A majority of citizens who participated in the North Hatley municipal master plan survey are calling for better access to Lake Massawippi. This comes as no surprise! 98% of Quebec’s bodies of water are now inaccessible.
Reference: Page 3 of the North Hatley master plan produced by Domus Architecture and Design.
Of course, it’s easy to criticize, but it’s difficult to take concrete action. So here is a series of simple actions that would allow both citizens and tourists to rediscover their magnificent Lake Massawippi.
Don’t worry, I am aware that all this comes at a cost. Why not seek private donations specifically for this type of initiative, which is essential to the village?
1- Develop the small public beach located next to the pedestrian bridge
Public beach prohibited by the municipality.
Photo credit : https://www.felixassocies.fr/
Examples of street furniture that could be installed. (Yes, let’s dream a little, but let’s start with Adirondack chairs).
Photo credit : https://juste-ici.fr/fr/la-plage-publique/
For now, swimming, fishing, and launching boats are prohibited on this small beach. I agree with the ban on launching boats and fishing, but let’s give people the chance to enjoy the lake. Especially since the beach at Lôbanaki Park, located right next to the public dock, has been closed.
Let’s furnish this small beach with simple Adirondack chairs. Of course, there will be “strangers” who will use them for free. Well, that’s life! In fact, I have four new Adirondack chairs in their boxes. I’m offering them to the village for free!
2-Clear the end of the footbridge to ensure safe passage for boats.
Hundreds of boaters have been asking the municipality to fix the pedestrian bridge passage for several years. Unfortunately, nothing has been done since. I propose cutting the pillars of the pedestrian bridge that are lying at the bottom and moving the rocks (I’m not saying removing them…). This will make it easier for all types of boats to pass through in the spring or during sudden rises in water levels. In this way, the municipality will avoid a disaster in terms of dock rentals and help to facilitate safe navigation. Protective strips could also be added to the passage under the bridge to limit damage when boats pass underneath. When we have the means, we can look into reducing the size of the bridge.
In fact, I have a set of new plastic protectors ready to be installed on the dock. I bought them because I damage my boat every season on the dock. In the end, I didn’t install them for fear of receiving a formal notice from the municipality. I’m sure many boaters would be willing to make a donation in exchange for securing the edges of the dock for boats.
Of course, we can do much better than that. But let’s start with small steps instead of big projects that don’t come to fruition. Let’s adapt our ambitions to our means for now.
Remaining pillars of the pedestrian bridge that remain in the lake and cause damage to boats.
3-Implement a low-cost, self-service shared boat rental system
Example of Kayakomat, a company that offers self-service kayak rentals worldwide.
Self-service watercraft rental systems have been around for several years. These systems are connected to a mobile app that allows people to reserve a kayak, access their boat, grab their paddle and life jacket, and set off for their planned trip. This eliminates the need to transport a kayak on your car, launch it, and pay to have it washed. It also reduces the cross-contamination that can occur when transporting kayaks from one body of water to another. Low prices can be offered, such as $2 or $3 per hour for residents and $7 or $8 per hour for tourists, since operating costs are minimal. This makes it cheaper to rent than to buy a kayak. Currently, kayak rentals in North Hatley cost $21.74 per hour. An inflatable kayak can be purchased for $180 on Amazon.
Poster showing rental prices for the four lakes at North Hatley Marina in 2025.
This solution allows kayaks and paddleboards to be offered on a self-service basis, similar to a vending machine. It operates 24/7 without human intervention, limiting operating costs associated with paying an employee to wait on customers even when it rains. More and more people want to access the lake after 8 p.m. in June and July. These people come to watch the sunset and stargaze. Unfortunately, the current rental service has limited opening hours, essentially from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. This is normal, as the company cannot afford to pay an employee 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, especially if there is not enough demand.
With an automated solution, the municipality stands out by serving both its citizens and tourists and giving them access to their lake at a low cost.
Okay, you see where I’m going with this! I’m sorry! This is exactly what Navigo proposed to the village of North Hatley in 2024: a web platform and smart kayak racks (servomotors, integrated computer) that can be used to create a kayak vending machine. In fact, I am offering the system to the municipality free of charge as a pilot project for the 2026 season.
