By Ruby Pratka
Local Journalism Initiative
Transforming a city park into a “magic forest” for the holidays and giving residents more opportunities to test out recreational activities for free are near the top of Bromont’s priority list after its first participatory budget call for projects went out earlier this year.
“We wanted to create a ‘department of little treats,’” said Councillor Michel Bilodeau (Mont-Brome), the municipality’s point person for the project, drawing on imagery from his previous career as director of the Fête du chocolat de Bromont. He mentioned that his colleague Councillor Claire Mailhot (Lac-Bromont) had first pitched the idea more than two years ago. “This year, we said we were going to do it.”
Participatory budget initiatives, where cities earmark $50-60,000 for citizen-driven projects, have been established in Montreal, Longueuil, Laval, Granby and several smaller towns across the province – including Cowansville and Sutton – over the past few years. “We wanted to take the concept of what already existed and make it more ‘Bromontois,’” Bilodeau said. “We’re not reinventing the wheel here.”
Bilodeau said he was hoping to get ten or so submissions; the 32 projects received exceeded the committee’s expectations. Twelve were chosen by the selection committee. In addition to budgetary considerations (the projects have a combined budget of $60,000) and logistical feasibility, the committee evaluated projects based on creativity, on whether they fit with current town priorities and on how many residents they would benefit – a project for the whole town received more points than a project designed for a single neighbourhood.
Residents could submit projects in three categories – by and for seniors, by and for youth, and “collective,” by and for the general public. In the seniors category, the committee chose two proposals – installation of a wheelchair-accessible swing and several new benches around town. The three projects chosen in the youth division were a soapbox derby car race, a colour run at the elementary school and support for a floor hockey program. In the “collective” category, seven projects will be funded – top-ups to existing funding for the Santa Claus Parade and the Course du Quartier du Lac, opportunities for residents to test out existing recreational activities for free on Saturdays (“Samedi de bouger”), free pickleball sessions in Adamsville, planting along the hiking trail behind the École de la Chantignole, funding for portrait artists in public spaces (inspired by the portrait artists of Place Jacques-Cartier in Montreal or Rue du Trésor in Quebec City), and the “whispering forest of owls and elves” – a magical holiday trail in the Parc des Oiseaux. The projects are expected to be completed by January 2026, Bilodeau said.
“Youth is important, and this is a way of getting them interested in how they can contribute ideas and actions to make the town better,” Bilodeau added. “It makes us all really happy. Hopefully next year, the next council will go in the same direction.
“The city launched a real call for creativity and collective action, and the community responded loud and clear,” Mayor Tatiana Contreras said in a statement. “The projects presented that were not selected will still be forwarded to the various divisions concerned as suggestions, and who knows, they might even be able to be carried out!”