Éco-Nature launches its 2021 summer season

Opening of the boat rental center at Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles

Laval, May 20, 2021 - The Éco-Nature team is pleased to announce the launch of the summer season at Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles with the opening of the Boat Rental Center on June 5, 2021 at Berge du Garrot. Continuing with last summer's safe, sanitary and efficient formula, visitors will be able to rent boats on a first-come, first-served basis at our outdoor kiosk. The Exploration Center will be used as a rallying point for day camp activities.

The sunny days of mid-June will symbolize the start of guided activities as part of the second phase of the gradual reopening. A family destination of choice, Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles will be offering a range of lively activities, including introductory kayaking and paddleboarding courses, guided family fishing and visitors' favorite activity: kayaking at dusk. For the first time this year, the park's customers wishing to take part in a guided activity will be able to take advantage of a simple, convenient online booking process available in early June.

"My team and I can't wait to kick off the summer season with an array of activities emblematic of the Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles. We are truly blessed to welcome year after year families who share our values and passion for adventure," (Translated from French) Christine Métayer, General Manager of Éco-Nature.

Families and visitors from all walks of life will be able to enjoy an enhanced experience at the Park this summer thanks to the acquisition of ten new docks and five footbridges. Announced by Éco-Nature last April, this development was made possible thanks to the Programme de soutien à la mise à niveau et à l'amélioration des sentiers et des sites de pratique d'activités de plein air 2018-2021. This $85,000 project, of which $67,000 was generously invested by the Ministère de l'Éducation et de l'enseignement supérieur, aims to make the Rivière des Mille Îles more accessible and thus offer future generations the opportunity to discover this veritable oasis of biodiversity.

New this summer: on May 18, International Museum Day, the Park announced free admission to its museum for the entire 2021 summer season. This initiative aims to invite everyone to enter the world of the Mille-Îles River for the time it takes to understand all the environmental issues involved. More than just an exhibition, Believe it or not! is a collective consciousness-raiser on the actions we are taking, and can all take, to conserve this important living environment. Visitors can also enhance their experience with a guided tour, where available.

Finally, with the arrival of warmer days, the organization is once again asking for help from citizens who care about the survival of Quebec's turtles. Since the opening of its Turtle Rehabilitation Centre in 2018, thanks to the invaluable collaboration of veterinarians, volunteers and the Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs, Éco-Nature has admitted and cared for over a hundred turtles. As part of this initiative, the team of dedicated professionals set up a special e-mail address to enable the community to share their observations and questions, and to notify the team when an injured specimen is found. In the past year, this communication tool has enabled the protection and conservation team to carry out rigorous monitoring of turtles on the territory. So, if you see any turtles injured or laying eggs, please report your sightings to the following e-mail address: sostortues@eco-nature.ca.

About Éco-Nature | Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles

Éco-Nature works to protect, conserve and enhance the Rivière des Mille-Îles and its tributaries, with the support and for the benefit of the community. Founded in 1987 and managed from the outset by Éco-Nature, Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles offers a superior ecotourism experience that respects the natural environment and benefits more than 130,000 visitors annually. The park has received a number of awards in recognition of its recent achievements, including Excellence tourisme (2019) and Dunamis (2020). In 2018, the park's co-founder, Jean Lauzon, received the medal of the Quebec National Assembly for his involvement in the Laval community.