The mayor mentioned Council’s desire to establish a local green fund for sustainable development and environmental protection in his presentation of the 2019 budget highlights. Council then passed By-law 19-781 to establish the green fund at the regular council meeting on January 7. La Pêche will use the fund to support innovative projects from the community and actions in areas such as fighting climate change, managing waste, protecting water, and caring for the soil. Green fund support for those efforts is a natural outgrowth of La Pêche’s 2019–2023 strategic plan, in which climate change is one of eight identified priority issues.
An implementation policy, an application guide and form have been produced to facilitate the project submission process.
If you wish to submit projects, here are the dates to remember:
The Green Fund was set up with two calls for projects, one with a deadline of March 1 and the other September 1. A total of 18 eligible La Pêche organizations applied for the March 1 deadline. This first running of the Green Fund will award $92,042 to the 12 projects in the table below, assuming they produce the required documentation. The Green Fund’s leveraging effect can be observed in the third column, showing the percentage of total funding provided by the Municipality.
Projects and applicants
Amount granted
Project Percentage
Implementation of organic waste collection, Municipality of La Pêche The Municipality’s project will coordinate the new compostable organic waste collection service within the Municipality, implement and track the collection service, and assess ways to optimize it.
$20,679
34%
Eurasian water-milfoil: Beating an Invasive Species, Gauvreau Lake Environmental Protection Association The Gauvreau Lake Environmental Protection Association initiative will include an information and awareness session on the water-milfoil problem and will discuss control methods and behaviours to adopt.
$1,023
75%
Educational series, La Pêche Coalition for a Green New Deal (LPCGND) The Coalition aims to educate and empower community members and help them develop and create local solutions to the global environmental crisis.
$1,500
75%
A manual for neighbourhood resilience in La Pêche,
Gary Martin This pilot project aims to develop a resilient neighbourhood response plan for future emergencies caused by natural disasters or catastrophic events.
*$6,500
24%
Waste management and sustainability improvements to Clinique médicale des Collines, Clinique médicale des Collines Inc.
Clinique médicale des Collines aims to reduce waste production,
consumption at the source, and compost production and get the clinic
and its employees involved in the community.
$14,662
50%
Effects of boats on the proliferation of invasive species, Municipality of La Pêche
The Municipality would like to study the impact of boats on watermilfoil
populations. The study, conducted by ABV des 7, will describe
the process for restricting the use of motorized watercraft and provide
an overview of alternative approaches used elsewhere in Québec.
$2,656
100%
Recycling stations in CISSS de l’Outaouais facilities, Centre intégré de santé et des services sociaux de l’Outaouais
The project will install ten recycling stations in the facilities at Hôpital
mémorial de Wakefield, the local community services centre (CLSC),
and CHSLD de La Pêche. The standardized system will allow for better
residual materials management.
$15,000
49%
Solar La Pêche, Ron Verbeek
This educational project aims to help La Pêche become energy selfsufficient
by installing photovoltaic systems. The project will inspire La
Pêche residents by taking them through the process of installing a
residential solar power station, step by step.
$1,400
28%
Study for Lac Gauvreau recovery, Lac GauvrEAU Secours
In response to the alarming invasion of water-milfoil in the lake, Lac
GauvrEAU Secours and government authorities will evaluate
measures to restrict the use of motorized watercraft. Organizers will
work with various lake users to educate the public and raise
awareness of environmental issues.
$8,470
47%
Farmhop, Roots and Shoots Farm
This event brings together three agricultural businesses to provide a
day-long immersive farm experience for the local and urban
community. It’s a unique opportunity to connect with the land and
learn more about where our food comes from and the farmers who
feed us.**
$3,652
75%
Shoreline protection awareness project, Friends of the Gatineau River
Friends of the Gatineau River produces events and educational
materials to raise public awareness about how to protect our lakes
and rivers. The main goals will be to protect the riparian strip,
revegetate it, and encourage people to be respectful and comply with
the regulations in place.
$6,500
50%
The EZHarvester and carbon-neutral honey goal, Apiverte Inc.
Apiverte offers beekeepers in the region a mobile honey and beeswax
harvesting system. The concept includes a trailer-mounted honey
harvesting station that can be operated with or without electricity.
Apiverte will also educate the public on bees and the key role they
play in the global ecosystem.
$10,000
33%
*Special conditions based on approval of funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)
**Funding approved but deferred to 2021 due to the pandemic.
The review committee received and analyzed nine applications submitted during the second call for proposals for the Green Fund, which ended on September 1, 2020. Municipal Council granted the maximum financial contributions to the following projects for a total of $51,227:
Projects and applicants
Amount granted
Project Percentage
Preliminary study for an Ecocentre – Municipalité de La Pêche
This municipal
project is to produce a needs assessment report and a concept plan for an
Ecocentre.
$13,390,
100%
Eurasian
water milfoil control plan – Association des propriétaires et résidants du
Lac Bernard
The Lac Bernard
Homeowners and Residents Association wishes to hire a consultant to assess
Lac Bernard’s current Eurasian water milfoil infestation and explain the
available control options.
$4 692
50%
Study
on sustainable housing in Wakefield – Andrew Ryan
This
is to produce a collaborative study by various experts on a possible new
residential development in Municipalité de La Pêche featuring high-quality,
environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, affordable housing in the town of
Wakefield
This
to deliver the predevelopment phase of a construction project for 32
sustainable, affordable housing units (a business plan, architectural
schematic, and study of energy and environmental design options) for
vulnerable populations. The project as a whole is for an ecodistrict with
buildings that generate more energy than they use and enhance food security
by producing fresh food all year round.
*$15,000
31%
Flood
mitigation through the creation of new wetlands – Fairbairn House Heritage
Centre
Fairbairn House
Heritage Centre wishes to hire a consultant to produce an assessment report
on the current possibilities for the mitigation of flooding in Fairbairn
House by creating wetlands. The project is divided into three distinct
phases. This application is exclusively for Phase 1: research, mapping, and
analysis as well the report and its recommendations.
$3,870
100%
Sentier Louis Rompré Trail – Wakefield Trails
This
is to conduct a study to determine which measures to take to correct
environmental crimes along the potential route of the trail that will connect
the Wakefield–La Pêche Community Centre and Louis Rompré Park, the trails,
and River Walk. The study is to restore the natural environment around the
trail, including a creek and wetland. The objective is to restore the
ecosystem’s water retention capacity and solve flooding problems in the area.
$4,000
33%
Diagnosis of municipal agrifood regulations and services –
Municipalité de La Pêche
This is a
proposal by Table agroalimentaire de l’Outaouais to consult local farm and
agrifood stakeholders and assess current municipal agrifood bylaws and
services with a view to making recommendations on how to serve stakeholders
better.
$6,525
100%
*Special conditions for receiving funding from the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)
