413:
to continue expanding and developing the park. Though it had been created in 1938, the park remained without shape or direction. To solve the problem, Sparks wrote what is in essence the first
Gatineau Park master plan: the Memorandum on the Enlargement and Development of the Gatineau Park, submitted to the Federal District Commission on October 9, 1945. The document recommended that the park's size be increased to at least 50,000 acres (200 km), provided a funding scheme for the purchase of land, and recommended the building of a parkway and recreational facilities.
199:
394:
in this regard, since he had been wrongly accused in 1927 of wanting to build a national parkway to ease access to his summer residence at
Kingsmere. Moreover, King's journal entry of December 20, 1937, indicates that he continued to fear criticism in this regard and needed prodding to take action. The entry relates a conversation King had with Finance Minister Charles Dunning concerning the creation of a national park in the Gatineau Hills:
399:
at
Kingsmere stand in the way of a much-needed preservation of the forest. I told him I wished them to go ahead with the work, though personally it meant less in the way of seclusion for myself on the way to and from Kingsmere to have even the Meach Lake district open to tourists. I believe that we owe it to the Capital of Canada to save that part of its environment. I think he will agree to the $ 100,000 being appropriated for that purpose.
25:
124:
66:
434:
development for selfish reasons, underlining that
General Howard Kennedy owned land in Gatineau Park. Sparks also mentioned that Lac Philippe residents had received expropriation notices, while their Meech Lake and Kingsmere counterparts had not, although the Meech and Kingsmere Lakes were far more important to park development.
393:
Although the Survey was published in late 1935, the government did not start purchasing land until 1938. Two factors explain this delay: first, a new government was elected in late 1935, with
Mackenzie King's Liberals defeating the Bennett Conservatives; second, King seemed very hesitant and cautious
301:
On
September 20, 1933, King met with his private secretary Harry Baldwin to discuss the issue. "We talked of starting a 'Society to preserve the Natural Beauty of the environs of Ottawa' – that was the suggested title I gave it, growing out of his wish to bring pressure on Quebec & Fed. govts. to
442:
The
National Capital Commission recognized Sparks' key contribution as president of the Federal Woodlands Preservation League and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Gatineau Park, during an official ceremony dedicating the Roderick Percy Sparks Exhibition Hall in the park's visitor centre on July
389:
The Survey outlined eight options to control excessive cutting in the area, including public education, land purchase, and the creation of a national park. Of the alternatives discussed, the report recommended gradual land purchase. This would allow the government to acquire the most important areas
412:
As a result of League efforts, land purchases for
Gatineau Park began in 1938. By 1941, 14,553 acres (58.89 km) had been acquired. However, the war put a stop to land acquisitions and to League activities. Following the war, in 1945, the League resumed its activities by pressing the government
398:
He wanted to know what I wished to have done. I told him that the matter had stood over last year because of my feeling that people might think I was seeking to improve property around
Kingsmere. I have come to the conclusion this year that I should not let possible misunderstanding of my ownership
403:
On
October 9, 1937, Sparks was elected president of the Federal Woodlands Preservation League to replace Harry Baldwin. And, on December 13, 1937, Sparks sent a memorandum to King's office concerning the League's recent activities. The memorandum proposed an action plan for creating Gatineau Park,
424:
Former League President Percy Sparks was unanimously elected chairman of the Advisory Committee at its first meeting in 1947. He continued to make significant contributions to park planning by writing the 1949 Report of the Advisory Committee on the Gatineau Park and the 1952 Report on the Master
385:
and recommended remedial measures. The Survey drew up a history of forest fires and logging activities throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, examined the excessive logging caused by the Depression, and dealt with other questions such as land ownership, timber growth rates, yield per acre,
433:
In 1954, Sparks resigned from the Advisory Committee over a disagreement with Federal District Commission Chairman General Howard Kennedy. In his last public statement on the park, a 1956 Memorandum to a joint parliamentary committee, Sparks charged that certain landowners were undermining park
390:
and purchase additional land as funds and time allowed. The national park method was downplayed because the size of the area studied – about 16,000 acres (65 km) – was too small and it was felt the scheme would be too expensive and complicated in the short term.
404:
including the number of acres to be acquired and their cost, as well as public information and funding plans. It also informed Prime Minister King that Sparks would be giving a speech on this issue at the Chateau Laurier on January 18, 1938.
578:
Note: this study has been criticized for downplaying Sparks's role in the creation of Gatineau Park. See article "Give Credit to Park's Founder," by Jean-Paul Murray, Ottawa Citizen, December 22, 2004, p.
484:
38:
801:
381:
The resulting report, the Lower Gatineau Woodlands Survey, described the "effects of wood cutting operations and of fires on the aesthetic value of the forests" in the lower
425:
Plan for the Development of Gatineau Park. The latter document highlighted significant divisions among committee members over the issue of private property in the park.
502:
496:
517:
44:
554:
421:
The League dissolved in 1947, when its more prominent members were appointed to the Federal District Commission's Advisory Committee on Gatineau Park.
