Friends of La Vase Portages are a dedicated group of community volunteers who have had a longstanding interest in conserving the heritage value of the La Vase River Portages route.
The importance of this 14 km portage route between Trout Lake and Lake Nipissing was acknowledged in 2002 when it was designated as part of the Canadian Heritage River System, Canada’s national river conservation program.
La Vase Portage is believed to be one of the oldest-known trade routes in Ontario – more than 4,700 years ago used as a route by Indigenous peoples.
The portages evolved as the main link from Quebec to the Great Lakes and eventually western Canada, by First Nations, explorers, and subsequently, fur traders.
Friends of La Vase was incorporated in 2006 with the objectives:
- to establish and promote the protection of a usable portage from Trout Lake to Lake Nipissing that will reasonably reproduce the voyageur experience;
- to advocate for the protection of land and waterways associated with the portages and trails, and;
- to provide trails for multiple season non-motorized use.”
The Friends have worked diligently to achieve these objectives by:
- raising funds to support land purchases underlying the route
- hosting annual “Canoe Day” (April) with guided canoe trips across the entire portage route, explaining historical and current landmarks
- hosting annual “Canoe Night” (July) to foster the sport of recreational canoeing and raise public awareness of the historic significance of the waterway
- hosting winter snowshoe hikes, a chance to see historical landmarks not accessible in summer
- conducting annual spring trail maintenance to remove blowdown
- advocating for the protection of the portages through municipal planning policies
- hosting various individuals and small groups who cross the portages each year – sometimes as part of a bigger, cross-Canada expedition
- working with the Conservation Authority on the enhancement of trails at the La Vase Portages Conservation Area (Hwy 17 just East of North Bay)
In February 2016, the Friends of La Vase Portages was presented with the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Trust Award for Conservation Leadership.
"They are dedicated, committed, passionate and enthusiastic about protecting the La Vase Portages route," says a news release.
Friends of La Vas Portages are being recognized as Watershed Heroes as part of NBMCA’s 50th anniversary.
At the end of the year, NBMCA will present an award to one hero in each of the five categories as the 2022 Environmental Hero of the Year. NBMCA is inviting you to submit the name of someone who deserves recognition as a watershed hero online.
Email: [email protected] or call 705-474-5420.
