CAMMAC still going strong despite lawsuit

Despite a few bumps in the road, the Canadian Amateur Musicians/Musiciens amateurs du Canada (CAMMAC) is looking forward to the future with a positive attitude.

After completing construction on a brand new sustainable building in 2006, the well-known music lovers' paradise is currently in the midst of a lawsuit.

According to CAMMAC board president Harry Qualman, there have been "major problems" with the new building, "through no fault of our own.

"[There are problems] particularly with the mistakes in the conception of the septic system that have led us to undertake a lawsuit, in an effort to obtain just compensation. This has eaten up time and money and been a major source of stress for all of us."

Qualman said the lawsuit is "very advanced now" and witnesses have testified.

"Experts have studied our situation and we are increasingly confident that we will obtain a just settlement that will allow us to make the repairs we need. We must be patient, as lawsuits are slow-moving...justice takes time."

Located in Harrington, Québec, CAMMAC was founded by George and Carl Little, and their wives, Madeleine and Frances, on the shores of Otter Lake near Huberdeau in Argenteuil County.

The idea was to find a place in the midst of nature where all who love music could actively participate in it under the direction of professional musicians.

The first CAMMAC music center was born in the Laurentians, named Otter Lake Music Centre. Its beginnings were quite humble, with 26 participants registered in the first two-week session.
However, as participation in programs increased, it became necessary to find a new location. In 1968, thanks to a major fund-raising campaign, along with a combination of donations and interest-free loans, allowed CAMMAC to acquire Domaine des Bouleaux, which is known today as the Lake MacDonald Music Centre.

The site borders a large lake and many of the outbuildings are located in pleasant wooded areas. The music programs, such as the Bach weekend, Chamber music weekend, and summer  programs, are the backbone of CAMMAC's operations and history.

According to Steve Varga, head of maintenance and technician at CAMMAC, the centre began staying open all year round for the first time as of June 2006. He said this is as result of the new, energy-efficient building that was constructed to replace the 80-year-old building previously located on site.

"That building was really starting to show its age and it was in desperate need of being replaced," he explained. "So, starting in 2005, the old building was demolished and recycled. More than 90 per cent (of the old building) was sent off to be used in other projects."

He said the new main lodge is a green architecture project, built to strict environmentally- responsible standards.

Geothermal heating by way of heat exchangers deep in the lake, living roofs, a reed bed for purifying grey waters and radiant heating are just some of the "green" features of the new building, Varga highlighted.

"We have two green roofs, one over the concert hall and one over the main lobby that have vegetation on top," he noted. "We grow chives up there and, not only does the greenery help with heat, we're growing stuff we can eat. It's really great and what we've planted up there keeps coming back year after year."

The new building also features four large studios, 40 bedrooms, a large concert hall and the only floor built for dancers in the Laurentians.

"It's really something," Varga said. "You have to see it to believe it. This is an extremely state-of-the-art facility we have here and we're very proud of it."

The construction was made possible by numerous generous donations from CAMMAC members, as well as contributions from various levels of government.

Qualman urged donors to keep donations coming in because "CAMMAC needs your help to ensure this wonderful lodge get its growing pains behind it and [we must] concentrate on moving forward with the remaining renovations of the older buildings that we know are so desperately needed."