320:
The list of its patrons and members includes many notable citizens of the day. While it operated between 1934 and 1947, members of the league included
332:
682:
374:
On April 3, 1935, the chairman of the League's research committee, Percy Sparks, urged Interior Minister T.G. Murphy to commission a study of the
806:
324:
328:
178:
160:
142:
134:
105:
87:
52:
386:
etc. It concluded that nearly 40 percent of the area surveyed had been "completely or partially cut" in the previous 20 years.
76:
634:
Roderick Percy Sparks: Founder of Gatineau Park, brief submitted to the National Capital Commission's Board of Directors
775:
675:
593:"Speech, Annual General Meeting, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Ottawa Valley Chapter, Thursday, May 15, 2008"
524:
480:
314:
257:
321:
198:
336:
561:
363:
668:
752:
618:
Memorandum to the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Commons on the Federal District Commission
286:
80:
that states a Knowledge editor's personal feelings or presents an original argument about a topic.
715:
277:) is a volunteer environmental advocacy organization. Its goal is to decrease logging around the
757:
339:
705:
227:
359:
306:
270:
237:
592:
736:
649:
382:
375:
351:
343:
795:
691:
452:
290:
720:
457:
355:
347:
310:
253:
217:
362:, and Ambrose O’Brien. As well, its membership included Colonel J.T.C. Thompson,
632:
616:
710:
278:
282:
302:
save the roadsides their fringe of trees etc." wrote King in his diary.
317:
were appointed as its patrons. Its first president was Harry Baldwin.
366:, Lieutenant-Colonel Cameron Macpherson Edwards, and Charles Bowman.
647:
Dare, Patrick (2005-07-09). "Gatineau Park visionary gets his due".
285:
areas. Since its founding in 1934, the League has worked with the
660:
555:"The Creation and Early Development of Gatineau Park, pp. 14-23"
664:
117:
59:
18:
501:
For King's concern about his public image, see the entry for
77:
personal reflection, personal essay, or argumentative essay
305:
At the League's first meeting on May 8, 1935, at Ottawa's
83:
289:
on preservation issues, and is credited with creating
541:
Note: the Chronicle contains numerous errors of fact.
631:
The New Woodlands Preservation League (2003-04-04),
768:
745:
729:
698:
495:For King's meeting with Baldwin, see the entry for
244:
233:
223:
213:
205:
553:Gagnon, Serge & Michel Filion (August 2009).
518:"The Gatineau Park Chronicle, Fall 2007, pp. 3-4"
396:
275:Ligue contre le déboisement des sites fédéraux
676:
475:
473:
8:
802:Environmental organizations based in Ontario
191:
429:Sparks resigns from Gatineau Park committee
53:Learn how and when to remove these messages
683:
669:
661:
197:
190:
179:Learn how and when to remove this message
161:Learn how and when to remove this message
106:Learn how and when to remove this message
485:"Diaries of William Lyon Mackenzie King"
469:
438:League and Sparks officially recognized
781:Federal Woodlands Preservation League
267:Federal Woodlands Preservation League
192:Federal Woodlands Preservation League
7:
417:Advisory Committee on Gatineau Park
370:The Lower Gatineau Woodlands Survey
16:Canadian environmental organization
133:tone or style may not reflect the
14:
34:This article has multiple issues.
143:guide to writing better articles
122:
64:
23:
42:or discuss these issues on the
497:Wednesday, September 20, 1933.
250:First President: Harry Baldwin
1:
807:Organizations based in Ottawa
516:Messier, Denis (Fall 2007).
481:King, William Lyon Mackenzie
776:National Capital Commission
489:Library and Archives Canada
287:Canadian Federal Government
258:William Lyon Mackenzie King
823:
503:Monday, December 20, 1937.
591:Banks, Tommy (May 2008).
196:
401:
313:and opposition leader
274:
228:Environmental advocacy
86:by rewriting it in an
753:Mackenzie King Estate
615:Sparks, R.P. (1956),
408:Land purchases begin
358:, Duncan MacTavish,
193:
746:Heritage buildings
88:encyclopedic style
75:is written like a
789:
788:
354:; Harry Baldwin,
340:Sir Robert Borden
322:Governors General
309:, Prime Minister
263:
262:
189:
188:
181:
171:
170:
163:
137:used on Knowledge
135:encyclopedic tone
116:
115:
108:
57:
814:
685:
678:
671:
662:
655:
654:
644:
638:
637:
628:
622:
621:
612:
606:
605:
603:
602:
597:
588:
582:
575:
573:
572:
566:
560:. Archived from
559:
550:
544:
538:
536:
535:
529:
523:. Archived from
522:
513:
507:
492:
477:
201:
194:
184:
177:
166:
159:
155:
152:
146:
145:for suggestions.
