Bassin versant du Lac Heney Watershed

Editor’s look at Fall 2024

Text by Christie Ouellet

As the beautiful autumn settles in, nature lovers are taking advantage of the Mud Lake trails to admire our pristine forest while doing a bit of exercise. While the weather can be delightful, it doesn’t halt nature’s migration cycle. Geese, ducks, and other birds gather to begin their journey southward. For those of us who remain grounded, it’s time to make preserves, stock up on firewood, and tend to the septic tank. For some, this means closing the cottage for winter, putting the boat away, and wrapping up our cherished souvenirs. Meteorology is a mysterious science, who knows what this winter will bring?

The BVLH Newsletters highlight the values expressed by cottage owners in a survey conducted a few years ago, which I believe have not changed significantly: family values, education, preservation of water quality, protection of the natural environment, and best practices for septic tanks. Property owners, who enjoy reading and learning, are deeply invested in safe-guarding the integrity of their land and the well-being of the environment and the lake. The stories that we present represent these values.

In this issue, we are privileged to feature Dr. Shawn Aaron, a Respirologist, who sheds some light on the harmful effects of gravel dust. You will learn about the various dust particles and how they affect not only our lungs but our general health. Dr Aaron recommends, in the interim of having the road paved which is the best solution, to reduce our speed to help minimize the dust in the air.

On a different topic, Dorothy Anne Phillips takes us on her journey into the past as she wrote the only historical book ever published about Rideau Hall, titled: Victor and Evie: British Aristocrats in Wartime Rideau Hall. For her, writing about the eleventh Governor General of Canada after the Confederation, Victor Cavendish, nineth Duke of Devonshire, and his wife, Lady Evelyn turned into an exciting adventure filled with unexpected encounters.

Thank you to all our collaborators: Ashwin, Chantal, Diane, Jane, Karen, Liz, Michael, Ted, Tom, Tony, Ralph, Rock, Roger, Dorothy Anne Phillips, Shawn Aaron and Margie Clark who graciously made this publication possible.

Greeting from the President

By Roger Larson

Mining has been a major focus for your Board during the past year. We have prepared a template letter to protest mining exploration in our area and we are asking you to send it to Brunswick Exploration Inc. If you have not received the template letter, then please visit our website and download the template and other background information on mining risks. https://bvlacheney.ca/2024/09/12/mining-exploration-special-bulletin/

A recent announcement stated that mining projects would not be allowed to proceed without the community’s consent. It is critical that we close this gap with our community and ensure that the MRC, Gracefield, and Lac Sainte-Marie clearly make the case that mining is not welcome in our community. Please send your letters!

There are a couple of community initiatives that we would like to highlight. First, the Facebook group, Friends of Lac Heney, has attracted tremendous interest. Please join the group! This new FB group has become a great resource for members of our community to help build support for a couple of notable projects that our members have initiated, one to support a petition for paving Chemin du lac Desormeaux, another to restore mail-in voting to help nonpermanent residents be eligible to vote in the next municipal elections. It is worth highlighting that many of the people who would benefit most are our association members. Please consider supporting both of these outstanding initiatives. Note you can use the magnifying symbol at the top search for specific items on the page.

The following people have stepped forward to be our executives for the upcoming year: Liz Stirling, Secretary; Ted Billey, Treasurer; Tom McKenna, Foundation President & Science & Environment Committee; Tony Van Duzer, Vice President & Membership committee and myself Roger Larson, President. Additionally, members that sit on the board are Ashwin Shingadia – Bay Captains; Chantal Landry – Mining & Municipal relations; Christine Ouellet – Communications Committee & Newsletter; Diane Billey – Merchandise; Jane Macintyre – FB Friends of Lac Heney; Karen Richardson – Newsletter & AGM presentation; Michael Wolfson – Science & Environment; Sean Sutton – Communications; Rees Kassen – Science & Environment; Rock Radovan – Website.

