Historical Preservation

In the early 1890s, a group of sportsmen from Canada and the United States travelled up the Lievre River. After a long portage through Whitefish Lake, Lac Vert, and Lac Bagnal, they set up camp on the hill between Lake Pemichangan and 31 Mile Lake. In 1894 these sportsmen founded the Gatineau Fish and Game Club, and construction of a Club House began. Designed by Ottawa architect C. O’Day, it was constructed by Aldemar Alie, a local craftsman whose descendants still live in the Point Comfort area.

The first President of the GF&GC was Alexander MacLaren, owner of MacLaren mills in Buckingham. Other founding members included S.P. Franchot and C. LeDuc. Within a few years, boathouses had been constructed on both lakes. The hills around the Club remained largely bare, as logging had cleared most of the land. By 1897 the GF&GC had leased most of the land around 31 Mile Lake and Pemichangan. The membership of the Club grew, and by 1913 the membership stood at 75 men.

Members spent days on the lake fishing and hunting. Early records show huge catches of bass and trout, individual members often taking more than 30 fish in a day. Fall hunting was always successful, and large numbers of deer and moose were taken back to Ottawa by train. The Club depended greatly on the local community. Fishing and hunting guides were an essential part of the Club – men like Amie and Pat Blais, Joe Chantigny and Fred Kenney.

In the early years, women were not allowed into the Club. Some, like Gertrude Tone, made the journey up the Lievre and portaged to 31, camping on Blueberry Island. Gradually, the attendance of women at the Club became more common. As the years passed more families made the long journey up to the lakes. By 1920, family cottages covered the ridge between Pemichangan and 31.

The 1920s saw the beginning of the era of big, beautiful wooden boats like the Caprice, the Mamo and the Karnak. One of the pleasures of being at the Club in the 1930s was a trip down the lake on the Club Tub. Teen-agers sunned themselves on the roof, while their parents played cards inside.

Over the years, the Club welcomed visitors from around the world. In 1932, members of delegations to the Imperial Economic Conference in Ottawa spent a weekend at the Club. You can see Neville Chamberlain in the centre of the photo. Later visitors included Maurice Richard, and Prime Ministers Pierrre Trudeau and Jean Chretien

The son of founder S.P. Franchot, actor Franchot Tone created a Hollywood connection for the Club, bringing stars such as Joan Crawford, Jean Wallace, Burgess Meredith, and Gig Young to the lakes in the 1940s and 50s. In the 1950s, members often arrived by float plane from Ottawa, riding in a Grumman Goose operated by founder Alexander MacLaren’s son.

The lease on Pemichangan and 31 Mile Lakes had ended by the 1960s, but the Club retained its lease on six Club Camps on 31 Mile Lake. These Camps are still used by members for picnics and shore lunches.

By the 1960s the GF&GC had completed the transition from a men’s fishing club to a family-oriented club. Women and children were now a full part of Club life. By the 1970s, a woman, Ollie Jones, actually had a place on the Board of Directors.

The GF&GC annual Loon Count, which started in 1988, was an indication of the Club’s increasing focus on the health of the two lakes. Friends Between Two Lakes, the GF&GC children’s camp, was started in 1990s, and members worked together to construct the children’s club house in 1999.

The GF&GC Centennial, celebrated in 1994, brought together a membership of over 91 families. The current membership stands at over 140 families, drawn from Canada, the United States, Britain, and Central and South America. The Gatineau Fish and Game Club has evolved from an exclusive men’s fishing and hunting club to a community organization with a focus on family activities and a dedication to the preservation of a magnificent environment.