141:See Knowledge's
126:
125:
118:
111:
104:
100:
97:
91:
68:
67:
60:
49:
27:
26:
19:
822:
821:
817:
816:
815:
813:
812:
811:
792:
791:
790:
785:
764:
741:
725:
694:
689:
659:
658:
646:
645:
641:
630:
629:
625:
614:
613:
609:
600:
598:
595:
590:
589:
585:
570:
568:
564:
557:
552:
551:
547:
533:
531:
527:
520:
515:
514:
510:
479:
478:
471:
466:
449:
440:
431:
419:
410:
383:Gatineau valley
372:
360:Ernest Lapointe
337:Prime Ministers
307:Chateau Laurier
299:
252:First patrons:
251:
247:
238:Ottawa, Ontario
185:
174:
173:
172:
167:
156:
150:
147:
140:
131:This article's
127:
123:
112:
101:
95:
92:
84:help improve it
81:
69:
65:
28:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
820:
818:
810:
809:
804:
794:
793:
787:
786:
784:
783:
778:
772:
770:
766:
765:
763:
762:
761:
760:
749:
747:
743:
742:
740:
739:
737:Gatineau Hills
733:
731:
727:
726:
724:
723:
718:
713:
708:
702:
700:
696:
695:
690:
688:
687:
680:
673:
665:
657:
656:
650:Ottawa Citizen
639:
623:
607:
583:
581:
580:
545:
543:
542:
530:on 6 July 2011
508:
506:
505:
499:
468:
467:
465:
462:
461:
460:
455:
448:
445:
439:
436:
430:
427:
418:
415:
409:
406:
376:Gatineau Hills
371:
368:
352:Mackenzie King
344:Arthur Meighen
315:Mackenzie King
298:
295:
261:
260:
248:
245:
242:
241:
235:
231:
230:
225:
221:
220:
215:
211:
210:
207:
203:
202:
187:
186:
169:
168:
130:
128:
121:
114:
113:
72:
70:
63:
58:
32:
31:
29:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
819:
808:
805:
803:
800:
799:
797:
782:
779:
777:
774:
773:
771:
769:Organizations
767:
759:
756:
755:
754:
751:
750:
748:
744:
738:
735:
734:
732:
728:
722:
721:Phillipe Lake
719:
717:
714:
712:
709:
707:
706:La Pêche Lake
704:
703:
701:
697:
693:
692:Gatineau Park
686:
681:
679:
674:
672:
667:
666:
663:
653:. p. E3.
652:
651:
643:
640:
636:
635:
627:
624:
620:
619:
611:
608:
594:
587:
584:
577:
576:
567:on 2011-06-11
563:
556:
549:
546:
540:
539:
526:
519:
512:
509:
504:
500:
498:
494:
493:
490:
486:
482:
476:
474:
470:
463:
459:
456:
454:
453:Gatineau Park
451:
450:
446:
444:
437:
435:
428:
426:
422:
416:
414:
407:
405:
400:
395:
391:
387:
384:
379:
378:' woodlands.
377:
369:
367:
365:
364:W.D. Herridge
361:
357:
353:
349:
345:
341:
338:
334:
330:
326:
323:
318:
316:
312:
308:
303:
296:
294:
292:
291:Gatineau Park
288:
284:
280:
276:
272:
268:
259:
255:
249:
243:
239:
236:
232:
229:
226:
222:
219:
216:
212:
208:
204:
200:
195:
183:
180:
165:
162:
154:
144:
138:
136:
129:
120:
119:
110:
107:
99:
89:
85:
79:
78:
73:This article
71:
62:
61:
56:
54:
47:
46:
41:
40:
35:
30:
21:
20:
780:
648:
642:
633:
626:
617:
610:
599:. Retrieved
586:
569:. Retrieved
562:the original
548:
532:. Retrieved
525:the original
511:
488:
458:Percy Sparks
441:
432:
423:
420:
411:
402:
397:
392:
388:
380:
373:
356:Percy Sparks
348:R.B. Bennett
319:
311:R.B. Bennett
304:
300:
266:
264:
254:R.B. Bennett
234:Headquarters
175:
157:
148:
132:
102:
93:
74:
50:
43:
37:
36:Please help
33:
325:Bessborough
796:Categories
711:Meech Lake
601:2009-08-15
571:2009-08-28
534:2009-08-28
464:References
329:Tweedsmuir
279:Meech Lake
246:Key people
151:April 2020
96:April 2020
39:improve it
716:Pink Lake
443:8, 2005.
283:Kingsmere
218:Volunteer
45:talk page
758:The Farm
447:See also
240:, Canada
730:Geology
333:Athlone
297:History
224:Purpose
206:Founded
82:Please
350:, and
331:, and
271:French
699:Lakes
596:(PDF)
565:(PDF)
558:(PDF)
528:(PDF)
521:(PDF)
281:and
265:The
214:Type
209:1934
579:D4.
798::
487:.
483:.
472:^
346:,
342:,
335:;
327:,
293:.
273::
256:,
48:.
684:e
677:t
670:v
604:.
574:.
537:.
491:.
269:(
182:)
176:(
164:)
158:(
153:)
149:(
139:.
109:)
103:(
98:)
94:(
90:.
55:)
51:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
