Cathy Fox
Published online December 3, 2025, at www.pontiacjournal.com.
SHAWILLE – Roughly 20 people gathered at The Lodge in Shawville on Tuesday, November 25, while many others tuned in online for the “Take Action on Radon: 100 Unit Test Kit Challenge” presentation. The event was organized by the Take Action on Radon initiative, a national program supported by Health Canada and the Canadian Lung Association to promote radon testing and awareness.
Radon gas is naturally released into the atmosphere as uranium decomposes, but it can become concentrated inside homes depending on factors such as soil composition, humidity, foundation type, heating systems and atmospheric pressure. Breathing radon at levels above 200 becquerels can damage DNA. Anything above this threshold is associated with a one-in-20 risk of developing lung cancer— leading to about 3,000 deaths per year in Canada. Combined with smoking, the risk rises to one in three.
Radon is measured using a small device called an alpha-track detector, which is placed on the lowest level of the home where residents spend at least four hours a day (or even two, if time is spread throughout the house). The program introduced at the event ran for one week, with each participating household receiving a free detector, provided they live in one of the four municipalities that received 100 units each. Kits can be picked up at the municipal offices in Campbell’s Bay, Clarendon, Litchfield and Shawville. Limiting enrollment to one week ensured the program team can gather three months of data and provide timely feedback specific to the J0X sector of the Outaouais region.
As part of National Radon Awareness Month, residents can also visit takeactiononradon.ca to enter a “Knowvember” contest or play the “Get to Know Radon” game to learn more. The contest ends this week and offers many prizes. Anyone who has tested their home—or completed mitigation—is encouraged to submit their results on the same site. The program will provide participating municipalities with statistics based on their local data.
Shawville has also invested in two short-term radon testers, which residents may borrow from the Shawville public library for up to three weeks. The province has assessed all public schools and federal buildings, mitigated all identified risks, and is now working on daycares and social housing. A national rebate program, “Lungs Matter,” run by the Canadian Lung Association, also helps households access radon mitigation by certified professionals, with support based on income.
Photo – Participants at the The Lodge in Shawville watch the online presentation launching the 100 Unit Test Kit Radon Challenge. (CF)