Pontiac Airpark Project Ends

André Durocher, the driving force behind the Pontiac Airpark, recently announced that he has ended the project.

The 550 acre residential fly-in community was slated to have included not only a large number of home lots, but also a club house, two runways and a seaplane base on the Ottawa River. There is also an existing equestrian facility next door.

The project was conceived back about 2003 by Durocher, a land surveyor, as a place for people to build homes and park their aircraft in their own hangars, next to their houses. The airpark was to have been located west of Ottawa, on the north side of the Ottawa River in Quebec.

By the summer of 2011 the two perpendicular runways had been completed and gravelled in, with a plan to pave them later. The water aerodrome facilities for floatplanes on the Ottawa River adjacent were commenced and registered with Transport Canada.

Construction on the first residential lots at the airpark project had started in December 2011, with the intention that home building would commence in the spring of 2012. In February 2012 an additional 85 acres of land, located immediately north of the airpark project and north of the River Road, was acquired. This parcel became the Elevage Fabie equestrian facility, which was opened in the fall of 2012. By March 2012 a further 130 acres to the west of the airpark's location was added, with the intention of making it available for a golf course, hotel, restaurant and spa. Also in March 2012 the mayor of the Municipality of Pontiac endorsed the project. In February 2013 seven more parcels of land from the former Canadian Pacific Railway line property were added to the project. The intention was to construct trails for horseback riding, hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing and allow greater access to the surrounding countryside.

In having to terminate the project Durocher said, "unfortunately, after 12 years of great efforts I only sold one (1) lot so I decided to close the project." He stated that the land the residential airpark was to have occupied has been already been sold. Durocher indicates that he doesn't think the new owner will quickly develop the property, but will likely hold it as a long-term investment.

New Pontiac Airpark Video

Pontiac Airpark has a newly produced promotional video that shows an animation of what the development will look like as it is completed.

Pontiac Airpark is a new residential airpark that is being built by COPA Flight 8 member André Durocher in the Pontiac region of Quebec, just to the west of Ottawa on the north side of the Ottawa River.

The animation shows views of the airpark from above and from ground level with cockpit views arriving and departing from the main runway. It also depicts many of the planned amenities and gives a good idea what it will look like in the future.

The video runs for 4:21 and can be found on on You Tube.

More information:

• Pontiac Airpark Homepage

Pontiac Airpark House and Hangar News

By André Durocher

At the Pontiac Airpark residents have lots of house and hangar options!

One option is to build just a hangar home and live in it, with no need to build a separate house. The hangar just has look similar to a house, which is very easy to do with a few windows, the use of colour, etc. Decorative hangar doors, available from suppliers such as Higher Power Hydraulic Doors and Hydroswing, can help you to achieve this.

You can also build your garage first, then you will have one year to build your actual house.

Buildings on one lot can be owned by more than one person or family, meaning that a group of pilots can buy a lot together and build their hangar.

More information:

• Pontiac Airpark Homepage

Winter Horseback Riding at Pontiac Air Park

By André Durocher

Above are some recent photos from the equestrian farm's winter activities next to Pontiac Air Park.

Air Park residents and visitors can participate in these activities, riding your own horse or with a rented one. For more information on activities at the equestrian, visit the Élevage Fabie website.

For the latest news about the Pontiac Airpark please check the airpark website.

Pontiac Airpark Acquires More Land

By André Durocher

Pontiac Airpark has expanded. Seven parcels of the old Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) were recently added to the project.

The importance of this acquisition is not the size of the lots, but their strategic location. The 3 km of the old railroad will give access to about 7 km of public road and to Gatineau Park. The trails that will be constructed will be of use to horseback riders, hikers, snowshoers, crosscountry skiers, etc.

This addition is another attractive feature for the future golf, hotel, restaurant and spa project for which I am looking for a developer.

• Pontiac Airpark website

Equestrian Centre moves in beside Pontiac Airpark

By Andrea Cranfield, Editor, The Equity
Quyon, November 14, 2012
(Reprinted with permission)

Fifty-three horses were moved onto an 85 acre farm at the beginning of September right beside the Pontiac Airpark in Luskville.

Owners of the horse farm, Michel Allen and his wife Claude Blanchette, and owner of the Pontiac Airpark André Durocher hope to work together to provide visitors with a positive experience in Pontiac.

Allen and Blanchette plan to offer their services to patrons of the Pontiac Airpark.

"We’re on Hwy. 148 and the air park is on River Road so the only thing between us and the air park is an old railway track that is removed and River Road...so we’re just back-to-back with the Pontiac airport," said Allen.

The horse farm called Elevage Fabie, is known for breeding and boarding Canadian Horses.

"We have Canadians and there’s not that many breeders of Canadian horses, I’m telling you. The Canadian horse is the national horse of Canada, the best kept secret in Canada, I think. We’ve been in the business of breeding the Canadian horse for about 12 years now," said Allen.

Prior to moving the business to Luskville, Elevage Fabie was based in Aylmer with Allen renting land for the horses.

