Cruise & Visit to Grosse Island

Explore the somber past of Canada through a visit to Grosse Isle with this day excursion.

Cruise & Explore Grosse Isle

At the scheduled time, gather at the Berthier-sur-Mer Marina. Here, you'll embark on a boat and navigate the St. Lawrence River heading towards Grosse Isle.

Upon arrival, you'll disembark and be welcomed by a tour guide certified by Parks Canada. Grosse Isle once functioned as a quarantine facility, where immigrants from Ireland were taken for decontamination prior to being permitted on the mainland.

The narrative, however, carries a much grimmer aspect. This island, located alongside the St. Lawrence River, was the site where over 7,000 immigrants perished due to inadequate sanitary conditions.

As you wander along its pathways, you will gain insights into the harsh realities faced by the inhabitants of the past. Key sites include the church, lighthouse, cemetery, and the lazaretto, renowned as one of the island's most somber areas. Here, you will be informed about the disinfection procedures implemented in those times.

After delving into the chilling history of Grosse Isle, we will return by boat to the meeting area, marking the conclusion of this day trip.