| How an architect helped the Algonquin Guillaume Lévesque's moment of inspiration came to him in a darkened movie theatre, while he was watching Richard Desjardins's 2007 documentary on Quebec's Algonquin community. Life in Kitcisakik has enough of its own problems. They're badly insulated. Yet there is a Hydro-Québec dam on the town's shoreline on Lac Dozois that could be used to create hydro power. Lévesque is not working alone. Hector Penosway is one of the carpenters who will be certified within a few months. We're happy with the results. Electricity is produced with noisy, expensive and polluting generators. The need for housing is there. The birth rate is the very best here and the population young," said Lévesque. "Half the village's population of 485 is under the age of 18. "The Algonquin are people of the forests," said Lévesque. , Canada's largest manufacturer and distributor of hardwood lumber, has donated lumber and has expressed its interest in buying any surplus lumber produced in Kitcisakik. " But the Algonquin are considered squatters by Hydro-Québec, which owns the land they live on. To them, said Lévesque, reserves are a dead end of misery, not what they want for their children. "Everyone is very motivated. Despite pressure from the federal government, they have refused to move onto a reserve nearby. "They need to be able to make their living from the forests. Five years on, Lévesque has won one of the 2012 Governor General's Medals for architecture for his work at Kitcisakik as a member of Emergency Architects. This group is a United Nations-recognized humanitarian organization in existence since 2001. " The Quebec government put $1. Frontiers Foundation, a non-profit aboriginal organization created to promote the growth of communities that are struggling, lent Kitcisakik two mobile sawmills. 4 million over three years into the project. More than $500,000 in money and material has also been donated by private companies, including BMR, Sico and Soprema. Lévesque hopes that things can continue to improve in Kitcisakik. "Hydro-Québec acts like we don't exist," said Penosway. It has worked in stricken areas around the world and right here at home. By the end of next year, said Lévesque, between 30 and 33 of the 100 houses in Kitcisakik - which is about 100 kilometres south of Val d'Or in De La Vérendrye park - will have been renovated and new ones built. "They missed their families," said Lévesque. Lévesque hopes the province will begin a Phase 2 of the rebuilding program once the $1. Thanks in part to these sawmills, about 20 members of the community have trained as carpenter-joiners and by next year will be certified. |
Friday, 18 May 2012
How an architect helped the Algonquin
