Taylor Clark
LJI Reporter
The Robert Guertin Centre has joined Gatineau’s list of demolitions, leaving the fate of the encampment that has found refuge next to the arena up in the air.
The Comité sur les demandes de démolition approved the request on February 27, but a demolition date has yet to be declared for the 67-year-old building on Rue de Carillon.
Once everything was in place, president of Comité consultatif d’urbanisme and Comité exécutif Mario Aubé told reporters during a press scrum the following day that the project could take eight to 12 months with an estimated $3 million cost.
Former home to the Gatineau Olympiques, the centre has been closed to the public since March 2020 due to its declining state and has reached “a significant level of deterioration,” according to the demolition report.
The next steps in tearing down the building will be for Gatineau to place a call for tenders in the coming months, said Aubé.
“We will mainly talk about deconstruction so that it is done in the best environmental way possible, in the sense that there is a lot of lead in the building and asbestos as well. Anything salvageable will be salvaged and reused in another way,” he said.
While deconstruction was the plan, Aubé said it would ultimately depend on “the calls for tenders and everything that comes afterward.”
When asked how Gatineau would work with the residents who make up the encampment known as “Tent City,” Aubé said it would be done in parallel with the call for tenders. “A plan that has not yet been shared with me … But, indeed, there is work to be done … Everything will be collaborative, definitely, before we move forward.”
Aubé noted the Camp Guertin initiative that saw 48 heated tents added to the arena’s parking area would come to an end in mid-May.
“Until then, there will definitely be discussions. But we won’t come barging in tomorrow morning. And packing these people in, that’s not how it’s going to work.”
Gatineau’s communication department assured the City would collaborate with stakeholders and local organizations to find structuring solutions to assist those suffering from homelessness.
“The City recognizes people experiencing homelessness as full citizens,” wrote the communications department in an email.
Measures are expected to be put in place to protect the health and safety of the people affected by the demolition.
“What was explained to me is that there is a fence that will be installed to demarcate the official construction zone,” said Aubé.
Some new locations for the encampment were in the pre-feasibility analysis stages, but the communications department said it was too early to pinpoint the optimal location.
“For the moment, the City has identified land in the city centre that could potentially accommodate a camp. The land in question provides access to drinking water and electricity and is set back from homes. Once the feasibility analysis is completed, the population can be informed of the conclusions and available site options,” wrote the department.
Photo caption: While a date has yet to be set, the Robert-Guertin Centre is expected to be demolished at the cost of an estimated $3 million.
Photo credit: Taylor Clark