1. Politicians who gathered for the official opening of the inter-provincial snowmobile bridge were, from left, Pontiac MP William Amos, Municipality of Thorne Mayor Terry Murdock, MRC Pontiac Warden Raymond Durocher, Whitewater Region Mayor Hal Johnson, unicipality of Litchfield Mayor Colleen Larivière and Campbell’s Bay Mayor William Stewart.
2.Some of the many participants and spectators at the bridge opening were, back row from left, unknown, Terry Veaudry, (District 6 Manager of Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs), Remi Sauve (president of Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs), unknown, Ontario snowmobiler Scott Smaglinski, Alain Goulet (president of Pontiac Snowmobile Club), Pierre Tremblay (Outaouais administrator for the Federation des clubs de motoneigistes du Quebec), unknown, Denise Grenier (President of the Federation des clubs de motonegistes du Quebec) and Pat Amyotte, president of the Pontiac Quad Club. In the front row, from left, Municipality of Thorne Mayor Terry Murdock; MRC Pontiac Warden Raymond Durocher, Municipality of Litchfield Mayor Colleen Larivière, Pontiac MP William Amos, Whitewater Region Mayor Hal Johnson and Campbell’s Bay Mayor William Stewart.
by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
FORESTERS FALLS — The wind was howling making the wintry temperature colder, but the picturesque view from high above the Ottawa River on a newly decked snowmobile bridge Sunday afternoon was well worth the blustery conditions.
There were several snowmobilers from Quebec and Ontario, even one from Manitoba, on this bridge, along with one politician from Whitewater Region and several politicians from throughout Quebec.
Prior to gathering on the bridge, Melissa Marquardt, marketing co-ordinator for the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association, said, “This is very exciting. It’s a snowmobiling bridge that is a partnership between both the Ontario and Quebec snowmobile federations.”
It’s a much more safer crossing for snowmobilers, because they will no longer have to wait until the Ottawa River freezes to cross over from one province to the other, she said.
“Waiting for the Ottawa River to freeze has been an issue in the past because we don’t always get the cold temperatures needed,” she said, adding, “We now have a full-decked bridge and it provides safe crossing for snowmobilers for both sides of the provinces.”
While the CN Rail still owns the property, Ms. Marquardt, noted funding is for trail investment and there are going to be negotiations for the CN rail acquisition, which includes the bridge.
“Eventually, this will be a four-season trail that anyone can use,” she said, adding, “Because the rail line is still on CN property, it’s being leased to the snowmobile associations, so anyone else using it would be considered trespassing.”
Prior to the bridge opening, Ms. Marquardt said waiting for the river to freeze is not always an option and trailering snowmobiles can be a impediment for some snowmobilers.
Gathered in the middle of the bridge, several people spoke – in French and English — about the importance of the bridge and what it means to both provinces.
Whitewater Region Mayor Hal Johnson was one of the guest speakers.
“One of the biggest dreams of the new council in Whitewater Region was to get this bridge from CN,” he said. “We have worked relentlessly, and we are working towards the ownership of this line as far as the next municipality, about 60 kilometres.
“What this represents to us is a great opportunity in economic development and it is only possible with the combined effort of snowmobile federations,” he continued.
“What we have here is a marriage of the past with the future. This is where the economics of a time gone by were able to go west and bring all of the agriculture and industrial parts of Quebec at that time, and now it is coming back to later generations and it is extraordinarily exciting.”
Mayor Johnson noted John Yakabuski, MPP for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, could not attend the event, but “worked hard to get grants to help out with this system that is coming together.”
William Amos, MP for Pontiac, announced that $95,000 in financial assistance has been granted to VHR Outaouais under the Qubec Economic Development Program.
VHR Outaouais is the regional association for seven Outaouais snowmobile clubs. Its mandate is to facilitate trail development or transfer procedures for clubs and to provide them with technical assistance and administrative support.
The non-repayable contribution will help the association refurbish the railway bridge that spans the Ottawa River, MP Amos said.
“Organizations such as VHR Outaouais, in conjunction with the Federation des clubs de motoneigistes du Quebec, play a vital role in developing our region’s tourism industry and economy,” MP Amos said. “Today’s announcement will create positive and direct benefits for the community and businesses, confirming that this is a prime place to play and visit.”
Sylvain Marchand, president of VHR, said, the financial support for this project “…will provide snowmobilers with a safe bridge between Ontario and Quebec.”
Once a few other Quebec politicians finished speaking, an orange ribbon was cut to officially open the bridge.
On Wednesday, Feb. 8, Terry Veaudry, Manager of District 6 for the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, noted the
Ontario Tourism Infrastructure Fund provided a $194,000 grant in the fall of 2015 to the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs to develop the CN Line from the City of Pembroke to half-way on the inter-provincial bridge. This included re-decking three bridges, gating and grader work, he said. Because Ontario funding cannot be used for Quebec projects, the inter-provincial bridge could only be completed half-way, Mr. Veaudry explained.
The local snowmobile board spoke with their Quebec counterparts and with federal funding through a Quebec grant, money was provided and the re-decking work was completed on the inter-provincial bridge, he said.
This past fall, the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs received $184,000 to work on bridges, gates and fix the rail bed within the City of Pembroke limits, he said.
As well, a three-council committee was established with the Township of Whitewater Region, the Township of Laurentian Valley and the City of Pembroke, to negotiate with CN to purchase the rail bed, Mr. Veaudry said. However, the committee felt it was too large a project, and has recently asked the county to take over negotiations, he said. He is not sure where the negotiations are currently.
It has been stressed that once purchased, the trail will become multi-purpose, but, until that happens, the trails can only be used for snowmobiles because it is leased to the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, Mr. Veaudry explained.
