint-Anicet, Powerscourt, Riverfield, and Dewittville. The episodes are set to be released in February.
AUGUST
With demand continuing to rise for food aid in the Haut-Saint-Laurent, the La Bouffe Additionnelle food pantry issued a public call for help to fill its fridges with fruit and vegetables. The high cost of living, including escalating grocery prices, saw more people turn to local organizations for help.
Ten professional artists and former students of the late Chateauguay Valley Regional High School art teacher Derek Tilley staged a group exhibition in his honour at the Salle Culturelle Alfred-Langevin in Huntingdon. The show was attended by over 330 people during its run.
A pair of 11-month-old orphaned cougar cubs, whose mother was killed by poachers in Alberta, were introduced to the public after they were successfully rescued and rehomed at Parc Safari. The cubs, a female and a male, were named Asha and Orion following a public contest over the summer.
The 197th edition of the Huntingdon Fair kicked off with a parade celebrating the town’s bicentennial. What followed was a steaming hot but successful weekend as the summer’s trend of record-setting heat and little rain brought out near record-breaking crowds.
The Chateauguay Valley Antique Association (CVAA) held its 38th annual antique show and tractor pull. The event returned to the Huntingdon Fairgrounds after having taken place at the Rennie farm in Rockburn for much of its history. The event was a success, with over 2,000 visitors to the new site.
Local news outlet Viva Média, which published several weekly publications covering the Haut-Saint-Laurent, Beauharnois-Salaberry, and Vaudreuil-Soulanges areas, suddenly filed for bankruptcy and closed its doors.
The Commission Municipale du Quebec took control in Saint-Chrysostome after the sudden resignation of four municipal councillors left the municipality without enough members to make decisions.
SEPTEMBER
The NFSB and the Centre des services scolaires de la Vallée-des-Tisserands were under pressure to start the year with positions filled and within budget as government measures allowed for very slim margins. The CSSVT was the fastest-growing service centre or school board in the province as more than 470 additional students started classes across their schools.
A pair of towering murals painted on silos at a farm in Franklin were unveiled by the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent, as the first stage of the Circuit de Fresques sur Silos Agricoles was inaugurated as part of its signature project honouring the region’s agricultural heritage. A third silo at a farm in Très-Saint-Sacrement was completed in mid-October.
The Gleaner launched its Farm to Food podcast, a biweekly show on all things agriculture and agri-food from production and processing to the table, featuring interviews with farmers and those involved in the sector. The podcast can be found on most podcast platforms or at farmtofood.buzzsprout.com.
OCTOBER
The CVAA auctioned off much of its vast collection of antiques after the organization decided it was no longer able to store these items.
The Women’s Auxiliary of the Barrie Memorial Hospital launched its annual membership drive and fundraiser; however, a strike by Canada Post workers meant reminder postcards were not delivered on schedule. The organization announced it had invested more than $250,000 in the Ormstown-based hospital over the year.
The MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent installed new road signs welcoming travellers to the region at major access roads in Sainte-Barbe, Très-Saint-Sacrement, Saint-Chrysostome, Ormstown, and Havelock.
NOVEMBER
Valley voters had their say during the 2025 municipal elections, voting in new mayors in Ormstown, Godmanchester, and Howick, and returning the mayors in Franklin, Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka, Hemmingford Village, and Hemmingford Township. Campaigns ended before they even began in Elgin, Hinchinbrooke, Havelock, Dundee, and Très-Saint-Sacrement as the mayors and council were elected by acclamation. Mayors in Huntingdon, Saint-Anicet, Sainte-Barbe, Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, and Saint-Chrysostome were also elected after running unopposed.
Father Gabriel Clement, the beloved pastor of Saint-Joseph parish in Huntingdon, passed away after serving his community for 37 years.
Hundreds gathered at MacDougall Hall to celebrate the careers of Dr. Thomas Vandor, Dr. Vince Blonde, Dr. John Hortop, and newly retired Dr. Lech Krotecki, as well as the 75-year history of the Ormstown Medical Centre.
The municipality of Sainte-barbe opened its new eco-centre in partnership with the municipality of Elgin.
Preston Mason of Ormstown and his March yearling Canadienne made history at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, after they were named champions of the Coloured Breeds section during the 2025 edition of the TD Canadian 4-H Dairy Classic.
Remembrance Day ceremonies took place across the Valley. A special presentation happened at the Huntingdon Legion where the World War 1 uniform once worn by Gordon Dunn Ferry was put on permanent display after having been purchased during the CVAA auction earlier in the fall.
The iconic Elgin and District Pipes and Drums decided to disband after nearly 30 years of proudly celebrating and preserving the Valleys Scottish heritage at local, regional, and international events.
DECEMBER
Doctors began sounding the alarm over the government’s passing of Bill 2, which resulted in numerous clinics announcing they would close in 2026 and left doctors thinking of a plan B. Two doctors will leave the Haut-Saint-Laurent GMF (family medicine group) in 2026, despite an agreement in principle with doctors that removes many of the controversial elements of the bill, which was suspended.
A new 22,000-square-foot Maxi supermarket was opened in Huntingdon. The ceremony to open the grocery store marked the 200th store for Maxi and coincided with the end of the town’s bicentennial year celebrations.
The municipal council in Ormstown commemorated the 25th anniversary of its amalgamation with the parish of Saint-Malachie, recognizing all the mayors, municipal councillors, and employees that have worked to develop the municipality over these years.