"To me it was a better idea to move and buy a place of our own," said Allen.

He thought the move would be a good opportunity to be a part of the air park expansion.

Durocher is pleased that Allen and Blanchette have purchased the land beside the air park so that pilots can go horseback riding while waiting to fly.

"This farm was for sale for a few years and I worked hard to find someone to buy it to offer the equestrian centre services because it’s going to be good for my clients," said Durocher. "There are many projects like that in the states where you can see the airplanes and the horses all together in the same spot."

Besides giving riding lessons, trail rides, hay and sleigh rides, participating in horse shows and breeding Canadian horses at the new location, Allen said he can transport people to and from the air park.

The first step in expanding the Pontiac Airpark, according to Durocher, was to add the equestrian centre. Next, he hopes there will be more buyers that purchase land next to the air park who will eventually build a golf course, hotel, restaurant and spa.

"It’s going to be a 500 acre project … It’s going to attract tourists. You land on the runway, and you bring your plane to the hotel and then you can play golf, you can go with horses, you can go on the Ottawa River, sailing, boating, skiing, fishing," said Durocher.

Allen said one of his main goals is to get people hooked on the Canadian horse.

"They’re exceptional horses...We’ve sold horses in France, we’ve sold them in the U.S. and all over Quebec and Ontario. We have horses all over the place. We hope to (spread the word) because the Canadian horse is almost extinct," he said adding, "In 1970, there was only 400 (purebred) horses left, and now thanks to a few crazy people like me, we have about 4,500 to 6,000 registered horses."

The Pontiac Airpark Equestrian Centre Is In Operation!

By André Durocher

It’s done! 53 horses have now arrived at the new equestrian centre just north of the Pontiac Airpark!

Elevage Fabie have moved into their new quarters and now offer their services to the airpark and the Pontiac’s residents.

The aerial photo shows the Ottawa River, the airpark, 85 acres of wooded residential land and the equestrian centre located on the left hand side of Highway 148.

A golf course, hotel, restaurant and spa will be located on the right hand side of the airpark! I am looking for someone for these projects!

• Elevage Fabie equestrian centre website
• Pontiac Airpark website

The Farm Next to Pontiac Airpark Has Been Sold

By André Durocher

The 80 acre farm adjacent to the Pontiac Airpark, that was previously mentioned, has found a buyer and will be developed into an equestrian facility. Residential lots will be available for this project.

Ladies and gentlemen come and play!!

Next step: the golf course, hotel, restaurant and the spa!

• Pontiac Airpark Homepage

Pontiac Airpark To Have Ferry Access

By André Durocher

We have been awaiting this news for a number of years, the Quyon ferry will now be operating twelve months a year! The boat will accommodate 90 tons of vehicles, including tractor-trailers and motor coaches, instead of the previous 10 ton limit.

The ferry will make car access from Pontiac Airpark on the north side of the Ottawa River to Kanata and Arnprior easy all year around!

Municipality Endorses Pontiac Airpark

by André Durocher

People often ask me if the municipality is giving me tough time with the Pontiac Airpark project and the answer is: "Not at all". In fact the municipality wants me to do this project. The municipality of Pontiac is a big municipality acreage wise, but a big percentage of the land is zoned agricultural. Pontiac Airpark's land is the largest residential piece of land in the Pontiac!

Find included a letter from the municipality of Pontiac signed by the mayor.

* Pontiac Airpark news

Pontiac Airpark Expands to 550 Acres

by André Durocher

Pontiac Airpark is growing again!

After buying 85 acres north of the airpark and the possibility of developing an equestrian facility on the 80 acres north of that, the site has now added 130 acres to the west, which will be available for a golf course, hotel, restaurant and spa!!

This additional has made Pontiac Airpark a 550 acre project.

* Pontiac Airpark Homepage

Pontiac Airpark Looks For Farm Buyer

By André Durocher

Pontiac Airpark (PAP) is searching to find a buyer for an 80 acre farm located immediately north of the 85 acres recently acquired by PAP.

The farm includes a 3 story cement bloc house built in 1914, a hangar and a stable. The owner of the 80 acres could develop an equestrian facility for the residents of the PAP and for any other interested people. This 80 acres could be part of the bigger project including the airport, the seaplane base and … (more to come).

* Pontiac Airpark Homepage

Pontiac Airpark Expands

By André Durocher

Pontiac Airpark (PAP) is expanding!

PAP just bought a 85 acres of residential land located immediately north of the PAP project and north of the River Road. This land will help improve the PAP project.

* Pontiac Airpark Homepage

Pontiac Airpark Aerial View

Pontiac's developer, André Durocher, just sent me a really nice aerial shot of the aerodrome facing west, taken in July 2011.

It is such a good photo that I couldn't resist posting it here!

* Pontiac Airpark Homepage
* Google Satellite view
* Pontiac Airpark on Places to Fly

Pontiac Airpark News

Pontiac Airpark developer André Durocher reports that as of December 2011 the first residential lot, Lot 36, has been prepared for building in the spring of 2012.

* Pontiac Airpark website