Regional Minister and MNA for Abitibi-Est Pierre Dufour announced aid of $119,406 on Friday on behalf of his colleague Isabelle Charest, Minister for Education and the Status of Women. This grant comes from the financial assistance program for trails and outdoor activity sites.
The investment, which totals $150,000, will be completed by the City of Senneterre and Senneterre à pied, the organization in charge of the file. This phase 2 consists of adding a 5 km trail to the 25 km developed in recent years to provide access to the mountain during the summer. In winter, the trails can be used for snowshoeing.
With this phase 2, we want to continue, starting from the summit and going to a refuge in the forest, which is an accessible refuge just in winter. So we can go to the forest up there, either on foot, running or mountain biking, and be able to come back with the lowest point. With that, we really open the whole mountain, the highest point and the lowest point, in a loop
argues Éric Allaire, president of Senneterre on foot.
For the whole region
Phase 1, carried out in the last two years, has developed a trail to climb to the top of the mountain, then two descents. A pump track and a place of skill as well as a reception station for the rental of mountain bikes have been set up. Last year, Mont-Bell was able to host a stage of the Coupe du Nord for the first time, which it will repeat on August 14.
For Minister Pierre Dufour, this type of investment benefits the entire region.
It’s done by a professional contractor, who does trails identical to that in Bromont, in Orford, so really, we’re going to have a competent installation for the Senneterre environment. But beyond Senneterre, the whole region benefits. There may be provincial, regional, etc. mountain bike competitions. I think it’s really interesting for the whole community to have this type of infrastructure established here in Senneterre.
he argues.
outdoor tourism
Other facilities, including a bicycle maintenance station, are planned for this summer. There are also plans to install a water bottle filling station as well as rest areas at strategic locations. The objective of the City of Senneterre is to encourage healthy lifestyles with the development of Mont-Bell, but also to position itself in terms of outdoor tourism.
The investment we are making today ensures that we can finish phase 2, go to the shelter, and we are starting to have something really interesting. People may say: yes yes, it’s worth it, we’re going to do a weekend in Senneterre. With La Bell en kayak, it’s a nice loop for a tourist offer in Senneterre. We are very happy to be able to collaborate in the tourist offer of the region. It’s starting to be very very interesting, what we are able to offer Senneterre
said Mayor Nathalie-Ann Pelchat, who highlighted the great collaboration between local organizations and the work of volunteers in this project.
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca