Forest lovers unite: a salon event in Boucher Forest a hit

Jude Osmond

Salon de la forêt, hosted by Enviro Éduc-Action, took place on Saturday, May 9, at Boucher Forest. This was the first time Boucher Forest hosted the event, which had previously taken place at different locations.

There were multiple kiosks at the event featuring wildlife and outdoor-related enterprises, including Local Leaf, Apicentris, Collectivités ZéN de l’Outaouais, and many more.

Julie Caron, Director General of Enviro Éduc-Action, mentioned that the various kiosks were meant to offer a 360-degree perspective on the forest and the outdoors, and to provide residents with services and information about the forest and the importance of the outdoors.

“We want them to discover different elements about the forest and outdoors that they were not aware of,” Caron stated.

The events followed the news of Gatineau's bird-friendly certification, which was a major topic of discussion. Enviro Éduc-Action and Boucher Forest have been partners for a long time, which was a big factor in the decision to host the Salon there.

Caroline Poulin, Operations and Conservation Coordinator for the Boucher Forest Foundation, mentioned that this event offered multiple benefits, including the chance to learn about practical forestry lessons that people can apply in their everyday lives, such as making their own soil, learning about bees and honey, and more.

“It shows people in our region what they can do to be more self-sustainable,’’ Poulin said.