Rosanne Gilks - Artist

Rosanne Gilks Here is Roseanne's single stroke logo for NOLAC, the Northern Ontario Liquid Adventurer's Club. I think this is found on more than just a few T-Shirts - if I am not mistaken, world wide.

She never got a penny for it and I am thanking her again for it here.

Recently Scott Sorensen mentioned that the scruffy T-Shirt, mounted in a frame prepared by Gerry Bedard was one of his prized possessions.It features the logo prominently.

POWER PROJECTS ON THE KIPAWA RIVERSHED - Here we go again

The Onimiki project includes two 42-megawatt mini-power stations that will be built in southern Témiscamingue. The Aboriginal communities of Kebaowek and Wolf Lake are associated with this project.

At the end of 2021, Hydro-Québec had launched a call for tenders for the acquisition of 480 MW of renewable energy.

The MRC intends to move forward and file its case by next July.

“  We have a project, Onimiki, which has been on the table for several years. Our goal is to submit the detailed project to Hydro-Québec as part of [the Crown corporation's] call for projects.  »

— A quote from  Prefect Claire Bolduc

Our project has certain advantages, in particular thanks to the possibilities of realization, which are very facilitating. It is a project in partnership with the First Nations, it is a project that is simple to carry out in the context of hydroelectric projects. It is a run-of-river project that does not require a retention structure for very large masses of water. We are hopeful that this will be a project that will be well received , explains the prefect Claire Bolduc.

According to an independent evaluation, the two mini-power plant project could generate net revenues of $1.88 million for the First Nations and for the MRC in the first year.

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1856549/hydro-quebec-onimiki-temiscamingue-premiere-nation?partageApp=rcca_appmobile_appinfo_android&fbclid=IwAR39fS7cG3DPirgkjc7ijliXyBRK_7WrUrbU69s3nZjP8BGUlSw518cTOwM

Tanya Nephew

September 16, 2021

The MRC of Témiscamingue wishes to be ready for the next call for projects from the Government of Quebec concerning renewable energies.

A mandate could soon be awarded for the preparation of a technical file which would be submitted with a view to a call for tenders.

We have the principle, we have the location, we have the water capacity; now, technically, each of the stages must be described , explains the prefect Claire Bolduc. The council of the MRC du Témiscamingue gave its approval on Wednesday evening for the administrative committee to push the project further in order to find a firm capable of putting together a well-developed file. A step that could cost up to $100,000.

We know that a call for projects is imminent. A call for projects of 480 MW of green energy, therefore renewable energy. There will be a call for projects in the fall. We want the Onimiki project to be ready, ready to file. We don't want to be running after consultants or technical information. We want to be ready to submit a project , persists the prefect Claire Bolduc.

The mayors of Témiscaming and Kipawa have registered their dissidence, since no agreement concerning their respective municipality has been concluded for the moment in this project.

Premier Legault's office says there will be no hydroelectric development project as long as there are power surpluses, a situation that casts a shadow over the Ominiki mini-power plant development project. Despite everything, the prefect of Témiscamingue stays the course.

The day after the election of the CAQ government, the mayor of Kipawa, Norman Young, tried to find out the intentions of Premier François Legault on the 42-megawatt mini-power plant project in southern Témiscamingue.

Four months later, the mayor received a letter signed by the Prime Minister's political attaché, of which Radio-Canada obtained a copy. You can read there:

As long as there are electricity surpluses, there will be no development projects. Under these circumstances, the evaluation of the Onimiki project is premature.

A response “already prepared”, says the prefect

This response from the Prime Minister's Office does not discourage the prefect of Témiscamingue, Claire Bolduc, who, on the contrary, intends to work twice as hard.

