Author name: The Low Down

Marc Carrière elected to four more years as MRC prefect

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By Trevor Greenway

Marc Carrière has been reappointed for another four years as prefect of the MRC des Collines, and he says climate protection is among his top priorities. 

Carrière was elected by acclamation on Oct. 3 after no one stepped in to challenge him for the prefect seat of the MRC des Collines regional government. 

He said his first priority is to continue the climate work he started when he was elected in 2021. 

“That will be one big issue for us and the six municipalities: we’re finishing our climate plan with Kitigan Zibi and all the wetlands plan and so on,” said Carrière. “So there’s a lot to do and we have to be resilient with all those environmental changes.” 

The MRC des Collines worked with its six municipalities – Cantley, Chelsea, La Pêche, L’Ange-Gardien, Pontiac and Val-des-Monts – to establish a climate commission. One of its first orders of business was analyzing the region’s greenhouse gas emissions. The 2022 study found that road transportation was the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions in the area, accounting for 62 per cent of emissions. The next largest emitter was off-road transportation, accounting for 24 per cent. In 2022 the total emissions amounted to 318,095 metric tons of CO2 equivalent. 

Carrière told the Low Down that work is underway to develop solutions to limit these emissions. He said the MRC is building a new eco-centre for hazardous waste and electronic waste drop off in Val-des-Monts, off the corner of Hwys 366 and 307. The $3 million eco centre is expected to be built next spring. 

“It’s in the centre of the MRC, so it’s the perfect location,” added Carrière. 

The MRC is also looking to become a leader in solar energy, said Carrière, as the land’s topography provides maximum exposure to sunlight. He said the MRC is working hard at building a new solar program that would allow it to sell energy to Quebec as a revenue stream. 

“Quebec is looking for more and more energy, sustainable energy,” said Carrière. “We don’t have any potential for windmill power but we have a lot for solar panels. “I think the Outaouais could be a leader in solar energy.”

Other priorities include working on sustainable development and implementing the MRC’s social development strategy, which was finalized earlier this month and will aim to support local non-profit organizations in the region. Carrière said the MRC is also exploring the possibility of amalgamating fire departments, however that study is in its preliminary stages. 

Carrière said that he was proud of the work he did in his first mandate, namely helping the region’s police service implement a mental health and domestic violence unit when dealing with sensitive calls or distressed individuals. 

The MAINtenant ensemble program, implemented in 2021, sends social workers on domestic violence calls to help de-escalate encounters and ensure kids and women are safe. In 2023 the MRC and local police launched the MAINtenir le lien program, which pairs police officers with mental health experts during distress calls. 

“We put on the domestic violence squad and also the mental health issues squad, and that’s a big thing for our citizens,” he said. 

Carrière will be officially sworn in within the next 30 days. 

Marc Carrière elected to four more years as MRC prefect Read More »

More affordable housing coming to La Pêche

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By Madeline Kerr

La Pêche is taking a step toward more affordable housing.

Thirty-six new affordable rental units will be coming to Masham thanks to an agreement between the municipality and the regional non-profit Habitations de l’Outouais Métropolitain (HOM). 

At a council meeting on Sept. 29, council unanimously passed a resolution to formally partner with the Gatineau-based organization HOM to bring two, 18-unit apartments to a lot situated near the sports complex on Chemin Raphaël in Masham. These units will consist of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments that will be available for rent based on provincial standards for affordability. 

According to the resolution, the municipality has agreed to transfer the nearly three acres of land located at 40 Ch. Raphaël, which has an estimated value of $180,000, for the price of $1. The municipality also agreed to waive other municipal costs, such as the so-called “welcome tax,” the cost of building permits, as well as 12 years worth of municipal taxes. It is not waiving tariffs for services like waste collection, however. For its part, HOM has agreed to rent the units exclusively to eligible households – with priority given to residents of La Pêche – and in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the Quebec Affordable Housing Program (QAHP).

HOM is partnered with the organization Office d’habitation de l’Outaouais (OHO), an organization that manages and administers housing and housing programs in the region. 

According to Antoine Bélanger-Rannou, real estate development manager at OHO, the project must comply with QAHP regulations in three ways: 

“First, the units must meet [the] minimum criteria for size and quality, be adapted to the market and comply with legal and regulatory requirements,” he said.

Second, leases on each apartment must provide for a maximum monthly rent based on a scale established by the Société d’habitation du Québec, a government agency responsible for housing in the province.

“This scale, which is updated twice a year, is the recognized tool for regulating affordability based on household income and market conditions,” he said. 

Third, HOM must comply with “all applicable legislative, regulatory and municipal requirements,” he said. 

“In short, the municipality does not grant its support unconditionally,” he continued. Rather, the agreement ensures that “the housing built here in La Pêche will remain truly affordable – not only when it is first marketed but throughout the 35 years of the agreement.”

HOM is responsible for other affordable housing units in the municipality, including Sully Gardens in Wakefield and another 12-unit building also located on Chemin Raphaël in Masham. 

There is no official timeline in place for the units to be built and operational.

“[HOM] is still awaiting the results of geotechnical and environmental studies, which are necessary to finalize the project plans,” Bélanger-Rannou explained. “These plans will then have to be reviewed by the municipality. [HOM] must also obtain confirmation of the grants that will finance the project.”

Once completed, he explained that HOM will be able to come up with a provisional timeline for the project.  

According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, housing is considered “affordable” if it costs less than 30 per cent of a household’s before-tax income. 

A report published in 2021 by La Table de développement social des Collines-de-l’Outaouais (TDSCO) revealed that around 15 per cent of households in the MRC des Collines spend more than 30 per cent of their income on housing. TDSCO is a non-profit organization that brings together individuals and organizations working together to address social issues in the region.

In June of 2023 the MRC presented a new affordable-housing strategy, with 32 measures aimed at helping municipalities in the region build more houses faster, entice developers to include affordable options and allow density exceptions when building “social or affordable housing.”

La Pêche Mayor Guillaume Lamoureux told the Low Down, “From the housing study conducted in recent years in our MRC, we know that one of our biggest challenges is the lack of affordable rental properties.”

He added that building these rental units will allow the municipality to offer “affordable alternatives for autonomous seniors who want to downsize, for single parents, for young people who are moving out in their first apartment [and] for people with lower income who are unable to afford a home in La Pêche.”

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Fire ban issued across Hills

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By Trevor Greenway

Don’t toss your cigarette butt out your car window. 

Don’t light that pile of leaves your kids have raked up in the backyard. And don’t, under any circumstances, have an open fire any time in the next week – maybe beyond. 

These things may seem innocuous but they have already caused at least two fires in La Pêche over the past week, according to firefighter and prevention technician Sébastien Lalonde. The province’s wildfire prevention agency SOPFEU has ordered a complete fire ban across the Gatineau Hills at the beginning of October. 

“I would be really, really aware of what I’m doing outside, even if it’s a cigarette, even if it’s a barbecue…” said Lalonde. “At the moment, it’s really dry. We had one little brush fire this weekend and according to the owner of the property it was caused by a cigarette.”

Lalonde said another resident was having a controlled fire in a barrel in Masham Oct. 2 when some embers floated towards a nearby garage and lit it up. The garage was a total loss, however no injuries were reported. 

“So yes, it is really dangerous at this point because it’s really dry,” said Lalonde, referencing a lack of rain over the last month. “So even a cigarette can be a really big hazard at the moment. So it’s really important that people understand that situation. Because even when you drive on the highway and you throw your cigarette through the window, well, that may cause a fire, and we see many, many fires along the main road like that.”

According to SOPFEU, there are two current fires burning in the Gatineau Hills (L’Ange-Gardien and Mayo) and nine across the Outaouais. The fire prevention organization has had a complete ban on open fires since the first week of October. 

While there are no wildfires active in Low or Kazabazua, open fires are also banned in the entire MRC Vallée-de-la-Gatineau region. 

For more information or for tips on fire safety, visit sopfeu.qc.ca/.

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La Pêche mayor acclaimed for third term

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By Trevor Greenway

Guillaume Lamoureux didn’t need to knock on doors. 

He didn’t need to print campaign brochures, argue his points in a municipal debate or fling mud at his opponents. 

The incumbent La Pêche mayor was acclaimed for his third term on Oct. 3 after nobody stepped in to challenge him for the head seat at the council table. Lamoureux, who was catapulted into the mayor’s chair eight years ago after upsetting long-time mayor Robert Bussière in 2017, said that he feels his constituents are “satisfied” with how things have gone in the municipality over the past two mandates. 

Along with the mayor, there was only one contest for a council seat  (Ward 2) in La Peche. For contrast, Cantley has 20 candidates vying for a spot at the council table (four for mayor), while Chelsea has 16 hopefuls (two for mayor). 

“It could also be reflective of the local political scene,” said Lamoureux, when asked why there was just one race in La Pêche’s Ward 2 (Masham), with all five other wards going uncontested. 

He said municipalities like L’Ange-Gardien and Pontiac have few or no races, which isn’t surprising because those municipalities have also avoided recent controversies. 

“It’s quite the opposite in Chelsea, Cantley and Val-des-Monts, and I think it’s reflective of the last mandate,” he said. “There was a lot more noise, a lot more difficult issues in these three municipalities.”

Cantley residents are fighting a massive development on Lorne Mountain that could change the face of the municipality, while Chelsea is trying to manage spiralling debt, an over-capacity water treatment and sewer system, river access and exploding development.

In La Pêche, Lamoureux and his crew have buttoned up many of the big-ticket items, including the $11-million town hall, multiple consultations on the renovation of Wakefield’s turntable park and the recent building transfer of the Wakefield community centre. 

But as Lamoureux embarks on his third mandate, he knows his work isn’t done. Instead of telling residents what the priorities are, he said he wants to hear from them. 

“What has remained for me, most importantly, is to listen and be respectful of people’s opinions and recognize that it’s normal that people will be sometimes upset and frustrated and angry when they address me,” said Lamoureux. 

“Yes, we’ve been acclaimed, but we’ll make sure to listen to find out what – what are people’s priorities – and consult with them,” he continued. “There’s peace in this community, like social peace, right? Cohesion. And that’s the most important thing.”

Moving forward, Lamoureux said he wants to conduct a deep dive into the municipality’s budget, and he will be hosting local “town hall” meetings to connect with residents and get a sense of what they feel the municipality’s priorities should be focused on. 

His first town hall will be Oct. 15 at the La Pêche town hall building from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

La Pêche mayor acclaimed for third term Read More »

 Kaz water access doesn’t float everyone’s boat

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By Madeline Kerr

The municipality of Kazabazua has created public access to the Gatineau River, but not without courting some controversy in the process. 

The river access point, located at the corner of Hwy 105 and Chemin du Village d’Alywin north of Kaz village, provides a sweeping view of the Gatineau River as it widens and bends. 

It is the only public access point to the river in the municipality, according to Kaz director-general Pierre Vaillancourt, who told the Low Down that the municipality made it a priority to “give the population access to the Gatineau River.”

But to do so the municipality expropriated a landowner who says she was left feeling “taken advantage of.” Some residents also question the environmental impact of the access point and say it’s regularly littered with garbage and hasn’t been authorized by the provincial government.  

In 2021 Quebec passed Bill 67 that encourages MRCs to create public access to bodies of water in the province. Despite this, a study of municipal land registers and property assessments published earlier this year showed that 98 per cent of Quebec’s shorelines are still inaccessible to the public.

Until 2024 the land where the access point is located in Kaz was owned by Alexandra Topolski, a resident of Hudson, who inherited it from her late father. 

Topolski told the Low Down that she initially co-operated in good faith with the municipality when she was approached a number of years ago about selling her land. Besides the lot that includes the access point, Topolski owns two adjacent lots, including an island on the Gatineau River.  She said that a few years ago, she was in need of money and was willing to sell, but added that she felt it was only fair that if the municipality wanted one of her lots, they should consider buying the others. 

“I said it’s not fair for you guys to take a bite out of the apple and take the best part and then leave me holding the two rump pieces that are going to be diminished in value…. I really pushed. I said I feel like you should buy all the land from me at a fair price,” she recounted.

Instead, she said DG Vaillancourt was “intractable” and she ended up being “low balled.” Rather than agreeing to purchase any of the land, the municipality moved to expropriate Topolski, ultimately paying her $50,000 for only one of the lots. 

Vaillancourt acknowledged that Topolski was very unhappy with the process, but said to the Low Down, “I told her that the municipality can’t just buy land for the fun of it.” 

Topolski ultimately accepted the expropriation and the case did not go to court. She said this was because she was in “dire financial straits” due to a costly divorce and she wasn’t in a position to hire lawyers or fight back.

“I was taken advantage of, absolutely,” she said. 

Litter and permits

The other issue plaguing the water access point, according to some residents, is frequent contamination and littering. 

When the Low Down visited the site in August, it was mostly free from garbage. But longtime resident Gabriel Geurtin, who lives nearby, showed the Low Down a number of pictures of garbage near the shoreline, including what appears to be a car battery. Guertin said he has seen evidence of environmental destruction to the shoreline, which is home to delicate ecosystems and wildlife.  

Guertin, who has run for Kaz council in the past and recently announced his intention to run for mayor, added that he believes the municipality does not have the proper authorization from the Ministry for the Environment to establish a boat launch to the river. 

To refute this claim, Vaillancourt sent the Low Down copies of email exchanges with staff at the ministries for the environment and transport as well as the provincial commission for protecting agricultural land, which all indicate authorization is not needed to create official access to the water. 

He added that the site is not technically a boat launch. Although small boats might be able to use the narrow ramp to the water, he said it’s too small to be a boat launch for larger motorized vessels. Vaillancourt explained that if the site was an official boat launch, it would require approval from the Ministry for the Environment. 

When asked about some residents’ complaints, Vaillancourt maintained it was important for the municipality to create access to the river. 

He also confirmed the municipality has plans to one day build parking spaces nearby – a proposal that Guertin and other residents the Low Down spoke to said they’re prepared to fight.   

 Kaz water access doesn’t float everyone’s boat Read More »

Returning councillor vows ‘no more secrets’

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By Madeline Kerr

Rita Jain, councillor for Farm Point, announced she will seek re-election in November, saying this time around she wants to make local government more open and accessible, and tackle what she sees as a “growing lack of trust” in the municipality.  

“I was reluctant at first [to run again],” Jain recently told the Low Down. The councillor has represented Ward 5 since 2021. 

She said she felt disheartened over the past four years by “dysfunctionality on council…. I felt I was often blocked and not listened to.” But she added that, “Speaking to emerging candidates who share similar values [to me] … convinced me that some of the points in my platform could become a reality” if re-elected. 

Jain’s platform, she explained, is partly the result of a consultation she held with her constituents during a town-hall style event at Motel Chelsea in early September. She listed five overarching priorities, which includes improving services for residents and supporting sustainable development. 

Jain said she thinks that one of the biggest issues facing Chelsea is a “growing lack of trust in the municipality.” 

“Trust is earned,” she asserted. “Residents don’t feel like the municipality is always working in their interest and this is hard to come back from.” 

She said she has a plan to make local government more accessible and transparent. She told the Low Down she wants to make information “open [to the public] by default.” 

“If something is accessible by filing an access-to-information request, then that should be the criteria for publishing it,” she asserted. 

She said she also wants to limit closed-door meetings, require public consultations for major projects, host periodic town hall meetings and revive the Communications and Engagement Committee at council. 

As a councillor, Jain chaired the Environmental Committee and is known for her climate activism, which is reflected in her platform. (She is a director at Friends of the Gatineau River or FOG, a non-profit environmental advocacy group.)

Among other environmental priorities, she said she wants to develop both a comprehensive climate plan and a water policy for the municipality that includes mapping wells, aquifers and wetlands, and upgrading the municipal sewage system to better protect the Gatineau River. 

While she said she wants to slow Chelsea’s pace of growth and said she favours extending the current moratorium on development in the centre-village, Jain is also in favour of finding solutions to create affordable housing. 

“I know families who have been here for generations, and they’re having trouble staying here because of the cost of living and the rise in taxes,” she said. 

She proposes establishing bylaws that allow for smaller homes to be built and for larger homes to be subdivided to increase densification.  

“We need to make sure all kinds of people can live here, not just the wealthy,” she said.

Jain, who is a long-time resident with grown-up children, added: “Council should use residents’ satisfaction with their quality of life as an index for success … it doesn’t have to be difficult if we put our focus on the right things.”

Municipal elections will take place across the province on Nov. 2.  

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Centre Wakefield-La Pêche nearly folds over lack of help

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By Trevor Greenway

Members of the Centre Wakefield-La Pêche (CWLP) co-operative said they were “shocked” and “disappointed” at their 2025 AGM when they could barely get six people to volunteer to sit on the new board of directors. 

Just 25 or so CWLP members – out of over 3,000 total co-op members – showed up for the Sept. 24 AGM, and among those just one – former board member Carly Woods – stood up to offer her time and expertise to sit as a new board member.  The co-op board consists of a total of 11 seats, however only six are required to form a quorum. 

“If we do not have people step forward to be on this board, the co-op will cease to exist,” said La Pêche Coun. Pam Ross, who is the CWLP-appointed municipal representative on the board. “I would argue it’s situation critical.”

Ross’ plea sparked a round of discussions among those in attendance, but it wasn’t enough to encourage anyone else to put their name forward. In the end, board members Archie Smith and John Parker, who were both set to step down, agreed to stay on as interim board members so that the co-op wouldn’t be forced to disband. 

Co-op members agreed to begin recruiting other members to replace the outgoing board members. CWLP chair Julie Coté also stepped down, however a replacement was not chosen. 

Founding CWLP member Ruth Salmon told the crowd that previous meetings – namely those leading up to and including the building transfer vote – drew hundreds of members because there was a “crisis.” Because members were voting on whether to transfer ownership of the building, which they overwhelmingly voted in favour of earlier this year, to the municipality, the meeting had something at stake for them, she explained. 

“I think we need to let people know about this crisis and really put a push forward and say, ‘Hey, this is happening – we might fold because we don’t have enough people,’” Salmon told the crowd. She said that the CWLP board over the years has not maintained a “corporate memory.”

“Every board comes in and they start all over again,” she said. “There isn’t a volunteer committee that has been going on for 10 years, building up the volunteer base. There has never been a fundraising committee.”

While board volunteers and members in general were lacking at the meeting, there was an air of confidence and excitement about the future. Now that the CWLP building transfer is complete, board members no longer have to worry about building maintenance and can focus solely on programming for the centre. And it hasn’t taken long for the centre to get buzzing with a refreshed approach. 

