Local Action Plan

Sheenboro

Local Action Plan 2012-2017

Approved by Council April 2, 2012 Table of Content

1. MAPS AND STATISTICS: 3

A) MAPS: 3 B) STATISTICS: 4

2. BRAINSTORMING ON SHEENBORO, HELD ON APRIL 3RD, 2011 8

A) ASSETS AND CONSIDERATIONS 8 B) STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES 9 C) OTHER SPECIFIC ISSUES 10

3. ACTION PLAN 12

A) POSITION SHEENBORO THROUGH BEAUTIFICATION AND SIGNAGE 12 B) HAVE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND SPORT & LEISURE INFRASTRUCTURES 13 C) CREATE MECHANISMS AND STRATEGIES TO ATTRACT AND WELCOME NEWCOMERS 15 D) SUPPORT LOCAL ECONOMY THROUGH DIVERSIFICATION AND INNOVATION 16 E) PROVIDE MUNICIPAL AND PUBLIC SERVICES OF QUALITY 17 1. Maps and Statistics:

a) Maps:

General map of Sheenboro:

Detailed map of Sheenboro: b) Statistics:

From: Statistics Canada, Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2006 Economic Regions

2484095 - Sheenboro, geographical codes and localities, 2006 Geographical codes Code Name Type 24 Quebec Province 2484 Pontiac Municipalité régionale de comté 2484095 Sheenboro Municipalité

2460 Outaouais Economic Region

Localities Malakoff [Locality] Aberdeen, Malakoff, Sheen et Malakoff,Sheen,Esher et Aberdeen [Locality] [Locality] Esher Schyan Point [Locality] Esher,Aberdeen,Malakoff et Sheen [Locality] Sheen [Locality] Fort William [Locality] Sheen-Esher-Aberdeen-et- [Locality] Fraser Landing [Locality] Malakoff Fraser-Landing [Locality] Trout Lake [Locality]

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/subjects-sujets/standard-norme/sgc-cgt/2011/map-carte-index-eng.htm SHEENBORO STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN 2012-2017

From: Statistics Canada, Community Profiles, 2006

Total Population in 2006: 167 Males: 85 Females: 80 Population in 2001: 115 2001 to 2006 population change (%): 45.2 Land area (square km): 569.97 Population density per square kilometre: 0.3 Median age of the population: 44.9 Total population 15 years and over: 140 % of the population aged 15 and over: 82.4 Total private dwellings: 214 Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 72 http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/mobile/92-591/table-eng.cfm?SGC=2484095 http://www.recensement2006.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-594/details/page.cfm? Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=2484095&Geo2=PR&Code2=24&Data=Count&SearchText=Sheenboro&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01& B1=All&GeoLevel=PR&GeoCode=2484095

Sheenboro, Municipalité Age characteristics Total Male Female Total population 165 85 80 0 to 4 years 5 0 5 5 to 9 years 10 0 5 10 to 14 years 15 10 5 15 to 19 years 10 5 5 20 to 24 years 5 5 0 25 to 29 years 5 0 5 30 to 34 years 5 0 5 35 to 39 years 15 5 15 40 to 44 years 25 10 15 45 to 49 years 15 5 5 50 to 54 years 10 5 5 55 to 59 years 20 15 10 60 to 64 years 10 10 0 65 to 69 years 15 5 10 70 to 74 years 5 0 0 75 to 79 years 10 5 5 80 to 84 years 5 0 0 85 years and over 0 0 0 Median age of the population 44.9 45.8 42.2 % of the population aged 15 and over 82.4 88.2 81.3

Approved by Council April 2012 SHEENBORO STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN 2012-2017

Sheenboro, Common-law status characteristics Municipalité Total Male Female Total population 15 years and over 140 70 65 Not in a common-law relationship 135 70 65 In a common-law relationship 5 0 5 Sheenboro, Legal marital status characteristics Municipalité Total Male Female Total population 15 years and over 135 75 65 Never legally married (single) 25 15 10 Legally married (and not separated) 90 45 50 Separated, but still legally married 5 5 0 Divorced 15 5 5 Widowed 10 0 5

http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm? Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=2484095&Geo2=PR&Code2=24&Data=Count&SearchText=Sheenboro&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01& B1=All&Custom=

