Welcome to the first edition of what your editors hope to be a semi-annual AALM newsletter designed to keep you informed about developments in Ivry-sur-le-Lac and at your association.
A NOTE ON IVRY HISTORY
Very, very long ago – over a billion years at least – the mountains around Ivry-sur-le-lac were formed, squeezed upward by the movements of tectonic plates deep beneath the surface of the planet. They, along with the rest of the Precambrian Shield, were the first mountain range on Earth, with towering peaks of granite, gneiss and ancient rocks. They were twisted and altered by volcanic eruptions, then worn and scraped down by several ice ages that lasted millions of years. The Pleistocene ice age, one million years ago, further scoured down the soaring mountain peaks. Their tumbled boulders are all around us, on the bottom of the lake and in the forests. As the giant mountains became eroded by time and ice, they created plateaus, deep valleys, moraines, marshy hollows, dramatic cliffs, rocky outcroppings, youthful rivers with rapids or waterfalls, winding streams, a maze of small and large lakes – and Lac Manitou.
The main purpose of AALM is to protect this ancient lake and its surroundings (more about AALM later.)
The earliest human residents of this rugged Laurentian area were the indigenous peoples, the Algonquins and later the Iroquois. They lived in semi-permanent settlements along the North and Rouge Rivers, hunting deer, moose, black bear and hare and fishing walleye, trout, perch, pike and lake char.
Hardy European settlers arrived in the mid-1800’s, lured by unoccupied land in the lowlands, and tried to develop an agricultural base. The Catholic church initiated many colonization schemes and when the railway reached Ste. Agathe in 1892, more settlers and immigrants arrived in waves. But the soil and humid, cool climate proved unsuitable for agriculture, and within two generations most agriculture was abandoned. The farmers found work as trappers, lumberjacks and timber sawmill workers. One by one the giant white pines that graced the borders of Lac Manitou were cut down for ship masts, log cabins and pine furniture.
The land that was hostile to agriculture was ideal for recreation, and by the 1890’s tourism arrived at Lac Manitou. People bought land around the lake, including Countess Angela Ogier d’Ivry from Le Mans, France, who purchased land in 1891 for her son Raoul.
Raoul had ambitions to establish a new Ogier dynasty around Lac Manitou. He built a large country house and barns on the lake. He was generally well liked and managed to pay his bills with money sent by his mother. He also tried his hand at farming, and failed, and soon sold the property to a Montreal group who established a cross-country ski lodge, the Manitou Club. Pictures of the house exist still.
Raoul also acquired an additional property where he was told he could mine iron and titanium, but it never produced much viable ore and today it is a cave entry in the woods. (AALM’s Trails Committee has cut and marked a magnificent hiking/skiing trail to the Titanium Mine. More about Trails later.)
During the prewar period, Raoul ran a tour boat on Lake Manitou and had one of the nicest boats on the lake, although not everyone appreciated it. Steam-driven, it relied on wood for its fuel and sparks flew from its stack, at one point igniting and burning Oliver’s Point (today the Manitou Valley Road).
So many families established homes on the shores and around the lake that the provincial legislature in 1912 created the municipality of Ivry-sur-le-Lac. Because Viscount Raoul Ogier d’Ivry was the region’s best-known citizen, his name was adopted for the new town. The municipality today has 425 households.
The AALM
AALM was founded in early 1912 as the Lake Manitou Improvement Company and changed its name to L’ Association pour l’amélioration de lac Manitou et de ses environs some years later. At 108 years old, it is one of the oldest association of residents in the Laurentians!
Its goal is to keep the lake clean in order to “preserve and maintain the quality of life we enjoy so much.” Another is to ensure that its members are adequately represented on the local municipal council and that their views are made known to the council. A third is to provide a way for area residents to meet and discuss issues of general interest to the community.
Annual meetings are held in July to elect Board of Directors and Executives. This year, because of Covid-19 restrictions, the annual meeting was held online in September and a new Board of Directors was elected. The following are the new Board of Directors’ members for the 2020-2022 term:
Joyce Arsenault, George Barker, Kyle Bebb, Elliott Berzan, Peter Cohen, Tim Dorey, Boyd Fuller, Tassie Fyon, Jerry Golick, Geoff Harling, Lyn Lalonde, Harold Lehrer, John Patton, Michael Prupas, Rick Rubin, and Michael Vineberg.
