Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

The circular economy is gaining traction not just as a sustainability buzzword, but as a guiding
principle reshaping how communities function. At its core, the circular economy reimagines
production and consumption, moving away from the traditional linear model of “take, make,
dispose” to one that emphasizes reuse, repair, sharing, and regeneration. It’s an idea that
transforms waste into value, and it’s beginning to take root in real, visible ways.

In Old Chelsea, this vision is not a future ideal but a living, breathing practice. The small village,
nestled just outside Gatineau Park, has become an unassuming model of circular innovation.
Local businesses here are deeply interconnected, not just economically but logistically and
philosophically. Shops, restaurants, and accommodations operate with a shared awareness of
their environmental footprint and an active interest in minimizing it.

Take La Petite Grocerie, for example, which doubles as a boutique for regional goods and the
reception area for Les Lofts du Village, a boutique hotel steps away from the trails of the park.
Visitors can check in, buy Quebec-made soaps, wines, and gourmet treats, then settle into their
loft for a weekend of nature and community. The products are local, the suppliers often
neighbours, and the packaging minimal. Even the coffee served at the Lofts comes from Biscotti
& cie, a café and bakery whose pastries are as memorable as its local sourcing.

This kind of overlap isn’t accidental. It reflects a deliberate effort to close loops—sharing
infrastructure, supporting nearby producers, and keeping economic benefits circulating within
the region. The Chelsea Pub, one of the oldest buildings in the area, now serves cocktails
crafted with spirits from the newly established Distillerie du Square. That distillery itself is part
boutique, part educational eco-museum, offering guided tours that explain how ingredients are
sourced and reused in its small-batch operations.

Such integration is central to the circular economy, which thrives on collaboration. The benefits
are as practical as they are ecological: fewer emissions from transport, reduced waste, stronger
local supply chains, and a more resilient community. Even seasonal events like La Terrasse du
Square, a summer-long outdoor food and culture experience, rely on local vendors and shared
spaces, bringing together Korean, Mexican, and Vietnamese fare in a single, festive plaza
without the environmental cost of larger-scale operations.

The Municipality of Chelsea has embraced this direction in policy as well. It was the first in the
Outaouais region to adopt a formal Sustainable Development Action Plan, which supports
initiatives that favour reuse, energy efficiency, and low-impact tourism. These values are visible
in everyday choices: pet-friendly and mobility-accessible lodging, long-term stay packages that
encourage slower, deeper travel, and public markets that highlight artisans using reclaimed
materials.

While the circular economy is often discussed in terms of global supply chains or corporate
sustainability pledges, its most promising developments may be happening on the scale of ​
towns like Old Chelsea. There, it’s not just a theory, it’s breakfast pastries sourced from a
neighbour, a cocktail that supports a friend’s distillery, or a stay that quietly respects the land it
rests on. It’s a quiet but radical shift, where nothing is wasted and everything—goods, spaces,
relationships—is reused and reimagined.

Photo: The Chelsea Pub and its neighbouring businesses in Old Chelsea exemplify the circular
economy in action—working together to reuse resources, support local producers, and create a
sustainable, low-waste community model. (TF) Photo: Tashi Farmilo