From: Répertoire des municipalités, MAMROT

Sheenboro

 Québec Geographical Code : 84095  Designation : Municipalité  Gentilic : Sheener*

 Administrative Region: Outaouais (07)  MRC : Pontiac (840)  Census Division -Canada : Pontiac (84)  Electoral Circumscription-Québec : Pontiac (558)

 Superficies : 571,01 km2  Population : 166  Municipal Constitution Date: 1869-01-01  Next Municipal Elections: 2013-11-03

http://www.mamrot.gouv.qc.ca/repertoire-des-municipalites/fiche/municipalite/84095/

From: BDSO, Gouvernement du Québec, 2010

État consolidé - Dépenses de fonctionnement et d'immobilisations, Québec, région administrative Outaouais, MRC et municipalités (23 juillet 2010)

Année : 2008 General Public Health and well- Administration Transport Salubrity Security being

$ ...... 84095 Sheenboro 97 932 70 350 343 616 21 962 - M

Total of functioning Land use, Leisure Electrical and immobilization urbanism and and Funding Fees network expenses development Culture

$ ...... 84095 Sheenboro 28 323 11 100 - 62 573 345 M

http://www.bdso.gouv.qc.ca

2. Brainstorming on Sheenboro, held on April 3rd, 2011

a) Assets and Considerations

Geographic assets/considerations

 Trout Lake Road – the oldest established area in Sheen/potential area for development

 Ottawa River (dock)

 Oiseau Rock/Trail

 Nature Conservancy (ICO) – develop more trails

 Fort William/zoning/adjust by-laws/lighthouse?

 Gibraltar Island

 Shoal Island

Commercial assets/considerations

 Develop guidelines for new building/renovations to preserve historic and unified aesthetic (Don Marion to obtain existing guidelines from other municipalities)

 Develop a corporate non-profit structure under the municipal Council in order to fully acquire/develop any assets that may present themselves

 Outfitters – 5 registered Outfitters – opportunities to develop and grow?

Social/Demographic assets/considerations

 Create a welcome committee

 Gather and document demographics on the permanent residents of Sheen and create mechanism for gathering same for Cottagers

 RA Committee

 Parish Council

 Stephan ( Sports and Leisure) from MCR to come to Council Meeting

 PPJ does not connect to Sheenboro – potential development opportunity with Cyclists

 Create Family committee to evaluate opportunities to improve assets for Families – connect with Arianne Bouchard

 Land Use Committee - Establish an up-to-date portrait of the Green zone and potential changes the community wants in order to further development. Meet with Green zone residents and obtain input – Don Marion to join Agricultural Committee and to investigate/report on any related developments

 Improve Communications regarding all activities available to residents/cottages of Sheen – add Parish bulletin to Sheen Website- circulate bulletin via email (Doris to confirm with Father and then connect with David.

Municipal Services

 Roads-moving along well in Sheen – continue to improve i.e. Trout Lake area

 Dump- underway

 Fire Protection – create amalgamation strategy

 Investigate Public Safety issue and potential commercial development in and around the old Sheen store – conduct environmental testing ($5,000) to confirm any possible next steps – discuss implications with Environmental Officer at MRC (Kerri?)

b) Strength and Weaknesses

Our strength:

River front, public dock, beaches, lakes, Irish heritage, culture and history (trout lake settlement, Fort-William, Irish music festival, the village in itself, Oiseau Rock), outdoor activities (5 outfitters), nature conservancy.

Our weaknesses:

Lack of accommodation and restaurants, no commerce or industries employing a certain number of workers, no lots available for new construction, lack of fresh locally grown produce.

c) Other Specific Issues

Environmental issues:

Environmental issues within the municipality are important and need to continue to be monitored. Public safety should be considered when all future development is considered. The environmental officer at the MRC, Kari Richardson is available to assist the municipality as needed. It is certainly an important step in a revitalization process.

