Journal ÎLES-DE-BOUCHERVILLE
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Parc national des Journal ÎLES-DE-BOUCHERVILLE English Version 2012-2013 Here’s to your health! The beneficial effects of nature on young people’s personal development Increasingly more appropriate activities for schools are undisputable. The 23 national parks in the Parks Québec network are Helping young people get in touch with nature also ties in with a major public areas, ideal for discovering nature and participating in outdoor succession issue in our national parks. Parcs Québec works very closely activities. This year, Québec National Parks Day highlights how important with schools to ensure that they benefit from the great outdoors, often near enjoying nature is to our overall well-being by crafting its message around urban centres. As they learn to better appreciate these exceptional natural the health theme. Of course, we hope to see other iterations of this day environments, young people also become more aware of the challenges year-round. involved in maintaining the necessary balance between conservation and School program offering takes on even greater importance accessibility – the two components of our national parks’ mission. Statistics indicating that young people have become increasingly sedentary Our most effective advocates and out of touch with nature have prompted concerns among the staff of Young people are our best spokespersons. Following a visit to Parc national our national parks. These concerns have, over the past few years, spurred du Bic, here’s how one sixth-grader put into words the astonishment she our parks teams to develop an activity offering specifically intended for this felt during her encounter with nature: "I hope I can go back to admire all group. Our parks’ offering has evolved from virtually no discovery programs these wonders again, but on the next visit, I would take my time and bring in 1999 to an impressive and varied line-up of 480 activities today. In my family… to this Park of Wonders!" 2011-2012, 377,417 or so visitors to the Parcs Québec network participated In light of our objective – to encourage youth to get in touch with nature – in one of the many diverse activities offered: theatrical vignettes, treasure we will continue to develop activities and programs designed to reach out hunts, hiking (on foot, by bike, on the water, etc.), series of talks… all told, a to them. We welcome you to our national parks, on behalf of all those who range of activities that brings together visitors of all ages who are curious to work there and look forward to greeting you upon your arrival! learn a little more about their natural and historic heritage. region’s the oth r er ve p o a c r s k i s D MAURICIE MONT-TREMBLANT Martin Soucy Raymond Desjardins Vice-president of Operations President and CEO Mont-Tremblant Trois-Rivières Parcs Québec Sépaq ÎLES-DE- BOUCHERVILLE MONT-SAINT- BRUNO PLAISANCE OKA Natashquan Ottawa Montréal Sept-Îles YAMASKA RÉSERVE DE L'ARCHIPEL-DE-MINGAN Port-Menier QUÉBEC e ANTICOSTI nce Riv r wre La FORILLON t. AIGUEBELLE POINTE-TAILLON S Gaspé MONTS-VALIN Matane GASPÉSIE GÎTE DU MONT-ALBERT ÎLE-BONAVENTURE- Rouyn-Noranda PARC MARIN ET-DU-ROCHER-PERCÉ DU SAGUENAY– Percé Gulf of SAINT-LAURENT MIGUASHA FJORD-DU-SAGUENAY BIC St. Lawrence Tadoussac LAC-TÉMISCOUATA HAUTES-GORGES- GRANDS-JARDINS DE-LA-RIVIÈRE- MALBAIE JACQUES-CARTIER NEW PRINCE EDWARD BRUNSWICK ISLAND MONT-TREMBLANT North MAURICIE Québec Bay Charlottetown Trois-Rivières Mont-Tremblant Moncton MAINE FRONTENAC ONTARIO ÎLES-DE-BOUCHERVILLE NOVA SCOTIA PLAISANCE OKA MONT-SAINT-BRUNO Sherbrooke Ottawa MONT-MÉGANTIC Saint John Montréal YAMASKA MONT-ORFORD Québec's national park network Halifax Atlantic Canadian national parks Ocean www.parcsquebec.com Message from the Minister The government attaches prime importance to the development of Québec’s natural and historic heritage, as demonstrated by the extensive work done in our national parks over the past few years. This includes the major project underway at Parc national du Lac-Témiscouata. Its completion will take the government closer to the target it has set for itself – raising protected-area coverage in Québec to 12% of the territory by 2015 – and Quebecers will enjoy access to infrastructure and services that meet international standards. Enhancement work in the Franceville sector of Parc national du Mont-Mégantic, coupled with the renovation or construction work on Discovery and Visitors Centres at three other national parks – Frontenac, Jacques-Cartier and Mont-Saint-Bruno – will also mark the completion of a whole series of essential projects intended to improve accessibility to these protected areas. Additional work will shortly begin in other national parks, including Mont-Tremblant, Yamaska and Grands-Jardins. Parcs Québec’s mandate extends beyond enhancement of our national parks, to encompass biodiversity protection and preservation. Our on-site teams possess expertise that enables them to develop strategies for research and acquisition of knowledge that are recognized in scientifi c communities. Another