Conservation Lakefield
Saving land in Quebec - on protège les espaces naturels à Gore, QC
Help Conservation Lakefield to preserve “The Summit”
Conservation Lakefield has launched a campaign to protect the last undeveloped area in Lakefield Estate—48 acres (19.4 hectares) of pristine forest known as “The Summit.” Currently zoned for development, plans for The Summit include a new road and 16 new lots.
But there’s hope. Conservation Lakefield has reached an agreement with the developer, G.S.L.L., to purchase this land and preserve it forever. If we meet our fundraising goal, we can halt the development before it begins.
“The Summit” is a stunning landscape of steep, tree-covered slopes surrounded by forest, marshes, and wetlands. This area is traversed by hiking trails with magnificient views of Lake Sir John and the Mirabel plain to the south, and offers a natural haven for birds and wildlife.
Conservation Lakefield has already preserved 375 acres (152 hectares) in Lakefield Estate. Acquiring “The Summit” will be the final step in stopping any further large-scale development here.
LEGEND: On the left, a satellite view of Domaine Lakefield and Sir John Lake in the bottom right. The ‘Le Sommet’ area is represented in pink on the image on the right.
We need your help. Our fundraising goal is $640,000. While we are seeking much of this funding from federal and provincial agencies, private donations are essential to unlock this government support. Lake Sir John homeowners are also committed to protecting this land, recognizing its impact on their quality of life and on the environment.
Join your neighbors and make a donation or pledge to Conservation Lakefield. Every contribution counts, and tax receipts will be issued.
Together, we can save this precious land for future generations.
Have questions?
Email us at info@conservationlakefield.ca. We’re happy to connect with you by email, phone, in person, or via Zoom.
The “Heart of the Estate” is now protected!
In 2023, Conservation Lakefield proudly became the owner of the “Heart of the Domaine”, which is 35 hectares (86.5 acres) of undeveloped land within the Lakefield Domaine.
This purchase, our second notable acquisition in Gore, means that Conservation Lakefield now owns and protects more than 152 hectares (375 acres) of natural forests and wetlands. The Lakefield Domaine now houses the largest protected area in the Gore township and one of the largest in the Argenteuil RCM.
We couldn’t have protected the “Heart of the Domaine” without our donors. Their donations and future pledges amounted to over $500,000! Their generosity allowed us to leverage more than $365,000 in additional funding from government agencies and to ensure the perpetual protection and conservation of these natural gems at the heart of our region. Thank you all!
This map shows the land acquired by Conservation Lakefield in 2023 (Orange Zone)
The acquisition by Conservation Lakefield creates the largest protected area in Gore
CONSERVATION LAKEFIELD completed a significant acquisition in December 2022 to preserve 117 hectares (289 acres) of natural areas in Gore, Quebec. The two purchased areas are characterized by their rich forests and exceptional wetlands. These lands, which were on the market for development, will instead be conserved in their natural state in perpetuity.
This is the largest protected area in perpetuity in the municipality of Gore, and one of the largest areas ever protected in the Argenteuil RCM.
The conserved areas are part of the southern Laurentians ecological corridor of Nature Conservation Canada (https://connectiviteecologique.com/project/59/view). This corridor aims to connect Mont-Tremblant to Kenauk and Oka through a network of protected areas to ensure connectivity between significant natural environments of the northern temperate forest and maintain the viability of wildlife and plant populations, including those of large home-range mammals, reptiles, and rare birds of prey. The lands are interconnected with large forest masses to the north, west, and south. They are also part of the areas identified as conservation cores in the natural areas conservation strategy of the Argenteuil RCM and the municipality of Gore.
This conservation project was made possible thanks to funding from the Government of Canada through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program (NHCP), which is part of the Canada Nature Fund, and by the financial support of the Quebec government’s Partnership for Natural Areas (PNAP) project, the Écho Foundation, and the immense generosity of several local citizens
On the left, development plan in 2020; on the right in green, two areas set aside for conservation
The Board of Directors of Conservation Lakefield was proud to make its first acquisition in November 2019, thanks to the generous donation from Ms. Denise Goulet
From left to right; Pier Blais (Secretary), Louise Caouette Laberge, Patrick Demars (President), Chantal Bélanger (Treasurer), Michelle Durand, Claude Beausoleil (Vice-President)