Land use: White zone and green zone

It was mentioned that there is no more white zone lots for new construction in Sheen. This remains to be proved with documentation. Starting soon, a characterization of the MRC territory will take place. It is planned to be a 12 months process, and at the end of it, we should have a better portrait of the land use and its potential for development. Pierre Duchesne, the land use planner at the MRC, will be in charge of that project, in collaboration with the Université du Québec in Gatineau. The municipality should be active into that, so that it can utilize this information for the planning of its future development. The idea for the municipality to meet the farmers and document land that is zoned green and has no agricultural potential and to eventually ask for its dezoning would probably not bring any positive outcome. After the characterization is completed, the municipalities will have a better view of what’s possible, and when the land planning scheme is completed, then a collective request from the MRC or a couple of municipalities with the support of the MRC could be projected to the provincial organization in charge of the zoning.

Family and Elder Policy

A coordinator at the MRC was hired about 18 months ago to coordinate the making of family and elder policies. Every municipalities of the MRC were offered the opportunity to form a local committee supported by this coordinator. 11 municipalities decided to participate, and they should submit their action plan within the next 2 months to their respective municipal council. The contract of the coordinator ends in 2 months. The Ministry of Family offers around 20 000$ for municipalities engaging in that process. The municipality has to commit for around 3000$. This program was more popular than anticipated in municipalities in the province. As a result, there is a certain delay between the application and the acceptance. If Sheen wants to get in, it won’t be able to rely on a MRC coordinator.

Information transmission Getting access to community info is a challenge. Municipality website, a board in the village, and the parish bulletin distribution/forwarding through email are solutions.

PPJ The possibility for the cycle path to be prolonged to the village of Sheen should be requested by the municipality. This would have to be a MRC project, coupled with an outdoor development pole (Oiseau rock, hiking trail, Fort-Williams, etc.)

Development Corporation It should be searched on how the municipality, through a corporation, could initiate development projects. Sheen has a big potential for development in terms of outdoor and cultural activities

Building guideline Suggestions were made on the possibility for Sheen to have building guidelines to preserve its heritage.

3. Action Plan

a) Position Sheenboro through Beautification and Signage

Priority Actions Steps to Realization Responsibility Partners Timeline Costs Comments

1. Hang flowers in the village Improve the Municipality MRC CLD 2. Landscape an area at the aesthetics in the Community Village Residents One year $ 1,000.00 entrance of the village village Representatives Committee 3. Create banners for seasons

Develop guidelines 1. Search for example from other for new buildings / municipalities renovation to Municipality 2. Connect with CLD’s cultural MRC CLD Three years preserve historic Building Inspector officer ( Emilie Chazelas) and unified 3. Create guidelines for Sheenboro aesthetics

1. Search for website designers, ask Create an attractive for quotes Municipality Fresh Image website for 2. Create the content of the website Councillor Karen Ongoing $ 2,000.00 Robert Miller Sheenboro with the web designer Shea 3. Update website

1. Choose a location for the information center Create an 2. Choose the aspect of this Municipality information center information center (lighthouse?) Councillor Doris MRC CLD Three years $ 3,000.00 to promote tourism 3. Search for entrepreneur and ask Ranger for quotes 4. Construct the information center

b) Have Community Activities and Sport & Leisure Infrastructures

Support the existing Municipality Cottage Association In Kind annual events 1. RA & Parish Council plan on an Recreation Community Ongoing employee (Canada and annual basis Association Volunteers support Remembrance Days) Parish Council

Organize Recreation educational courses 1. RA & Municipality Association MRC Recreation staff Ongoing for local people and Plan on an annual basis Municipality newcomers

1. Put an invitation in the Mayor’s Create and promote Newsletter Municipality a Bicycle and Hiking 2. Create a calendar with specific Mayor Community Ongoing No cost Group activities (add this calendar on the Representatives website)

Develop new 1. Investigate appropriate play Municipality In Kind Grants will be Parish Council structures and structures, consult local residents Recreation Ongoing municipal needed Community games for children, 2. Create structures and games Association Two-Three employee Representatives adults and seniors in 3. Create an Intergenerational years $ 60,000.00 Cottage Association the park community park for all ages. estimate

