Gatineau Park

Gatineau Park (French: Parc de la Gatineau) is a federal park located in the Outaouais region of Quebec, Canada. Administered by the National Capital Commission as part of the National Capital Region, Gatineau Park is a 361 square kilometres (139 sq mi) wedge of land extending north and west from the city of Gatineau. With a perimeter of 179.2 kilometres (111.3 mi), the park includes parts of the municipalities of Chelsea, Pontiac, La Pêche, and the City of Gatineau. The main entrance to the park is 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) north of downtown Ottawa, Ontario.

Gatineau Park
Pink Lake at the end of October
LocationGatineau / Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada
Nearest cityGatineau
Coordinates45°35′N 76°00′W
Area361.31 km2 (139.50 sq mi)
Established1938
Governing bodyNational Capital Commission
ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/gatineau-park
Gatineau Park Visitor Centre sign

The park's area has a long history of human inhabitation and usage predating the arrival of European settlers. Its more recent pre-park history includes various forms of human exploitation such as farming, logging, hunting, and industrial activity. The idea of creating a park in the Gatineau Hills for recreational purposes was proposed as early as 1903. In 1938 money was allotted for the acquisition of Gatineau woodlands (for preservation) and the construction of a parkway.

The Government of Canada maintains a conference centre at Meech Lake, known as Willson House, the site of meetings leading to a failed attempt to reform Canada's Constitution in 1987, the Meech Lake Accord.

There are significant ongoing controversies about the administration of the park, including its status as the only federal park that is not part of the national parks system, the existence and construction of private residences inside it, residents' extensive violation of shoreline protection bylaws at Meech Lake,[1] and changes to its boundaries without the knowledge of parliament. For instance, inspection reports carried out by the Municipality of Chelsea in 2013 and 2015 confirm that 119 structures have been built without permit at Meech Lake, and that 80% of Meech Lake residents whose properties were inspected continue to violate county bylaw MRC 137-09 several years after it was adopted.[2]

History and politics

Although advocated by Dominion Parks Commissioner James Harkin to be the first national park outside the Rocky Mountains, it remains the only federal park that is not a national park,[3][4] a situation that has direct repercussions on its ecology, boundaries, and land mass.

Created in 1938, Gatineau is the only federal park not protected by the National Parks Act, largely as a result of former Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King's caution, fear of criticism, and desire for privacy.[5][6]

NCC allows shoreline construction at Meech Lake, 2008

Gatineau Park was not only the first national park advocated for Quebec, it was also intended as the first one outside the Rocky Mountains. As well, it was to be the first national park created by the first parks service in the world, the Dominion Parks Branch.

On December 3, 1913, Dominion Parks Commissioner James B. Harkin wrote to Deputy Minister of the Interior William Cory, arguing for the creation of a nationwide system of parks, the first of which was to be Gatineau Park. In his memo, Harkin said:

"The East has no national parks like those in the Rockies, and it is proposed that the country develop a broader scheme of parks than exists in any other country […] Bringing into effect the proposed Gatineau Park […] would, I think, most easily commence this scheme."[4][7][8]

A few months later, on Cory's suggestion, Harkin wrote Quebec Minister of Mines and Forests Charles Devlin inquiring whether he would help establish a national park in the Gatineau district. Although provincial officials wrote back that the matter would receive their minister's immediate attention, Devlin died before he could follow up on Harkin's request, and no further response was ever received.[3] With the First World War intervening shortly thereafter, the government of Canada had to tend to more pressing matters.[5]

On April 7, 1927, the idea of creating a Gatineau national park was again raised in the House of Commons, where MPs considered a bill to create the Federal District Commission, which would build parks and parkways on both sides of the Ottawa River. During debate, however, Conservative MP John Edwards accused Prime Minister King of wanting to create a park around his Kingsmere property and ease access to it by building a parkway. Though he denied the charge, the criticism would shape King's subsequent decisions regarding the park.[5][9]

It would take another eleven years for the park to be created in embryonic form on July 1, 1938,[5] as a result of efforts by Percy Sparks of the Federal Woodlands Preservation League. By choosing to create the park through gradual property acquisition, the King government allowed private property to continue existing in Gatineau Park—a situation that has prevented the park from becoming a national park.

Today, the National Capital Commission manages the park, along with all federal lands and buildings in Canada's National Capital Region. Its policies on park boundaries,[10] land management and ownership,[11] as well as on residential construction in the park, have been the subject of controversy.[12]

To address these issues, several private members’ bills have been introduced in the Senate and House of Commons since 2005.[13][14][15][16][17][18] The federal government also tabled its own Gatineau Park legislation in June 2009 and April 2010.[19][20][21][22][23][24] None of the bills tabled so far has been enacted into law.

