GuideGatineau.ca (Beta)

Video Transcript followed by several old newspaper clippings: In the late 1950s the Gatineau Park Parkway system was constructed. First the Fortune Parkway, then the Gatineau Parkway without the North Loop running past Penguin to the base of the Fortune Parkway. Instead that first Gatineau Parkway included what is now known as the Champlain Parkway; that North Loop was added last.

This parkway network was laid down just in time for Bombardier to invent the skidoo and a 1963 article in the Ottawa Citizen estimated that 40 people owned skidoos near Gatineau Park that year, and had started to use them in the park.

By 1965 rules had been put in place as to where snowmobiles could go in the park and in 1967 designated areas for snowmobile use were defined.

In parallel with these developments a renaissance was happening in cross-country skiing.

During the first half of the twentieth century skiing enthusiasm had been sparked first by ski jumping, then by ski touring but by the ‘50s had strongly embraced alpine skiing.

Through the latter part of the 1960s cross-country skiing was regaining popularity. There were many Ottawa Ski Club trails in the Gatineau Hills but there were also these parkways, and wouldn’t you know it, skiing was easy along parkways that weren’t as steep as some of the Ottawa Ski Club trails and where a skidoo had packed the snow.

So by 1970 the number of skiers and the number of snowmobilers out and about in the park on a weekend was significant enough that they began to come into conflict.

The NCC opted for the skiers against howls of protest from the snowmobilers and skiers have been toodling up and down the parkways ever since.

What follows extracts from numerous old newspaper articles about snowmobile – skier conflicts in the Park; particularly the name calling that went on.

Hull’s Merry Men in Midnight Ride (Ottawa Citizen December 26, 1963)

CAPITAL CAPERS: Those new snow-scooters are the latest plaything for many people in Hull and there are an estimated 40 in the Wrightville area already. The scooters, whose trade name is ski-doo were given an acid test this week. Dr. Bob Bisson, 200 pounds, Dick Henderson, almost as heavy, and Claude Gougeon weighing nearly 300 pounds undertook a midnight ride on I single machine that far outstrips  that of the late Paul Revere. Wearing  thermal underwear against the bone-chilling Gatineau Hill trails, the trio set forth Thursday night as the distant Peace Tower raised both hands in alarm. Bent on enjoying some Christmas conviviality with a friend who resides in the remote Mine Road area, they travelled via Gamelin Boulevard, the unplowed NCC Parkway and arrived at the friend’s home via a little known cross-country trail.

“It’s bad enough to be awakened from a sound sleep in the dead of a winter’s night to the sound of what could only be an outboard motor· boat plying the lake you know to be frozen six feet deep,” said the Mine Road man, “but to see what actually did arrive was even worse – three two hundred pounders on one bike gilding over the snow like portly ghosts!” His rest was destined to be disturbed once again that night. The Bisson merry men became lost returning home in the dark wilderness of the Notch Road, travelled in a circle, and put-putted Into the hapless Mine Road man’s yard an hour later, “We’re not waiting until next Christmas for somebody to give us compasses,” apologized the good doctor.

A number of the following articles talk about noise and it was pointed out to me by one of the longtime users of the park who experienced the emergence of the skidoo phenomenon that the original machines did not have mufflers. A Bombardier spokesman has said that one of those original skidoos made as much noise as 124 present day models.

Skidoos and Skiers Don’t Mix (Ottawa Citizen February 1, 1967)

Editor Citizen- Along with many other families who toured the Gatineau ski trails last weekend we were unpleasantly surprised to find that motor toboggans had been allowed on the last stretch of NCC parkway that had been closed to them. Opening of this Fortune Lake stretch of the parkway between Riviera Lookout and Meach Lake Road eliminates the last little corner of the park free from the unpleasant noise and nuisance of these vehicles.

This NCC decision will not only annoy and discourage the increasing number of families who seek the peace and quiet of the Gatineau on weekends but it will constitute a very real danger to cross-country racers and hundreds of youngsters who have to cross the Parkway as they tour the Ottawa Ski Club trails in quest of long-distance badges.

Meeting the speeding motor toboggan head-on along a narrow trail or trying to navigate a challenging hill when confined to deep vehicle tracks presents hazards that will rightly daunt the keenest of skiers.

