Mélissa Gélinas

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

A coffee meeting at the Accès Volunteer Action Centre in Aylmer was held on February 5 to present the mission, development and achievements of the Boucher Forest Foundation.

The foundation was formed from a citizen movement in 2007. Its mission is to raise awareness among the population to protect and conserve the Boucher Forest, which is becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate change and human activities.

In total, the Boucher Forest covers an area of ​​over 700 acres, with over 1,145 species of flora and fauna, including endangered species and rare types of trees. It also includes 11 ecosystems essential to the conservation of biodiversity, as well as numerous wetlands.

In addition, over eight km of trails allow you to explore the area while respecting nature, whether on foot, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or cycling. “We have now built 2.5 km of universal trail that is accessible to everyone, especially people with reduced mobility,” emphasized Mageland Yepmézoué, Executive Director of the Boucher Forest Foundation. This natural environment also serves as an educational activity for young people. “There are many schools in the area that go to the forest,” explained Yepmézoué. This allows young people to learn different subjects with the help of different elements of nature. “It’s interesting to see how the dynamic can change depending on whether they are in a classroom surrounded by four walls or in the forest. We have received testimonials from teachers who have seen great improvement in their students.”

A range of recreational, fun, artistic and sports activities are also offered throughout the year. It should be noted that there are also activities intended for seniors.

“Today, generally speaking, the foundation has received a mandate from the city to manage the 55% of the territory that belongs to it with the aim of protecting it,” commented Yepmézoué. “This does not mean that we do not work with private landowners,” he continues. “We have what we call rights of way that allow us to use part of their land and their properties to make certain presentations.”

“We will do everything in our power to ensure that future generations can experience this forest and its benefits as we do today,” he says. The success of the Boucher Forest Foundation would not be possible without its partners, the Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) and Loisir sport Outaouais (LSO), as well as its many donors, including the City of Gatineau, which is also the owner, the Government of Quebec, Brigil, the Caisse Desjardins de Hull-Aylmer, Slush Puppie Canada, Gazifère, Énergie 104.1 and many others. For more information on the Boucher Forest Foundation, and to find out about the activities offered and new projects, visit their website at: https://fondationforetboucher.ca/ or their Facebook page: Boucher Forest Foundation/Fondation forêt Boucher.

Photo: Poster of the Boucher Forest at the Samuel Edey entrance (February 5, 2025) (MG) Photo: Mélissa Gélinas

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

Luck smiled more than once on Sylvie Bertrand, a resident of Sainte-Cécile-de-Masham in Outaouais who won two lottery prizes in the space of a week, thanks to La Poule aux oeufs d’or tickets.

It all started when she went to the Masham Grocery Store in Sainte-Cécile-de-Masham and bought a ticket that earned her a spot as a contestant on a show on January 26, where she won $32,000. Subsequently, seven days later, on February 2, she decided to buy another ticket, this time online, and she won the modest sum of $100,000.

With the amounts won, Bertand has several projects in mind, such as renovating her house and purchasing a new vehicle.

In January 2025, more than 10 Outaouais residents won using different types of Loto Québec tickets. The highest prize was won by Daniel J. Boisvenue. It was the $125,000 jackpot of the new La course aux lingotslottery tickets.

Fifty years ago, Loto Québec was the first lottery corporation in Canada and the third of its kind in all of North America. In 2024, a total of over $1.7 billion was distributed to winners across Quebec.

In addition, the World Lottery Association awarded Loto Québec an international recognition certification for responsible gaming. This is level 4, the highest international certification for responsible gaming. More specifically, this certification means that the Company has the necessary resources to ensure the continuity and constant improvement of the assistance programs offered in terms of awareness of games of chance.

Photo: Sylvie Bertrand, during the filming of the show La Poule aux oeufs d’or (January 26, 2025) (MG) Photo: Liette Faubert Facebook Page

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Outaouais are currently facing numerous trade tensions, including the imposition of customs tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.

To support and sustain all SMEs in the region, Export Outaouais launched Operation Prospérité Outaouais on February 4.

More specifically, this operation will have the primary objective of diversifying export activities to new markets. In this way, SMEs will be able to adapt more easily to global challenges while ensuring the economic prosperity of the Outaouais.

To do this, several tailor-made solutions will be proposed to meet the different needs of exporting SMEs. Indeed, concrete resources will be made available. Among its resources will be:

• personalized tools to explore new international markets,
• strategic support on Canada’s free trade agreements,
• an online program to efficiently find all available solutions and resources,
• a special bulletin on market diversification, and
• a package to find the best market for the company, with the help and support of experts.

SMEs cover a variety of sectors, such as service, sales, construction, technology and more. They represent the majority of businesses in Canada and their contribution is essential to the country’s economy.

According to information from the Government of Canada, there were 1.22 million SMEs in Canada in 2022. Of this number, 1.19 million were small businesses and 22,700 were medium-sized businesses. Furthermore, more than half of Canadian small businesses with 1 to 99 employees were located in Ontario and Quebec, of which 249,480 were located in Quebec.

On the Outaouais side, the Gatineau Chamber of Commerce (CCG) counted 14,843 SMEs in Outaouais (excluding self-employed workers) in 2019.

Photo: Olivier Roy, Director at Export Outaouais (November 21, 2024) (MG) Photo: Export Outaouais Facebook Page

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

On Tuesday, January 21, the second edition of the Atypical Summit, organized by Option Femmes, took place at the Maison du Citoyen. The event was to promote and propel forward non-traditional women’s professions.

For the occasion, more than 40 exhibitor booths, with training experts, business employers, ambassadors, educational institutions and more, were on-site to present their services.

“Events like this encourage us to build a society where every woman can choose her path and fully flourish,” said Mariana Mefleh, political advisor in the office of Suzanne Tremblay, MNA for Hull.

Many guests, participants and several high school students were present to discover captivating careers through enriching discussions and interactive workshops.

“It’s not just about politics,” said Catherine Pellerin, a city councillor in Bowman. “Whether it’s construction, engineering, technology or any other sector traditionally dominated by men, every woman in these sectors is a voice for future generations and contributes to building a more equitable world,” she added.

“Today, we are highlighting pioneering women who inspire and pave the way for others,” said Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette. “Let’s celebrate their place, their talent and their success,” she continued. “Many thanks to the organizing committee, which is headed by Option Femmes, but which also includes vocational training in Outaouais, Services Québec, Construction Miric, the Cégep de l’Outaouais, the Carrefour Jeunesse-Emploi and the Association des professionnels de la construction et de l’habitation du Québec (APCHQ).”

Photo: Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, Mayor of Gatineau, during her speech at the Atypical Summit (January 21, 2025) (MG) Photo: Mélissa Gélinas

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

On January 28, the Gatineau Police Department (SVPG) reported the theft of two vehicles in the Plateau sector.

“The first theft was reported the day before around 6 pm,” explained Patrick Kenney of the SVPG. “Our police officers went to Boulevard des Grives in the Plateau sector for a call related to the theft of a vehicle.” The car in question is a white Mitsubishi RVR. According to the information gathered, this same vehicle was involved in a collision followed by a hit-and-run on January 28, shortly before 8 pm on Laval Street in Gatineau.

The vehicle was then located in Hawkesbury, Ontario the following day, on January 29. “The owner then recovered his vehicle,” said Kenney.

The second theft was of a 2015 Volkswagen Jetta. “When police arrived at the scene, they located the vehicle stuck in the snow, after skidding on rue de Londres in the Plateau sector of Gatineau,” stated Kenney. The car was reportedly taken away for appraisal.

As of January 30, investigations were still ongoing.

According to statistics shared by the City of Gatineau, there have been more than 1,111 vehicles stolen in Gatineau since January 1, 2022.

The SPVG is asking the public to follow some prevention tips. For example, it is recommended that your car be parked in a well-lit area under video surveillance. It’s also advisable to install one or more tools to prevent theft. Several of them are available on the market. This could be an anti-theft device on the vehicle’s steering wheel, an anti-theft system independent of the vehicle, a tracking system independent of the vehicle, and much more.

The SPVG also invites residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity in their neighbourhood.

Photo: Car thief (May 30, 2024) (MG) Photo: Facebook page, Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

One of the very first users of the Transition Village containers, Jean-François Bourgon, was evicted on January 18, after living in the container for only 17 days.

Bourgon allegedly did not comply with the regulations established by Transition Village. He smoked inside the container and did not clean it properly. As a result, recurring visits were made. “They entered my container whenever they wanted,” said Bourgon. However, according to the regulations, regular visits had to be made. “In the regulations, we ask people to accept visits from the intervention team,” said Nancy Martineau, General Manager of Transition Village.

In total, there are 23 regulations to be respected in the Memorandum of Understanding. When these are not respected, a procedure is implemented. “First, there are verbal warnings,” explained Martineau. “After that, we give a formal written notice that explains the verbal warnings and the dates they were given. We then inform the person that they have 24 hours to leave the Village.”

“I felt like I was in a boot camp because of the regulations,” emphasized Bourgon. “They put cameras all over the territory. There were none before.”

Bourgon had to get rid of all his belongings before accessing the container. Indeed, each new user must get rid of their tent, trailer and any other material goods to maximize space on the site. “I gave my wood stove to a friend, my winter canvas and my tents,” he continues. “When I left on January 18, I found myself with absolutely nothing. Due to the cold snap, the only thing I thought about was getting warm.”

For these reasons, Bourgon took several steps with a lawyer, Me Nancy-Line St-Amour of Outaouais legal aid. A formal notice signed by the lawyer was sent to Transition Village. This document mentions that this type of accommodation, although it is of a transitional nature, includes a contract with clauses of the nature of a housing lease under the Civil Code of Québec. As a result, a request to reinstate Bourgon to his container within 24 hours was issued. However, the village was not able to reinstate him. In addition, no details regarding the situation were provided.

A letter signed by Benoit Leblanc, Executive Director of Itinérance Zéro, that included several questions about the situation, was sent to several political actors, including the Mayor of Gatineau Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, the Premier of Quebec François Legault, as well as several municipal councillors and members of parliament, including Suzanne Tremblay, MNA for Hull.

“We expect greater tolerance and better support for the homeless,” said Leblanc. “If we want to help this person progress, we must not exclude him.”

Photo: Container at Transition Village (October 17, 2024) (MG) Photo: Transition Facebook Page

Mélissa Gélinas
Local Journalism Initiative

OUTAOUAIS – Following the government’s announcement of $90 million in budget cuts for the CISSS de l’Outaouais (CISSSO), the region is forced to find ways to adjust to the new reality.

“It’s certain the cuts will have an impact on everyone,” said Karine D’Auteuil, president of the Syndicat des professionnelles en soins de l’Outaouais. “In the Pontiac, the number of employees will need to be reduced and not replaced. There will be less people working, which will have a fairly rapid impact on the care of the population. Management is out of touch with reality thinking this can be done while providing the same level of service.”

More than 200 temporary assignments will be eliminated throughout the Outaouais. “It’s not positions, it’s assignments, which are very different,” said Mathieu Marsolais, Director of Communications and Partner Relations at CISSSO. “An assignment happens when a position becomes vacant and it’s absolutely necessary to fill, then a replacement is assigned to that position,” he explained.

According to Marsolais, the goal is to reposition staff within the organization as much as possible. “We won’t be able to replace everyone, but with the number of vacancies we have, we’re optimistic the majority will find a job within the organization,” he said.