AGM Summary 2024

Liz Stirling

The 2024 annual meeting was held on a sunny Sunday, July 21st, at the Lac Ste Marie municipal office. Approximately 75 people attended and enjoyed a BBQ lunch following the meeting. The agenda included several important items. First, the re-election of the presidents: Roger Larson as President of the Association and Tom McKenna as President of the Foundation for a two-year term ending in 2026. The following Directors were also re-elected for two-year terms ending in 2026: Ted Billey, Rees Kassen, Liz Stirling, Rock Radovan, and Ashwin Shingadia. Jane Macintyre was elected as a new director for a one-year term ending in 2025.

Treasurer Ted Billey reported on the successful transition to a new fiscal year, which runs from May 1 to April 30. He presented two income statements related to this transition: one for the interim period from January 1 to May 30, 2023, and another for the fiscal year from May 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024. Ted also reported on the recent annual accounting review and presented a budget for the 2024-2025 year.

Tony Van Duzer introduced the amended Supplementary Letters Patent of the Association, which were approved as follows:

• Change the legal name of the Association to “Association du bassin versant du Lac Heney.”
• Update the objectives of the Association to include:

1. Organizing and representing members to further the protection and conservation of the Lac Heney watershed.
2. Promoting efforts to reduce pollution and improve the quality of the Lac Heney watershed.
3. Collaborating with the MRC de la Vallée-de-la-Gatineau, the municipalities of Lac Ste Marie and Gracefield, and the Ministry of the Environment of Quebec to develop and enforce policies, laws, and regulations that protect the watershed’s quality and surrounding environment.
4. Educating and fostering an environmentally responsible attitude and lifestyle among those living in or using the Lac Heney watershed.
5. Promoting safe and friendly recreational activities on the Lac Heney watershed.
6. Informing members and the public about the Association’s efforts to preserve water quality and the surrounding environment.
7. Soliciting and receiving gifts, bequests, or similar contributions.
8. Collaborating with other associations with similar objectives.
9. Conducting any other activities in the interest of the Association.

Communications Plan Priorities

The priorities for the Communications Plan for 2024-2025 were reviewed and agreed upon. They are as follows:

1. Support the mandate of the Association and its initiatives.
2. Promote the protection of the lakes.
3. Share information, best practices, and the latest scientific news with members.
4. Increase membership in the Association.
5. Develop communication tools and products.
6. Continue the online tri-annual newsletter, distributed via email and available on the website.

Chantal Landry reiterated residents’ concerns regarding threats from mining activities. She also hosted a table at the LSM and Gracefield markets last June, where wildflower seeds were given away for free. They are to help shoreline restoration and protection.

A discussion highlighted the importance of maintaining septic systems and runoff management, which are key to preserving water quality. The lifespan of a septic system is typically 25-30 years. Regular physical inspections are crucial; while the tank may be in good condition, the weeping tiles may need replacement. The MRC shoreline regulations require that watershed property owners maintain 10-15 meters of natural vegetation (such as wildflowers) along the shore.

The Watersheds Canada website offers excellent guidance on what and how to plant at the water’s edge: https://watersheds.ca. It’s important to note that having a lawn at the cottage can attract ducks and Canada Geese, whose excrement can pollute the lake. For instance, one of their very interesting projects is titled: WE ARE SEEKING PROPERTY OWNERS WHO WANT TO RESTORE THE NATURAL SHORE

Bay Captains Update

Ashwin Shingadia, the Bay Captain coordinator, explained that Bay Captains are residents who live in one of ten areas of the lake. They serve as stewards of their “Bay” and act as contacts for those living nearby. Currently, several bays are without a designated Bay Captain. Please come forward if you are interested in volunteering and contact Ashwin Shingadia at: ashwin@ashidor.ca.

The current Bay Captains are:

• Bay 1: Jane McIntyre and Liz Stirling
• Bay 2: Wendy Davis
• Bay 3: Alain Carpentier
• Bay 4: Ariane Brule
• Bay 5: Vacant
• Bay 6: Tom McKenna
• Bay 7: Nancy O’Dea
• Bay 8: Vacant
• Bay 9: Jennifer Stewart, Bill Stratton
• Bay 10 – 12: Vacant
• Bay 11: Matt Ford

Thank you to all the volunteers!