Snowmobile Enthusiasts Allotted Fun Locations (Ottawa Citizen November 21, 1968)

The National Capital Commission has allotted 10 areas in the capital and Gatineau Park for snowmobiler enthusiasts. Five areas are in the park…

Snowmobile Ban Impractical (Ottawa Citizen October 1, 1970)

Don’t be surprised, if one of these days, you read and advertisement calling for tenders for the erection of a fence, say 10 or 15 feet high, around Gatineau Park.

Because that’s just about the next move the National Capital Commission will make if the trend they seem to be caught up in continues.

The latest step by the NCC, in what appears to be a move to keep people out of the park, was announced yesterday by Douglas Fullerton, NCC commission chairman.  It prohibits, without reservation, the use of snowmobiles in the park and the greenbelt area.

Not too long ago, the NCC turned down a proposal to establish another ski area in the park.

The latest restrictions will no doubt result in strong protests by the various snowmobile clubs in the area and it is to be hoped that they will be given attention by the elected representatives of the taxpayers, who, it is hoped, may exercise some control over the NCC.

A Weak Excuse: Prevention of pollution and preservation of vegetation and wildlife are given by the NCC as the main reasons for the snowmobile ban and as far as I am concerned these reasons are just a front. It will be readily admitted by the snowmobilers that a few irresponsible people in their numbers do in fact cause damage in the park.

But to close the area completely to snowmobilers for this reason just doesn’t make sense. If the NCC can justify it for this reason then campers, fishermen and just plain tourists may as well forget about the Gatineau because in future they won’t be able to use it.

The Gatineau area in question is about the only open recreation area for thousands of people in the National Capital area, both in winter and in summer. Instead of closing it to them the NCC might better improve facilities so that more that may be able to make more use of it.

It is fine for various and distant so called conservation groups to demand that the Gatineau Park be kept as a wilderness area but in my opinion this just isn’t practical in this area.

There are many other parks, provincial and federal, which adapt themselves to wilderness areas and can be preserved as such.

Practicality would seem to demand that the Gatineau be developed into a multi-use year-around park where as many people as possible can take part in as many activities as possible.

Maligned Group: To get back to the snowmobilers in particular. Due to the rapid increase in the popularity of this pastime those engaged in it are fast approaching the description of being overly maligned.

They are, the vast majority of them at least, sensible, thoughtful people who do respect the rights of others and the properties on which they travel.

They have formed themselves into clubs and associations and are themselves policing the actions of their fellow members. Like any other fast growing sport, snowmobiling has had its share of accidents and incidents and these have received widespread publicity.

What hasn’t been publicized is the sane and reasonable use of the machines.

There are thousands of people who have spent money to purchase machines and they certainly deserve the right to use them in the areas in which they live.

Snowmobile clubs in the area are getting together to fight the latest move. I hope their actions meet with success.

Park Snowmobile ban sparks bitter protests (Ottawa Citizen October 1, 1970)

Area snowmobilers are outraged by the ban on their winter fun machines from Gatineau Park.

“I never thought it would come to this,” said Guy Morin, president of the Eskimo Club, the region’s largest snowmobiling organization with a membership of 200 families.

He predicted a strong protest, likely spearheaded by the Association of Snowmobile Clubs of Western Quebec, which speaks for about 15 clubs.

The ban was announced Wednesday by National Capital Commission chairman Douglas Fullerton.

A prohibition against snowmobiles in the park has actually been in effect since 1965, with certain concessions.

“But snowmobiles would drive up the Parkway (unplowed during the winter months) and branch off into the park,” said Mr. Fullerton.

Plowing parkway: Should the enthusiasts choose to disregard the ban, they’ll be seriously hampered by another decision announced by the NCC – the plowing of the lower Gatineau Parkway from Gamelin Boulevard through to the Old Chelsea cut-off then to the Meach Lake Road.  This will ease traffic on Highway 11 and no doubt make area skiers as happy as the snowmobiles are angry.

Prevention of pollution and preservation of vegetation and wildlife were cited by Mr. Fullerton as the main reasons for closing the park to snowmobilers who were already banned from NCC parkways.