However, according to information gathered, no assignment cuts were reported for the Pontiac. This doesn’t guarantee there will be no impact. “When we cut, regardless of the position, it automatically has an impact on us,” explained D’Auteuil. “If we don’t replace a patient attendant or an administrative officer, it’s the nurse or the respiratory therapist who is overworked, having to compensate for the non-replacement and cuts in other positions,” she concluded.

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

During the City of Gatineau’s Environment and Climate Change Commission on January 16, 2025, a retrospective on the progress of the 2024 Water Management Plan (WMP) was presented.

Progress 2024

In 2024, four orientations were divided. The first concerns aquatic ecosystems; the second, drinking water; the third, rainwater; and the fourth, wastewater. Among these four orientations, general objectives, including measures (actions to be carried out), were either completed, not started or in progress.

Orientation 1: Protection of aquatic ecosystems

To implement this action, four objectives were developed: reduce the impact of human activities on aquatic ecosystems; ensure sustainable management of waterways; limit the spread of invasive exotic species in bodies of water; and lastly, ensure water quality for bathing in lakes during the summer period. Among the measures carried out in the first objective, there was the implementation of a pilot project for an ecological district.

Orientation 2: Ensure a sustainable supply of drinking water

For the second orientation, four objectives were established. The first is to produce and distribute high-quality drinking water to citizens. The second is to promote the reduction of municipal drinking water consumption. The third is to promote the consumption of municipal drinking water, and the fourth is to obtain the five-year certificate for each water facility, under the Regulation respecting the quality of drinking water (RQEP). Among the measures completed, it will now be prohibited to sell and distribute single-use plastic water bottles in municipal buildings.

Orientation 3: Promote optimal management of rainwater

Two objectives were proposed: improve stormwater management in light of current climate change and optimize the use and performance of stormwater retention basins and snow deposit sites. Regarding the second objective, a measure was carried out concerning the comparative analysis with other municipalities.

Orientation 4: Optimize wastewater treatment

This time, for the last orientation, three objectives were presented. The first objective is to address the problems of sewer backup and overflow. The second objective is to ensure higher sanitation performance by the two water treatment plants. And third, to monitor discharges into the environment from septic tanks in the Gatineau territory. The characterization of the effluent (analytical process of the characteristic properties of wastewater) from the Masson-Angers treatment plant was carried out.

2025 Planning

In short, for the 2025 planning, 22 new measures will be implemented and 50 will be continued. Many incentives and several projects will also be part of the planning. The total budget will be just over $2 million.

For more details on the Water Management Action Plan, please visit the webcast of the Environment and Climate Change Commission at: https://www.gatineau.ca/portail/default.aspx?p=nouvelles_annonces/webdiffusions_videos/webdiffusions_comites_commissions&ref=navigation-secondaire

Ottawa River (December 14, 2022) (MG) Photo: Facebook page Table de concertation de la rivière des Outaouais-TCO

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

On Thursday, January 23, more than 23 Early Childhood Centres (CPEs) in Outaouais with 600 members officially went on a one-day strike. Among this number, two CPEs from the Vallée-de-la-Gatineau were picketing in front of the office of Hull MNA Suzanne Tremblay on St. Joseph Boulevard in Hull.

In total, in Quebec, this strike affected more than 13,000 educators in 400 CPEs. Since April 2023, members of the Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux – Confédération des syndicats nationaux (FSSS-CSN) and employees have been without an employment contract.

Working conditions and salaries are also part of the demands. In terms of salaries, a rate of 12.5% ​​over five years was accepted in May 2024, but is far from unanimous. When hired, an educator earns an average salary of $21 per hour and could reach $28 per hour when they have reached the 10th salary level. According to the information collected, even if CPE employees received a salary increase of 17.4% over five years like government civil servants, they would remain well below the average salary of employees working in the school or health network.

On the other hand, due to the lack of manpower, educators must frequently work overtime and perform several tasks simultaneously. “My colleague has eight children in her care and must dress them all without any help,” says Véronica Albachiario, an educator in a CPE. Workers are also increasingly having to deal with children with special needs. “These can be autistic children or children who are not diagnosed,” explained Ms. Albachiario. “We see the needs, whether it is at the language or physical level,” she adds. “We do not have the necessary support. Our work in prevention is inadequate because we only intervene by putting out fires.”

The CSN asked parents to show patience and solidarity during this period of mobilization.

Photo: Striking CPE workers on St-Joseph Boulevard in Hull (January 23, 2025) (MG) Photo: Facebook Page Alfonso Ibarra Ramirez

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

On Saturday, January 18, ambassadors from the Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) and people from the region received the King Charles III Coronation Medal.

The ceremony took place in the grand hall of the Alexandre-Taché building at UQO, in the presence of Her Honour Manon Jeannotte, Lieutenant Governor of Quebec. In total, more than 61 people from the Outaouais region, including 11 with close ties to UQO, were honoured, including UQO Rector Murielle Laberge. Laberge said she was honoured to receive the Medal and congratulated the other recipients.

Annie Castonguay, Coordinator at Réhabex, was also honoured to receive the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her work with the community and with people experiencing homelessness. “I don’t have the words to explain this,” said Patrick Pilon, Executive Director of Réhabex. “She’s someone who is there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” he added. “[…] Honestly, she’s a gem […] she inspires a lot and it’s inspiring for the people who serve the community every day. It leads us to do great things, sometimes with very little.”

The Coronation Medal is a special commemorative distinction to honour Canadians who have made a significant contribution to their country through an exceptional achievement, whether at the provincial, territorial, regional or community level, or abroad. It was created to mark the coronation of King Charles III on May 6, 2023.

More than 30,000 medals have been awarded across Canada, including 1,559 in Quebec. Of the 30,000 Medals, 4,000 were reserved for members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

This is the first Canadian commemorative medal since the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. The Office of the Secretary to the Governor General is responsible for managing this program.

Photo: Her Honour Manon Jeannotte, Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, accompanied by Murielle Laberge, Rector of UQO, during the presentation of the Coronation Medals of King Charles III (January 18, 2025). (MG) Photo: Facebook page Université du Québec en Outaouais

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

In Outaouais, the number of unqualified teachers has practically doubled since 2022, presently reaching over 760.

Unqualified means that they may have a university degree in a field unrelated to teaching or they do not have one at all. More specifically, this means that none of them have a teaching certificate.

The Quebec education system has been experiencing workforce issues for several years. Currently, the teaching profession has lost a lot of popularity. “People are leaving early for retirement or even in the middle of their career,” says Nathalie Gauthier, president of the Outaouais teachers’ union. “When you’re a teacher, you don’t just teach,” she adds. “The task is heavy.”

In addition, qualified teachers often have to help those who aren’t qualified. “[…] it’s going to happen naturally, we’re not going to leave a colleague in poverty,” explains Ms. Gauthier. As a result, friction can sometimes arise.

Due to the high labour shortage, even unqualified teachers get a permanent position with a salary very similar to qualified teachers. In this sense, there’s not much need to going back to school to get a teaching certificate.

Although the government wants to find ways to set up shortened study paths in teaching, the problem will not change since these people will not have the same educational background as those who studied for four years at university. A bachelor’s degree in education, although designed with the goal of teaching, is also designed to teach how to manage behaviours and crisis situations. “We are trying to find solutions, but it is very difficult,” says Nathalie Gauthier.

“I hope we can reverse the trend,” she emphasizes. “We will need a government and a society that takes education in hand,” she continues. “Education is the foundation of our society, and we have a government that keeps making budget cuts.”

Photo: Nathalie Gauthier, President of the Outaouais Teachers’ Union (December 12, 2023) (MG) Photo: Outaouais Teachers’ Union Facebook Page

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

Mario Aubé, municipal councillor for the Masson-Angers district, will be presented to City Hall in the fall of 2025. In addition, he serves as president of the Public Safety Commission and represents the Corporation de l’Aéroport de Gatineau-Ottawa and Tourisme Outaouais. He is also a member of several committees and commissions.

As 2025 is fast approaching, Aubé agreed to answer a series of questions, to take stock of his achievements and challenges, as well as his reflections on the future.

What do you consider your biggest accomplishments on the council this year?

In my opinion, my greatest accomplishment was making sure that Masson-Angers resonated very strongly with the municipal council. It was a priority to ensure that the residents of my district had a strong voice on the council as well as in the administration.

What were the most significant challenges faced by your district in the past year, and how were they addressed?

One of the major challenges is that of overflows. There are requests, pending projects that want to evolve and move forward, but the answers are not coming quickly. This is still not resolved to this day. When the budget was presented, no amount was added. We are still stuck with the same amount even though we know that the issue of overflows has been going on since 2010 and that the situation needs to be corrected.”

There are also basic services, including paving […]. According to a test I conducted called PCI (Pavement Condition Index), I got one of the worst ratings in the entire city of Gatineau for the condition of Rue de Fleurie in Masson-Angers. However, I managed to pave the street after three years. It may seem simplistic, but for the people in the neighbourhood who pass by that little stretch of street, it made their year.

What feedback from district residents shaped council decisions, and how did you incorporâtes their concerns?

This year, for example, I managed to negotiate an adjustment to the regulation of firearms control in the agricultural sector. I spoke with farmers who told me that this regulation would prevent them from controlling the population of geese that eat the seeds and crops on their land.

I also defended the voice of my residents regarding the registration tax for the STO. Just like them, I was against this tax that penalizes those who have cars. We all want to take the bus, but there are no good services in the area.

What improvements or changes have been made in your district’s infrastructure, such as roads, parks or public spaces?

There was the reconstruction of the tennis court fence at Jack-Eyamie Park and the replacement of the water tower for the Masson arena. Several streets were paved, including Rue George, one of the busiest streets in Masson-Angers and Buckingham.

How have local businesses in the district been supported, especially during challenges like inflation or the post-pandemic recovery?

Lately, there was the parking tax that we discussed during the budget study week and that will be made official when the budget is voted on. I took a very local approach to this issue. I looked at the Encan zone of Masson-Angers where a 25% surcharge was to be imposed. I defended that zone and obtained an amendment to the budget, making an exception for that area. That would have meant thousands and thousands of dollars for merchants who would have been forced to pass the tax on to customers.

I also supported Les 2 Petits Cochons dairy bar that lost everything in a fire. I asked the city administration to obtain authorization for them to continue to operate from a trailer.

How has the district’s budget allocation been spent, and what were the key priorities for local spending?

A good portion of the budget was used to help organizations like the Maison de la Famille and the Lions Club. I also lit up the Vieux-Masson sector for the holiday season, helped find a location for a community organization, the Quilters Guild, and relaunched the small café meetings in Masson.

What policies or initiatives do you believe have made the most impact on residents’ quality of life this year?

I managed to ban the regulation on the new collection of household waste. In my opinion, it makes no sense that the extra bag must be photographed so that the next morning a truck can pick it up. Imagine when it’s winter and your bag gets stuck in the ice or is pushed by the snowplow.

What lessons did you learn this year that will shape future decisions?

I realized that, as a city, we need to take the time to explain our decisions to residents, to inform them in advance and involve them in the decisions. We really need to listen to them.

What are your top priorities for improving the quality of life in your district next year?

Since I will be running for mayor, I will have an eye on all the districts. I have my eye on the greater city, but I will, of course, always keep it on Masson-Angers. For me, the main priorities remain basic services and good communication […].

How do you see the district evolving over the next few years, and what long-term plans are in place to support this vision?

We often think that the evolution of a district is done with large projects, but it is often several small projects located in several sectors that form the whole. It is important that none of these projects leave dust lying around. They must be active.