The Harmful Health Effects of Gravel Road Dust

By Dr. Shawn Aaron, Respirologist: The Ottawa Hospital, Professor of Medicine | University of Ottawa.

Many people who live in Lac Heney’s watershed live beside unpaved, gravel roads. Most of us are aware of the obvious hazards of driving on slippery, gravel/dirt roads, with poor traction and an increased risk of sliding off into roadside drainage ditches. However, aside from the increased risk of car accidents associated with gravel/dirt roads, there are other health hazards caused by dirt roads that residents should be aware of. If you live near a gravel road or dirt road, it’s important that you understand the air quality risks of dust from roads.

As we all know, an unpaved dirt road can become very dusty, especially with heavy vehicular traffic during the drier summer months. Road dust is made from a mixture of coarse particles that are released into the air, becoming harmful to human health when inhaled. Within the scientific community, dust in the air, stirred up by vehicular traffic from dirt roads, is known as particulate matter.

The type and size of dust particles will determine how toxic the dust is. In general, the amount of harm is determined by the amount of dust you breathe and how long you have been inhaling harmful dust particles. Large dust particles greater than 10 microns in diameter tend to settle faster and will land closer to where they were created. These are the particles you can see coating the vegetation by the side of our dirt roads in brown dust. These particles can be inhaled, but they are more likely to be trapped in the nose and mouth, causing sneezing and coughing that helps expel them from the airways.

Large dust particles are generally less harmful if they are breathed in or swallowed, however they will cause irritation of the mucus membranes, which you will feel as dry, gritty, irritated eyes or a sneezing, drippy nose. Small, fine dust particles, especially those smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter (called PM 2.5 in scientific language) are more dangerous because these particles can get past the nose and be inhaled deep into the respiratory tract where they may then enter the bloodstream.

The health effects from repeated inhalation of fine dust particles can be dramatic. Studies have shown that pregnant women who are exposed to higher levels of fine particulate matter from traffic road dust are more likely to have children with lower weights at birth.

Exposure to road dust is associated with higher rates of hospitalization, including hospitalization related to cardiovascular disease. Long-term exposure to road dust, especially PM 2.5, has been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular disease. These particles can cause systemic inflammation and oxidative stress which may promote clot formation in critical arteries, causing heart attacks and strokes. Studies have found that some particle sources are more harmful than others; one study found that black carbon, calcium, and airborne dust from roads were associated with the highest rates of hospitalization.

If you have asthma, chronic bronchitis, or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) inhalation of road dust can be particularly harmful because these particles can irritate the respiratory system and promote worsening of airway inflammation leading to breathlessness, wheezing, and attacks of asthma or COPD. People with pre-existing health conditions such as asthma, COPD, or heart disease are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of road dust, and even short-term exposure can worsen their underlying disease and lead to emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

What can we all do to prevent the harmful health effects of exposure to gravel road dust? Reducing exposure is an obvious solution. It is probably best to avoid walking or biking or jogging on gravel roads, especially on dry, high-traffic days.

If you live near a dusty road, you should consider planting trees between your home and the roadway, creating a natural barrier for the dust. You could also consider installing artificial windbreaks, such as fencing and berms, to control the dust. If you live nearby a dusty road, you can use an indoor air purifier to control the levels of dust in your home.

Finally, the obvious solution to controlling road dust is to pave the road, so that the health of everyone living in the area can improve. Cottagers and permanent residents who live along Lac Desormeaux and the northwest half of Lac Heney are serviced by Chemin du lac Desormeaux, a dusty unpaved dirt road. The municipality of Gracefield has received a petition, signed by more than 500 residents, asking that the road be paved. We should collectively put pressure on the municipality, and the mayor of Gracefield, to get this high-traffic road paved, so we can improve the health of the community.

Writing a Book: The Long Gestation of “Victor and Evie: British Aristocrats in Wartime Rideau Hall”

By Liz Stirling

The story of the Duke of Devonshire, who indulged his love of fishing at Whitefish Lake and spent his free time in our own summer environs, began for me with a boat tour of Blue Sea Lake. Bob Cameron, whose grandfather built a cottage on what was named Cameron Bay at the north end of the lake, regaled us with many stories. The story that triggered my book was about the Duke of Devonshire’s cottage when he was Governor-General and his fishing adventures. I had read about the Dufferins having a summer retreat at Tadoussac but had not heard about the Duke’s place.

