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Transcript (Translated)
Tobi Nussbaum: Hello, I’m Tobi Nussbaum, Chief Executive Officer of the National Capital Commission. Welcome to Gatineau Park. I’m here with two colleagues. Catherine, Rachel, can you introduce yourselves?
Catherine Verreault: Certainly. Catherine Verreault. I’m the Director of Quebec Urban Lands and Gatineau Park.
Rachel Paquette: I’m Rachel Paquette. I’m a program officer for nature interpretation in Gatineau Park.
Tobi Nussbaum: Very well, and welcome. We are here… Where exactly are we, Catherine?
Catherine Verreault: We’re at the north loop of the Gatineau Parkway, in Gatineau Park, in the Chelsea sector, south sector. Behind us is a magnificent waterway, the Chelsea creek, and a marsh.
Tobi Nussbaum: Very good. And this is a part of our parkways that’s reserved for active transportation, isn’t that right?
Catherine Verreault: Yes, it’s a part of the parkway that’s reserved for active transportation at all times, active mobility; so there are no motor vehicles in this section.
Tobi Nussbaum: Yes, and today, we see lots of people walking and also a lot of cyclists; but in winter, it’s another story, isn’t it?
Catherine Verreault: Yes, in the winter there’s cross-country skiing. In fact, the parkways... the 33-km network in the south sector, is closed to vehicles and all other activities, except cross-country skiing. Some areas also have snowshoeing, snow biking or hiking.
Tobi Nussbaum: Very good. Rachel, I know that there are a lot of species at risk in Gatineau Park. Can you talk a bit about some of the interesting species here, in the park; ones that are worth noting? There are… what? Sixty… plants and how many… No! How many exactly? [smiles] Rachel?
Rachel Paquette: Catherine [laughs].
Catherine Verreault: 60 animals, and about 90 plants.
Tobi Nussbaum: Okay.
Catherine Verreault: So, 91 and 58 to be exact.
Tobi Nussbaum: Okay. So, who would like to talk a bit about some of the species that might be interesting for our listeners?
Rachel Paquette: I can maybe start by saying is that one of the important things we have to think about, in Gatineau Park — which is a conservation park — is that we really want to prioritize biodiversity. Diversity makes the park stronger. So the species — plants and animals — complement each other. Overall, they’re going to be healthier if we have more diversity. If we want to keep those animals healthy — plants, animals — we have to understand that some of them are at risk; some are more vulnerable. So we have to be a bit more careful and focus on those species to make sure that they have habitats and everything they need to stay healthy. More specifically, can Catherine maybe talk about some specific species?
Catherine Verreault: Yes, that’s interesting. We have a lot of at-risk species. Some very interesting species, like the Blanding’s turtle. Blanding’s turtles are on the move a lot. During their mating season (end of June), we see these turtles near the roadways, where they try to make their nests in the substrate; in other words, a site where the ground is not as hard. So, rocks, small gravel… It’s a species that we can pay more particular attention to. They’re easily recognizable because their shell is dome-shaped and their neck is bright yellow. This species is easy to identify. This species is somewhat representative of Gatineau Park because its population is quite high in the west section of the park. Other, rarer species include the eastern red cedar, which isn’t necessarily at risk; but it’s the highest concentration in Quebec. Eighty percent of eastern red cedar trees are in Gatineau Park.
Tobi Nussbaum: Wow!
Catherine Verreault: The other populations are more in the Montreal area. There are other trees, like the rock elm, black maple, butternut tree, that are at risk. Several types of snakes are at risk, and also, bats. So… to maintain biodiversity, maintain a variety of habitats like the ones we see here. There are trees. There are forests on the other side. There are creeks. There are marshes. This enables [the park] to shelter a large diversity of wildlife and plants, and they find their place. So we […], it allows us, over the long term, to protect every species, including all the species at risk.
Tobi Nussbaum: Very good. And I imagine that scientific research is being conducted here?
