Jardins de Métis, with a bonus visit to Sainte-Luce-sur-Mer One of our favourite places in the Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie is Elsie Reford’ s Jardins de Métis . The gardens occupy a remarkable site at Grand-Métis , close to where the Mitis River meets the St. Lawrence. The name itself has an interesting history. One proposed explanation traces Métis, or Mitis, to the Mi’kmaq word Mitioui, meaning “meeting place,” an apt description for the area around the mouth of the Mitis River, which was historically a place of meeting and trade. Other theories have also been proposed, including a derivation from Mitisk, said to mean “birch tree.” The precise origin, therefore, is not entirely settled. In this geographical context, the name Métis should not be confused with the Métis , the distinct Indigenous people of Canada. Despite the identical spelling in French, the place-name Métis/Mitis has a different proposed origin. In other words, the name of this part of...
