Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter
Since 2013, Jean Lessard has served as municipal councillor for the District of Rivière-Blanche. He is also chair of the Seniors Commission and a member of the Agricultural Advisory Committee. He represents several corporations and committees, such as the Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport Corporation, the Hot Air Balloon Festival Corporation, the Ottawa Airport Community Advisory Committee and the Outaouais Seniors and Retirees Roundtable.
To mark the year 2024, Lessard answered a series of questions to provide feedback on his accomplishments, challenges and thoughts over the year.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishments on the council this year?
This year, the Gatineau airport flight school was inaugurated. There was a lot of work on our side to ensure its sustainability. It was a major achievement that was worked on for a period of four years and that generated major economic benefits.
What were the most significant challenges faced by your district in the past year, and how were they addressed?
Last year, the biggest challenge was the reconstruction of the Saint-Gérard community centre, which had burned down. This work is still in progress. We had to organize ourselves to find temporary premises for the organizations, so that they could get off to a good start while waiting for the work to be completed.”
What feedback from district residents shaped council decisions, and how did you incorporate their concerns?
Residents were against a proposed apartment building construction project at the corner of Châteauguay Street and Cheval Blanc Avenue, because the building would have been too large. We spoke with the residents concerning a more suitable project and we ended up authorizing the change by asking the developer to come back to us with a new project.
What improvements or changes have been made to your district’s infrastructure, such as roads, parks and public spaces?
There has been a lot of work done on Rue de Châteauguay, Rue des Sables and Avenue du Cheval Blanc with the improvement of the bike path, sidewalks and the addition of permanent measures to reduce speed.
How have local businesses in the district been supported, especially during challenges like inflation or the post-pandemic recovery?
There was extra financing for certain organizations in the sector, as well as subsidies for some businesses in the Industrial Park, given by Quebec or the federal government.
How has the district’s budget allocation been spent, and what were the key priorities for local spending?
For me, the budget is always spent to boost the sector through park improvements, whether it’s adding tables or even game accessories. Some amounts are taken directly from my budget to supplement spending through bonuses. I also spent a certain amount on renovating the libraries in four elementary schools.
What policies or initiatives do you believe have made the most impact on residents’ quality of life this year?
For me, what had the most impact this year was when we met with seniors from all four corners of the city, so they could express their point of view on different situations and issues.
Furthermore, for Remembrance Day, we allowed veterans to park for free in the city throughout the month of November. I would also like to highlight the development of the Dalton Farm Park project, where we have integrated new activities that have had a positive impact on the community. Every time we organize celebrations, such as the sugar shack festival in March, there are always lots of people who participate. There will also be many other events throughout the year.”
What lessons did you learn this year that will shape future decisions?
The lessons learned can be related to the decisions we make that are not always positive. Unfortunately, however, I don’t have a specific answer to give you on this question.
What are your top priorities for improving the quality of life in your district next year?
As I mentioned earlier, one of my priorities is to continue rebuilding the Saint-Gérard community centre by adding services that we could not access before. To do this, more modern rooms will be built, including a community kitchen. This will allow organizations to cook meals for people in need. Another priority is to continue seeking solutions to keep our streets safe.
How do you see the district evolving over the next few years and what long-term plans are in place to support this vision?
One of the long-term plans is the extension of La Vérendrye Boulevard to Lorrain Boulevard, which is one of our priorities. This will improve the flow of cars, bikes and public transit with the integration of bike paths and a bus line. At the same time, this extension will allow students to go directly to Nicolas-Gatineau School, instead of having to make a big detour.
In your opinion, what is the most important concern facing your district right now?
In my opinion, one of the biggest challenges in my district is infrastructure. With the current challenges of overflows, infrastructure is not holding up, which makes it difficult to move projects forward.
See all the interviews in upcoming editions and on GatineauBulletin.ca.
Photo: Jean Lessard giving a speech during the press scrum on November 7, 2024. (MG) Photo: Courtesy of the City of Gatineau