Deborah Powell
Published online November 19, 2025, at www.pontiacjournal.com.
MUNICIPALITY OF PONTIAC – Volunteers gathered November 8 at Place Éco Rubin on Bradley Road in Luskville to plant native grass and flower seeds as part of the second major restoration initiative for the nearly 15-hectare property.
Bordering Gatineau Park, the land was donated in 2021 to the ACRE Land Trust by Ken and Debbie Rubin. The property includes a stream, woodlot, and hayfields, and is home to several vulnerable species, including chorus frogs, Eastern whip-poor-will, and butternut trees. With residential development expanding nearby, Place Éco Rubin now acts as both a natural park for Pontiac residents and a crucial ecological corridor to and from Gatineau Park.
The first phase of restoration took place three years ago, when volunteers planted nine species of native trees across a five-hectare hayfield at the back of the property. Most of those trees are thriving today, and additional butternut and elm trees were planted more recently.
“This year’s planting helps complete the project—or rather, allows it to keep evolving through reforestation and the creation of a pollinator garden,” said Carolyn Callaghan of the Canadian Wildlife Federation, which provided funding and technical support.
As part of this year’s work, repairs were also made to a bridge over a small creek linking the front and back fields. The improvements make it easier for visitors to explore the site, observe its wildlife, and access the tree plantation at the rear.
The Rubins farmed the land organically for over 40 years.
Photo – ACRE board member Olga Tasci sowing seeds alongside other volunteers. While the full impact of the planting will take three years to emerge, some native flowers and grasses are expected to appear as early as next year. (Carolyn Callaghan.)