We also need to knock on the doors of higher governments so that Quebec and Ottawa help with infrastructure, housing and other needs, instead of overtaxing our citizens. There is money sleeping in the coffers at the federal and provincial levels. We need to get that money to maintain good intergovernmental relations for the development of our city.

You will soon be presented at City Hall; what does that represent for you?

I would say that my heart is in Masson-Angers. These are my residents and it’s what makes me want to get up every day to defend their interests. My way of thinking about helping residents has expanded and I feel the need to do it for the entire city of Gatineau. I intend to represent all the people of Gatineau just as I do for those in my district of Masson-Angers.”

Photo: Mario Aubé answering questions from the media during the press scrum on November 7, 2024. (MG) Photo: Courtesy of the City of Gatineau

See all the interviews in upcoming editions and at GatineauBulletin.ca

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

Isabelle N. Miron is a founding member of Action Gatineau since 2012. She serves as municipal councillor for the district of l’Orée-du-Parc and as deputy mayor for Maude Marquis-Bissonnette. She is also chair of the Commission des arts, de la culture, des lettres et du patrimoine, vice-chair of several committees, representative of the Commission de la culture, des loisirs et de la vie communautaire of the Union des municipalités du Québec, member of the Commission du vivre-ensemble and representative of several associations and foundations.

With the year 2025 fast approaching, Miron answered a series of questions, looking back on 2024, on her achievements, her challenges, and on her thoughts and ideas.

What do you consider your biggest accomplishments on the council this year?

I am particularly proud of submitting the cultural policy that we launched in December 2023. This city’s cultural policy was the oldest, dating back to the municipal amalgamation. So, we can imagine how much the cultural world has changed since then! The media and needs are no longer the same. We really needed to review everything, and I am proud of the document and, more specifically, of the very precise action plan. In addition, yesterday, Place Laval won another national architecture award.

What were the most significant challenges faced by your district in the past year, and how were they addressed?

We have a challenge with Mont-Bleu Boulevard, which is an important boulevard since it connects highway exits to several educational institutions […] It had been in the plans to rebuild it for a long time, but we were also in the process of finalizing the bicycle master plan. In this sense, to serve educational institutions, it seemed relevant to us to include bicycle links. Consequently, you can imagine the challenge of including a bicycle link in a highway exit! It’s not easy, so we had to revise our plan. Unfortunately, the citizens were not happy, because I had promised them that the work would be completed in 2022, but the construction site did not begin until 2024. However, it is a beautiful construction that is currently underway. I understand, all the same, people’s impatience, but that is part of the difficulty of our very large city, where we are obliged to prioritize projects according to their urgency.

What feedback from district residents shaped council decisions, and how did you incorporate their concerns?

One recent issue is the Coop d’habitation project on Boulevard de la Technologie. It’s a great project that meets the need for more affordable housing for families, and consequently, because building permits must be delivered before December 31, this requires us to move much faster than usual so as not to lose the right to financing. This leads to a lot of discontent on the part of people in the neighbourhood. The problem is that people are opposed to this housing project while we are in the middle of a housing crisis. I realized how important it is to involve citizens upstream and avoid coming to them with a surprise.

What improvements or changes have been made in your district’s infrastructure, such as roads, parks or public spaces?

I have plans to get more street furniture, because we have an aging population. In this way, I think we should install more benches in parks and public spaces.

How have local businesses in the district been supported, particularly during challenges such as inflation and recovery from the pandemic?

There were programs in the city that supported entrepreneurs. For my part, I did advertising and promoted the services that I was using in my neighborhood.

How has the district’s budget allocation been spent, and what were the key priorities for local spending?

I always try to strike a balance between the organizations in my neighbourhood. Since I am the chair of the Arts Commission, I will be supporting cultural organizations in large cities. This year, for example, I donated to the Relais Plein Air of Gatineau Park and the Outaouais Contemporary Art Centre. I also contributed financially to repairing my daughters’ schoolyard, which had become very dangerous due to the holes in the asphalt.”

What policies or initiatives do you believe have made the most impact on residents’ quality of life this year?

I believe that our environmental decisions will make a difference. This will not happen immediately, but in the long term. We must continue to invest in the STO even if it is not popular. What we want is for it to become a real transportation alternative and for us to want to leave our cars at home.

What lessons did you learn this year that will shape future decisions?

I will try as much as possible to no longer take residents by surprise during projects, like the Coop d’habitation. We have a margin of maneuver that is thin between sharing too much information or sharing the information too early and we end up with consequences.

What are your top priorities for improving the quality of life in your district next year?

I submitted a request to our services to review our noise bylaw. The City of Gatineau is one of the most permissive cities when it comes to decibel tolerance. I would like people to understand that noise is a real factor that affects people’s health. There are people who sell their homes and leave the neighbourhood because of it.”

Furthermore, on Boulevard de la Technologie, we want to control a little better what could be established there, what types of businesses, homes, for example […] I also want to make sure that we can keep green spaces.

How do you see the district evolving over the next few years, and what long-term plans are in place to support this vision?

One thing I would like to mention that would help me a lot would be the revival of a neighbourhood association. Residents would like to have an association so that they can make themselves heard, and I think we are ready to do that in Mont-Bleu.

How would you interpret your role as deputy mayor?

The role of deputy mayor has enriched my experience as a municipal councillor, because I am called to go to other people’s districts and meet lots of people. I really have an incredible opportunity. I hope that my modest contribution will help lessen the burden on the mayor’s shoulders.

See all the interviews in upcoming editions and on GatineauBulletin.ca

Photo: Isabelle N. Miron, deputy mayor and municipal councillor for l’Orée-du-Parc District (Novembre 14, 2024) (MG)  Photo: Mélissa Gélinas

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

Since 2013, Jean Lessard has served as municipal councillor for the District of Rivière-Blanche. He is also chair of the Seniors Commission and a member of the Agricultural Advisory Committee. He represents several corporations and committees, such as the Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport Corporation, the Hot Air Balloon Festival Corporation, the Ottawa Airport Community Advisory Committee and the Outaouais Seniors and Retirees Roundtable.

To mark the year 2024, Lessard answered a series of questions to provide feedback on his accomplishments, challenges and thoughts over the year.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishments on the council this year?

This year, the Gatineau airport flight school was inaugurated. There was a lot of work on our side to ensure its sustainability. It was a major achievement that was worked on for a period of four years and that generated major economic benefits.

What were the most significant challenges faced by your district in the past year, and how were they addressed?

Last year, the biggest challenge was the reconstruction of the Saint-Gérard community centre, which had burned down. This work is still in progress. We had to organize ourselves to find temporary premises for the organizations, so that they could get off to a good start while waiting for the work to be completed.”

What feedback from district residents shaped council decisions, and how did you incorporate their concerns?

Residents were against a proposed apartment building construction project at the corner of Châteauguay Street and Cheval Blanc Avenue, because the building would have been too large. We spoke with the residents concerning a more suitable project and we ended up authorizing the change by asking the developer to come back to us with a new project.

What improvements or changes have been made to your district’s infrastructure, such as roads, parks and public spaces?

There has been a lot of work done on Rue de Châteauguay, Rue des Sables and Avenue du Cheval Blanc with the improvement of the bike path, sidewalks and the addition of permanent measures to reduce speed.

How have local businesses in the district been supported, especially during challenges like inflation or the post-pandemic recovery?

There was extra financing for certain organizations in the sector, as well as subsidies for some businesses in the Industrial Park, given by Quebec or the federal government.

How has the district’s budget allocation been spent, and what were the key priorities for local spending?

For me, the budget is always spent to boost the sector through park improvements, whether it’s adding tables or even game accessories. Some amounts are taken directly from my budget to supplement spending through bonuses. I also spent a certain amount on renovating the libraries in four elementary schools.

What policies or initiatives do you believe have made the most impact on residents’ quality of life this year?

For me, what had the most impact this year was when we met with seniors from all four corners of the city, so they could express their point of view on different situations and issues.

Furthermore, for Remembrance Day, we allowed veterans to park for free in the city throughout the month of November. I would also like to highlight the development of the Dalton Farm Park project, where we have integrated new activities that have had a positive impact on the community. Every time we organize celebrations, such as the sugar shack festival in March, there are always lots of people who participate. There will also be many other events throughout the year.”

What lessons did you learn this year that will shape future decisions?

The lessons learned can be related to the decisions we make that are not always positive. Unfortunately, however, I don’t have a specific answer to give you on this question.

What are your top priorities for improving the quality of life in your district next year?

As I mentioned earlier, one of my priorities is to continue rebuilding the Saint-Gérard community centre by adding services that we could not access before. To do this, more modern rooms will be built, including a community kitchen. This will allow organizations to cook meals for people in need. Another priority is to continue seeking solutions to keep our streets safe.

How do you see the district evolving over the next few years and what long-term plans are in place to support this vision?

One of the long-term plans is the extension of La Vérendrye Boulevard to Lorrain Boulevard, which is one of our priorities. This will improve the flow of cars, bikes and public transit with the integration of bike paths and a bus line. At the same time, this extension will allow students to go directly to Nicolas-Gatineau School, instead of having to make a big detour.

In your opinion, what is the most important concern facing your district right now?

In my opinion, one of the biggest challenges in my district is infrastructure. With the current challenges of overflows, infrastructure is not holding up, which makes it difficult to move projects forward.

See all the interviews in upcoming editions and on GatineauBulletin.ca.

Photo: Jean Lessard giving a speech during the press scrum on November 7, 2024. (MG) Photo: Courtesy of the City of Gatineau

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

A municipal councillor for the Lac-Beauchamp district for three years, Denis Girouard serves as president of the Table de concertation sur les événements and as representative for the Agence Bassin Versant des 7. He is also a member of the Public Safety Commission and of the Recreation, Sports and Community Development Commission.

With the year 2025 fast approaching, Girouard answered the following series of questions to provide feedback on his accomplishments, challenges and thoughts for 2025.

What do you consider your biggest accomplishments on the council this year?

My greatest accomplishments have been the reduction of traffic speed, infrastructure, roads and Lac Beauchamp. For example, I had traffic lights installed on Maloney Boulevard, across from the entrance to Lac Beauchamp. This helped reduce speed by about 80%. At the corner of Notre-Dame and Maloney, there is a cenotaph where I had giant poppies installed. It’s a great achievement. I also managed to have Beaudoin Street paved, where there had been no work done for nearly 40 years.

As for Lac Beauchamp, I managed to obtain funding to oxygenate the lake, to keep it alive […] I also managed to obtain nearly a million dollars to invest in trail maintenance […]

What were the most significant challenges faced by your district in the past year, and how were they addressed?

In November 2023, I sent out a message about homeless people who had settled near Hurtubise Street. At that time, I tried to see if it was possible to move them to another location, but it was not possible. Today, it has become a problem in Old Gatineau. It is the result of an accumulation that we have had over all these years. I have not stopped increasing the number of requests, meetings and information. It was practically a full-time job!

What feedback from district residents shaped council decisions, and how did you incorporate their concerns?

There were many concerns about public works, such as streetlights, sidewalks, security, repairs and waste; more specifically, on Notre Dame Street, where we have invested millions of dollars. Merchants feel a little forgotten because we planned for a certain standard on the street, but the opposite is happening because of the heavy presence of homeless people in the area.

What improvements or changes have been made in your district’s infrastructure, such as roads, parks or public spaces?

At Sanscartier Park, I had a swing installed for residents. There have also been a lot of improvements in the parks with the installation of netting, fences, etc.

How have local businesses in the district been supported, especially during challenges like inflation or the post-pandemic recovery?

