The Cusson-Cuzzis, a well-known family in the Ruisseau Jackson watershed, thought of the perfect birthday gift. The family hopes that the initiative will spur others to do the same.
Winter 2019 marked the celebration of an important milestone. As the family was planning a reception to celebrate Richard Cusson’s birthday, they came up with the idea of organizing a nature walk with the assistance of Ruisseau Jackson. A donation to Ruisseau Jackson Protected Natural Area (RJANP) helped make the project happen.
Held on a cold Sunday in February, the nature walk was organized by Mathieu Madison, an environmental consultantand biologist who knows the region very well. Mr. Madison explained the ecosystem dynamics of the fragile forests and wetlands surrounding the river. Fifteen people participated in a walk that lasted more than four hours.
The snowshoers were accompanied by Ruisseau Jackson’s president, Mathieu Régnier, who took the opportunity to explain the organization’s mission: “to protect a sizeable segment of the natural environment around the Ruisseau Jackson watershed.”
Mathieu Madison, environmental consultant and biologist, with a group of Ruisseau Jackson enthusiasts at minus 18 Celsius.
“Birthday presents” to a worthy cause
Simon Parent, Treasurer of RJANP, welcomed the donation at such an early time of the year and thanked the family for their generosity. He invites anyone interested in following suit to contact RJANP directly. “Donations in the name of a friend or family member, especially those who know and love the area around the river, can be an original, meaningful gift,” said Simon Parent.
He also mentioned that 2019 donations are accepted until the summer and reminded everyone that RJANP’s annual fundraising campaign will be launched in the spring. “This could be the perfect Valentine’s Day gift,” added the treasurer. “We tend to accumulate too much stuff so, instead of giving presents or chocolates, making a donation to a shared ideal—one that translates into tangible actions—can be quite rewarding.”
Other visitors were also in the area on that cold day.
A generous alternative to presents
If you know someone who is celebrating a birthday soon and are considering a donation in lieu of a gift, you can contribute to an organization that reflects the person’s specific interests. This is often referred to as making a donation in honour of someone. So why not help an organization that shares that person’s hopes and values?
Donations to Ruisseau Jackson are fully tax deductible and can be announced in the community by our team.
Birthday boy in the Doug House, Morin-Heights. One more hour to go…
Can you identify at least three tree species here? If not, call us to organize a walk with you!
Make a donation
Contribute to the collective movement! Help protect and enhance the natural environment around the Ruisseau Jackson watershed. Click here.