Mr. Morin said he couldn’t understand why “suddenly, we’re intolerable” after the NCC over the past few years has “provided and fixed up a chalet (an old house at Harrington Lake), built a tunnel underneath the old Chelsea Road, widened the road into Beamish Hill and built parking lots for snowmobilers.”

He said his associates would have supported severe penalties for lawbreaking snowmobilers had the NCC established a set of stringent regulations.

“When we go into the park, we don’t act like a bunch of fools.  If we see a deer, then we take pictures of him and stop the machines to make sure he isn’t scared,” said Mr. Morin.

“Do you really think this law will stop snowmobiling in the park?” he asked.

Mr. Fullerton agrees enforcement will be difficult.  He said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police “will be getting a couple of snowmobiles.”

He said there were 500 snowmobiles in the Gatineau Park on an average winter weekend afternoon.

Mr. Morin predicted they’d be back with the first inch of snow come winter.

The park is ideal in the earlier part of the season because its landscape is flat, without streams, lakes and stumps.  Later, when waters freeze over, snowmobilers may head further away or go to cottages.

Hard on Business: Mike Parent, owner of Hull Motor Sport, who last year sold 250 snowmobiles, says the ban will probably have a bad effect on business.

“But snowmobilers will still go into the park.  The RCMP better get some machines.  These people will know their way around in there.  They know all the trails.”

Mr. Morin said his phone was ringing all afternoon and promised a mass meeting to “create a strong counter-wave.”

The closest suitable areas outside the Gatineau Park are Luskville, Masham and Wakefield.

Countering Mr. Fullerton’s charge that snowmobiles pollute, Mr. Morin said “The only time you can smell them is when there are 50 in a row.”

Pat Powers, president of the Papineau Snowmobile Association, charged that the movie was “ridiculous.”

“As for pollution, they better start looking at the effect of outboard motors on lakes.”

Snowmobile ban prompts cheers, tears (Ottawa Citizen October 7, 1970)

Editor, Citizen: Hurray for Christopher Young’s sensible remarks about snowmobiles in Saturday’s citizen. Many fine trails laid down years ago gy cross-country skiers have been taken over by snowmobiles and ruined.

When I came to Ottawa and began skiing in the Gatineau Park I felt sure this must be one of the finest spots for trail skiing in Canada. But last year the noise of snowmobiles on the parkway was so intense that it was no longer pleasant to travel some of the trails in the lower section of the park.

As you pointed out, it requires real courage to resist the pressure that have been increasing to open up the park. I hope The Citizen will support efforts to restrict uses to those which will not destroy its semi-wilderness character.

Cars are worse: Editor, Citizen: As a responsible snowmobile owner and operator, I wish to register a protest on the ban against snowmobiling in the Gatineau Park.

Snowmobile engines of one and two cylinders will not cause as much pollution as the four six and eight cylinder engines in automobiles taking skiers to the hills. The automobiles have studded snow tires, but would still skid and run off the road and break trees. Calcium will be used to keep the roads open and I’m sure it will pollute the small streams and lakes. Air Canada is allowed to fly aircraft over the area on sightseeing trips, polluting the air as well. I can still recall oil slicks on the water surface after a motor boat has gone by.

Unfortunately there are a few individuals who operate their machines in a similar manner to the few irresponsible automobile drivers who screech away from stop lights and roar along the highways disregarding the traffic laws. Why not allow the many responsible snowmobilers to use the park and provide the RCMP with snowmobiles to patrol against bad snowmobiling as they patrol the various parkways and drives in Ottawa and the surrounding area?

Polluted logic: Editor, Citizen: Tenders are hereby called for erection of a 15-foot fence around Tom Sarsfield’s twisted logic in his Oct. 1 column. Far from keeping people out of Gatineau Park this winter, Mr. Fullerton’s long overdue ban on snowmobiles will at last provide the people of this area who don’t need a snarling machine under their bottoms to enjoy the outdoors  in winter, with one haven from the all-pervasive cacophony. Multi-use doesn’t work very well when one group of users destroys the enjoyment of all the others.