4- Offering low-cost, self-service shared boats
GOBOAT, shared boats available for self-service use in Copenhagen
This solution involves placing public boats that can be reserved online at low cost without human intervention, just like kayaks. In addition, such a system makes it possible to offer one price for citizens and another for tourists. This reduces the number of boats on the lake, reduces the number of unused boats at the dock (the average boater in Quebec goes out 10 times a year), makes use of the many unrented docks at the marina, and promotes access to affordable boats for both citizens and tourists. Many people may not be able to afford to buy a boat or simply do not want to own one.
Allow me to be sarcastic again, but the Navigo company, which was kicked out in 2024 by formal notice, offered exactly this service and all the technology to support it. In addition, Navigo’s goal was to electrify its boats over time. But as they say, you have to start somewhere, so it started with pontoons.
In fact, Navigo made more than 528 self-service trips on Lake Memphremagog in 2024, with most of its customers being local residents. Obviously, there were zero trips to North Hatley.
Lake Massawippi is a huge playground that, in my opinion, belongs to EVERYONE and should be enjoyed by as many people as possible in a peaceful manner that respects the environment. This solution makes that possible.
5- Offer self-service boat washing and launching
I sail on the lake at least 100 times per season, if not more. This allows me to observe the boat ramps in North Hatley and see how busy they are.
It doesn’t make sense to have a full-time employee managing the boat ramps. In fact, these days, this very friendly employee seems bored. In my opinion, he could be doing something else instead of spending his day waiting for a boat to come in for washing.
The boat ramp and washing area should therefore be made self-service. Frankly, it’s not rocket science. One or more public cameras should be installed to record and broadcast everything live on the web. Knowing that everyone is watching usually forces you to do the right thing. Honestly, I don’t think we need a very elaborate system. A very simple solution can work. City employees can make sure that the hot water tank is always full. In fact, a simple sensor could alert them when the level is low.
Isn’t there a simple way to solve this problem? Of course, the municipality has been looking to purchase car wash stations for several years now. It’s an excellent idea, but when and at what cost? If we can’t afford it, we’ll have to get creative! I’d be curious to know how much profit was made at the boat ramp this season.
In addition, the main contributors to water contamination are fishermen’s fish tanks and the ballast tanks of wakesurfing boats, which transport contaminated water from one body of water to another. And, after questioning the employees at the landing stage, I understood that they do not empty and wash the fish tanks or the ballast tanks of the boats.
For payment, people are invited to pay online using a web link and a QR code that leads to a Stripe payment app or web page. A simple form, secure payment, and that’s it! I am offering to provide the municipality with a working prototype free of charge.
In fact, the ramp employees do not accept cash. They make you pay through the Square platform. Finally, the marine patrol monitors and randomly checks boats during the season to ensure that they have been washed.
This would make the ramp accessible 24/7, limit payroll expenses, and better serve the public. Of course, if we had the means, we could buy a nice self-service wash station. Otherwise, we’ll have to make do with what we have.
6-Renovate the federal dock to make it welcoming for everyone
Development of the public wharf in the village of Carleton-sur-Mer in the Gaspé Peninsula.
This involves adding some street furniture, such as dining tables and chairs, as the municipality of Carleton-sur-Mer has done so well. Adirondack chairs could also be added, as they have done so well in Magog. Once again, I am willing to donate four to five new Adirondack chairs. I am sure I can convince other citizens to contribute to such a project with money or equipment.
Next, activate the existing lights on the wharf to make it safe and welcoming. Install a surveillance camera and clearly notify people that they are being filmed and recorded. Define and post signs that set out clear rules. Invite people to work together to keep this place clean and accessible to all. Don’t worry, there will be problems like anywhere else. However, we can’t penalize the majority of respectful people for the actions of a few troublemakers. If we make this place magical, don’t worry, the citizens will police themselves!
I’ll go even further: let’s add floating docks at the end of the municipal dock to extend access to the lake. Maybe we can find a sponsor from a dock manufacturer? I have a good friend who makes them! You never know! I also have people who can make beautiful illustrations and a high-quality poster for $0.
7-Demolish the marina building and do not rebuild it.
Forgive me for condemning a heritage building, but the marina will eventually collapse on its own. So, I recommend demolishing it before someone gets seriously injured. Funny, since we don’t have any money, let’s demolish it and not build anything! At least we’ll be able to see the river and not a pile of scrap metal! And please remove the huge kayak racks that also block the view.
When the budget allows, let’s install a public pavilion and some street furniture, as Ayer’s Cliff has done so well. Once again, I would put in a few tables and some Adirondack chairs. Sometimes simplicity is very effective!
Photo credit : Cantons-de-l’Est
8-Renovate the beach building and return it to the community
Reference: Facade of the Pleasant View Beach building. Note the excellent condition of the roof.
