Investments for the Marais: Magog demands $500,000 annually!

Investments for the Marais: Magog demands $500,000 annually!

Things are currently happening in Magog, as the Marais de la Rivière-aux-Cerises is at the center of discussions surrounding the upcoming municipal elections. The organization that manages this unique habitat has made a clear demand: future elected officials should prioritize funding for the maritime park and invest $500,000 annually for at least five years noovo.info reported.

Vicki-May Hamm, director of the Association du Marais de la Rivière-aux-Cerises and former mayor, underlines the importance of the park, which is visited by over 200,000 people every year. The protected area covers 180 hectares and is accessible free of charge all year round. Hamm describes the Marais as a “laboratory” and “outdoor museum,” and emphasizes that part of the area is used for university research projects, particularly to study wetlands.

Rehabilitation and challenges

A key concern is the rehabilitation of the hiking trails, which have been closed for over 15 years. The requested funds would be used to remove existing piles and introduce new, deeper installations. So far, the community has already pledged $500,000 for the first phases of rehabilitation, but a decision on permanent funding is still pending. The new mayor Nathalie Pelletier made it clear that people cannot always agree, even if the organization's work is valued. The new council will be tasked with adopting a budget shortly after the Nov. 2 election.

But the situation is not quite as bleak as it seems. In 2024, LAMRAC has already achieved great success. The first major fundraising campaign was launched with the ambitious goal of raising a total of $2,350,000 by 2028. So far, $800,000 has been raised to support the rehabilitation of footbridges and other infrastructure lerefletdulac.com.

Cultural developments and exhibitions

In addition, Phase 1 of the major development plan is currently being implemented on the Pioneer Path and is scheduled to be inaugurated in June 2024. An exciting innovation is the introduction of the immersive experience “Momenti”, which has replaced the old permanent exhibition. This project requires an investment of $800,000 and the collaboration of over 30 experts and partners. Visitors can look forward to changing exhibitions, which will be presented in the center twice a year.

The art scene also remains active: from April 2024, the artist Julie Vanasse will enrich the rooms with her exhibition “Les habitants du marais”. In addition, the Quebec government has provided a grant of $64,138 to develop educational kits to support teachers and educators during group visits.

The Marais de la Rivière-aux-Cerises therefore remains not only a place for relaxation, but also a center for research and art. It will be exciting to see how the situation regarding financing and rehabilitation continues to develop. There is definitely a lot to do and we hope for a good hand in the upcoming decisions!