President's report
Canine Club’s AGM held on february 2, 2021
The year 2020 was, despite the circumstances, a fairly productive year for our organization. Perhaps one of the happiest times of our crappy year was the opening of the Allen Park exercise facility. The City and the CSPO together invested more than $ 230,000 for its construction.
The Aylmer Canine Club, for its part, has invested more than $ 8,000 in the recovery of a section of the area with an aggregate specially designed for dog parks. For this, a very special thanks to Pitou-Minou & compagnons for their important contribution both financial and labor wise. Let’s not forget that this business donates to the Club more than 30,000 pooh bags each year!
I will add to this recognition the financial support of the City, through our City councilors Audrey Bureau, Mike Duggan and Gilles Chagnon. Thank you for your support and attention to our needs.
We must be proud of this park which was quickly adopted by citizens. Its popularity makes it a meeting point for dog sitters whose origin even exceeds the limits of our sector. In my opinion, this is eloquent testimony to the urgent need for such infrastructure in our City. In this regard, this need was clearly expressed by many speakers during a Citizens' Café organized by the CCA last November.
Other less fortunate events this time around punctuated 2020. I am thinking of the closure of the Jardins-Lavigne dog park following confinement. The cancellation of our BBQs during the year caused us significant losses of income but, above all, it deprived us of the pleasure of getting together in a festive atmosphere, of seeing and admiring all those furry friends that are so important to us!
And then…
There is the unsavory announcement of the ban on off-leash dogs in the Boucher Forest. This decision, which we consider inappropriate and unfair for hundreds of citizens and which we have fought for 10 years, is now stirring up the disapproval of thousands of citizens. It goes without saying that the Club fully subscribes to the demands made in the petition To Oppose the Ban on Off-Leash Dogs in the Boucher Forest posted by citizens.
I obviously cannot ignore the issue of the delayed Memorandum of Understanding governing the obligations and responsibilities of the City and Canine Club parties regarding the management of the Jardins Lavigne dog parks and Allen park. According to the information we have received, certain elements of this agreement, affecting the legal status of the territories in question, will need to be further clarified before the final drafting of the document. In this regard, we expect to be consulted before the agrrements final drafting.
I close by thanking our volunteers whether they are all of the board members or any other Club members who help make our parks as clean and as safe as possible.
André Lemay President
Canine Club’s AGM held on february 2, 2021
The year 2020 was, despite the circumstances, a fairly productive year for our organization. Perhaps one of the happiest times of our crappy year was the opening of the Allen Park exercise facility. The City and the CSPO together invested more than $ 230,000 for its construction.
The Aylmer Canine Club, for its part, has invested more than $ 8,000 in the recovery of a section of the area with an aggregate specially designed for dog parks. For this, a very special thanks to Pitou-Minou & compagnons for their important contribution both financial and labor wise. Let’s not forget that this business donates to the Club more than 30,000 pooh bags each year!
I will add to this recognition the financial support of the City, through our City councilors Audrey Bureau, Mike Duggan and Gilles Chagnon. Thank you for your support and attention to our needs.
We must be proud of this park which was quickly adopted by citizens. Its popularity makes it a meeting point for dog sitters whose origin even exceeds the limits of our sector. In my opinion, this is eloquent testimony to the urgent need for such infrastructure in our City. In this regard, this need was clearly expressed by many speakers during a Citizens' Café organized by the CCA last November.
Other less fortunate events this time around punctuated 2020. I am thinking of the closure of the Jardins-Lavigne dog park following confinement. The cancellation of our BBQs during the year caused us significant losses of income but, above all, it deprived us of the pleasure of getting together in a festive atmosphere, of seeing and admiring all those furry friends that are so important to us!
And then…
There is the unsavory announcement of the ban on off-leash dogs in the Boucher Forest. This decision, which we consider inappropriate and unfair for hundreds of citizens and which we have fought for 10 years, is now stirring up the disapproval of thousands of citizens. It goes without saying that the Club fully subscribes to the demands made in the petition To Oppose the Ban on Off-Leash Dogs in the Boucher Forest posted by citizens.
I obviously cannot ignore the issue of the delayed Memorandum of Understanding governing the obligations and responsibilities of the City and Canine Club parties regarding the management of the Jardins Lavigne dog parks and Allen park. According to the information we have received, certain elements of this agreement, affecting the legal status of the territories in question, will need to be further clarified before the final drafting of the document. In this regard, we expect to be consulted before the agrrements final drafting.
I close by thanking our volunteers whether they are all of the board members or any other Club members who help make our parks as clean and as safe as possible.
André Lemay President
Chairman’s Message
Canine Club’s AGM held on January 26, 2020
The Aylmer Canine Club’s mandate is to ensure, in collaboration with the Municipality and as specified in our MOU, the management of dog exercise areas in the Aylmer sector. In other words, the Club, in collaboration with the Municipality, makes sure that our dog parks meet the requirements on cleanliness, accessibility, maintenance, security and conviviality.
