Fermont

Fermont is a mining town located in the regional county municipality of Caniapiscau in the northern part of the Côte-Nord region of Quebec. This municipality includes Mont-Wright, an iron ore extraction sector, as well as Monts Severson (altitude: 840 m).

Its infrastructure makes it unique, including the "Wall", a long building serving as a screen against the north winds. It is a popular destination for hunting and fishing, as well as organized sports and recreation. Formerly isolated, with no access road, this northern town is increasingly accessible thanks to Route 389 linking Baie-Comeau to Labrador-City.

Understand

Along with its neighbouring towns Wabush and Labrador City in Labrador, Fermont is part of the Labrador Trough. The Mont-Wright sector has a vast mining centre from which iron ore is extracted, hence the name Fermont. The city stands out for its main building, Place Daviault, commonly known as "Le Mur". It brings together the main businesses and services of the city in addition to housing a good number of housing units. It includes a grocery store, a post office, primary and secondary schools, a hotel and various sports facilities. The building is 1.5 km (0.93 mi) long and 50 m (160 ft) high. Its nickname is not accidental, because the building actually serves as a wall protecting the city against strong winds from the north. It also aims to allow its residents to participate in a living environment integrating a range of activities and services without having to leave the building in winter. In addition to this legendary screen wall, the city has many single and row houses in the area south and southwest of the screen wall. The village covers a tip of the northern part of Lake Daviault.

Climate

In Fermont, the average temperature in January is a minimum of −29 °C (−20 °F) and a maximum of −17 °C (1 °F) The average temperature in July is a minimum of 8 °C (46 °F) and a maximum of 19 °C (66 °F).

In Fermont, on average, the amount of sunshine in July is 16.5 hours, compared to 8 hours in December and January. On average, snow cover is 517 millimeters in December and 488.9 millimeters in January.

Get in

By car

Take Quebec Route 389 starts at Baie-Comeau heading north. From Baie-Comeau, it is a journey of 567 km (352 mi). Labrador City is about 27 km away along Highway 500 (Trans-Labrador Highway) in Newfoundland and Labrador, which becomes Quebec Route 389, once the highway enters Quebec.

Airport

The closest airport to Fermont is Wabush in Labrador, 32 km (via Highway 389) from downtown Fermont. The city includes an aquatic aerodrome to receive seaplanes, located in Lake Daviault, as well as a heliport (located northwest of the village).

  • 🌍 Wabush Airport (YWK IATA) (in the northern part of the village of Wabush), ☏ +1 709-282-5412. It handles flights from other airports in Labrador such as Goose Bay (1.25 hours) and the island of Newfoundland and cities in Quebec including Montreal (3.75-4 hours including multiple stops on the flight). Rental cars are available at the airport. 

By rail

A railway connects Fermont to Port-Cartier, however it is mainly used for transporting iron ore, as well as bulky mining materials and equipment.

Get around

The centre of the village of Fermont is located 3.9 km south of Route 389 (linking Baie-Comeau to Labrador City) which passes on the north side of Mont-Wright and the village of Fermont. Heading east, from the village of Fermont, it bypasses Lac Daviault to head northeast towards Labrador City.

See
  • 🌍 Mont-Wright mining complex (Complexe minier de Mont-Wright) (about 20 kilometers west from Fermont). Surface mine and iron ore mill operated by Arcelor Mittal Mining Canada. Includes an impressive fleet of mining equipment including the largest production trucks in Eastern Canada and the largest cable shovels in the world. Reservations at the Fermont tourist information office are compulsory for visits. Wearing long sleeves and closed shoes with flat heels is mandatory. The visit is prohibited for children under 10 years old. It is forbidden to bring a video camera. Free. (updated Jul 2022)

Do
  • 🌍 Walking path Mini-beach (Sentier pédestre Mini-plage), 38, rue du Lac (on the shore of Lake Daviault). (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Mont-Daviault hiking trail (Sentier pédestre du Mont-Daviault), rue Duchesneau (start of the trail, near Lac Daviault, south of the village). (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Outdoor skating rink (Patinoire extérieure), 13, rue du Camp, ☏ +1 418-287-5471. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Carheil Lake Beach (Plage du lac Carheil) (9 km south of the centre). Magnificent beach in a forest area. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Multifunctional centre (Centre multifonctionnel) (in the central area of the screen wall). Theatre. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Municipal swimming pool of Fermont (Piscine municipale de Fermont) (in the central area of the screen wall). Indoor pool. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Jean-Fortin Park (Parc Jean-Fortin) (on the north side of the screen wall). Municipal park. (updated Jul 2022)

Events
  • 🌍 Taiga Challenge (Festival) (Défi Taïga (Festival)), 3, Venelle 5 (west of the screen wall), ☏ +1 418-341-0355. The Taiga Challenge is the longest sled dog race in Eastern Canada. This competition turns out to be the main activity of the Taïga Carnaval de Fermont. (updated Jul 2022)

Buy
  • Metro Coop Fermont, 299, rue le Carr, local 7 (in the shopping centre), ☏ +1 418-287-3468. Grocery store. 

Eat
  • Casse-croûte de l'aréna (in the arena of Fermont), ☏ +1 418-287-9444. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 L'Authentique Bistro, 299, rue le Carr (in the shopping centre), ☏ +1-418-287-3005. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Resto-Bar Zonix, 299, rue le Carr (in the shopping centre), ☏ +1 418-287-5250. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 MFQ Cafeteria (Cafétéria MFQ), 388, rue du Fer. Restaurant. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 VardyMadden Ltd, rue Bertrand, ☏ +1 514-478-1963. Restaurant. (updated Jul 2022)

Drink
  • 🌍 Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) (in the shopping centre). (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Bar La Fer-Tek, 250, rue le Carr. Meals served on site. (updated Jul 2022)

Sleep

Gîtes

Camping
  • Fermont Outdoor Leisure Association (Association loisir plein air de Fermont), 300, rue des Lagopèdes, ☏ +1 418-287-3927. Check-in: Open in summer. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Fermont Campground (Camping de Fermont) (on the west shore of Lac Daviault). (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Camping auxiliary park (Parc auxiliaire de camping) (at southwest of the village, bordering a bay of Lac Daviault). Auxiliary campground. (updated Jul 2022)

Cope
  • 🌍 Caisse Desjardins des travailleuses et des travailleurs unis, 357, rue le Carr. ATM. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Hematite Health Centre (Centre de santé l'Hématite), 1, rue Aquilon, ☏ +1 418-287-3280. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Evangelical Church of Fermont (Église évangélique de Fermont), 235, rue le Carr, ☏ +1 418-287-9385. (updated Jul 2022)

Connect
  • 🌍 Canada-Post (in the shopping centre). (updated Jul 2022)

Go next
Routes through Fermont
END ← Baie-Comeau ←  W  E  → becomes → Labrador City → Happy Valley-Goose Bay


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