Near to where the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Rivers meet, a small island teeming with birds and turtles sits surprisingly untouched amid a suburban sprawl that has turned the surrounding waterline into concrete walls.
The island, called Île Ronde, was spared from this development by the dollars of one man back in the 1960s, who after decades of refusing to sell to real estate and property men, has just donated it to the Nature Conservancy Canada to be protected forever.
Thor Wikström immigrated to Canada from Sweden and built a house for himself, his newish wife, and their first son Hans, in a town called Laval on the shore of Rivière-des-Prairies.
Out of their window, the seven-acre Île Ronde sat offshore by a mighty stone’s throw. Wikström convinced the previous owner to sell it, and it was there that many childhood memories were made among migratory birds and turtles.
Now at 93 years of age, he’s at peace knowing the forests and marshlands, the little cabin and birdhouses he built, will all be protected forever.
“It’s just a good feeling in my heart. I know this will be there forever,” he told CBC News.
The Vikström family has long been involved in the protection of Quebec’s natural resources. In addition to donating island and many contributions to the Nature Conservancy, they support Ducks Unlimited Canada.
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“Nature was more important than some stupid money in my pocket,” he added. “I said, ‘This is something [that’s] got to be preserved,’ and I kept my word.”
He turned down dozens of offers to sell the property over the years, good news for the northern map turtle, a species the Canadian government designates as “special concern,” and one which no longer has access to much of its previous habitat due to development along the river.
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Île Ronde also hosts a unique tree species called the shagbark hickory, and many migratory bird and game bird species like widgeon, gadwall, and wood ducks.
“The Vikström family has taken great care of it, and with this very meaningful act we are protecting the natural diversity of this unique habitat for the benefit of the animal and plant species that live there, but also for future generations,” said Annie Ferland, project manager for the Montreal Greenbelt at the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
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AWESOME story! What a cherished spot for his progeny! And, of course, his city & country!
God bless this man. His kindness and protection for the land, its inhabitants and the environment are beyond belief. Many people would put the ‘stupid money in their pockets’ and think themselves very smart. We have to really start protecting our country from the ravages of ‘land developers’ and the wealthy who want to grab everything for themselves and leave nothing for the average person including the First Nations people who are rightfully owners of it.