My approach is to refer them to specific organizations. In Old Gatineau, there is the Association des Gens d’Affaires (Association of Business People) that can address this issue. There is also the Comité de Vie de Quartier (Neighbourhood Life Committee) and the Food Bank, which have been very involved with merchants.

How has the district’s budget allocation been spent, and what were the key priorities for local spending?

I have invested a lot in my sector. I donated about $30,000 to the Trois-Saisons school to install playgrounds for the children […] Last year, I invested $12,000 in the Itinérance Zéro organization. I also support all the local organizations in my neighbourhood with donations and grants.

What policies or initiatives do you believe have made the most impact on residents’ quality of life this year?

This year, there was participation in organizations. I know that the reality of things at Lac Beauchamp doesn’t always work for residents. However, Lac Beauchamp Park is one of the most active parks in Gatineau each year.

What lessons did you learn this year that will shape future decisions?

What I learned is that one person can’t do it alone! I’m an independent candidate and Action Gatineau is in power. I must admit that communication is difficult. We’re often left to our own devices. What bothers me the most is that everything is centralized to the west: Hull, Aylmer, etc. And we have almost nothing on the east side of Gatineau. In my opinion, Maloney Boulevard is downtown Gatineau, but it’s neglected to the maximum. There’s a big lack of information and investment.

What are your top priorities for improving the quality of life in your district next year?

Next year, my main goal is to reassure the people of Lac Beauchamp. Secondly, to ensure that the issue of homelessness is addressed in the right way and that the safety of the neighbourhood is improved.

How do you see the district evolving over the next few years, and what long-term plans are in place to support this vision?

There are some great things coming up for Lac Beauchamp and I hope that these will happen in the short term. There is the Wabassee Creek project, which will be extraordinary for the people of Old Gatineau! There are also major projects for Lac Beauchamp […] In terms of infrastructure, there are places that will need to be beautified such as on Hurtubise Street, Maloney Boulevard […]

In your opinion, what is the most important concern facing the City of Gatineau right now?

In my opinion, the most important concern is the City of Gatineau’s expenses. We really need to study them. Residents need some relief from their taxes, because, right now, they have exceeded their ability to pay.

See all the interviews in upcoming editions and at GatineauBulletin.ca

Photo: Denis Girouard, municipal councilor for the Lac-Beauchamp district during the municipal council meeting (October 22, 2024) MG.

Photo: Courtesy of the City of Gatineau

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

On Thursday, January 23, the Mayor’s Luncheon was held at the Resto Bar Le Loft 1973 in Gatineau, presented by Multivesco Inc.

Many people were there for the occasion, including two special guests: Etienne Fredette, General Manager of the Gatineau Chamber of Commerce (CCG) and Guy Chiasson, Scientific Director of the Outaouais Development Observatory (ODO).

The lunch started with words of welcome and appreciation from Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette.

The presentation then began with the following question: Is Gatineau a business city?

“I sincerely want to answer, yes,” said the mayor. “[…] Gatineau has evolved to become one of the most dynamic cities in Quebec. According to the information collected as of December 31, 2024, there are more than 4,259 business establishments holding permits in the Gatineau territory.

“In terms of real estate, there are nearly 250 projects currently being analyzed by the Urban Planning and Sustainable Development Department (SUDD). There have been 3,081 new construction permits issued since 2019, which is equivalent to nearly 20,000 new homes.

“In addition, over the past seven years, there have been more than 200 companies supported by the economic development office for the purchase of industrial land. This represents more than 41 land sales completed for a value of $162 million in private investment as well as nearly 600 jobs created. ID Gatineau is the economic arm of the city and nearly 400 business projects benefit from expert and financial support, as well as support to promote their development. In addition, more than $726,475 was invested in regional business projects.

“Although experiencing rapid growth, Gatineau also has several major challenges, particularly in terms of infrastructure, the complexity of urban planning and the increase in service needs. There is a strong dependence on the public service in our region and it is a challenge to diversify. There is a very complex ecosystem, as well as complexity in terms of economic development.”

Given the above, Mayor Marquis-Bissonnette took the opportunity to provide a brief update on economic development in Gatineau.

Then, a presentation on the issues and challenges facing the City took place. The mayor also expressed the importance of renewing the economic development strategy for Gatineau. “Economic development is a long-term project requiring a change in culture and a sustained vision,” she said. “[…] I believe I am the mayor who has talked the most about economic development in Gatineau for a long time, and I am proud of it […],” she added.

Finally, a group discussion with the mayor, Etienne Fredette and Guy Chiasson took place on the following question: how to attract people to come to Gatineau. The discussion concluded with questions from the guests.

Photo: From left to right: M. Guy Chiasson, Scientific Director of the Outaouais Development Observatory (ODO), Etienne Fredette, General Manager of the Gatineau Chamber of Commerce (CCG) and Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, Mayor of Gatineau, at the Mayor’s Luncheon (January 23, 2025) (MG) Photo: Mélissa Gélinas

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

On Monday, January 13, the Mario Aubé Team became an official municipal party in Gatineau in anticipation of the next election campaigns that will take place in November.

It was more precisely during the City of Gatineau’s budget study week that Aubé considered participating in the mayoral race for the upcoming 2025 municipal elections. Strongly rejecting the 2025 budget, it was at that time that he openly displayed his intentions.

“I dissociate myself from this budget because I don’t think it’s going in the right direction,” he said. “[…] I look at the votes that are 15 for and 4 against and we have the impression of being all alone […] however, when I leave the Maison du Citoyen, that’s where the support is,” he continued. “[…] people tell me that they agree with the positions I take. At some point, someone must stand up.”

The Mario Aubé Team will need to have 100 members by November 2, 2025. According to the information gathered, there are already some future candidates interested, and most of the signatures required have been collected. “I have already had the chance to meet some people who have raised their hands in several districts,” said Aubé. He would especially like to see some current elected officials join his team.

Although in 2025, the environment will be the focus of Action Gatineau, the Mario Aubé Team is also looking at other elements. “We hope to make Gatineau a city that meets the challenges of the 21st century,” he said. “However, there are many other things like infrastructure and basic services that are the DNA of the Team,” he adds. According to him, Gatineau must have infrastructure that is up to par with a city on the move, whether in terms of massive investment to resolve the problem of overflows and/or to catch up on the backlog of road paving.

Please note that further discussions and meetings will take place regarding the progress of the Mario Aubé Team.

Photo: Mario Aubé, municipal councillor for the Masson-Angers district, during the press scrum on the budget study (November 7, 2024) (MG) Photo: Screenshot

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

A 23-year-old French man died tragically at the Hull hospital on the night of Monday, January 13. He was passing through Outaouais, accompanied by his friend/colleague to work in the community as an intern.

The young man had begun to develop health problems in the previous few weeks. According to his friend, he felt very weak and could no longer get up. “He had trouble eating and when he stood up, he felt dizzy,” he explained.

When he showed up at the Hull hospital, the young man was quickly taken care of by the nurses, who gave him an electrocardiogram. “It took about an hour and 30 minutes to do the tests,” his colleague pointed out. “However, the wait time for the results was very long,” he added. “We arrived at the emergency room at 9 pm on Saturday and they decided to take charge of the first results of the electrocardiogram from 6 am the next day.”

In the meantime, blood tests were done. “An hour later, when the results were in, they got really worried and decided to keep him in the hospital,” said his friend.

He was subsequently put on oxygen and continued to undergo a battery of tests. According to the information gathered, his condition was stable. “During the two or three hours we were visiting him, he had a large number of panic attacks,” commented his friend. “However, the nurse who was looking after him at the time said that his condition was stable and that there was no reason to worry.”

This did not prevent the young man’s death, however. “The Hull hospital called his girlfriend in France, because that was the emergency number on his phone,” his friend explained. “She’s the one who informed me […],” he adds. According to doctors, the young man may have suffered from infective endocarditis. The friend and the parents of the young man who died will have to go to the hospital to get more information on this sad situation.

“I think that if they’d had his blood sample from the beginning, it would have saved us the 10 hours or more of waiting and he could have been taken care of more quickly,” his friend said.

Photo: Ambulance on the road (April 19, 2021) (MG) Photo: Facebook page Coopérative des paramedics de l’Outaouais

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

Although the Transition Village project has been on track, there will now be significant delays to the schedule.

During the holidays, a few containers had been installed on the Guertin site. However, the milder temperatures, rain and refreezing caused the ground to shift, which led to the misalignment of the holes for installing the piping for three containers.

The solution to stabilizing the containers involves installing piles, which will result in additional costs of more than $200,000. More than 50 containers will be delivered, which will also require the installation of piles. “If the project had not been postponed, we would not have needed to install these piles,” emphasizes Nancy Martineau, General Manager of Transition Village.

At present, only the private sector has injected money into the project. “It was very complex; it prevented us from moving forward with all our efforts,” said Martineau. “It is essential that we obtain financial support from the government to allow us to move forward.”

According to Martineau, this is a unique project. “We are transforming shipping containers into housing, and this is causing problems for the government, which does not really know if it is housing or not, and if it is transitional or not,” she explains. “They can’t put it in the right box.”

According to the information gathered, the 20 or so residents who have already moved into a container seem very satisfied. “I have a goal; that’s for sure. In six months, I will be gone,” said Mylène, a resident of the village. “I have already started working to get a few hours here and there,” she added. “I believe in the Transition Village.”

The occupants of the containers must pay rent that varies between $200 and $500, or 25% to 35% of the person’s income.

Photo: Containers of the Transition Village (January 10, 2025) (MG) Photo: Facebook Page Transition Village

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

From the end of January, the Gatineau Chamber of Commerce (CCG) will have a full agenda with events of all kinds that will allow for enriching and educational meetings and experiences.

Mayor’s Breakfast

On January 23, the Mayor’s Breakfast, presented by Multivesco Inc., will take place at the Resto Bar Loft Le 1973, located at 500 boulevard de la Cité in Gatineau. For the occasion, a buffet will be offered at a cost of $35 plus taxes for members and $45 plus taxes for non-members. This will be the ideal time to begin enriching discussions with the mayor around breakfast from 8:30 am to 10:30 am. The City of Gatineau and 104.7 Outaouais will be the partners of this event. Please note that registration is required and is non-refundable. To register, please visit: https://billetterie.membri365.com/eventdetails/contactinformation?chamberid=058EFFBD-6DBC-48F7-8456-75838ED7EB8D&eventid=04c5a3bc-efb7-ef11-b8e8-0022483e870e

Lunch conference on artificial intelligence

The Château Cartier Hotel Resort located at 1170 chemin d’Aylmer is organizing a lunch conference on artificial intelligence on February 5. The event will be from 8 am until 10:30 am. This conference will aim to demystify the basic concepts of AI, explore the different tools adapted to different needs while integrating practical advice and resources. The cost is $10 plus applicable taxes and fees. For more information on the conference and to register, go to: https://billetterie.membri365.com/eventdetails/contactinformation?chamberid=058EFFBD-6DBC-48F7-8456-75838ED7EB8D&eventid=d53f2004-d7b7-ef11- b8e8-0022483e870e

Connection of Associations

The CCG will hold the Connexion des Associations event for a second time on February 19 in the form of 5 to 7 at the Agora Gilles-Rocheleau located at the Maison du Citoyen at 25 Laurier in Gatineau. Presented by Hydro-Québec, in collaboration with Énergie 104.1, 94.9 Rouge, ID Gatineau as well as the City of Gatineau, it will be an opportunity to bring together several organizations while promoting networking and collaboration. It will also be the ideal time to discover numerous resources to boost local businesses. The cost is $10 plus applicable taxes and fees for young members and mentors and $20 plus applicable taxes and fees for members and non-members.  To register, please visit: https://billetterie.membri365.com/eventdetails/contactinformation?chamberid=058EFFBD-6DBC-48F7-8456-75838ED7EB8D&eventid=6609e3ef-ccb7-ef11-b8e8-0022483e870e

Sustainable development workshop & clinic

On February 27, the Lib Aylmer residential complex, located at 200 boulevard Wilfrid-Lavigne in Aylmer, invites you to discover different strategies to reduce your ecological footprint. In partnership with CREDDO and Good4Global, the event, scheduled to take place from 12 pm until 1:30 pm, will consist of learning key principles and concrete actions to implement within your company. A light meal will be served. Please note that it will also be possible to attend a 15-minute individual and personalized meeting with an expert. For registration, please visit: https://billetterie.membri365.com/eventdetails/contactinformation?chamberid=058EFFBD-6DBC-48F7-8456-75838ED7EB8D&eventid=35db6532-6ccc-ef11-8ee9-0022483c473e

Photo: Mayor’s Breakfast presented by Multivesco Inc. in collaboration with 104.7 Outaouais (September 27, 2024) (MG) Photo: Gatineau Chamber of Commerce Facebook page

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

The new year is off to a bad start for the Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO), which is being sued for more than $910,000 over the private contract concerning paratransit signed in July 2024 by Loyal Taxi.

