New dog park opens in Limbour 

Djeneba Dosso

A new area dedicated to dogs is now open at the corner of Stéphane St and Gatineau Avenue in the Limbour district. Limbour’s Canine Companions proudly announced the official opening of a new canine exercise area at Lamarche Park. Fourth of its kind, following Buckingham, Hull and Aylmer, the canine park will offer owners and dogs alike a space to stretch their legs. The ceremonial inauguration, which took place on September 12, welcomed residents and their four-legged companions in large numbers.

“After several years of planning, consultation and construction, we are proud to finally welcome the community to this dedicated space,” said the canine association’s president Stéphane Dubeau. “This is a safe and accessible space for dogs to run around and socialize with other dogs, it is also a gathering space intended to be as welcoming as possible for dog owners, who can enjoy a pleasant visit and a moment of socialization among each other.”

This project, which has been in the works since 2020, is the fruit of a close collaboration between Limbour’s Canine Companions and the City of Gatineau, who invested over $300,000. Infrastructure issues, notably the location of the park, which is located under Hydro-Québec aerial property, delayed construction. The canine park, extending on 3,000 square metres, was built under Hydro-Québec transmission lines, placing them directly on a transmission right-of-way.

“A transmission right-of-way is a strip of land used to install, operate, maintain and repair overhead and underground transmission lines. The width of a right-of-way depends on the voltage of the line, among other criteria,” details the hydro website. In the event that something, such as this exercise area were to be built in the right-of-way, Hydro-Québec gains full access and ownership of the building(s) and land it resides on, “aerial and underground servitude, leases and public land access agreements.”

While Dubeau, the association’s president, confirmed this information, stating there were “minor delays due to Hydro-Québec, because the dog run is under a Hydro-Québec right-of-way,” he did not detail how they came to a resolution allowing them to move ahead with the project. It is unclear if Hydro-Québec has maintained its ownership of the land and aerial space above it.

Nonetheless, he believes every obstacle was worth it in order to create an environment for dogs to exercise safely. Now that it is in operation, the canine exercise park is the first of its kind to be entirely run by a non-profit organization in Gatineau and it has been met with positive feedback.

“Residents of the Limbour district and surrounding area have expressed considerable enthusiasm and support for this project, demonstrating their desire to provide facilities for the entertainment and socialization of their pets,” said Jordan Larochelle, who volunteers for Limbour’s Canine Companions.

The opening of the exercise park is the first phase of a two-part plan for the canine association that wishes to install lights, dog sand for water accumulation and a rock stone trail with the money they raise this year.

For the time being, Limbour’s Canine Companions say they’re simply thrilled to offer Gatineau residents a park with modern, safe facilities to provide a place for relaxation and outdoor activities.