Portrait

History

In the 19th century, an American fish and game club occupied the territory of the present-day Réserve faunique de Rimouski. Later, in the early 20th century, the territory was taken back by the government for the creation of several private clubs whose members were undoubtedly well-heeled. Next came the creation of a small hunting and fishing reserve that would ensure wildlife protection and be accessible to everyone. The success of this initiative led to the creation of Réserve faunique de Rimouski.

This is a timeline of the main events:

1880: Colonel Winz (U.S.) founded a private club: Margaret Brooks Fish and Game Club

1939: The Québec government took back possession of the 152-mile² territory and divided it up among 5 private clubs:

Caribou
Taché
Des Eaux Mortes
Labbé
Rimouski

In those days, membership cost $2,000 for admission and $500 for the annual fee. The public at large was still excluded.

1952: Beginning of the wildlife reserve
Area: 54 km2

1958: Creation of Réserve de Chasse et pêche Horton

1962: During Jean Lesage's term of office, Gérard-D. Lévesque approved the expansion of the reserve from 60 to 700 km2. The private clubs lost their exclusive hunting and fishing rights. The Horton reserve was renamed Réserve Rimouski.

1979: Réserve Rimouski was given the status of wildlife reserve. Its area then stood at 729 km².

1995: Transfer to Sépaq

The name Rimouski reportedly comes from the Micmac language and means "moose country." Moose seem to have been plentiful there for some time...