innovation was introduced fi ve years ago when the national parks implemented their Ecological Integrity Monitoring Program – a Canadian fi rst. Through its partnership role, Sépaq ensures that our national parks contribute to regional economic development. The parks work with their partners, taking local realities into consideration while ensuring that development is centered on particular features and attractions specifi c to their territory. Each park is unique – it’s now up to you to come out and discover them. Welcome to your national parks! Pierre Arcand Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks Welcome Activities and Services Summary Welcome to the Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville. Our Spring, Summer and Autumn A Necklace of Islands in the team this year feels highly enthusiastic about hosting you • Guided Discovery Activities Heart of the Saint-Lawrence . 4 within our necklace of islands at the heart of one of the world’s greatest rivers. • Bicycle Riding Raccoons under Study . 5 • Hiking Discovering the Islands . 6-7 Discovering our national park means, for example, covering • Canoeing and Sea Kayaking our 21-km network of cycling paths, and letting our rich fauna • Park Map, Rules and Regulations . 8-9 and flora fill you with wonder along one of our four rustic Introductory Sea Kayaking Courses hiking trails, among others. In addition, our naturalists will • Bicycle and Watercraft Rental More Fear than Harm . 10 quench your thirst for enhancing your knowledge with a whole • Fishing School Programs . 10 wealth of discovery activities focusing on our park’s human • Discovery and Services Centre history or its natural heritage. Besides, we also have a few - Reception and Information Desk A Rather Untypical Urban Snake . 11 new developments in store so you can better understand the - Exhibit 2 Guided Discovery Activities . 12-13 secrets behind this magnificent 8-km protected area. Pleasure - Boutique Nature boating buffs can also find something to relish, wandering The Islands in Winter . 14 along in a canoe or kayak on one of our nautical trail network’s - Snack and Dairy Bar numerous channels or thoroughfares, or enjoying an excursion Calendar, Opening Hours, Rates . 15 aboard a rabaskaw. Winter In winter, you will also revel in contemplating a one-of-a-kind • Snow Hiking scenery on foot, snowshoes or cross-country skis along our • Snowshoeing Nordic trails. Make sure to also experience our winter-time • Nordic Skiing torch hiking tours. • Snowshoe Rental As part of its constant commitment to offering you more, the • Discovery and Services Centre Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville team is developing new - Reception and Information Desk projects to be unveiled during this year. - Exhibit Your respect of the park and its rules is vital to helping us - Boutique Nature protect and preserve this small natural territory. In this light, your complicity provides invaluable support to our The prices, terms and services mentioned in this employees’ preservation efforts. We extend our sincere newsletter are subject to change without notice. thanks for your co-operation. André Despatie, Park Director Protect and Discover 3 A Necklace of Islands in the Heart of the Saint-Lawrence The Mission of Parcs Québec With a view to achieving harmonious development at the cultural, social, economic and regional levels, Parcs Québec is responsible for the conservation and development of territories that are representative of Québec’s 43 natural regions and exceptional sites, due notably to their biological diversity, while ensuring that they are accessible for educational and outdoor use. All of Québec’s national parks were created in accordance with World Conservation Union standards. A national park is a relatively vast area : DANIELLE CHATILLON • that represents one or more ecosystems that Just a hop and a skip away from downtown (American goldfinch, yellow warbler, mallard, great are moderately or not at all transformed by Montreal lies a haven of islands, channels and blue heron, Northern flicker, great horned owl, etc.) exploitation; thoroughfares bustling with natural life and history surveyed within the territory. An interesting fact • where animal and plant species, geomor- in the heart of one of mightiest rivers in the world: about the Îles-de-Boucherville, in the heart of the phological sites and habitats are of particular the Saint-Lawrence. This is the Parc national des fluvial corridor, is that they lie right along one of interest from a scientific, educational or Îles-de-Boucherville, a highly representative sample Eastern North America’s major migratory routes. They recreational viewpoint, and that offers scenery of the Saint-Lawrence Lowlands’ natural heritage. provide migrating waterfowl with a rest area as well of great beauty; as a spot for nesting and rearing their offspring. • in which the highest competent authority of In this outstanding environment, aquatic, semi- the country has taken measures to eliminate aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems mix and mingle.