Memorandum of Understanding
MoU Agreements
Acknowledgement
The Dumoine watershed is situated in western Quebec on the ancestral, traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation and has long been under the stewardship of the families who belong to the Wolf Lake First Nation.
Friends of Dumoine has signed two MoUs.
The first is with Zec Dumoine, which allows the Friends of Dumoine to use and maintain the Grande Chute cabin and base.
The second is with Quebec’s Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs. This agreement allows us to maintain and enhance the canoe tripping experience from Lac Dumoine to the Ottawa River, and maintain and enhance the hiking experience along the 26-kilometre trail from Grande Chute to the mouth of the Dumoine, where it meets the Ottawa River.
Friends of Dumoine does not charge or profit from any of these activities.
Legal Status
On February 21, 2020, Corporations Canada issued a Certificate of Incorporation under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act to Friends of the Dumoine River/Les amis de la rivière Dumoine.
BYLAWS
Article 1
1. The Corporation is known as the Friends of the Dumoine River/Les amis de la rivière Dumoine, and by the English acronym, FOD, and the French acronym, ARD.
2. The purpose of the Corporation is to champion conservation of the Dumoine watershed, promote non-mechanized recreation and strengthen knowledge of its natural environment and human history.
3. The head office of the Corporation shall be situated in the Province of Quebec at a location determined by its Board of Directors. ( Currently at the directors home )
4. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be November 1 to October 31 or other dates as the Board of Directors determines. (Membership fees year begin May 1- end April 30)
5. An Annual General Meeting of Members of the Corporation shall be held each year on a date to be fixed by the Board of Directors, and chaired by the President or a Director designated by the President.
6. A Special General Meeting of the Members of the Corporation shall be called by the Secretary at any time, if instructed by the Board of Directors. Special General Meetings shall be chaired by the President or their designate.
7. Membership
Article 2
1. The Corporation is governed by its Members. Membership is open to any person or any organization that is in agreement with the Corporation’s purpose statement.
2. At each Annual General Meeting of the Corporation, Members elect the Board of Directors to manage the affairs of the Corporation, receive annual reports, approve the Corporation’s budget for the coming year, and deliberate on other matters as specified in these By-laws or as deemed appropriate by the Board.
3. There shall be four categories of membership INDIVIDUAL/FAMILY/INSTITUTIONAL/SPECIAL DONOR RECOGNITION with a membership fee for each covering twelve months beginning May 1 and ending April 30th.
FINANCE
The board of directors is pursuing charitable status for 2026 but until this is achieved we are a not for profit that cannot issue tax receipts.
Each year we are fortunate to have Pierre and Philippe Mousseau CPAs prepare a financial statement pro bono available here (link 2025 statement).
Our annual income since 2023 has ranged from $35,000-$50,000 depending on special projects fundraising.
In 2023 we raised $10,000 in funds through an online auction and donations to finance the signage and preparation of the opening of sentierdumoine.ca.
In 2024 we raised $10,000 through grants and donations to fund the purchase of search, rescue and wifi communication gear for the Grande Chute base to serve the entire watershed.
In 2025 we appeaeled for extra funds to finance the purchase of a historic lease site at the mouth of the Dumoine and establish a southern gateway entrance campsite for the hiking trail.
Our annual maintenance budget for administrative expenses plus the hiking trail, Grande Chute base and maintaining campsites from Lac Dumoine to the Ottawa River is $35,000/year.
This comes equally from three sources:
– 30% Membership fees
– 30% *donations and *grants
– 30% revenue from our canoe rental fleet, sales of maps, t shirt, decals etc.
– Share of trail fees collected by zecdumoine.reseauzec.com
Appeals for special project funds come through private donors and government or private conservation trust funds. We have currently paid back over 50% of the funds. If you wish to help with this project or any other, you can Donate Here, or Contact Us.
Assets in the financial statement include the fleet of rental canoes, trail signage, SAR equipment and Grande Chute cabin equipment and next year the new lease at the mouth of the Dumoine.