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Visitors to Gatineau Park and Residents of Canada's Capital Region Can Tune in to 89.1 FM while Admiring the Spectacular Fall Colours
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NCCN-06-09-08-PR
September 22, 2006
Colourful activities await you during the course of the weekends
from September 30 to October 15, 2006
Canada’s Capital Region — Visitors to Gatineau Park and residents of Canada’s Capital Region are invited to tune in to 89.1 FM to learn more about the Park’s heritage and natural environment during Fall Rhapsody 2006, announced the National Capital Commission (NCC) during a news conference held this afternoon to unveil the activities to be presented from September 30 to October 15, 2006 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Fall Rhapsody.
“Visiting Gatineau Park to admire the magnificent Fall colours has become a very popular tradition for thousands of residents and visitors to the Capital Region,” said Michelle Comeau, Vice-President of the Environment, Capital Lands and Parks Branch at the NCC. “This new initiative presented in collaboration with CHUO radio will contribute to the public’s experience by allowing them to learn more about Gatineau Park’s history, and its natural resources.”
From September 30 to October 15, 2006, between 11 am to 4 pm, a 10-minute program will be presented in French at the beginning of every hour and in English on every half hour on 89.1 FM. These programs will be integrated to the University of Ottawa’s radio station, CHUO’s regular programming.
TWO-DAY OPEN HOUSE
The NCC also invited the public to meet with members of the Gatineau Park staff during an Open House, which will be held on September 30th and October 1st at the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre, located at 33 Scott Road, in Chelsea. Members of the public will have the opportunity to come meet Gatineau Park’s experts, such as a biologist, conservation officer, park managers and recreational activity specialists and to exchange on various topics related to the Park.
RESEARCHERS’ DAY ($)
The second edition of this annual event is presented by Friends of Gatineau Park. On October 14, members of the public can attend presentations on the following topics: Biodiversity in Gatineau Park, the cemeteries around the Park, inventories of fishes and mushrooms. Participants can also take part in a guided tour on the Sugarbush Trail with a specialist of mushrooms’ species. The registration fee includes a light lunch. Those interested can register by calling 819-827-2020 (note that the number of participants is limited).
INITIATION ON HOW TO IDENTIFY TREES IN GATINEAU PARK
Guided tours of the Sugarbush Trail will be offered on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as on the Holiday Monday, at 10:30 am in English and at 1:30 pm in French. During these tours, a nature interpreter will teach participants how to recognize some of the 40 species of trees found in Gatineau Park.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
The NCC will also hold numerous activities for kids and adults over the course of the three Fall Rhapsody weekends. Outdoor and music enthusiasts can join an NCC naturalist for an evening guided tour of the Sugarbush Trail on September 30th. Participants will discover the natural charms of Gatineau Park, admire environmental sculptures and listen to the folkloric music of Chakidor. Residents and visitors will also not want to miss the guided tours offered during the week on various trails.
MACKENZIE-KING ESTATE
Visitors to Gatineau Park are also invited to stop at Mackenzie King Estate. Located in the heart of the Park, Mackenzie-King Estate is a popular destination at this time of year, as the gardens and nearby forests of this historical site are truly colourful. Visitors have until the end of season, on Sunday, October 15th, to discover the collection of ruins, the Moorside and Kingswood chalets, and the Victorian gardens of William Lyon Mackenzie-King, the 10th Prime Minister of Canada. (Note that there is a parking fee of $8 per day)
COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
Organized by the NCC, in collaboration with Japan Camera and Fuji Film Canada, the Fall Rhapsody colour photography competition’s theme is the lakes and streams of Gatineau Park in autumn colours. The winning photographs of previous years and the photographs of this year’s participants will be on display at the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre.
CIRCULATION IN THE PARK
To facilitate motorized circulation, electronic panels will provide information to visitors when certain parking lots (the belvederes Champlain, Huron, and Étienne-Brûlé) have attained their capacity of visitors. The NCC would also like to remind motorists that parking is allowed in the designated areas only, and forbidden along the Parkways.
For more information about Fall Rhapsody 2006, members of the public may contact the NCC at