Site partner : La Cité
Find 139 Principale Street, turn onto Lavergne Street (formerly St-Paul), St-Albert, third property on the left.
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Best vantage point: Lavergne street.
You are responsible for your own safety and security.
“I find Popsilos inspiring. It will bring a smile to the faces of those who pass by.”
- Martin Benoît, owner
Popsilos Mural: Postcard by Benny Wilding and Carlos Oliva. Theme: The Environment.
Benny and Carlos literally created a postcard for the Prescott-Russell region. They explored the region and took in the countryside charms. They’ve made a mosaic of the animals, stories or elements that are important to the communities that mould the counties. The area has become a destination for bird watchers and many come by to catch a glimpse of the white snowy owl, which adorns the very top of the silo. A scene follows of folks fishing in a canoe on the river, an activity loved by many and a testament to the importance of the bodies of water that surround the region. Light shines through a forest, a shout out to the beautiful Larose Forest, an all seasons gem for citizens and visitors alike. A golden field is depicted, showing the way of life for many citizens of the counties and the artists have even drawn a little blue house in the horizon, a nod to the owner’s own home, passed on from his grandfather. He’s the third generation owner of the family farm. Lastly, and most importantly, are the flowers: a trillium and a lily. Both flowers are those of the Franco-Ontarian flag. French is 60% of Prescott-Russell’s population’s mother tongue. La francophonie is alive and well in the counties.
A passion for cows and 100% Canadian milk
We sat in the modern kitchen around the table in the house that once wasn’t so modern, that saw three generations of entrepreneurial farmers go by. Martin Benoît still works with his parents, but he’s taken the reigns of the family dairy farm. He absolutely loves his cows. He knows them. He’s proud that Canadians can buy 100% Canadian milk products from the St-Albert Cheese Co-operative, a movement he’s adamant to support. Since the 60s, this community of farmers made the decision that they would be in control of producing and selling their products and created the Co-operative. Teamwork has played a big role in farming communities since the early days and still does, through the co-operative movement. Martin lead a large renovation project that brought in new technology, Farm robotics, allowing his cows to decide when it's time be milked and increasing their comfort. He’s thrilled.