“I don’t know if I would have applied for the job had the building not been transferred, to be honest,” said new CWLP general manager Jess Harris. “The outgoing board has worked so hard for the smooth transfer. I think they have done a great job of advocating for the co-op and the community to be able to continue in this beautiful building without the burden of all that this … building requires.”

Harris said the centre will become a truly shared space for all La Pêche residents, rather than a Wakefield-centric centre with mainly English programming. 

“I think extending our reach into the francophone community is a huge opportunity right now with the municipality in the mix,” said Harris. “Instead of just being the Wakefield community centre, it’s more of the Wakefield-La Pêche community centre, which is for everyone.”

Small deficit ‘not bad’ says board member (SUBHED)

In terms of financials, the board is in decent shape. However board member John Parker warned members that it’s difficult to get a complete financial picture as everything has now changed with the municipal building takeover. 

The centre’s finances show a deficit of $144,000, however most of that is “depreciation of the mortgage,” explained Parker. He added that, with the co-op no longer owning the building, the deficit is significantly smaller. 

“The depreciation value is $144,00, so if you take that off the books, we’re at a $4,000 loss this year, which, for the operation of the centre on volunteers, that’s not bad,” he said. 

Where the centre fell short was in grants, as board members were able to secure $296,000 in grants in 2024, compared to just $69,000 this year – a more than 75 per cent drop in funding. 

Harris said one of her priorities is to recruit grant writers to help the centre take advantage of the money available to community centres for programming. The centre made up much of the shortfall in programming revenue, as visitors paid a total of $127,000 on events at the centre, compared to last year’s $77,000. Rentals increased by nearly $60,000 to $164,000, while community donations also rose from just over $9,000 to $27,000 in 2025. Total revenue for the centre in 2025 was $452,850.

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Heritage College to make Indigenous education a priority

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By Trevor Greenway

Jenny Buckshot Tenasco was just six years old when she was taken from her family in Kitigan Zibi and placed in a residential school in Kenora, Ont., in 1958. 

The young Indigenous child spent three days on a train, travelling from Ottawa to Kenora, and said that after spending a year there, her culture had disappeared. 

“In that 12 months, my language was taken away,” said Tenasco during the signing of an Indigenous Education Protocol at Heritage College Sept. 19. “It was blocked. It’s still partially blocked. Some words are starting to come back that I remember hearing from my parents and my grandparents, but I’m glad to know that people are sharing the language now and making an effort to use it so the next generation can hear our language also.”

The English CEGEP has made a commitment through Colleges and Institutes Canada (CIC) to “recognize, value and honour the Indigenous Peoples and their cultures” at the school. Seventy-five post-secondary schools across Canada have now signed the Protocol. 

“This signing is more than a single symbolic act that represents our institution’s firm commitment to strengthening relationships with their Indigenous Peoples and to advancing truth, respect and equity in education,” said Heritage College executive director Lisa Peldjak. “The Protocol calls on us to recognize Indigenous Peoples and governance, to create welcoming and supportive learning environments, to integrate Indigenous knowledge and perspectives and to work in true partnership with Indigenous communities.”

Joelle Deschambault, the director of member services at CIC, told the Low Down that the Protocol is a commitment to “Indigenize and decolonize our institutions.” 

“In the Protocol, there are seven principles that colleges agree to live by, follow and put into action to not only help Indigenous education grow and get stronger and give more access, but also to foster environments that are inclusive, meaningful and respectful with Indigenous communities,” she said. “To really take into account their laws, their way of doing, their way of learning, their way of living, making sure that the students – the Indigenous learners – have the support they need and the commitment they need for higher-standard Indigenous education.”

Deschambault noted the growth of Indigenous communities in Canada and the need for an education strategy to ensure students are represented and have opportunities for post-secondary education. 

According to Stats Canada, the Indigenous population grew by 9.4 per cent, compared to 5.3 per cent for the non-indigenous population from 2016 to 2021. 

According to the CIC, the gap for post-secondary education between Indigenous and non-indigenous students is widening. Just 16 per cent of Indigenous Peoples hold a university degree compared to 36 per cent of the overall population. However, of the Indigenous students, 23 per cent have obtained a college credential and 11 per cent have completed apprenticeships – figures that surpass those of the general population. 

“[Indigenous communities] are the population that is growing the most quickly and they are the ones that need even more access to education,” added Deschambault. “And there’s definitely a discrepancy between the Indigenous population and the rest of the country.”

Among the seven principles are a commitment to making Indigenous education a priority, ensuring the college increases the number of Indigenous employees it hires and implementing the intellectual and cultural traditions of Indigenous peoples through the curriculum. 

Heritage College to make Indigenous education a priority Read More »

Low mayor candidate wants to build ‘covenant’ of values

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By Trevor Greenway

If Patrick Beaudry has his way, he will freeze taxes in Low and do a “deep dive” into the municipality’s finances to ensure every dollar spent is worth it for residents. 

The farmer, carpenter, butcher, general store owner, husband and father of four is promising to bring a “sober second look” to Low’s finances if elected as mayor in the upcoming November election.

“On a strategic or operational level, I would freeze the budget – no increases for next year – and I would do a deep dive into every regulation and every expense,” said Beaudry. “Are we getting more value for each dollar spent? Taxes have increased exponentially in the last 10 years. The cost of living is out of control. People need a break.”

Before delving into the municipality’s finances, Beaudry said if elected he will launch a municipal-wide consultation to establish a “community covenant,” which he explained would recognize Low’s rich Irish-Catholic heritage and the values of the families who live in the region, and that would build trust between the community and those who make decisions at town council. He said there seems to be a “trust crisis” in Canada among constituents and government leaders. 

“It’s a charter of values and principles that people identify with. The heritage of the community is so strong, and I would put it in a living document that becomes sort of the template against which all the decisions would be taken,” he explained. 

The next mayor of Low will be dealing with some significant files that could change the face of the municipality. These changes include: the constant threat to close the town’s only CLSC, the fight brewing against mining companies looking to extract precious metals and minerals from the ground and the never-ending battle against the CAQ over French and English services. 

Low saw a 12 per cent increase in English speakers and a seven per cent increase in French speakers from 2016 to 2021, according to the latest Census data from 2021. Of the 1,020 respondents, 575 said English was their first language, while 430 said French was their first language. The remaining respondents identified themselves as fully bilingual. 

Low has official bilingual status, meaning it is permitted to offer services in both official languages. However it’s a constant battle for anglophones in the province to get served in English. Many have to prove that they are a “historic anglophone” by showing they or their parents went to high school in English in Canada. 

Beaudry, who is a francophone, said he will fight for English rights. 

“I am French and I’m speaking to you in English. I do not like the idea of giving the state control of my tongue,” said Beaudry, “especially when you have people … who are unilingual English. It is a disservice. It creates chaos and it is unnecessary.”

Beaudry said he will fight against mining companies – including the claim on his own property – and added that he isn’t so sure it’s worth it to get cozy with mining companies, despite the benefits that municipalities could glean from mining claims, namely revenue sources.

“The only benefit that I could see is that for small municipalities with a small tax base, it becomes a potential additional source of revenue,” said Beaudry. “But in Low’s case, you’re destroying the very foundation upon which the community was built, which is homesteading, farming, cattle, forestry, logging. It destroys everything.”

Beaudry will be up against incumbent Carol Robert, who has been at the helm of Low since 2017. Quebecers head to the polls Nov. 2.

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Psst! Black Sheep quietly re-opens

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By Trevor Greenway

The Black Sheep Inn was bursting with a feeling of nostalgia Saturday night as the Wakefield music venue opened its doors for the first time in over five years for a raucous afterparty featuring a roster of DJs. 

No, we’re serious, it really did open and the Low Down has the photos to prove it. 

And when those big black double doors swung open, it didn’t take long before a full dance party was in swing – Black Sheep style – with patrons smiling ear to ear, many of them in disbelief that they were actually dancing in the place that holds so many sonic memories. 

“It was very emotional,” said a jovial Christina Stobert, the new self-styled commander-in-chief of the Black Sheep Inn. She said the soft opening Sept. 20 was a bit of a dry run to “work off the cobwebs” after the venue had been closed for so many years. 

The Black Sheep Inn shuttered its doors in March of 2020 due to COVID-19. While other establishments re-opened, the Sheep remained closed, as co-owners Paul Symes and Jennifer Nesbitt slowly worked out a purchase agreement to re-open the Sheep under new management.

“From turning on the stereo for the first time and being in the room, it kind of hit me in the face that this is not just a bar/restaurant/hotel – it’s a music venue,” she said about the dry-run. “Hearing the music cranked up was amazing and just [seeing] how happy everyone was – and the comments from the crowd were that it was warm and welcoming.”

Warm and welcoming, yes. This reporter was in the room and Stobert’s read of the vibe was spot on, as you couldn’t find a frown in the establishment. And the music was certainly cranked. The Sheep was the official venue for the Fête de la Musique afterparty, the charity event for mental health awareness that featured DJs on the Wakefield covered bridge and bands at the Fairbairn House all day Sept. 20. For the afterparty, DJ Francis Delage opened up the night with some warm beats, before Ottawa’s DJ Plush turned it up to 11 and got the dance floor going. Local DJs Disko Dave (David Lajeunesse), Kor (Dustin Good) and this reporter (BeatScience) kept the party going well past midnight. 

And anyone inside the building would have felt the local soul drifting throughout the recognizable room, with a host of familiar faces ensuring the evening went smoothly. From Moses Hausler working the door to Luther Wright manning the bar, it was like an old Sheep night with all the local players. 

And when things got busy, others stopped dancing to help, like Becky Bunch and Rob Clarke, who jumped behind the bar, cleared empties from tables and kept the good vibes flowing. 

“I love that Luther helped me, and Rob jumped behind the bar because we were so busy and missing equipment,” said Stobert. “We had to wash glasses by hand but it was so nice to have help. It was like a real family affair.”

And while it may not have been a typical Sheep night with a rockin’ local band starting things off, it didn’t seem to matter. Locals, like Phil Jenkins, were seen on the dance floor, just happy to be cutting up the checkered linoleum beneath their feet, reawakening old memories while making new ones. 

“I love dancing,” quipped Jenkins. “It was really special to be back in the place where I have so many memories.”

Rock bands return, new events added

The Black Sheep Inn’s re-opening may seem like it happened overnight but it was a long road to getting those doors to swing back open.

The Low Down reported back in December of 2024 that the Sheep was ready to open with a Robbie Burns night in January of that year, but the agreement hadn’t been completed yet and the owners were back at the negotiating table for months. 

That agreement was made official earlier this summer, but the building needed a host of repairs and renovations before it could open. Symes is now officially retired and Nesbitt is the owner, with Stobert the commander-in-chief. 

And while Stobert is committed to bringing back that old Sheep vibe with local bands, emerging artists and established groups, she said she is adding some new flair: DJ nights, comedy shows, private booking opportunities, a full-service kitchen and more. Expect the return of Sunday matinee shows, community town halls, election debates and everything in between. Stobert already has a small roster of bands booked to start playing regular shows, beginning with Johnny Mac and Table Talk on Oct. 11. And she’s in the process of booking Ottawa singer-songwriter and Sheep favourite Jim Bryson for the late fall, Ontario indie-folk group Great Lake Swimmers and Ottawa blues sensations MonkeyJunk. In the meantime, stay tuned for a number of pop-up shows over the next few weeks, including an open mic night. 

Stay tuned for more information about upcoming shows. The Sheep will soon launch a refreshed website and social media accounts.

Psst! Black Sheep quietly re-opens Read More »

Chelsien combats cancer with chemo, community 

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , ,

By Madeline Kerr 

Over the last 45 years, millions of Canadians have helped extend the legacy of Terry Fox, and this year for the first time Justin Lacroix was one of them.

But the 75-year-old Chelsea resident wasn’t merely content to participate in a local Terry Fox Run, an annual fundraiser for cancer research, which has raised over $900 million since it was founded in 1981. 

Instead, Lacroix organized his own run on Sept. 14, bringing out 70 participants and raising more than $8,300. 

Lacroix told the Low Down that, like so many others, he has been personally touched by cancer. Five years ago he lost one of closest friends to the disease, and in May this year, Lacroix himself was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, which he said has spread to his bones and lungs. 

He is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments, but explained that his doctors have told him his cancer is incurable. 

Despite a tough prognosis, he had the energy and enthusiasm to organize Chelsea’s Terry Fox Run in only 10 days and even hosted a BBQ for participants at his home near Gleneagle.  

Lacroix said he was touched by the support of friends and family members, who came from as far away as Rochester, N.Y., and Quebec City to support him. 

“What I am most moved by is the goodness of people,” Lacroix told the Low Down. 

He added that he hopes he has “planted the seed” and that next year someone else will take up the cause and organize a Terry Fox Run in Chelsea. 

“I’ll see how I’m feeling, but I’d like to be there to help out,” Lacroix said. 

To donate to Lacroix’s Terry Fox Run, visit run.terryfox.ca and search “La vie est belle – Chelsea 2025”.

Terry Fox was a 22-year-old Canadian who lost his leg to bone cancer and, in 1980, decided to run across Canada to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Fox died in 1981 before completing his ‘Marathon of Hope’. An annual fundraiser has been held in his honour every year since, raising over $900 million to date. 

Chelsien combats cancer with chemo, community  Read More »

Chelsea school zone sees speed reduction

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By Madeline Kerr

No more speeding to make school drop-off on time: Chelsea municipality recently announced that the speed limit on Old Chelsea Road in front of the entrance to Chelsea Elementary will soon be reduced to 30 km/h.

At a council meeting on Sept. 16, Mayor Pierre Guénard said that he is relieved to see that the speed reduction has finally been approved by the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable. A sign installed on Old Chelsea Road states that the new speed limit will come into effect on Oct. 7. 

“The municipality has asked for this speed reduction several times over the years and it was denied by the Ministry of Transport,” he said. 

He explained that the municipality made a further request after the completion of the roundabout at the intersection of Old Chelsea Road, Chemin Jean-Paul Lemieux and Chemin de l’Hôtel-de-Ville which was finished earlier this year. 

“This is good news for our families because now this will officially become a school zone,” Guénard said at the meeting. He added that the 30 km/h speed limit will be in place during the day from Monday to Friday throughout the school year.

Chelsea school zone sees speed reduction Read More »

‘French, English – we are all Chelsiens’: mayor

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By Madeline Kerr

In the face of ever stricter language regulations, Chelsea council says it wants to protect anglophones’ ability to interact with the municipality in English. 

At a meeting on Sept. 16, Chelsea councillors unanimously resolved “to continue to offer services in both languages in the interest of its citizens.” 

A copy of the resolution will be sent to Minister of the French Language, Jean-François Roberge; Minister responsible for the Outaouais region, Mathieu Lacombe; MNA for Gatineau, Robert Bussière; as well as the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais.

The resolution takes aim against a requirement imposed by Bill 96, the province’s law for protecting and promoting French as Quebec’s official language. The law, which passed in 2022, allows exemptions for some municipalities like Chelsea that have been granted official bilingual status. 

According to the resolution passed on Sept. 16, the council has until Dec. 1, 2025, to act if it wants to take advantage of some exemptions – including the ability to interact with certain residents in English. 

At the council meeting, Mayor Pierre Guénard explained that in the future, municipal staff could be required to interact with residents in French unless residents are able to demonstrate that they’ve previously corresponded with the municipality in English. He said this could lead to the municipality being required to maintain a list of which residents it can interact with in English and which can only be interacted with in French. 

He added that it would apply to all municipal services – from asking a question at council meetings to checking out a book from the library. 

In an interview with the Low Down after the meeting, Mayor Guénard stated emphatically: “These rules [regarding language use] are imposed – I’ll say it again, imposed – by the province.…Chelsea is and will remain a bilingual community. Bilingualism is our strength.” 

He added that he intends to “show respect to anglophones in Chelsea. It’s a question of human rights. We have to be able to work with our residents in the language of their choice.”  

At the Sept. 16 meeting, a few Chelsea councillors voiced their strong support for the resolution, including an impassioned Ward 3 Coun. Cybèle Wilson, who said: “As someone raised in a bilingual household by a French Canadian mother and an English Quebecker father, this issue strikes at the very heart of my [core values].” 

Ward 6 Coun. Kimberly Chan said in French that she “can’t understand the government’s vision” and can only imagine the division that a rule like this would impose on the community. 

Ward 2 Coun. Dominic Labrie said that he agrees residents need to be served in the language of their choice, but added that the municipality could consider ways to expand its bilingualism by making council resolutions available in both languages, for example.  

Mayor Guénard told the Low Down that Chelsea’s anglophones and francophones live and work together harmoniously. 

“French, English – we are all Chelsiens,” he said, using the newly chosen name for residents of Chelsea.

‘French, English – we are all Chelsiens’: mayor Read More »

Cantley councillor seeks seat at Chelsea table

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By Madeline Kerr 

The race for a new face in Chelsea’s Ward 6 is officially on.

Current Cantley Coun. Jean-Charles Lalonde has announced he will run for a Chelsea council seat, hoping to represent Hollow Glen, Kingsmere and Hendrick Farm. 

Lalonde explained his family is still in the midst of moving from Cantley to the Chelsea Creek neighbourhood, telling the Low Down that it was important for his daughter, who already attends Chelsea Elementary, be able to grow up around her friends and peers. 

Chelsea Creek is part of Ward 2, not Ward 6, but Lalonde explained that he wants to see current Ward 2 Coun. Dominic Labrie re-elected to represent the centre village. 

“Dominic brings a lot of good things to the table. I don’t think a competition for his seat would benefit the community,” Lalonde said. 

Current Ward 6 Coun. Kimberly Chan recently announced she will not be seeking re-election. Longtime Hollow Glen resident Donald Dery will be running against Lalonde for the seat. 

Lalonde said he can offer the council an unusual combination of experience and a fresh perspective. He would be a new face on council, but he said, “I bring with me valuable experience as a municipal councillor in Cantley.… I already know what to expect. The learning curve will not be so steep for me.” 

In a written statement, Lalonde said that Chelsea “has already felt like my home.…I’ve heard concerns around issues like road safety and parking, community infrastructure, river access and ensuring services are effective and responsive. I’ve also seen how important it is to build strong community partnerships … and I want to strengthen those relationships to better serve residents. I’m also aware that businesses are facing challenges – navigating permits and regulations and the need for clearer, fairer rules and more support.”

Lalonde is a trained social worker who currently works as a program manager for the local health authority CISSSO. His work involves supporting seniors who want to remain at home as they age. His work gives him an in-depth perspective on the challenges seniors face in Chelsea, he said, adding that retirees are too often driven out of the municipality due to the cost of living.  

