Sophie Demers
The long-awaited sports complex in the west and the expansion of the Guy-Sanche library are finally moving forward. Gatineau council positioned itself in favour of these two major infrastructure projects during a June 25 plenary committee meeting. These two projects will total $276.9 million from the residual envelope of Block D project 2024-2032. Gatineau plans for the projects to be completed in 2028-2029.
“These projects respond to the needs of residents in certain parts of the city that have not gotten these types of projects in the past. Especially the Sports Complex in the west, people have been waiting for many years,” said Steve Moran, President of the Executive Committee.
The sports complex is planned for a site between Boulevard des Allumettières and Boulevard du Plateau in Aylmer. The city hopes to meet the growing population’s needs and fill the sports infrastructure gap in the west of the city. Aylmer residents have been feeling the effects of the lack of sporting infrastructure for many years, especially with hockey rinks and spaces that can host multiple sports like badminton and pickleball.
The complex will include four National Hockey League (NHL)-sized ice rinks, including one for sledge hockey and other parasports. There will also be six locker rooms, one referee’s room per rink, and 300-seat stands for each rink. There will be two double gymnasiums, a multipurpose room, a classroom, a multifunctional room with a kitchen, multi-sports hall, and changing rooms.
There will also be communal areas, a canteen, reception and administrative offices, storage rooms, and a tiered parking structure that will incorporate sports and recreational spaces.
The plans for the building foresee a construction cost of $227.8 million for the sports complex.
Gatineau envisions the Guy-Sanche library being a state-of-the-art modern facility set to become a central gathering place for residents. The expansion will allow the library to diversify the service offered. The Guy-Sanche library is the most used of the nine libraries in Gatineau.
The expanded library will double the current library’s surface area, allowing for new services such as individual and collective workspaces, new book collections, and musical instruments. The plans include a technological update to improve the documentation services.
The project costs will total $46.8 million with a loan of $45.6 million for the temporary relocation of the library near the current site. The city also submitted a grant application for $11.5 million from the Capital Assistance program by the Ministry of Culture and Communications.
“I am delighted with the adoption of these two major infrastructure projects that will meet the growing needs of our city. These projects represent investments of more than $276 million to provide a better service offering to the population. By making this decision today, the municipal council is ensuring sound management and giving a clear signal for their completion as soon as possible,” said Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette.
The plans for both projects include a LEED gold certification, meaning the building will have “excellent” sustainability incorporated in its design and operation. The official approval for both infrastructure projects will be discussed during the July 9 council meeting.
Photo: Digital rendering of the future sports complex slated for the Plateau in Aylmer.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the City of Gatineau