History of Empire 47 and its relations with the City of Lac-Delage

The members of the Board of Directors would like to express their deep gratitude to Empire 47 employees and volunteers, to our community and partners, and to the many Delage citizens who show us their support. Their commitment inspires us to pursue our mission with determination, despite the obstacles. You can contribute to our community fundraising campaign right here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/fu7be3-un-appel-a-laide-pour-empire-47?attribution_id=sl:4cf46558-2465-4199-bded-16722e926603&lang=fr_CA&ts=1756485584&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link

Foundation and mission

Empire 47 was founded in 2014 by volunteers wishing to provide the Quebec City region with quality mountain bike and fatbike trails. Eleven years later, the organization is successfully fulfilling its mission: to promote healthy lifestyles through the outdoors, contribute to tourism development and preserve the environment. Empire 47 is recognized for its inclusive offering, excellent infrastructure and trail maintenance. In 2023, the organization proudly won the Fidéide award for Business of the Year, in the category of events and tourist attractions in the Quebec City region.

Municipal support

Across Quebec, municipalities are actively supporting similar projects, both financially and in terms of regulations, thereby promoting quality recreational infrastructures and enhancing the value of their real estate assets. For example, the cities of Saguenay, Québec, Saint-Raymond, Thetford Mines, Lac-Beauport and Bromont, to name but a few, are investing significantly in their bike centers. Empire 47 is supported by Stoneham, the MRC de La Jacques-Cartier and the Ville de Québec, but not by the elected officials of Lac-Delage.

Relations with Lac-Delage

Although the Lac-Delage municipal council proclaims its support for Empire 47 and has benefited from its presence (notably via a tourism subsidy for the construction of the town hall), it is taking numerous steps to put a stop to the organization’s activities.

Ongoing litigation

Since 2021, the Town of Lac-Delage has been exerting constant pressure to accelerate the construction of a second reception pavilion on Stoneham territory. Empire 47, supported by the Ville de Stoneham and the MRC de La Jacques-Cartier, concluded that the site of parking P2 (located on chemin de la Grande Ligne) was the most logical choice. This complex project involves both the municipality of Stoneham and private landowners. Although the Town of Lac-Delage indicated that it was open to this solution, it nevertheless filed a lawsuit against Empire 47 in 2023. Despite the extensions granted, the legal proceedings continue, incurring significant costs for both parties – resources that could be invested in far more constructive projects.

Points raised in Lac-Delage’s lawsuit

In its lawsuit, the Town of Lac-Delage states in no uncertain terms that Empire 47’s activities are “harmful to the environment”. This unfounded assertion is based on several elements that we wish to clarify.

1. Pressure on sanitary facilities

Allegation: Empire 47 would exert pressure on municipal sanitary facilities.

Facts: Empire 47 uses no sanitary facilities connected to the Lac-Delage sewer system. Only portable toilets are provided, with no impact on municipal infrastructure.

2. Threat to the environment

Allegation: Empire 47’s activities could jeopardize the environment and local hygiene.

Facts:

Since 2022, Empire 47 has used a biologist to validate all its developments.

In 2023, a complaint was filed with the Ministry of the Environment, accompanied by a 46-page report produced by an independent firm and paid for by the citizens of Lac-Delage.

After analyzing the complaint, the Ministry concluded that no significant environmental problems had been observed, and closed the case, noting that the work carried out constituted sound trail development practices.

In 2024, a study commissioned by the City of Quebec identified certain at-risk sites (the main ones pre-dating the arrival of Empire 47), for which corrective measures are underway.

The study points out that mountain bike trails generally have a lower environmental impact than other forms of development, such as logging or urban development.

3. Traffic

Allegation: Empire 47 “would generate a lot of visitors, causing traffic”.



Facts:

There are no traffic problems at Lac-Delage.

Most of the volume is on Avenue du Lac, the municipality’s main thoroughfare, which has been used since 1964 to access the area’s recreational and tourism facilities (Manoir du Lac-Delage, cross-country ski center, downhill ski center and summer theater).

No safety issues have been identified.

Speed reduction measures have been successfully implemented.

On its own initiative, Empire 47 introduced satellite parking (P2) in 2020.

Two traffic management plans were subsequently submitted by Empire 47. Several proposals in these plans have remained unanswered by the Town of Lac-Delage.