Regarding unique challenges in Ward 6, Lalonde said he wants to address Hollow Glen’s isolation from the rest of the municipality. He proposes bringing more cultural and recreational programming to Hollow Glen to foster “a greater sense of belonging, rather than expecting everyone there to always be going to the Meredith Centre [in the centre village].” 

He said he also wants to prioritize traffic getting in and out of Hendrick Farm by “advocating to get streetlights installed at that intersection sooner rather than later.” 

Lalonde pointed to his work in Cantley as evidence that he knows how to manage municipal finances: At the start of his term, the municipality was running a budgetary deficit but council has since been able to balance the budget. He said that he has watched Chelsea’s finances “ballooning” adding, “Taxes are climbing at an alarming rate….I want to help bring greater stability.”

Lalonde was among five council members who voted in favour of a controversial resolution to increase densification in Cantley earlier this year. 

He told the Low Down, “Every decision I make [as councillor] will make some people happy, others less happy…I’m doing this job for the best interest of the masses.”

Municipal elections will take place on Nov. 2.  

Cantley councillor seeks seat at Chelsea table Read More »

New ward, younger face for Edelweiss

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By Trevor Greenway

Benoit Hudon got his first taste of politics at age 11. 

“I visited the parliament in Quebec, representing the local MNA as an elementary student,” Hudon told the Low Down. “It was a very powerful experience to be in the National Assembly, and that got me to look into how it works.”

After spending many years in business consulting, management and organizing social causes in the region, the Edelweiss resident is now looking to get back into the political ring as the La Pêche councillor for Ward 6.  

“Being based in La Pêche, I now realize that being a municipal councillor in local politics has a real impact on people. It’s an accessible service. It’s where we can be in contact with the population. And I feel this is a very important level of interaction and service which I now want to be involved in,” he said about running for councillor in the upcoming November municipal elections.

Hudon said he wants to continue the good work of his predecessor, outgoing Edelweiss Coun. Richard Gervais. He said he hopes to continue being a voice for his constituents in the newly formed Ward 6, which encompasses every La Pêche resident east of the Gatineau River. The area is vast, but not densely populated, with around 1,000 residents. Despite the smaller population, Hudon said he will fight for his constituents’ share of the municipal pie if elected. 

“It’s important for me that even if it’s a … low demographic area we have a voice on the council, and we’re not forgotten in regard to road infrastructure and investment in that part,” he said. 

“New people are coming here and people are biking. It’s important for me that when we take on new projects and evolve the road infrastructure in that area alongside the 366 that we keep it safe for people biking to and from the Edelweiss valley to the village, or Clark Road to the village, and the same for Chemin la Montagne and so on,” he said. 

In terms of general La Pêche priorities, Hudon said he was pleased to see that the municipality is taking water protection seriously, but he wants to push further to ensure that people aren’t faced with dry wells or other water issues as more development heads to the village. 

The new Esplanade development on MacLaren Road, once all its phases are completed, could feature up to 250 new housing units. Hamilton Gardens near Valley Drive in Wakefield, which is set to break ground in the next few weeks, will boast 40 units across multiple buildings. 

“We need to have this good balance between development, which I think is still the case at the moment, but always we have to be vigilant,” he said. “It’s how we develop versus the quality of life of the resident.”

Hudon grew up in Buckingham but has lived in La Pêche since 2020. He is the current executive-director at Ski à l’école, a non-profit organization that introduces cross-country skiing at no cost to kids, adolescents, teens, adults and seniors – anyone between the ages of four and 104. Ski à l’école has visited local schools and senior groups. Since Hudon took over as director, more than 100,000 free ski outings have taken place in the region.

At just 33, he is among the youngest councillors in the province, as only 10 per cent of municipal councillors in Quebec are between the ages of 18 and 34. Hudon said he feels that this gives him a bit of an advantage, as it will help him engage with youth and young adults when working on projects such as climate change, recreation services and municipal budgets. 

“Without having this intention of being a role model of any kind … I think just having the passion for myself and the will to serve … it can create this conversation around me,” said Hudon. 

“I think among people of my age or younger it creates interest and I hope to bring that into the political realm as well.”

The municipal elections take place Nov. 2.

New ward, younger face for Edelweiss Read More »

Déjà vu? Hamilton Gardens still on the way

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By Madeline Kerr

Wakefielders who have been following the decade-and-a-half long saga of the Hamilton Gardens development, planned for the lot behind Cafe Earle, have heard this one before: the developer recently told the Low Down that the first phase of construction will begin “within the next couple of weeks.”

This is similar to what representatives from Devcore, the Gatineau-based firm in charge of the Hamilton Gardens development, told the Low Down earlier this year in May, last September and even all the way back in 2016. 

But Philippe Goulet, VP of design and construction at Devcore, sounded confident when he asserted on Aug. 29 that the company has “the permits in hand” to begin building a single dwelling on the property, intended for the former owner of the land. 

With regards to the rest of the development, which will include 40 units in total, Goulet said that Devcore has completed all required hydrogeological and geotechnical studies on the site and is now working with the municipality on plans to connect the site to municipal services like water and sewer. Later this month, according to Goulet, Devcore will be submitting their plans for the buildings’ designs to the municipality, and then, he anticipates, Devcore will “get the [rest of the] permits in hand before the end of the year and we can start [construction] after that.”

He acknowledged that the community has been anticipating this development for more than a decade. Devcore bought the land, which was originally home to Hamilton Motors, for $870,000 around 15 years ago. In 2011, Devcore’s original proposal for the site included three-story condos, up to 60 apartments and underground parking – vastly different from what Devcore plans to build now. 

According to La Pêche Mayor Guillaume Lamoureux, zoning for the development was approved in 2013. 

“I understand that people think that [plans for the development were] dealt with 10 years ago, and that we haven’t changed anything [in the meantime], but that’s not the case. The plans have been adapted – we restarted this project probably a year and a half ago or close to two years ago,” Goulet explained. 

He said he’s also aware that some residents are concerned the higher density housing will put a strain on the village’s water table.

“We did have an exhaustive hydrogeological study completed with test wells…to see the drawdown of the water table, and the effect was negligible,” Goulet asserted. 

He added, “We’re satisfied that it’s okay to build and that it won’t affect the municipality or the other residents nearby.” 

Hamilton Gardens will include 40-unit townhouses, duplexes and triplexes. In May this year, Devcore told the Low Down the homes would feature peaked roofs, large windows and oversized porches reminiscent of homes from the 1950s and would be available in colours that blended “seamlessly” with the rest of the village. 

“Right now the land is unfortunately underused,” Goulet said of the site, which has sat empty for close to 15 years. “It’s asphalt and overgrowth…it’s a bit of an eyesore.” 

He promised that eyesore would become “a very nice sort of entrance to the village…pretty soon.” 

Déjà vu? Hamilton Gardens still on the way Read More »

More questions than answers about Wakefield’s spring

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By Madeline Kerr

Wakefielders have a lot of questions and few clear answers about the water coming out of the iconic spring, which has been under a boil water advisory for more than three months now. 

At a meeting held at Biblio Wakefield on Sept. 10, around 30 residents gathered to learn and ask questions about the health, protective measures and future of the spring, which is located on Chemin de la Vallée-de-Wakefield.

The meeting began with a presentation by Bettina Koschade, a member of the newly formed Source Wakefield Spring group, which is advocating for more information and protection around the spring. Koschade said the group is concerned by the frequency and duration of boil water advisories and worries that development in the village has and will continue to impact the spring’s quality. 

Koschade used maps and information gathered from hydrogeological studies and surveys to paint a picture of what is known about the source of the spring’s water and the history of development surrounding the spring’s collection point. 

She admitted, “There is a lot we still don’t know.” 

The meeting revealed that the exact flow of groundwater that feeds the spring, for example, and the source of what may be causing increasing contamination of the spring water are both unknown.

But Koschade added, “We do know that our spring water is not what it used to be. That’s the truth.” 

After Koschade spoke, La Pêche Mayor Guillaume Lamoureux answered questions posed by Source Wakefield Spring, as well as fielding questions from those residents in attendance.

The spring has been under boil water advisories in the past, although the mayor confirmed that these appear to be growing in frequency and length. The current advisory has been in place since June 9, making it perhaps the longest period in recent memory. However Lamoureux said it’s important to note that the coliform levels detected in the water are not drastically higher than usual. 

Coliforms are bacteria present in animals and humans, including their waste. Boil water advisories are issued when test results indicate that the coliform level is too high according to provincial regulations. 

The fact that the boil water advisory has stretched on so long could be due to more consistent contamination in the water supply but could also be attributed to the stringent provincial standards for water testing that the municipality is obligated to follow, Lamoureux explained. 

The reason for its contamination is one mystery surrounding the spring. Another involves its origins. 

Lamoureux noted that the spring’s collection point used to be located to the north of where it is now and was moved during the construction of Hwy 105 in the 1980s when pipes were installed to carry the water to its current location. Lamoureux said the municipality intends to conduct a study using a specialty camera to determine exactly where the funneling of the spring water begins.  

But even if this is known, the exact location, depth and flow of the aquifer that feeds the spring remains somewhat mysterious. Lamoureux said that underground water generally flows toward the Gatineau River, but the exact course it takes can be complicated by a number of factors. 

Without knowing many of the specifics about the aquifer, some residents remarked that it’s hard to gauge the impact that development in the village may have on the spring water. For instance, the planned construction of two duplexes on the corner of Chemin Rockhurst and Hwy 105 has worried some residents, who pointed to a hydrogeological report from 2013 that indicates the spring is fed by water directly below the site. 

But Lamoureux, citing recommendations made to the municipality by a hydrogeologist, asserted that the duplexes, which are around 700 metres from the zone of protection surrounding the spring’s collection point, should be far enough away to not pose any risks to the drinking water. 

Residents have reason to be concerned about the impact of development. As reported in the Low Down in 2023, dynamite blasting to build the Hwy 5 extension to Wakefield over 10 years ago contaminated some nearby wells. 

Koschade pointed out during her presentation that two pumping stations were installed near the Wakefield roundabout after its construction to draw out a chemical called perchlorate, which was used during dynamiting for the highway extension. A certain level of perchlorate in drinking water is harmful to humans, and the pumping stations are designed to remove the contaminated water from the drinking supply. 

Koschade asked, “Do we know the effects on the [spring’s] recharge zone when water has been diverted from the aquifer continuously for over 10 years?”

This question, like several others posed during the meeting, remained unanswered. 

The group H20Wakefield, which has been working alongside Source Wakefield Spring, will be hosting a meeting to discuss issues relating to Wakefield well water on Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m at Biblio Wakefield. 

More questions than answers about Wakefield’s spring Read More »

Kaz councillor wants to see locals R.I.S.E. and shine

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By Madeline Kerr

Brandy Killeen wants to give her community a lift. 

The Kazabazua municipal councillor recently purchased the former Desjardins building on Hwy 105 in Kaz and is turning it into a hub for the community. She’s calling it Rêver Imaginer Surmonter Exécuter or R.I.S.E., which translates to Dream Imagine Overcome Execute in English.

Killeen recently told the Low Down that she envisions a space where the community can come together, connect with essential services and find the resources they need – something that is often a challenge in rural areas.  

The trained paralegal and mother of five told the Low Down she is motivated by her own life experiences. 

“I grew up in difficult circumstances,” she said. “There are people in my life who have struggled, who continue to struggle, with things like addiction.”

She added, “I have a big heart. I love to see people succeed. I want to see the people in this community work to lift each other up.” 

Killeen explained she plans to outfit the basement of the building with an air hockey table, dart board, games and craft supplies, transforming it into a safe and fun space for local youth to hang out.

The main floor of the building is currently being renovated to include a flexible meeting space where Killeen said workshops and functions, including regular addiction recovery meetings, can be held. 

“There’s drug and alcohol abuse happening in our community but not necessarily anywhere to go for help,” Killeen said. 

She also plans on providing a closed office space where individuals can meet privately with therapists or other professionals. And there will be a space with tables and chairs for locals to come and drink tea or coffee and connect with one another.  

Killeen said she wants to help residents who need support to find work, make doctor appointments, connect with social workers or physiologists or apply for official documents by connecting them with the right resources to get what they need. 

“I don’t provide the service itself but I can connect you to it,” she explained. “I’m just here to link everybody together.” 

Killeen told the Low Down that she has had support from a number of local individuals and businesses, and she has put her sons to work painting and helping renovate. But she admitted that so far she’s funding this project “with faith and minimal savings.”

“Donations are welcome but not expected,” she said, adding, “The more that I’m able to provide to the community, the more doors will open for funding opportunities.”

Killeen took possession of the building in July and got straight to work making the space her own. The former bank has not been in use for about four years, she explained. She added that she has arranged with Desjardins to continue to maintain a bank machine in the vestibule of the building. This was important because, according to Killeen, it’s the only wheelchair accessible bank machine in the region. 

Killeen said that the hairdressing studio, Studio de Coiffure Danyka, which has been running out of the building for about 12 years, will continue to operate. Although R.I.S.E. is not officially open, Killeen said, “If someone walks in here, I won’t turn them away.” 

She plans to hold an opening event on Sept. 30, with the caveat that “things are very much still a work in progress.” 

To find more information about R.I.S.E. visit risequebec.com. 

Kaz councillor wants to see locals R.I.S.E. and shine Read More »

La Pêche drops dubious depot decision

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

By Madeline Kerr

The municipality of La Pêche will continue its search for a suitable place to build a municipal garage after council voted to reject a controversial site near Lac Gauvreau in Masham. 

In July council passed a resolution to look into the feasibility of building a garage that could be used to store machinery, repair trucks and possibly also store gravel and salt on a lot situated along Hwy 366 west of Masham. 

This immediately rankled some residents, including Claire Gauvreau, who told the Low Down the site “was problematic in every way.”

“[The location] didn’t make any sense,” Gauvreau asserted, explaining that the entrance to the site would have necessarily been on a steep hill, which is often slippery in the winter. She said that cars often travel faster than the 80 km/h limit on that stretch of road, making the coming and going of large trucks a further safety concern. 

She added that some residents living around Lac Gauvreau worried about the possible environmental hazards of having a garage so close to the lake, including the possibility that pollutants would leak into the lake. The Lac Gauvreau community has already been battling an invasion of Eurasian milfoil for roughly the last 15 years. 

Masham Coun. Pierre LeBel echoed some of Gauvreau’s sentiments, telling the Low Down that safety and environmental concerns were the main reasons his constituents wanted council to forgo the site. 

Another problem with the proposed site according to LeBel was that noise from the garage could carry easily across the lake, disturbing nearby residents and cottagers. 

LeBel said that obtaining approval to use the site from the Ministry for the Environment was projected to take up to five years and could cost as much as $1 million. The zoning for the land would also have to be changed.

At a council meeting on Sept. 8 LeBel put forward a resolution to reject the site, which was passed with a vote of five to two. 

Edelweiss Ward Coun. Richard Gervais and Wakefield Coun. Claude Giroux voted against the resolution. At the meeting Giroux explained that given the “prohibitive” cost of fuel he believes municipal buildings should be located in the same general area. 

“For logistical and operational reasons and because it’s better for the economy … the centralization of the garage is an important consideration,” Giroux said.

LeBel told the Low Down that the municipality has been looking for a site to build a garage for a number of years. But he said, “If we’ve been looking for six years, what’s another six months?” 

He said that he’s aware of other sites that the municipality is eyeing for a future garage, but added that he’s not at liberty to disclose the locations.

At the Sept. 8 meeting, La Pêche Mayor Guillaume Lamoureux said that the municipality would “Go back to the drawing board” to find other possible sites for the garage, adding that with municipal elections taking place on Nov. 2, the decision will be made by a future council.

La Pêche drops dubious depot decision Read More »

Chelsea centre village councillor seeks re-election

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By Madeline Kerr

Dominic Labrie, Chelsea’s Ward 2 councillor who has represented the centre village since 2021, is seeking re-election this fall and says he has a plan to save taxpayers money while improving municipal services. 

Labrie told the Low Down that the recent hike in municipal taxes in Chelsea – an increase of 21 per cent in the past four years –  is “not sustainable.” 

“Residents’ capacity to pay has been reached,” he said. 

To save money, he said that if he were re-elected, he would push for an organizational audit “to ensure that [the municipality is] optimizing our resources.” 

He also said he wants to ensure that the moratorium on development in the centre village stays in place until a “solid financial framework [covering the next] five to 10 years” is implemented and until the municipality can “ensure that growth pays for growth.”

In 2024 Chelsea council passed a resolution to enforce a two-year moratorium on new projects within the village’s urban perimeter, citing concerns that the municipal water and sewer system is incapable of keeping up with the pace of new developments.

Among his other priorities, Labrie said that if re-elected he wants to reopen Chelsea’s master plan to put in place provisions that will better control development, improve municipal services, ensure that the MRC “does its fair share” by covering or subsidizing certain costs assumed by the municipality and to “stop futile bickering and work better with our partners to fund recreation, parks, culture and infrastructure.” 

Labrie, a married father of two who has worked for the Senate, Parliamentary Affairs and as the former deputy director-general for the municipality of Pontiac, has been known for speaking publicly about Chelsea’s financial struggles. Last year he opposed the municipality’s $28 million budget, which saw an increase of residential taxes by 5.85 per cent, because it prioritized “lifting the moratorium … at all costs to the detriment of services and citizens.”

Despite favouring the continuation of the moratorium for the centre village, he said he also believes housing should be a priority, including for seniors, who he said “are leaving due to a lack of home care services.” He proposes “that we use the municipal land behind the pharmacy to help get a project off the ground,” referring to the Isabelle Ménard pharmacy on Chemin Old Chelsea. 

Concerning progress in his ward, he said that although “things aren’t moving as quickly as I would like, there has been progress.” He cited the opening of two new daycares, a new medical clinic due to open by 2027, new crosswalks and speed display panels, and the establishment of a homeowners’ cooperative.  

Regarding the new French elementary school planned for the centre village that has been put on hold due to budget cuts at the provincial level, Labrie said: “As the parent of a child in [Grade 1 at] Grand-Boisé and as a councillor for a district with many young families, I am following this issue closely … the real problem is that there are 99 schools in the planning stages that have been put on hold due to cutbacks by the Quebec government.”

Chelsea has projected that it will have an extra 300 elementary school-aged children in need of school placement by next year. 

Municipal elections will take place across the province on Nov. 2. 

