In 2025, we proudly mark the 10th anniversary of the Ruisseau Jackson (RJANP)—a grassroots conservation initiative born from decades of community concern and passion for protecting our local watershed.

The idea of preserving Ruisseau Jackson’s banks has echoed through the Morin-Heights region since the 1990s – at least. But it wasn’t until 2010 that local resident Mathieu Régnier, inspired by modern watershed management practices, began to turn that dream into a plan.

Support quickly grew. The Association du lac Écho (APLÉ), where Régnier served on the environment committee, became the project’s first official partner. In June 2014, the initiative officially launched with the Chaque goutte compte (“Every Drop Counts”) campaign, backed by a new municipal fund and donor incentives from the Municipality of Morin-Heights.

Momentum built fast. By the end of 2014, the team had completed an environmental study, developed a preliminary conservation plan, and held a community forum. In October 2015, RJANP became an independent organization.

Since then, the journey has been marked by inspiring milestones:

• International recognition from Peter Bridgewater, former Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention and UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme.

• David Suzuki Foundation’s Citizen Initiative Award (2016).

• The Mayor’s Trophy awarded by Morin-Heights (2017).

• First RuisseauBlitz community clean-up event (2018).

• Creation of the Ruisseau Jackson Nature Reserve in 2019, adding 215 acres to the regional conservation network.

From a shared vision to a decade of action, RJANP stands as a testament to what community-led environmental stewardship can achieve. As we look to the future, the mission continues—every drop truly does count.

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Background | Ruisseau Jackson