As a result of awareness-raising efforts to encourage visitors to use the P2 parking lot, and given the decline in visitor numbers since the end of the pandemic, the P1 parking lot very rarely reaches maximum capacity.

3. Non-conforming zoning

Allegation: The Empire 47 reception buildings would contravene the zoning by-law.



Facts:

The current zoning (R1) allows for low-impact outdoor activities, including a mountain biking center with no facilities other than summary shelters.

The city now considers Empire 47 to qualify for R2 zoning, because of its regional and tourist clientele.

However, Empire 47’s activities have remained unchanged since its inception in 2014.

From 2014 to 2021, the municipality never raised any issues with the zoning;

It is important to note that the viability of a center like Empire 47 depends in part on tourist traffic, which notably allows access to subsidies for infrastructure development.

On June 12, 2025, the City amended the wording of the lawsuit to order the demolition of the facilities, buildings and containers used by Empire 47 users. These demolitions would put an end to the following activities, many of which are essential to the operation of Empire 47:

La Halte des Fins Renards (10 young people in bike initiation with educators on Saturdays and Sundays)

Vehicle maintenance

Rental center

First-aid administration

Possible consequences of this lawsuit: The closure of Empire 47 would result in :

– The loss of 110 jobs,

– The loss of a recreational infrastructure promoting healthy lifestyles, and generating significant economic returns for the region.

– The sale of the land in 99 private lots, leading to uncontrolled development (forest shelters, maple groves, motorized vehicle traffic, deforestation), with environmental and social impacts far more significant than maintaining existing activities.

Clarifications and call for collaboration

A sustained tourism vocation… then challenged

Since its foundation, Empire 47 has promoted healthy lifestyles through outdoor activities, while contributing to tourism development and environmental preservation. Its clientele is made up of both local residents and visitors, enabling the organization to maintain its operations and invest in its infrastructure.

During the first seven years of E47’s operation, the Town of Lac-Delage never questioned this tourism vocation. In 2019, it even applied for and received a $230,000 recreational-tourism subsidy from the MRC for the construction of a “multifunctional building”, including a “complementary and tourist reception area”. The stated aim was to “support local tourism development”.

At the request of Lac-Delage’s general manager, Empire 47 provided a letter of support confirming the need for sanitary facilities and reception areas for groups. However, the hall built did not meet the expressed needs (30-person capacity instead of the 60 required to accommodate a tour bus). Once the building was completed, Empire 47 was denied access to the facilities. The promised reception room became the city council chambers, and the promised “tourist reception area” became the city hall. Despite this exclusion, Empire 47 chose not to comment publicly, happy that citizens would benefit from a proper town hall.

Justifications and contradictions

The municipality justifies the exclusion of E47 customers by the saturation of its wastewater treatment plant, claiming that the addition of Empire 47 customers would exceed its capacity. This same justification is used to maintain a moratorium preventing any new residential construction on the Lac-Delage territory.

Yet, in contradiction to this moratorium, elected officials have quietly proposed to Mr. Gauthier, owner of Manoir du Lac-Delage, to develop a residential street on his land – precisely where Empire 47’s reception site and pumptrack are located. Mr. Gauthier rejected the proposal, deeming it incompatible with the organization’s activities.

Lac-Delage’s elected officials also suggested to the NPO that the legal case could be settled once the P2 parking facility in Stoneham was up and running.

The Town of Stoneham, for its part, is collaborating and actively taking the necessary steps to bring the project to fruition: analysis and drafting of zoning amendments, land negotiations, among others. These steps are beyond Empire 47’s control.

Conclusion: call for coherence and collaboration

The Town of Lac-Delage’s position seems to fluctuate: it values Empire 47’s tourism vocation when it comes to obtaining subsidies, but questions it when it comes to supporting the organization. Empire 47 reiterates that the P2 project requires time and inter-municipal collaboration. A lawsuit can in no way accelerate these steps, but rather generates significant and unnecessary costs, both for the organization and for taxpayers. If the legal proceedings are pursued to their conclusion, our defence costs are estimated at $150,000.

Empire 47 questions the appropriateness of the Town of Lac-Delage spending public funds to harm the only recreation and tourism organization and business (Manoir du Lac-Delage) on its territory. We call for responsible management of public resources and constructive collaboration between all parties.