The latest government legislation on the subject, Bill C-20, was reported back to the House of Commons on November 15, 2010. However, it died on the Order Paper before it could be given third reading when the 40th parliament was dissolved.

In the fall of 2010, a controversy broke out in the press pertaining to the rehabilitation of Trail no. 1 in Gatineau Park.[25] According to published reports, the contractor hired by the NCC had laced the trail with broken glass and other debris; the NCC reacted to this news by hiring an engineering firm to study the problem.[26] Its report concluded that garbage spread along the trail was within acceptable standards, a conclusion that park advocates met with scepticism.[27][28] The NCC also confirmed staff for the contractor were not certified in the maintenance of summer trails in the park, as required by their contract.[29]

More recently, on April 30, 2014, the Conservative government defeated the latest private member's bill pertaining to Gatineau Park, a bill that had been tabled by Hull-Aylmer NDP MP Nycole Turmel. The Conservatives argued that the bill (C-565) was too restrictive, since it applied only to Gatineau Park and not to other green space in the National Capital Region. They also said they voted against it because they intended to re-introduce their own legislation in the near term. According to park activists, C-565, though seriously flawed, should have been sent to committee for study and amendment.[30]

Building on the work of the predecessor Federal Woodlands Preservation League, the modern-day New Woodlands Preservation League and its Gatineau Park Protection Committee advocate greater public access to the park while opposing residential development inside it.[31][32][33][34][35]

Sites and activities
Ottawa Valley and Gatineau Hills from Champlain lookout in Gatineau Park
Biking along one of the many trails in Gatineau Park
Cross country ski trail in Gatineau Park
Ziplining in the park

Gatineau Park is a recreational destination offering public facilities including beaches, campgrounds, picnic areas, trails, and parkways. There are 165 km (103 mi) of hiking trails and 90 km (56 mi) of trails for mountain bikes and the Trans Canada Trail passes through the park. The park is also popular with cyclists where many routes are quite steep and very demanding on legs, heart and lungs.[36]

Beaches are located at Meech Lake, Lac Phillipe and La Pêche Lake. While no camping is allowed at Meech Lake, there are campgrounds at the other two lakes. All three lakes are open to canoeists, but gas motor boats are only allowed at Meech Lake due to the presence of many private properties.[37]

Cross-country skiing is one of the park's main recreational activities. Nearly 200 km (120 mi) of cross-country trails criss-cross the park, which hosts the annual Gatineau Loppet ski race (formerly known as Keskinada Loppet). Downhill skiing and snowboarding are engaged in at Camp Fortune.[38]

During the summer months, Camp Fortune offers an aerial experience including ziplines and treetop obstacles.[39]

Although the practice is not formally permitted in the park, some of the more secluded corners are popular with nudists.[40] In particular there is an unofficial nude beach that has been in use since the late 1930s. Located northwest of parking lot P11 on trail 36, the beach is extensively used by members of Ottawa's gay community.[41]

The Mackenzie King Estate, the former summer home of William Lyon Mackenzie King, the tenth Prime Minister of Canada, with its 231 hectares of landscaped green space, is located south of Kingsmere Lake. The cottages, including Kingswood and the primary residence, Moorside, were recently restored and now feature interactive exhibits about Mackenzie King's era.[42] There is a café and tea room[43] at the estate. The estate also features the picturesque collection of stone ruins[44] and a small waterfall that runs down the escarpment near Moorside.[45] Mackenzie King donated his estate to the people of Canada at his death in 1950.

Located at Kingsmere, the official residence of the Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada since 1955, and known as The Farm, was part of William Lyon Mackenzie King's estate. This rural property consists of a renovated farmhouse and five outbuildings surrounded by 1.74 hectares (4 acres) of fields and forests. The residence is closed to the public, but a virtual tour is available.[46]

Also located inside the park is the Prime Minister of Canada's country retreat and official summer residence Harrington Lake, also called Lac Mousseau.[47]

At the end of the Gatineau Parkway, Champlain lookout provides views of the Ottawa Valley from high atop the Eardley Escarpment. When leaves change colour in fall, tourists and locals are drawn to the park's lookouts, roads, and pathways to enjoy the autumn scenery.[48]

Pink Lake is a meromictic lake found in the park. Tiny algae in the lake give it a bright green colour. The lake's name comes from the Pink family who originally owned property in the area.[49] The park includes many other lakes.

