By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Residents of Hatley Township will no longer have free access to North Hatley’s municipal beach this summer, following the end of a long-standing recreational agreement between the two municipalities. The move, formalized by Hatley Township council in October 2024, has sparked concern among residents as the summer season begins.
According to a statement from the municipality posted to Facebook, “the municipality has recently ceased to offer free access to the municipal beach to residents of Hatley Township.” Those wishing to visit North Hatley’s beach must now pay the full non-resident fee.
Mayor Vincent Fontaine confirmed in an interview that the Township decided not to renew the agreement because “there wasn’t really any sharing” between the two municipalities in terms of services. “We didn’t have activities there and they were still charging us,” Fontaine explained. He also pointed out that the beach in question is not a public beach, but “a private beach,” and that “under the laws of the country, we have to pay.”
Fontaine emphasized that while Hatley Township residents will now be required to pay non-resident rates, the Township is working on a plan to reimburse the difference. “What we’re going to do is pass a resolution next week,” he said. “Residents will pay the surcharge, and we will reimburse them for the difference between the resident and non-resident fee.” He gave the example that if the regular price for residents is $25 and the non-resident fee is $50, Hatley Township would reimburse the $25 difference.
Hatley Township Councillor Pat Clowery, speaking with The Record at an unrelated event, echoed this, saying that the plan is to either fully or partially reimburse residents. He encouraged them to keep their receipts, as the program will be applied retroactively once the resolution is passed. Retroactive reimbursement was also nominally confirmed by Mayor Fontaine.
Fontaine stressed that the plan has not yet been officially adopted. “I can’t tell you it’s official yet because I haven’t signed it,” he said, asking that it not be reported as finalized. A decision is expected at the next council meeting.
In the meantime, the Township is recommending that residents visit Ayer’s Cliff Beach, which remains free to access. Fontaine noted that this beach is managed collectively by four municipalities and “has always been free.”
An unsigned email response from the Municipality of North Hatley clarified that it had no role in Hatley Township’s decision to terminate the agreement. “North Hatley had no part in the Canton de Hatley’s decision to not resign the agreement,” the statement reads. “North Hatley is in no way against renewed negotiations… however council have received no requests from the Canton de Hatley at this time.”
With the agreement dissolved, North Hatley is now solely responsible for the operating costs of the beach. As a result, fees for non-residents have been instituted for the 2025 season. An individual season pass costs $125 (plus tax), and a family pass (maximum five people) costs $300 (plus tax). Ten-entry booklets are also available at $45 for children and $90 for adults.
Fontaine expressed frustration that North Hatley continues to act independently. “They’ve always wanted to stay independent… just for North Hatley people to go to the beach,” he said. He also criticized past arrangements where the Township received invoices for activities that only benefited North Hatley residents. “It wasn’t normal.”
A link to the minutes of the October 2024 Hatley Township council meeting confirms the resolution to withdraw from the agreement. In its Facebook message, the Township encouraged residents to stay tuned for updates: “We invite you to remain on the lookout for municipal communications to find out the consequences of this file.”
Residents seeking clarification or wishing to express concerns are encouraged to attend a public hearing on July 8, when Hatley Township council is expected to address the issue further.