Monthly Archives: June 2010

From TriRudy by Julia

We have 16 volunteers and usually need 80.
Can’t compete this year? Give back to the sport we love! We are looking for volunteers for race set-up and race kit pick-up July 2nd, and tons of volunteers for July 3rd. With two transition zones we require loads of volunteers for the course.

Do you have teenage kids that you can bring along that need to get volunteer hours? It’s a great day out and we’re happy to sign-off their sheets.

This race is a completely volunteer driven event with all of the proceeds going to charity.

Please contact Fred Maurette, Volunteer Coordinator to say you’re in for 2010. fmaurette@sympatico.ca Fred will be in touch…

Thanks for making this a great event!!

From the City of Ottawa Website

Presented by: Société d’histoire de l’Outaoauis

While it is now a greenery oasis, the Gatineau Park has long ago been the scene of industrial activities. Four iron mines have once been exploited between Mine Road and Pink Lake. Dug as early as 1826 by the Hull Mining Company, the Forsyth mine was one of them. Guide: Michel Prévost

Language: French

Dates: June 27, 2010 at 2 pm

Cost: Free Event

At: At Cité-des-Jeunes Boulevard, in front of the Gatineau Park, 2 de la Galène Street

Phone: 613 562-5825

E-mail: prevost@uottawa.ca

Paul posted at TriRudy his experience with a sickly dog on the parkway, praising the NCC conservation officers who gave aid.

An apparently abandoned rottweiler was lying on the road with most people passing assuming she was dead until good Samaritans Al and Christine checked to be sure. Paul then came along with a cell phone and called in the conservations officers who gave the poor pooch TLC.

This just in via NCC press release:

For a change of pace from the usual Canada Day activities, residents and visitors are invited to the quiet atmosphere of Gatineau Park’s Mackenzie King Estate to celebrate Canada Day, with a giant birthday cake, a concert with the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band, and games for the kids. A visit to the former summer residence of Canada’s 10^th Prime Minister is a unique way to relive the cottage life of the early 20^th century and learn more about William Lyon Mackenzie King and his relationship with nature.

Please note that the $8.00 access fee per vehicle will be waived on July 1^st .

A hiker who walked from the Eardley-Masham Road down to Kingsmere has posted a series of photos from his (her?) treck. He appears to have slept “rough” (and unofficial-like).

The NCC has just issued a press release indicating that tomorrow, June 22 will see the beginning of work on the bridge over the parkway on the Kingsmere road. This work is scheduled to continue into October but the road will remain open throughout.

Here’s the press release:

TRAFFIC ADVISORY

KINGSMERE ROAD OVERPASS REHABILITATION WORK

Canada’s Capital Region — The National Capital Commission (NCC) wishes to advise the public of rehabilitation work on the Kingsmere Road Overpass in Gatineau Park.

Work will begin Tuesday, June 22 and run until the end of October 2010. Motorists must use caution and should expect delays during this period. The Kingsmere Road Overpass will remain open at all times during work.

From Monday to Friday, work will affect both eastbound and westbound traffic during the construction period.

•        One lane will be kept open to traffic at all times on the overpass in both directions.
•        The Gatineau Parkway ramps will remain entirely open during the work period.
•        Traffic will be controlled by four temporary traffic lights installed at the approaches of the Kingsmere Road Overpass and at the Gatineau Parkway ramps.
•        A pedestrian and bicycle lane will remain open at all times.

Appropriate signage and traffic cones will also be in place to direct traffic.

Work includes the renewal of the concrete over and under the bridge deck as well as the replacement of the railings on the overpass and its approaches. This work also affects the curbs, the abutments, the new deck overlay and waterproofing of the deck.

The rehabilitation work on the Kingsmere Road Overpass, which are conducted as part of the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund received by the NCC, are part of the necessary work to maintain and preserve the functional integrity of the overpass.

In the fall of 2009 the NCC invited public input on its planned redesign of the entrances to Gatineau Park. This week a report on those consultations was made public.

The report summarizes public suggestions (which sometimes wander beyond the scope of the NCC’s request for input) and in many case reports what changes the NCC is planning to undertake. In general these have to do with gate structures and signage. In most cases the NCC does not justify its intent or directly respond to some of the public ideas. To do so would have expanded a 12 page report to make it even less likely to be read by the public so I can’t find fault with that. The truly energetic members of the public could always pursue their suggestions directly.

What the report does reveal though is that Gamelin Street is to be closed. This is evidently already part of the Gatineau Park Master Plan and will very likely reduce commuter car traffic on that section of the Gatineau Parkway between Tache and P3.

There was speculation about how the entrances might be used to restrict vehicle traffic and the report reveals:

Where applicable, vehicle access control will rely on the system of barriers located at the entrance of each parkway. Fees are not part of the current study. The Gatineau Park Green Transportation Plan will address the issue of evening and overnight parkway closures.

Evidently one of the out-of-scope ideas included the suggestion that the NCC offer a shuttle service to points of interest in the Park. Interestingly the NCC response to this suggestion runs:

The Gatineau Park Green Transportation Plan will consider a range of options for improving access to Gatineau Park.

The NCC have posted a report on their public consultation into Gatineau Park entrance designs.

From the NCC

The next public meeting of the Board of Directors of the NCC will be held on Tuesday June 29th 2010.  The agenda of the meeting will be online on Tuesday June 22nd 2010.  The public can observe the meeting at room 324 at 40 Elgin Street, in Ottawa or online on our website.

Tom Spears at the Ottawa Citizen has let a visit to the woods in Gatineau Park  stimulate his philosophical side.