FINAL WEEKEND TO ENJOY FALL RHAPSODY

October 15, 2009 · Filed Under Festival News, News

As the colours of the season peak in Gatineau Park, the National Capital Commission (NCC) is pleased to present the final weekend of Fall Rhapsody 2009. This year’s edition runs until October 18.The program seeks to communicate environmental values and practices linked to responsible use of natural spaces and offers information and facts on environmentally responsible behaviour. In this spirit, the NCC would like to inform residents and visitors to Canada’s Capital Region on how to get the most from fall activities in Gatineau Park.

Explore over 90 kilometres of trails by bicycle or on foot. Using sustainable transportation is environmentally responsible and has positive impacts on overall quality of life. Air and noise pollution are reduced, as is road congestion.
Visit mid-week to experience the autumn splendour at its tranquil best.
Admire the fall colours at scenic Camp Fortune, or hike to Philippe Lake for a tranquil walk. The NCC wishes to remind the public that Philippe Lake and La Pêche Lake sectors are now closed to vehicles.
Enjoy activities for the whole family at the Visitor Centre and learn about the hidden treasures in the Park. Visitors can take in the exhibit Gatineau Park: Protecting Nature and Sharing Our History, pick-up a variety of brochures or receive detailed information from Park Information Officers.
Discover the Luskville Falls sector. An interpretive path will take you to the Falls and then on to the top of the Eardley Escarpment, giving you a spectacular view of the Ottawa Valley.

FALL RHAPSODY 2009 ACTIVITIES:

FOLLIES OF THE FALL FOREST
October 17 and 18 (10:30 am in French / 1:30 pm in English)
Gatineau Park Visitor Centre, 33 Scott Road
An NCC nature interpreter will demonstrate how to recognize some of the 50 species of
trees found in Gatineau Park during guided tours. Participants will also learn more about
what causes the leaves to change color and fall. These approximately two-hour long programs include a short presentation at the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre, followed by a guided hike on the Sugarbush Trail. Free!

STROLL BACK IN TIME AT MACKENZIE KING ESTATE
Mackenzie King Estate – open weekdays from 11 am to 5 pm,
weekends from 10 am to 6 pm, until October 18
The Tearoom – open daily from 11 am to 5 pm, until October 18
Re-live Canadian history as you visit the restored chalets of Canada’s longest serving Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King. Wander the quiet wooded trails that lace through the estate and discover the collection of ruins that pepper the landscape. Or take a break and savour a delicious meal at the Mackenzie King Tearoom. Visitors have until season’s end, on October 18, to see this popular heritage site that captivated the 10th Prime Minister of Canada with its beauty.
PARKWAY RESERVED FOR OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS
Tuesday and Thursday evenings, from 5:00 pm to dusk
Saturday and Sunday mornings, from 7:00 am to 9:30 am
Outdoor enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the breathtaking fall colours of Gatineau Park by foot, bicycle or roller-blades when over 8 kilometres of scenic parkways, including Gatineau Parkway from parking lots P8 to Dunlop, are temporarily closed to vehicular traffic on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, as well as Saturday and Sunday mornings. This will be offered in partnership with Cross Country Canada until the seasonal closure of the parkway network later this fall. The NCC would like to remind users that, as the daylight hours wane, the use of reflective clothing and other equipment to increase visibility is recommended.

Vivid hues and striking scenery draw thousands of people to visit Gatineau Park each autumn during the three weekends of Fall Rhapsody. The NCC launched the Fall Rhapsody program in the 1980’s, to provide a quality experience for visitors who were coming to the Park to admire the brilliant foliage. Gatineau Park, a superb nature reserve managed by the National Capital Commission (NCC), is the Capital’s conservation park, located just 15 minutes from Parliament Hill. For more information on activities in the Park, the public may contact the NCC at 613-239-5000, 1-800-465-1867 (toll-free), 613-239-5090 (TTY) or 1-866-661-3530 (toll-free TTY), or visit the NCC’s website at www.canadascapital.gc.ca.

Tags: Canada's Capital Region, Fall Rhapsody, Gatineau Park, National Capital Commission, NCC