Wentworth-Nord, a charming municipality in the Laurentides region of Quebec, Canada, is a part of the Les Pays-d'en-Haut Regional County Municipality. This picturesque region, with its communities of Saint-Michel, Laurel, and Montfort, is a popular summer destination, thanks to its numerous lakes that attract cottage vacationers.
The history of Wentworth-Nord, Quebec, is closely tied to that of Wentworth, as both were part of the original Wentworth Township formed in 1809. It was only in 1958 that Wentworth-Nord became a separate municipality. The community of Laurel was established by the first families who arrived from Ireland between 1855 and 1860, and they named it New Ireland in memory of their homeland. The Laurel Post Office was opened in 1886.
In 1856, the mission of Wentworth was established, which was officially renamed to Saint-Michel in 1884. By 1860, McCluskey or McClosky Court was opened, likely named after pioneer James McClosky. From 1899, several mines were commercially exploited, extracting mica, chalk, marl, and graphite. Other economic activities included logging, agriculture, and the manufacture of potash.
Wentworth-Nord, Quebec, is composed of three small towns: Montfort, Laurel, and Saint Michel-de-Wentworth. Laurel, the largest of these, houses the Town Hall and other major municipal and civic installations. The municipality is largely characterized by its wooded and mountainous terrain. It is one of the two main headwaters for the Rivière à Simon (Simon River), and has one main river, the Rivière de L'Ouest (West River). Both are tributaries of the Rivière du Nord.
A small portion of Lac Louisa is located in Wentworth-Nord, Quebec. Lac Saint-François-Xavier is believed to have been named after François-Xavier Froideveaux. In 2011, work was undertaken to restore the lake's natural shore near the Montfort recreational building.
The linguistic diversity of Wentworth-Nord, Quebec, is reflected in the mother tongue of its residents. English is the first language for 13.7% of the population, while French is the first language for 78.5%. Both English and French are the first languages for 2.7% of the population, and other languages account for 4.5%.
Wentworth-Nord, Quebec, is primarily known for its outdoor-oriented activities. It is one of many municipalities that has a section of the Aerobic Corridor passing through its territory. The majority of the tourist activity is located at either one of three campgrounds, or in Montfort at the Pavilion. The main summer activities are hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and SUP. In the winter, cross-country skiing, fat biking, and snowshoeing are popular. Wentworth-Nord maintains 25 km of trails in the Montfort Sector for recreational use, and the municipality is also home to 9 km of the Aerobic Corridor.
