Swamp Memories

I remember the swamp behind our house in Laval, Quebec in the 60’s and 70’s. It would fill up with snow run-off in the spring and dry out by midsummer. When the snow was melting we’d divert the run-off and build streams in the snow. When the swamp filled up we’d play in the swamp - skip rocks, build rafts, and explore all the little creatures. As it dried out I’d plant a garden in the rich black soil and the garden would grow like crazy. In the mid 70’s they started building a big apartment block uphill from the swamp. Somebody diverted a sewer pipe. It ran down through ditches to the swamp and turned it into a foul smelling toxic mess. So they covered it over fill and that was the end of the swamp.

Alex Chisholm