Catherine Verreault: Yes, every year we issue about 40 science research permits. We know the researchers who come here. We can often direct them to the best spots, depending on what they are studying. Right now, there’s a study under way on the parkways, for example, on the effect traffic is having on bird and mammal populations; road mortality. It’s an important thing. There are studies currently being done on bats, for example; on monarch butterflies, some pollinators, mussels, fish, snakes. So, it’s really diverse. Gatineau Park is like an open-air laboratory. After all, it covers 361 km2. So it allows for many, many research possibilities.
Tobi Nussbaum: Very good. And I know that people like to see, for example, bears and other animals like that. How many black bears do we have in the park?
Catherine Verreault: There’s not a specific number. We know that the black bear population is really healthy. Is it 50? Is it more than that? Is it more like 200? We do inventories with Quebec’s Department of Natural Resources … and Wildlife… Parks [laughs] and Environment. [laughs] Sorry, the name changes frequently. They can tell us a little bit more about the bear population; about white-tailed deer populations, too, from year to year. Bears have a fairly large territory. So, it’s both easy and difficult to estimate the numbers. We look at signs of their presence.
Rachel Paquette: I think it’s important, when we talk about bears… people are scared of them or, strangely enough… either they’re very scared of bears or, when they see them, they’re not afraid enough; so they stay there, or they approach them. Part of my role is educational, about what’s important to know. It’s really good to know that the population is healthy. When we know that the bigger mammals are doing well, it’s because their habitat is healthy, and then we know that the smaller animals are no doubt doing well, as well. We like that people know that there are black bears in the park. We like that they might have a chance to see them. We can’t promise anything, because its quite rare, but we also want people to react appropriately, so that when they see a bear, the bear — which is in its habitat — also feels safe, and can live there and be healthy. So that people can return with a good story to tell at the end. So, you quietly back away, and leave the bear its space. It’s pretty simple.
Tobi Nussbaum: Very good, thank you. Can we talk a bit about the birds in the park? Who would like to start?
Rachel Paquette: I can just start with the fact that right now we are not hearing many birds singing.
Tobi Nussbaum: Yes, that’s true.
Rachel Paquette: Over a year, we can expect there to be about 230 bird species in the park for a short time period, because they continue going north; some are here to nest and raise their young. Two hundred and thirty species over a year.
Tobi Nussbaum: Two hundred and thirty?
Rachel Paquette: Two hundred and thirty!
Tobi Nussbaum: Wow!
Rachel Paquette: But right now, or very soon, we expect that only 30 [species] will stay. The birds that stay, it’s because they’re able to stand the cold, stay warm, and find food sources. The birds that eat insects have left and the very small ones, which cannot withstand the cold, also left a few weeks ago.
Catherine Verreault: As Rachel mentioned, there is a huge diversity of bird species. We’re lucky. Fall is the time when they start to migrate from places like the lookouts and some rocky escarpments, all over the park. You can sometimes see bird migration. Often, they’re birds of prey. Sometimes it’s Canada geese. One of the birds that’s protected in the park is the peregrine falcon. The peregrine falcon is a small bird of prey, but a really interesting one, because it can reach speeds of up to 300 km/h in a hunting dive. When it hunts, it reaches those speeds. We find them mainly on the Eardley Escarpment because they make their nests up high, on somewhat flat surfaces directly on rock. It’s interesting because we usually say: “A big bird of prey, a big nest.” No. Just a few branches on a rock surface. So that makes it interesting. They were at risk. We hadn’t seen them for years in Gatineau Park. There are several reasons for their decline, in Canada and Quebec, including pesticides. But more recently, they’ve returned to the park. Since the 2000s, we have really been monitoring the population. So, that’s it. This year, we saw a few individuals. Last year, there was confirmation of nesting pairs in the park. Since the 2010s, approximately, we’ve been seeing a successful return of the peregrine falcon in Gatineau Park, and that’s been very satisfying.
Tobi Nussbaum: I just heard a bird.
Catherine Verreault: A blue jay.
Tobi Nussbaum: What was it?
Catherine Verreault: I think it’s a blue jay.
Rachel Paquette: Me too.
Tobi Nussbaum: Okay, very good. Obviously, Gatineau Park is a gem in this region, but along with its popularity, there’s work that needs to be done. I think it’s the most visited park in Canada, except for Banff, right?
Catherine Verreault: Yes.
