of the bog is now under conservation
The people
ownership. Google Alfred Bog. Take a
turn on the boardwalk. When the orchids
and the bugs are out, you can appreciate
why this swamp is so special. Look but do
of the Bog
not touch. This spot will remain as it is, if
we leave it alone.
NEWS
Léo Durocher, who passed away May 1
at the age of 84, could be a real pain in the
butterfly? It is in the bog, and three other
rear-end.
crusader to observe, “Sometimes I wonder
6 candidates
places in the world. A pink plant, Rhodora,
And for that, we and future generations
if I would have been better off listening to
cannot be found anywhere else in Ontario.
can be thankful.
my wife and taken up ballroom dancing.”
People who know nature can go a little
Richard.mahoney@eap.on.ca
Before “get in your face” was a common
In May, 1983, the Ottawa Field
crazy when they get into the bog. The place
H ARRINGTON
expression, Léo would get in your face
Naturalists Club appealed the Caledonia
has different fragile ecosystems. One section
when it came to saving the Alfred Bog.
Township council decision. To obtain
is moose pasture, another is full of
He was persistent and at times annoying
status in front of the Ontario Municipal
Harrington Township Councillor
blueberries, another is based on a marshy
as he employed common cents as part of the
Board, the club purchased 50 acres in the
Claude La Roque faces two challengers in
surface that resembles a trampoline. There
desperate drive to preserve that special
bog. The Alfred Bog Trust Fund was
his bid to succeed Keith Robson as mayor
are some of the most amazing plants and
land chunk of marsh.
established to finance the legal challenge
in a June 3 by-election. Jacques Parent and
bugs. There are orchids and turtles. If you
And, yes, children, about 30 years ago,
and further land acquisition. The fund
François Thibault are also seeking the
see it in person, you can see why it is so
the situation was desperate.
grew to $17,500; the legal expenses were
post that became available when Robson
valuable. But in the 1980s, the marsh was
“Hey, come over here and take out your
$16,000. The group lost. But the OMB
recently quit halfway through his four-
not on the radar. So, the dreamers kept
wallet,” he would say to anyone who
rejection only hardened the resolve of the
year term.
collecting pennies, and petition signatures,
happened by his “Give a penny, save an
tenacious conservationists who went into
Seeking La Roque’s number 2 council
and political support.
acre” table that he would set up at almost
“an education and fund-raising mode.”
seat are Peter Burkhardt, WilliamHorrocks
Time was not on the conservationists’
every event imaginable. With a twinkle in
By 1985, there were 13 organizations
and Darlene Thibault. About 1,200 people
side. In the 1800s, there were 10,500 hectares
hiseye,hewould,inbothofficiallanguages,
trying to save the Alfred Bog. If you can’t
are eligible to vote, relates administrator
or 26,000 acres. In the 1980s, there were
cajole everyone into donating coppers,
beat them, buy them. The Alfred Bog
Guillaume Marcoux, who is also chief
about 10,000 acres left.
nickels, dimes and dollars, to acquire
Committee set about to purchase bog
returning officer for the election. The
The Save The Bog movement stressed
honourary deeds to the bog.
property. A parcel of 200 acres was
winners will hold their new posts until a
there was a big picture to be seen. Water
At the time, in the 1980s, the effort
acquired, then in 1987, a huge 3,800-acre
general election is held in November, 2013.
levels are vital for the healthy genetic
launched by Léo and other members of the
parcel became available.
Robson had defeated incumbent Ellen
diversity of the rare species isolated in the
Vankleek Hill and District Nature Society
Fast forward: The Nature Conservancy
Lakoff in the 2009 election. Robson is the
wetland. Drainage exposes the peat to
seemed quixotic. A group of sandal-clad,
of Canada bought 1,300 hectares for about
secondmember of council to leave since the
oxygen. Exposed peat oxidizes, releasing
meek bird watchers, tree huggers and
$2.5 million. This purchase was financed
2009 vote. Councillor Robert Parkinson
carbon dioxide. The off-gassing from the
dreamers was taking on government and
by governments, conservationists,
resigned from his number 5 councillor post
bog would be the equivalent of putting an
land-stripping companies.
naturalists and countless numbers of
in the summer of 2010. Randy Watson
additional 24,000 family cars on the road.
The precious wetland was in peril.
peoplewhowereaccostedbyLéoDurocher.
returnedtocouncilbywinningaby-election
One episode in the saga prompted a bog
Conservationists were dismissed by
To make a saga short, about 90 per cent
in July of that year.
municipalities that were anxious to see the
massive, 10,200-acre bog put to some good
use.
If you could not make money from it,
grow something in it, mine or burn it, then
it was useless, right?
In 1981, the council of Caledonia
Township, which has since been merged
with neighbouring municipalities to create
The Nation, approved a zoning change,
permitting a company to drain and try to
farm a large tract of the bog.
There was also a push to expand peat
harvesting in the privately-owned marsh.
Buttheconservationistswouldnotgoaway,
and they would not go away for the next 20
years.
The biggest obstacle they faced was
ignorance. At the time, the general public
did not, and could not, appreciate why the
conservationists were so passionate about
a drab piece of real estate in the middle of
Political contributions The rules governing political financing make it possible to participate in Québec’s democratic life in a transparent and fair manner. I’mVOTING in the electoral division of Argenteuil on June 11, 2012 BY-ELECTION
nowhere.
The bog would get attention once in a
while if a person got lost while picking
blueberries, or a peat fire would break out.
However, today, the Alfred Bog is listed
on municipalities’ web sites as being a
major attraction.
The expression has been used so often
that it is almost threadbare, but the bog is
still home to a “unique mix of flora and
fauna.” How special? Heard of the bog elfin
Orthothérapeute Joanne D’Aoust
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