This is a major contract worth more than $17 million over a period of five years, with two extension options of two and three years, totalling nearly $34 million.

Three Outaouais taxi companies: Groupe Transit, Aylmer Taxi and Bob Taxi, have initiated the lawsuit against the STO. All of them had contacted the transport company knowing that it was looking for a supplier for adapted transport. Meetings took place, but there was no follow-up. At the beginning of July 2024, they learned that the contract had been signed with Loyal Taxi without them being informed.

According to information from the three taxi companies, the meetings were informal and were not intended to establish an offer. There was no indication that anything was going forward.

“We cannot say that Loyal Taxi was the only one with expertise,” mentioned Serge Leblanc, president of Groupe Transit. “We were all able to respond to the call for tenders. Why haven’t we received any explanation?”

For its part, the STO emphasizes that article 83 of the Public Transportation Companies Act allowed them to take this action. (Article 83 means that recourse to a call for tenders is not obligatory.)

As a result, the STO may have to face a second lawsuit. Indeed, in 2019, before the pandemic, the STO had awarded a private contract concerning paratransit, this time with Groupe Transit. At that time, Groupe Transit was going to do business with Aylmer Taxi and Bob Taxi as subcontractors. However, once the pandemic arrived, the contract was never honoured with the company. On the contrary, the contract was awarded to Taxi Loyal, without warning. Due to this contract, taxi companies lost some competent drivers who decided to join Taxi Loyal which offered more employment.

Photo: STO Driver (March 20, 2024) (MG) Photo: STO Facebook Page  

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

The Parc des Cèdres cross-country ski trail project in the Aylmer sector will not take place this winter. According to the City of Gatineau, the project was not renewed for various reasons.

“The weather conditions were not adequate […]”, underlined Béttyna Bélizaire, municipal councillor for the Plateau district and president of the recreation, sports and community development commission.

According to Bélizaire, financial reasons as well as the lack of traffic were also part of the decision-making. 

It is a pilot project that was implemented two years ago by Boris Lamontagne and the residents association Les Amis de la Marina. “What we had in mind was just a small trail of 500 or 600 meters in Parc des Cèdres,” said Lamontagne.

According to Lamontagne, it was an alternative for people who could not go to Gatineau Park. In this way, cross-country skiing enthusiasts could enjoy their sport nearby and at low cost.

However, the City of Gatineau is not definitively closing the door to the project and emphasizes the importance of practicing a sport in the urban outdoors. The city also must think about the routes that will need to be made. “We think that if we start again another year, we could have something better for the citizens,” said Lamontagne.

Residents are aware of the issues and would like more time to assess the relevance of this project. They point out, however, that there would have been a good number of users.

Photo: Parc des Cèdres during the winter (December 14, 2024) (MG) Photo: Parc des Cèdres Facebook page

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

On December 5, 2024, during the committee meeting at the National Assembly of Quebec, Nathalie Prudhomme, President of the Ordre des urbanistes du Québec (OUQ), and David Alfaro-Clark, Communications and Government Relations Advisor, spoke on Bill 79, which aims to modernize the contractual management framework of municipalities and reduce the administrative formalities affecting municipal organizations.

“The context of the housing crisis has largely been attributed to the regulatory burden in municipalities,” said Prudhomme. “It is one of the causes, but not the only one.”

According to Caroline Murray, municipal councillor for the district of Deschênes, cities play a front-line role as local governments. “Working so close to the ground means being directly confronted with concrete and complex issues, whether they are housing, transportation or the environment,” she said. “It requires a unique ability to land projects and implement adapted solutions. That’s why it’s important for Quebec to recognize these challenges by adapting the laws to facilitate the work of municipalities.”

Furthermore, the government’s Bill 31 granted municipal councils the power to approve housing projects that do not comply with urban planning regulations, and this, through discretionary measures. Although the OUQ supports densification and redevelopment, it nevertheless calls for an overall vision where densification is considered, planned and ordered.

“In Bill 79, the power is expanded to explicitly authorize mixed projects, provided that they are predominantly residential,” commented Nathalie Prudhomme. According to her, this expansion could be beneficial if it promotes local services for new residents.

“However, we believe that this expansion should not be used to authorize major redevelopment projects with a strong commercial component,” she emphasized. “In this sense, we should not give a fast track to projects that are up to 50% non-residential by invoking the housing crisis,” she continued. According to Prudhomme, it would be recommended to reduce the non-residential proportion, by increasing the rate of the minimum residential threshold or by limiting non-residential uses to the ground floor only.

Beyond these changes, the government must pursue reforming the Land Use Planning and Development Act, which allows residents to participate in consultations on decision-making in land use planning and urban planning.

Concerning the reduction of time limits for government notices, the bill proposes a reduction in the legal time limits for submitting notices on compliance with government guidelines and at the level of metropolitan land use and development plans (PMAD). “The government would have 45 instead of 60 days to respond to changes to the PMAD plan,” explained Prudhomme. “The Order welcomes this change, because one of the challenges of the Quebec land use planning system is the existence of different planning levels and the delays created by this reality,” she added.

For these reasons, the OUQ wishes to make adjustments while proposing various amendments to the Land Use Planning and Development Act.

“However, for cities to fully play their role as partners in major national projects, it is urgent to resolve the underlying problem: municipal taxation,” said Murray.

Photo: Nathalie Prudhomme, President of the Ordre des urbanistes du Québec (OUQ), and David Alfaro-Clark, Communications and Government Relations Advisor, presenting Bill 79 at the National Assembly of Quebec (December 5, 2024) (MG) Photo: Screenshot

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

On January 6, 2025, the Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) officially announced the return of its lines 100 and 200, during peak periods. Line 100 serves downtown Gatineau and line 200 goes to downtown Ottawa.

The return of these routes will allow direct access and better mobility for workers in downtown Gatineau and Ottawa. The frequency of line 100 will be every 10 minutes and line 200, every four to eight minutes.

According to information from STO spokesperson Yannick Boursier, these two lines will replace line 400 during peak hours. Line 400 will remain available outside peak periods.

In addition, 27 more trips will be added on Sundays on certain lines.  In this way, the same level of service will now be offered every weekend.

Notably, to reduce overloads, there will be travel additions on more than a dozen lines between now and the spring. Other improvements have also been announced for the fall 2025 period.

For more information, please visit: https://www.sto.ca/agences-et-trajets/nouveautes-et-modifications-au-service/

Photo: STO bus (May 17, 2024) (MG) Photo: Facebook page STO-Société de transport de l’Outaouais

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

Despite the cold winter days, the Outaouais region is full of a range of activities for lovers of nature, sports, culture, and even more. There will definitely be something for everyone.

Winterlude

In co-production with the City of Gatineau and Canadian Heritage, Winterlude welcomes many families and individuals of all ages to Jacques-Cartier Park each year. This year, the event will take place from January 31 to February 17. Several activities, such as traditional tube slides, snow sculptures, shows, and more will be available, to make the experience memorable. For further details, visit the Winterlude 2025 Facebook page.

G-ANIME

From January 17 to 19, the Palais des Congrès de Gatineau, located at 50 boulevard Maisonneuve, will be hosting the G-ANIME Japanese animation festival, for their 15th edition. It’s a must-see event for geek culture enthusiasts. For the occasion, there will be a costume-making competition, several concerts, dancing, video game tournaments, several special guests and even more. For more information on the event and/or to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.ganime.ca/

Winter pleasures
The City of Gatineau is organizing the winter pleasures event in several sectors of the city, such as Buckingham, Masson-Angers, Aylmer and old Gatineau, that will take place between January 18 and March 1. For the occasion, everyone will be able to enjoy an ice rink, a campfire, hot drinks, cross-country skiing sessions, sleigh rides, hikes and even more, depending on the area. For more information, go to: https://calendrier.gatineau.cloud/calendrier/parcourir.aspx?langue=fr-ca&categories=5

Snowshoe under the stars

For nature and outdoor lovers, the Friends of Gatineau Park will organize a snowshoe hike every Friday at 7:00 pm, starting January 17. This will be the ideal time to admire nightfall, while learning more about the flora and fauna of the park from an interpretive guide. To find out more, go to: https://www.friendsofgatineaupark.com/activiteacutes-agrave-venir.html

Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of the Baskervilles

L’Estacade will offer a family show on January 25 from 1:00 pm to 2:20 pm at 580 rue Maclaren Est in the Buckingham sector of Gatineau. It is a captivating piece filled with enigmas, to plunge directly into the world of Sherlock Holmes. Since 2012, this play has been performed in the United Kingdom and has since enjoyed enormous success. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.carrefourculturelestacade.ca/famille/sherlock-holmes

To find out more about the many activities offered in Outaouais, go to the upcoming events section of the City of Gatineau website at: https://calendrier.gatineau.cloud/calendrier/raccourcis.aspx?langue=fr-ca and/or the Outaouais tourism website at: https://www.tourismeoutaouais.com/activites/festivals-et-evenements/  

Photo: Campfire for the Winterlude event in Aylmer (March 16, 2024). (MG) Photo: Facebook page, Steven Boivin, Aylmer municipal councillor

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

Shortly after Christmas, on Friday, December 27, former Gatineau Chief of Police John Janusz passed away at the age of 73, following health issues and complications.

To pay him tribute, the Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau (SPVG) lowered their flags to half-mast.

A Gatineau police officer since May 1973, Mr. Janusz was appointed chief of police in the early 2000s. He also played an important role in the merger of police authorities of the former cities of Buckingham, Hull and Aylmer. He was very close to the community and had a very humane and respectful approach. John Janusz was also described as a man of humility, respect, integrity, discretion and fairness.

He held a number of positions within the SPVG, having been promoted to Detective Sergeant and Detective Lieutenant in the Criminal Investigation Bureau, as well as Lieutenant and Captain in Internal Affairs. When he retired in 2007, he continued his career by becoming Director of Security at the House of Commons until 2015.

In 2006, with a career spanning more than 42 years, he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Police Forces by Michaëlle Jean, former Governor General of Canada.

He is survived by his wife, Diane Savard, his daughter Anny Spooner, his son Steve Spooner, President of the Fraternité des policiers et policières de Gatineau, other family members, friends, colleagues and many acquaintances.