King Mountain, a prominent peak along the Eardley Escarpment at approximately 350 m (1,150 ft), was the first triangulation point in Canada. The mountain's unique positioning provides an interesting spectrum of vegetation ranging from evergreen and deciduous forests to windswept savannas. The mountain is also home to a number of trees which are rare in the area, including some that are nearly 600 years old.[50][51] For many years, a 30-foot-high (9.1 m) red-coloured cedar cross was located on top of King Mountain. Originally erected by Old Chelsea's parish priest, Father Maguire, it could be seen for miles around. It eventually rotted and fell over the cliff.[52]

Wildlife

Gatineau Park provides habitat for many species of birds including the pileated woodpecker and common loon. Turkey vultures and migrating hawks may be observed soaring on the thermals above the Eardley Escarpment. The park is also home to a large population of beavers and white-tailed deer, as well as black bears and two wolf packs in the more remote sections.[53]

See also

References
  1. « Algues bleues dans le lac Meech: Chelsea accusée de laxisme », publié par 104,7 fm Outaouais le 2 juillet 2013; « Un groupe réclame la renaturalisation des berges du lac Meech », Radio-Canada, le 2 juillet 2013 ; « Protection des eaux du lac Meech : des citoyens accusent Chelsea de laxisme », Guillaume St-Pierre, Le Droit, le 2 juillet 2013, p.11 ; « Renaturalisation des berges : des résidents des Collines-de-l'Outaouais réclament des actions, Radio-Canada, Téléjournal, le 7 août 2013 ; "Troubled Waters," by Mark Bourrie, Ottawa Magazine, Volume 16, no. 4, October 2013, pp. 30-34; Municipalité de Chelsea, Rapport préliminaire, inspection des berges du lac Meech, été 2013 : https://www.scribd.com/doc/209143703/Meech-Rapport-MRC-137-09.
  2. Municipalité de Chelsea, Rapport préliminaire, inspection des berges du lac Meech, été 2013 : https://www.scribd.com/doc/209143703/Meech-Rapport-MRC-137-09; Municipalité de Chelsea, Rapport final, inspection des berges du lac Meech, été 2015 : https://www.scribd.com/doc/296735498/Report-fron-the-munipality-of-Chelsea-regarding-violations-of-Meech-Lake-shoreline-protection-bylaws.
  3. Lothian W.F., A Brief History of Canada's National Parks, Environment Canada, 1987, p. 132
  4. Speech on Bill S-210 by the Honourable Tommy Banks, Senate Debates, October 5, 2006, pp. 847-849, https://sencanada.ca/content/sen/Chamber/391/Debates/PDF/035db_2006-10-05-E.pdf.
  5. The New Woodlands Preservation League, brief submitted to the Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, March 22, 2007, https://sencanada.ca/content/sen/Committee/391/enrg/pdf/15issue.pdf
  6. The Creation and Early Development of Gatineau Park, Gagnon, S. and Filion, M. National Capital Commission, 2004,http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/data/2/rec_docs/1663_gatineau_study_e.pdf Archived June 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (note: the conclusion of this study has been seriously challenged. See Give Credit to Park's Founder, by Jean-Paul Murray, Ottawa Citizen, December 22, 2004, p. D4, www.nccwatch.org/cgi-bin/nccmangler?mackenzie).
  7. Library and Archives Canada, Department of the Interior, Dominion Parks Branch, File US-14, volumes 1,2,5, and 6; the Harkin memo may be consulted in the documents section at www.gatineauparc.ca.
  8. Claim Gatineau Park can’t be national park untrue, The Ottawa Citizen, October 16, 2006, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved August 30, 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. Debates, House of Commons, April 7, 1927.
  10. "QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE" (PDF). Debates of the Senate. Senate of Canada. November 22, 2005. pp. 2132–2134. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
  11. "Gatineau Park would cost 'significantly more' as national park". CBC News. July 28, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
  12. Rogers, Dave (September 4, 2009). "NCC neglects duty to protect Gatineau Park: activist". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
  13. "MP seeks to protect Gatineau Park: National park status a possible result of Broadbent initiative," The Ottawa Citizen, October 26, 2005, p. C8
  14. "Senator pushes to preserve Gatineau Park: Legislation would prevent sale of parts of property," Ottawa Citizen, January 17, 2006, p. B2.
  15. "Senator’s bill would take Gatineau Park away from NCC: Plan is to stop selloff of public property," The Ottawa Citizen, April 16, 2006, p. C1.
  16. "MP Hopes Parliament lands role," Ottawa Sun, May 19, 2006, p. 16.
  17. "Le parc de la Gatineau serait menacé," Le Droit, April 22, 2008, p. 6.
  18. "NDP MP challenges Tories to use his bill to protect Gatineau Park: Proposed legislation protects area from developers," The Ottawa Citizen, April 23, 2009.
  19. "New law would let NCC designate Gatineau Park lands," by Dave Rogers, The Ottawa Citizen, June 10, 2009.
  20. "Bill protects Gatineau Park, but not as a national park," by Dave Rogers, The Ottawa Citizen, June 10, 2009.
  21. "Gatineau Park bill draws flak," by Laura Czekaj, Ottawa Sun, June 10, 2009.
  22. "Gatineau Park gets more federal protection," by Nick Gamache, CBC Radio Ottawa, June 9 and 10, 2009.
