THE LEGEND OF THE THREE CROSSES
(Aug_19-26).jpg)
The Legend of Mattawa’s Three Crosses
High on the Laurentian hills across the Ottawa River, three white crosses overlook Mattawa—an unmistakable landmark and a symbol woven from history, faith, and local legend.
The Legend
A well-known legend tells the story of how a fire nearly destroyed Mattawa. A burning match accidentally ignited the tinder dry floor of an outhouse at the back of Mattawa's first town hall where it and the entire building were soon engulfed in flames, causing sparks to fly everywhere, threatening all of Main Street. Parishioners called upon Father Nelson Duquette, the pastor of Ste Anne Church (1917-1949) where he prayed in the street and vowed that if the town were spared, he would place three crosses on the mountainside across from the river. The winds shifted, the town survived.
​
True to his vow, Father Duquette ensured that three crosses were erected in gratitude for what many called a "miracle". This legend remains one of Mattawa’s most cherished stories—passed down through generations.
Historic Origins – 1686
The earliest recorded moment of the three crosses and Catholic worship in Mattawa, comes from the journal of Chevalier Sieur Pierre de Troyes. The entry states that his expedition stopped at the rivers edge, at what is now known as Explorer’s Point, to repair their canoes. It is also recorded that a Missionary priest, Father Silvie, a Jesuit, who was travelling with them, celebrated Mass at this site on Sunday, May 12, 1686.
To mark the meeting place of the Mattawa and Ottawa Rivers, Le Chevalier de Troyes ordered three wooden crosses to be erected. The crosses stood there for a number of years commemorating Mattawa's first Mass and the passing of their successful expedition.
​​​Community Unity
Another story is that in the summer of 1917, during the difficult years of World War I, two local priests and local volunteers decided that three crosses should stand on the high hill on the Québec side of the Ottawa River—visible to all who travelled through the valley.
​
The crosses, built from 12‑foot pine logs, were hauled to the top of hill as a symbolic gesture of faith and solidarity during wartime. From that point onward, the hill top of Laurentien Ridge became the home of Mattawa’s Three Crosses.
_JPG.jpg)
​​A Symbol Rebuilt Through Generations
The crosses have never been permanent. Weather, rot, and vandalism have taken their toll, and each generation has stepped forward to rebuild them.
​
The crosses have been rebuilt many times—1927, 1953, 1975, 1986, and again in 1991, when local volunteers carried new crosses up the hill. Today, they stand on metal bases and are illuminated with solar lights, continuing a tradition kept alive by the people of Mattawa.
Whether born from explorer history, miraculous legend, or community devotion, the Three Crosses remain a defining symbol of Mattawa—faithful, resilient, and unmistakably ours.
ABOUT US
St. Anne is a Catholic community located in the North Western area of the Pembroke Diocese of Ontario.
Our pastor is Rev. Cyril Okebanama of Mattawa and
our deacons are Tim Foster and Albert Benoit from the
parish communities of Astorville, Bonfield and Corbeil.
CONTACT US /
MAILING ADDRESS
St. Anne
241 Second Street, P.O. Box 160
Mattawa, ON
P0H 1V0
Telephone: (705) 744-5391
Email: stannemattawa@gmail.com
​
Pastor:
Rev. Cyril Okebanama, S.M.M.M.