Lac des Fées (French Canadian for Fairy Lake), at only a few hundred feet across is obviously named not for a ferry crossing but instead for the Tinkerbell variety. This abandoned gravel quarry long since surrounded by forest took its name from people reporting the sight of fairies hovering over the lake decades ago. Likely the cause was simply swamp gas from when the quarry initially began to fill with water but understandably it is nicer to imagine the former rather than the latter!

Fast forward several decades and a nearby commuter station bringing traffic free access to the Montreal metropolis has created an explosion of suburban housing development. Forward thinking planners resisted the idea to simply fill the quarry come lake and instead created a park around it. The final step in this greenspace plan was to build a pathway that circles the small lake allowing for pedestrians and joggers to have a safe and peaceful loop through the small park and around the lake.

To maximize the experience, elevated parts of the path extend over the surrounding marshes and the lake itself. Additional features include a small beach area and a fishing dock. As has become common practice in Canada these pathways are expected to be kept clear of snow and ice so they can be enjoyed year-round.

This year-round mandate, which meant de-icing grit and chemicals as well as plow abrasion added to already existing corrosion concerns from the harsh eastern Canadian climate marked by high humidity and long winters. The long proven and very successful local history of hot-dip galvanized steel made it a natural choice. Low initial cost, the strength of steel, the robust and long lasting hot-dip galvanized surface make a compelling case for themselves. The benign nature of the pure natural zinc coating also made a suitable choice for this natural oasis. Add to that the speed of turnaround offered by multiple high-capacity plants as well as factory-controlled quality and you have the only logical choice.

Delivered and installed on time the new walkway is already a popular site for both casual strolls and rigorous daily runs. hot-dip galvanized steel ensures that it will be a highly used venue for decades and decades, perhaps even the fairies will approve?