Reference: Rear courtyard of the Pleasant View beach building. Note the space available for events.
Reference: Interior view of the building. No comment.
Reference: Interior view of the building. No comment.
View from the right side of the building. Large unused or at least undeveloped space.
View of the completely renovated balcony made entirely of Trex at $8 per square foot plus $5 for installation. If we had planned to demolish it, we wouldn’t have used Trex!
Since 2016, I have never understood why the beach building was in such poor condition. And I’m not talking about the structure or the exterior, but the interior. Have you ever been inside the building? My children go in there to get toys, and every time I worry that they will hurt themselves. Every time, the place is a huge mess.
Yet this building has incredible potential for community events. This is one point on which I agree with Ms. Gerrish. Let’s clean it up! Let’s add some street furniture with the help of donations. There’s a huge terrace outside and a huge bar inside that could be used for activities. Ideally, we should start by cleaning it up before we tear it down. That’s how I was raised. If you don’t take care of your things, you won’t get any more!
Moving it is probably a good idea to protect it from rising water levels. It has already been moved from one side of the riverbank to the other. Then let’s renovate it if we want to protect North Hatley’s historical heritage. Unfortunately, it’s often even more expensive to renovate than to rebuild. Sorry about the marina, I think it’s a lost cause.
Certainly, this place needs to be revitalized and, above all, given back to the community that will bring it back to life.
9-Organize activities related to hunting and fishing
Ice fishing on Lake Massawippi near the public dock in mid-March.
15 lb lake trout caught on Lake Massawippi this summer near the public dock. Catch immediately released back into the water.
Allow me to indulge myself, as I am a big fan of fishing and soon to be hunting. I have noticed that there are few or no fishing events in North Hatley. In my opinion, we have one of the top five most beautiful bodies of water in Quebec and one of the top three best fishing lakes in Quebec. What’s more, the lake is located just one hour from Montreal. Yet, very little is said about it.
So, I suggest a 2026 fishing festival in North Hatley. To do so, I contacted the Lake Massawippi Conservation Club and offered to take over this project.
Hunting and fishing are part of our DNA. In my opinion, hunting and fishing should be reintegrated into village activities.
According to Google AI:
Economic impact in 2022:
- Expenditures: Hunters and fishermen spent $1,294.9 million on hunting and $2,538.6 million on fishing.
- Jobs: These activities supported 7,001 jobs in the hunting sector and 15,649 jobs in the fishing sector.
- Tax contributions: Hunting and fishing activities generated tax revenues for Quebec and Canada totaling $249.0 million for hunting and $559.0 million for fishing.
10-Reestablish the intermunicipal recreation agreement with the Township of Hatley
This is essential to promote access to Pleasant View Beach for the citizens of the Township of Hatley who are, as Ms. Gerrish says, “our friends and, for some, our family.”
11- Develop the riverfront area of Rivière Park
Surroundings of the River Park
Rivière Park is a beautiful place that deserves to be better utilized. It offers a view of the river, which sometimes resembles a bayou with its magnificent willow trees.
There are already picnic tables that encourage family gatherings, but it would be nice to add some Adirondack chairs as well. Sorry, I love Adirondack chairs! Adding floating docks could restore access to the river without impacting it. Of course, there are still safety issues to consider, but to my knowledge, the docks on either side of the marina have barriers, but not the docks in front of the marina. Once again, this is a great way to give people access to the river while respecting the environment. Of course, adding trash cans would be an issue and could add to management costs.
12- Develop and seed the Massawippi River
Allow me to add one of my fantasies. As a fly fishing enthusiast, I was very impressed by the Nicolet River stocking project in Victoriaville. More specifically, the organization Pêche Nicolet has a mandate from the City of Victoriaville to develop urban fishing. It organizes an annual Trout Festival, during which it offers fishing lessons for young people and nine days of fishing in the city. Thanks to the development of this river, fishing is free from late April to early September. All you have to do is purchase a fishing license.
I believe this is an innovative project that warrants further analysis. While respecting nature, it allows for the return of a host of activities for the whole family, as well as a return to fly fishing and light tackle fishing in the river.
Here is a video explaining this project, which could be applied to the Massawippi River between the two dams.
Conclusion
In closing, I firmly believe that you have to walk before you can run. And when you don’t have money, you have to be more creative and work harder than others.
With that said, I invite you to share your ideas on how to restore public access to our waterways.