Tobi Nussbaum: And about how many people come here every year?
Catherine Verreault: More than 2.6 million visits every year.
Tobi Nussbaum: Wow!
Catherine Verreault: So, after Banff, yes — it’s the most visited park. But it’s the park that has the most visitors per square kilometre, because it’s small compared to Banff.
Tobi Nussbaum: Very well. Can you talk a bit about the things we need to be concerned with regarding the tension between recreation and conservation?
Rachel Paquette: What’s important to me is providing people with the information they’re looking for. What to do, when; so that they also feel safe and like they have some guidance. They can call the Visitor Centre. Social media networks are extremely important in helping them plan their outings in Gatineau Park. If they know what to do, and how to do it safely, everyone wins, because it also respects the conservation ethics that we want [to promote]. By staying on the trails, knowing that it’s very busy. It’s not as frustrating for them, and for the animals too. Everyone wins. This type of tension can be gradually lessened with education, with information, so that people realize that there’s more and more people in the park. The story can’t be the same as it was 30 years ago, when… there are more people. The tension has increased. Through education and understanding the importance that the human footprint has on the park. This is our park. It's everyone's park, but by following some very simple rules, we can create a positive experience in nature — which is important for our own health, as well — by respecting the park’s health.
Catherine Verreault: That’s what Gatineau Park is all about. The park’s mandate, its primary goal, is conservation. Of course, experiencing nature and culture is very important for us too, and therefore the visitor experience is very important. The fact that Gatineau Park (for people who don't know it) is very close to the city of Ottawa, near the Ville de Gatineau, in the cities of Chelsea, Pontiac, La Pêche, means that there are many people close by. You don’t need to drive for two hours to get to the park. […] Getting information before coming here, about best practices, but it’s also up to us to communicate and up to the people to be able to appreciate all this nature. It makes them also want to protect it and understand why it’s so beautiful, how it works, and then to want to respect it for future generations.
Rachel Paquette: I remember, in interpretation, before; in our training, they told us: “The more we know, the more we’ll be able to protect.” It’s not necessarily knowledge in the sense of knowing the six kinds of frogs and their Latin names, you know… It's a feeling of belonging. Experiencing something positive. If you go to the park, people are friendly. The weather’s nice. The trails are well maintained. All those little things mean that maybe, later, when you’re listening to the radio and they talk about the NCC, and then Gatineau Park, you’ll say to yourself: “I understand the importance of that, and I’m going to be part of that.” It’s not necessarily related to academic knowledge or knowledge of biology. It’s really just experiencing something positive, in a way that can be enjoyed.
Tobi Nussbaum: It’s interesting because I know that there are also many volunteers working in the park. Can you talk about our program a bit? How many volunteers? What do they do, etc.?
Catherine Verreault: We have hundreds of volunteers who volunteer thousands of hours a year. Some programs, like trail patrol, have had volunteers for years, in both summer and winter. They patrol our trails to really help people, help guide them, give them information in emergencies, and also to help to provide first aid. We also have a group of volunteers who work mainly on the trails, helping to groom and maintain the trails in Gatineau Park. So, it's really interesting. The trail management group that has really looked at all the trails in the park; which ones were most appropriate and which ones were the least appropriate, too, in order to preserve some of the places, close some of the trails, and properly maintain others. So, it’s really the park stewards who work with us on projects like this. Some of them work more on historical aspects, on cultural aspects; at the Mackenzie King Estate, for example. We also have the Friends of Gatineau Park who work with us, and who also organize a lot of activities. For example, activities can include picking invasive plants; removing the invasive plants that threaten biodiversity and species in Gatineau Park. There are also citizen science activities. If learning about what kinds of frogs, what kinds of birds, what kinds of trees are all around us interests you, then it can be interesting to get involved at that level. Knowing how science in the park works; accompanying a science researcher who’s doing research to help take water samples, for example; that can be really interesting. It's also a good way to connect with nature.
Tobi Nussbaum: Very good. I know we have a park master plan that was created in…
Catherine Verreault: January 2021.
Tobi Nussbaum: Okay! Exactly.
Rachel Paquette: Right during the pandemic, yes.