1. Make a feasibility plan of where Develop a bicycle the path can pass MRC CLD path which will 2. Secure funding Municipality Two-Three MTQ connect the PPJ 3. Name, create and promote the years Provincial MLA Cyclopark new cycle path

Priority Actions Steps to Realization Responsibility Partners Timeline Costs Comments Municipality, 1. Promote the Oiseau Rock Trail Nature In Kind and other hiking trails on the Conservancy Community Develop and support website Canada, Representative, Five years promote hiking trails municipal 2. Develop hiking trails on the Brennan volunteers employee Nature Preserve Recreational Farms CDE (Oiseau Rock)

1. Meet with the canoe route promoters (MRC/CLD) Develop and 2. Determine opportunities to promote a canoe provide more public river access Municipality, MRC Council Two years $ 2,000.00 route on the Ottawa (Kari Richardson) CLD representatives River 3. Renovate the municipal docks 4. Promote the canoe route (river maps and website)

1. Determine opportunities to Municipality, RA promote history of the Sheenboro Committee, Irish Volunteers from Develop a Historical area Heritage Festival permanent residents Two years Committee 2. Organize the Committee to Committee, Friends and seasonal residents provide annual Historical tours of of Oiseau. Sheenboro

c) Create Mechanisms and Strategies to Attract and Welcome Newcomers

Priority Actions Steps to Realization Responsibility Partners Timeline Costs Comments 1. Create the committee to improve Create a Welcome Municipality Community volunteers One year the welcoming of newcomers Committee

1. Connect with the CLD (Mélanie Create a Family and Pieschke) Municipality MRC CLD One year Elder Committee 2. Create the committee to improve assets for families

Develop a plan for 1. Check availability of property Municipality subdivision possibilities Councillor MRC Five year development for 2. Review Agricultural land use future expansion of zones the village

Improve the communication 1. Add Parish bulletin to Sheen Parish support and regarding all website Municipality Five years consistency activities available 2. Circulate bulletin via email to residents / cottagers 1. Create an inventory of the excluding properties Take steps to 2. See the possibilities to improve provide faster and service Internet + search for quotes Municipality Look for providers Five years more efficient 3. Make representations needed for Internet service a faster and more efficient Internet

d) Support Local Economy through Diversification and Innovation

1. Advertise on Sheen website Municipality Support local 2. Invite them to advertise on the businesses and new Pontiac Business Directory Local Businesses Five years business 3. Attract a business to the Village opportunities Hotel property 4. Support new business ventures Dark Horse Inn

1. Connect with Rapides-des- Create a non-profit Joachims (Jim Gibson) who have development Municipality that type of corporation Rapides-des-Joachims, corporation under Community Five years 2. Work with the community to MRC, CLD the municipal representatives create the corporation to develop council new assets

Support ZEC to promote hunting 1. Advertise on website Municipality ZEC ongoing and fishing

1. Meet them together to see the Jack Brennan, Linus Support our Five opportunities to develop and grow Hearty, Shawn Ranger, Municipality Ongoing registered Outfitters (winter season…) Hugh Nadeau, 2. Advertise on website Ned/Shawn Sullivan

1. Meet with the Trout Lake Trailer Trout Lake Have more places of Park Association Mike Allard, Larry accommodation to Municipality Two years 2. Seek opportunities to create a Gagnon attract visitors municipal water front park Millar Property

e) Provide Municipal and Public Services of Quality

Updating the 1. Gather information Municipality website and $ 500.00 2. Contact local businesses to get Councillor Local Businesses Ongoing publicize community annually information K. Shea businesses

Stimulate the different committees : 1. Be sure to have at least one municipal representative in each Welcome committee Community Municipality Ongoing Committee 2. Add points on the municipal representatives Family & Elder agenda to make the follow-up of Committee, these committees Development Corporation

1. Participate in the Board of La Board of Directors Support the elderly Résidence Meilleur du Haut- Isle-aux-Allumettes, (Résidence Three-Five To be to remain in the Pontiac Chichester, Waltham, Meilleur) years determined Upper Pontiac 2. Support the board in their Rapides-des-Joachims Municipality different actions

$ 400,000 Continue to improve 1. Improve all municipal roads Municipality Five years over five municipal roads year

