Gatineau Park
Overview
The Gatineau Park is one of the largest parks in the Ottawa Valley, stretching across more than361 kms². Parts of Gatineau Park are accessible from downtown Ottawa-Gatineau and visitors can enjoy unparalleled recreational activities year-round on over 200 kms of hiking and ski trails and 125 kms of biking trails.
Gatineau Park has the greatest diversity of habitats of any park in Quebec, while being home to the largest number of endangered species. Gatineau Park lies in the transition zone between the Boreal Forest of the Canadian Shield to the north and the eastern temperate forest of the St.Lawrence Lowlands to the south. This means species found in one or the other zone both call Gatineau Park home, resulting in a unique blend of animals and plants not found elsewhere in Canada.
Sadly, the current legislative status of the Gatineau Park does not include protections afforded to other national parks, and it is therefore under threat of development and industrialization in the future. This is why we are fighting to make the Gatineau Park a “real park” by granting legislative protection, which includes boundaries set in an Act of Parliament.
CPAWS-OV, with the help of Pontiac MP Sophie Chatel and Senator Rosa Galvez, submitted a petition to the House of Commons in 2024 seeking legislative protection for Gatineau Park. This petition was submitted before the House, and is currently tabled. We will update when we know more.
Species at risk need protected nature to roam and thrive.
The lack of a comprehensive land-use strategy for the surrounding lands and a buffer zone between the Gatineau Park and adjacent development is one of the greatest urbanization and development threats facing the park. This means when development is allowed to take place right next to the park boundary, species avoid the outer edges due to habitat fragmentation and human presence, effectively shrinking the size of the park in terms of its value to species. Urbanization and development threaten to destroy this vital habitat for close to 90 endangered plant and 60 endangered animal species.
The Gatineau Park provides habitats for 27% of all plant and vertebrate animals found in Canada, and more than 40% of those found in Quebec and Ontario. These species depend on protected biodiversity to survive long-term.
The Gatineau Park Boosts the Local Economy
Gatineau Park is the second most visited park in Canada, welcoming over 2.6 million visitors per year. Visitors can indulge in the diverse recreational opportunities, including 165 kms of hiking trails, 90 kms of cycling trails, 14 picnic areas, six public beaches, two campgrounds, and more. In winter, visitors can enjoy 200 kms of cross-country ski trails, 25 kms of snowshoe trails, a downhill ski area and a biathlon training centre. Visitors to this iconic landscape support Ottawa Valley’s economy through tourism revenue to local businesses. According to the National Capital Commission (NCC), Gatineau Park visitor-related spending is over $180 million per year. Over 70% of this spending is on restaurants, sports and recreation equipment, and shopping. The NCC estimates the GDP impact of Gatineau Park to be over $240 million, with the park providing 4,728 full time equivalent jobs.
For more information please read our Gatineau Park report.
