The Refuge Pageau is the most outstanding tourist attraction in Amos, and maybe even in Abitibi-Témiscamingue. We cannot count how many tourists who admitted that they set foot in the area principally to visit the work of Michel and Louise Pageau, sometimes from as far as France, Belgium or even Africa (no joke, it does happen)!
For the locals, it’s the perfect location to allow the whole family to observe up close the animals inhabiting our forests. Aside from all of the attraction power it gives to our area, the Refuge Pageau, it’s first and foremost a non-profit organization that serves the animals. All of the boarders you can observe are at the Refuge for a reason, and it’s not to entertain you (that is why we do not say “Zoo Pageau”, but Refuge Pageau ;) ).
The boarders
It’s obviously entertaining and interesting to go explore the Refuge’s trails and meet the animals it shelters. However, it’s not the main reason for their presence among us. There are two categories of boarders at the Refuge: the temporary boarders (i.e. those who will be freed again), and the permanent boarders (i.e. those who must remain in captivity).
Also, there are two zones at the Refuge, the visited areas (accessible via trails where visitors are allowed) and the isolation zones (where access is reserved to the nursing staff). In the visited areas, the animals are taken care of principally for educational purposes. They all have their own story and/or their “issues”, but if they are condemned to a life in captivity, it’s to teach people coming to see us what to do and not to do so that other animals can avoid such fate. How could we have acted in a way that would have provided the best conditions to preserve the animal’s autonomy and freedom like we are able to do for so many other animals every year?
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Then, there are the isolation zones. These zones are not empty often! We nurse and shelter animals almost all year round. Animals who will get back their freedom most of the time, or animals that are not well, whose health is too unstable or uncertain for them to be seen by the visitors. The Refuge Pageau, it’s also this: when we visit this place, we see the good side, healthy animals, and we hear success stories, rarely failures. But failures, sad stories, sick animals, sudden and unexplainable deaths, and euthanasias when there is too much suffering, we experience these often.
A devoted team
Happily, the Refuge’s nursing team is totally devoted, loving and humane. Our work is often the subject of envy and it is truly desirable! Nobody here will deny that they are lucky to work with wild animals, we are all there because of passion. But, believe us, after a day where we lose a baby we had hoped for and spent a lot of time, energy and love for its well-being, it takes a lot of passion to decide to keep going. We need it, because we are and always will remain uncertain. With wild animals, the uncertainty of living to see the next day is large. Despite all this, we are certain of one thing: these beasts from everywhere whose distress echoes up to our ears, we help them, and will keep helping them to the best of our abilities.
A visit at the Refuge
The staff is one thing, but the visitors also have a high importance at the Refuge Pageau. The refuge would be nothing without visitors. Every visit at the refuge is a donation. The administrative fees that you pay when you come see us are entirely reinvested into the pursuit of our mission. It’s not more than 60% of the fees that are covered by revenues generated by the visits. Thus, a big and sincere thank you to all who are behind us, your empathy helps us every day to make a difference.
