Faithful to their Friendship Agreement ratified on August 30, 2012, the Councils of the MRC d’Argenteuil, the MRC de Papineau, and the United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) held their annual meeting on August 29th on the remarkable site of the historic Grenville Canal. Elected officials from the three regions took advantage of this friendly meeting to confirm the privileged connections that unite them in terms of recreational tourism, culture, heritage, and environmental protection, as well as their common commitment to the protection and enhancement of the Ottawa River.
It was the MRC d'Argenteuil’s turn to welcome its partners for this 12th edition, and the site of the historic Grenville Canal, whose official inauguration took place in July, seemed ideal with the recent completion of its rehabilitation work. In order to showcase the history of the region and the Canal, historian Robert Simard offered a presentation that captivated the audience. Finally, in order to put the spotlight on agritourism, finger foods from producers and processors from the three regions were served during the event.
In addition to allowing elected officials from the three regions to meet annually to develop frank and sincere relationships, the Friendship Agreement has led to numerous achievements over the last decade, such as the launch of the Cycl-O-Route, the declaration for the protection of the Ottawa River, as well as the organization of shore cleaning in partnership with the Ottawa Riverkeeper organization.
“In 12 years, we can say we have built strong ties and established fruitful partnerships. Today, as we continue to build on these successes, it is inspiring to see how our exchanges and common initiatives are paving the way for ambitious and innovative projects,” says the Warden of the MRC d’Argenteuil, Scott Pearce.
“The MRC de Papineau believes in the importance of this Friendship Agreement which unites it with its neighbours and is convinced that it will result in concrete achievements over the coming years,” states the Warden of the MRC de Papineau, Benoit Lauzon.
“Our residents and visitors can discover our wealth in recreational tourism and agritourism thanks to the geographical proximity of our three magnificent regions and to the Ottawa River connecting us. We are proud of the results of our unique collaboration through the Friendship Agreement, and we will continue to work with the MRC d’Argenteuil and the MRC de Papineau to maintain privileged ties, as well as concrete, fruitful, and friendly exchanges through shared commitments,” said Normand Riopel, Warden of the UCPR.
The three regions intend to develop new promising projects over the next year. Among the discussions, it should be noted that perspectives are emerging in order to develop strategies aimed at promoting the regions’ appeal and celebrating regional resources.