La voix de chez nous - Municipalité de Lac-Sainte

PAG E 18
Spring 2014 Printemps
La voix de chez nous
Community newsletter <lac-sainte-maire> journal communautaire
Gens de Chez Nous by Alain Guimont and Charlie-Ann Dubeau
Another Girl of the Lake: Meet
Theresa Dubea
Theresa Dubeau will celebrate her
82nd birthday next August. A petite
woman with silvery curls, she still has plenty me.”
of energy. The people in the village know
While listening to her story, images
her by her nickname Mémère Dubeau.
form in my head. I imagine a young girl
"I’m the eldest of ten children (five boys torn between wanting to please her
and five girls). I came into this world in the parents who were asking her to help the
depths of the woods at Lac du Plomb at the family financially and having to work for
end of Ryan Road. My father was Haward a stranger doing odd jobs that nobody
Picard and my mother, Alita Salisbury. At else wanted to do. I imagine her proudly
home we spoke English and French. At the giving a portion, perhaps all, of her
time, the schoolhouse was where Gilles wages, to her parents to help them
Labelle’s house now stands, facing the golf make ends meet. Even though there is
course. It was too far to get there by foot only a generation between us, I have
and there was no school transportation. So the impression that we lived centuries
my parents kept me at home; I never went apart.
to school. Later on, there was a truck that
passed by to take children to the school- "At 18, I married a trucker named
house and that’s how my brothers and sis- Romuald Dubeau. The first time I met
him was at the funeral of Mrs.
ters got there. "
Laramée’s brother. I was tired and
"I started working at age 12 in the general wanted to go home. Mrs. Laramée
store owned by Mrs. Laramée. The store asked the young Dubeau to escort me.
also served as a post office. There were As soon as I saw him I knew he was the
fifteen rooms for rent and a gas pump. My one for me. A few weeks later he
grandmother lived with Mrs. Laramée. I got passed by the store to fill up his truck.
$12 per month plus room and board. The He invited me to hop on board to take a
day I asked her to increase my wages to ride. We never left each other’s side.
$15 per month, Mrs. Laramée sent me Two years later we
home to my parents. She eventually rehired got married. It was Cont’d on page 22
Challenges facing the MRC de la Vallée de la Gatineau :
Interview with Michel Merleau by Alain Guimont
years, same as municipal officials. Mr.
Merleau was born in Bouchette, but
worked during a significant period of his
life outside of the region, including as
general manager in municipalities on
the South shore of Montréal.
Mr. Merleau was elected préfet for the
Municipalité Régionale de Comté (MRC)
de la Vallée de la Gatineau last November. He is elected for a period of four
The MRC de la Vallée de la Gatineau
covers a 13,424 square kilometre area,
the equivalent of a third of Switzerland.
It includes fifteen municipalities, two
cities (Maniwaki and Gracefield), two
first nations’ reserves and five unincorporated sectors. The Southern tip of the
MRC is located approximately 60km
from Ottawa. The South section is made
up of the municipalities of Low, Denholm, Kazabazua, Lac-Sainte-Marie and
Gracefield. The
Cont’d on page 22
average distance
IN THIS EDITION
Gens de chez nous / Interview
with Michel Merleau
18
The Waiting Game
19
Editorial / Letter to the Editor
20
Our Roads / Together for Life
21
X Country Ski / Fauna Chez Nous
23
MSM Golf / Our Firemen
24
Love in LSM / A local Business
____________________________
A Party on the Lake
____________________________
La Voix - Who are We?
25
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27
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28
PAG E 19
LA VOIX DE CHEZ NOUS
The Waiting Game by Beaudaddy
Trailers for Sale or Rent …
Following provincial law, the council
of Lac-Sainte-Marie has listened to
the skeptics in making a decision
early this year on one of the community’s most controversial files.
There will be no rezoning to allow a
new subdivision at the mountain.
Hemke Van Gerwen couldn’t persuade mountainside property owners
to endorse his plan to park dozens of
mobile vacation homes on 26 acres
he purchased last year around the
tennis courts. Van Gerwen argued
that the 900-square-foot, prefabricated units would be hooked up to
municipal water and sewer lines,
making them more permanent than
mobile.
But 78 property owners rejected the
process that could have led to a rezoning. According to a provincial formula, only 36 names were required.
Van Gerwen’s vision of a recreational subdivision was described in
an open letter he paid to have published in this newsletter in January.
But it wasn’t enough to convince opponents of the plan.
“No matter how you disguise it, if it
came to the site on wheels and was
towed behind another vehicle it IS a
trailer,” wrote John Lozinski, urging
council to scrap the process, citing
an agreement signed by all owners
when they bought their mountainside
properties.
Due to the opposition and for reasons of economy, Council decided
not to hold a referendum on the proposal.
“I don’t doubt Hemke’s strong desire to create, build, work and grow
life, nor his creative genius.” wrote
Jackson Shaw, quoting from the open
letter. Shaw drives here from his
home in California each year for his
family summer vacation. “I truly commend him on his accomplishments.
But I don’t need cascading waterfalls,
marshmallow roasts and a 54-unit
twin tower bed and breakfast. When
I do, I’ll drive … to Disneyland.”
service is a marina facility at the waterfront.
The same fuel works in
cars and snowmobiles, we might add.
Van Gerwen eventually wants to
build a multi-unit building on the
parking lot at the mountain. Council’s decision does not prohibit him
from submitting a revised proposal.
