An oasis of biodiversity just a short walk from the city…

A Brief History
by Tourisme Laval

Discover the attractions of Laval.
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The Rivière-des-Mille-Îles Park is much more than just the largest rental center for non-motorized boats in Quebec. It actually consists of 42 km of river lined with banks, marshes, swamps, and islands. It is a natural oasis in the heart of the city and a wildlife refuge for a large number of birds, turtles, and other animals, not to mention a museum.

This team is also dedicated to protecting, conserving, and enhancing the Mille Îles River to make it accessible to the community. Led by Anaïs Boutin, Director of Protection and Conservation, the team of biologists and technicians works on, among other things, the conservation and restoration of riverbanks and natural habitats, the rehabilitation of injured turtles, the inventory of species at risk, and public awareness. “People often forget the park’s primary mission because they’re more familiar with the activities offered there, such as canoeing, kayaking, or rabaska paddling, cruises, fishing and ice fishing, and hiking in both summer and winter, among others. However, to enjoy these activities safely and sustainably, we must ensure the health of the river, its banks, and its wildlife and plant life,” says Anaïs Boutin.

Photo credit: André Chevrier

A passion that goes way back

“I’ve always loved animals. When I was little, I was fascinated by salamanders… and I still am, actually! During my bachelor’s degree in wildlife management, I had the opportunity to do an internship in France at the Station d’Observation et de Protection des Tortues et de leurs Milieux (SOPTOM), and that’s when I truly fell in love with this profession. So I continued my studies at the master’s level, and my research focused on the dusky mountain salamander, a species found only in the Montérégie region and Ontario. “I’m so passionate about it that I’m now president of the Ontario Dusky Salamander Recovery Team and coordinator of the Quebec Brook Salamander Recovery Team!” Anaïs says proudly.

Informed and engaged citizens

Today, Anaïs works to restore endangered species in the Rivière-des-Mille-Îles Park, specifically amphibians and reptiles. “When I arrived at the park 11 years ago, there were 48 species at risk. Today, there are 92, and unfortunately, that number is expected to continue rising,” says the Director of Protection and Conservation. To inventory the vulnerable species of the Rivière des Mille Îles, particularly turtles, and ensure their recovery, Anaïs’s team established the Rivière des Mille Îles Turtle Monitoring Network in December 2010. “Thanks to the collaboration of citizens and riverside property owners, we are now able to identify turtle nesting sites and monitor them, which greatly facilitates our work. Citizens become our eyes. They send us photos, record important data—in short, they are true budding scientists,” explains Anaïs.

The Park also organizes several cleanup events with many local residents and businesses. This is a great way to raise awareness and remind people that by participating in any of the park’s activities, they are contributing to its mission.

The Exploration Center: a place that brings people together, offering recreational, tourist, and educational experiences

To further its mission, the Rivière-des-Mille-Îles Park inaugurated, in the spring of 2019, its Exploration Center. This building offers visitors the opportunity to explore the river in three distinct ways from a single location: a museum space (where the history of the Mille Îles River is presented through the exhibition “Incredible, but True!”), an ecology lab (where several living species are on display), and direct access to the surrounding area for both summer and winter outdoor activities.

Photo credit: André Chevrier

The Ecology Laboratory at the Exploration Center also has a significant rehabilitation component. “We’re very proud of this. It’s the first turtle rehabilitation center in Quebec. Injured turtles are brought here, treated, and rehabilitated before being released back into the wild. In fact, of the 66 turtles admitted to date, 84% have been released,” Anaïs points out.

Photo credit: André Chevrier

In addition, visitors are welcome to tour the ecology lab and meet with biologists to learn more about the measures being taken to protect these endangered species, as well as best practices they can adopt to help conserve this natural environment. “It’s important for us to raise visitors’ awareness of the many conservation issues and the various threats affecting the river’s vulnerable species. It’s part of our work and our mission,” the biologist concludes.

Did you know?

• 130,000 people visited the park in 2018, and 32,000 boats were rented
• The permanent exhibition " Unbelievable, but True! " features one of the largest collections of taxidermy specimens in Quebec
• Two-thirds of Quebec’s vertebrate wildlife can be observed at Rivière-des-Mille-Îles Park
• There are 92 endangered animal and plant species within the park
• Visitors' favorite activity: a boat ride
• When she was younger, Anaïs Boutin was set on a career as a circus acrobat
• In 1998, the Government of Quebec designated ten of the park’s islands as wildlife refuges, covering a total of 26 hectares. The team is currently working to expand this area by an additional 500 hectares.
• Léo, a snake-necked turtle, was taken in by the Park on August 24, 2018, for a long recovery period due to serious injuries. After several months of care, Léo was finally released and returned to the wild on August 7, 2019.