Visting the Cabane à Sucre : Ange Guardien

Amid politeness, moose, and Ryan Reynolds, Canadians are known for one thing more than anything- maple syrup. While this sugary sap is available in our grocery stores year-round, March-April is the season when it is extracted to accompany the most decadent of meals. This past March Break, I decided to indulge my cravings in the most Canadian way possible- by traveling to Gatineau and visiting the Sugar Shack at Domaine l’Ange Gardien.

We arrived at the wooden sugar shack and immediately saw many families walking in; this is after all a favorite family friendly weekend outing. Inside, there was a vibrant atmosphere of people young and old, live music, loads of good food and a positive mood. We made our way to our table.

As we walked through the dining area, I looked out the window and recognized the snow tubing slopes that I tried out a few years ago as a younger child. Domaine l’Ange Gardien offers this exciting experience in the months of winter, when there is more snow. Speaking from personal memory, I would highly recommend checking it out once the 2024-25 season begins in November. We then took a seat at our table. The tables are very long, perfect for large families to look like medieval royals at a banquet. Speaking of which, it was now time for the first round of food to show up.

The sugar shack works like a mobile buffet. After a bowl of warm chicken soup as an appetizer, the waiting staff brought us a delightful tray containing scrambled eggs, maple beans, ham, sausages, potatoes and pork rinds. With a ferocious appetite, most of this selection ended up being condemned to my plate. I had to hold back though, as the best part of the breakfast was on its way, delivered separately for maximum freshness- the pancakes.

Once the pancakes arrived, I grabbed some of Domain l’Ange Gardien’s very own maple syrup and devoured the complete breakfast. As I ate, I enjoyed the view outside and listened to the rendition of Sweet Caroline that got the whole room buh-buh-buh-ing. Once I had finished my meal, we had a dessert of tarte au sucre, known in English as sugar pie. Dessert for breakfast was (literally) the icing on the cake of this great morning munching.

If you want to eat good food and partake in Quebec’s most iconic springtime cultural experience, check out Domaine l’Ange Gardien. In addition to their awesome March Breakfast, Snow tubing will be available next winter. The shack also sells many maple syrup products, and is a venue for special events including weddings, corporate events and holiday parties.

Pricing ranges from about $11-40 depending on age (free for children under 11 months.)

For more information, click here.

David is a fifteen-year-old aspiring adventure and travel writer living in Ottawa.  Skydiving is on his bucket list. He received a complimentary ticket for this post, but all views are his own.

Bat Caves and Ziplining at Arbraska Lafleche

As frequent readers of the blog may know, I am someone who greatly enjoys outdoor tourism. From ziplining, to kayaking, I feel like there are few things I have yet to check off my bucket list. Something I hadn't done before this weekend is spelunking, more commonly known as cave exploration. Luckily,I was able to not only ride a zipline for this weekend’s excursion at Arbraska Lafleche, I also visited my first cave- and because it's hibernation season, I wasn’t alone in it.

Upon our arrival, we were warmly greeted by the staff of Arbraska Lafleche. We met our guide, who gave us our helmets, ready to bring us to the cave. He led the way, educating us about how caves form and the geology of the area. After a short walk, we arrived at Gatineau’s puncture in the Canadian Shield: Caverne Lafleche.

We entered through a man-made tunnel, dodging ice stalactites and stalagmites. Our guide then opened the door, at which point we turned on the flashlights and walked in. Almost immediately, I looked up and saw a bat!  It was half the size of my hand, black, covered in frost and hanging upside down directly above my head. As I looked forward, dozens more bats were revealed, scattered in miscellaneous clumps on the cave ceiling, all deep in hibernation. A spooky sight to some, but definitely a rare glimpse into this part of nature.

We continued walking through the cave, seeing some small lakes along the way. Throughout the tour, our guide informed us on bats, the history of the cave, and some more geology. At one point, I was allowed to squeeze into a small tunnel that led to a chamber with more water, and carvings from explorers that had been there decades earlier.

We then made our way up a steep metallic staircase, where we entered another chamber. It was here that our guide got us to turn off our lights and experience what the cave is really like: pitch black and silent, with occasional interruptions from dripping water and chirps from half-sleeping bats.

With that perspective into the subterranean world, we returned to the sun’s domain, at which point I continued my vertical ascent to Arbraska Lafleche’s zip line. The zipline overlooked the lake that is connected to the cavern water, with a beautiful view of Canadian shield mountains covered in evergreens. Once it was my turn to go, I jumped off the platform and flew through the air above the scenic park, just as the bats below me will in the spring. A fitting end to a great visit. 

From the depths of the earth, to the thrills of the sky, I had a wonderful time at Arbraska Lafleche. On top of cave tours and ziplining, the park also offers hiking (snowshoeing in certain conditions) and a full zipline-powered aerial trek in the forest. These are all suitable for ages 5+. There is also a night trek via zipline for ages 16+. For more information, click here.

David is a fifteen-year-old aspiring adventure and travel writer living in Ottawa.  Skydiving is on his bucket list. He received a complimentary ticket for this post, but all views are his own.

Ordinary Folks, Extraordinary Lives - Recommendations from the Ottawa Public Library

Ottawa Public Library is back to share some great books with us. This month, Véro Dupuis from the Sunnyside branch has a list of inspiring biographies in picture book format for you.