***
In case anyone missed a recent,
well-meaning public service announcement of a St. Valentine’s
event issued by e-mail, here it is:
« Bonjour à vous tous,
Voir l’invitation du Club social des
Geais Bleus de Lac-Sainte-Marie. »
“Hello to all,
See invitation from the Lac-SainteMarie Social Blue Gays club.”
Beaudaddy
The attached poster got it right. Les
Geais Bleus aren’t the Toronto Blue
Jays baseball team. They organize
activities for seniors. But they aren’t
what the e-mail said either.
***
And here’s an update on the plan to
rebuild the community center:
Province of Quebec – 1
Lac Ste. Marie – 0
Quebec City rejected a million-dollar
renovation plan last year.
And
there’s no budget item in 2014 for
the project. However it is still in the
three-year fiscal plan in case the
province can be convinced to grant
funds for it.
The province is quick enough to
download its costs on municipalities.
In return, maybe council could set
plans to provide access for the disabled further down its list of priorities.
Meanwhile, the new council could
think of other possibilities for the
building and the surrounding prime
lands. One idea that could produce
revenue and provide a much-needed
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PAG E 20
OPINIONS - EDITORIAL
Story of a Missed Rendez-Vous
“One of the projects presently being considered is basically the ‘Renaissance’ of the Mont
-Sainte-Marie residential and recreational
Complex. The five stakeholders, (R. Brunet, G.
Lafrenière, the Westeinde Family - Quantum
Group and the Sudermann brothers) involved
in the Mont-Sainte-Marie complex have come
together as a Consortium to conceive an integrated plan to develop the 3 800 acres of land
that they share over and around the mountain,
including the golf and ski facilities. The Plan
was conceived by IBI/DAA.” (GENIVAR Executive Summary, 2011).
The 2011 GENIVAR report goes on to say that
over the next 15 years, Lac-Sainte-Marie will see
400 million dollars of investment. Some 1 600
residential units are to be built over that time
frame.
Were Consultants overly optimistic?
Maybe but this is beside the point. Development
of the Mont Ste-Marie area will happen… one
day. It is indeed unthinkable that the 3 800
acres on and around Mont Ste-Marie will stay
undeveloped considering the hundreds of thousands of dollars invested by the municipality in
infrastructures in that area.
Development Corporation are:
How citizens and “villégiateurs” will cope with
such scenarios? Will they systematically oppose
any development judged to jeopardize their tranquility? Considering the reaction City Council and
investors got every time they went public with
possible development project, it is a definite
possibility. The types of constraints to which land
use is subjected in the Province, give the
“villégiateurs” the tools to do so. These constraints are:

Keep full control of the economic,
social and environmental development of the Municipality and revise
accordingly all the Land use regulations;

Implication of the local population –
all the stakeholders.”

The status of agricultural land protected by
the Act Respecting the Preservation of Agricultural Land and Agricultural Activities;

Environmental regulations relating to the
protection of shores;

Municipal zoning By-Law. (Source : Plan de
développement récréotouristique du MontSainte-Marie, Groupe IBI, 2010)
The GENIVAR consultants nailed it when they
recommended in 2011 that: “The main issues to
be considered at this point and time by the Municipality of Lac-Sainte-Marie and its Economic
If City Council had followed-up on that recommendation alone, the conclusion of the Van
Gerwen story might have been different.
Having an up-to-date “Plan directeur de
développement” for Lac-Sainte-Marie is an
absolute necessity no matter how fast or not
that development happens. Mayor Lachapelle
often talks of the need for Lac-Sainte-Marie to
have a “Welcome Kit” for potential investors.
An up-to-date “Plan directeur de développement” and corresponding zoning By-Laws
should be the number one item in that Kit.
OPINIONS - LETTER TO THE EDITOR
A Delicate Situation: Balancing Opposite Interest Groups
by Cameron McArthur
The Lac-Sainte-Marie Municipal Council
faces a challenging situation.
The immediate issue is whether a high
density residential recreational development be permitted by Van Gerwen, on a
26 acre parcel of land in the immediate
area of existing tennis courts and the famous now derelict hotel at the corner of
de la Montagne and l’Abri roadways.
In a nutshell, there are 2 opposing factions which may have the unfortunate
effect of polarizing the discussion: the
“against” group includes some of the upscale ski chalet owners on the opposite
side of both Labrie and De La Montage
closest to the ski hill parking lot. The “for”
group includes the Municipal Council, the
promoter and most likely the business
community of Lac-Sainte-Marie.
Generally, it appears that those against
the project want to preserve the solitude
they have enjoyed, to some extent, since
the late 1960’s. It is worth noting that they
have been subject to an 80+ room hotel in
the past and to continuing condominium
development. No doubt the possible devaluation of their properties is a major
concern.
ple to keep the ski and golf facilities
Some take the position that the restrictive
covenants registered on their land titles
operating.
legally prevent the placement of residential
trailers on their individual properties and  The proposed development will bring
more business and prosperity to the
including the 26 acres in question. We will
village and area including youth and
leave the legal arguments to the lawyers
vitality to a somewhat stagnating
and proceed with the position that the
area.
zoning of the acreage is within the jurisdiction of the municipality.
 The Van Gerwen homes are not trailers as may be envisaged. They are
Some of the concerns expressed by the
small but delightfully appointed and
established ski chalet community include:
affordable starter chalets (under
 Nearby high density housing may lower
$150,000) for much needed outdoor
the resale value of the nearby private
enthusiasts.
chalets and pre‑existing condominiums.
