JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West
Years of debate over how and who should restore the historic windmill in Pointe Claire seems headed to finally culminating in action after the Pointe-Claire Heritage Preservation Society and the Archdiocese of Montreal last month struck a deal.
The move, granting the local historical society a 50-year lease on the iconic stone structure on Pointe Claire’s historic point that juts into Lake St. Louis, means the group can now rev up its fundraising efforts to restore the weathered building and transform it into a cultural and educational hub.
“We were delighted,” said Linda De Witt, an executive member of the historical society, describing the group’s energy after confirming the deal. “We negotiated for several months and when the deal was finalized, it was just wonderful. We think it’s good news for us (and) good news for the city.”
“Above all, this new partnership will allow the people of Pointe Claire to be at the heart of the project,” said Stefano Marrone, head of real estate for the Archdiocese of Montreal, in a statement when the lease was announced on Feb. 27.
The new agreement will ensure the “continued legacy” of the windmill, Marrone said.
The windmill, which dates back to early 1700s, has been showing its age in recent years, most notably when a storm in 2019 broke off two of its four rotor blades. Along with replacing the blades, the historical society will oversee work on the building’s foundation and exterior walls, as well as fix damage done to the roof and replace a missing window.
The cost of renovating the structure has been estimated in the millions of dollars, but the group is unable to provide a precise estimate amid rising inflation and economic uncertainty.
One of the first steps needed, however, will be to complete an archaeological study of the structure, something De Witt said will be done in the spring.
“When the snow melts, we’ll be there,” she said, explaining that the group is ready to move forward quickly.
The ultimate goal, De Witt added, is for the windmill to serve as a cultural centre, with the historical society offering guided tours and hosting information sessions catering to attendees of all ages, as has been done with other historical landmarks in the city.
So far, the group has raised about $350,000 in donations that will go towards the restoration project. And now with a lease on the property secured, the group will move forward with what De Witt called a “serious fundraising campaign.
“We will, of course, explore all avenues,” she added, including possible financial assistance from Quebec’s Ministry of Culture and Communications.
Complications around funding from city
In 2023, the City of Pointe Claire approved a bylaw to provide funding for the windmill restoration. It allows a maximum of $967,000 in funding. However, money would only be provided once the work has been completed.
“This procedure is widely used in Quebec,” said Caroline Thibault, the city’s director of legal affairs, in an interview with The 1510 West, adding that this ensures that taxpayer money does not go toward uncompleted projects.
Thibault added that if money for the project is needed up front, the Archdiocese, which maintains ownership of the property, could consider taking out a bank loan to fund the project until the city provides the reimbursement.
De Witt, however, considered the process for receiving the city funding after the work is completed somewhat disjointed. The Archdiocese, she explained, does not have access to millions of dollars to be used as collateral for a bank loan, nor does the historical society.
“It’s going to be an ongoing process,” she said, adding that the group is confident that the community will be in favour of this project.
Information on donating to the project can be found on the Pointe-Claire Heritage Preservation Society’s website. “Any amount, big or small, that people want to contribute will help,” De Witt said.