I got word that Mort’s Cairn is suffering damage as young people enjoying Camp Fortune’s aerial park have been also using the cairn as a climbing structure.
You’ll remember that this monument was dedicated in 1950 to Charles Mortureux, the president of the Ottawa Ski Club for much of the first half of last century, and the man who founded Camp Fortune and turned the Gatineau Hills into a ski mecca for cross-country and downhill enthusiasts alike. Mort’s influence was not unsubstantial in the very formation of Gatineau Park.
My last intervention on this issue was a year ago when I’d been told that the NCC had sought a quote for refurbishment of the monument but evidently that work has yet to proceed. We need to urge the NCC to undertake the restoration.
I have asked that tonight’s GVHS 50th anniversary celebration include a plea to the 100+ attendees to contact the NCC to encourage them to protect this bit of history and I hope you’ll drop the NCC a line as well.
Good luck N.C.C. protect history!!!!
I will them a line for all the good it does.
Terry
Seems surprising to me that the NCC doesn’t take the steps to repair this monument. The costs would be trivial compared to some of the other historic conservation projects they have in the books. Would they “let” a volunteer group do the work if they demonstrated the skill set required?
I was about to report that the NCC had gotten back to me when Ken’s comment came in.
According to the NCC they did indeed get a quote but have not budgeted for it’s execution.
I don’t know Ken if you actually know of any volunteer group with the required skills, but I’ll pose the question.
I do know of such people
but it sounds like the project is (slowly) making progress as the NCC try to allocate some funding for it. I’d only pursue the volunteer approach if the NCC were going to “think about” the restoration effort until the monument had fallen to the ground… and then it wouldn’t be a problem to think about anymore.