  23. «Lawrence Cannon dépose son projet de loi sur la CCN et le parc de la Gatineau : un parc mieux protégé, mais pas national», par Patrice Gaudreault, Le Droit, le 10 juin 2009.
  24. « Projet de loi C-20 sur la CCN : Des amendements nécessaires pour le parc de la Gatineau », par Paul Gaboury, le Droit, le 8 mai 2010: http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-droit/actualites/gatineau-outaouais/201005/07/01-4278411-des-amendements-necessaires-pour-le-parc-de-la-gatineau.php.
  25. "Gatineau Park trail paved with garbage, advocate claims," by Sneh Duggal, The Ottawa Citizen September 25, 2010, p. C1.
  26. "Glass found on Gatineau Park trail: report: NCC investigating old wagon trail for glass shards, other debris along recreational path," by Dave Rogers, The Ottawa Citizen, October 1, 2010, p. D2.
  27. "NCC covers Park tracks by saying sullied soil on trail not a problem," by Trevor Greenway, The Low Down to Hull and Back News, October 6, 2010, pp. 1-2.
  28. Bits of glass, plastic, ‘suitable’ for trail: Engineers’ report on Gatineau Park leaves scepticism, by Dave Rogers, The Ottawa Citizen, October 21, 2010.
  29. See: "Demsis not certified to maintain park trails : NCC," http://ottawastart.com/story/12932.php;« Archived May 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Demsis ne possède pas les attestations requises pour entretenir les sentiers du Parc, selon la CCN », http://gaiapresse.ca/images/nouvelles/25905.pdf.
  30. "MPs set to debate Nycole Turmel’s ‘flawed’ bill to protect Gatineau Park," by Don Butler, Ottawa Citizen, March 6, 2014; « Projet de loi sur la protection du parc de la Gatineau : les conservateurs votent contre », par Paul Gaboury, Le Droit, le 1 mai 2014 ; "Government kills Nycole Turmel’s Gatineau Park bill," by Don Butler, Ottawa Citizen, May 2, 2014.
  31. Gatineau Park Protection Committee (2010). "Gatineau Park Protection Committee - Mission". Retrieved February 21, 2010.
  32. Senate of Canada, debates on Bill S-210, 2 May, June 6, June 13, June 15, October 5, November 6, 2006, www.parl.gc.ca/LEGISINFO
  33. «Erreurs sur le lac Meech», Le Droit, le 17 juillet 2009, p. 12
  34. "Gatineau Park is not a private club Mr. Cannon", The West Quebec Post, August 7–13, 2009, p. 4
  35. ""La belle insouciance toute rhodésienne, Bulletin Ensemble, Impératif français, printemps 2009, p. 3". Imperatif-francais.org. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  36. National Capital Commission (June 2008). "Mountain Biking in Gatineau Park". Archived from the original on September 16, 2007. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
  37. National Capital Commission (July 2008). "Beaches". Archived from the original on June 25, 2008. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
  38. National Capital Commission (January 2008). "Gatineau Park Cross-Country Skiing". Archived from the original on May 24, 2008. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
  39. Aerial Experience Archived December 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Camp Fortune
  40. National Capital Commission (May 2005). "Gatineau park master plan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 7, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
  41. Zohody, Laura (August 6, 2008). "Rain hasn't kept gays from Meech Lake". Capital Xtra!. Archived from the original on June 23, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
  42. "About the Mackenzie King Estate". NCC CCN Canada. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  43. "Mackenzie King Estate - There's so much to discover". NCC CCN Canada. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  44. "MACKENZIE KING ESTATE (GATINEAU PARK)". Outaouais Heritage. 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  45. National Capital Commission (June 2008). "Mackenzie King Estate". Archived from the original on July 10, 2008. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
  46. "Places to Visit - Official Residences - The Farm". NCC CCN Canada. n.d. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  47. "Places to Visit - Official Residences - Harrington Lake (Lac Mousseau)". NCC CCN Canada. n.d. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  48. National Capital Commission (October 2007). "Lookouts in Gatineau Park". Archived from the original on September 8, 2007. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
  49. National Capital Commission (February 2008). "Gatineau Park Pink Lake". Archived from the original on September 7, 2007. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
  50. National Capital Commission (August 2007). "Gatineau Park King Mountain". Archived from the original on September 8, 2007. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
  51. National Capital Commission. "Welcome to King Mountain" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 10, 2006. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
  52. Fletcher, Katharine (2004). Historical Walks: The Gatineau Park Story (third ed.). Fitzhenry and Whiteside. p. 134.
  53. National Capital Commission (March 2014). "Gatineau Park Fauna". Retrieved March 28, 2014.
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