There is the official position and there is the reality of things. We look at this and we tell ourselves that our work is not finished. We are still working to obtain water rights and we continue to work. The project is far from dead. This is an answer that goes with the CAQ's program on energy projects. Remember that there are three projects that have been approved by Hydro-Québec, whose water rights have been transferred, assures Claire Bolduc. “We want to see the ins and outs. Very concretely, what does it represent? Financially, in terms of obligations, in environmental terms, what does that represent in our living environments? You have to start somewhere. We are moving forward, we are documenting and then requesting water rights,” says the prefect of Témiscamingue, Claire Bolduc.

le préfet de la MRC du Témiscamingue, Arnaud Warolin

The prefect wants the candidates for the next provincial elections to make commitments regarding the Onimiki project.

“Another step has just been taken for the Onimiki mini-hydroelectric project when two representatives of the community of Mashteuiatsh, in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, were in Témiscamingue on Tuesday.--- from Tanya Neveu

They explained the Saguenay-Lac Saint-Jean community energy project to elected officials and First Nations representatives. The representative of the community of Mashteuiatsh, Alain Nepton also wishes to be part of the Onimiki project.

“What we bring is our knowledge, because we are used to it, we have the experience and the technical knowledge to help the community set up its own project, argues Mr. Nepton. It is in this spirit that we bring it. It's not quite as a consultant, it's more to repeat an offer of community partner that we come to propose to the MRC here and to the First Nations. »

The MRC du Témiscamingue wants to move forward with the mini-hydroelectric project
Two new mini hydroelectric power stations could see the light of day in Témiscamingue
Public consultation to come

The prefect of the MRC du Témiscamingue, Arnaud Warolin, believes that there are still several steps to take before formalizing a partnership with the community of Mashteuiatsh.  “The next steps to take is that we promised the population that we would do serious work on the environment, that we were going to work with people who have the expertise to validate the quality of this project. there and that we would hold consultation, pre-consultation sessions, recalls Mr. Warolin. We are not yet at a final project. We made a commitment to consult the population and that is what we are going to do. »

MRC de Témiscamingue :
21, rue Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, bureau 209
Ville-Marie (Québec) J9V 1X8
Téléphone : 819 629-2829 
Ligne sans frais : 1 855 622-MRCT (6728)
Télécopieur : 819 629-3472 

mrct@mrctemiscamingue.qc.ca

To the MRC

le projet hydroélectrique Onimiki

Regarding the Kipawa River one may find a complete dossier on line at the following blog address: http://allaboutwhitewater.blogspot.com

There is also a complete Federal Court Case on the subject of the Taberet River Diversion Project.

Please also consult the officials at Opemican National Park.

It is ironic that that Quebec Corporation and environmental group, Les Amis de la riviere Kipawa which has worked so hard for the preservation of the Kipawa River for the past 40 years has not been interviewed or contacted concerning this project.

I suggest that they be granted intervenor status immediately on present and future discussions concerning water releases and the size and scope of the project to avoid future litigation and roadblocks.

Peter Karwacki

Past President

Les amis de la rivière Kipawa

Wilderness Tours has announced that will will be waiving the river access fees it has been charging paddlers for the past few years.

Katie Kowalski announced:

Following the last 6 years of pay-per-use takeout access, Wilderness Tours is removing access fees for private paddlers to provide a more equitable opportunity for all to experience the Ottawa River.

Starting in 2022, a simple check-in at our entrance reception office is all that will be required for takeout access.