Five years determined Specified Have a solid Fire 1. Work with other municipalities Isle-aux-Allumettes, within Municipality MRC Fire Protection Plan to have a common strategy Chichester, Waltham Municipal Safety Action agreements Plan

Investigate any 1. Participate in Public Safety Municipality Public Safety issue Committee meetings

Public Consultation Meeting Notes Saturday February 10, 2012 (Twenty-five residents attended)

Strengths

 good community spirit  we all know each other-people always come home-community loyalty  spirit of cooperation  mountain/lakes/  Ottawa river  church/religion  Ft. William  Oiseau Rock  scenic natural beauty  Irish Heritage Festival  Canada Day celebrations  we know how to have a good time

Weaknesses

 No central General Store/Bar/Restaurant/  Docks/Ft. William needs development/planning  no public accommodation  increasing noise pollution from the CFB - we need a liaison/committee  Atomic Energy - we should have this covered with an existing committee  No PPJ bike path past Waltham except towards Pembroke  Lack of coordinated Tourism effort  No maintained winter trails

ACTION PLAN a) Position Sheenboro...

 Flowers/decor should reflect the theme and aesthetics that we want to project.(i.e. green and white flowers)  Accommodation and Rentals category should be added to the Sheen Web site  Facebook could be utilized to address the youth and an email list could be gathered - requested on tax bills etc. and forwarded to David to add to address book  a summer student could be utilized to work on the 2 above projects b) Have community...

Add Hockey Day, St. Patrick’s Day dance, Halloween dance/fire dept. activities etc. Create an annual list and fill in the dates regularly. c) Create Mechanisms...

 Create Public Safety committee to address action plan for emergencies and power outages. Update fuse panel/get permission for use of hall/generator etc. plan for food/water/shelter etc. d) Support Local ...

 create a brochure to be distributed at the travel kiosk and surrounding businesses and communities to promote Sheen  RV Park - do we want one, can we get one, location etc.  to what extent will the Council support local business initiatives - tax incentives etc. requires further discussion (Business Development Committee)  the Parish has 80 acres maybe they could offer some land

Submission by one resident

Mr. Mayor: I recently received a notice of an economic strategic planning meeting (Feb 11\12)

Unfortunately I will be away on a family vacation. This meeting in very important to me and I regret being absent, It would be appreciated if you keep me a copy of the agenda and some of the working communications. I will contact you when I return from the “Disney Cruise”.

I’m forwarding a number of suggestions; I believe your committee has already included some of these in their draft copy for the meeting. Hopefully some of my ideas will be of use. By Andrew Perrault: Strategic Planning for the future economic action plan 2012-2017 • We cannot predict all the variables of the future. We can start with the present; let’s open up with some ideas that we can discuss now. To start with we can promote what we have- (1) The Beautiful Ottawa River (2) The Oiseau Rock, its legends and history, and the new trail. Reference person-Joann McCann (3) The Lake District of Sheenboro with its Beautiful view-maybe for a beautiful foliage tour (4) The July 1st Day- with one of the biggest parade in the Pontiac; has been a great success for the community (5) The “outdoors weekend” ( winterlude). At present it’s a private party organized by Joanne and Glenn Magill and friends. It has been a great success and municipal support (perhaps promotion would suffice) this event could become a yearly event. (6) The Cemeteries at Fort William and Sheenboro are very historical; a special Cemetery day might include a tour of come sections of the cemeteries. (7) The occasional Trout Lake settlement Day might revive the history of the early community. Most sites could be identified from the road; permission might be sought to visit actual sites. Some examples; the early mill (wheat, grain) cemetery sawmills, school and post office; photos of the areas served for settlement might be displayed; Reference person: Billy Brennan; the monument commutating the Trout Lake Settlers should be maintained by the Municipality. Where sites cannot be visited- historical documents and history papers could provide background. • We should look at the establishment of a "real" park at Trout Lake. The park could be opened to families for a picnic, swimming boating etc. there would be some costs involved a municipal employee might be present during the peak of the season Perhaps a separate site could be reserved for family recreation, fees could be charged to tents and trailers. • Bus trips to Sheenboro could be coordinated with other areas 1) Shawville (Historical) 2) Bryson House- 3) Lumbering, Chute (waterfalls, zip line) 4) In Sheenboro: the bomb dropped (1941) at Hannah Meehem`s, the cemetery, the kale district. 5) Fort William (tour of the historical highlights) lunch at Fort William. • There have been many successful community activities in Sheenboro - School Reunion, Parish and Municipal anniversary. The yearly July 1st activities The Irish festival weekend 2011 Remembrance Day These activities should have an archives or resource bank that could file reports, photos, slides and DVD`s of events for a particular celebration- these could set up in a parish hall or in a large tent during special activities.