 They may save the area with a spin High density may bring with it a lack of
off potential for a larger population
upkeep, increased use of water and
base.
sewer and garbage facilities, increased
traffic both vehicular, pedestrian and  They are a long shot from the lower
end ($10,000) permanent residendomestic animals.
ces that the neighborhood might
 There is an obvious fear of the unknown.
fear. The new units are designed for
The proposed development may be seen
a recreational second home away
as a trailer park with the unfortunate
from the city. They appear to be tarand despicable stigma of the expression
geted for the middle class 30+ year
“trailer trash”.
olds who will maintain their chalets
with pride of ownership.
 For the most part, high density tends to
In conclusion, there are solid argubring disruption to the status quo.
The arguments of those in favour of the ments on both sides. It is unrealistic to
believe that the land in question will not
development include the following:
be developed. It will be and a compro The area desperately needs more peo- mised solution may be the best for both
sides.
PAG E 21
LA VOIX DE CHEZ NOUS
our roAds Are our Neighbourhood… by Hélène Goulet
The shrubs, grasses and flowers that
grow a bit everywhere in summer partially hide some pretty nasty skeletons.
With the arrival of spring, before the
vegetation starts to grow, those skeletons will soon show their ugly faces…
They are the garbage and junk that litter
our roads.
Those of us who walk on our roads
notice quickly, and on a very short distance, that there is a large quantity of
litter on and around country and forest
roads, in areas that are less populated,
that is, on sections of roads where there
are no homes or cottages.
The findings add up to a long list: cans
and bottles of all sorts, empty bags of
chips and snacks, candy bar wrappings,
empty cigarette packs, disposable
cups... Those wrappings and containers
(often recyclable or refundable) are the
type used for all kinds of products
consumed in individual portions. They’re
not the kind of garbage that would have
been dropped or lost inadvertently on
the road, or spread around by some
foraging animal!
Is it so difficult to just keep the
wrappings and containers we use in
some container in our vehicle until
we come across a garbage can or
recycling bin, or just bring them back
home to dispose of with our regular
household waste?
If you ask anyone what they think of
roadside junk, surely a vast majority
of people will express their outrage
vehemently. If you ask anyone if they
throw their garbage out their vehicle
window, for sure you’ll hear “No of
course I don’t, not me!” loud and
clear… So the question is, who does
that?
It is safe to assume that no one
would throw garbage on his or her
own property, or on that of his or her
immediate neighbours. At least one
would trust so.
Then why is there so much litter on
sparsely populated roads? Because
there is less of a risk of being seen?
Because “who cares?” Because it’s not
at “home”? Because someone else will
pick up the garbage? Where is the responsible citizenship, the civic sense, in
those who litter?
Obviously an adult is in charge in every vehicle on the road. What happens in
each vehicle is the responsibility of that
adult, and so is what is thrown out of it
while moving… especially so if he or
she is the one who tosses the litter out
the window.
Our region definitely does not have
the monopoly on the nuisance of litter,
but each of us can make a difference
individually, starting with the roads we
use.
Our roads are our neighbourhood;
they are part of our homes, near or far.
They reflect how we live as individuals
in a community. We all are responsible
for them; we should respect them as
we respect our own property, by keeping them clean.
together for life … or more by Hélène Goulet
Is roadside garbage bound to stay with
us for a long time? To ask the question
is to answer it… Some trash decomposes, but a lot of waste deteriorates without decomposing; organic matter
decomposes and composts, while inorganic trash only deteriorates without
composting.
Here is a summary chart that shows
some examples of what we often find
on our roadsides.
We’d find this biodegradation in the
open air in nature, where moisture,
oxygen, heat and light do their job at
breaking down matter… or not.
If these same pieces of trash are buried in landfill, they last even longer! But
at least they’d be in a site that is managed for that and we wouldn’t have to
see it…
Hence the good sense to recycle what
is recyclable and to compost what is
compostable!
Garbage
Banana peel, orange peel
Napkin
Paper bag (for take-out food)
Piece of cotton fabric
Piece of cotton string
Paper
Newspaper
Cigarette butt
Paper cup or glass (such as
a take-out coffee cup or
beverage glass)
Styrofoam cup (take-out
coffee cup)
Plastic bag / food wrapping
Nylon, nylon rope
Can, food can (tin or steel)
Plastic drinking straw
Aluminum can (for drinks)
Plastic rings (for 6-pack beer
or beverage cans)
Paint
Plastic container
Tire
Glass (bottles, jars)
Lifetime (in the
open air)
2 to 5 weeks
1 to 3 weeks
1 month
1 to 5 months
3 to 14 months
4 to 5 months
3 to 6 months
5 years
5 years or more
20 years
20 to 30 years or
more
30 to 40 years
100 years
400 years or
more
200 to 500 years
450 years or
more
700 years
1, 000,000 years
(1 million!)
Never!
Never!
PAG E 22
Gens de Chez Nous (coNt’d)
July 31, 1951." There must have been
something about truckers that appealed
to the young girls of the lake; Theresa’s
good friend Laurette Léveillée Bertrand
also married one.
"We had four children, two boys and two
girls. The eldest, Jacques was born in the
home of Mrs. Joli where Dr. Desjardins of
Gracefield and my maternal grandmother, Brigitte Salisbury helped me
bring him into the world. Gilles was born
in Georgette Émond’s home. When the
doctor arrived, he was already in his
swaddling clothes. Joanne and Danielle
were born at the Wakefield hospital—
what luxury! We raised our children in
both languages and they went to the
French school. I am very proud of that.
