History back on the water in 2021

David Lacoste (left), of the Sherbrooke History Museum, and David Martel (centre) of the Mercedes travel agency with the guides who will be helping with this summer’s historical kayak tours.

Sherb-histoire en Kayak, the pandemic project of the Mercedes travel agency in Sherbrooke, will be back out on the water this summer with a broader range of activities and a deeper look into local history.

Created in 2020 as a pivot for a travel business that suddenly found itself without anywhere to send people, the initiative was the brainchild of Mercedes Becerra and her husband

David Martel.

“Mercedes and I said, we’re going to rent out the only kayak we have,” Martel said, recalling that before long, the interest in that little side hustle was big enough that they picked up a few more boats to rent out of their garage on de l’esplanade street on the north shore of Lac des Nations. Before long, the idea came up to integrate the idea of the company’s “Sherb-histoire” walking tour into the formula, and Sherb-histoire en Kayak was born.

In the “staycation” summer of 2020, Martel said that the model proved to be such a success that it has been revised and expanded for a return in 2021.

Perhaps chief among the changes is the starting point. Whereas the initial version of the project launched from the side of the lake on de l’esplanade, Sherb-histoire en Kayak received endorsement from the city of Sherbrooke to use the boat launch at the Armand Nadeau Pavillion in

Jacques-cartier Park.

This year the project is also working in full partnership with Sherbrooke’s history museum, which is providing several guides to help fill out the team.

David Lacoste, Executive Director of the museum, said that while the institution supported the project in its first year, the idea came too late in the summer to be able to provide more than the historical information. With more lead time going into this second year, the museum was better placed to provide staffing assistance.

“This body of water is at the heart of our city and of its economic and social development,” Lacoste said, pointing out that a quick tour around the lake offers an opportunity to discuss the First Nations people of the area, the Jacques-cartier Bridge, the old ice houses, the Paton mill, the beaches of Jacques-cartier Park, and the train station, among other elements of city life. “There is a rich history around Lac-des-nations.”

In a bid to make the tours more accessible, the company has also acquired a floating quay for getting their kayaks into and out of the water.

Recognizing that embarkation and debarkation are the moments when a boat is at its least stable, Martel said that he hopes the stabilized launch point will mean that people of all ages and levels of mobility feel comfortable taking part.

Outside of the waters of Lac des Nations, Martel said that he is also working on launching a river tour in the Huntingville area that would combine walking and boating. Over the course of a half day this tour would explore some of the history of the sites around the Salmon River, such as the

Little Hyatt One-room Schoolhouse. That tour, he said, should be ready closer to mid-july.

As was the case in the first year of operation, Martel said that the guides available for the activity are able to speak with people in French, English and Spanish. If people are looking for a bilingual tour, however, he suggested mentioning it in advance to ensure that the proper preparations are made.

More information on the tours is available (in French) at www.sherbhistoire.com