By Dave Lemkay
On a warm sunny day, May 28th, conference members of the Ontario Woodlot Association (OWA) and delegates from over 30 countries to the International Model Forest Global Forum enjoyed a boat cruise on the Gatineau and Ottawa Rivers. One of many events in the week-long agenda, the afternoon river cruise followed a morning tour to the Dominion Arboretum at the Central Experimental Farm.
Passengers were initially greeted at the Gatineau wharf by Town Crier, Daniel Richer, with an official welcome and a proclamation of the group’s presence on traditional, unceded territory of the Anishinaabe (Algonquin) people. It was explained that the Ottawa River, also known as the La Grande Rivière in the time of French explorer Samuel de Champlain, and the Kichi-sibi to the Algonquins, was the historic transportation route for the voyageur fur trade and the rafting of massive, squared timber destined for Britain.
Ottawa area forester Mike Rosen resourcefully addressed the visitors as the boat navigated up-stream on the Ottawa. He outlined the significance of the Ottawa River and its many tributaries during two centuries of transporting massive timber harvested from the Algonquin and Laurentian highlands. He identified landmarks on the Ontario and Quebec shore, including Rideau Falls, the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Canadian Parliament and other significant government buildings and foreign embassies.
Another element of forest heritage was delivered by way of music and song of the timber shanty and riverdrive life by Ottawa Valley master fiddler Dean Lapierre, storyteller/guitarist Gillan Rutz and songstress Gail Gavan. This trio, whose repertoire is deeply rooted in forest lore, livened up the crowd with vibrant renderings of traditional and contemporary music. Gail Gavan’s exuberant presence was a big hit with the predominately Spanish-speaking crowd, with a spirited version of ”La Bamba” that had everyone enthusiastically swaying and dancing on the deck. Gail recruited a tall lad from Bogota, Colombia, Pablo, to play the bongo drums. To quote Gail, “ As a teacher, I like including as many people as possible during an event because those are the little things they may never forget!”
She went on to say “of course, Pablo, on the bongos was a star!” He said, ‘You gave me confidence to play. I may take up drumming when I go home.’ She added, “That is what makes life special.”
Pieter Lienhoots, organizer of the river cruise segment of the program, thanked the foursome, Town Crier, Daniel Richer, Mike Rosen, Gillan Rutz, Dean Lapierre and Gail Gavan and this writer. Dorothy Hamilton of the OWA presented each with a special gift, precipitating a boisterous round of applause.
