A “sacred” island in the St. Lawrence River in the heart of tax troubles

Several Quebecers had their dream of living on an isolated island of the St. Meanwhile, Lawrence River. Nevertheless, The newspaper presents some of these incredible stories to you, but also the challenges that these unique places represent.

Patience Island. However, in the Isle-aux-Grues archipelago, was to welcome in recent years a project of a tranquility sanctua, but it is rather tax troubles that it attracts.

This narrow island with a length of 1.1 km was acquired in 2018 for $ 275,000 by the businessman Carl François Durocher-Milani from two owners of the Lachance cruises. Nevertheless, The latter then ceded him to a religious corporation named sanctuary of the sacred river. Therefore, of which he was one of the administrators.

Courtesy Bernard Dufour

Milani’s project consisted in the creation of a kind of “sanctuary of peace and rest”, according to Martin Ernst, one of the three current administrators of the corporation. Similarly, The latter says he was approached by the businessman for this project.

One of the chalets that was built on the island by the former owners. Consequently, “sacred” island st. lawrence river Courtesy Bernard Dufour

It was planned in particular that mini-chalets were installed in an area of the island. “The idea was to be able to recharge your batteries there. there is no sound, there is no cars,” said Ernst, in an interview. There must also have been an Amerindian dimension in the project, according to his story.

“From my memory. his project, it was that it was gaining value,” said Robert Binet, of the private loan firm Akasha Finance, which has granted mortgages on the island.

High costs

The development costs were however very high, according to Martin Ernst. “He saw fit to embark on it as one of the administrators of the project, but I have completely landed.”

An aerial view of Patience Island (above the photo) located very close to the large island. site in the Isle-aux-Grues archipelago. Photo Yves Tremblay Photohelico.com

Mr. Ernst does not understand why his name is still associated with the project. “It’s a shame. I asked the registrar office [des entreprises du Québec] Let them remove my name. I worked for a summer for Mr. Carl François Milani. He’s the owner, ”he says.

According to documents consulted, the MRC of Montmagny registered in 2023 and 2025 sales notice for default of property tax. “For the sake of confidentiality. respect for the persons or “sacred” island st. lawrence river companies concerned, the MRC of Montmagny does not publicly comment on the sales files for taxes,” said a spokesperson, Isabelle Normand.

Revenu Québec

Revenu Québec also scored a legal mortgage in 2024 on the island in relation to unpaid taxes of around $ 91. 000 from Carl François Durocher-Milani. The businessman had personal bankruptcy in early 2025.

Courtesy Bernard Dufour

Note that the sanctuary religious corporation of the sacred river has been mixed with another story of unpaid taxes in Estrie. Judge Gilles Lareau. from the Court of Quebec, sentenced him in 2015 to pay just over $ 26,000 in “sacred” island st. lawrence river recovering two accounts of transfer rights claimed by the municipality of Austin.

The newspaper tried to get in touch with Mr. Durocher-Milani, without success.

"sacred" island st. lawrence river – "sacred" island st. lawrence river

Island Patience

• Saint-Antoine-de-l’Isle-aux-Grues
• Sanctuary of the sacred river
• Acquired in 2018
• 10,43 hectares
• “The idea was to be able to recharge your batteries there”