development

$3.6M investment for Groupe Ohméga and Ganex

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – Groupe Ohméga and its subsidiary Ganex, founded in 2021, are continuing their growth by investing $3.6 million to support development, particularly in the United States.

The project includes the acquisition of equipment, constructing a building to house Groupe Ohméga, and the renovation of the existing building to accommodate the Ganex division.

These facilities will enable the company to enhance its automation and industrial IT services to better serve the wind, solar, and water treatment sectors, in addition to developing new markets.
Groupe Ohméga’s automation service was created in December 2015.

“This is a project that was very important to us,” says Martin Boulay, President and CEO of Groupe Ohmega and Ganex. “We try to look at all the indicators, but with the growth of renewable energy, the energy transition, the transition to digital, and cybersecurity, we are at a crossroads and we want to be forward-looking and grow at the speed of our market,” adds Mr. Boulay.

While the company already has offices in Ontario, Alberta, and soon Texas, Mr. Boulay believes it is essential to remain true to its roots.

“We are very proud that Ganex was born in Quebec, where wind power was born. The regional content in 2005-2006 allowed us to establish ourselves here in the Gaspé Peninsula. We then turned our attention to Ontario and Alberta. We are very proud of these offices, but our headquarters are here in Gaspé. There is a great market in the wind energy sector,” explains the president and CEO, referring to Hydro-Québec’s upcoming 10,000 megawatts of wind power.

The Texas office will help support further expansion.

“There are a lot of wind, solar, and battery assets. Our niche is refurbishing equipment that is about ten years old to perform operations and maintenance to upgrade cyber security and remote control of assets in the southwestern United States,” he says.

Since December 1, 2015, several North American wind farms have been managed remotely from Gaspé.

“We have surpassed the 75-project mark here in Gaspé. They range from Nova Scotia to British Columbia. From Texas to Ohio to Wyoming, we have projects in France. This year, we expect to reach 80 projects. We are very proud of this subsidiary. We can solve problems in less than five minutes. We have a very strong position in the market and we are very proud of it,” says Mr. Boulay.
In addition to wind power, solar farms, hydroelectric plants, and battery farms are also managed from Gaspé.

Hydro-Québec’s 10,000 megawatts of wind power are music to the manager’s ears. “We want to position ourselves clearly. Hydro-Québec, with its subsidiary EVLO, which is one of our customers, controls their battery parks. We clearly want to position ourselves in the service chain for future projects,” says the president and CEO.

For the Quebec government, this is an opportunity to support a company that has been in existence for over 40 years.

“The company has its eyes on the energy future here in Quebec, but also elsewhere in the world. I think it’s an incredible vehicle for development. There is a desire to grow and contribute to Quebec’s energy project,” says Stéphane Sainte-Croix, Member of the National Assembly (MNA) for Gaspé, who announced the financial assistance on behalf of the Quebec government.

In the current geopolitical context, it is more necessary than ever to invest in the growth of Quebec companies to make them more productive, attractive, and competitive in future markets such as information technology designed to optimize renewable energy production, according to the government.

The company is expected to employ around 160 people in the coming weeks, with projections to exceed 200 employees by the end of the year.

The financial assistance includes a $1,120,000 loan granted under the ESSOR program, administered by Investissement Québec on behalf of the government, and $610,500 from Investissement Québec’s own funds.

Founded by Groupe Ohméga in 2021, Ganex designs and develops information and communication technology solutions as well as operational technologies for the industrial and manufacturing sectors, as well as for solar wind, drinking water and wastewater treatment systems.

$3.6M investment for Groupe Ohméga and Ganex Read More »

No leading idea for the vacant lots in downtown Gaspé

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – Approximately fifty citizens and twenty organizations participated in consultations on April 30 and May 1 to brainstorm the future of downtown Gaspé. However, during the consultations there weren’t any specific ideas that really stood out. 

With the help of the firm Raymond, Chabot, Grant, Thornton, the consultation provides everyone with a say in the repurposing of the lots following the closures of the 31,700 square metre Ministry of Transportation service centre and, eventually, the 10,500 square metre arena. 

“For now, all sorts of ideas are emerging. “There’s no idea that stands out from the crowd, or for example, 75% of people say what we should do,” says the Mayor of Gaspé, Daniel Côté. 

