This title is mainly meant to draw attention to a woman entrepreneur who, more than 25 years ago, founded the Centre de l’Émeu de Charlevoix (CEC), a breeding and processing centre for emus, an exotic and surprising animal that has been on the Tremblay family farm since 1997.
The Centre de l’Émeu de Charlevoix (CEC) is guided by the core values of its founder and owner, Raymonde Tremblay. Those values are tied to health, family, and the environment. Over the years, she has commissioned R&D work that led to a range of products, notably for body care.
Just beside this farm and interpretation centre (you can visit it, taste the meat, and try the health products there) is the Tremblay family home. Raymonde continues to run a tourist residence on the second floor, which her mother, Gertrude Gagné, started in 1979, first as a travellers’ inn after her husband’s death.
Apartment with a view
La Résidence touristique Chez Gertrude, as it is known today, has been operating since 2006-2007 and consists of a 4-bedroom apartment that can accommodate 6 to 9 people. Inside, you’ll find a well-lit living room where it’s nice to get together, a dining room for 10, a well-equipped kitchen, an entrance hall with plenty of storage, and a large patio with a superb view of Mont du Lac des Cygnes and the neighbouring emu farm. Guests also have access to a private bathroom, two shared bathrooms, and a small sink in every bedroom. Various amenities are also available, such as a washer and dryer, an ironing board and iron, a hair dryer, and a BBQ.
Bedding and towels are provided.
Of course, the visit to the Centre de l’émeu and its various attractions is included in the package. The residence is rented to only one group at a time, which ensures peace and quiet for its occupants.
Conveniently located in the heart of the village, the residence lets guests enjoy several activities and tourist attractions in the region, including Parc des Grands Jardins, the gateway to the stunning Charlevoix mountains.
Le Centre de l’émeu, as fascinating as ever
In 1997, Raymonde Tremblay, with the support of her partner, Guy Filion, in partnership with her brother Damien, her mother Gertrude Gagné and a friend, Guy Simard, revived activities on the family farm, unused for two decades, with an unusual project. From this partnership, the Centre de l’Émeu de Charlevoix (CEC) was born.
About forty emus arrived in the buildings built by the Tremblay ancestors. Later, what was to become the fattening barn was built to shelter the emus during winter and ensure their comfort. Since then, the centre has gone through several stages of development, ultimately becoming the ÉCONOMUSÉE de la huilière in 2015 to bring all CEC activities together on one site, with the construction of a new building.
Since 2020, CEC has become an agritourism site offering a world of discoveries through an expanded, integrated experience. More than 200 emu chicks hatch there each year.
In 2023, as Raymonde Tremblay explains, visitors will still enjoy meals prepared by a chef who specializes in working with emu meat. You’ll also find prepared dishes to take out there. Several educational and interpretive activities will also be offered to visitors. Not to mention the shop, where body care products made from pure emu oil are available.
One thing is certain: Raymonde Tremblay balances her two roles as a “farmer-entrepreneur” and innkeeper with determination and passion.
Le Centre de l’émeu de Charlevoix
fermeemeu.com
710, rue Saint-Édouard
Saint-Urbain, QC G0A 4K0
(418) 639-2606
Tourist residence Chez Gertrude
gertrude.qc.ca
706, rue Saint-Édouard
Saint-Urbain (QC) G0A 4K0
418 639-2205