The Board of Directors met on Sept. 21, 2020 to appoint a new executive after Geoff Harling had announced his resignation as President. He had diligently served as President and Vice President over the previous 6 years. The Board elected the following new executive for the 2020-2022 term:
President: Michael Prupas; Vice President: Boyd Fuller; Recording Secretary: Lyn Lalonde; Treasurer: Michael Vineberg; Secretary: Elliott Berzan; Past President: Geoff Harling.
The AALM has over 100 members. “The AALM is dedicated to preserving the beautiful environment and lifestyle that Ivry residents have come to cherish” says Michael Prupas, AALM president. “We believe that our vibrant and energetic community is committed to working with us and each other.”
Here is a list of AALM’s activities and committees.
Conservation Manitou
One of the benefits that AALM provides to residents is its continued support for Conservation Manitou, a Laurentian success story. In just over 6 years, Conservation Manitou has acquired over 1,330 acres of eco-sensitive natural areas in and around the Lac Manitou watershed protecting them in perpetuity from development. It has raised nearly $2.5 million in cash donations from 180 or so Ivry residents and received $3.5 million in land donations (ecological gifts) from a dozen generous families.
In 2019, Conservation Manitou positioned itself as an important player in Quebec’s conservation scene by spearheading the creation of the first wildlife crossing in the Laurentians. By partnering with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, who raised the necessary funding, 66 acres were acquired at the entrance of the tunnel passing under Highway 117 in Ivry. The Ivry Wildlife Crossing will not only help to protect wildlife but will also act as a catalyst for maintaining ecological connectivity in the greater region.
Conservation Manitou is also raising awareness for conservation in the broader community and expanding its donor base to neighboring areas such as Valdurn and Lac Merisier which share common environmental interests with Lac Manitou.
Says the Chair of Conservation Manitou, Stephen Takacsy: “Thanks to our hard work and the enthusiastic contribution of our members towards our success, our community is now at the center of one the most important environmental initiatives in the province of Quebec which is to create a key ecological corridor in the Laurentians through Ivry.”
Maintaining water quality
AALM volunteers undertake micro bacterial testing of the lake water every year. We are happy to report that in 2020, the results were excellent overall. Only two troublesome spots were found this year and they are the same areas identified in the past (on the western edge of Lac Fer de Cheval and in the swampy area on the Northwest corner of Lac Manitou). There is no evidence of spread from these areas.
In 2019, the AALM sounded the alarm about Eurasian Water-Milfoil, an invasive aquatic plant introduced to North America by ships from other continents via ballast water. The fast-growing perennial, which forms dense underwater mats that shade out other aquatic plants, has been moved around Ontario and Quebec lakes by motorized and non-motorized recreational watercrafts. As it decays, the weed reduces oxygen levels in the water, killing off fish, and in the long term, also killing the lake. The AALM worried that boats from lakes infected by milfoil would infect ours.
In the spring of 2020, the town opened a boat washing facility behind the municipal garage. It also hired a launch attendant to monitor lake access. The boat washing was a success. More than 200 motorized boats and 137 non-motorized watercrafts were washed as well as over 200 trailers.
Lake Access by Non-Resident Fishermen
AALM was very concerned in 2018 that sports fishermen from outside Ivry would obtain easy access to Lac Manitou. Now, non-resident must pay a substantial amount to access the lake with motorized craft. Indeed, during the summer of 2020, there were no permits issued to any non-resident sports fishermen by the municipality.
Water Safety
Water safety remains a topic of ongoing concern on Lac Manitou. Boating activities on Lac Manitou are regulated by the Federal Government’s laws which provide a limited number of hours for water skiing, wake boarding and wake surfing activities (10:00 -12:00 a.m. and 4:00 -7:00 p.m.) as well as speed limits of 10 KPH in certain parts of the lake.
During summer 2020, the municipality hired a two-man Nautical Patrol to keep boaters informed about standards, laws and safe boating practices. The patrol gave out warnings and advice. It is possible that in the future the Nautical Patrol will be able to issue written warnings and potentially fines to repeat offenders.