Life is full of good times and bad. Over
the years I have had the misfortune of
losing one of my sons who died suddenly.
Two years ago, my beautiful Romuald was
taken from me. Both are buried in the
parish cemetery. One of my daughters
suffered a stroke that has left her disabled.
I wasn’t used to sleeping alone, so I found
it very difficult without my husband, but I
told myself that I had to learn how to manage. I find my happiness now with my grandchildren (I have eight) and my greatgrandchildren (also eight). One or the other
visits me almost every day. Laurette and I
talk on the phone every day. If I’m a little
slow to open the blinds on the window that’s
facing her house, she calls me right away to
see if I'm okay. It’s my personal 911. "
gesture she lays out framed photos from
another era on the kitchen table. Viewing
these photos, one can easily see how everyday life has changed in Lac-Sainte-Marie.
One of them dates back likely in the 70’s
and we see hundreds of cars on the ice of
Lac Sainte-Marie. The event is a snowmobile race over the lake; the challenge is to
cross a segment of lake clear of ice. With
her eyes sparkling and a touch of nostalgia,
she adds, "We had three hockey teams, two
broomball teams, and sandbag throwing
"My husband inherited the Hotel du Lac,
competitions. None of that exists anymore.
which regulars know as Hotel Dubeau, from
Very little happens at Lac-Sainte-Marie,
his mother. All that remains are memories
and a few pictures. It burned down in the especially for the elderly.”
1990s. At the time, we were no longer the Could this be the effect of cocooning or
owners. It was a lot of work. The hotel had the aging of the population or a combinaten rooms and a ballroom. That’s where tion of both?
most receptions at Lac-Sainte-Marie took
place. The kitchen wasn’t equipped to serve "At the moment, I can still manage in my
so many people at once, so when there were home, but I dread the day when I no longer
receptions, caterers had to be hired. Week- can. One of my sisters asked me to move to
ends were always fully booked. Even after Low but I declined. It’s not for me. I’ve
the opening of the hotel at Mont Ste-Marie, spent my whole life at the lake. My life is
here, and I’d like to spend my final days
regulars preferred to stay with us. "
here. Although at some point perhaps I’ll
Theresa takes a break. With a confident have no choice but to leave. "
Interview with Michel Merleau (CONT’D)
between these municipalities is 20km,
the distance that horses could travel in a
day to transport goods to work sites. (
According to most recent statistics from
the Institut de la Statistique du Québec
20,526 residents live in the MRC, a density of 1.7 inhabitants per square km.
During the interview, Mr. Merleau lamented the apparent decline in the
MRC’s standard of living. Although we do
not have access to historical data, the
latest statistics from the Institut dating
back from 2011-12 seems to back his
view. The median income from 25-64
year old workers is $30,475 in the MRC
de la Vallée de la Gatineau, while it is
$32,764 for the Pontiac, $32,874 for
the Papineau and $51,630 for the MRC
des Collines. The average municipal tax
assessment for family homes is
$110,569 for the MRC de la Vallée de la
Gatineau, $116,989 for the Pontiac,
$156,782 for the Papineau and
$279,002 for the MRC des Collines. The
migratory balance between MRC is +2 in
the MRC, -49 in the Pontiac, +85 in Papineau and +239 in the MRC des Collines.
Demography is another concern. The
population of the MRC is getting older.
More than 55% of the population is 45
years old or older, which is comparable
to the demographic profile of the Pontiac
MRC. One can easily foresee what this
could entail for future service offerings
like schools or health care for example.
“Recently, the education ministry wanted
to close the Maniwaki armoury school,
said Mr. Merleau. “I vehemently objected
to it. It is a one-of-a-kind school in Canada. It is the kind of infrastructure that
we cannot afford to lose. I managed to
convince the Minister to revise his decision. We now need to promote the school
to attract people from all over Canada
and even the world.”
As Mr. Merleau noted: "the MRC de la
Vallée de la Gatineau is the only MRC in
Québec in which half of the municipal tax
assessment is made of real estate properties belonging to people who do not live
full time in the area. On the revenue side,
this is certainly beneficial for municipalities, but the children of non-residents do
not attend local schools and nonresidents are not users of health services
in the MRC. We need to attract young
families who live permanently in our territory.”
economy”. All through the interview, he
insists that municipalities at the south end
of the MRC need to develop a common
vision. “On that note, I really commend the
municipal council of Lac-Sainte-Marie who
got the municipality a long term development plan. The other four municipalities
critically miss it”. He continued: “none of
the five municipalities to the South of the
MRC has by itself all necessary infrastructure to attract new investments in its territory. Low has an arena, an English-speaking
school, a CLSC; Lac-Sainte-Marie has an
elementary French-speaking school, a golf
course and a ski resort; Gracefield has a
secondary French-speaking school, a grocery store, pharmacies, and so on. All together, they have what is needed. I have
begun working with all five mayors. We held
a first meeting. I feel a desire to work together. The goal is to design a common
strategy towards potential residential investments. There is no doubt in my mind
that wealth will come from the South. But
there is strong competition. All MRC in the
7th administrative region – a.k.a. l’Outaouais- strive for the same target”.
When Mr. Merleau indicates that the We can all wish that the National Policy on
MRC is going through a transition, one Rural Space 2014-2024 recently ancould ask a transition towards what?
nounced by the Provincial government will
help revive a MRC that appears to be in
Mr. Merleau wants to act and act fast.
“My challenge is to revitalize the MRC’s great need of it.