His writing was difficult to read. At the time, 2007, I had to copy the microfilm onto large sheets of paper to take home. I found I could type it as fast as I could read, and began to enter it into my computer. Eventually I got better at interpreting his script. As I typed I also got interested in the whole story of his time in Canada 1916-1921, very difficult years.

I wrote an article about his cottage, though it was thin on information about the Blue Sea lake adventures. Bob Cameron gave the article to his friend, a history professor, who sent it back with comments – not enough detail to publish even as a pamphlet.

I took a course out of UBC on writing memoirs. They agreed that writing someone else’s history was similar enough. Merilyn Simonds, a seasoned Canadian writer, put me through my paces for several months; I learned a lot and was buoyed by her encouragement to continue writing the story of his time in Canada. The Duke often wrote “big English mail” in his diary, a treasure in the uncertainty of mail delivery as ships were bombed in the Atlantic. I wrote to Chatsworth, the Devonshire’s family home in England, asking if they had any letters, thinking some of those he received might have clues about his time in Canada. The archivist replied that they did have letters and I could see them but should come soon. That was spring 2010.

When I arrived with my new camera and computer, the archivist (one of at least four archivists at Chatsworth) brought out several boxes of letters. I was astounded. These were the letters the family had written home over 80 years before. I was the first person to ask to see them. What an unexpected find!
Letters were in packages tied with ribbons, probably by the Duchess. Most were from the Duchess to her mother-in-law, some from the Duke to his mother and a few by the children and a cousin.

A local woman, working to catalogue the letters, was a great resource about the family. I went to work photographing with my camera (before cell phones) over 500 photos a day. My arms were sore at the end of each day. During two weeks at Chatsworth, I recorded over 7500 photos of several-page letters from 1916-1921. I was invited to lunch by the current Duke and Duchess, the 12th, and then by the Dowager Duchess, the former Deborah Mitford.

My husband and I became tourists on weekends, enjoying the opulence of the setting. We also took the opportunity to visit Bowood in Wiltshire, home of the Duchess’s family, the Lansdowne’s, where I read, and typed letters Evie wrote to her mother. And I spent some time at the wonderful British Archives at Kew. In Canada, we enjoyed traveling through Quebec to follow the Duke’s footsteps: the Citadel, his summer residence, and the Restigouche where he fished.

In the letters from Rideau Hall, Evie, the Duchess, gave full accounts of their life in Ottawa—their travels, their six children, the staff (ADCs, Comptroller), and occasionally, if they created problems, she mentioned a servant. One of the ADCs was called BJ. Eventually, I worked out his name, Vivian Bulkeley-Johnson, and found letters he had written home housed in LAC. He had given his letters to his pre-war friend from Oxford, Vincent Massey, to put into LAC to be opened only in the year 2000.

With all this information, I felt I had to write this book, a Canadian story hidden in English and Canadian archives. The massive collection of photographed letters sent me to the Apple shop to learn how to organize them. I bought a MAC, took lessons, learned to use Photo, to keyword each photo, sort them into albums. The newspapers provided information about the family’s travels and historical events including the war. I read many books about writing, how to use the techniques of fiction even for nonfiction; this was definitely not government writing.

When the manuscript was completed in 2015 I wrote to several Canadian publishers. Most did not reply. I went to a Pitch Conference in New York City, learned that I had too many references and maybe not a narrative arc. I found a Canadian writer to review the manuscript: it was too detailed, I should take a writing course. I registered for the online Humber College Creative Writing course and was lucky to have John Metcalf as my tutor.

Disclaimer: This newsletter is a free service that provides information to the members of our community. While we strive for accurate and fair reporting on all issues, the Association is not responsible for the information’s accuracy or completeness or for any consequences of relying on it. Views and opinions expressed in this newsletter belong to their authors and do not necessarily mirror the views and opinions of the Association.