Chelsea centre village councillor seeks re-election Read More »

Unfinished business pushes La Pêche councillor to seek third term

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By Madeline Kerr

La Pêche deputy mayor and Ward 5 Coun. Pamela Ross says that she has unfinished business in the municipality. 

She confirmed to the Low Down that she is seeking a third term as Ward 5 councillor.

Specifically, Ross said she wants to improve the municipality’s “customer service.”

“I want to improve our one-on-one service, our attention to detail,” Ross explained, adding that when residents interact with the municipality about “day-to-day things” like garbage collection, large item pickup, or obtaining a permit, they should expect timely, personalized service. “This isn’t always the case,” she admitted. 

This is what she considers her top priority for the upcoming election. She added that she wants to ensure that large road communities in her district – such as Chemin Lac Bernard, which she said is home to 450 residents, and Chemin Lac Usher – are given greater priority by the municipality. 

Ross’ district of northern La Pêche, which includes Alcove, Lescelles, Rupert and Farrellton, encompasses around 80 km of unpaved road, the most in the municipality, according to Ross. 

The challenges of managing a “uniquely rural” district is one preoccupation for Ross, but she added she’s also focused on the needs of the whole municipality. 

“Our large land mass, significant infrastructure needs,  environmental considerations,  language diversity, rising cost of living, and the pressures that come with being so close to the nation’s capital all present unique challenges,” she said. 

Ross said that she’s “a terrible self-promoter,” and doesn’t find it easy to talk about herself publicly. Still, the Low Down was able to glean that Ross is a life-long La Pêche resident: she was born and raised here and chose to raise their three kids here as well. She sits on the board of Centre Wakefield La Pêche and she’s been a proud minor league hockey coach. She currently works for the Senate of Canada and has spent most of her career in federal politics. 

Although she grew up in an anglophone family, Ross attended school in French. She said she considers herself capable of bridging the divide between French and English cultures in the municipality. 

Ross said she’s proud to have overseen the municipality “modernize itself tenfold” during her time on council. 

“We have a staff who are out seeking funds for us to accomplish betterments in our community… Our budget has increased, we have been able to [secure] so much money that isn’t coming from citizens,” she said, referring to subsidies that the municipality has been granted for major projects such as the new town hall in Masham which opened its doors last year. The award-winning building, which is the first institutional Passivhaus in Quebec, cost $11.5 million, half of which was paid for by the province. 

Although Ross admitted that the “municipal level is maybe the least sexy level of government,” she said that being able to improve her constituents’ lives when it comes to the “day-to-day things” is exciting for her. 

“We only get one life, and every day matters,” Ross said, adding, “if [the municipality] is not doing right by our citizens, then it’s just not good enough, quite frankly.”

Unfinished business pushes La Pêche councillor to seek third term Read More »

New chief says community policing a priority

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By Madeline Kerr

The MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais officially has a new police chief, and he says that he intends to be “as accessible to the citizens here as possible.” 

Paul Charbonneau was sworn in as the new Director of Public Safety for the MRC during a ceremony on Sept. 2 at Centre Wakefield La Pêche. His appointment as head of the regional police force follows the announcement last April that former police Chief Martial Mallette would be stepping down “for personal reasons,” according to a press release. Mallette, who was appointed in 2022, served three years of his five-year term. 

Charbonneau has nearly 30 years of experience in the police field, having held various management positions with the Sûreté du Québec and the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service.  He holds a master’s degree in administration from UQTR, where he teaches public safety, risk management, and recently headed the 911 emergency centre section of the Gatineau Police Service. 

Chabonneau told the Low Down that, from his perspective, “Policing is about being in touch with the citizens. It’s about listening to them. They’re going to tell us what we need, and it’s our job, within the boundaries of the law, to give them what they need as much as possible.”

Charbonneau lives within the MRC – he is a resident of L’Ange-Gardien – but he acknowledged that many of the police officers on the force may not be residents of the communities they serve. Still, he said, he is intent on ensuring his officers conduct “good community policing.”

“For me, this means, if you don’t live in the territory, you still get involved with organizations, vendors, different services. We have to do that on an everyday basis, doing our patrols, during every case that we work on…. I would like my officers to act [toward] every citizen they encounter the way they would want their own parents to be treated.”

He added that the MRC des Collines presents a unique experience for the police department. 

“Policing in the National Capital Region is different than anywhere else in Quebec or Ontario – anywhere else in Canada. The Ottawa area is the fourth-largest conglomeration in Canada. And we have on our territory federal institutions and second residents of the prime ministers – a lot of different aspects [to consider],” he explained.

“It’s important to have a partnership with everyone,” Charbonneau continued, adding, “I’ve always handled policing in a partnership way, and I intend to continue to do that.”

New chief says community policing a priority Read More »

Norma Geggie Research Centre opens

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By Trevor Greenway

Wakefield hasn’t been the same since longtime volunteer and village champion Norma Geggie died in 2024. 

But Maison Fairbairn and the Gatineau Valley Historical Society (GVHS) are making sure that Geggie, who founded the Wakefield Grannies, raised tens of thousands for the local hospital and helped create Wakefield’s palliative care home, isn’t forgotten. 

The GVHS and The Fairbairn House Heritage Centre are turning the second floor of the Wakefield museum into the Norma Geggie Research Centre – a gathering place for people to share stories of Geggie and La Pêche, as well as an archive room for those looking to learn more about the history of the Gatineau Hills. 

“Norma is the basis of all we know about the heritage in the area, and we’ve all learned from her,” said GVHS former president Marc Cockburn. “We’re all using her resources. And you know, she’s been an inspiration to a lot of people, and we just felt this was a way to show what she’s done for the community.”

Geggie was a village champion in the Hills, from raising funds for the Wakefield Hospital by holding her annual garden parties, to founding the first-ever grandmother-to-grandmother group, The Wakefield Grannies in 2004. The Grannies connected Wakefield grandmothers with their South African counterparts, who are facing an AIDS epidemic. The Wakefield Grannies was the first-ever Granny Group in the world, and more than 250 of them are now set up across North America through the Stephen Lewis Foundation. 

Geggie may not have been born in the Hills, but she spent 71 years of her life here after moving from Australia. She worked as a nurse and midwife in the 1950s and later married Stuart Geggie, the son of Dr. Harold Geggie, who founded the Wakefield Memorial Hospital in 1953. 

Geggie died in 2024 at the age of 99, just days before her 100th birthday. 

Cockburn said that Norma was committed to preserving the history of the Hills and, with her husband, wrote several books detailing the history of La Pêche. She also contributed more than 800 photographs to the GVHS’ image bank. 

“She was just a great documenter. And, like I say, her books are just – they’re priceless,” added Cockburn. “She connected all these people together in Wakefield for all these years. And you know, this is just taking it further – just having a gathering place in her name where people can share stories and learn about our history – all in the spirit of Norma.”

The research room is open to the public and features computer terminals linked to the GVHS, allowing residents to access historical articles and photographs. Cockburn said the research centre will also feature ancestry and genealogy services for people to connect with their own heritage. An official opening ceremony will take place at Maison Fairbairn Sept. 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. RSVP at the following email to attend: info@fairbairn.ca.

Norma Geggie Research Centre opens Read More »

‘Fast food medicine’ – doctors decry Bill 106

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By Trevor Greenway

The head of family medicine in the Outaouais says that doctors in the region are feeling “undervalued” in the face of Bill 106 – so much so that 33 of them have already moved to Ontario or taken early retirement. 

Dr. Guillaume Charbonneau, president of the Association of General Practitioners of Western Quebec (AMOOQ), and his team conducted a survey of their doctors earlier this summer on the impact of Bill 106. The survey found that 33 doctors had already decided to either move to Ontario or close their practice. Hundreds more reported that they are considering leaving the Outaouais. 

Bill 106, tabled in May, would link up to 25 per cent of physicians’ pay to their performance in an effort to get them to take on more patients. And with the Outaouais already short 2,000 family doctors, practitioners are preparing for another healthcare crisis in the region. 

“If we lose 30 to 40 doctors, it will take years, maybe, to catch up, with the way it’s going now, and that will create a lot of difficulty for the people in the Outaouais, in a region where citizens already struggle to get access to healthcare,” said Dr. Charbonneau, “So we cannot be a side effect of the way that the government decides to approach the negotiation with doctors.”

Charbonneau and other doctors  the Low Down recently spoke to about this bill cited fear over Santé Québec’s push for “quantity over quality.”

“So with this bill, we feel that they will ask us to do fast food medicine, and we fear that we won’t be satisfied with the job that we do with the patient. And for us, that’s more important,” said Charbonneau about Bill 106.  “We want everybody to have access, but what is more important at the moment is the patient that we have in front of us, and that we feel that we don’t want to risk his or her safety because we have pressure to see the next patient.”

One of the doctors surveyed by Charbonneau and his team this summer and who said he’s leaving the province is CISSSO department head Dr. Joseph Youssef, who’s already taken steps to obtain a licence to practice medicine in Ontario. 

“In Ontario, doctors are valued,” said Joseph, who is the head of Home Support Services, CLSCs and Day Hospitals, and the medical coordinator for Hospitalization at the Hull and Gatineau hospitals. “Here, it’s the opposite.”

According to several doctors and health advocates the Low Down has spoken with, including SOS Outouais and Vigi Santé, the Outaouais region is particularly vulnerable because of its close proximity to Ottawa. Ontario’s health department has more resources, better working conditions and higher salaries for doctors, nurses and technicians. 

But Dr. Charbonneau says that a “blanket approach” to healthcare in Quebec won’t work because the region is so unique. 

SOS Outaouais president Jean Pigeon said the fact that 33 doctors have already left and hundreds more are considering leaving in the face of Bill 106 is concerning.

“It’s kind of worrisome to think that that’s already taking place and the law has not yet been put into service,” he told the Low Down. “[The government doesn’t] even care that a doctor can just say, ‘Well, I’m not happy with this. I’m just going to cross the bridge in the morning. I don’t have to move. I don’t have to change schools for my children. I don’t have to go and reside in a different province. I can stay in my nice home in Wakefield or Chelsea and just drive and go and work in Ottawa, and I won’t have to have this new law that I have to abide by.’”

According to Vigi Santé, Wakefield has lost four doctors at its two clinics in the past two years. There are currently close to 8,000 people in the MRC des Collines region without a family doctor, which represents about 18 per cent of the region’s population. 

Gatineau Emergency room practitioner Dr. Peter Bonneville told the Low Down that, “I’m not leaving and I’m not considering leaving.” 

However he said that he is “on the fence” when it comes to Bill 106, as the bill’s intention is about giving more patients access to healthcare. Where it falls short, according to Bonneville, is the forceful nature of the bill.

“We want people to have access to healthcare, mainly to the frontline. That’s sort of a good thing of the bill,” said Bonneville. “I think the bad thing of the bill is that it’s sort of being rammed down doctors’ throats.”

Bonneville said that he understands what Santé Québec is trying to do – to increase the number of patients a doctor sees, ultimately giving Quebecers more access to healthcare. However he and others have argued that the region lacks resources and technology to seamlessly integrate remuneration linked to performance, as family doctors need access to hospital staff, scanners and experts to fully care for a patient. 

He had a pointed message for Health Minister Christian Dubé: “You want me to be more performant, but when I see patients in my office, it’s a one-year waiting list for a scan, a two-year waiting list for an MRI. It’s a three-year waiting list for a cardiac ultrasound. And you want me to be performant, but those people, they keep on coming back to my office because their problem is not solved, because I did not have access to tests.” 

Vigi Santé is hosting a doctor’s recruitment event this week to woo some young doctors into practising locally in Wakefield, as well as at the new family medical clinic that is set to open its doors in Chelsea next year. 

‘Fast food medicine’ – doctors decry Bill 106 Read More »

Masham senior died after substandard care at Villa

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By Trevor Greenway

A Quebec coroner has concluded that Masham resident Aline Maisonneuve died of a kidney infection “in a context of suboptimal care” that she received while staying at the Villa des Brises care home in Hull.

Maisonneuve, 95, was found “drowsy and hypotensive” in her bed on the morning of April 12, 2024, after several fellow patients reported hearing her screams go unanswered the night before. She died two days later at the Hull Hospital, where doctors reported finding bed sores and bruises across her torso and neck. 

An external examination of Maisonneuve’s body on April 16, 2024, and an autopsy performed on April 23, 2024, confirmed these wounds and her cause of death. 

The external examination revealed “two bedsores in the [tailbone] region and three bruises on the back,” wrote Coroner Marie Pinault in her report, which the Low Down has obtained. “Ms. Aline Besner died of pyelonephritis in a context of suboptimal care,” she stated in the report.

Besner is Aline Maisonneuve’s legal surname, however she is known around the Hills as Maisonneuve. 

Pyelonephritis is a kidney infection that needs prompt medical treatment, according to Health Canada. If not treated properly, an infection can cause lasting damage to the kidneys, or the bacteria can spread to the bloodstream and cause a potentially life-threatening infection. This is what happened to Maisonneuve, according to the coroner’s report. 

The autopsy, performed at the Laboratory of Forensic Science and Medicine in Montreal, revealed “acute pyelonephritis with blood-borne spread to the lungs and liver,” wrote Pinault. “In addition, the pathologist noted pressure sores on the back of the shoulder blades, calves and heels, as well as a one-centimetre superficial ulcer on the sacrum.”

Maisonneuve had been staying at Villa des Brises since Feb. 26, 2024, and within just a few weeks her condition had deteriorated rapidly, according to her son, Guy Maisonneuve. She was admitted after caring for her became too much for Guy and his wife, Shelley Langlois so she was moved to the Wakefield Hospital on Dec. 22, 2023, where she was treated for “delirium and loss of independence” until Feb. 26, 2024, according to the report. 

She was later admitted to Villa des Brises, but the move there wasn’t supposed to be permanent, as Maisonneuve was waiting for a spot to open up at the Masham long-term care facility, the CHSLD. But she never made it there. 

Patient wasn’t bathed for two weeks: commissioner

A Quebec Commissioner for Complaints and Quality of Services report released in May suggested that Maisonneuve hadn’t been given a bath in two weeks while staying at the home. Commissioner John Benoit concluded that she was the victim of “physical and organizational abuse through negligence” by staff at the care home and the CISSS de l’Outaouais home support (SAD) clinical team. 

Benoit’s report also noted incomplete records at the Villa, the absence of a treatment plan for the period from April 1 to April 12, 2024, and “delays (or lack thereof) in responding to call bells” – alarms that residents can use to alert staff when they need help. The report also showed that Maisonneuve had fallen four times between March 20 and 30, 2024; no incident/accident reports had been filed and follow-up was very poor. 

The commissioner’s report also highlighted several shortcomings at the Villa, including problematic “hygiene and sanitation concepts, infection prevention and control, regulations on the certification of private residences for seniors, assessment of the quality of the living environment, the medication, nursing care and risk management.”

Following the commissioner’s report, an action plan was developed at Villa des Brises. While some of the improvements are ongoing, a new manager with a nursing background was appointed last fall, and her office is located at the Villa. 

However, questions remain surrounding why Maisonneuve was fully dressed in her daytime clothes when she was found unresponsive at the Villa and why the bedsores and bruises were not reported. 

“It was not possible to determine why Ms. Besner was dressed early in the morning when she was found unconscious,” wrote Pinault. “In addition, staff at the residence and SAD denied any skin integrity issues when she left for the hospital on April 12, 2024, while hospital staff reported bedsores that same day.”

Family endured year of ‘agony’

Maisonneuve’s son, Guy told the Low Down Sept. 1, about a week after the coroner’s report was published, that despite already being aware of the disturbing details of his mother’s death, reading the coroner’s report was yet another traumatic day in their 17-month fight for justice. 

“It was not fun to reread it, but it’s not the first time or last – we’ve gone over this so many times, and you don’t get used to it,” said Guy. “I will never get used to hearing the descriptions of my mom’s conditions. I’m going to have to find a place for it because it’s never going to be okay; I will never be okay with what happened to her.”

While the family will never have their mom, mother-in-law, and “Grandmama” back, Guy and Langlois are satisfied with the report, the findings and the action plan that the Villa has been implementing.

When asked if he feels justice has been served, Guy said, “To a certain degree.” He said that the multiple stories published in this local community paper helped the family push forward and ultimately led to the community knowing her story. 

“I think that this is part of what has helped my mom get some justice – we told her story, it was acknowledged, it was talked about, and if it can even help one person…” he trailed off with emotion. 

“It feels like we did accomplish something. And it wasn’t just Shelley and I,” he continued. “It was, again, with your help and with the help of Dr. Pinault. I think she did get some justice. They didn’t know her name. They had no idea –  she was just an anonymous patient, but now I’m pretty sure they know her name.”

“They can’t ignore her now,” added Shelley. 

The Centre intégré de santé et des services sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSSO) told the Low Down that it implemented a “continuous improvement plan” to improve care at the home and monitor for quality control following the death of Maisonneuve. The regional health authority said that it installed a CISSS manager following her death and has implemented “safety nets” to address alleged abuse or negligence. 

“The CISSS de l’Outaouais takes each of these incidents seriously and has investigated them with the support of the Nursing Department (DSI) and the Quality, Performance Evaluation, and Ethics Department (DQEPE),” said CISSSO spokesperson Qeren Boua. “We were proactive in this matter and, following this event, a CISSS manager was present at Villa des Brises. As soon as we became aware of the situation, we implemented, in collaboration with the RPA, a continuous improvement plan that allowed us to monitor the actions taken and ensure the quality and sustainability of services.”

Masham senior died after substandard care at Villa Read More »

O’Brien House still up for grabs

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By Madeline Kerr

A piece of Canadian history in the heart of Gatineau Park continues to stand empty, despite a dedicated search to find the right tenant. 

The National Capital Commission (NCC) says it is continuing to search for a “suitable partner to help preserve and animate” O’Brien House, which is located on the shore of Meech Lake in Chelsea. The heritage site has only been occupied for a handful of the last 60 years. 

The NCC recently told the Low Down it would like to see the 95-year-old building used for “a boutique hotel, a bed and breakfast, a restaurant, a wellness centre or any other innovative use.” 

The former home of John Ambrose O’Brien, founding owner of the Montreal Canadiens and founder of the National Hockey Association (a predecessor to the National Hockey League), O’Brien House was designed “in the grand style of Queen Anne Revival” by architect Werner Noffke in 1930. He’s perhaps best known for designing the Central Post Office building, which is situated on the western edge of Confederation Square at the end of Sparks Street, across from the National War Memorial (the one with the clock) in Ottawa.

In 1964, the NCC acquired the O’Brien building, which was recognized by the Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office in 1984.

