Benjamin Segobaetso – Local Journalism Initiative
Published online August 26, 2026, at www.pontiacjournal.com
OTTER LAKE – About 10 cottagers near Lake Marlène were left without their usual road access after a bridge they relied on was demolished, reportedly without advance notice to those using the route.The incident occurred Monday, August 17, when the bridge was
removed.
Cottager Paul Thibault contacted the Pontiac Journal saying residents were caught by surprise because they had not received notice that the bridge would be removed and had not seen warning signs near the site. “We called the MRC but they did not return our calls. Most of us out here are seniors,” Thibault said.
According to Thibault, the affected group included eight seniors as well as a younger woman with a baby. He said some cottagers missed medical appointments and that one person has a heart condition, heightening concerns about emergency access.
When the Journal followed up with Thibault by telephone, he said he had eventually contacted the Otter Lake Fire Department, which assisted the group using an ATV trail as an alternative route and he expressed gratitude for their assistanceThibault said his biggest concern was not knowing who was responsible for ensuring cottagers were notified before the bridge was removed. He had contacted the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and was told that notification containing dates had been sent to both the MRC Pontiac
and the Municipality of Otter Lake.
Otter Lake Fire Chief Ronnie Vadneau confirmed that firefighters assisted Thibault and others by using an ATV trail to get them out. Vadneau stated the road and bridge are not under the jurisdiction of the Municipality of Otter Lake or the MRC Pontiac, but instead are on territory overseen by the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources, because it is Crown Land.
He said the company that removed the bridge, LP Forestry, also conducts
logging operations in the area and suggested signage should have been installed to warn users. The Journal tried to contact a company spokesperson but they did not respond.
The Journal also contacted Jason Durand, MRC Pontiac’s Director of Land Use Planning and environment. Durand confirmed that the MRC received an email from the Ministry approximately one month before the incident.
However, he said there appears to have been confusion over the responsibilities of the organizations involved.
Durand confirmed the territory falls under provincial oversight and involves many stakeholders, including private companies conducting activities such as logging, mining and prospecting.
He said the MRC could have played a role had it been asked to participate, but expected the Ministry to take the lead in coordinating with the private stakeholders and ensuring appropriate signage and advance notification.
Given the nature of Crown Land in the region and the potential consequences for its users, Durand said the MRC intends to raise the incident at the “Table locale de gestion intégrée des ressourses et du territoirie” (TLGIRT), a committee concerned with integrated management of Crown Land and natural resources. He stressed that when the MRC undertakes work on Crown Land, it ensures appropriate signage is installed.
The incident leaves unanswered questions about who was ultimately responsible for notifying the cottagers and ensuring continued access before the bridge was removed. The work to replace the bridge was to be completed by Friday, August 21.
