Mathieu Régnier is a resident of Lac Écho in Morin-Heights and is passionate about Ruisseau Jackson. He envisioned the project of a nature conservation organization five years ago. But he was not the first to consider the enterprise, since many before him had sought to protect the banks of the creek. Landowners along Ruisseau Jackson had been discussing the idea for almost 20 years, and some would say for even longer.

As he learned more about the most recent participatory integrated watershed management methods, Mathieu Régnier decided to make the vision a reality.

The project was inaugurated on June 7, 2014, with the launch of the Chaque goutte compte (Every Drop Counts) program. This is when the Lake Echo Association (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.

RJANP’s First Annual General Meeting on 10 October 2015 was the occasion to adopt the new regulations of the organization and elect new Board Members. On that day, Mr. Régnier became president of the new association seeking a Non-profit Organisation Status with the Government of Quebec.

Bio Note

Mathieu Régnier specializes in environmental communication since 2008. He offers research, professional writing, consulting and museology services. With more than 20 years of professional and academic experience in the environmental sustainability field at the international, national, provincial and local levels, he provides consulting services for a range of clients in the public and private sectors, including international organizations, museums, communication agencies, NGOs, media, and citizens’ associations.

Mathieu was Analyst – Climate Change for EcoRessources, an environmental and natural resource economics consultancy based in Montreal. Prior to this experience in the private sector, he worked at the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity as assistant to the Legal Advisor. Over the years, he was assigned to key crosscutting issues such as climate change, tourism and biodiversity, access and benefit sharing as well as nature conservation and sustainable use.

Mathieu worked as In-house Consultant for the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (Montreal). As well as working on broad trade and environment issues, he was Coordinator of the North American Green Purchasing Initiative. Up to that time, he was Executive director of oikos International, an international NGO based in Switzerland and furthering sustainable economics and management in business schools. Previously, he had been following climate change negotiations for Climate Strategies and Chatham House (London). Prior to this work experience in London, Mathieu followed international climate change negotiations for the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development and worked at the Trade and Environment Program of the World Trade Organization (Geneva).

Mathieu Régnier obtained a BSc., Political Science from the University of Montreal. He holds an MSc., International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International Studies (Geneva) and an MSc., Environmental Technologies from Imperial College (London).