During a press conference held on June 21, OBV SCABRIC proudly announced that the Châteauguay River has joined the national network La route bleue. This project is made possible by the Fonds d’action Saint-Laurent (FASL) and its Affluents Maritime Program, coordinated by the Regroupement des organismes de bassins versants du Québec (ROBVQ), and the financial support of the Quebec government as part of Avantage Saint-Laurent, the provincial maritime vision.
What is La route bleue?
The Route Bleue, formerly known as the St. Lawrence Water Trail, aims to improve and facilitate access to bodies of water throughout Quebec. It also guarantees the safety and standardization of paddle-friendly routes. At the official launch in June 2023, 10 routes were available on the river. Over the course of the 2024 season, dozens more whitewater, calmwater and marine routes will be added, like the one on the Châteauguay River.
The organization’s objectives are as follow:
- Making outdoor activities accessible and safe;
- Allowing people to rediscover our heritage and identity;
- Restoring sustainable access to water for Quebecers;
- Protecting water bodies for today and for future generations;
- Enabling the structured cohabitation of different uses.
Several advantages for water sports enthusiasts
The addition of the Châteauguay River to the 230 km of certified paddling trails in the Montérégie region offers numerous advantages, particularly for residents and visitors. Tools such as interactive mapping and a fact sheet including difficulty level, length and estimated duration of the route, paddling period and environmental conditions (weather, wind, water flow) will promote safe, turnkey outings on the water. Interpretation panels will also be installed near river access points in the municipalities of Sainte-Martine, Ormstown and Mercier.
By being listed on the laroutebleue.ca platform, the Châteauguay Zone watershed organization aims to attract more outside visitors to take advantage of its boat rental service. This increased visibility could not only boost tourist numbers, but also boost the regional economy.
“I’m truly delighted that we’re able to improve access to the Châteauguay River thanks to La route bleue. This new feature fits in perfectly with our objective of introducing the public to this body of water using non-motorized watercraft. I want as many people as possible to discover this hidden gem,” commented Geneviève Audet, General Manager of the SCABRIC OBV.
As part of the launch, and thanks to the financial support of Loisir et Sport Montérégie, a few people had the opportunity to try out the courses free of charge, including Ormstown mayor Christine McAleer and Marie-Claude Picard, political attaché to deputy Carole Mallette. The loan of equipment will be free again on July 6, on the occasion of the Grand Splash. Several events are announced on the organization’s website.
Carole Mallette, MP for Huntingdon, expressed her delight at the announcement: “I’m particularly happy to see the Châteauguay River join the national La route bleue network. The Châteauguay River is an important river in the Huntingdon riding, and its accessibility will be facilitated by this membership. This will increase the surface area available for paddling in the Montérégie-Ouest region, enable users to discover new landscapes, enhance our prospects for sustainable tourism development, and promote the economic development of neighboring municipalities. The Quebec government has contributed to the “Avantage Saint-Laurent” program, which aims to ensure that navigation respects ecosystems. I would also like to congratulate all the organizations that contributed to this exciting addition to La route bleue, in particular the OBV SCABRIC.”
The OBV SCABRIC invites water sports enthusiasts, or even those who want to learn the ropes, to visit the Route Bleue website to discover the different routes on offer. The Sainte-Martine watercraft rental kiosk is open 7 days a week. You can consult the schedule at scabric.ca/en/watercraft-rental/.
About Fonds d’action Saint-Laurent (FASL)
Fonds d’action Saint-Laurent is a charitable organization dedicated to the financial support of projects that promote the conservation of the ecosystems and biodiversity of the St. Lawrence River and its Gulf, as well as the maintenance and enhancement of its uses.
About Avantage Saint-Laurent
Launched in 2021, Avantage Saint-Laurent is the Québec government’s new maritime vision. It is built around three orientations: equipping the St. Lawrence with modern, competitive port infrastructures; ensuring efficient, ecosystem-friendly navigation on the river; and offering maritime communities promising, sustainable development opportunities.
About La route bleue in Montérégie
Supported by Canot Kayak Québec at the provincial level, in collaboration with Eau Vive Québec, the development of La route bleue in the Montérégie region is handled by Loisir et Sport Montérégie and the Comité ZIP du Haut Saint-Laurent as regional coordinators. The Blue Route in Montérégie is made possible thanks to the financial support of the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation under the “Soutien au rayonnement des régions” component of the Fonds régions et ruralité.