In 2024 the Low Down reported that the annual market rent of the O’Brien House was $144,000. The caretaker property could be leased for an extra $2,450 per month, plus property taxes estimated at just over $6,000 for the year. 

In 2016, Bob Milling, then owner of the Wakefield Mill, signed a five-year lease to operate a boutique hotel out of the historic building and opened it in April of 2018 after extensive renovations, paid for in part by Milling and the NCC. The total renovation amount was $3.9 million, according to the NCC. 

But things didn’t work out. Milling told the Low Down in 2019 that the boutique hotel model was not “economically sustainable.” 

O’Brien House still up for grabs Read More »

Seniors’ advocate throws hat in for Chelsea

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By Madeline Kerr

Longtime Hollow Glen resident Donald Déry has experience convincing people to make good choices, and now he says he wants Ward 6 residents in Chelsea to choose him as their next councillor. 

Déry, who lives with his partner and has called Hollow Glen home for the last 31 years, recently told the Low Down that he has a background in public health, having spent nearly 15 years working to help reduce public second-hand smoke in Quebec and curtail tobacco use among military personnel in the Canadian Armed Forces. 

After retiring several years ago, he became actively involved with the Outaouais chapter of Fédération de l’âge d’or du Québec (FADOQ), the largest seniors’ organization in Canada, and served as president of the National Association of Federal Retirees in the Outaouais.  

If elected, Déry will represent a district that looks noticeably different from the last round of municipal elections. In 2024, Chelsea redrew the boundaries of its six districts to make the distribution of residents more equitable. Ward 6 now has the greatest share of the voting population, with 20 per cent of residents residing in its sectors, including Hollow Glen, Kingsmere and Hendrick Farm. 

Déry said he has a plan for each of these sectors.   

In Hollow Glen, he said he wants to tackle recurring infrastructure issues by paving Chemin Kelly and Chemin Hollow Glen, and plans to collaborate with the National Capital Commission to reduce flood risks in the area. 

On Chemin de la Mine, he said he wants to focus on school travel safety by completing the pathway that leads to the high school and CEGEP. 

In Kingsmere, the priority will be on environmental protection, reducing noise and limiting traffic to preserve residents’ quality of life.

Finally, in the Hendrick Farm sector, Déry said he wants to install safe pedestrian crossings and ensure that upgrades to the water and sewage systems are financed by developers rather than by residents. 

Déry’s priorities for the whole municipality are more general. He said he wants to improve local transportation, increase recreational opportunities and encourage more dialogue between the municipality and residents. He also said he considers the state of Chelsea’s roads “an urgent concern” and wants to prioritize rehabilitating the municipality’s famously pothole-ridden streets. 

A major focus for Déry is seniors’ well-being and making Chelsea more accessible for residents as they age, something he said he knows about both as a member of FADOQ and as a senior citizen himself. 

“Right now, I’m 75 years old. I’m in very good health, and I have a lot of energy…but at 75, you know, if you want to do something new, now is the only time to do it.” 

According to Statistics Canada’s latest census profile, there are just over 50,000 residents in the MRC des Collines region. Of that population, nearly 15 per cent of residents are over the age of 65, while an additional 10 per cent are over 70. And with just 181 long-term care beds available in the region, that leaves over 12,000 seniors with no option to grow old in the places they call home. 

Additionally, the Institut du Québec projects that in the next 20 years, the population growth of those aged 25–54 years will only be 128,000 people, while those 70-plus, which are larger users of the health system, will grow by 553,000 people. 

Déry added that, after a career serving public interests and years volunteering for non-profits, “now it’s time for me to do something else. I like to contribute to my community. For me, municipal government means serving [others].”

Current Ward 6 councillor, deputy-mayor Kimberly Chan, has not returned the Low Down’s request to confirm if she intends to run for re-election, but sources close to the Low Down say that she does not plan to defend her council seat on Nov. 2.

Seniors’ advocate throws hat in for Chelsea Read More »

Local schools tackle cellphone ban

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Madeline Kerr

The first day of school this year in Quebec also marked the first day of a province-wide ban on cellphones in school. 

Local schools like Hadley Junior & Philemon Wright High School and École de la Cité, both in Gatineau, have developed their own plan for implementing the ban, including clarifying where students can leave their phones during the day and consequences for those students who break the rules. 

At Hadley-Philemon, “students will not be permitted to be in possession of any electronic device between the school hours of 8:55 a.m and 3:30 p.m. This includes all cellphones, smart watches and tablets,” according to a memo that was sent home to families before the return to school on Aug. 26. 

Students can have their phones with them on the bus ride to school, the memo stated, but “phones must be secured in lockers during school hours. If students do not have access to their locker for any reason, they will need to store their phone in their school office.”  

The memo also stated that students may not carry phones in their pockets, backpacks or other personal belongings,” and may not be used during breaks, like lunch time, or when students are between classes. 

Exceptions for medical or emergency reasons are only permitted with a doctor’s note or if the student has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that specifies the need for phone access. 

Staff are also expected to refrain from using their phones during instructional time, unless “using their cellphone to enhance the learning of their students.”

Consequences at Hadley-Philemon start with a verbal warning for a first offence. A subsequent offence can result in the student having their phone confiscated for the rest of the day, and after repeat offences, a parent or guardian will be required to pick up the phone from the school office.

At École de la Cité the rules look similar, although consequences start with confiscation of the device on a student’s first offence. For a second offence, the device will be confiscated and only the parent or guardian will be able to retrieve it from the school. For a third or subsequent offence, the student will be required to leave their device at the school office for the entire school day. 

According to the regional school service centre (CSSPO), at École de la Cité “all staff members will be involved in strictly enforcing the rule by deploying more supervisors in the school and taking systematic action,” during the first weeks of the ban. 

At Hadley-Philemon, vice-principal Jeremy Wouda explained that, “all educational staff in the building will be working together to help support the phone-free school policy – teachers, techs, admin, guidance staff and others – so we will be able to spread the responsibility around a little bit.”

He added that teachers at the school “are very relieved that this policy is in place,” telling the Low Down that they are “looking forward to not having to police phones in their classrooms anymore, and they know that all they need to do is refer the student to the office and [the administration] will take care of the rest.”

Wouda acknowledged that some parents have expressed concerns about how to reach their child during the school day, although he said that on the whole “parents have been very supportive” of the initiative. He said that students can use the phones located in teachers’ offices if they need to make a call home. 

Provincial Minister of Education Bernard Drainville announced in May that the ban on cellphones in all public and private elementary and secondary schools would come into effect for the 2025–26 school year. The ban follows the release of a special committee report that found that cellphones were distracting and infringing on students’ ability to learn.

So far, according to VP Wouda, students at Hadley-Philemon have been abiding by the new rules. 

He said that on Aug. 28, the school “welcomed our Grade 7 and Grade 9 students, and I’m not exaggerating when I say I didn’t see a single cellphone all day. It was actually really amazing to see.”

Local schools tackle cellphone ban Read More »

New group wades into concerns about Wakefield spring

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By Madeline Kerr

The Wakefield spring has been under a boil water advisory for nearly three straight months, and a newly formed group of concerned residents is sending up an SOS to protect the village’s iconic water source. 

The advisory to boil water collected from the Wakefield spring, located on Chemin de la Vallée-de-Wakefield, has been in place since June 9. Boil water advisories are put in place when test results show the coliform level is too high, based on provincial regulations. Coliforms are bacteria present in animals and humans, including their waste.

Multiple consecutive tests and approval from the Ministry for the Environment are required before an advisory can be lifted. 

La Pêche Mayor Guillaume Lamoureux confirmed that boil water advisories for the Wakefield spring have been occurring more frequently and lasting longer than in years past.

A number of local residents have already picked up on this, and a group calling themselves Source Wakefield Spring has formed to “protect the spring to make sure it remains viable and safe for the community,” according to group member Bettina Koschade. Source Wakefield Spring is formed of about eight residents (“more are always welcome,” Koschade said).

“If there’s a boil water advisory, it means there are concerns for people’s health who drink that water…whatever the source of the problem is, it needs to be explored, and the spring needs to be protected so this doesn’t continue,” Koschade recently told the Low Down.  

According to Koschade, a study conducted about 10 years ago by another residents’ group, Save Our Spring (SOS) Wakefield, showed that up to 8,000 people rely on the water from the spring for regular or occasional use.  

“The spring is an asset for our community,” Koschade asserted. “We need to make sure we can keep using it.” 

At a council meeting on Aug. 18, in response to a question about the spring, Mayor Lamoureux said that the municipality does not know what is causing the increasing number of advisories. He explained that, while it could indicate more regular contamination, it could also have to do with the sensitivity of the tests being used.

Source Wakefield Spring has been collaborating with H20Wakefield, another group of concerned residents, who have been conducting surveys on local wells and advocating for the creation of a municipal water policy. 

The two groups also share a concern about the impact that development is having on the quality and supply of water in the village. 

Developments raise concern

One development, planned for the corner of Chemin Rockhurst and Hwy 105, has caught some residents’ attention, specifically for its proximity to what some believe is the catchment area for the Wakefield spring. 

Vice-president of design and construction at the development firm Devcore, Philippe Goulin, confirmed that his company is planning to build two duplexes on plots of land directly north of Chemin Rockhurst, and that these buildings will use individual drilled wells. He said that Devcore is waiting for final permits from the municipality but anticipates it will be able to start breaking ground in just a few weeks. 

Goulin said that Devcore’s environmental assessment of the land, conducted in 2022, “doesn’t indicate that we’re going to be in any way affecting or drawing down the underground water table,” adding, “we’re satisfied that it works, and I assume the municipality is as well.” 

Mayor Lamoureux told the Low Down that the Devcore duplexes will be located approximately 700 metres from the zone of protection that is currently enforced around the Wakefield spring. That protection zone, established in 2013 after concerned citizens raised the alarm about water contamination during the extension of Hwy 5, is centered around the spring’s collection point on Chemin de la Vallée-de-Wakefield.  

Lamoureux added that the municipality suspects that the pipe that funnels the spring’s water is located to the north of the collection point. He confirmed that the municipality will be conducting an inspection this month to locate exactly where the funnelling begins in order to create a more precise protection zone. 

Still, he added, the Devcore properties are far enough away to not pose a problem.  

Cumulative impact

For Koschade and Source Wakefield Spring, the issue is not necessarily the impact of one or two developments but the cumulative effect that a growing number of homes will have on the village’s water supply. 

Nancy Baker, a member of H20Wakefield, told the Low Down that although there is a provincial database of wells in Quebec, the information is old and incomplete. 

“When the municipality gives a permit for a well, they have no idea how many wells are in that area; they have no idea if there will be any impact on the neighbours’ wells,” Baker asserted. “The information they are using to issue permits is just inadequate.”

Baker said she fears that, unless La Pêche develops a specific water policy, the cumulative impact of development will hurt the quality and quantity of water throughout the municipality, including the water that feeds the Wakefield spring. 

Both Baker and Koschade said they feel the mayor is taking their concerns seriously and that the municipality is willing to work collaboratively to find solutions. 

Source Wakefield Spring and H20Wakefield will be hosting a public meeting at 7 p.m on Sept. 10 at Biblio Wakefield to give some background information and address residents’ concerns about the Wakefield spring. Mayor Lamoureux will be present to answer questions on behalf of the municipality.

New group wades into concerns about Wakefield spring Read More »

Wakefield hopeful wants return of joie de vivre

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By Trevor Greenway

Shaughn McArthur wants Wakefield to return to the funky, grassroots, artist-driven village that made it such a desirable place for the many walks of life who have called it home. 

The Wakefield resident has announced that he is running for the Wakefield Ward in the upcoming municipal elections, and he said he wants to see the village’s quirky joie de vivre return. 

“I think Wakefield is about to see some explosive change, and it’s important for it to be done sensibly and with some real, attentive, local representation,” McArthur told the Low Down during a sit-down interview at Wakefield’s turntable park. 

Turntable park, officially known as Parc Roquebrune, is significant, as the municipality is looking to revamp it, and the next council will be tasked with how to do that – in particular whether or not to remove the turntable itself or memorialize it as part of the redesign. 

“We need to make sure that, as we build more of these developments, there are spaces like turntable park, like the docks, and we should come back to the covered bridge, where people can continue to come together outside of their backyards,” added McArthur. “I don’t want this to become a gated community, where people are having barbecues and pools in their backyards for that to happen. We still need places like the community centre, like the parks, where we come, and we are together in community.”

McArthur is no stranger to politics, as he ran federally for the Green Party of Canada in 2021, finishing in sixth place with 1,710 votes. He is currently the government relations associate director with Nature United, the Canadian chapter of the world’s largest conservation organization. He has extensive experience working with Indigenous groups on climate action and solutions in agriculture and forestry. 

Locally, McArthur, 43, has lived in the village for over a decade, where he raised his two children and has been engaged in multiple community efforts over the years, including as former board member of the Centre Wakefield La Pêche (CWLP) and was the chair of the centre’s transfer committee, which oversaw the recent community centre building transfer to the municipality. 

Through his work and volunteer efforts, he said he has built strong relationships with local representatives, including MP Sophie Chatel, and other La Pêche councillors currently serving. 

“It’s about pulling all that stuff together to make sure that Wakefield continues to be this incredible hub in La Pêche, the broader MRC and the Pontiac, but in a way that it doesn’t lose its flavour and its quirkiness,” he said. 

McArthur added that Wakefield needs a councillor who is engaged and ready to tackle big problems. He said he wants to help businesses thrive, ensure service workers have places to live – rental properties they can afford – and that Wakefield and the broader community commit to serious plans on climate action, emergency preparedness and housing for the aging population. 

“We’ve got incredible densification going on – that’s great – but it needs to come with the right municipal infrastructure that plays into disaster preparedness, but also plays into the flavour of the community that we have,” he said. “You need affordable housing. You need people on lower, different income scales to contribute to the culture of this place, because that’s what makes it so great.”

He continued: “This community and its flavour and its commerce will not move forward in the way that we want if we can’t find places to house folks that are waiting our tables, tending our bars, cleaning our trails.”

Quebecers head to the municipal polls on Nov. 2.

Wakefield hopeful wants return of joie de vivre Read More »

French laws hamper Heritage College’s expansion

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , , , ,

By Trevor Greenway

Every school year staff at Heritage College take a “calculated risk” when enrolling students into classes to avoid hefty fines from the province, says its new director-general. 

Bill 96 – now Law 14, the province’s overhaul of the Charter of the French Language, passed in 2022 – places enrollment caps on English CEGEPS across the province, preventing schools like Heritage College from expanding its programs and growing its student population. 

Heritage College is capped at 1,198 students, and if the college accepts between one and 50 additional students, they face a $7,000 fine from the province. However, if they go over by 50 or more additional students, the fine doubles to $14,000 per student. 

“So you really have to be careful, right? Because you can’t let somebody in and then tell them that they can’t study here,” said Heritage College’s new director-general Lisa Peldjak. 

She explained the college’s dilemma under Bill 96: “You never know from one year to the next. It’s a calculated risk to think about how many students are going to stay on another year. How many are going to leave after that first year so you have an idea how many you can admit? And then, between the time they accept their letter of admission to the first day of class, how many do we historically lose? And then we are hoping that we’ve done the right calculation to be as close to that cap as possible.”

The enrollment caps have been a major barrier to the College’s growth, Peldjak said, as enrollment numbers used to be around $1,500 pre-Bill 96 – and growing. This allowed Heritage to grow in the past, adding programs like women’s hockey and ultimate frisbee. But the caps have stifled future growth, she said, as the fear of additional French classes for students made Ontario students initially reluctant to cross the river. 

Peldjak said the school has done a good job of sending the message that anglophone students are welcome at Heritage College. 

“There were students who were afraid of coming here, especially that first year – the francophones, the non-certificate holders, because there was a misunderstanding that they weren’t allowed to come here or how many French courses they have to take,” explained Peldjak. “But this year we had even more from the anglophone population. Once that first group went through, they were talking with friends and realizing it’s not detrimental to their successes.”

New cohort more prepared than COVID kids

Director-general Peldjak told the Low Down that the wave of new students entering Heritage College this year is far more prepared than the past few years of students who were feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and years of virtual learning. 

However, this new crop of students were in elementary school when COVID was at its peak, and while they lost some social time with their friends, they didn’t lose the full high-school experience that prepares teenagers for college. 

“They had more of their experience in high school and not that online component,” said Peldjak, adding that the school broke a record for the number of students who attended orientation day this year. “They seem to be more well-adjusted and not as dependent on waiting to be told what to do or where to go or being guided in every single direction. They seem very comfortable here; smiling faces – just the overall vibe between the students, the faculty coming back, the vibe has been great.”

Peldjak said she is a firm believer on day one of school being a positive experience, as that lays the foundation for a successful academic year. She said she understands that the “fear of the unknown can be crippling,” and the school does everything it can to make students feel comfortable and safe during the entire year but especially during that first week. 

Budget cuts hurt colleges

In June of this year, Quebec’s Education Ministry announced that it was cutting $150 million in funding for Quebec’s 48 CEGEPs – money that has forced Heritage College to cut contract workers. Peldjak said the school eliminated up to six contract positions but was able to keep all permanent staff employed through the cuts. 

“The $150 million cuts in post secondary education, the student cap, the capping of our total hours worked, as well as the recruitment freeze, has had significant impacts in services, some more than others. We can’t control that – it is our regional reality,” she said, continuing, “So [we’re] making sure that whatever it is that [students] need to be successful moving forward [they have], even in spite of the budget cuts.”

French laws hamper Heritage College’s expansion Read More »

Alpengruss to be demolished for apartments

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By Trevor Greenway

After years of sitting empty and slowly deteriorating in the heart of Wakefield village, the former Alpengruss Restaurant is finally coming down – and a new apartment building with ground-floor commercial space will take its place. 

It’s been nearly a decade since the locally-famous German breakfast spot closed in 2016, and co-owner Chris Harris said he’s excited to finally turn that page over. 

“We’d like to do one building…with possibly commercial space on the bottom floor and 10 or 12 units upstairs – three stories high,” Harris recently told the Low Down, adding that the building would feature one and two-bedroom rental apartments. “So a pretty, fairly substantial building, and we’re thinking of doing a timber-frame kind of style – a rustic-style building, sort of like our building that we did in Ottawa.”

Harris, a longtime resident of La Pêche and former municipal councillor for the Edelweiss ward, built the iconic timber-frame Trailhead building in Westboro, Ottawa (which has since been torn down), which he and his son, Jason, plan to model the new Wakefield design after. 