Given the relatively recent arrival to the lake of Big Wave Boaters, a committee was created to provide recommendations on how Big Wave Boating should be managed given environmental, property and safety concerns. The committee looked at both the needs of wake surfing and wake boarding enthusiasts to practice their sport and the potential impact that these sports could have on the environment of Lac Manitou, including the erosion of shorelines, disturbance of aquatic plants, damage to docks and boathouses, and disruption of other activities on the water such as swimming, kayaking, canoeing and waterskiing.
After the committee issued its report, the Municipal Council published a draft Water Safety Map which it circulated to Ivry taxpayers with its October bulletin. The map included details of the federal laws governing the lake and further identified areas of the lake where Big Wave Boating would be strongly discouraged. Residents and the AALM have commented on this map.
AALM Groups and Committees
Ivry Trails Club
Trail Club Hike 2019
The AALM established the Ivry Trails Club in 2013 which has grown from a dozen members to over 100. The club’s objective is to resuscitate and maintain the historically established cross-country skiing and hiking trails that pass through Ivry, such as the Laurentian Trail and the Maple Leaf Trail, created by Jack Rabbit Johannsen in the 1930s and 1940s. It also worked with many volunteers to expand the network of trails that exist in the hills and valleys of Lac Manitou. Many new trails with a total distance of over 50 kilometers have been cleared, marked and mapped, allowing cross country skiers, snowshoers and hikers to enjoy their sports year-round. These trails feature some of Ivry’s most beautiful promontories and pastoral vistas.
Summer Hike 2019
All AALM members can gain access free of further charge to a password-protected internet site where they can download the interactive Ivry Trails Club Map. It has detailed descriptions of more than 25 popular trails, and it can also identify wherever you are on any Ivry trail as well as on trails in neighbouring Valdurn. To become a member of the Ivry Trails Club, please complete the form here: Trails Club Signup
Trail Clearing Team 2019
Ivry Trails Club Events
In addition to member’s access to the trails network, the Ivry Trails Club leads 6 hikes per year (2 in the summer and 4 in the winter). One popular, annual winter event is the January trek from Valdurn to Lac Manitou. The largest annual club event is the community-wide Trail Clearing Day followed by a popular potluck dinner which, in 2019, attracted over 80 residents.
Arts and Cultures Committee
Recently launched, the Arts and Cultures Committee has its objective to promote the creativity of Ivry residents in disciplines such as writing, painting, photography, music, sculpture, woodworking and more. “We want to share our diversity of cultures and backgrounds and promote a sense of community,” says Jerry Golick, committee chair.
“If someone has a passion about something and wants to organize a group, the committee will help,” Golick adds. It will facilitate and host Zoom events for residents, such as book reviews, shared discussions, music groups, photography workshops, cooking classes, gardening seminars and even canasta and bridge games.
The Committee’s first event, on Tuesday, Dec 1, at 4 pm, is to meet Ann Lambert, author of “The Birds that Stay.” Ann is a resident of Ste. Lucie nearby. For more details see the event here. Another event will take place on December 2nd at 6:30pm, which will be a Virtual Adventure through Bolivia presented by Gabi Opas and Dan Deckelbaum.
Other Manitou Associations
Lake Manitou Community Centre (LMCC)
Many members of the AALM are also members of the Lake Manitou Community Centre (LMCC) which is located at 40 Old Club Road (in the bay behind McCall Island). This year marks the 85th Anniversary of the Club. The LMCC is a great way to meet others in the Manitou area and an opportunity for children to learn multiple summer sports and make great friends.
· Two Har-Tru tennis courts
· The rebuilt swimming dock and canoes
· Access to the wonderful six-week parents’ cooperative summer program. This includes instruction in swimming, canoeing, golf, and tennis as well as many other fun activities for the whole family
· The long-standing tradition of the summer Regatta
· Many social activities where you can catch up with and meet new members
· The annual Summer Cocktail, Tennis Tournament, Labour Day Corn Roast, and Thanksgiving Football Game
· Facilities available for use from Victoria Day weekend through Thanksgiving weekend
· Enduring friendships and memories for all ages
If you are interested in joining the LMCC please email lac.manitou.lmcc@gmail.com
Manitou Facebook Groups
Ivry residents are busy Facebook users. The community has three active Facebook Groups.
