Field Trips
A field trip outing is scheduled on the second day of the conference (June 15, 2009). Delegates will have the choice of seven options that will include recreational opportunities on the Ottawa, Gatineau and Rideau rivers and educational opportunities throughout the Ottawa and Gatineau regions.
Spaces are limited for each field trip. Be sure to select one of the listed field trips upon registering for the conference to reserve your space. Transportation to and from the field trip locations will be provided to all participants.
Field Trip A:
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Tour of Victoria Island
Visit Victoria Island, a sacred and historical haven in the middle of the Ottawa River.
Learn about the proposed vision for Victoria Island as a natural and cultural beacon for celebrating and sharing indigenous values and ideology.
Experience the island and gain an appreciation of the river’s cultural importance to the Algonquin people.
www.circleofallnations.ca
Field Trip B:
A walking and voyageur canoe tour of the Ottawa River
Experience the Ottawa River as the Voyageurs once did, while learning about the importance of the River and its connection to Aboriginal, Francophone and Anglophone heritage.
Your tour starts at the Ottawa locks of the historic Rideau Canal with a water blessing given by Chief Kirby Whiteduck of the Algonquin First nation. From here, you will help to paddle a guided Voyageur canoe on a return trip to Victoria Island, pausing periodically to examine the local biodiversity and hear colourful stories of earlier times on the River. Upon your return to Ottawa locks you will be invited to join an interpreted tour of the locks and the Bytown museum, Ottawa’s oldest stone building.
Field Trip C:
The Rideau Canal Boat Tour from Ottawa Locks to Dow's Lake
Join us for an exciting tour of the downtown Ottawa portion of the Rideau Canal – a National Historic Site, Canadian Heritage River and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Starting at the Ottawa locks, the northern entrance to the Canal, you will learn how Colonel John By's extraordinary vision of a slackwater canal system was realized through innovative engineering works still largely intact 177 years later. From the Ottawa locks, a boat tour will depart on a return trip to Dow's Lake. Witness the passing urban landscape while learning of the history of the Canal, its road to UNESCO designation, and the challenges and opportunities of incorporating Canal values into urban planning. Upon your return to Ottawa locks you will be invited to join an interpreted tour of the locks and the Bytown museum, Ottawa’s oldest stone building. Co-hosted by Parks Canada and the National Capital Commission, this is an event not to be missed.
Field Trip D:
Exploring community water stewardship initiatives in and around the Gatineau Park
H20 Chelsea presents their award-winning water conservation, monitoring and stewardship initiatives on the shores of beautiful Kingsmere Lake in Gatineau Park.
H20 Chelsea relies on the participation of community volunteers. The goal of the project is to better understand local ground and surface water resources in order to inform municipal planning and management decisions. Field trip participants will meet on the shores of beautiful Kingsmere Lake in Gatineau Park to learn about H20 Chelsea’s lake, stream and well water programs and a new initiative to transfer the program to the regional government. Participants will have the opportunity to stroll through the historic Kingsmere Estate, summer home of Canada's tenth and longest serving Prime Minister, Mackenzie King." For information on the H20 Chelsea project: www.h2ochelsea.ca .
Field Trip E:
Tour of The Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre: Ottawa’s Water Quality Issues, Priorities and Actions.
Take a tour through this state-of-the-art facility: The Pickard Centre is one of the largest facilities of its type in Canada, treating domestic, commercial and industrial wastewater.
Wastewater treatment is a fundamental but often unfamiliar municipal service. Join us on a visit to the state-of-the-art Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre, one of the largest facilities of its type in Canada. Not only does the Pickard Centre treat wastewater before returning it to the Ottawa River, it is a cogeneration facility, producing electrical power and thermal energy. Take a tour through this innovative facility and learn how the City promotes environmentally responsible practices and monitors water quality trends across Ottawa’s urban and rural streams.
www.ottawa.ca/residents/waterwaste/cogeneration_en.html .
Field Trip F:
A Behind the Scenes Tour of the Canadian Museum of Nature Natural Heritage Collection
Join us for a rare “behind-the-scenes” visit of this state-of-the art facility that houses over 10 million specimens representing the flora, fauna and the geological and fossil records of Canada.
From large dinosaur skulls to tiny insects, Canada’s natural history collections will amaze you. Explore the collections and visit the labs; staff will be on hand to share their expertise, discuss their research and answer questions. In keeping with the theme of the conference, you will also discover a variety of specimens reflecting the marine history of the Outaouais region formerly part of the Champlain Sea; learn about current research relating to aquatic ecosystems and more. An opportunity not to be missed!
www.nature.ca .
Field Trip G:
Tour of the Farmer’s Rapids Generating Station: a tour and discussion of the socio-economic and environmental issues related to impoundments.
Discover a jewel of the region’s history on the Gatineau River, 10 km from downtown Ottawa: the Farmer’s Rapids generating station, in operation since 1927.
Learn about the river’s past as the region’s log-driving highway and about its current role as a provider of hydroelectric power to the Outaouais. Venture into the centre of the turbine generator and view the 160-ton rotor in action above you. This unique facility is sure to captivate you! Rapides-Farmer Generating Station - Free guided tours - Hydro-Québec.