05/19/2026
Show your support !
CITIZEN RALLY IN TÉMISCAMING
TO DEFEND OUR LOCAL SERVICES AND THE VITALITY OF OUR REGION
The Town of Témiscaming invites all residents to participate in a citizen rally to defend our local services, the safety of our territory, and the vitality of our region.
The rally will take place:
▪ In front of the Témiscaming Wildlife Officers' office located at 31 Chemin du Ruisseau Gordon
▪ On Wednesday, May 20, 2026
▪ At 3:00 p.m.
The Town invites all citizens, organizations, workers, hunters, anglers, families, and community partners to attend in order to send a clear message: our regions deserve strong, accessible services that are adapted to their needs.
This gathering comes amid a worrying situation for the Témiscaming wildlife officer office, which now has only one officer on staff, while a minimum of approximately six officers is considered necessary to ensure effective and safe service in the region.
Among the factors raising serious concerns:
▪ 29 new wildlife officers will join the network at the end of the summer
▪ Only 15 of the 60 offices have been advertised for the new positions
▪ The Témiscaming office has not been advertised despite its significant staff shortage
▪ The Ville-Marie office, which already has several officers, will nevertheless receive additional staff.
Although no official closure of the Témiscaming office has been announced, the Town believes that the lack of concrete action to restore a functional team is gradually weakening services in the region.
The situation also raises important issues regarding safety, land protection, and regional development. Located in a border region frequented by many visitors from Ontario and the Outaouais, Témiscaming experiences a high level of activity related to hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation.
With the opening of fishing season this weekend, the significant increase in activity in our area will be particularly noticeable. Our region requires a strong, local, and dedicated on-the-ground presence to ensure adequate monitoring and safe access throughout the territory.
Beyond the issues directly related to the service, this situation also raises important concerns for the future and vitality of our community. Each lost position represents families leaving our community, children in our schools, and a gradually diminishing government presence in our region. Communities like ours must be able to maintain their essential services and their capacity to act locally.
Through this citizen mobilization, the Town of Témiscaming wishes to emphasize the importance of maintaining strong, accessible, and locally adapted services. The public is invited to mobilize in order to defend the security of our territory, essential services, and the vitality of our community.
This gathering is a continuation of the mobilizations our community has been undertaking for the past year to protect its achievements, preserve its capacity to act locally, and ensure the continued presence of a strong government in the region. It is a reminder of the steps taken in response to concerns surrounding the possible closure of the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) detachment, as well as the ongoing fight to preserve and regain access to local healthcare for our population.
Today, it is all of these issues that bring us together. Because beyond services, it is the future, the attractiveness, and the vitality of our territory that we collectively choose to defend.
Source: Alain Gauthier, Mayor
819-627-3273, ext. 110
maire@temiscaming.net