Tobi Nussbaum: That’s right. And I know that there’s a direction in the plan, that the park’s character changes a bit if we go from the south to the north. Can you talk a bit about the differences between the sectors in the park?
Catherine Verreault: Basically, in terms of the experience, in the south sector — which is much more accessible — there’s a higher trail density; a wider range of activities. Most activities take place in the south part. Where we are now is not very far from Meech Lake. The beaches, which are very popular in summer. The parkway network, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails in winter, too, which are very accessible. Going north a bit, let’s say towards Meech Creek Valley, Philippe Lake, La Pêche Lake — these places are a bit further. Yes, you have to drive a little further, but you get a different kind of experience. It’s a little wilder there. Yes, the trails are well maintained, there’s clear signage, but you feel like you’re further out in nature. If you are looking for a quieter, more contemplative experience, these are good locations to go to because there are fewer people. And also, it enables you to experience Gatineau Park differently; a little more of a backcountry experience when you go there.
Tobi Nussbaum: Very good. Do you want to add something, Rachel?
Rachel Paquette: Basically, there are fewer people there because the mandate dominates. The conservation aspect dominates. So, we’re not waiting for it to become more developed. Those parts of the park will remain the same because we essentially want to have bigger spaces that are less affected by the human footprint.
Catherine Verreault: That’s right. Where we are now, more to the south, “recreational activities” always go along with conservation. So… we just saw a runner go by, right beside us. As we move further to the north, conservation becomes more important. Up to the Eardley Escarpment. Because I can't not talk about the Eardley Escarpment, which is really our conservation environment. There are very few recreational activities at the Eardley Escarpment. A few trails, really, with a minimal footprint; they’re not as big, so they offer more of a backcountry experience. A few climbing walls, which are open… It's a different experience. This is where we find the greatest numbers of at-risk species. Why? Because the Eardley Escarpment is a cliff, about 3 m high, that faces south. It creates a microclimate that is much warmer and drier than anywhere else in the park and even anywhere else in the region. So, we find some species there that we don’t find elsewhere, and that we might find in the American Midwest. There really are red oak, white oak, oak groves, eastern red cedar (as we mentioned before), and fragrant sumac, Douglas fir. That makes it a very special type of vegetation. When you’re there, it’s like you’re in another world.
Tobi Nussbaum: Hmm! Interesting. Bottom line: what, in your opinion, are the biggest challenges for the park? Is there anything… we talked about it being a very, very popular park; there are a lot of people; we have a conservation mandate… Are there any challenges that we need to start addressing? Are you thinking, “No, things are going well, there aren’t really any big challenges in the future”? What do you think?
Rachel Paquette: I think that people should gradually understand the mandate. They need to feel some ownership. They want to get to the park. They just need to find out how. I think the challenge will be the same for many more years, but if the message gets through… I think people love nature; they want it to remain interesting, a natural space that feels good to be in. I think that’s the message… that people need to take home: “I’m doing this in a conservation park, and the conservation park is not there to meet all of my recreation expectations.” I think those expectations should be tempered; they have to be realistic.
Catherine Verreault: And with respect to climate change… there are more and more extreme climate events. We can even see changes in the vegetation. Before, we were talking about invasive species. We have to remove certain invasive species that threaten other species. The climate is changing. It’s going to favour certain species and even insect species are going to come [into the park]. So we have to be ready to help our park, to volunteer, and also to develop a direction. One of the big challenges is going to be to develop a direction, and then react to the extreme climatic events; to keep our visitors safe; to adapt based on the research done on species, too; and then to be able to have sustainable infrastructure, sustainable trails, bridges, culverts, picnic areas… all of this to resist the changes that are coming.
Rachel Paquette: Visitors and employees who are involved; a master plan… these help us align our activities, but also what is coming, how to prepare, plan the next steps.
Catherine Verreault: Yes, with the people. When people help us, basically… people are involved in their activities. People are often willing to help us with everything that needs to be done. The stewardship of the park is a shared stewardship. We want a park that is accessible to everyone. This is very important, but at the same time, everyone can help out and feel a little concerned with our mandate.