Lac Manitou - AALM (formerly called the Lac Manitou Facebook Group) was founded in 2016 by Tamara Joy Steinberg-Nadeau. Her objective was to open her Facebook pages to people not part of Lake Manitou CC Facebook group (see below) and to represent a wider community. “There was amazing work done by Conservation Manitou and AALM that many people around the lake did not know about,” she says. “I wanted to broadcast this vital work so that more people would join the AALM.”
The group currently has 215 members and is expected to grow substantially as it takes on the identity of the official AALM Facebook Group. The Lac Manitou Facebook Group will be inviting all members of the Manitou Arts and the Manitou Arts and Cultures Facebook Groups to join its membership as it takes on the role of the online gathering place for all matters supported by the AALM, including the Manitou Arts and Cultures Committee and the Ivry Trails Club, each of whom will have a separate page dedicated to their activities on the Lac Manitou-AALM Facebook Group.
Lake Manitou CC, founded in 2008, is the oldest Facebook group, administered by Andrew Sofin. “It was started to connect Lac Manitou Community Centre (LMCC) folks to each other,” says Sofin. The group, with 547 members, is very popular in the summer, posting information about the day camp’s activities, the annual Regatta, tennis tournament, Sunday sailing races, homes to rent, boats to sell and more.
“We are not exclusive,” says Sofin. “We are more than happy to have group members post what they like as long as it has relevance to the Manitou community. If you love all things Manitou please join this group.”
You can also follow the LMCC on Instagram.
Parlons/Let’s Talk Ivry sur le lac, launched in 2017, is administered by David Lisbona. “The Facebook group was formerly the election site for Daniel Charette, JP Charette and Jean-Claude Beliveau,” says Lisbona. “Once the election was over, we had so many members that we decided to maintain it as a site where people could post, share and discuss grise issues. It is not affiliated with the municipality in any formal way.”
With 362 members, its mandate is to inform, share and discuss. “It’s open to anything that involves Ivry or environs. Anyone can say anything on the page as long as it does not violate Facebook rules. I don’t censor anything,” Lisbona says.
Municipal Affairs
Mining Issues
A publicly traded U.S. based company called Venture Vanadium Inc. (Venturevanadium.com ) has acquired mineral permits covering numerous properties located in Ivry -sur-le-lac, including rights to the old Titanium mine off Ch. Lac La Grise as well as the Desgrosbois mine near Highway 117, covering over 4500 acres of land. Vanadium is a type of rare earth used for manufacturing batteries for consumer electronics and electric vehicles. It should be noted that underground mining rights are separate from surface property rights and the owner of the surface rights does not own the mining rights.
To the best of our knowledge, Venture Vanadium has only conducted preliminary tests on the sites in Ivry in 2019 and will need to renew its mining permit rights in 2021 if it wants to maintain these permits. It is not clear whether this company has the financial resources to follow up on its exploration plans.
Photo of Titanium Mine by Gabi Opas
During its October 2020 meeting, the Ivry Municipal Council passed a resolution stating that it wanted the MRC of the Laurentides to take necessary steps to prohibit mining activities within the municipal territory of Ivry and thus blocking the plans of Venture Vanadium. This resolution was supported by a letter sent on Oct. 7, 2020 by the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Eco Corridors Laurentides and Conservation Manitou which forcefully argued that creation of such a mine would be incompatible with the environmental goals of these three organizations for Ivry, including the goal of building a wildlife corridor, which has already been started.
The Mayor of Ivry, M. Daniel Charette, has been able to obtain support for Ivry’s resolution from several of the municipalities that form part of the MRC des Laurentides. The MRC is expected to prohibit mining within Ivry in its Schema d’Amenagement which it is now preparing to submit to the Quebec government for approval next year. The executive of the AALM is working closely with Conservation Manitou in monitoring developments in this file.
Ivry Real Estate Activities
Local brokers report a healthy market, with stable and increasing prices, strong demand but fewer than usual listings. There are few rentals available. Due to the effects of Covid 19, and the limited numbers of rentals, many of those seeking seasonal rentals are considering purchasing as an alternative and hoping that there will be sufficient demand if they subsequently wish to sell and recoup their costs. Buyers need to act quickly as houses do not remain on the market for long.
From January 1 to August 31, 2020, there were 14 real estate transactions in Ivry-sur-le-lac. The total value of these transactions was $8,596,900 and the average markup over the municipal valuations of these properties was 43%.