Open house visits were available at 23 of Pontiac's oldest and most historic churches during the weekend of September 30-October 1, and 40 other churches, 20 cemeteries and 15 points of interest were highlighted.   Volunteers provided guidance for visitors at such churches as St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church in Chapeau and St. Paul's Anglican Church in Shawville (both of these are notable for their interior work)Sylvain Barrette, organist of St. Paul's Church in Aylmer, gave an organ recital at St. Alphonsus, after speaking about the church's Casavant organ.  Vocal and guitar recitals were given at St-Pierre Church in Fort Coulonge and St. Andrew's Church at Campbell's Bay.
These events, as well as artistic events referred to elsewhere in this bulletin, were arranged to coincide with the Journées de la Culture, organized across Québec.
For further information about Québec's heritage churches visit the Québec Religious Heritage Foundations inventory at www.lieuxdeculte.qc.ca

On Saturday, October 14 the Maison des Jeunes Pontiac joined with 134 other Maisons des Jeunes in hosting the ninth Sun Gala, at Fort Coulonge. In the interval in the awards ceremony, entertainment was provided by the teen bands Harmonic Distortion from Shawville and In Safe Hands from Quyon, the Corriveau School of Dance and by young people attending the Maison des Jeunes who put on their own routines.

Campbell's Bay now has its own art festival.  On the weekend of October 7-8 Sébastien Beaudoin opened the first Campbell's Bay Art Festival at his studio on Brown Street.  Artists exhibiting included Chantal Auger of Calumet Island (pottery), Robert St. Aubin of Otter Lake (wood sculpture), Raymond Sander-Regier from Shawville (print making), and Viola Gauthier of Otter Lake (acrylic painting).  All costs were absorbed by Beaudoin, who only requested a donation from visitors.