Obviously, our Canine Club cannot meet all of these requirements on its own without the collaboration of the Municipality and of the park users. Our numerous interventions and requests, reinforced at times by media coverage on our municipal authorities, always aim at safeguarding and improving the level of service to dog owners. We manage to have the Municipality correct serious signage issues at Jardins-Lavigne Park, but we were unable to prevent the premature closure of the Paul-Pelletier fenced dog park. This caused an interruption in service which, according to the Municipality and the School Board, was not to occur. We do hope that the construction of the new fenced park will be done in accordance with the plan they proposed to us and built within the promised timeframe. According to Mike Duggan, this fenced dog park on Allen Street is scheduled to open by the end of June 2020.
Dog Aggression in the Parks
In the past year, we have had a number of reports of dog aggression. We understand the frustration of the owners whose dogs were attacked. While it is important that you report these incidents to us (several reports of incidents involving the same aggressive dog can provide information that will help us identify its owner), the police and the City’s animal control services are the only entities authorized to investigate and intervene. We invite all those who are victims or who witness dog attacks to try and identify the owner of the attacking dog. Without this information, neither the police nor animal control will be able to intervene.
In order to enforce the ban on aggressive dogs in our dog parks, we requested that there be a more sustained presence of animal control officers. We are told that the personnel is insufficient to meet this demand. Finally, even though the Canine Club cannot act as an animal controller, it nevertheless invites its members and all users to report these incidents by calling 311. This will at least raise the awareness of municipal authorities to invest more in the surveillance of its canine exercise areas.
Dogs in the Boucher Forest
As well as its management duties described above, our organization has given itself the mission of promoting and defending the interests of dog owners in our sector. In this regard, we address a very challenging issue, the presence of dogs in the Boucher Forest. At this point, I must admit to having more questions than answers on the intentions of the main parties in this debate. The Canine Club has defended and will always defend the right of citizens to walk with their dog in the Boucher Forest. Walking in the forest, especially in winter, brings lasting and exceptional benefits for all involved. I’m sure we would be able to establish rules or identify areas and paths where we can continue to walk with our dogs without compromising the course of all other recreational or contemplative activities in the forest. Collaboration and communication between the concerned parties are obviously essential prerequisites for the successful implementation of these measures. To this end, I believe that ultimately, the development of this forest will be improved in every way.
Finally, I would like to thank all those who volunteer to ensure the cleanliness and the good operation of our dog parks. Thank you to our partners who care about the well-being of our loyal companions. We are also grateful to the municipal departments who ensure that our activities and projects are carried out.
Thank you for your presence and your participation.
André Lemay
Chairman
Aylmer Canine Club
Canine Club’s AGM held on January 26, 2020
The Aylmer Canine Club’s mandate is to ensure, in collaboration with the Municipality and as specified in our MOU, the management of dog exercise areas in the Aylmer sector. In other words, the Club, in collaboration with the Municipality, makes sure that our dog parks meet the requirements on cleanliness, accessibility, maintenance, security and conviviality.
Obviously, our Canine Club cannot meet all of these requirements on its own without the collaboration of the Municipality and of the park users. Our numerous interventions and requests, reinforced at times by media coverage on our municipal authorities, always aim at safeguarding and improving the level of service to dog owners. We manage to have the Municipality correct serious signage issues at Jardins-Lavigne Park, but we were unable to prevent the premature closure of the Paul-Pelletier fenced dog park. This caused an interruption in service which, according to the Municipality and the School Board, was not to occur. We do hope that the construction of the new fenced park will be done in accordance with the plan they proposed to us and built within the promised timeframe. According to Mike Duggan, this fenced dog park on Allen Street is scheduled to open by the end of June 2020.
Dog Aggression in the Parks
In the past year, we have had a number of reports of dog aggression. We understand the frustration of the owners whose dogs were attacked. While it is important that you report these incidents to us (several reports of incidents involving the same aggressive dog can provide information that will help us identify its owner), the police and the City’s animal control services are the only entities authorized to investigate and intervene. We invite all those who are victims or who witness dog attacks to try and identify the owner of the attacking dog. Without this information, neither the police nor animal control will be able to intervene.
In order to enforce the ban on aggressive dogs in our dog parks, we requested that there be a more sustained presence of animal control officers. We are told that the personnel is insufficient to meet this demand. Finally, even though the Canine Club cannot act as an animal controller, it nevertheless invites its members and all users to report these incidents by calling 311. This will at least raise the awareness of municipal authorities to invest more in the surveillance of its canine exercise areas.
