Background

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The story behind the initiative

Many landowners along Ruisseau Jackson have been discussing the idea of protecting the banks of the creek for almost 20 years, and some would say for even longer.

In 2010, Mathieu Régnier, who lives in Morin-Heights and who is truly passionate about Ruisseau Jackson, envisioned the project. As he learned more about the most recent participatory integrated watershed management methods, Mathieu Régnier decided to make the vision a reality.

A meeting with Mathieu Madison in 2013 was an important turning point. An environmental consultant with a background in biology, Mathieu Madison jumped at the prospect of contributing to the project and quickly agreed to volunteer his services to support the implementation phases. His experience as a member of a Rivière du Nord watershed protection group and Éco-corridor Laurentien has already benefitted the project.

A member of the Association du lac Écho (APLÉ) environment committee, Mathieu Régnier convinced the association to support the initiative by becoming the first partner in the project. Since then, several enthusiastic collaborators and stakeholders have joined our initiative.

Launch of the initiative

The project was inaugurated on June 7, 2014, with the launch of the Chaque goutte compte (Every Drop Counts) program. The APLÉ unveiled its first fundraising campaign to introduce the initiative. On that occasion, the municipality of Morin-Heights created a designated fund and agreed to provide tax receipts to all donors.

In the last two quarters of 2014, the APLÉ spearheaded the fundraising campaign, released an environmental characterization study, a preliminary conservation plan as well as this website. In November 2014, main actors concerned organized a first community forum.

RJANP is an independant organization since October 2015 when it held its first General Assembly.

Photo Bernard Brault. Top-shot over the lac Seale area, 14, May 2022.

And the story continues…

  • The first prestigious support for the project came from Peter Bridgewater, outgoing Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, and outgoing Secretary of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme.
  • RJANP won a Citizen Initiative Award from the David Suzuki Foundation for a nature walk in May 2016.
  • The first edition of the RuisseauBlitz was held on Saturday, May 19, 2018.
  • On August 12, 2017, Ruisseau Jackson received the Morin-Heights Mayor’s Trophy.
  • The Ruisseau Jackson Nature Reserve created in 2019 adds 215 acres of conservation areas to a series of connected municipal green spaces.

Plan of part of the Township of Morin, 1859.

Ruisseau Jackson… Natural filter — Biodiversity — Collective identity.