According to Harris, the zoning of the current lot where the former building sits needed to be changed to allow two separate uses: commercial and residential. 

That zoning change was completed earlier this year, according to La Pêche Mayor Guillaume Lamoureux, as the municipality passed its new urban plan. However, Lamoureux told the Low Down that the Harris family will now have to decide whether or not to subdivide the property in order to have one building per lot, or if they will instead go for an “integrated mixed-use project.” If it’s the latter, Lamoureux said the development would be subject to the municipality’s conditional uses by-law. 

“This area is located in a zone in which certain commercial uses and residential uses are permitted up to a maximum of 12 dwellings,” explained Lamoureux. 

Despite having experience as a La Pêche municipal councillor, Harris told the Low Down that he forgets just how delayed things can get when dealing with zoning changes and other minor variance items when planning a development. 

Harris said he knows just how anxious the public has been over the derelict building facing Riverside Drive in the village, and said his family has been doing everything they can to get the ball rolling. 

“We’ve been working on this for a while. It’s a long process,” he said. “Right now, the biggest project you can have there is a four-unit house. That was another obstacle, which we finally figured out, but that delayed tearing down the old restaurant. If you tear it down, you lose your rights to rebuild if you don’t do it right away.”

What’s more, the development also tackles one of the Hills’ biggest barriers for young families, professionals and couples when moving to the village: a lack of rental properties. 

According to the region’s housing roundtable, La Table de développement social des Collines-de-l’Outaouais (TDSCO), there is a major divide between homeowners and those who rent in the region. According to the TDSCO’s 2021 report, 31.6 per cent of renters in the MRC des Collines spend more than 30 per cent of their income on rent, while just 13 per cent of those who own their homes spend as much on housing. The 30 per cent income-to-housing ratio is the threshold used by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to consider a home as “affordable.” 

Of the 835 residents surveyed by TDSCO’s, a majority identified a lack of housing diversity, a lack of affordable housing and housing conditions as the top three issues facing the region. 

Bed & Breakfast Phase 2

Harris told the Low Down that his family purchased the entirety of the property – the multiple buildings that formed the old Alpengruss hotel, the open field that faces Riverside Drive and the parking lot that spans the entire front of the property. The plan, according to Harris, is to operate the hotel as a new bed and breakfast. 

“For now, we are leaving the parking lot open to the public,” said Harris. “No immediate plans to change anything there, but it does open up possibilities for future projects.”

Alpengruss to be demolished for apartments Read More »

Villagers debate future of Wakefield turntable

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

By Trevor Greenway

Former Wakefield Trails president Ken Bouchard feels that the turntable installed in the heart of Wakefield “has no place” in the village. 

Speaking at an Aug. 14 consultation on Parc Roquebrune, better known by locals as turntable park, Bouchard told the Low Down that the turntable has no history connecting it to Wakefield and should be removed as the municipality gets set to give the park a major makeover. 

“I personally think, and I’m persuading some of the others, that the turntable has no place,” said Bouchard during a breakout session at the Wakefield community centre with several other residents. It never was part of railroading in the Gatineau Valley. It was introduced by the National Capital Commission (NCC) to promote the tourism train in conjunction with the Museum of Science and Technology. And it never had a role.”

The NCC acquired the old turntable from Kingston in 1974 and installed it in Wakefield that same year so that the Hull-Chelsea-Wakefield tourist train could turn around in the village and make its return trip back to Hull. The NCC, in partnership with the Canada Science and Technology Museum, ran the excursions, which became a popular tourist attraction. 

Whether you feel the turntable should remain in the village or not, it does come with some storied Wakefield history, notably the 1977 trip that saw Queen Elizabeth II ride the train from Hull to Wakefield on her royal visit. 

Wakefield resident Stanley Britton and his Wakefield’s Rail Heritage Advocacy Group told the Low Down in the spring that they believed the Wakefield turntable to be among the last remaining working turntables in Canada. 

Engine House in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., contains an enclosed turntable at its National Historic Site of Canada. The former Canadian Northern Railway turntable in Dauphin, one of the last ones in Manitoba, will also be dismantled this summer. 

Others at the consultation disagreed with Bouchard’s take and said they felt the turntable should be preserved and incorporated into any new design the municipality comes up with. 

“I think the name should be changed from Parc Roquebrune to Turntable Park, because nobody in Wakefield knows what Parc Roquebrune represents,” said resident David Pritchard. “We should maintain our railway, because it is historic, and we should keep that infrastructure.” 

The municipality is considering several options for the Wakefield turntable and the railway along the village’s main drag. These include: removing the turntable and commemorating it with a plaque and other educational installations, partially incorporating the turntable into the design, or completely preserving the turntable. The municipality is also considering whether to remove the train tracks throughout the village or incorporate them into a new multi-use pathway for pedestrians and cyclists. 

La Pêche has been seeking input from residents on what to do with turntable park since it launched an online survey on July 1 this summer. The survey asks residents what amenities they would want to see at the park, and many of the responses have included shaded picnic areas, a community stage, chess tables, a children’s playground, an expanded swimming area, improved washrooms and changerooms and a rethink on the parking that bookends the park on Chemin de la Rivière. 

“We bake in the sun there during Art in the Park,” said Paul Brown, who works with the 100-Mile Arts Network in Wakefield. The network has been hosting weekend art shows, but Brown said without any infrastructure, it’s been tough during heat wave weekends. 

“It’s really hard to work in that park. There is shade and trees on the other side, but we can’t get to it because of the rails,” he added. “We’ve had funding to do this Art in the Park, but it would be a lot better if we had some infrastructure.”

Other ideas brought up during the consultations included building a tourist information kiosk that would have information for visitors on where to go and what to see, but that idea was met with strong criticism from Wakefielder Shoshana Stein, who says info kiosks are “outdated, tacky” and bad for the environment.

“When we used to come to Wakefield before we moved here, the pleasure was actually just talking to people and learning about Wakefield through those conversations,” she said. 

“It happens organically, we don’t need somebody to point it out, and we have to preserve that,” added Wakefield resident Denise Giroux. 

About 20 people attended the in-person consultation Aug. 14. The survey is available online at https://lapecheconsulte.ca until Sept. 5.

Villagers debate future of Wakefield turntable Read More »

New mental health apps to help people cope

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , ,

By Trevor Greenway

The Quebec government has launched a series of new mental health apps that enable residents to get immediate, real-time help for conditions like anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and substance abuse. 

And the majority of the apps are free and bilingual. 

The new Appmentalhealth.ca site features 19 mental health apps that have been carefully selected by teams of clinicians, mental health professionals and patient partners in Quebec. Healthcare professionals tested out more than 350,000 health applications and used a rigorous selection process to highlight 19 apps they tested to help those struggling with mental health conditions the most.

“Each app was evaluated using a detailed analysis grid with over 100 criteria for clinical effectiveness, data security, simplicity and accessibility,” reads the mental health app website. “Healthcare professionals and patient partners tested each app to refine the assessment and ensure the app was relevant. Out of thousands of available apps, only 19 made it through the full process.”

The apps are broken down into several categories, depending on what a user is experiencing. There are apps for stress and anxiety, mood and emotions, sleep, exercise and nutrition, confidence and relationships and substance use. Within each category are a series of apps to download, including Mindshift Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Rootd for panic attacks, I am Sober for substance abuse and Freeletics nutrition, among others. 

Experts looked at 350,000 health apps and filtered them down to 5,000 when looking at data security and privacy; accessibility and ease of use; and scientific validity. From there, patients and healthcare professionals tested the apps for “real-life usefulness, user experience and accessibility, and respect for diversity and ethical standards.”

A small portion of the apps are French-only, and some offer in-app purchases, but most are free to use and download. 

The app site was created by CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, which was mandated by Quebec to increase access to mental healthcare and services through digital tools. 

The apps can be downloaded from the app store or via Appmentalhealth.ca. 

If you need help…

Mental Health Resources:

  • Suicide.ca – Bilingual
    •  Prevention line: 1-866-APPELLE (277-3553)
  • Canada Suicide Prevention Service – Bilingual
    •  24-Hour Crisis Line: call/text: 988
  • Info-santé – Bilingual
    • 24-Hour Crisis Line: 811, press option #2 to speak with a social worker
  • Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region – Bilingual
    •  24/7 Crisis Line: 613-238-3311
  • Tel-Aide Outaouais – French Only
    • 24 hour helpline:: 819-775-3223 or toll-free: at 1-800-567-9699
  • L’Apogée
    • Centre for family and friends of a person living with a mental health disorder: 819-771-6488
    • www.lapogee.ca
  • Aire ouverte
  • Maison le Ricochet
    • Rehabilitation and social and professional reintegration services to individuals dealing with mental health issues of varying intensity. The organization offers accommodation services, workshops, and work programs with support and supervision 24/7. 
    • Phone: 819-456-4230
    • Email: maisonlericochet@qc.aira.com. 
    • Website: www.maisonlericochet.com, 
    • 9 Ch. de la Beurrerie, Masham.

Grieving Resources: 

  • Entraide-Deuil-Outaouais: 819-770-4814 (French only)
  • Intersection (Deuil post-suicide): 819-568-4555 (French only)
  • Bereaved Families Ottawa: bfo-ottawa.org (English)
  • ROCSMO (Regroupement des organismes communautaires en santé mentale): santementaleoutaouais.ca
  • Maison Alonzo-Wright: www.maisonalonzowright.com/nos-services 
  • Écoute Agricole: www.ecouteagricole.com/en
  • Ami-Québec: amiquebec.org

New mental health apps to help people cope Read More »

MRC prefect, province at odds over internet connectivity

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By Trevor Greenway

The Quebec government says it’s the first province to make high-speed internet accessible to every household in the province. 

However, having access to high-speed internet doesn’t necessarily mean you will be connected to it. 

“As part of Operation High Speed launched in 2021, the Quebec government committed to providing the entire population of Quebec with high-speed internet access, not to connecting 100 per cent of households,” wrote Emile Boudreau, spokesperson for the Ministry of Cybersecurity and Digital Affairs. “So, having access to high-speed internet does not necessarily mean being connected to it. It is important to note that the Quebec government is not an internet service provider. These services are provided by private telecommunications companies.

Since 2021, Quebec has invested $2.08 billion to provide all homes with access to high speed internet, whether through fibre optics or satellite technology. The investment is part of a broader, Canada-wide effort to connect 100 per cent of households to high speed Internet by 20230. 

According to MRC Vallée-de-la-Gatineau Prefect Chantal Lamarche, there are still many dark spots throughout the Outaouais, mainly in the rural areas to the north, that do not have access to high-speed internet – places such as Thurso, Que, east of Buckingham, according to Lamarche.

“The MRC remains very concerned about the situation and is monitoring the matter closely in collaboration with municipal-elected officials,” Lamarche wrote in an email to the Low Down. “The majority of MRC residents are now connected to high-speed internet. However, a minority of households located in more remote or hard-to-reach areas still do not benefit from adequate service. This situation remains a concern.”

Lamarche said that when Quebec launched Operation High-Speed in 2021, it promised to “connect” all households to fibre optic service. She said she’s still waiting for that to happen. 

“The Quebec government committed to ensuring that every home with access to electricity would also be connected to high-speed fiber optic internet,” said Lamarche. “We firmly believe that this commitment must be kept. A sustainable solution requires structural investment and clear political will.”

According to the ministry, while not every home in Quebec is connected to fibre optic, 338,438 additional households have been connected since 2021, including 9,676 via low-orbit satellite.

“Thanks to low-orbit satellite service, all residential, institutional and resort homes now have access to high-speed internet,” added Boudreau. “The goal of providing high-speed internet access to 100 per cent of residential households has been achieved since 2024.”

However, Lamarche is adamant that this is not the case, and said she will continue to work with colleagues to continue to pressure Quebec to improve connectivity.

MRC prefect, province at odds over internet connectivity Read More »

 Check municipal bylaws before having open fires

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , , , , ,

By Trevor Greenway

Is there a fire ban in the Gatineau Hills?

That depends on where you live. 

Despite the lack of restrictions from Wildfire Prevention and Suppression in Quebec (SOPFEU) in La Pêche, Mayor Guillaume Lamoureux confirmed to the Low Down on Aug. 11 that open fires are currently banned in the municipality. 

“Right now, our index is at ‘tres élevé,’ so very high,” said Lamoureux. So, definitely no open fires allowed.”

Lamoureux explained that while the SOPFEU website shows no restrictions for La Pêche, the municipality has its own by-law that bans open fires when the fire danger index level reaches “high” or greater. 

According to the bylaw, open fires are also banned in La Pêche when winds exceed 20 km/h. 

“Only fires made in an installation equipped with a spark arrestor are permitted when the flammability index reaches the high or very high rating,” reads the bylaw. A spark arrestor is any device which prevents the emission of flammable debris from combustion sources, such as internal combustion engines, fireplaces, and wood-burning stoves.

All fires in La Pêche are banned when the SOPFEU levels reach “extreme.”

Open fires are also banned on National Capital Commission (NCC) property, including throughout Gatineau Park. According to the NCC, it places a ban on open fires, including campfires and charcoal barbecues, when the index level reaches “very high” or “extremely high.”

The current SOPFEU index for Chelsea is set at “very high.”

However, throughout the municipality of Chelsa, open fires are still permitted, as its bylaw states that open fires are banned only when the index level reaches “extreme.”

Despite the lack of a full fire ban in Chelsea, SOPFEU still has recommendations for homeowners when they are having open fires in their backyards. 

“There is currently no restriction, like a provincial-wide restriction, so whenever people are calling, we’re telling them that the fire danger index is very high, to extreme,” said SOPFEU spokesperson Melanie Morin. “We’re encouraging everyone to find out what their municipal bylaws are.”

Morin explained that each index level comes with a set of recommendations and considerations for homeowners when having open fires. 

“If the fire danger is low, that means that there is a very low risk of a spark making it to the forest, which would cause a wildfire. At the other end of that scale is very high to extreme, and there is a very, very high likelihood that if a spark were to make it to the forest, that it would cause a wildfire,” she added. 

When the fire danger index is very high to extreme, SOPFEU recommends not having open fires and using propane fire pits instead. SOPFEU also warns against using fireworks or smoking in forests.  “Whenever those fire dangers are present, we ask people to abstain from the use of fire if it’s possible, follow any and all rule regulations that are in place – use a propane fire pit,  don’t use an open-air fire,” she said.  “Don’t use anything that will cause sparks, such as fireworks. If you’re out and about in the forest, then abstain from smoking and that sort of thing.”

Kazabazua firefighter Melanie Irwin said that while there may be no official fire ban in the municipality, she urges homeowners against having open fires when the levels are “high” or greater. 

“I believe that they do have a fire ban in Bristol and places like that, but I haven’t seen anything like for Kaz, although I think that there should be, because it’s extremely dry out there – even the weeds are dying,” Irwin told the Low Down. 

“We’ve been super lucky – we haven’t had [any wildfires] and I think that people are getting smarter over the last few years because of the amount of fires that have been burning out of control,” she added.  “So I think that people are being more careful.”

Despite this recent prudence, Irwin said she personally wouldn’t risk having an open fire. 

“I don’t have the authority to say yes or no, but common sense would say no.” 

There are currently six active fires burning across the province, according to SOPFEU. Of the 194 wildfires, 176 of them – or over 90 per cent – have been ignited by humans. Nine other fires were caused by lightning. 

Locally, there were two wildfires burning in La Pêche over the past week, one near Lac Notre Dame this weekend and another near Lac Bernard. Both have been extinguished. 

There are currently three active fires in the Outaouais. 

Check with your municipality on the status of its fire danger index or visit the SOPFEU website at www.sopfeu.qc.ca. 

 Check municipal bylaws before having open fires Read More »

Kaz man dies in motorcycle crash on Hwy 105

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , , , ,

By Trevor Greenway and Madeline Kerr

A man in his late 60s from Kazabazua has died following a crash involving a motorcycle and a truck on Hwy 105 Aug. 2. 

According to Kazabazua firefighter Melanie Irwin, who was among the first on the scene, the crash happened at around 6:30 p.m. as a young male driver was turning into a driveway off Hwy 105 he collided with the bike. Irwin said she was en route to the accident when she learned that the motorcyclist was receiving CPR on the side of the road. 

“I’m heading down, and then I can hear on the CB radio the deputy chief is asking 911 if they have any details, and they said, ‘It’s a motorcycle and a truck, and they’re doing CPR,’ and I knew it was bad,” said Irwin. “Right in front of the truck, there was a paramedic who was on her way to Gracefield to take over the shift in the ambulance, and she saw it happen in her rearview mirror and stopped, pulled him out of the ditch and started CPR in the driveway.”

When firefighters arrived, they continued CPR, and Irwin connected a defibrillator to his chest. But it was too late. The man’s injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. 

“The fire chief from Low started doing chest compressions, and I grabbed the defibrillator, cut the guy’s shirt off, put the pads on and there was nothing. He was gone,” she said.

Officers from the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) continue to investigate. According to information officer Marc Tessier no criminal charges have been laid, and it could take the SQ weeks to determine if there was any wrongdoing on the part of the young male driver. 

Following the accident, Irwin was parking the firetruck back at the municipal hall when a woman approached and asked why the highway was closed. When Irwin told her there was an accident, the woman asked, “Did it involve a motorcycle?”

Irwin immediately asked the woman if she was expecting someone travelling on a motorbike, and the woman replied that her husband was driving up to their new Kazabazua home, and he was travelling on a BMW motorcycle. After conversing for a few more moments, Irwin was able to confirm the man’s name and that it was her husband who died on the highway. But, according to Irwin, she was in no position, nor authority, to deliver this tragic news to his wife. 

“What do I say to her?” asked a shaken Irwin. “They just moved here from Cantley. They just retired, and she is about to have the worst day of her life. That really hurt. I didn’t know what to say.”

Irwin said she remained professional, and told the woman to consult the SQ for information, but she said she knew what kind of heartbreaking news they would give her. 

The SQ has not confirmed the name of the deceased driver. The Low Down has chosen not to name him out of respect for the family. 

The accident is part of what the SQ is calling the worst construction holiday in a decade, as 38 people died in 30 collisions across the province from July 18 to Aug. 3. The death toll of 38 for this year is nearly double last year’s 17 deaths over the construction holiday. 

Locally, numbers have remained relatively low, according to Tessier, who said that the fatal accident in Kazabazua was the only one to occur in the region during the construction holiday. 

“Still, one is too many,” Tessier added. 

