Access to Lake Magog: citizens oppose the closure of a launching ramp

Around fifty citizens presented themselves to the Magog municipal council to denounce the permanent closure of the launching ramp on Bournival Street. This is the only boat launch providing access to Lake Magog belonging to the City.

In past years, users had to pay $35 to obtain a key to open the gate. The City of Magog recently sent a letter to key owners and residents in the area to inform them of the municipal council’s decision to close the infrastructure as of spring 2025.

We vigorously oppose this closure. It catches us off guardexpressed Jonathan Nadeau, who has lived in the Venice sector of Lake Magog since 1975. Like several dozen of his neighbors, he asks elected officials to reverse their decision.

Several citizens regret having learned the news on social media. Moreover, the president of the Association of Friends of Venice, Mario Lampron, would have appreciated if the City communicated with him to try to find solutions. For the residents of the neighborhood, it is an added value. Many residents told me they bought their house because there is a descent in the neighborhoodhe says.

This is the case of Frédéric Boivin. When I bought my residence in 2008, it was a bit of a downhill climb. It’s fundamental that our homes come with this. I find this completely unacceptable, this closure. Me, I’m a boat guy, it’s our lakehe said.

The mayor of Magog, Nathalie Pelletier, explains that the state of the boat launch is at the top of the reasons justifying its closure. According to her, the redevelopment work is estimated at around $300,000.

She adds that the infrastructure is relatively little used, with an average of ten users per day. When the members of the council looked at the situation, to invest so significantly, it would be necessary to provide access to the entire population, but the space is very limitedsupports the mayor.

Currently, there are approximately eight parking spaces there, not to mention that there is no permanent boat washing station in order to prevent the proliferation of invasive exotic species.

The mayor says she understands users’ disappointment, but maintains that the status quo is not possible. We cannot ask the entire population to pay for infrastructure that does not benefit the entire population.she maintains.

Cost estimates called into question

Several users of the boat launch are surprised by the amounts estimated by the City to upgrade the infrastructure.

I use the descent ten to fifteen times a year. When you say that it is obsolete, I don’t believe it. I walk everywhere, there are much worse ones in Quebec. The only investment would be to put rocks to lengthen the concrete slabexpressed fishing enthusiast Patrick Boisvert.

For Hugues Sébire, owner of a fishing excursion company, closing the descent in Magog would only shift the problem to the Sherbrooke launching ramp. This will significantly increase attendance. They are going to move the parking problem from Magog to Sherbrooke. There are a lot of descents in the area that are in much worse condition, people use them anyway. Some even charge up to $75 at Lake Massawippisays Mr. Sébire.

Open in full screen mode

The fishing guide also denounced more broadly the privatization of waterways in the province, a reality according to him that is increasingly present.

At least two marina owners took part in the session. It would be a big problem to launch the boats for my clientsexplains the co-owner of Létourneau Marine, Mathieu Pomerleau.

I have a lot of clients on the shores of Little Lake Magog. If I have to go take them either to Deauville or to Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley, that would add a lot of time. We know that today, time is moneyhe says.

Mayor Nathalie Pelletier has repeated several times that elected officials are open to discussing the issue again to try to find possible solutions.

She also reminded that the launching ramp will continue to be accessible for non-motorized boats.