 

Freddie the Flyer / by F. Carmichael, D Metcalfe-Chenail and A. Loreen-Wulf

Meet Freddie Carmichael, the first Indigenous commercial pilot in the Arctic! Fascinated by planes from a young age, he spent decades flying all sorts of people through the Mackenzie Delta in the North West Territories: reindeer herders, biologists, geologists, people needing medical help and even trappers and their whole dog teams. As well as founding several airlines over the years, he trained a whole generation of Indigenous pilots and mechanics. The beautiful paintings in this book will make you want to travel to the beautiful North.

Swimming With Sharks / by Heather Lang and Jordi Solano

Eugenie Clark was never afraid of sharks. As a child, she would frequently visit them at the New York Aquarium and tried to learn everything about them, but she had so many questions which were left unanswered. Later as an adult trying to gain an education as an oceanographer in the 1940s, she had to face rejection both for being a woman and for her Japanese heritage. Yet through her tenacity, she achieved her goals, became a world-renowned scientist dubbed ‘The Shark Lady’, and was still going on dives in her nineties.

Mario and the Hole in the Sky / by Elizabeth Rusch and Teresa Martínez

Many of us remember the Ozone Hole Crisis of the early 90s; for the first time, the general public became aware of human’s negative impact on our planet. This book is the story of Mario Molina, the Mexican American chemist who alerted the world’s scientific community of the dangers of CFCs aerosols and saved the world back from the brink of environmental destruction. The back pages of this book reaffirm the hopeful message of Mario’s story – that history proved that it is possible for people to come together and reverse global catastrophes.

Breaking the Ice / by Angie Bullaro ad C. F. Payne

Being a woman in hockey is tough. Being a woman in hockey who plays with men is tougher. Being a woman playing in the National Hockey League is not tough – it is simply not possible. Except for that one time, back in 1992, when Canadian goaler Manon Rhéaume, 21 years old, was invited to play with the Tampa Bay Lightning… An inspiring story of courage and dedication to read to your young hockey players at home. (Également disponible en français sous le titre ‘Briser la glace’).


A Voice Named Aretha / by K. Russell-Brown and L. Freeman

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. ! No doubt, you’ve heard (and sung!) Aretha Franklin’s song before. Did you know she was the very first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? Get to know the story of the shy girl from Detroit who became The Queen of Soul – a hard worker who navigated the pitfalls of show business, a philanthropist who never stopped showing up for her hometown of Detroit, and a stirring performer who brought President Obama to tears!

Good Morning, Sunshine / by L. Schultz Nicholson and A. Carter

Joey Moss might be a local hero in his hometown of Edmonton, but his story deserves to be told across Canada and beyond. Born with Down Syndrome in a family of thirteen, Joey worked for the Edmonton Oilers for 35 years (!), working hard in the equipment room, lifting players’ spirits up in the dressing room with his cheerful personality, and drumming up excitement during games with his enthusiastic rendition of ‘O Canada’ on the jumbotron. He used his fame to help fundraise money for people with disabilities. His sister Pattie summed his life best : “Joey was given love and he gave love back.”

Make the most of your library card and enjoy all these great books at home with your children! If you don’t have a card yet, you can sign up for one here.

Win tickets to see Erth's Dinosaur Zoom Live

If you have kiddos who love dinosaurs then Australia’s ERTH’s Dinosaur Zoo™ is coming to the Meridian Theatre March 21 at 6:30pm!

Get ready to be wowed by a menagerie of insects and dinosaurs that once roamed free around the world.

Be up close and personal with an amazing array of prehistoric creatures, from baby dinos to some of the largest carnivores and herbivores that have ever walked the planet.

ERTH’s dinosaurs are unmistakably ‘alive,’ and mostly friendly, in this fun, educational, and original performance, connecting young audiences to the real science of paleontology.

Audiences learn how to feed and interact with ERTH’s dinosaurs in a once in a lifetime interactive experience. Children can watch wide-eyed from a safe distance or dare to get right up close to these prehistoric creatures. VIP ticket holders also get a chance to get up on stage with the dinosaurs!

Want to win a pass for 4 to the show on March 21st?

Comment below with the name of your favourite dinosaur! (Or just write T-Rex if that’s easier :)

Contest closes March 8th at 10pm


Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) in Ottawa

On New Year's day less than two months ago, hockey changed. The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) held its first ever game. While there have been elite women’s hockey leagues in the past, none have ever garnered this much attention this quick. I decided to witness the beginnings of what appears to be the future of women's hockey by watching a game at TD Place: Ottawa vs Minnesota.

As soon as we arrived at the arena, it was clear that all the hype I had seen on TV was true. Over 8,000 fans filled the sold-out stadium, over half of them women, with many young girls wearing jerseys. I observed that it had the exact same level of energy as an NHL Senators game. 

After the players came out, and both national anthems were sung, the puck dropped to begin the PWHL’s 33rd game ever. Immediately, I was hooked by the action of the game. The crowd cheered as the players maneuvered the puck brilliantly, showing off their talent. While Minnesota started with a goal in the first period, Ottawa struck back in the second period, provoking a joyous eruption in the stadium. Unfortunately, Minnesota scored once more just before the period ended. 

In the final period, Ottawa played fiercely to tie up the game again, to no avail. While the game ended 2-1 in favour of Minnesota, fans still left the stadium with smiles on their faces, satisfied with the fact that a women's hockey game received the attention it deserves and ready to show our southern neighbours who’s the boss in this new section of the sport sometime soon.

If you want to be a part of the first season in the future of women’s hockey and see Ottawa make sports history, click here for tickets.

David is a fifteen-year-old aspiring adventure and travel writer living in Ottawa.  Skydiving is on his bucket list. He received a complimentary ticket for this post, but all views are his own.