A celebration of his life will be held on January 31 at 11 am at the chapel of Les Jardins du Souvenir funeral home, located at 75 Boulevard Fournier in Gatineau.

Photo: John Janusz, former Gatineau Chief of Police (MG) Photo: Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau Facebook page

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

The Gatineau Optimist Club had several projects and activities to help young people in need in the region over the holiday season. They distributed gifts to more than 207 children. Each of them received a gift worth more than $40, in addition to pajamas, a toque, mittens, socks and a toothbrush.

Robert Asselin, President of the Gatineau Optimist Club, noted that they had several activities and projects planned for 2025. “We will participate in the upcoming Winterlude,” he stated, “then, for Easter, there will be a draw for giant chocolate bunnies that will be distributed in the winning schools. During the summer, toward the end of classes, there will also be draws for bicycles for students. We prepare and participate in different activities throughout the year to allow us to self-finance.”

Donations are also given to different associations in the region. Young people can also participate in competitions to win scholarships. “We also organize training to promote bicycle safety among young people, with the help of different associations,” Asselin said.

Photo: Distribution of Christmas gifts to young people in need (December 13, 2019) (MG) Photo: Facebook Page Gatineau Optimist Club

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

In December 2024, the Quebec government announced a new budget cut of more than $200 million in Quebec’s education system for the period ending in March 2025. In the Outaouais, this cut represents a total of $5.5 million for public schools. The announcement has provoked strong reactions in the region’s education community.

Several school service centres in the Outaouais will have to make several budget cuts as a result. For example, the Centre de services scolaires des Portages-de-l’Outaouais (CSSPO) will have to reduce its spending by more than $2,164,556.08, which represents 67% of its total budget.

The Centre de services scolaires des Hauts-Bois-de-l’Outaouais will have to cut $324,303.39 by March 2025.

As for the Centre de services scolaires des Draveurs (CSSD), a sum of $2,187,808.57 will have to be saved.

The new government projects that were recently announced for schools, such as adding space, building new facilities, extending existing facilities and adding modular classrooms, will therefore have to be put on hold.

According to Kim Lafleur Lauriault, President of the Outaouais School Support Union, student services will be affected despite the government’s assertion to the contrary. “We’re beyond worried,” she says. “We were already worried at the beginning of the school year because of the shortage, etc.,” she continues. “Support staff are already in a state of emergency. We are cutting where there is nothing left to cut.”

Photo: Bernard Drainville, Member of the National Assembly for Lévis, Minister of Education and Minister responsible for the Chaudière-Appalaches region (December 7, 2024) (MG) Photo: Facebook page of Bernard Drainville, MNA for Lévis at the National Assembly

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

With 2025 already upon us, what will happen to the installation of the 100 containers planned for the end of 2024 on the Robert-Guertin site? At the press scrum held on December 12, Jean-Pierre Poulin, President of Transitiôn Québec, and Nancy Martineau, General Manager of Transitiôn Québec, spoke about the project’s progress.

By December 2024, a number of containers had already been installed on the site to house homeless people. Of the 100 containers planned, half have already been installed. It will not, however, house 50 people. “We have to wait for Hydro-Québec to arrive and we also want to have a solid team on the ground,” said Nancy Martineau. “I’d really like to welcome at least seven people before Christmas,” she added.

The complexity of the project can explain the delay, as well as the changes in funding mechanisms that have enabled Transitiôn Québec to access government subsidies.

“By changing the financing method, we are giving them more flexibility and agility to meet government program criteria,” said Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, Mayor of Gatineau.  “When we adopted the emphyteutic lease and all the resolutions in September and October, we thought it was the right way to realize that, if we made certain adjustments, we would be able to make this project even more interesting,” she continues.

The container project is scheduled for completion by April. “We’ll have all 100 containers installed by then,” said Jean-Pierre Poulin. At the same time, a service bureau, communal kitchens and a bicycle repair container will also be set up.

“The idea is that this will help people move on to other, more permanent solutions, while being supported by social services,” explained Steve Moran, a local councillor in the Hull-Wright district. “I hope this will take some pressure off the site.”

Of the 89 people interviewed, 82 were selected to live in the containers. “We gave priority to people who are currently living in the camps,” said Ms Martineau.

A public consultation on the future of the Transitiôn village is due to take place in the first few months of 2025.

Photo: Jean-Pierre Poulin, President of Transitiôn Québec, and Nancy Martineau, Executive Director of Transitiôn Québec, answering questions from the media at the press scrum on 12 December 2024. MG Photo: Screenshot

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

New Year’s Day took a nasty turn for a woman who found herself plunged into the icy waters of the Ottawa River. Passersby reportedly heard her screams as she clung to the ice near the docks of the Hull marina at around 1:30 pm.

Water rescue crews quickly made their way to the water to rescue the woman. According to the information gathered, she was conscious, but a little confused. In particular, she was suffering from hypothermia. The paramedics quickly transported her to hospital.

No information was released about how the woman ended up in the water.

Firefighters have appealed to the public to be vigilant. They say people must avoid venturing out onto the ice due to the milder temperatures of recent days.

In addition, when walking along the water’s edge, they suggest that dogs be kept on a leash to prevent them from ending up on the ice.

Photo: Ottawa River (April 6, 2023) (MG) Photo: Ottawa Riverkeeper-Garde Rivière des Outaouais Facebook page

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

Even though it’s nearly over, October continues to be a busy month, with events taking place at many of Aylmer’s restaurant-bars, pubs, bistros and breweries.

On Friday, October 25, from 7pm to 9pm, the British will welcome singer-guitarist Julia Shank, who will be performing songs in a relaxed, folk atmosphere. In a more Latino musical style with rock, jazz and disco flavours, the group UNO will perform on stage on Saturday, October 26 from 6pm. On the official Halloween day (October 31), a pirate party with the musical rhythms of the 90s and 2000s will be in the spotlight, starting at 8pm. DJ, photo booth and a costume contest will also be part of the evening.

At the 5e Baron, field hockey matches will continue to light up the screens. The Ottawa Senators’ next game against Las Vegas will take place on Friday, October 25 at 6pm. On Saturday, October 26, a rockstar-themed Halloween party will also be held at 7pm. For the occasion, a BBQ with Ras L’Bol will be offered, as well as a rock concert by The Lucernes.

For an evening of Latin music, the group Sabrosa will be performing on Saturday, October 26 at Putters, starting at 8:30pm, at a cost of $10.

Finally, for quiz lovers, Bistro L’Autre Oeil offers a quiz night every Wednesday starting at 7:30pm. It’s the perfect opportunity to have fun while improving your knowledge, and all the while enjoying a local beer.

For more information, visit the Facebook pages of British, 5e Baron, Putters and Bistro L’Autre Oeil.

Photo caption: Open Mic au Café

Photo credit: Facebook

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

The homeless rate in Gatineau continues to grow at a significant rate, particularly in recent years. To counter the situation, the municipal council of Gatineau met on October 10, World Homelessness Day, to put their plan into action.

The Robert-Guertin Centre, known for welcoming many homeless people, will now be reorganized to accommodate more than 85 shipping containers to shelter over 100 people this winter. The containers will be transformed into heated and air-conditioned dwellings, each with a bed, a bathroom and a partial kitchen. The project is led by the Transition Québec organization, at a cost of more than $1.5 million.

To secure the premises, security guards will be present, and the police will be available if needed. Annual evaluations will be carried out to ensure proper management of the premises.

Furthermore, the city is committed to transferring a portion of the Robert-Guertin Centre land to Transition Québec for a period of 10 years, which will allow it to successfully carry out this major project.

The Village Transition project, however, is not the definitive solution to the problem. “This is ‘a band-aid on a hemorrhage,’” explains Maude Marquis-Bissonnette. The issue of homelessness in Gatineau requires more resources, such as shelters for women, for example.  In four years, there has been an increase of more than 268% in the homeless rate in the city of Gatineau alone.

The city must also be able to deal with the problem in other affected areas. To achieve this, it is necessary to work in collaboration with partners and with the support of Quebec and Ottawa. Additional funds will also be distributed to help other sectors of the city.

Photo caption: Maude Marquis-Bissonnette and city councillors at Gatineau Municipal Council meeting on October 10.

Photo credit: Courtesy of the City of Gatineau

Mélissa LJI Reporter

At the meeting of Gatineau’s Healthy City Commission on November 1, Étienne Soutière, Early Childhood Planning, Programming and Research Officer, presented the results of the Quebec survey on child development in kindergarten (EQDEM).

This survey has been conducted every five years since 2012 and is supported by the Ministry of Health, Education and Family as well as the Lucie and André Chagnon Foundation. More specifically, the EQDEM is based on five major areas of development, including: physical health, well-being, communication skills, general knowledge and emotional maturity. There are also subheadings.

“Once again, the Outaouais is a little high in terms of statistics,” stated Soutière. “We have proportions of 32.2% in terms of vulnerable children who are in school in the Outaouais. There has, however, been some improvement since the last survey […].”

“It is in terms of physical health, well-being, communication skills and general knowledge that we find the greatest proportion of vulnerable children,” he explained.

In the city of Gatineau, it was possible to note that the CLSC Vallée-de-la-Lièvre in the Buckingham sector has the largest proportion of vulnerable children. “In total, Gatineau has a rate of 34% of vulnerable children compared to 31.6% in Aylmer and 31% in the Hull sector,” Soutière pointed out. In the more remote regions of Quebec, such as Gaspésie and the Magdalen Islands, there is a rate of 24% of children in vulnerable situations.

Among the statistics, 32% of these children were born in Quebec, 34% in Canada and 43% outside the country. “It was possible to observe that a proportion of English-speaking children are five to eight per cent more vulnerable than elsewhere,” noted Soutière. “So, there are questions to ask at that level.”

The proportion of children who benefited from an educational childcare service represents a 30% vulnerability rate, compared to 51% for those who did not benefit from this service. “We can see, however, that childcare services are a fairly interesting safety net for toddlers,” he added.

To implement actions, the EQDEM set up a steering committee in the winter of 2023. “Our goal was to collect all the desired outcomes and the right costs, in order to bring them together to become a lever for strategic and action planning,” he emphasized. These outcomes include, in particular: more affordable housing, a better active transportation service, free play, socialization, the promotion of volunteering and much more.

Meetings, conferences, activities, mobilization and awareness-raising are part of the actions put in place to continue to support and help the situation.

Student walking with her backpack. MG Photo : Pixabay

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

On Thursday, December 5, the David Awards will be presented in the Jean-Despréz Room of the Maison du Citoyen from 5 pm to 9 pm.

People will be invited to a welcoming cocktail upon arrival at 5 pm where they will have the opportunity to chat with each other. Around 7 pm, presentation of the awards will take place. Several special guests will be present, including Greg Fergus, MP and Speaker of the House of Commons.

Thirty years ago, André Sanche, originally from Gatineau, and the Outaouais Disabled People’s Group (RAPHO) decided to create the David Awards. More specifically, these are regional awards that are presented each year to individuals, groups, organizations or people living with a disability who have distinguished themselves in the community.

The name David refers to the biblical story of David versus Goliath representing an unequal fight between two individuals, one of whom is small (David) and the other, a giant (Goliath). David wins this fight.

RAPHO is a non-profit organization whose mission is to defend the rights of people with disabilities through inclusion and awareness-raising.

For more information on this event, please contact Estelle Lussier, RAPHO coordinator at (819) 770-0535 or by email: direction@rapho.org.

