A group of non-profit organizations focused on the region's history are hosting a series of hands-on archeological digs near Quyon later this month.

Audrey Lapointe, a local teacher who also sits on the board of the Outaouais Historical Society, explained that the idea for the event had originated with a bicycle trip that some students from Quyon had taken to the Chats Falls area, where they learned about its rich history from Maude-Emmanuelle Lambert, a historian with the Friends of Chats Falls, as well as Ian Badgley, an archaeologist with the National Capital Commission. Lapointe thought that more people should know about what the students learned.

She said that they would be having student groups at the sites on separate days, but all ages are invited to the public digs. In addition to learning about how archeologists sift through soil for artifacts, there will also be a historian and biologist available to discuss the unique aspects of the area's past and ecology.

Lapointe added that the project wouldn't have been possible without the collaboration of numerous organizations, including the Friends of Chats Falls and the MRC des Collines.

The digs will take place on September 16-17 and September 23-24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The group will meet at the Domaine de Pontiac Village Winery in Quyon. The organizers recommend bringing a bicycle to reach the dig sites, as parking will be quite limited.

For more information, contact chatsfallsfriends@gmail.com.

The full interview with Lapointe is available below: