Val-d'Or

The city's name is French for "Valley of Gold". Val-d’Or is on the Canadian Shield at an elevation of 1100 feet (330 m) above sea level. Although its name refers to a valley (“Val”), the city is actually on a vast, slightly undulating plain.
Val-d'Or was established in 1923 as a gold rush town. Gold, copper, zinc, lead and lithium are still extracted in the region.

History

Gold was discovered in the area in 1923. The metal ores are usually found in volcanic rocks that were deposited on the sea floor over 2.7 billion years ago. They are referred to as volcanic-hosted (or volcanogenic) massive sulphide deposits (VMS).
The city is known for its vast parks, cycle tracks, and forests. Some other attractions include the City of Gold and the mining village of Bourlamaque, which were proclaimed historic sites in 1979.
The local hockey team, the Val-d'Or Foreurs, have played in the QMJHL since 1993, winning the league championship in 1998, 2001 and 2014 to claim a spot in the Memorial Cup. They play at Centre Air Creebec. The Foreurs' mascot is called Dynamit, named after dynamite which was extensively used by the mining industry of Val-d'Or.
Val-d'Or was once home to CFS Val-d'Or, a Canadian Forces Station.

Climate

Winters are cold and snowy with a January mean of −17 °C (1 °F). On an average of 18 days, the temperature will fall below −30 °C (−22 °F) although with the wind chill factored in, it can occasionally drop below −40 °C (−40 °F). Snowfall totals are heavy, averaging 288 cm (113 in) with reliable snow cover from November to April. Summers are warm with a July high of 24 °C (75 °F) though highs can reach above 30 °C (86 °F) an average of 4 days. Val-d'Or receives 905 mm (36 in) of precipitation per year which is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, though precipitation is heaviest during the warmest months.

By plane

• Aéroport régional de Val-d'Or

  phone: +1 819-825-6963
  address: 2-93, rue Arseneault
  A small, regional airstrip, served by Air Canada Express, Air Creebec, and Pascan Aviation.

By car

Val d'Or is on Route 117, one of the lesser-travelled branches of the Trans-Canada Highway system, which enters the province from Kirkland Lake in Ontario and passes through Réserve faunique La Vérendrye and Mont-Tremblant to connect to the Laurentian Autoroute (15) to Montréal.
From the northeast, Route 113 runs from Chibougamau-Chapais through Senneterre, ending on Route 117 just east of the city.

• Taxi 24

  phone: +1 819-874-2424

• Taxibus Val-d'Or

  phone: +1 819-824-7777

• Cité de l'Or"The City of Gold", a listed provincial and federal national historic site, includes the decommissioned Lamaque Gold Mine (1935-1985) and the former Bourlamaque mining village. Tour the underground mine, see what gold mining was like and how miners lived.

• Mineralogical Museum of Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Canadian Malartic Mine

  phone: +1 819-757-4677
  address: 650, rue de la Paix, Malartic
  The museum has a permanent exhibit about the geology and mining industry of the area, a spectacular gold collection, a sample from lunar roc, a large variety of minerals from around the world, interactives games, a seismic simulator, and a shadow theatre. The Canadian Malartic mines facilities are Canada’s largest open-pit gold mine in operation. Learn more about the day-to-day lives of numerous mine workers and the mining industry’s technological developments. Children and grown men will be amazed by the gigantic equipment used. Accessible for person with impaired mobility. Reservation requested, 24 hr in advance for weekends during winter

• Les Jardins à fleur de peau

  phone: +1 819-825-8697
  address: 67, chemin de la Baie-jolie
  An oriental garden created by two local artists offers an original, poetic, meditative and artistic journey. A garden dotted with flowers, scents, sculptures, dragons, bonsais, Buddhas, adorned with a small stream and waterfalls.

• Réserve faunique La Vérendrye

  address: Route 117, between Val d'Or and Grand Remous
  Huge provincial park, one of the largest contiguous reserves in Québec. The opposite end of this wildlife reserve is near Grand Remous, 180 km (110 mi) north of Ottawa-Hull-Gatineau. Most park services are in the village of Le Domaine on Route 117. The park has winter snowmobile trails, whitewater rivers (such as the Gens de Terre River) for canoeing, as well as fishing, hiking, swimming, and canoe camping. There is black bear hunting in spring and moose or deer hunting in autumn.

Events

• Tour de l'AbitibiUnion Cycliste Internationale-sponsored bicycle stage race, held annually since 1969, now an international competition as part of the Junior Nation's Cup (Coupe des Nations Junior). One stage leads through underground mining access tunnels at Cité de l'Or, the others race through the streets of Val-d'Or.

• Windsor- Restaurant

  phone: +1 819-874-0901
  address: 805, 2e Avenue
  European cuisine with North American touches.

• Benedictine

  phone: +1 819-825-6383
  address: 1645 3e Avenue and 636 3e Avenue
  Breakfast and brunch.

• O Thai

  phone: +1 819-874-8424
  address: 810 3rd Avenue

• Microbrasserie Le Prospecteur microbrewery

  phone: +1 819-874-3377
  address: 585, 3e Avenue
  100% locally produced craft beer, pub style cuisine, rooftop terrace, this microbrewery is a must in the region. Accessible for people with impaired mobility.

• Forestel Hotel

  phone: +1 819-825-5660
  address: 1001, 3e avenue Est
  Bar/lounge, free Wi-Fi, fitness centre, restaurant, air conditioning, refrigerator in room, non-smoking rooms, suites.

• La Vieille Auberge

  phone: +1 819-824-1384
  address: 3120, Chemin Sullivan
  Clean motel rooms with kitchenettes.

• Hotel Continental Centreville

  phone: +1 819-824-9651
  address: 932, 3e Avenue
  Free hot breakfast, and free Wi-Fi. Rustic bar. Some rooms with kitchenettes.

• Rouyn-Noranda
• Ontario