If such an event were held every 5 years it would help to retain and nourish our cultural heritage. • The small park near the church could be expanded. Many children enjoy it, more options should be added. • The MRC will be discussing amalgamation during March 1912. Our municipal council should promote discussion on this topic; reports should be made to the municipality. We must be informed and we should proceed with open minds but the proponents should be forced to convince us why we should join. We must follow these issues very closely • The community should be made aware of the possible economic development at Mansfield, Fort Coulonge and Allumette Island. There would be spinoffs from this development and Sheenboro could be a recipient Watch Closely • The road committee and council must look at future economic development when deciding on priority for road improvement. It appears that present emphasis is on the roads into Sheenboro and as far as Fort William, Downey’s Bay, Hudson’s Bay Road and the Lake District. If future development takes place in other areas, some road expenses might be incurred. Some thought should be given to hard top tie road into Fort William, also renaming these sections to be called fort William Road • Economic development at Fort William is crucial for future strategic planning. Currently little can be done until the future ownership and management is decided upon. It should be noted that should the proposals by Michael Bartlett for upper Pontiac development go ahead there will be a spinoff effect on Fort William. These events should be watched closely • The re-opening of the Bar in Sheenboro and Jack Brennan’s plan for construction of a motel and Bar\Restaurant at the Sheenboro- Sullivan crossroads must be given some attention. One or both would have an impact on the service offered in the area. • At some point in time, it is hopefully that a formal parking agreement could be reached at Fort William. There is public access to the dock but no municipal parking. • Additional access to the river, I understand there are allowances for public access to the river on or near Meehan’s Bay (Southside-2 possible access Roads) Consideration should be given to purchasing parking space on the “back lots” of property adjacent to the municipal Road. • Encouragement to agri- tourism in Sheenboro- I believe the agriculture ministry would give some direction in this area. • New residents should be made to feel welcome in the community. Santa Clause can’t do it alone. The municipal strategic action plan makes reference to this. • The municipal strategic action plan calls for support for out 5 registered outfitters. I support this idea, the future of Sheenboro tourism will shortly develop in a much more expanded role. However some outfitters should be encouraged to include more leisure activities such as hiking, walking, canoeing, snowshoeing, nature observations etc. These activities would be additional alternatives hunting and fishing provides the basic of this area of tourism, overnight accommodation is crucial for this. • Recommendations

A Kiosk to be located in the village would include important information on Sheenboro, past, present, future. Reference might be made as to what can be enjoyed in Sheenboro not only those of “A free nature” but also those services provided by the commercial sector. A map should be included to illustrate the historical and touristic aspects on our community.

 Possible useful reference 1. Rural horizon paper – agriculture Canada spring 2010 2. Notes from Future planning meeting Sheenboro council Nov1\10 Some points covered Tourist routes Information Kiosk Culture Agriculture MRC Strategic plan (5 areas of development) Survival on a community Municipal guidelines Amalgamation UPA and the Green goals

3. “Welcome to the community forum” 1980 Working with council organized by the Institute of Cultural Affairs, This was an “active” work shop Challenges - Past-present-future - Economic, cultural and political obstacles to achieving the above goals The interlude impressed me We read poems, listened to songs, read history observed symbols and studied writings, all related to the Pontiac and Sheenboro.

Final coverage: Proposals- I’m limiting the coverage to the outline Note: the ideas were there 32 years ago. There were no follow ups lets learn from our mistakes

4. Municipal of Sheenboro Rural Plan and By-laws. Daniel Arbour and Associates

Approved by Council April 2012