Otter Lake

A close up of five large blue recycle bins

Local initiatives launched to reduce waste sent to landfill

September 3, 2024 by Caleb Nickerson

MRC Pontiac and the Municipality of Otter Lake have both launched public awareness campaigns to encourage residents to reduce the amount of waste the region is sending to landfill.

Nina Digioaccino, the MRC’s new environmental coordinator, explained that their “Less is More” campaign would involve a series of challenges over the coming months.

The Municipality of Otter Lake has also introduced its own public awareness campaign, to inform residents about what materials they accept in the various streams at their municipal transfer site.

Jennifer Quaile, a councillor and the municipality’s representative on the MRC’s waste management committee, said that they had been handing out educational brochures at the transfer site and distributing free household compost bins in an effort to divert organic waste from being sent to landfill.

Terry Lafleur named MRC Pontiac’s new assistant DG, by-election to be announced in Otter Lake

August 23, 2024 by Caleb Nickerson

At the MRC Pontiac council of mayors meeting on August 21, it was announced that Otter Lake Mayor Terry Lafleur had been selected for the MRC’s newly created position of assistant Director General.

Lafleur is no stranger to the workings of municipalities, having worked in various roles in L’Isle-aux-Allumettes, Chichester and Otter Lake.

MRC DG Kim Lesage said after the meeting that the position would be primarily to take on some some of the many committee meetings and responsibilities she has at the MRC, including the implementation of Act 25, a new provincial regulation on the use and protection of personal data.

Lafleur’s acceptance of the position means that the Municipality of Otter Lake must have an election to replace Lafleur as mayor. He is scheduled to start September 16, meaning that the Municipality of Otter-Lake is heading towards a by-election, which must be held on a Sunday no more than four months after the council has been informed of the vacancy. The next municipal general election is November 2, 2025.

A gate on a boat launch with a closed sign attached. The lake is a small northern lake with trees on the outer edge. There are two dwellings on the shore partially hidden by trees.

Farm Lake public boat launch closed due to spread of Eurasian milfoil

July 16, 2024 by Caleb Nickerson

The Municipality of Otter Lake announced on July 11 that it would be closing the public boat launch on Farm Lake due to the growth of a patch of an invasive plant species, Eurasian milfoil.

The municipality held a public meeting in May to educate residents on how to curb the spread of this water plant to the region’s lakes.

As it is the only public access to the lake, those looking to remove their vessels can schedule an appointment by calling the municipality (819-453-7049) from Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mayor Terry Lafleur explained that the inlet near the boat launch has a large concentration of milfoil that has grown large enough to reach near the surface, where it could potentially be chopped up and spread by boat propellers, which is why they decided to close it to the public.

A drone shot of a blue lake surrounded by bush on all sides.

Otter Lake battling spread of invasive water plant species

May 9, 2024 by Caleb Nickerson

A public meeting was held in Otter Lake on Saturday May 4 regarding the spread of an invasive species of water plant, Eurasian milfoil.

The plant is easily spread and can choke out native species and impede swimming as well as boat traffic. Its decomposition during the winter can lower the oxygen levels in lakes and lead to the decline of fish populations as well. When milfoil is broken into pieces, each can regrow into a new plant, which is why it’s sometimes referred to as the “zombie plant”.

Mayor Terry Lafleur explained that in September they had a biologist conduct an assessment on Petit Lac Cayamant and Lac de la Ferme, which mapped out the locations of the existing patches (maps below).

Local initiatives launched to reduce waste sent to landfill

Terry Lafleur named MRC Pontiac’s new assistant DG, by-election to be announced in Otter Lake

Farm Lake public boat launch closed due to spread of Eurasian milfoil

Otter Lake battling spread of invasive water plant species

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