Kaz man dies in motorcycle crash on Hwy 105 Read More »

Forget the leaking toilets, plan a concert instead

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By Trevor Greenway

The municipality of La Pêche is the proud new owner of Wakefield’s $4.9 million community centre, but that doesn’t mean it will be getting into the events business anytime soon. 

“The municipality is not in the business of organizing events and all of that, and we really want the co-op to continue focusing on what they do best, which is planning events,” La Pêche Mayor Guillaume Lamoureux  told the Low Down. He was speaking just days after the municipality and Centre Wakefield La Pêche (CWLP) signed a deal that sees the municipality become the landlord of the building, while the cooperative becomes a tenant, which will have rent-free access to the centre 24/7. 

The new agreement will see the municipality handle everything that has to do with maintenance – fixing leaky toilets, repairing the roof, floors and keeping the lights on, while staffers and board members will continue to focus on programming – increasing classes, events and concerts, and keeping the centre buzzing with activity.  

“[The centre] will need support from the community as they did before,” added Lamoureux. “And the fact that the co-op can now really solely focus its energy on community services, that’s paramount.”

The municipality has similar agreements in place with Maison Fairbairn and Place des Arts Farrellton, where La Pêche is the landlord and maintains the buildings, while members run the day-to-day operations. 

When board members presented the draft agreement to the membership a couple of years ago, concerns arose around how the member-run community centre could turn into a regional cultural facility, and its English programming could be cut significantly. 

But the board held a referendum on the issue in June 2022, where 82 per cent of the membership voted in favour of transferring the building over to the municipality. 

And if you ask CWLP board chair Julie Coté, she’ll tell you that board members and staff still have control over the day-to-day operations at the centre, and they will now have more time and flexibility to focus on growing the centre’s offerings for members and the general public. She said that throughout the draft agreement process, board members felt confident that the municipality had their best interests at heart. 

“Working with [the mayor] has been very enlightening, because he’s very community focused. He lives within an arm’s throw of the centre, and I really believe that he’s been a real help with that positive narrative,” said Coté. “Even if you look on the La Pêche website, you see that one of their pillars is to encourage member-led activities within the municipality, and they really want to be that partner to help assist us with obtaining grants and opportunities that will take our programming to the next level.”

Staffers Rob Passmore and Annie Rompre said they were excited to get to work, especially since they no longer have things like fixing toilets or sourcing flooring prices on their list of daily duties. 

“All this maintenance costs a lot, and if there can be more money for programs or staff, that’s amazing, because we have a lot of work to do,” said Passmore. 

Former board member Shaugh McArthur spent hundreds of hours working through the draft agreement with the municipality and said what’s key is that the cooperative’s history is cemented into the agreement and that captures the entire spirit of the centre’s initial mandate when it first opened its doors in 2011. McArthur told the Low Down that the move “sets the tone for a new era partnership” between the CWLP members and the municipality. 

“The preamble [in the agreement] captures the whole history of the community-led grassroots effort, the founding members, the community really rallying, as well as the municipality having our backs and helping out,” he said. 

McArthur said there are a number of clauses in the agreement that “ensure that the community centre always remains a community centre,” and another that allows the CWLP membership to cancel the agreement and revert back to the initial agreement should both parties become unsatisfied with the new agreement. 

The CWLP will host an AGM this fall, where it will look to elect a new board and chair, as Coté is ready to step down after serving on the board since 2023.

Forget the leaking toilets, plan a concert instead Read More »

Rapids equip 43 kids for next hockey season

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By Trevor Greenway

Forty-three kids from the Hills will try ice hockey for the first time this year – and it’s all thanks to the Paugan Falls Rapids and Next Shift Hockey. 

The Rapids, Low’s senior men’s team, hosted its second annual Gear for Kids event July 12 at the Low arena and broke last year’s record of equipping 41 kids. This year, 43 kids got outfitted with new or used hockey gear at no cost. 

“We were really happy to have kind of the same level of impact and even a little bigger,” said Rapids captain Ryan Peck. “We’re proud to be heavily involved in the community, and it’s the community support that allows us to continue doing stuff like this.”

The event wouldn’t be possible without Next Shift Hockey, a non-profit organization that aims to remove barriers to participation in hockey by providing equipment, financial assistance and coaching to lower-income families. 

Rapids director of Sponsorships, John Peck, told the Low Down that he was moved when he saw how many kids showed up to not only get free hockey gear but to mingle with their Rapids heroes, many of whom were at the gear event helping fit kids to helmets, gloves, pants and skates. 

“We do have a pretty rich history of hockey up here,” said John. “And just seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces and their eyes lighting up, it’s incredible.”

Having Rapids players like overtime hero Bryan Kealey on hand for the event always helps, he added. 

John said that, while many of these families likely would have found a way to get their kids into hockey with or without the free gear, he said it “eases the burden” on families whose children want to play an expensive sport. Some, though, he agreed, never would have had the chance to play ice hockey without the free equipment. 

“You can see it in their eyes. It’s like, ‘Wow, anything’s possible,’” said John about the kids’ reaction to being outfitted with hockey gear. “Things that I don’t think they thought were ever going to happen, they are possible.”

The Rapids season gets underway in October.

Rapids equip 43 kids for next hockey season Read More »

 Mayor Lamoureux gunning for political hat trick

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By Trevor Greenway

Guillaume Lamoureux is looking for a hat trick. 

A third term as La Pêche mayor, that is. 

“I love this community,” Lamoureux told the Low Down after officially announcing he is running again in the upcoming Nov. 2 municipal elections. “I am super honoured to serve it, and I have the energy and love required to do it for the next four years.”

Lamoureux was a first-time candidate in 2017 when he staged a major upset over longtime mayor Robert Bussière, who had held the title of mayor for five consecutive mandates since 1997. Lamoureux beat Bussière by just 32 votes. 

Since taking office, Lamoureux has managed several significant projects – including overhauling the municipality’s communications to be more accessible; the COVID-19 pandemic; and the new, award-winning $11 million town hall, half of which was funded by grants. 

He said that the next four years will be crucial in La Pêche, particularly with issues such as the future of turntable park (see Page 1), municipal infrastructure and housing. 

“Housing is on everyone’s mind,” said Lamoureux. “We must find the right balance for La Pêche. We need to diversify housing, but we do not want to lose the feel of our community.”

Housing will be a significant issue in the Hills for years to come, particularly in terms of housing diversity, as the region lacks many options for rentals or affordable housing. 

According to regional housing roundtable La Table de développement social des Collines-de-l’Outaouais (TDSCO), 15 per cent of MRC households spend more than 30 per cent of their income on housing. The 30 per cent income-to-housing ratio is the threshold used by the Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CMHC) to consider a home as “affordable.” 

Of the 835 residents surveyed by the TDSCO  in 2021, most identified a lack of housing diversity, a lack of affordable housing and housing conditions as the top three issues facing the region. 

Aside from housing, Lamoureux said that his “personal goal is to remain a good listener and always be respectful of everyone’s point of view, especially when we do not agree.” This approach has led to a relatively cohesive and well-functioning council, especially when compared to other municipalities in the region. 

Quebecers head to the polls to choose mayors and municipal councillors on Nov. 2.

 Mayor Lamoureux gunning for political hat trick Read More »

La Pêche seeks community input for turntable park

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By Trevor Greenway

What should the municipality of La Pêche do with turntable park in Wakefield?

Expand the swimming area? Renovate the washrooms? Remove the historic turntable or renovate it to become part of the visitor experience?

“We want to do this right,” La Pêche Mayor Guillaume Lamoureux told the Low Down about the park that’s officially known as Parc Roquebrune. “It’s a super important park, so we want it to be welcoming, accessible and adapted to the needs of the community.” 

Lamoureux and council have launched an online public consultation to solicit ideas from residents on what they would like to see at the park in the future. Some of those options include: picnic areas, a space for community events, a playground for kids, a tourism information kiosk and renovated washrooms. The online survey also asks residents if they would like to see increased or decreased parking at the park. 

“We want to create a space that truly reflects the values and needs of our community,” said Lamoureux. “We invite everyone who uses the park or is interested in its future to share their ideas and vision.”

One thing is clear: La Pêche is not building a motorized boat launch as Chelsea Mayor Pierre Guénard suggested recently during a meeting on the closure of the Farm Point boat launch. However, the municipality is seeking the public’s input on what to do with the park, which already features a public beach and swimming area. 

Readers may recall our story this past spring, in which Wakefield resident Stanley Britton called on La Pêche to not “pave paradise” to increase parking at turntable park. Britton’s plan called for a renovation of the turntable, a new playground and a community stage for art shows and concerts. Britton was part of Wakefield’s Rail Heritage Advocacy Group, which is pushing to save the heritage of the steam train that used to roll through the village twice a week between May and October. 

When it comes to the train tracks, the options for the park’s redesign also leave La Pêche at a bit of a crossroads: Does the municipality rip up the train tracks throughout the village, remove the turntable altogether and install heritage plaques throughout the village to honour its history? Or, does the municipality incorporate the heritage tracks into a pathway design and renovate the turntable so it’s accessible to the public? 

“It’s one of our most visited municipal parks,” added Lamoureux. “We know it’s important, both for community members and visitors.”

Residents can access the online consultation via the municipal website at: https://lapecheconsulte.ca, and attend a public participatory workshop on Aug. 14 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Wakefield community centre. A consultation kiosk will also be installed at turntable park on Aug. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where residents can take the survey and add their comments. 

La Pêche seeks community input for turntable park Read More »

Gatineau River receives ‘green’ bill of health

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By Trevor Greenway

The Gatineau River has a green light — 21 of them, actually. 

Or dots.

If you look at the latest water quality results, you will see that the Gatineau River, from Chelsea to Low, has a clean bill of health with every testing site showing either a bright green or darker forest green dot to mark it as “excellent” or “good.” Just one site – the McClinton Creek in Wakefield – has been labelled not recommended for swimming by Friends of the Gatineau River (FOG).

FOG, the organization responsible for testing the Gatineau River yearly, told the Low Down that, while they aren’t concerned about the McLinton Creek area, as it typically tests high in e-coli, they are curious to know why. The McLinton Creek is north of Wakefield, between the village and Alcove. 

“We’re getting involved with Carleton University on a way to identify whether it is human-caused or not,” said FOG director Stephen Ferguson, who tested the river on June 24 and July 1. 

“We want to try and sort of figure out what’s the source of it, but it’s a tricky creek, though,” said Ferguson. “First of all, it’s hard to get out even to take the measurement. And then secondly, it winds through the woods and who knows what’s going into it, and where.”

There are several farms and fields above the creek that could play a factor, but FOG wants to know definitively before it speculates on what’s causing the high e-coli measurements. 

Ferguson said that FOG was pleasantly surprised to see such favourable results, namely in the Mill Road area of Chelsea.  

“All of the sites are in the ‘good’ to ‘excellent’ category, even down in Mill Road, which is where the sewage treatment plant puts out its effluent,” said Ferguson. “That’s kind of the problem there, it’s episodic – sometimes it’s okay, and sometimes it’s not okay. It’s hard to monitor on a continuous basis, but generally the places where people swim and so on, it seems pretty good.”

The Mill Road site this year, as well as a spot near the Alonzo Wright Bridge, came in as “good,” meaning that FOG found between 21–100 fecal coliforms per 100 millilitres of water. 

Last year, both of those sites were deemed unswimmable after results came in at over 200 coliforms per 100 millilitres. 

HOW CAN I PROTECT THE RIVER?

FOG encourages riverfront residents to refrain from using household toxins like herbicides, pesticides and exfoliating cosmetics, as they promote algae growth, affect animal biodiversity and can be found in the fish that residents catch and eat from the river. 

Maintain good septic systems 

FOG encourages residents to “use healthy products” like biodegradable detergents and solutions that can break down in your system. 

Residents should also save water as much as they can, as increased consumption of water speeds up the circulation of the tank and stops the separation of sludge and scum. 

FOG also recommends keeping septic systems away from sheds and swimming pools to promote air circulation. 

Shoreline regulations 

FOG also wants to remind residents of the shoreline regulations, as it is against municipal bylaws in the region to cut vegetation within 15 metres of the shoreline. Permits are required for all docks on the Gatineau River, and private boat launches are prohibited. 

Gatineau River receives ‘green’ bill of health Read More »

Chelsea health facility en route

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , ,

By Trevor Greenway

Chelsea is one step closer to building its long-anticipated health facility, where up to six local doctors will staff the new state-of-the-art clinic. 

Cargo Developments has just unveiled its ambitious plan for 48 new housing units; a medical clinic; physiotherapist business, PhysioSport Chelsea; and a number of commercial units for small businesses near the Meredith Centre. 

“We are very excited,” Cargo’s chief operating officer Marco Tascona told the Low Down. “We know that there is a lack of health services in the community and in the region, and the more initiatives like this that we can bring to address the community needs, that’s what we’re all about.”

The project is a partnership between Cargo and Chelsea doctor Dr. Henri-Servante Gaspard, who will co-own the space with the developers. Gaspard did not return the Low Down’s request for comment, however past reporting suggests that up to seven local doctors – some of whom live in Chelsea – could staff the clinic. 

The doctors are a major need in the area, as there are close to 8,000 residents in the Des Collines region without a family physician. 

The new health clinic comes as Quebec’s centralized health department, Santé Québec, announced $1.5 billion in global health cuts across the province last year with the CISSS de l’Outaouais (CISSSO) mandated to cut $90 million from its budget. 

That figure was reduced to $45 million in June of this year. Those cuts resulted in 800 health positions axed from the CISSSO, many of which were vacant at the time of the cuts. 

The new health clinic is also being built despite Chelsea’s moratorium on new developments until it can expand its sewer and water system. 

That system could come at a hefty price tag of around $20 million, according to municipal councillors. Tascona said the project, because it includes a health facility, is exempt from the moratorium. 

The project has already been approved by Chelsea, and once building permits have been acquired – potentially this fall – developers said they hope to break ground before the end of the year, with an opening date sometime in late 2026 or early 2027. Being the project lead on a Chelsea development, Tascona said he has heard the concerns of some residents who feel that Chelsea is growing too big, too fast. As evidenced by the development moratorium, it’s clear that Chelsea doesn’t have the infrastructure to support its rapid growth. Tascona told the Low Down that Cargo has listened to these concerns and built a plan that integrates well into the existing environment. According to Cargo, this means using natural wood or stone cladding on the buildings and creating “vibrant” village hubs that diversely mix residential and commercial units into lively shared spaces. 

The project also tackles the region’s lack of housing rentals. Cargo’s development will include one, two and three-bedroom rental units for singles, professional couples and small families. 

A lack of housing diversity was one of the top three issues facing the Des Collines region, as noted in a 2021 housing study by the region’s housing roundtable, the La Table de développement social des Collines-de-l’Outaouais (TDSCO). TDSCO’s 2021 data shows a major divide between homeowners and those who rent in the region. 

According to the report, 31.6 per cent of renters in the MRC des Collines spend more than 30 per cent of their income on rent, while just 13 per cent of those who own their homes spend as much on their mortgages. 

The 30 per cent income-to-housing ratio is the threshold used by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to consider a home as “affordable.” 

The project will be built on Old Chelsea Road at the intersection of Chemin Cecil. 

Chelsea health facility en route Read More »

Chelsea business owner charged with fraud

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

By Trevor Greenway

Chelsea resident Dennis Walker has been charged with 14 counts of fraud after seven people and one company allege that he defrauded them out of thousands of dollars worth of windows and doors. 

Walker, the owner of Vue Fiberglass Windows, was arrested in 2023 and will face a criminal trial next January. He’s facing three counts of fraud over $5,000, three counts of possession of illegal funds over $5,000, four counts of fraud under $5,000 and four counts of possession of illegal funds under $5,000. 

In court documents, Ottawa Police allege that Walker defrauded Robyn Lalonde, Christian Lafleur, Edward Norminton, Gad Perry, Richard Cyr, June Hutcheon and the company PBC Sweetnam Holdings Inc. between 2021 and 2024 “by deceit, falsehood or other fraudulent means.” 

“We are a group of people that represent over $60,000 worth of fraud and theft,” Lafleur told the Low Down. 

According to Lafleur, he hired Walker in October 2022 to install several new windows at his Ottawa home. Walker had requested a $4,000 deposit to order the windows, which was paid in full, said Lafleur, adding that Walker told him that the windows would be installed before Christmas. 

“He sent me an invoice, and I sent him the money. And after that, the nightmare started,” said Lafleur. 

After sending the deposit, Lafleur said it was “excuse after excuse,” as Walker kept delaying the work. He said Walker requested another certified cheque for the remaining cost of the windows and installation, but Lafleur refused to pay him any more. 

By December 2023, more than a year after hiring Walker, Lafleur said his windows had still not been installed. At this point Lafleur said he requested his money back, but Walker refused. By publishing date, Lafleur’s windows had yet to be installed, and he alleges that he is out $4,000. 

Lafleur said he then went online and began investigating Walker’s past work. He said that, after finding multiple bad reviews, he began reaching out to Walker’s former customers and encouraged them to file police reports. Six, including Lafleur and property management company PBC Sweetnam Holdings Inc., came forward to police. 

In a sit-down interview with the Low Down on June 13, Walker said he is the victim in the case and alleges that Lafleur has been “recruiting” several other customers to smear his name and scam him into getting free windows. 

“I’m the one being scammed,” Walker said. “This guy is actively recruiting my former customers to call the police. I’ve never had this happen in 27 years of business.”

According to Walker, he was worried that Lafleur would not pay him in full. He alleges that Lafleur’s brother had under $1,000 in outstanding invoices from a previous job with Walker’s company that he had refused to pay. Walker said he was skeptical the rest of the money would come through. 

“I confronted [Lafleur] and said, ‘I heard a few things about you. I would feel a lot more comfortable if you sent me a picture of a certified cheque or a bank draft, and I will deliver your windows,’” said Walker, referring to his conversation with Lafleur. 

But Walker said Lafleur refused to pay more until the work was done. 

His trip through the legal system starts in January and a judge will decide his fate. 

As for the other customers alleging fraud, Walker said that many of the window orders, while delayed, were set to be filled and completed. He explained that a fire at his workshop in 2022 significantly delayed him, as it took him a full year to rebuild. He said that after these customers filed official complaints with the police, he was ordered not to communicate with them and couldn’t finish their jobs.

“We fell 68 jobs behind at that time,” he said. “My biggest problem is slow delivery, okay. I’m guilty of being slow, guilty of being too nice to people, that’s my biggest problem. I’m too nice to people, and I get screwed. If I’m slow, is that a crime?”

