Donald Teuma-Castelletti
MANSFIELD ET PONTEFRACT
July 7, 2018
It was smooth sailing on the Coulonge and Ottawa rivers on Saturday, as expert and beginner paddlers hopped in canoes to explore the natural beauty of the region, led by their Member of Parliament.
Nearly 30 participants arrived at the end of chemin de la Centrale in Mansfield et Pontefract on Saturday morning, joining Pontiac MP Will Amos for his second Community Paddle Event.
“It’s about promoting tourism in our region, it’s about building community, it’s about having fun and it’s trying to connect people from across the region, including people from the National Capital region, who may not have seen the Pontiac [before],” said Amos, of holding the event.

Starting in the Coulonge River next to the end of the road, paddlers followed the current all the way through to the Ottawa River, before arriving at Le Patro for a barbeque.
The group kicked off from the same point, separated across five canoes of varying size, with experienced paddlers teaching the beginners as they went.
The event was in collaboration with not only Le Patro, but Esprit Rafting, with both providing the canoes and talent in order to pull the adventure off. The entire event, including the lunch afterwards, was free to the public as well as a family-friendly adventure, the MP highlighted, by bringing along his wife and kids, plus a couple of the children’s friends.
As well, Amos acknowledged the support of the municipalities of Mansfield et Pontefract and Fort Coulonge for welcoming the groups.
A seasoned paddler himself, Amos highlighted the rivers as some of the great attractions in the Pontiac to traverse due to their beauty and history.
“These are historic rivers, these are rivers that are a core to our identity,” said Amos. “This is where the Algonquin people lived, this is still unceded Algonquin territory and so we always pay respect to that community, that is part of our community as well.”
He continued to say that he was grateful for the attendance of not only MRC Pontiac Warden Jane Toller, but Mansfield et Pontefract’s Mayor Gilles Dionne and Councillor Sandra Armstrong, as well as the organizational efforts of his own staff.
“I’m really grateful to my team members, the whole office … they’ve worked really hard to pull this event together with me,” said Amos.
Previously, his first community paddle was held two years ago, taking the group from Portage du Fort down to Norway Bay. Last year, another community paddle event had been planned, but uncooperative weather put the halt on that trip.