Photo: David Award winners accompanied by the host (December 3, 2022) (MG)
Photo: RAPHO Facebook Page

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

During the City of Gatineau’s Commission-du-vivre-ensemble on November 14, Roxanne Lauzon Rankin, Apitipi Anicinapek, presented her role as regional Indigenous partnership advisor, as well as the status of the Indigenous initiative of working on reconciliation by developing different strategies to facilitate it.

“My mandate is to develop and maintain partnership relationships with regional Indigenous communities,” she explained. “This includes citizens, various organizations, partner institutions at the Outaouais Higher Education Hub (PESO) as well as the City of Gatineau. I bring together the different teams to work well on Indigenous files, by providing them with advice and support […]”.

“Currently, several new organizations and projects are emerging on city territory. It is important to consult Indigenous communities by developing relationships of trust with them,” she says.

There are many files concerning Indigenous challenges, services, committees and projects. “Currently, we are working on a project with the President of Higher Education regarding bullying experienced by Indigenous students in schools,” Lauzon Rankin noted. “The project should be presented at the end of February, as part of Anti-Bullying Week.”

“At the city level, we all have a liaison for Indigenous community consultations, whether at the level of urban planning services, sustainable development, mobility services or citizen interaction,” she said.

To coordinate everything well, it is important to draw up a list of everyone’s needs, both on the Indigenous and non-Indigenous sides. Lauzon Rankin stated, “We must ask ourselves, ‘What are the needs of non-Indigenous people?’ in order to work well with these communities. And ‘What do the Indigenous people need?’”

To do this, an action plan was developed to identify strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and challenges facing Indigenous people. This plan can be implemented both within the municipality and within PESO institutions. Lauzon Rankin stated, “Right now, one of the biggest issues concerns the nuclear plant in Chalk River.” (an incident at the nuclear reactor in 1952 that contaminated the water and air)

“One of the main observations I made is that there are no, or very few, policy procedures, official written processes,” she says. “We have to deal a lot on a case-by-case basis,” she adds. “Indigenous files are worked on, but not in a uniform or structured way. However, I have noticed a great desire to want to work together.”

According to Ms. Lauzon Rankin, optimizing resources and development will certainly increase the visibility of concrete actions and allow their implementation to be faster. Notably, several indigenization committees led by PESO are emerging in educational institutions such as UQO, Cégep de l’Outaouais and Heritage College.

Photo: Roxanne Lauzon Rankin, Apitipi Anicinapek and Regional Indigenous Partnership Advisor (September 27, 2021) (MG) Photo: Roxanne Lauzon Rankin Facebook Page

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

The Promenades de Gatineau Christmas Market officially opened on November 22 and will remain open until December 24.

In collaboration with Croquez l’Outaouais, a non-profit association, it is above all an initiative to promote local products and encourage local business. With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s the perfect opportunity to go shopping.

Several local businesses will be there to showcase their products, such as confectionery, decorations, crafts and much more. Among the companies that will be there are: Amandes de Maribel, Délices Sublimes, Domaine de l’Ange Gardien, Domaine Mont-Vézeau (vineyard and strawberry farm), Érablière Bo-Sirop, Ferme Mouflon Farm, Ferme Pure Consience, Kîsisam Pâtisserie, Miellerie Sempels Honey, Miss Marmelades, Monsieur Limonade, Rochef Chocolatier as well as Verger Double Attitude Orchard. There will certainly be something for all tastes and all budgets.

Photo: The Promenades de Gatineau Christmas Market. (MG) Photo: Facebook page, Promenades de Gatineau

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

After 15 years of existence, the Enfants au chaud program managed to raise a record amount of $45,950 in donations this year.

For the occasion, a spaghetti dinner was held on October 26 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in the Buckingham sector. Buckingham District City Councillor Edmond Leclair and Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette were present as honourary presidents of the program.

Fifteen years ago, Sébastien Joncas founded Enfants au chaud in collaboration with the Maison de la famille Vallée-de-la-Lièvre. Seeing many children walking around the streets of Buckingham during the winter without boots or suitable clothing, Joncas took the initiative to help the community by setting up this project. Since then, this solidarity movement has helped keep more than 300 children warm each year.

“The first year, at the very first spaghetti dinner for the fundraiser, there were only about 20 people,” mentioned Luc-André Faubert, Director General of the Maison de la famille Vallée-de-la-Lièvre. “Barely $10,000 was raised each year and now we’re able to raise more than $45,000.”

“The monetary donations come from residents as well as from several sponsors,” explained Faubert. “This money is used to purchase new winter clothing that will be distributed to the children.” People can also donate new winter clothes, if they wish, by going directly to the Maison de la famille Vallée-de-la-Lièvre located at 321, Avenue de Buckingham.

Photo: Cheque for $45,950 presented during spaghetti dinner at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Buckingham for the Enfants au chaud program (October 26, 2024) (MG) Photo: Edmond Leclerc Facebook Page

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

On Saturday, November 2, the sports and social association Les Braves du Coin organized a dinner to thank all its volunteers and, at the same time, to present a $2,000 scholarship to the young gymnast Mégane Lasalle to support her in her dream of participating in the 2028 Olympics.

To mark the event, the evening took place around a friendly dinner that began around 6:30 pm. Speeches of thanks were first given to highlight the involvement and dedication of the volunteers during the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival, who raised a record amount of money. Other speeches were then given to mention Mégane’s excellence, perseverance and dedication to her athletic journey. Following the speeches, a $2,000 cheque and flowers were presented to her. The event ended with draws and a performance by a guest musician, Claude St-Cyr, who hosted the evening.

Founded in 1962, Les Braves du Coin is a non-profit sports and social association that is involved in several causes in the region. Among these, more than $5,000 was donated to the Gatineau hospital to help sick children, and donations were made for cancer research, for the sponsorship of children in need, and more. “This year, with Noël à Cogeco organized by 104.7 Outaouais, we had the chance to sponsor a child from the region, in order to provide him with financial assistance as well as winter clothing,” said Jean-François Landry, outgoing president and organizer of Les Braves du Coin.

All donations are self-financed through benefit dinners, golf tournaments and activities. “Our goal is to give back as much as possible to the community,” explains Daniel Laframboise, President of Les Braves du Coin.

The association has over 550 members and includes over 50 volunteers. Many partners work in partnership with Les Braves du Coin, including Suzanne Tremblay, Member of the National Assembly for Hull, Denis Girouard, municipal councillor for the Lac-Beauchamp district, Steve Moran, municipal councillor for the Hull-Wright district, Chapiteau Outaouais, as well as Michel Richard, co-owner and financial controller of Couvre-Plancher Suprême.

Left to right: Jean-François Landry, outgoing president and organizer of the Braves du Coin, Mégane Lasalle, gymnast and Daniel Laframboise, president of the Braves du Coin, during the cheque presentation (November 2, 2024) (MG) Photo: Mélissa Gélinas

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

During the week of October 21, the Université du Québec en Outaouais made the unfortunate discovery of homophobic and transphobic messages in its two buildings: Alexandre Taché and Lucien-Brault.

The messages were in the form of graffiti and written comments on paper that were posted all over campus bulletin boards and on car windshields.

Several initiatives have been put in place by the UQO. An awareness campaign will be launched, meetings will be held, and support for those affected will be available to defend the rights of the LGBTQ community.

The University states that such situations are unacceptable and go against its fundamental values. Following this event, UQO strongly denounces the actions and is committed to promoting respect, safety and inclusiveness for all.

The student association for the struggle of the LGBTQ community quickly reported the presence of these displays. The university administration subsequently took the situation seriously by reporting the event to the Gatineau police. Several steps have been taken to improve security on the premises; however, to date, no one has been arrested. The police say they are continuing their research by collecting information to advance the investigation.

Photo: Far right: Murielle Laberge, Rector of UQO, accompanied by author Marianne Chbat on the far left with other participants at the launch of her book: Familles Queers (October 28, 2024). (MG) Photo: UQO-Université du Québec en Outaouais Facebook page

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

A recognition gala will be held on the occasion of the 25^th anniversary of the Maison Mathieu Froment-Savoie, on December 19 from 6 pm to 10 pm at the Palais des Congrès de Gatineau.

The Maison Mathieu Froment-Savoie welcomes people near the end of their lives, as well as their loved ones, to accompany and support them in this difficult period of life. A team of doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, qualified caregivers and volunteers is available, offering quality and personalized services to each person. Psychosocial and spiritual support services are also offered to patients and their families and given with respect and compassion.

The mission of this gala will be to celebrate the exceptional people and companies who have contributed to the founding and success of the Mathieu Froment-Savoie Foundation over the past 25 years.

To do so, the evening will take place in three parts. The reception will begin with a welcoming cocktail. Afterwards, the gala part will take place, where there will be a presentation of candidates and an award ceremony for the winners of various categories. The evening will conclude with a musical performance by artist Kim Richardson, accompanied by her musicians.

More than 500 guests are expected for the event. Tickets will be on sale for $60 per person. Those who are unable to attend the gala are welcome to make a donation, if they wish. It will also be possible to fill out a form to vote for the candidates by visiting: https://forms.office.com/r/PmP1XbZHHw.

To purchase tickets and for more details on the gala, go to: https://www.canadahelps.org/fr/organismesdecharfaisance/fondation-mathieu-froment-savoie-mathieu-froment-savoie-foundation/events/soiree-gala-du-25e-anniversaire-de-la-mathieu-froment-savoie/

Photo: The Maison Mathieu Froment-Savoie, during the FADOQ Distinction 50+ event at the Palais des Congrès de Gatineau (October 26, 2024). (MG) Photo: Facebook page of the Maison and Fondation Mathieu Froment-Savoie

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

During budget study week, the City of Gatineau considered adopting a budget to recover discarded textiles, including clothing, shoes and leather, as well as household textiles (sheets, curtains and more).

In 2013, in Gatineau, more than 1,500 tons of textiles were found in grey garbage bins, compared to 6,500 ton in 2022. This is five times more textiles in ten years. During the pandemic, in 2020, a sharp increase was also noted with more than 4,700 tonnes in garbage bins as well as 600 tonnes in blue recycling bins. Each year, 22.2 kg of textiles is thrown away per capita in the City of Gatineau, compared to 21.7 kg for all of Quebec.

The costs incurred for the burial of this type of material is more than $1 million per year in municipal expenses.

This problem does not only affect the city of Gatineau, but the entire planet. In fact, since 2011, the quantity of textiles has practically doubled due to the phenomenon called “fast fashion” which consists of the overconsumption of low-cost clothing.

By 2029, the PGMR (residual materials management plan) aims to reduce the quantity of textiles by 75%. To achieve this, a 2025-2029 action plan has been developed.

On the other hand, special events, curbside or home collections as well as donation boxes will be part of the actions that will have to be put forward. Several cities and regions around the world have shown the effectiveness of these actions. By 2029, the PGMR (residual materials management plan) aims to reduce the quantity of textiles by 75%. To do this, a 2025-2029 action plan has been developed.

To carry out this project, the executive committee recommends that the treasurer authorize a budget of $750,000 for the period from 2025 to 2029, which represents a sum of $150,000 per year.

Reclycled textiles (MG) Photo: Pixabay.com

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

During the study of the 2025 budget, the City of Gatineau considered a moratorium on real estate development for residential and commercial construction. The regulation, however, was not unanimous, given the current situation of the housing crisis.

The moratorium was proposed, given the inability of wastewater infrastructure to cope with rapid growth in the territory. Therefore, according to a provisional regulation, all new residential and commercial constructions may be prohibited for a period of two years throughout the territory of the city.