Walker, whose company also does work in the Gatineau Hills, has volunteered at local sports organizations, including rugby at St. Mike’s High School in Low and wrestling in Chelsea. He said that the past two years of dealing with the fraud charges have been “massively detrimental” to his business and his life. 

“Since this guy started scamming me, I’m probably out about $300,000,” said Walker, adding that he lost a government contract after CTV ran a story about the alleged fraud a year ago. 

Walker submitted an application to file a lawsuit against Lafleur on June 16 at the Gatineau courthouse. Walker alleges that Lafleur’s comments in a CTV news story in 2022 defamed him and led to lost revenue and damage to his reputation. Walker is seeking $95,000 in damages. It’s unclear whether or not the lawsuit has been accepted. 

“The defamation has been extreme,” Walker wrote in his court application.

Chelsea business owner charged with fraud Read More »

Wakefields’ ‘village mom’ needs a rest

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

By Trevor Greenway

When Dawn Airey opened her Mon Petit Chum bed and breakfast in Wakefield 20 years ago, she didn’t know how to slice a tomato properly. 

Nowadays, she’s a gourmet chef whipping up eggs Benedict, waffles and a “to-die-for” pork and apple burger – and she says she has a roster of locals to thank for her two decades of success. 

“I got so much community support,” Airey says, adding that she knew just one person when she moved to Wakefield, but soon she knew everyone thanks to people like former Kaffe 1870 owner Ron Regimbald and the late Lynn Munro from Tulip Noire, who Airey says “swooped me in.” 

“I got famous for eggs Benedict thanks to Che Chartrand,” she says, referring to the former Chez Eric chef/owner. “He finally taught me how to make hollandaise sauce.”

Airey is sitting at her kitchen table with a mess of newspaper articles strewn about. Most are Low Down articles from the past. She’s flipping through them and reminiscing on two decades of community service. She’s emotional because she just made the decision to sell the business and move on to something less hectic. But she knows just how much she’ll miss hosting both tourists and locals at her Burnside bed and breakfast. 

“Oh, the people for sure,” says Airey, when asked what she will miss the most. 

“I have some couples that come every three months. I have some people who come once a year. I have some that come every three years, but I do remember them all, and I welcome them with open arms.” 

Airey says that at least 15 couples have proposed around her fire pit or at the nearby Wakefield covered bridge, and she always has champagne at the ready when it happens. 

If anyone has ever stayed at her bed and breakfast, they would agree that Airey has always been more than just a proprietor; she’s been called the “village mom” by many, including her guests, as she does everything she can to ensure their stay is as good as it can be. That means booking guests bicycles for a ride; getting them concert tickets for shows at Kaffe 1870 or Motel Chelsea or planning out a Gatineau Park hiking trip. 

“I become their Wakefield mom,” she says, adding that, like a mom, she also worries about her guests. “Are they gonna get home from the wedding? They’ve been gone for seven hours on the hike. Where are they? They should be back from their bike ride right now. Did they like the restaurant I sent them to?”

And it’s not just her guests that she’s made a huge impact on. Many in Wakefield, including the publisher of this newspaper, Nikki Mantell, call her “the village sweetheart.” Parents recall how grateful they have been over the years during Halloween to have a safe, blocked-off loop for trick or treating (and thanks for that mulled wine for us parents!).

She’s volunteered at Canada Day for years, has helped out with Dragonfest, and sat on Wakefield’s now-defunct chamber of commerce and became an ignition for Wakefield’s tourism industry by creating a central website that featured every village business on it in the early 2000s. 

But after two decades of working seven days a week cooking and cleaning, in addition to being a single mother, Airey says she’s tired. She isn’t sure what she’ll do next, but she says she wants to slow things down. 

“I just want to have a job where I can be with people and help them still but with less stress,” she says. “Something where I can sleep in on the weekend.”

Airey says she will be listing the business sometime this summer or fall. She doesn’t yet have a final closing date.

Wakefields’ ‘village mom’ needs a rest Read More »

La Peche adopts ‘zone-by-zone’ housing approach

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , , , , ,

By Trevor Greenway

La Pêche has adopted its new zoning regulations to provide more diversified housing for low-income families, young professionals and first-time home buyers. 

La Pêche Mayor Guillaume Lamoureux told the Low Down that the municipality adopted new zoning regulations earlier this month that will see up to 45 units per hectare in the urban perimeters of Wakefield and Masham. However, he was clear that both towns are broken up into multiple zones, and it’s unlikely that developments or housing projects will actually reach the maximum allowed density. 

“The approach that we have in each urban perimeter is a zone-by-zone approach,” Lamoureux explained. “The zoning is not uniform throughout each urban perimeter.”

Lamoureux said that, despite some online rhetoric suggesting zoning is increasing at an alarming rate across the entire municipality, the global maximum of 45 units per hectare in urban perimeters isn’t changing from the previous zoning bylaws. He added that, in many cases, the maximum density of 45 units won’t be reached, as each urban perimeter is broken up into separate “zones,” each with unique conditions and challenges. 

“There are a number of factors to take into account, like groundwater, waste water, treatment systems that are available in this location; [and] the size of the lots that are considered by developers,” said Lamoureux. “There are restrictions on the number of units per building that vary throughout each zone. There’s a series of criteria that are different from one zone to another. So, the maximum theoretical density is rarely actually attained.”

Lamoureux said the urban planning changes were democratic, as La Pêche held several public consultations in Masham and Wakefield over the winter before adopting them. He said he is proud of the outcome, as it will make it easier for young families and first-time home buyers to enter the housing market. 

“The issue that many MRCs like ours have is that we have very uniform housing opportunities, like single dwellings, and that’s a major factor for people who are trying to either downsize or access their first property or access a rental property,” he said. “The way to counter this is to focus on your urban perimeters and diversify the kind of housing that is available.”

Lamoureux also explained that already fully developed areas won’t see many changes. He used the example of a neighbourhood in Masham that is “90 per cent developed,” and said residents won’t wake up to see apartments being built on the final lot. 

“In a neighbourhood where 90 per cent-plus of the neighbourhood has already been developed, and it’s very uniform, we’re not going to come in and allow new densities and new buildings with more units than it actually currently has.” 

La Pêche is hosting an information session on the urban planning process on June 19 at its town hall in Masham at 7:30 p.m. The meeting can also be streamed online virtually.

La Peche adopts ‘zone-by-zone’ housing approach Read More »

Kaz dad raises stink over smelly wedding

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , , , ,

By Trevor Greenway

If you smell something, say something. 

Brent Gabie certainly smelled something fierce during his daughter’s wedding reception on May 31 at the Kazabazua Community Hall – raw sewage – and he certainly said a few choice words during the subsequent council meeting as he pleaded with councillors for a full refund over the hall rental. 

“It was real bad, like really, really bad,” Gabie told the Low Down, describing the wafting smell of raw sewage that plagued his daughter Lisa’s wedding reception. “At around 10 or 11 o’clock [p.m.], you couldn’t go outside because the smell was so bad.”

According to Gabie and other wedding attendees the Low Down spoke with, guests couldn’t get away from the smell of sewage – during dinner, the first dance and all throughout the night. Many were flushing toilets constantly to rid the building of the stench, but the smell from the septic tank outside permeated into the building. Wedding organizers then closed the doors, but it got stiflingly hot, so the doors had to remain open, and the smell was “just awful.”

“As soon as you opened the door, you could smell [it],” said Gabie. 

Two weeks later, Gabie showed up at the June 3 Kazabazua council meeting to demand answers – and a refund for the $320 hall rental for his daughter’s wedding reception. At the meeting he was told by Mayor Robert Bergeron that they were basically sh*t out of luck. 

“So, are you going to give us our money back?” asked Gabie. 

“I’m sorry, no,” replied Bergeron with a laugh. “We would like to, but no. This has to be tabled. For any decision from council, it has to be brought to council, tabled, analyzed and then brought for a resolution.”

His answer flared up the room, with residents demanding a vote from councillors on whether or not to issue a refund, but Bergeron shut it down quickly. 

“If you have questions or desires for a decision from council, it has to be forwarded to the municipality in order to request a decision,” Bergeron fired back. 

During the meeting, Gabie claimed that the septic problems at the Kaz municipal hall were not new and had been going on for the past five years. He told the Low Down that they had to stop hosting the Kaz heavy-horse pull there because of the terrible smell and poor planning.

“It’s too bad to say, but Kaz is a real f*cking sh*thole,” said Gabie. “Like, they don’t do anything. They have spoiled everything.”

Bergeron agreed that the smelly septic at the Kaz hall has been a problem for “four or five years” and said that the municipality had hired plumbers multiple times, who thought they had fixed the problem, only for the smell to return during larger events. Bergeron told Gabie and other members of the public that the stinky septic was a priority file as a new splash pad will soon be built there, and he anticipated the increased use to cause more odorous problems. 

“No matter what, we’re going to fix it,” he said at the meeting. But the mayor wouldn’t budge on a refund for the Gabie family despite repeated calls from the attendees throughout the meeting to do so. When asked how long it would take to fix the smell, Bergeron said it will “take the time that is necessary.”

“That’s fu**ing bullsh*t,” yelled Gabie during the meeting. 

Gabie shot back at the mayor and argued that it was unfair for municipalities to penalize residents for non-compliant septic systems.

“I don’t understand it: If we have problems with our septic, we would be in trouble, but when you have problems with your septic, there’s no problem,” said Gabie about the municipality. 

Weeks later, when the Low Down contacted Bergeron for an interview, he immediately said that the Gabie family would in fact be getting their refund back for the hall rental after they did find problems with the septic system. 

P-Trap Problem

Bergeron told the Low Down that after plumbers found no issues, Kaz hired a technologist, who analyzed the town hall’s septic system and found that there were no P-traps installed in the drains. 

“For now, we closed off the drains,” said Bergeron. “The toilets have P-traps. The sinks have P-traps. But the drain, in case there was a flood, there was no P-trap. So now we’ll meet, we’ll find out what we’ll do and then we’ll take it from there. But for now, the drains are completely blocked.”

The Gabie family confirmed that they have been told the Gabies will receive a full refund for the hall rental and added that they were satisfied with Kazabazua’s response. 

Aside from the stench, Brent said his daughter’s wedding “went perfectly.”

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Perfect for pollinators

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Trevor Greenway

Action Chelsea for the Respect of the Environment (ACRE) in partnership with the Canadian Wildlife Federation, is turning the Hundred Acre Wood in Wakefield into a year-round pollinator field to help insects thrive in the Hills. We’ve all heard about how important pollinating insects are to our lifecycle but don’t most hibernate in the winter? Why do we need to provide food for them year-round?

Hibernating pollinators need hearty spring breakfast

If you ask Canadian Wildlife Federation project coordinator and terrestrial conservation officer Maxime MacKinnon, he’ll tell you that despite the fact that bees, hoverflies and butterflies hibernate over winter, some stick around during colder months before heading south, including hummingbirds and other fowls. He says it’s important to plant winter pollinating flowers like goldenrods and wild lupins, so that when spring does come, the Hundred Acre Wood will be the site of a feast for early pollinators. 

“Some of them migrate, it depends,” says MacKinnon, who was the project lead on ACRE’s pollinator field. “And we want to provide nectarine flowers for species all year round. So they’re maybe not present, but they are here. Native wildflowers don’t bloom over the winter. We select a diverse mix of native species that bloom from spring through fall to support pollinators that hibernate and migrate throughout their active seasons.”

Elm, butternut trees not enough

ACRE president Stephen Woodley said his organization, which is a non-profit and made up of concerned citizens of the environment, planted 60 disease-resistant butternut trees as well as scores of elms last year at the Hundred ACRE Wood in Wakefield. “But it’s not enough to make it a good pollinator meadow because you have to provide food for the native pollinators throughout the year.”

Putting roofs over insects’ heads

Pollinator meadows do much more than just provide food for insects like native bees, beetles, hoverflies and butterflies – they offer “shelter, ground nesting and overwintering sites for hibernation,” explains MacKinnon. “Beyond providing nectar and pollen, native meadow habitat supports over 42 species at-risk in Western Quebec.”

Beetle, beetle, everywhere a beetle

Did you know that one in every four identified animal species is a beetle? Beetles are an extremely diverse group, with over 400,000 species known worldwide. They play many important roles in the ecosystem, from aiding with decomposition to reducing pest populations and pollinating plants.

A butterfly’s incubator

Did you know that milkweed is the only plant that a Monarch butterfly will lay its eggs on? Milkweed is considered the host plant for Monarchs. Caterpillars rely on milkweed as a food source, and they can’t develop into butterflies without this integral flower. “Since this is a migratory species, nectaring plants from spring to fall are crucial for the butterflies to feed from and [get] fuel for their travel back to Mexico,” says MacKinnon. 

Hoary and hairy: Do you know these 21 plant varieties?

ACRE, in partnership with the Canadian Wildlife Federation, planted 685 wildflower plugs at the Hundred Acre Wood including these 21 varieties: 

  • Common milkweed
  • Swamp milkweed
  • Upland white goldenrod
  • Grass-leaved goldenrod
  • Grey goldenrod
  • Lanced-leaved coreopsis
  • Tall meadow rue
  • Wild bergamot
  • Black-eyed Susan
  • Obedient plant
  • Prairie smoke
  • Foxglove beardtongue
  • Hairy beardtongue
  • Sneezeweed
  • Frost aster
  • Virginia mountain mint
  • Wild lupin
  • Closed bottle gentian
  • Frostweed
  • Hoary vervain
  • Panicled aster

Plants that love to ‘chillout”

Some native plants, like sneezeweed, need to go through a cold stratification, a process of exposing seeds to cold and moist conditions to break the seed’s dormancy and increase its ability to germinate in spring. That’s why ACRE volunteers, were planting flowers like Black-eyed Susans, goldenrods and Joe Pye weed (No, not former Wakefielder Geoffrey Pye of Yellow Jacket Avenger – but yellowjackets are pollinators, even though they are also predators.)

Olympian plants when not paddling

Chelsea Olympic paddler Sofia Jensen may have a summer full of intense competition lined up, but she still has time to volunteer for community organizations like ACRE. She, along with her father, Olaf, were among the dozen or so planters who helped turn this former farmer’s field into a pollinator meadow. 

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Students present to ‘Dragons’ Den’-like judges

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , , ,

By Kendall Knowlton

Who said you had to be an adult to land a deal?

A line of judges sat at a long table facing a small stage as the first 15 kids walked into a room, confidently ready to pitch their creative ideas to a panel of “dragons” on May 27.

The Montessori elementary school in Chelsea hosted its second Dans l’oeil du dragon, or eye of the dragon contest. This competition is for young entrepreneurs ages 10 and 11 and is based on the TV show Dragon’s Den, in which budding entrepreneurs pitch business ideas to a panel of judges or “dragons.” 

The winners of the Chelsea competition were Edouard Miron and Alexandre Tamer, who won for their company Pit Stop, which makes bird feeders. The pair received $1,000 and a $65 gift card for La Cigale.  The judges were impressed by the work the students put into the bird feeders.

In second place, Zoé Le Guyader showcased her passion for writing. She presented a book, which contained 12 stories she had written over time, that she had put together and printed 50 copies of. For her business La Plume Magique, she won $650 and a $65 gift card for La Cigale. Le Guyader also writes for the school paper, the Montessori Gazette.

And in third place, for Maé Chénier’s charcuterie board business, Les Délices en Boîte, she was awarded $500 and a $65 gift card for La Cigale. She puts together charcuterie boards that have things like pickles, prosciutto and cheddar. 

Two youth businesses received special mentions for fourth and fifth place: Simplici’thé, a tea company created by Édouard Charbonneau and Francois Montesino, and a plant company called Les jardins de Perséphone created by Gabrielle Samson and Thomas Bertrand.

The judges, Mathieu Gaudette, Olivier Benloulou, Chris Kaarsberg, Nicholas Courchesne, Jonathan Albert, Sara Beaudet and Médéric Danis, run businesses in the area. They were gentle dragons compared to the TV show’s more feisty ones, but still firm at times. 

Benloulou was passionate during the contest’s question periods, almost always suggesting that the students use organic products for food-related companies. 

Students took the feedback with strength and confidence. 

Nancy Courchesne, general manager at Montessori, said she works closely with the students to help them come up with their pitches. 

“I do everything from start to end with the kids,” she told the Low Down explaining that they spend six weeks planning and are given grades based on their ideas and presentation. 

Students also gave their presentations at the marché de petite entrepreneurs on June 7, which is a market for young entrepreneurs to showcase new products. Le Guyader won at the market, according to Nancy.

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51st edition (not state!) coming soon

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , , ,

By Kendall Knowlton

About a dozen years ago, a fishing trip in Kitigan Zibi wound up at the Supreme Court of Canada. 

It’s the lead story in ‘Up The Gatineau!’, which was first published 51 years ago.

Gilbert Whiteduck, president of the Gatineau Valley Historical Society (GVHS), and Toby Sanger, another board member who has written for Up The Gatineau! in the past, collaborated on the story. It is about an important case in which the Indigenous community fought the Quebec government up to the Supreme Court of Canada. It took 12 years to fight a $75 fine for illegal fishing, and they spent $2.5 million in the process. 

“It’s trying to summarize this case, this very important case. It’s one of many Supreme Court of Canada cases in Canada that came to acknowledge Indigenous rights on, in this case, unceded territory,” explained Whiteduck about the story called ‘A Fishing Trip That Ended Up in the Supreme Court of Canada.’

Whiteduck was a band council member in Kitigan Zibi when it occurred. 

He told the Low Down he remembers it happening, and that he remembers how long the case took. 

Sanger said he wrote the first draft, and Whiteduck wrote the second.

“I ended up going through more of the legal documents, but Gilbert’s got a good history of it himself,” said Sanger.

Up The Gatineau! includes several other stories including Horses in the Gatineau Valley: A Photo Essay by Randy Kidder, which is a detailed description of horses in history with old photos.

Not only has Whiteduck written a story and become the president of the GVHS, but he also helped change the logo about two years ago, according to Louise Schwartz, director of publications at the GVHS. 

She said the logo used to be a broad axe.

“Broad axe representing settlers coming in and taking down all the forests for the logging industry, which was really totally inappropriate if one wants to be inclusive as we should be,” said Schwartz. She told the Low Down that they hired a designer. 

No spoilers, but you might find some new information about things like horses in the Gatineau Valley’s past, what settlement in Low looked like in the 1850s or even a story about an outhouse. You’ll have to read it to know more!

This edition will be launched on June 14 at Le Fab sur Mill at 2 p.m. A short ceremony will take place at 2:30 p.m. and refreshments will be served.

51st edition (not state!) coming soon Read More »

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