Crédit: J-P Huard
A small fishing port typical of Gaspésie.
Located near the village core of Percé, this place was named after a French nobleman named Bonfils. This nobleman is said to have lived in the village at the beginning of the New France colony.
According to legend, this nobleman bore a striking resemblance to the King of France, and a great mystery surrounded his origin. Some claimed he was the twin brother of Louis XIV, while others argued that the name was chosen to evoke the “memory of a ship captain, La Marie-Joseph, Pierre Bonfils,” who enlisted for Canada in 1723. The idea that the name originated from “beau-fils” or son-in-law cannot be ruled out.
Finally, it is mentioned in the Register of Ristigouche: 1759-1795, Baie des Chaleurs and Acadie, the marriage of “Aubin Bon fils de Jean Bon and Louise Chicoine… avec Elizabeth Cannors” on August 24, 1793. The origin of the name remains a mystery to this day.
It is worth noting that the approval of the toponym “L’Anse-à-Beaufils” was the first decision of the brand-new Commission de géographie, the ancestor of the Commission de toponymie du Québec.
The cultural life of this small hamlet is bustling, thanks in part to the presence of LA VIELLE USINE which hosts various activities worthy of big cities during the tourist season. A visit to the The village general store is a must!