PAG E 23
LA VOIX DE CHEZ NOUS
MSM Cross-country Ski Trails: Update
by Susan Crawford
“Gary O’Neill led the way on the first
lap. Now with some money in the bank
and trails cleared, others are invited to
step up.”
MSM Cross-country Ski Trails:
Update
A small group of volunteers continues to
be dedicated to restoring (and creating
new) cross-country ski trails (both classic
and skate skiing) in the areas around
Mont Ste-Marie (MSM) and the MSM golf
course.
Ongoing activities:

Finding people who are interested in
cross-country skiing;

Finding people who will help with the
initiative;
Fauna de chez nous

Meeting with various people and
groups to explore partnerships;

Identifying landowners and attempting
to secure permissions and insurance;

Considering options for a clubhouse
and trail huts;

Mapping existing and restored trails;

Creating a website;

Identifying options for fund raising.
Thanks to those of you who offered
ideas, suggestions, and expressions of
interest. Stay tuned for more information
when it becomes available.
by Hélène Goulet
20,000 of them in the Outaouais, plus the ones that
are now spreading in several
other regions of Québec,
thanks to their high fertility
rate.
The Wild Turkey:
Wild turkeys have been spotted in our
region for the last 10 years or so. They
roam around fields, clearings, meadows,
wooded areas and roadsides. They were
previously nearly extinct because of overhunting and the loss of their natural habitat. They can now be found in the eastern
half of North America, from Florida up to
the Maritimes.
The Outaouais region hosted its first wild
eastern turkeys in 2003 when they were
reintroduced. There are now approximately
Turkeys roam over vast
areas to feed and escape
from predators. They roost
in tree branches to rest and
sleep off the ground, where
they’re less vulnerable. Their
legs and feet are strong:
they can run up to 40 km/h.
To avoid danger, they can fly
short distances at up to 88
km/h. Males weigh on average 7 to 10 kg and females, 3 to 5 kg.
From season to season, wild turkeys live
in various groups that mix and match at
different times. Harems are formed between April and July, which is the reproductive season. A few dozen females
follow one to 3 males, known as toms or
gobblers. Males gobble, dance, parade,
puff up their feathers and spread their
tails to attract the hens. They fight among
themselves to win as many hens as possible and to dominate the harem.
After mating, the hens seek sheltered
areas where they build their nests, which
they line with leaves and feathers.
They each hatch between 8 and 18
eggs for 28 days. The young hatch in
the spring or early summer and they
leave the nest after the first day. They
can already feed themselves, but they
can only fly after 10 to 15 days of
hatching. The mortality rate is high
among the young turkeys: between
70 and 80 % fall prey to their natural
predators in the first two weeks.
Wild turkeys generally eat various
grains and vegetation, but they also
eat insects, reptiles and amphibians.
They don’t hesitate to help themselves to vegetable and flower gardens
as if they were their own fancy pantries. They can be nuisances when
they feed on seed and crops.
In regions where the wild turkey is
abundant, some residents are shocked to discover that turkeys use their
warm car hoods as heaters! Their
large claws and spurs leave formidable scratches on the paint. Turkeys
are nice to look at, but they’re not the
best neighbours. They’re better at
the dinner table!
PAG E 24
A Promising 2014 Golf Season by Councillor Réjean Hardy
Mayor Gary Lachapelle designated me to
replace Jean-Claude Loyer representing the
Municipality on the Board of Directors of the
Mont-Ste-Marie Golf Club.
I want to take this opportunity to congratulate
Jean-Claude for his work on the Board of Directors of MSM Golf.
The reason for the success of the club is
directly related to the support of numerous
volunteers, some of whom meet every week to
prepare for the new season.
This year Jim Hemlin and François Hummell
are joining the Board of Directors, replacing
Neil Champagne and Eric Souligny, who left
due to other time demands but who will continue to contribute their expertise and knowledge as required.
The Board has decided that the Club will
participate in the Outaouais Golf Show, being
held at the Ernst and Young Center, 4899
Uplands Drive on March 8 and 9. Certain
specials will only be available there.
site at www.golfmontste-marie.com or come
and see us at the Golf Show.
As a new feature this summer for the
young set, a golf-tennis package will be
available. Contact the golf or tennis clubs
for more information.
On behalf of the municipal council, I want
to thank the members of the Board of Directors as well as the many volunteers.
Currently we have sold 105 seasons’ passes
and 15 social memberships. If you haven’t
yet purchased a season’s pass, visit our web-
Looking forward to crossing paths on the
course and having a good 2014 golf season!
Our firefighters in the spotlight by Diane Lavallée
do prevention visits to evaluate the fire risks
of our businesses, our private residences,
our public and our tourism infrastructure.
The risk can be low, moderate or high depending on the type of combustible materials on
the site for example, or the number of people
that would need to be evacuated. With the
information collected, we can develop an
intervention plan for each of our high to
moderate risks. Together, the firefighters can
determine in advance the number of firefighters that will be needed during the intervention, how to ensure we have the water supply
needed, and what will be the best strategies
to fight a fire at that site. You have surely
seen our new fire trucks. We’ve had to replace the previous trucks that, after 35 years,
had a water flow too weak and were no longer compliant to the new fire safety regulations.
DL: By being better prepared are we all
safer?
Marc Barbe has been a firefighter for 32
years and the Fire Chief at Lac-SainteMarie’s Fire Station 14 for 10 years now. I
met him in February in order to better understand the work of today’s firefighters.
