Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

Quebec is testing whether tourism can strengthen communities and protect the environment,
and the Outaouais is being asked to prove it. Earlier this year, Quebec Tourism Minister
Caroline Proulx introduced the Stratégie de croissance durable du tourisme 2025–2030,
describing tourism as a critical economic driver that must also support regional vitality and
environmental stewardship.

The minister has emphasized that every tourism dollar should be seen as a strategic investment
in the province’s collective future, underscoring that sustainable development is now central to
Quebec’s approach to the industry. She has framed the strategy to anchor tourism firmly in local
priorities while ensuring it contributes to climate goals.

In the Outaouais, this vision is already materializing. Near Wakefield, Terre & Neige eco-
cottages use reclaimed materials, local seasonal food, electric vehicle charging and tree-
planting programs. In Gatineau, the Wakefield Mill Hotel and Spa, the province’s first LEED-
certified lodging, continues to operate with low-impact systems and energy efficiency. These
projects align with the strategy’s goals of reducing environmental impacts while supporting
community well-being.

Nature-based tourism is expanding across the Outaouais. Kenauk Nature offers off-grid chalets
and conservation programs that combine low-impact travel with biodiversity research. Arbraska
Laflèche Park is broadening its adventure offerings with aerial attractions and underground
tours, with plans to add treetop camping to its eco-tourism lineup.

Local food and cultural experiences are woven into this evolution. Les Fougères restaurant uses
produce from on-site gardens and nearby suppliers, while the Chemin des Outaouais offers a
Camino-style walking route through Gatineau Park and surrounding communities, encouraging
slow, respectful travel.

The strategy encourages a bottom-up approach, prioritizing projects that advance climate
resilience, accessibility and regenerative practices while ensuring that local communities guide
development. It calls for municipalities, Indigenous communities and local organizations to
shape projects that reflect local needs.

Federal and provincial support continues to help the sector transition. Funding has backed
projects in the Outaouais that sustain jobs while moving toward sustainability goals, and
regional development programs have supported eco-tourism businesses, local festivals and
cleaner transport initiatives.

Tourism brought in $16.7 billion in Quebec in 2023, making it the province’s fourth-largest export
sector. But the strategy recognizes that growth alone is not enough, requiring integration with
broader goals in environmental protection, transportation and land use.​

The Outaouais now faces the task of turning these ambitions into measurable results, proving
that tourism can drive economic growth while preserving landscapes and improving community
quality of life. If successful, it could demonstrate how tourism can leave destinations stronger
than before.

Photo: Les Forges de Wakefield, with its use of reclaimed materials and locally sourced food,
stands as an example of how the Outaouais is aligning tourism with climate goals while
supporting its communities. (TF) Photo: Courtesy of Les Forges de Wakefield’s Facebook page