Tobi Nussbaum: So far, we’ve talked a lot about different activities in the park, except camping.
Catherine Verreault: That’s true!
Tobi Nussbaum: So, do you want to talk a bit about camping and a little project that we are completing in the park’s north sector?
Rachel Paquette: You can sleep in the park. It's important to know that you have to sleep in the areas made for that, the designated camping areas. So, we can go canoe-camping in Gatineau Park. You can head out from the La Pêche Lake beach by canoe. You can rent the equipment, if you don't have it. You arrive on some of the shores of that big lake, and then really, it’s a camping experience… out in the wild. It’s peaceful — no running water. It’s great. The campsite, at the moment, is undergoing major renovations; but there will also be a campsite with a few hundred sites that you’ll be able to reach by car, very accessible; where it’s also possible to rent four-season tents, rent yurts, small cottages. There are really quite a few options, so you can decide where you’re going to sleep and in what kind of site. But these sites are close to the lakes. It's a great way to spend time with family or friends, or alone. But soon... winter is coming. It’s fall, we’re in the middle of fall, but winter camping is also possible. You can camp in tents, sleeping bags, as well as in the yurts, four-season tents and small cottages. It's popular. It is very popular in winter, and it will be popular, there’s no doubt, with the new campsites opening soon.
Catherine Verreault: We have a campsite renovation project going on now. We can’t wait for it to be finished, and to welcome people. There are different units, as Rachel said: yurts, four-season tents, what is called “ready-to-camp units.” There will be new, ready-to-camp units, and that will really allow us to welcome visitors who come with their sleeping bags and food; all the equipment is provided. It makes our park even more accessible. There are sites for more traditional camping, in a trailer or a tent. We’re going to have almost 300 sites. It's a very interesting experience. It allows people to spend a night in the park. You can also go winter camping, in a yurt, or you can go winter camping in a tent. It allows you to get closer to nature. At the Philippe Lake campground, in summer, there will still be an interpretation program. The fact that people can spend the night in the park… allows us to experience a different kind of connection, to find out, sometimes, what happens in a park at night. Sleeping in a tent is also an interesting experience. To even hear an owl, a barred owl, a great horned owl. Oh! You wonder what it is! [laughs]. Sometimes it’s not reassuring, but on the other hand, it allows us to gain an understanding of nature. We’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone. There will be a new service pavilion that will become a shelter, that will be open all four seasons; a new convenience store; boat rentals, and then bicycles, all of that. So, access for everyone. A really important activity hub, with three beaches there.
Tobi Nussbaum: So, I know that you are very proud of the park. I'm also very, very proud. Any final comments? Is there anything that we haven't discussed so far that you want to mention? Something about the park that we didn’t talk about this morning, before we stop? A final comment?
Catherine Verreault: I really encourage people to go and discover places they’ve never been to. We often hear about… of course, Pink Lake, the lookouts, Mackenzie King Estate, these are popular. You have to go there. We understand why people go there. Try somewhere you’ve never been before, a special trail. Go visit Lusk Cave. Go on a trail you’ve never been on before; Skyline, Trail 6 or… the Philippe Lake sector. Go snowshoeing this winter, then go around Philippe Lake on snowshoes. Stop at one of the rest areas where you can start a fire [in the fire pit]. It gives you another perspective. It's interesting, too.
Tobi Nussbaum: Thank you.
Rachel Paquette: I would say, to feel like the park is a possibility. That you can go there. Anyone can go. Sometimes, we see big families in the picnic areas who are having a great time. We biked here, today. I have an electric bike. It’s possible to go to the Champlain Lookout by electric bike. You can rent one for the afternoon. You can do that. It’s doable. It’s accessible. You can hike on very flat trails, where you can push a stroller or even a wheelchair. Feeling that the park is possible, that it can be enjoyable; you feel like you’re out in nature, no matter your age or level of physical ability.
Tobi Nussbaum: Very well. So with that, thank you, Rachel, thank you, Catherine. I found this to be an interesting discussion.
Tobi Nussbaum: That concludes this episode Capital Stories. Join us for our next episode, when we talk about successes and challenges, and imagine the National Capital Region’s ongoing evolution. Thank you for listening.