DL: Marc, what has changed in the firefighters’ responsibilities lately?
MB: Since 2010, we are responsible to
evaluate fire risks and to manage our resources according to the potential risks that exist
here. All of Québec’s municipalities have had
to develop a Fire Risks Coverage Plan following the adoption of a new provincial law in
2010. Lac-Sainte-Marie’s municipality rapidly
adopted a plan to ensure our compliance.
We are now in the third year of its implementation.
DL: What does it mean for the firefighters?
MB: First of all, we have and will continue to
MB: Yes, we are really focusing on prevention and the education of citizens. That’s
what we are doing during our evaluation
visits. People were very receptive once they
understood that firefighters could help them
before a fire occurred. We gave them information brochures and talked about smoke
and carbon monoxide detectors. Here, with
wood burning stoves and fireplaces, we need
to remind people about the importance of
cleaning their chimneys in the spring or in
the fall before the new heating season. We
also asked everyone to prepare an evacuation plan. For example, there are regular
evacuation exercises at the school, and
education sessions are offered to the youth.
The home visits have allowed us to know
where people with special needs are located,
which will enable us to assist them more
rapidly if needed. I invite all residents and
cottagers to contact us to organise a prevention visit at their place.
DL: How are our firefighters prepared for
their roles and responsibilities?
MB: Our 20 firefighters take part in practical
training sessions every two weeks and do regular outings. As the Chief of Fire Services, I have
Non-Urban Officer training, which is adapted to
our rural and widespread environment. I am
responsible for the initial and ongoing training of
our firefighters. Since the new 2010 Law, all
firefighters are remunerated when they take
part in training sessions and respond to calls.
The Fire Chief works three days a week to ensure all the activities forecast in the Fire Risks
Coverage Plan are completed. That includes the
recruitment and the orientation of new firefighters.
DL: What does it take to become a firefighter?
MB: Well, being at least 17 years old, being
available, in good shape physically, being a team
player and open to taking part in training. Recruitment is difficult among young men and
women as some choose to go to work outside
the municipality. But, we are able to retain a
good group. In addition, being a firefighter
means liking to be involved with our community.
Our firefighters love being present and involved
in many activities like the Mayor’s Breakfast, the
Neighbours Day, the Fall Colours Festival. Being
a firefighter is an honour, it is a service that we
offer to our community. It’s rewarding. Once a
firefighter, always a firefighter.
We can be proud of our chief and of the firefighters of our Fire Station 14. In mid-July our
firefighters will host the 3rd friendly competition
between teams from as far away as MontLaurier and Ottawa. Go and see last year’s on
their Facebook: Service Incendie Lac-SainteMarie, it is quite a show! Let’s go encourage our
own in large numbers. This spring, La Voix de
Chez Nous, will share more information about
this activity.
For more information on fire prevention, or to
organise a visit at your home or cottage, please
contact Marc Barbe at 819-467-5437, or at
caserne14@lac-sainte-marie.com.
PAG E 25
LA VOIX DE CHEZ NOUS
Long Live Love Like in Lac-Sainte-Marie by Julie Cameron
Local elementary school St-Nom-deMarie was awash in a wave of red this
year as students donned the traditional
colours of Valentine's Day. February
14th students were especially active
with skating, dancing and skip-rope
jumping. Teachers received an avalanche of well-wishes as Teachers' Recognition Week was celebrated during the
same time. The Parents-Teachers committee organized a draw featuring homemade cakes crafted with tender
loving care; students purchased coupons they used to vote for the cake
they wished to win. Pushing the Valentine's theme one step further, physical
education classes all week focused on
cardiovascular health and participation
in the ‘Jump Rope for Heart’ program
created by the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Meanwhile, hearts were pumping hard
on the hills at Mont Ste-Marie, host of
the 24th annual ‘Ski for Kids’, a day of
awareness and fundraising for the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
(CHEO), to which Gatineau Valley youth
are occasionally referred. Contributions
were collected by the 14 participating
teams and during a live auction at the
end of the day. Some proceeds will also
benefit the Club Mont Ste-Marie Junior Ski
program and the Children's Aid Foundation of Ottawa.
Valentine's weekend in the village included a dinner and dancing night on Saturday, at Lacalong restaurant, where blazing
-hot moves lit up the dance floor and delicious roast beef filled up guests' stomachs. The event was organized by the
local Golden Age Club, the Blue Jays, who
are also asking the public to suggest future activities.
Please contact Sonia Dubeau at 819467-2097 or soniadub566@hotmail.com.
Garage Beauchamp : a local business
by Diane Lavallée
‘I’ve been the owner
since 2010. Since then
I’ve been investing in
new equipment. Whether
it is changing your tires in
the spring and fall, or
diagnosing your domestic
or imported car’s problem, I have what it takes’.
What is happening at the Garage
Beauchamp, located on Lac-Sainte
-Marie’s main road? Did you notice
the site’s expansion lately? Did you
know that we have a local entrepreneur, a specialized mechanic,
right here ready to help us out?
Sidney Beauchamp explains:
After his training as a
mechanic, Sidney specialized in electronics. He
completed a Bachelor’s
degree in Computer
Science and worked 10 years in the
field. ‘It’s the taste of another lifestyle
that brought me to manage a service
station in the region and rebuild its
garage. When the opportunity to purchase the old garage in Lac-SainteMarie came about, I didn’t hesitate.
My training and my experience are a
definite advantage with the new cars
and with clients’.
