A New Land Donation for Conservation & Community Safety
From left to right: Normand Brière, Margot Graham Heyerhoff, Marcella Davis Gerrish (Mayor, Village of North Hatley), Benoît Tremblay (General Manager, Village of North Hatley).
On Wednesday, the Massawippi Conservation Trust was honoured to receive a new donation of land from the Municipality of the Village of North Hatley, the third such donation since the Trust’s inception.
This parcel, located directly behind Town Hall and adjacent to Ste. Elizabeth Church on the Capelton Road responds to the needs of the newly established daycare housed in the Town Hall building. The Municipal Council’s decision will allow for a safer passage for children walking to Scowen Park.
The donated land connects to Scowen Park at its rear corner, where a trail will be developed in the near future, further enhancing safe access and enjoyment for the community.
We extend our sincere thanks to the members of Council and to Mayor Marcella Davis Gerrish for their continued commitment to creating a safe, welcoming environment for children and residents alike.
As a reminder, the Municipality donated a portion of Scowen Park to the Trust in 2015, followed by the Virgin Hill walking path in 2023. These generous contributions reflect a long-standing dedication to conservation and community well-being.
A legacy of love for the land
From left to right: Philippe Di Pietrantonio (Coordinator from Appalachian Corridor Association), Margot Graham Heyerhoff (Trustee), Yvonne Bouchard, her daughter Manon Dubé, and Normand Brière (Trustee).
Mme Yvonne Bouchard decided to protect, in perpetuity, the land she and her late husband Bertand Dubé bought, to honor his memory and love of the land. The servitude was signed this week. Mme Dubé has entrusted the Massawippi Conservation Trust with the servitude to protect the 200 acres of land in the Coaticook MRC. An ecological study of the land counted an inventory of 168 different species of flora and 59 species of fauna, including the Pickerel Frog, the little brown Myotis Bat, and the Northern Painted Turtle, which are all listed as species at risk. The process took nearly 2 years to complete. Conservation takes time and patience, and we thank Madame Bouchard and her family for their strong beliefs in the benefits of conservation.
