Friends of Quebec Lodge, some from as far away as Toronto, gathered May 18 for the organization’s annual spring work day to clear brush, stack wood, clean up the beach, put in the dock, and get things ready for the summer. Photo by William Crooks

Quebec Lodge teams up with Massawippi Conservation Trust to preserve forest

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

In a landmark agreement signed on April 24, the Quebec Lodge (QL) Foundation, in partnership with the Massawippi Conservation Trust and the Anglican Diocese of Quebec, secured the perpetual protection of roughly 50 acres of land east of Chemin du Lac.

This collaboration will see the Trust building and maintaining hiking trails on the property, with some areas set aside for future development by Quebec Lodge, including potential new “yurt villages” and an organic garden.

This effort aligns with QL’s long-term conservation goals and highlights the role of the Massawippi Conservation Trust and Foundation in preserving the natural beauty and ecological integrity of the Lake Massawippi watershed.

New QL Agreement

“The [QL] Foundation retains ownership,” explained QL Foundation Board Chair Ruth Sheeran to The Record May 17, “but we are working in partnership with the Massawippi Conservation Trust.” A servitude agreement was signed April 24 between the QL Foundation, the Massawippi Foundation, and the Anglican Diocese of Quebec, who donated the land to the QL Foundation in the first place.

The agreement pertains to the roughly 50 acres of land east of Chemin du Lac. The land is now “protected in perpetuity,” Sheeran said. The Massawippi Conservation Trust will build publicly-accessible, hand-made hiking trails through the property. It will also maintain them with a little help from QL staff.

Sheeran noted some areas of the land have been set aside for further QL development. QL currently operates one “yurt village” near its lodge, but has planned to eventually build as many as three villages, of three yurts each, in total. One new village may be placed on the now-protected land where QL used to run its “Pioneer” camps decades ago. Another area, a clearing hugging Chemin Taylor, may host an organic garden in the future.

Sheeran said preserving this land has been a goal of the QL Foundation since the camp was restarted after its closing nearly 20 years ago. “We’re pretty excited that we’ve accomplished that [with this partnership],” she said.

“[QL] is very interested in conservation,” said Massawippi Foundation Executive Director Helene Hamel to The Record May 18, “they have a beautiful property.” The Massawippi Foundation is an affiliate of an umbrella conservancy organization called Appalachian Corridor, who sent biologists to the land and determined it is worth protecting.

Notable natural inhabitants of the land include two kinds of bat, the Hoary bat and the Silver bat, both considered to be in a “precarious” situation, and three types of uncommon ferns. The property also contains areas of wetland. Hamel said the land will be inspected annually and will never be built upon regardless of potential future zoning changes.

The Massawippi Foundation and Massawippi Conservation Trust     

Hamel explained the relationship between the Massawippi Foundation and Massawippi Conservation Trust and their point and purpose, putting this novel agreement with QL into perspective:

The Massawippi Conservation Trust and the Massawippi Foundation, two sister organizations established in 2011, play a crucial role in environmental conservation in the Lake Massawippi watershed. These organizations, despite their different functions, work harmoniously towards a common goal of preserving the natural beauty and ecological integrity of the region.

The Massawippi Foundation primarily functions as the fundraising arm of the conservation efforts. It gathers the necessary financial resources to support the Trust’s activities. The Massawippi Conservation Trust is the operational entity responsible for stewardship and property management.

This structure allows the Trust to focus on direct conservation efforts, such as property ownership and trail management, while the Foundation handles fundraising and financial support.

The inception of these organizations was driven by a group of multi-generational families concerned about the increasing development on the mountain ridges west of Lake Massawippi. These families witnessed significant changes in the landscape, which prompted them to take action to protect the forests and ridges from further encroachment.

The Quebec government’s zoning regulations, which aimed to protect agricultural land, inadvertently left mountains unprotected, leading to increased development pressure on these areas. As lakefront properties became scarce, the demand for mountain-view properties grew, threatening the forests and ridges surrounding Lake Massawippi.

The organizations’ efforts were first focused on the western ridge of the lake, deemed the top priority for conservation due to its environmental significance. To date, they have protected approximately 1,300 acres, including over 800 acres owned directly by the Trust.

While the primary goal is conservation, the Trust also recognizes the benefits of providing public access to nature. Trails are developed with care to avoid sensitive areas, ensuring the preservation of rich ecological zones. For example, the Trust has constructed trails in Scowen Park in North Hatley, fulfilling agreements with local municipalities to provide public access.

The western ridge trails overlooking the lake, although limited to about 15 kilometers to prevent overuse, offer visitors a chance to experience the natural beauty of the area without disturbing critical habitats. Future plans include expanding trail networks, with new trails scheduled to open by 2026.

Originally focused on the five municipalities surrounding Lake Massawippi, the Trust has expanded its conservation efforts to the broader Massawippi watershed, including areas as far as Lake Lyster. This expansion reflects a growing commitment to preserving larger ecological systems beyond immediate lake surroundings.

One significant recent development is the signing of a conservation servitude with Burroughs Falls in Stanstead East. This marks the second servitude on the east side of the lake, with trail development planned for completion by October.