Sidney Beauchamp offers leading
edge specialized mechanics. ‘With my
electronic diagnostic tools, my ‘All Data’ on-line applications giving me access to the specifications of every car
model, I can easily run all the tests
required to confirm the source of the
problem and do the repairs needed. I
am working more and more with highend vehicles that require very specific
approaches. There are also older vehicles that clients want to keep on the
road while limiting expenses. I take the
time with my clients to explain the options that may exist so that they can
make an informed decision. With me,
safety always remains the priority.’
The Garage Beauchamp has built a
local and cottagers
clientele. ‘For regu- Cont’d on page 28
PAG E 26
News of ‘lA belle Yvette’, the Novel by Diane Lavallée
Last December 6th, the Lac-SainteMarie Community Center was the
scene of the first book launch of Marcel Sicard, author native of Grace-
field. His novel ‘La belle Yvette’ written in French and first of a trilogy,
was coming out at last. The novel,
based on a true story that occurred in
Lac-Sainte-Marie in the 1950’s, was
much anticipated. More than 60 people participated in this very pleasant
evening, where the guest of honour
was none other than our Mrs. Laurette Bertrand, who inspired the author
for one of his characters. It was the
opportunity to get a copy of the novel
and have it dedicated by Mr. Sicard.
Sales of the novel surpassed expectations.
Since then, a second launch in Gracefield in January has made ‘La belle
Yvette’ further known. ‘Sales are progressing well’, said Mr. Sicard in our
conversation of February 25th. When
are the sequels? ‘The 2nd tome, ‘Le
beau Rhéal’ should come out this
spring, announces Marcel. Until then,
‘La belle Yvette’ can be purchased at
the Municipal Office, at Matériaux
Lac-Sainte-Marie, or can be reserved
at the village library. Readers will
surely enjoy the juicy details that
bring to life the Lac-Sainte-Marie of
the 50’s!
‘deNis cArré’ fishiNg tourNAmeNt – A party on the
lake by Diane Lavallée
There was a party on the lake and at
the community center on February
28th and March 1st. ‘I’ve been organising my ice fishing tournament
for many years to help our youth and
their families’ said Denis Carré, organiser of this annual tournament
and president of the Social and Cultural Association. ‘With 214 registrations, it was a new record and the
tournament was quite a success’
proudly claims Sonia Dubeau, coorganiser.
Families, friends and relatives
braved the wind and the cold while
having fun for a good cause. I must
say that I observed the remarkable
ingenuity of shelters of all kinds in my
tour of fishermen. The gold medal
from my perspective goes to the
‘Shack à Barrette’ equipped for major
comfort.
It’s in the evening at the spaghetti
dinner where more than 150 prizes
were given to participants and where
the winners were announced.
In the adults’ category: in
the pickerel draw – Luc
Plouffe ($ 300); in the
pike draw – Sylvain
Gauthier ($ 150); for the
largest pickerel – Stéphane Aubin ($ 75).
In the children’s category: in the pickerel draw
– Raphael Noël ($ 150); in
the pike draw – Yanick
Lacaille (100 $); and for
the largest perch – MarieSoleil Barrette ($ 75).
Our mayor Gary Lachapelle took the opportunity to pay homage to Mrs
Sonia Dubeau who had
announced her retirement
from the Social and Cultural Association. ‘Not to
worry, she said, I will remain involved in Contacts
Femmes- Enfants and our
Seniors’ Club. It’s a date for the
next party, at the sugar shack!’
Page 27
Le Festival des Arts de la scène Val-Gatinois : Fifth Edition
by Nadine Pinton
From March 9 to 15, the 5th edition of the
Arts Festival, le Festival des Arts de la
scène Val-Gatinois, will take place at LacSainte-Marie. Mr. Michel Merleau, Préfet
for the Gatineau Valley will act as honorary
president.
The program includes storytelling, music,
theatre, and improvisation. A Visual Arts
exhibit will present the latest art work of
high school students, local artists and John
Tenasco, the invited artist.
On opening day,
March 9th, there
will be 3 free
shows at the LacSainte-Marie
Community Centre. First a Native
ceremony, including
traditional
tales, then a rock
group from Gracefield High School
which will be followed by a special
comedic Women's
Day performance,
by LES CHIPIES.
During the week,
different activities
will take place
thrioughout the community of Lac-SainteMarie. A musical evening at McVey Pub will
be followed by a Networking opportunity at
l’Auberge des Deux Rives, with background
music. Two lively performances will be on
stage at Mont Ste-Marie, featuring the
IRISH BASTARDS and D’HARMO.
The last day of the Festival will start with a
musical performance at the Lacalong Restaurant. Then in the afternoon, the comedic
play entitled “Les MOI” will be presented at
the Community Centre, followed by Improv
FaceOff between la J.A.I.M.E. and High
school students. To conclude the Festival,
the well-known MARTIN DESCHAMPS will
present a great show “Piano and Voice”, at
Saint Nom de Marie Church.
All the details are available on the web
s ite : www .f est iv a l- v al - g at in o is .c a /
programmation-en.shtml
The Festival: Behind the Scenes
Five years ago, Nadine Pinton and Denis
Labelle had this crazy idea to organize an
Arts Festival in Lac-Sainte-Marie. These two
active citizens were already volunteering
their time back then to run drama workshops for youth in the community. Nadine
and Denis are passionate about culture and
the arts, and the southern Gatineau Valley
region left much to be desired in this regard. So the first edition of the Festival
came to be on March 27th, 2010, to celebrate World Theatre Day on the same occasion. They were just two people to organize
this first festival. But over the years, the
organizing committee has grown, and now
includes 9 members.