According to Nicolas Brisson, Director General of the APCHQ (Quebec Association of Professional Builders), in 2013, there was a proposal for a budget of $300 million to resolve the problem of overflows by 2050. However, for several years, only $2 million per year has been disbursed to help with the situation. A significant investment should be made to rectify this issue, which continues to persist.

According to Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, this would be a challenge that would be linked directly to municipal taxation. Billions would have to be spent to resolve the situation.

No concrete decision has yet been made by the City of Gatineau. However, an assessment of the situation must be carried out.

Photo: Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, discussing the subject of the moratorium on real estate development, during the press scrum on November 4,2024. (MG) Photo: Courtesy of the City of Gatineau

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

The CISSS de l’Outaouais wants to improve mental health services by setting up a new program to speed up services and better direct people to the appropriate resources.

To do this, people who need help quickly will be able to speak directly with a worker (811, option 2) who can advise them and direct them to appropriate resources, if necessary. In this way, group interventions, psychotherapy services and more will now be easier to access.

The goal is to make maximum use of all available resources to compete against the high shortage of psychologists in the region. Multiple professionals such as psycho-educators, social workers, nurses and more are available to help people. In this way, it will help relieve congestion in hospitals that are often the first to receive people seeking mental health care.

In addition, since February 2024, people with mental health problems can obtain home services in Outaouais. To do this, a team of professionals will be able to provide follow-up services ranging from 6 to 12 weeks with daily and weekly meetings, depending on the patient’s needs.

For more information on the program and on home mental health services, please visit: https://cisss-outaouais.gouv.qc.ca/

Photo: Presentation of the Grouping of Community Mental Health Organizations in Outaouais, during the day of reflection on mental health at UQO (October 24,2024).(MG) Photo: Facebook page

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

During this week of budget studies for the City of Gatineau, a 2024 review was presented to obtain an annual overview of strategic projects, the budget, funding and achievements.

Last year, when the 2023 review was presented, commitments were made to continue the deployment of projects related to the strategic planning of the infrastructure service, as well as the modernization of these projects.

This year, 12 of these strategic projects have been completed, including three related to citizen service. In total, as of October, more than 336 projects have been adopted for a budget value of $1,427,000,000 at the portfolio level. (Portfolio means a set of financial assets held by an institution or individual.)

The distribution of these main projects is water and sewer networks, roads, real estate, water treatment and pumping, parks and special (large-scale) projects, including the police headquarters.

This funding is distributed from three sources: 30% comes from the maintenance component investment plan (PIVM); 41% is from outside this investment plan; and 29% comes from subsidies.

Currently, there is an 89% commitment rate for all phases of projects compared to work continued and started, plans and specifications and the start of the preliminary project. “This is a phase that can move forward and backward over time, but I am very happy to have this commitment rate […]” explained Rita Chahine, Director of Infrastructure and Projects.

More than $160 million was spent on work this year, compared to $139 million in 2023. “This represents a growth of more than 10% and it also includes inflation, so it is beyond the inflation factor,” she continued. “This shows that we have put a lot of effort into really spending the money and carrying out the projects. Furthermore, this year, we have managed to complete several paving projects.”

Lack of manpower currently remains the root of the problem. “There are also regulatory requirements that are increasingly complex and that prevent us from moving projects forward,” said Ms. Chahine. “Climate change and obsolete infrastructure are leading to emergencies that were not foreseen for in the investment plan. For example, there are more than 19 emergency projects that were not foreseen […] where we had to intervene to carry out emergency work on the ground due to the low quality of roads, culverts, and many others,” she continues.

“We are committed to continuous improvement, in order to improve the process and provide quality services to our citizens by handling requests, analyzing development projects and much more,” said Chahine.

For more information on the 2024 budget, go to: https://villes.pqm.net/gatineau/archive/index.php?id=2139

Photo: Members of the municipal council, during the City of Gatineau’s budget study week (November 6, 2024) (MG) Photo: Mélissa Gélinas

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

On October 28, 2024, the independent initiative Outaouais Climate Partnership was launched to reduce greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global warming.

Inspired by the Montreal Partnership and Quebec Climate Capital, it is Outaouais’ turn to accelerate its green shift. To do this, many economic, philanthropic and community stakeholders, as well as the co-president and rector of UQO, Murielle Laberge, and the president of the company Good4.Global and the organization Cercle d’envol, Josée Lusignan, have mobilized to join the fight against climate change. In addition, the Kitigan Zibi Anishnàbe community will also support the initiative.

Together, they will work hand in hand with the City of Gatineau and the Outaouais region to achieve their objectives. The building, transportation and development sectors will be among the priorities of Partenariat Climat Outaouais since they are the largest generators of greenhouse gases in the region. A mobilization committee will be ready to develop concrete projects to achieve the objectives set for combating climate change.

With the impacts of climate change increasingly felt, it is essential to mobilize and find solutions to better adapt and live in an environment that is more respectful of nature.

From left to right: Maude Marquis Bissonnette, Mayor of Gatineau, Murielle Laberge, Co-President and Rector of UQO, Josée Lusignan, President of the company Good4.Global and the pan-Canadian organization Cercle d’envol, at the launch of the independent initiative Partenariat Climat Outaouais (October 28, 2024). (MG) Photo: Facebook page UQO – Université du Québec en Outaouais

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

On November 4, the Government of Quebec officially announced that it will provide more than $5.8 million to support youth initiatives.

According to Mathieu Lacombe, Minister of Culture and Communications, Minister responsible for Youth and Minister responsible for the Outaouais Region, this amount will be distributed to 19 non-profit organizations for funding in 2024-2025 and 2025-2026. More specifically, it is to continue the transition from the 2021-2024 Youth Action Plan to the new action plan that will be made public in 2025.

This transition will therefore ensure the stability and continuation of services. This will allow the 19 organizations to keep offering their services to young people until the next Youth Action Plan 2025-2030. The extension of this funding is therefore essential to continue and plan future projects with young people. The 19 organizations play a crucial role, since they support young people on their journey in terms of employment, education, entrepreneurship, culture, the environment, health and citizenship.

The goal is to meet the needs and priorities of young people aged 15 to 29. Following the pandemic, many young people have been faced with several questions about their development and their future.

In addition, more than $300 million in government investments have been raised in three years.

On the other hand, with more than 130 measures, including more than 80 new initiatives such as assistance programs, strategies, partnerships and others, more than 500,000 young people have joined this action plan.

Photo: The Culture, Communications and Youth team. From left to right: Samuel Poulin, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Culture and Communication and to the Minister responsible for Youth, Mathieu Lacombe, MNA for Papineau, Minister of Youth Culture and Communications, and of the Outaouais region, Mathieu Rivest, MNA for Cote-du-Sud (September 2023)

(MG) Photo: Facebook page of Mathieu Lacombe, Member of the National Assembly for Papineau

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

The 28th edition of the Excelor Gala of the Gatineau Chamber of Commerce will take place at the Hilton & Casino du Lac Lemay on Saturday, November 16, 2024.

Presented in partnership with Gazifère, the Excelor Gala has welcomed more than 1,000 people for several years to celebrate the excellence of the Outaouais region’s business community. It is an opportunity to bring together local businesses and entrepreneurs while celebrating entrepreneurial successes that have a major impact on the region’s economic development.

Many categories such as: SME of the Year, Large Company of the Year, Employer of the Year and more will be in the running to be elected winner. Being selected therefore provides excellent visibility to the company and, by the same token, allows it to be recognized for its success, excellence and contribution.

Several partners such as the City of Gatineau, Desjardins, Scotiabank, Brigil, UQO, the Gatineau Chamber of Commerce, Bell and more, are an integral part of the Excelor Gala and contribute to its great success.

For more information on the event and registration, go to: Gala Excelor 2024 presented by Gazifère – Gatineau Chamber of Commerce

Photo: Finalists in the “Microenterprise” category and self-employed worker of the year presented by Brigil for the Gala Excelor 2024 (MG)

Photo: Facebook page of Gatineau Chamber of Commerce

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

In Gatineau, since the start of the school year, a high number of infractions have been issued to drivers who have not complied with the highway safety code in school zones.

According to information from the Gatineau police, more than 1,719 tickets for speeding in school zones were issued between August 30, 2023 and June 20, 2024.

To make this heard and raise awareness about the problem among residents, a young boy named Émile Sirois from Lac-des-Fées school spoke at the October 22 city council meeting at the Maison du Citoyen. His message was that he and other schoolchildren should feel safe when riding their bikes or walking to school.

The speech was both simple and informative and it generated positive reactions from the public, councillors and the mayor of Gatineau, all aware that changes in terms of safety and mobility in schools are necessary.

Currently, several projects and initiatives are being rolled out. Initiatives by Gatineau police officers as well as infrastructure projects, such as the development of new bike paths, sidewalks and school corridors, will be funded by the federal government in order to improve mobility and safety for all.

Photo caption: Émile Sirois, during his speech at the municipal council meeting on October 22.

Photo credit: Mélissa Gélinas (MG)

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

On Thursday morning, October 24, after 10 years of existence, the local company Soif officially opened its first restaurant, La Petite Soif. Located in the Canevas shopping centre at 425 boulevard Saint-Joseph, it is the ideal place to encourage and promote local businesses.

The new restaurant was made possible thanks to the support of the City of Gatineau, through its revitalization program for the relaunch of the downtown area, and with the support by many partners, such as Brigil and Desjardins.

La Petite Soif is, more precisely, a project that was born out of the pandemic by Véronique Rivest and Roxanne Mant, owners of the new restaurant. Inspired by the Italian model, La Petite Soif is, at the same time, a boutique, a neighbourhood bar, a restaurant and a gathering place. Aperitifs from 5pm to 7pm, dinner with friends, workshops or business events, all of these are reasons to go there.

The wines are all from eco-responsible, high-quality vineyards from the four corners of the world. They can be consumed on-site or purchased with meals for take-out.

The healthy cuisine is entirely homemade. A wide variety of dishes such as tapas, sandwiches, soups, cold cuts, etc., can be enjoyed at the restaurant or ordered for take-out.

The restaurant also offers delicatessen products, including preserves, oils and more.

Photo caption: Véronique Rivest and Roxanne Mant, during their speech at the inauguration of their restaurant (October 24, 2024)

Photo credit: Mélissa Gélinas (MG)

Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

A benefit breakfast will take place at Mikes restaurant, located at 200 boulevard Gréber, on Wednesday, November 6 from 6:30am to 11am. Organized by the Gatineau police, this event will raise funds for the foundation AQETA.

Founded in 1978, AQETA, (Association québécoise des troubles d’apprentissage) is a non-profit organization located in the Outaouais region. Its mission is to help young people suffering from learning disabilities and/or attention deficit disorders (ADD).Learning disabilities come in many forms, including dyslexia, dysphasia, autism, etc.

Providing help and support to young people allows them to acquire better integration into the social sphere. The organization also works with the families of affected children, to accompany and support them and to find solutions to the daily challenges encountered.

To do this, several activities and workshops are organized for children aged 6 to 12 as well as for adolescents aged 12 to 17. Themes of anxiety, social skills, self-esteem, etc. are addressed. Information sessions in the form of conferences are also offered to parents.

Social worker, special education teacher, facilitators and several other people from different fields make up the AQETA team. Together, they want to become the reference in learning disabilities by putting their vision, mission and values ​​forward.

Photo caption: SPVG members at the 2023 benefit breakfast at Mikes restaurant.

Photo credit: Facebook