Hearst, Ontario

HEARST , ONTAR IO “That’s probably one of our most distinctive aspects,” submits Town Chief Administrative Officer Yves Morrissette. “The people here work in French and they learn in French. That’s the beauty of it.” He cautions not to be fooled by the population figures posted on the entrance and exit signs to the town. “They indicate about 5,500 people,” he says. “But when we account for the non- organized territories around us, it’s more like 9,000. We have a good resident base up here, and what’s even more attractive is that we’re kind of self-sufficient. We’ve got several local shops. Long-established family businesses still going strong. We also have a relatively large labor pool and ample natural resources; we rarely outsource anything.” Hearst even has its own university, the Université de Hearst, which offers additional campuses in neighboring Timmins and Kapuskasing. It’s a French university with a rich history. Founded in 1953 by Bishop Louis Lévesque to offer secondary-level programs to French- speaking boys, the university first carried the name Séminaire de Hearst and was financed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hearst. The