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| The
Festival: An event for the whole familly |
The Haute-Gatineau Whitewater Festival holds most of its activities
on the Gatineau River. The Festival welcomes canoe, kayak
and rafting enthusiasts of all calibers. It has become, over
the years, a family event for whitewater enthusiasts. Parents
can take advantage of a breathtaking run down the Desert
River. Many new portages have been set up on the Gatineau
River providing a means by which the less experienced can
discover the river. Children may accompany their parents on
the camp site in Maniwaki. For the 2006 edition, a
daycare / day camp will be provided for kids, three years
and up. |
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| For non paddlers, the young and
the less young will be able once again this year to observe
their friends and family from Bonnet Rouge at Bouchette which
gives access to the last rapid of the run. This is also possible
at the Savoyard covered bridge at Grand-Remous where more
experienced paddlers finish this second section of the Gatineau
River. |
The Festival today
For logisctics and legal considerations, since 1999, the Festival
is produce by Fédération québécoise
du canot et du kayak. (Québec Canoe and Kayak Federation)This
Festival has become through the years, a major event of its kind
in North-America. People come from Québec, Ontario and
the United States in a friendly and bilingual atmosphere.You can
download the inscription form for the Festival by clicking here
(PDF format). Print it, fill it and send it to the Festival before
august 23th 2005.You can also register by phone at (514) 252-3001.
Festival history
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Re-discovered in 1997 by canoers of
Les Portageurs (canoe-camping club) the Maniwaki-Bouchette
section of the Gatineau River became famous and very popular
to the Quebec's whitewater community. This magnificent section
is also known by promoters for its hydroelectric potential.
This hydro project could flood and artificialy regulate
de flow of the river. Also, it could limit, for ever, a
public access of the rapids, the beaches, and the beautiful
landscape. In fact, this project will destroy all the touristic
potential of the river.
In front of those issues, Jasmin Lefebvre and Alain Bonin
initiated the Festival in 1997 as an activitie of Les
Portageurs. |
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The purposes of the
Festival are:
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to let paddlers and othres discover
this section of the Gatineau and this wild and beautiful
area.
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sensitize as to negative consequences
of hydroelectric projects in Quebec from historical,
environmental and touristic perspectives.
- provide funding fo the "Fonds pour la préservation
des rivières de la Fédération
québécoise du canot et du kayak".
(Quebec River Protection Fund)
All profits generated by the Festival are donated to
the Quebec
River Preservation Fund
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