About Us
For thirty years, we have been the voice and eyes of the Gatineau River.
Our Story
The Friends of the Gatineau River (FOG) is an independent, not-for-profit, volunteer-based organization working with residents, the business community, and governmental partners to protect and improve the Gatineau River for future generations.
We were founded in 1991, just after the end of the log drive, to address the threats to the river posed by increased power boating, shoreline development, and ineffective sewage treatment systems.
Since our founding, we have been acting like the eyes, ears and voice of the river.
Septic Treatment Plants
We successfully participated in a community coalition opposing the construction of a septic treatment plant on the shore of the Gatineau River. During a three-year public debate, alternative options were identified, leading to the withdrawal of the project, thereby protecting the integrity of the Gatineau River.
Riverfest Celebrations
Most of the past twenty years, we organized an annual river paddle and festival event to celebrate the Gatineau and build awareness of river issues. We partner with local municipalities, musicians, artists. and businesses to create a unique event each year.
Publications
We collaborated with the Gatineau Valley Historical Society (GVHS) to develop the Gatineau River Heritage River Paddle: A Guide for paddlers and boaters to increase awareness of our river’s rich heritage – both historical and environmental.
Our Goals
Monitor
Expand a network of river watchers and use scientific testing and surveying programs to pinpoint problems and monitor the indicators of water quality and the health of the river ecosystem.
Advocate
Foster partnerships with people and organizations with common goals.
Advocate with municipal governments for the development and enforcement of regulations protecting the river.
Educate
Develop educational content and run awareness-building campaigns for residents, schools, politicians and municipal staff, realtors, and developers.
Celebrate
Celebrate our beautiful river with community events and collaborations with local musical and visual artists. Events include our annual Riverfest, fundraising concerts, and our Annual General Meeting.
Volunteer Board of Directors
Stephen Ferguson
Position: President
Terence McRae
Position: Director
Rita Jain
Position: Director
Ronnie Drever
Position: Secretary
David Wilson
Position: Director
ALISA GIBBY Lafontaine
Position: Treasurer
Mark Libby
Position: Director
Our Volunteers & Contributers
Gatineau – Riverfest 2023
Michel Babin, Darlene Badger, Bente Baklid, Sara Marie Bechtold, Réjean Belcourt, Rosanda Bellaar-Sprut, Ray Brian, Meredith Brown, Keva Bunge, Rink De Lange, Ingrid Dabringer, Gary Dimmock, Margot Doucet, Sally Douglas, Kristal Felea, Laura Massie Fowler, Chandra Gibbs, Alisa Gibby, Danielle Gouin, Lara Guenette, Jill Guerra, Jo Haddad, Paul Hampsey, Jake Hayduk, Barb Hogan, Jen Jackson, Nathalie Jolie, Sara Kemp, Poppy Klotz, Sharon Kopil, Gabby Laurier, Kim Magny, Hunter Malcolm, John McAlpine, Reid McLaughlan, Larry McNeely, John Miedema, Leanne Olsen, Pam, Rebecca Renner, Jill Rick, Lorraine Romain, Miriam Serré, Liz Smith Gray, Sondra, Nikola Sundet, Melinda Tan, Miro Vukmirovik, Chris Walsh
Plus the FOG board members : Rita Jain, Stephen Ferguson, Patrick Henry, Terence McCrae, David Wilson, Ronnie Drever.
New Website
Tanya Fader, Bob McCallum
Translation and Interpretation
Helen Brazeau, Josee Cantin, Annick Landry
Boating safety project
Bob Gibson, Michael Cooper, Neil Faulkner, Bob McCallum, Lynn Berthiaume, Theresa Bandrowska, Amanda Clavering, Krista Cooke, John Parker, Pat Curry, Wim Kok, Barry Nesbitt, Margaret Phillips, David Stockwell\
Waked Up 2021 – FAIRBAIRN HOUSE
Carsten Podehl, Chris Honneiger, Brian Mullin, Jean Boudreau and the rest of the Waked Up; Jim MacKinnon, Bob Gibson, Sandy Foote, Alain Piche, Sue Bramley, Jill Rick, Barry Nesbitt, Lynn Evenson, David Maitland, Michael Cooper
WakedUp 2019 – BLACKSHEEP
Paul Symes, Carsten Podehl, Chris Honneiger, Rhonda Arsenault, Brian Mullin, Jean Boudreau and the rest of the band
Riverfest 2019
Ed Hanrahan, Garth Hamilton, Alex Christie, Christina Bailey, Jessica Ferling, Tasha, Bonnie Vanasse, Sue Bramley, Janet Intscher,
Alexandra Bobek, Meredith Brown, Pierre QuiRoule, Christine Skladany, Donna Ward, Josee Cantin, Genvieve Fortin, Bente Baklid, Mathieu Hanlon, Paula Duhamel, Mark Leahy, Barry Nesbitt, Paulette Saltman, Michel Babin, Elizabeth Logue, Miro Vukmirovic, Denis Tremblay, Tara McWhinney, Jessica Robillard, Laura Massie Fowler, Julie Witmer
Riverfest 2018
Michel Babin, Joseph Melaschenko, Peter McGibbon, Yvon Carriere, Johnny, Alexandra Bobek, Dwayne Bunka, Amanda Burns, Liz, Josee Cantin, Bente Baklid, Paula DuHamel, James Sistie, Diane Wagner, Julie Witmer, Paulette Saltman, Robert Belsito, Laura Fowler, Sofia Jain, Rosemary Rich, Laura Massie Fowler
Riverfest 2017
Melanie Lavoie, Karine Martineau Laroque, Christine Leger, Sylvie Lebel
Water Monitoring
Malcolm Hunter, Ellie Wilkinson, Mark Paquin, Barry Nesbitt, Doug Taylor, Alain Piché,
Water World Day
Ilse Tursen, Elizabeth Logue, Michele Labelle, Guillaume Lamoureux, Rita Jain, Emma Lui
Previous Board members
Jasper Boychuk, Malcolm McHattie, Alain Piche, Neil Faulkner, Lydia Makuch Phillips, Jennifer Leichnitz, Paul Pestieau, Warren Major, Terry Gray, John Lowden, Muriel How, Jamie Linton, Doug Hyde, James Sistie, Earl Hansen, Phil Cohen, Noah Fuad, Nicole Desroches, Bruce Lister