After reading Mr. Sarsfield’s “Snowmobilers smile” column of Jan. 15 of the hundreds of miles of available trails, it’s hard to work up a convincing heartbleed over the loss of 20-odd miles in Gatineau Park. Surely a little more balanced perspective on this subject is in order.

Toast to peace: Editor, Citizen: I am proud of the NCC and Mr. Fullerton for the decisive way in which they banned snowmobiles from the Gatineau. Here’s to a crisp, clear, QUIET winter’s day…CHEERS!

‘Bird-watchers’ Hull council pins blame for snowmobile ban (Ottawa Citizen October 7, 1970)

A mind-your-own business attitude was adopted Tuesday by Hull council regarding the National Capital Commission’s recent ban on snowmobiles in Gatineau Park.

Council unanimously endorsed a recommendation formally protesting the ban.  Ald. Jean-Marie Seguin said the NCC’s action was provoked by a group of Ottawa “nature lovers” and “bird watchers.”

He chided the NCC for ceding to such pressure and added: “I’m sure that if Full organization suddenly put pressure on the NCC to alter conditions along Island Park Drive we’d never hear the end of it.”

The park should be at the disposal of Outaouais Region residents, even if it belongs to the NCC.”  He suggested a compromise whereby the NCC would allow snowmobiles in certain areas of the park while restricting their use in others.

As for NCC claims that snowmobiles destroy young trees, Ald. Seguin countered with: “There are so many trees in Gatineau Park that I don’t see how snowmobiles could ever wipe them out.”

Ald. Paul-Emile Poulin, who proposed the resolution, said the ban would be “detrimental to Hull.”

Ald. Poulin said that about 2,000 snowmobilers descend on the park every weekend during winter.  In addition, there are about 10,000 snowmobile owners in the Hull area and most of these make occasional use of the park.

“You can’t tell all these people to just go away,” he said.  His answer to the tree argument was: “Cars constantly destroy trees, bushes and other plant, and nobody closes the roads.”

Keep it quiet (Ottawa Citizen October 9, 1970)

Editor, Citizen: 1 wish to express my complete approval of the NCC’s decision to ban snowmobiles from the Gatineau Park.

I do not share the opinion of The Citizen’s fish and game editor that spending money to purchase machines confers any right to use them in the Gatineau Park. No matter how sanely

or reasonably the machines are used, they are noisy and somewhat smelly and cannot help but disrupt the peace and tranquility of a winter day in the park.

In my opinion the Gatineau Park should be first and foremost a sanctuary where one can temporarily get away from the ubiquitous machine. As a mechanical engineer I appreciate the value of machinery in modern life – but please, not in Gatineau Park.

“Ban the ban” Quebec backs snowmobilers over Park use (Ottawa Citizen November 20, 1970)

QUEBEC-The Quebec government has asked the National Capital Commission to lift its ban on snowmobiles in Gatineau Park.

Oswald Parent, mlnister without portfolio responsible for relations with the NCC, said Thursday “it is absolutely unacceptable” thal the vehicles are banned in the park located in Quebec while snowmobiles are allowed In Quebec’s provincial parks.

Letters or protest: He has sent letters of protest to federal cabinet minister Robert Andras and NCC chairman Douglas Fullerton, demanding the ban be lifted. “The federal government should do as we do,” he said. “We’ve licenced snowmobiles in our parks and they are under strict surveillance of special patrols. Offenders lose their permit if they break regulations.”

“If they provided adequate policing and set aside special trails, there would be no problems,” said Gatineau member Roy Fournier. He’s received numerous protests from snowmobile fans in Hull who will be denied the access to the park this winter.

“What are they trying to do anyway?” Mr. Fournier asked. “Do they want to turn the park into a wildlife refuge or something? It was built for people.”

“To deprive the use of this park during winter when snowmobiling is one of the few sports for the whole family would be to go against a popular wish that is fully justified,” Mr. Parent, Liberal member for Hull, sys in his letter to Mr. Fullerton.

Special patrols: Mr. Parent says there are snowmobile trails set up in “almost all the provincial parks” as well as a special snowmobile patrol to help out stranded snowmobilers, and overnight cabins which have been built in several places. Food and coffee is served at these spots.

It costs snowmobilers a dollar a day of five dollars a year for the provincial permit.