Deschênes Forest marks five years of protection with resident-led celebration

Tashi Farmilo

Aylmer will host a celebration to mark five years since residents secured the protection of the Deschênes Forest, a small but ecologically rich woodland along the Ottawa River, with events taking place on September 7. The public is invited to gather at 10 am across from 100 Fraser Road for guided walks, information kiosks, and birthday cake in recognition of a community-led victory.

In 2020, news that the forested land was to be sold for residential development sparked immediate resistance. Aylmer residents organized, protested and called on the city to intervene. The campaign worked. Gatineau city council voted to cancel the sale, preserving the site and setting the stage for a broader movement.

That movement soon became formalized through the creation of Alliance Parc Deschênes, a non-profit dedicated to conserving the forest and promoting its long-term protection. Since its founding, the group has worked to deepen public engagement with the land, offering guided nature walks, birdwatching outings, community cleanups and educational programming. Its broader mission includes securing a permanent conservation status for the area, which stretches between Fraser Road and the Deschênes Rapids and includes nearby Conroy Island.

The forest itself is home to a surprising variety of plant and animal life, particularly for a site so close to residential streets. Volunteer-led ecological surveys have documented over 200 species of flora across mixed habitats, from silver maple stands to red oak groves. The forest also provides meaningful climate benefits, including carbon storage and flood mitigation.

September’s celebration is free and open to all, and the organizers hope it will serve as both a thank-you and a reminder. The Deschênes Forest was not saved by chance but by the determination of residents who saw its value and acted. That legacy, they argue, belongs to everyone who continues to care for it.

More information is available at parcdeschenes.ca and on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/AllianceParcDeschenesParkAlliance.