Dogs in the Boucher Forest
As well as its management duties described above, our organization has given itself the mission of promoting and defending the interests of dog owners in our sector. In this regard, we address a very challenging issue, the presence of dogs in the Boucher Forest. At this point, I must admit to having more questions than answers on the intentions of the main parties in this debate. The Canine Club has defended and will always defend the right of citizens to walk with their dog in the Boucher Forest. Walking in the forest, especially in winter, brings lasting and exceptional benefits for all involved. I’m sure we would be able to establish rules or identify areas and paths where we can continue to walk with our dogs without compromising the course of all other recreational or contemplative activities in the forest. Collaboration and communication between the concerned parties are obviously essential prerequisites for the successful implementation of these measures. To this end, I believe that ultimately, the development of this forest will be improved in every way.
Finally, I would like to thank all those who volunteer to ensure the cleanliness and the good operation of our dog parks. Thank you to our partners who care about the well-being of our loyal companions. We are also grateful to the municipal departments who ensure that our activities and projects are carried out.
Thank you for your presence and your participation.
André Lemay
Chairman
Aylmer Canine Club
Recipient of the Community Event of the Year during Gatineau's annual Gala.
Monsieur Mike Duggan, Monsieur Richard Bégin et Monsieur André Lemay.
December 8th last was held the City of Gatineau’s annual Gala in recognition of volunteer activities in the Aylmer sector. We are proud to announce that the Aylmer Canine Club received the award for best event of the year for its October 4th, 2015 activities at the Jardins Lavigne dog park. This event had attracted more than 400 visitors. Such an award is a first for a dog owner association. We are thankful for your presence during these activities and for your daily contribution to the cleanliness of our dog parks. See you in March 2017 for our next Canine Club event!
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Lucky to have such determined volunteers!
This morning, some fifty volunteers joined in for the clean-up spree at the Jardins Lavigne dog park. A credit to dog walkers for their community effort.
Thanks to all! Your participation to this event is not only encouraging for us but also adds to our motivation to work for you. The Aylmer Canine Club’s
strength and efficiency depends, foremost on your involvement and active participation.
A generous offer
Dog poo bags left for free at the Samuel-Pelletier and the Jardins-Lavigne dog parks are generously given us by
Pitou-Minou& Compagnons,
203 Aylmer rd. and 1160 St-Joseph (Hull).
Access to the new dog exercise area (Paul Pelletier Park)
The new dog exercise area located behind the Centre aquatique Paul Pelletier at 325 Aylmer Road is now open to the public. Its official opening is scheduled for the spring or the summer of 2015. The Aylmer Canine Club, in partnership with the City, is responsible for its management, upkeep and surveillance. As this enclosed dog exercise area is rather small, we appreciate all those guardians who are particularly attentive to their dog’s behavior and exercise control when need be. Also, we thank all those who empty out the garbage container situated in the park. In order to keep the park doors operational in winter, we’ve placed a snow shovel at the entrance. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Winter cleanliness: Jardins-Lavigne Park
We thank all the dog walkers who steadfastly pick up after their dog regardless of the cold and snow. Also, we ask all of you to be particularly vigilant when entering the park (from the concrete blocks to the basin). Thank you to all those who empty out the garbage containers around the basin. Your generosity and civic mindedness honors all dog owners.
A NEW PAGE ON OUR MEMBERS
We wish to add a new page on our website entitled «Our Members» where we will post a picture of your dogs. So send us pictures of your dogs with their names, and we will insert them in the slideshow.
JARDINS-LAVIGNE PARK
GARBAGE PICK UP
We thank all the members who voluntarily check and empty day after day the garbage cans around the basin. Note that all park users are welcome to do so. We also thank wholeheartedly all the users who conscientiously pick up after their dogs. Unfortunately, some users do not take this responsibility seriously, especially when there is no one around to see them! May we remind you how important it is to also keep the slopes around the basin and the space within the basin free of excrements, since our dogs’ health depends on it!
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS
A team of volunteers helped repair our facilities – we removed a bench (due to vandalism), we had to replace some posts holding the garbage cans which got stolen, we posted more signs reminding dog owners to clean after their animals. Please call the City (3-1-1) when you see that its garbage crew has not come for a while and that the mound of bags at the park entrance keeps rising.
BAG BOX
We do wish to fill more regularly our poop bag box at the park entrance. We meant to offer these bags just in case you forgot yours, but we noticed that many members use them regularly, which ends up costing us a fair amount of money. If you know a company who provides such bags (rolls of 300 bags about 15 cm wide), please contact us through our website (click on Contact us) or email us at [email protected]. Presently, we pay $13.00 for a roll, but we’d prefer buy them at a better price!
LOST DOGS
You probably know that our Facebook page is a good way to help find a lost dog. It is therefore important that we cumulate a large number of “friends”, since alerting rapidly hundreds of people about a lost dog makes all the difference! Please subscribe to our Facebook page, and do not hesitate to send us an message that we will post on our wall if anything happens to your dog.
