The Reford Gardens are the fruit of the work of Elsie Reford who, between 1926 and 1958, transformed her fishing camp into a botanical garden. Some 3,000 species and varieties of plants are distributed in about fifteen gardens. Works of contemporary art dot the course and blend harmoniously into the historic gardens.
She bequeathed the estate in 1954 to her son Bruce who sold it in 1961 to the Quebec government.
In Villa Estevan, a summer residence dating from 1887, a permanent exhibition relates the past of the Reford family. In addition, there are temporary exhibitions and it is here that some special events take place in the summer; musical brunches, literary teas, outdoor concerts, weddings, etc.
Every year, since 2000, landscape architects, architects and artists of international reputation come to create contemporary gardens within the framework of the international festival of gardens of Métis. This event allows visitors to explore contemporary art and children to have fun through playful and interactive installations.
The Reford Gardens were designated a national historic site on July 6, 1995 by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada2. On June 6, 2013, they were classified as a heritage site by the Ministry of Culture and Communications.
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