It had an airport, churches, schools, a town hall, an arena, a hospital, and a large commercial centre, despite being isolated and only accessible by plane.

[3] In October 1984, residents were informed in the basement of a local church that Sidbec-Normines would close its mine by December 31 of that year.

As a town whose existence depended on the presence of Sidbec-Normines, the company's withdrawal basically met the end for Gagnon itself.

[3] During the summer of 1985, the schools, the health clinic and the provincial police protection all ceased operations, and basic services such as telephone and water were cut off, with electricity following suit in the fall of 1985.

That section of highway retains a boulevard configuration, complete with a median, sidewalks, and sewers, despite being deep in the wilderness, hundreds of kilometres from the nearest active community.