The festival is organized with help from
L’Association des loisirs de Lac-SainteMarie. The Festival’s mission is to promote
culture and the performing arts in the Gatineau Valley region by organizing an annual
Festival in the community of Lac-SaintMarie. The committee’s vision is to create
a Festival that becomes renowned as the
cultural Festival par excellence in the Gatineau Valley; to attract people from this area
and neighboring communities to take part
in the Festival; to allow for an appreciation
of culture; to introduce youth to the world of
culture and the arts. The festival brings
together performances by professional artists as well as emerging local artists from
the Valley region and from Gatineau. The
Festival provides economic benefits for the
community and allows young people to
imagine a career in the field of culture and
the arts.
The Festival does not receive any recurrent subsidies. The organizing committee
rolls up their sleeves each Fall in order to
seek out sufficient funding so that the artists can be paid decent fees and participants can enjoy quality performances. Merchants and businesses in the region, along
with our municipality, believe in this cultural
initiative and show their support through
purchasing publicity or making donations.
In fact, we would like to take this opportunity to thank our partners.
The organizing
committee
is
pleased to be
able to invite you
to an array of
quality performances scheduled
to take place in
the community of
Lac-Sainte-Marie
from March 9th15th this year. As
an integral part of
the Festival, we
are once again
giving local youth
the opportunity to
embark on a cultural adventure.
Students from the
elementary
school in LacSainte-Marie and
from the high
school in Gracefield will be participating in
workshops and attending performances.
We wish you a marvellous cultural adventure at Lac-Sainte-Marie from March 9 to
15. It is an opportunity to come out of our
daily routine, to have fun, to celebrate, and
to get moving in another direction.
To reserve your tickets contact Sandra at:
819-215-0507 or sandracita@hotmail.com
You can also buy them at Matériaux LacSainte-Marie or at the door. If you have any
suggestions or comments, or if you want to
volunteer, please write to:
artsdelascene@festival-val-gatinois.ca
For 45$, you can buy a passport for all
shows: you will save 20$. Enjoy the
Festival!
Page 28
Garage Beauchamp
(CONT’D)
lar maintenance, minor or major repairs alike, I offer clients good prices, honest explanations and choices. That’s how confidence
is built. I am open to all types of vehicles and
all types of needs. I get good prices on AC
Delco parts as an ACE member. Suspensions
are supplied by Monroe and exhaust systems by Walker.’
Sidney Beauchamp is investing in his community. ‘I love life in Lac-Sainte-Marie, there
are good people here and it feels good. What
motivates me is the satisfaction of offering a
service to people, doing a good job and doing
it honestly. That’s why I continue to improve
my business. I am open to suggestions. We
are rearranging the interior and exterior. The
purchase of the next door property allows me
to enlarge the parking. A next step will be
getting a tow truck’.
La voix de chez nous
wants to hear from you!
If you’d like to comment on public affairs, share stories, spread information within the community about
upcoming events or anything of interest, please contact us at
lavoixdecheznous@gmail.com
Local businesses: you could advertise in the next edition of La voix de chez nous!
Contact us at
lavoixdecheznous@gmail.com
Our Garage Beauchamp is doing well and
continues to grow. Drop by and meet Sydney,
the owner. Make an appointment in person,
by calling 819-467-2752, or at
sid1202@hotmail.com.
La Voix de Chez Nous: Who Are We?
La Voix de Chez Nous is an independent community newspaper first printed by a group of local volunteers in 2011 and offered at no cost to the residents of Lac-Sainte-Marie. Our objective
is to be “the Voice” (“La Voix”) of our community.
La Voix de Chez Nous is available in French and English:
 By Internet. If you are not already on the distribution list, please send your email address to:
lavoixdecheznous@gmail.com
 Paper copies are also available at these participating local establishments: L’Auberge des deux
Rives, le Banc du Mendiant, Matériaux Lac-Sainte-Marie, la Municipalité de Lac-Sainte-Marie, le
Pub McVey, le Restaurant Lacalong, le Gîte Chez Natalie-Ann, and Ski Mont Ste-Marie.
Our Energetic Team of Volunteers:
Editor in Chief: Sandy MacKay / Editors: Phil Gibson, Alain Guimont
Production Manager: Hélène Goulet / Publicity and Finances: Diane Lavallée
Writers: Sonia Dubeau, Hélène Goulet, Alain Guimont, Phil Gibson, Diane Lavallée, Louise Robert,
Sandra Romaniuk / Copy Editors: Monique Allard, Pierre Calvé, Hélène Goulet, Sandra Romaniuk
/ Translators: Susan Crawford-van der Burg, Hélène Goulet, Alain Guimont, Diane Lavallée, Sandra Romaniuk / External Accountant: Brenda van Berkom / Layout: Kelley Mair-MacKay
PAG E 12
LA VOIX DE CHEZ NOUS
PAG E 13
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Rob007mcvey@gmail.com
PAG E 14
LA VOIX DE CHEZ NOUS
JAYNE’S BREADS AND
DELICACIES
Jayne Courtney
MINI-MARCHÉ
34 St Joseph
Gracefield, QC
LAC SAINTE-MARIE
Marché Ouvert
Open Market
818-463-4466
(819) 467-3797
PAG E 15
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Contact us for a free estimate!
PAG E 16
LA VOIX DE CH E Z NOU S
(819) 467-3797
PAG E 17