Ah, Moonbeam. It’s so cute. And so goofy. That’s why it’s so neat. I like Moonbeam.
I want to say that the alien’s name is Youpi, but I think that’s the name of the Montréal Expos’s mascot
Moonbeam is a small francophone town of about 1000 (which is big compared to places like Mattice, let alone Harty!) It is so clean, so well kept, and, well, so spunky.
From what I’ve been told, the town got its name from railway workers who insisted that a beam of light from the moon hit the tracks one night. And thus Moonbeam was named. And with the help of hippies and a few dedicated locals, the name stuck.
Moonbeam loves its space theme. The flying saucer is one of Highway 11’s most famous monuments and is known throughout Ontario. There is the Blue Moon Motel and Chip Stand (motel + chip truck = awesome combo) which features space stuff on its signs. Moonbeam has its own mascot which is a little green alien whose name I can’t remember. He’s on all their signs which are all over Highway 11’s eastern portion. I think I even have him on a shirt pin.
It was so cold I had to wear my gorilla gloves. I can’t believe we posed outside without a hat
But it’s not all rockets and asteroids with Moonbeam. They have a vision and they’re realizing it. There’s the Centre Culturel and the Leonard Art Gallery. The town has some of the best hiking, cycling, and walking trails in northeastern Ontario. Moonbeam has its own snowmobile club with trails that are groomed in the winter (it’s the first place I’ve ever seen a snowmobile trail groomer.) Just north of town there is Remi Lake and René Brunelle Provincial Park, which I’m told has a waterslide. There is also fishing, swimming, and canoeing/kayaking.
Moonbeam’s most famous son would be sculptor Maurice Gaudreault. Gaudreault is well-known within Canadian ceramic circles for his work depicting life in northern Ontario through clay.
Gaudreault sculpture
There’s also a short film called Leaving Moonbeam about a young girl trying to hitch a ride out of Moonbeam.
Moonbeam actually has a fair amount to do and is totally worth a stop, or even more so, an actual visit.
初めて購入させてもらいました。注文受付~発送まで、早急に対応していただけ、GW中でもすぐに届き、とても嬉しかったです。
母の誕生日プレゼントにと思い、注文したので、GWの帰省の日にギリギリ間に合い、このプレゼントを持参して帰省することができ、とても助かりました！
またの機会にも、こちらで購入させて頂きたいです。
My grandmother (Soucie) ran the hotel in Moonbeam around 1940’s and apparently Al Capone used to hide out there during his notorious activities.
I read a book called Moonbeam during my time at St. Jerome College in 1960 but can’t find a copy of it. Would love to get it.
Born in Moonbeam in 1951, lived there for 5 years , then moved to Val Albert and started school there.. moved away when I was 20 but visit my family every year, wether they like it or not . Planning on spending more time there now that I’m retired.
Great Post! The mascot’s name is KILO ! And also, Della Pieta Restaurant is still open (and they make great Pizza) I was born and raised in Moonbeam and I can safely say that there is no better place on earth to grow up. We don’t spend a lot of time inside… In winter, the outdoor skating rink is always full and so is our small Ski Hill (which is run by volunteers!). Moonbeam’s Nature Trail system is one of the nicest in the province and links the town to Remi Lake. In the summer, we all flock to Remi Lake (6km North of Moonbeam) where René Brunelle Provincial Park is with its sandy beaches. There’s good fishing and swimming on that lake. There’s always something going on in Moonbeam… it’s a village (we call it ‘Le village’) that’s alive, full of great people.
I so agree with you. Lived there until age 20, moved away for studies, traveled the world and saw wonders. Somehow, Moonbeam is way up there as my favourite place.
Robert
The story says that almost everybody has seen ufos there but I lived there until I was 20 and never heard anybody having seen ufos. And actually almost none of my friends even knew why they built a spaceship. That was kind of something we laughed about. I don’t say that it didn’t happen but not everybody knows about it. But now I am very curious and would love to learn more
Robert Szep, aka Canada’s Meteorite Man, is gone (he passed away on November 12, 2010). How then could this Guelph resident have said on April 17, 2013 at 11:37 pm what you quoted?:
From what I have heard over the years MOONBEAM is a LOT MORE notorious for UFO sightings than any website lets on.
Apparently almost every person who lives there has seen UFOs on more than one occasion.
It is the CANADIAN equivolent to Roswell NM.
And what’s-up with your own private TUNGUNSKA???
April 17 the date the comments on the old site were imported to the new format.
Seriously !!!’!! I lived thre all my childhood until I was in my 20s and I never seen one nor heard anyone about this bullshit
Patrick filion
I am looking for a Raymond Gaudreault whose family moved to Orleans Ont. I believe his mother was a hair dresser. He spent part of a summer in Hearst working for Dept of Mines & Techinal Surveys. Can anyone assist? I met his cousin Claudette Fillion in the 60,s. He worked in Hearst in the 60’s also
From what I have heard over the years MOONBEAM is a LOT MORE notorious for UFO sightings than any website lets on.
Apparently almost every person who lives there has seen UFOs on more than one occasion.
It is the CANADIAN equivolent to Roswell NM.
And what’s-up with your own private TUNGUNSKA???
Locals know about the massive area of flattened trees near MOONBEAM. It is the WORLD’S LARGEST CROP CIRCLE except that insted of crops having been flattened by something that landed then took off… An entire FOREST was flattened.
Please, local yokels, post some photos!!!
“Zep,” over & out…
I Used to live there it was a beautiful place i miss it alot
Just got back from that area today!!!! Ihad my camera with me! but too many people taking pics with the flying saucer. next time hopefully!!!!! The town has sure changed since the 90’s. La bienvenue hotel burned down years back…. the Potvin furniture store is closed…. the old gas station on the corner is also gone. Even at the Bay Ouellette is changed since i was there…. (when i was a kid) :)….
Della pieta restaurant is closed also …. The town has changed but the people remains the same!!!! friendly, courteous.
My family is from Moonbeam, and I have many, many fond memories of summers spent there! Love Moonbeam!
I was born and raised in that little town of Fauquier and now live near San Diego Ca., and when I went back home for my dad\’s funeral (Glorien St-Amour) I was very surprised to see a very nice looking space ship. I loved it! Thanks Moonbeam for putting it on.
Nanette
hey i lived at remilake for 20 yrs and well the mascot is called kilo , the water slide is at the trailer park twin lakes the blue moon chips stand is gone now the local golfer actually saw lights of ufo one nite they have grea t school and community centre rink sportsfield aply ground at the hwy and school nice groceries store corner store restaurants gas station bank LCBO and the Remi park is great for camping and the ski hill too 🙂 wil miss the people and area but life goes in many directions 🙂
was their on my way to nova scotia i like the space ship
was thru moonbean a couple years ago about 3:00 a.m., tired, got a good chuckle out of seeing a flying saucer. thanks Moonbeam
I heard about Moonbeam on the Regional Contact show. To be honest I looked up on your town many years ago after my husband passed. I was interested then and interested now. It’s a place I would like to call home
The Tragically Hip mentions Moonbeam in a song called Fly in there new album World Container.