https://wildernesstours.com/park-passes-and-access/

COUNCIL DEFERS DECISION on Ottawa River Egress Access Road

Copyright © 2021 Ottawa River Access Project All rights reserved. COUNCIL DEFERS DECISION Like many of you, we anticipated that Council would be voting on our proposal for a legacy of free, public access on the Ottawa River on July 7th. However, Council has made the decision to defer voting on our proposal at this time.  We would like to sincerely thank Council for taking the time to speak with us and for their review of our proposal. We acknowledge that this is a complicated matter, and understand their decision to take time to thoroughly consider this issue before voting on this issue.  Whitewater Ontario is committed to partnering with the Township for the long term to provide the best outcomes and protection for residents, paddlers and adjacent stakeholders. We encourage the Township to continue their work on collaborating with various stakeholders to ensure this project can move forward.  We will continue to provide updates here and through our social media accounts over the coming weeks and months, so please stay tuned and engaged as we await the next vote - we will need to carry this momentum forward and will need your ongoing support.  HOW YOU CAN HELP If you haven’t done so already, please fill out the survey on our website and let us know how you can help. The cost of building the road could come down substantially if people volunteer/donate their time to this project. Here are the big ticket items that would help us bring our costs down with the help of volunteering: Rock/tree stump removal Tree cutting Gravel and Heavy Equipment Use Please indicate on the survey how you are able to help, or reach out to us directly by emailing info@ottawariveracces.ca.    Fill Out the Survey JOIN WHITEWATER ONTARIO Whitewater Ontario is a volunteer-driven organization uniting, supporting, and sustaining the inclusive development of the whitewater paddling community and resources. If you haven't already, please consider joining Whitewater Ontario, the backer of this project, where you and family can join a club, support the whitewater community in multiple ways AND a portion of your membership goes directly to river advocacy projects like this one.  Join WO SHARE YOUR STORY #MyOttawaRiverStory We’ve been collecting your stories about why public access to the Ottawa River is important to you and we’re proud to continue sharing these stories on our Facebook and Instagram feeds. Tag us (@ottawariveraccess) in your posts on Instagram about what free, public access on the Ottawa River means to you and use #MyOttawaRiverStory to be featured! If you have already submitted your story via our website, please feel free to follow up by email and let us know you're happy to have your story shared publicly. Please remember to include at least 1 photo to accompany your story! FOLLOW US REACH OUT If you are a local landowner/taxpayer in Whitewater Region, please be sure to reach out to your local councillors and let them know why free, public access is important to you. A full list of Council members is below: Mayor Michael Moore mayormoore@whitewaterregion.ca Phone: (H) 613-582-7348 (C) 613-585-1609 Reeve Cathy Regier Email: cregier@whitewaterregion.ca Phone: (C) 613-585-3705 (H) 613-582-3873 Councillor Charlene Jackson Email: cjackson@whitewaterregion.ca Phone: 613-401-5481 Councillor Dave Mackay Email: dmackay@whitewaterregion.ca Phone: 613-281-7570 Councillor Darryl McLaughlin Email: dmclaughlin@whitewaterregion.ca Phone: 613-646-7570 Councillor Neil Nicholson Email: nnicholson@whitewaterregion.ca Phone: 613-401-0097 Councillor Chris Olmstead Email: colmstead@whitewaterregion.ca Phone: 613-312-7565 We continue to be blown away by the support everyone has shown us throughout this process.  The emails, messages and phone calls have been overwhelming, and we will continue to advocate for a legacy of free, public access on the Ottawa River.  With gratitude,  Ottawa River Access Committee – Dan Kirvan Dave Gillespie Shawna Babcock Graham Kent Chris Goodall John Mason Sierra Stinson The Rocher Fendu section of the Ottawa River has been paddled since time immemorial. These waters run through the unceded homelands and unsurrendered traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg and Algonquin Nations. We recognize the Algonquin people as the customary keepers of the Ottawa River watershed and its tributaries. Today, many of us have the privilege to paddle the river's waters and walk the land that surrounds it. We are grateful for the opportunities to learn and connect to the land that this river provides us.* Follow Us @OttawaRiverAccess Facebook Instagram Website #OttawaRiverAccess #MyOttawaRiverStory *This acknowledgement is an important Indigenous protocol. Respect the water and please take the time to honour the river and land where we paddle. It gives us rich experiences and access to beautiful natural spaces. Our commitment is to gain a deeper understanding about the history of this land, the original inhabitants, be responsible users of the river, and show respect. Copyright © 2021 Ottawa River Access Project All rights reserved. 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