Some of the ideas included a community hub, a knowledge hub, a sports hub, green spaces, housing, and commercial development are emerging. “The possibilities are quite diverse. For now, we’re continuing the consultations,” adds the mayor. 

The zoning in the downtown core allows for many things: housing, a green space, commercial development, and even a knowledge hub for the one near the CEGEP. 

Citizens could submit their ideas until May 9. Additionally, an online survey on preliminary scenarios is scheduled from May 26 to June 15. 

“Once we’ve combined all these consultations, the town council’s task will be to find the point of convergence between the results of the consultation and the other plans we have, including strategic planning and the urban plan,” continues Mr. Côté. 

“It’s a complex undertaking, and when you add citizens, you add ideas and sometimes a layer of complexity, and it’s perfect. The council’s job will be to make a decision, and we didn’t want to make a decision with seven people or a few experts. This is a development opportunity that is quite unique,” comments the mayor. 

Regarding the former Ministry of Transportation property, decontamination remains to be completed. The site will be ready for redevelopment in 2026. 

Regardless of what is chosen, plans and specifications will need to be obtained based on the priorities expressed by citizens and the council’s guidelines. The redevelopment of the site should be completed by 2030. 

As for the arena, everything will depend on how quickly funding is obtained from the Quebec government to build the new sports complex. 

“The arena plans are already ready. Let’s say we have funding in 2026, the new construction in 2027-2028, and the demolition of the current arena in 2029, which puts us around 2030 in an optimistic scenario. After receiving often disappointing and incomprehensible refusals, it’s possible we could reach 2034 and the land won’t be available. We’ll do everything we can to get it as quickly as possible,” the mayor explains. 

The municipality’s vision for these developments is expected to be unveiled in September, just before the municipal elections. 

No leading idea for the vacant lots in downtown Gaspé Read More »

Gaspé Strategic Development Plan has four major components 

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – Four major components were retained in the report aimed at providing Gaspé with a Strategic Development Plan for the next 10 years. 

The territory, the social component, the economic component and the internal component of the municipal organization are the elements that emerged following the consultations conducted online and in person during the months of October and November. 

The consultations engaged nearly 1,000 people online, including 250 young people, as well as more than a hundred participants in the various workshops organized throughout the Gaspé area. 

Several workshops were also held with elected officials, the municipality’s administrative staff and other socio-economic partners in the community. “The population contributed enormously to the activity, much more than I could have expected,” says Mayor Daniel Côté. 

An ongoing online consultation invites residents to provide feedback on the proposed priorities. 

“There aren’t any big surprises: people are generally satisfied with the work accomplished and the way we are developing this town. Where there are pitfalls is the issue of housing, intra-urban and inter-urban transportation, the commercial offer where the municipality can’t do much. These are the elements where people have put big reservations. We will have to emphasize these elements,” explains the mayor, who notes that the population’s satisfaction rate is close to 80%. 

The online survey, which takes approximately 10 minutes to complete, will help prioritize what is presented to the population. The town hopes to adopt the final strategic plan by mid-March. 

“There will also be time objectives. Among other things, in the next steps, we will modernize urban planning,” emphasizes the mayor. Internally, efforts will also be made to improve communication between the town and its citizens. To address this, a communications officer position has been created. 

The 10-year planning horizon was also intended to coincide with the 500th anniversary of Jacques Cartier’s arrival in Gaspé. 

“All sorts of ideas emerged. People wanted more civic activities, but given Gaspé’s place on the national stage, there will be elements of national history that will have to stand out. It is still the first meeting place between Indigenous communities and European communities. The beginning of the Francophonie in America was in Gaspé,” maintains the mayor. 

Residents also expressed interest in infrastructure legacies and maintaining strong relations with First Nations. 

A 500th anniversary celebration committee will soon be formed. “We don’t want to do it at the last minute. We want to train it as far in advance as possible so that we can already start looking for funding, work with the First Nations, with Saint-Malo, which is our twin city in France because of our ties to Jacques Cartier, who left Saint-Malo in 1534. We have several long-term projects,” he adds. 

Gaspé has chosen to complete its strategic planning before launching consultations on the future of the land of the former Ministry of Transport service centre downtown and that of the arena. 

“We were supposed to launch the consultations at the beginning of the year, but we chose to do them one after the other to avoid people being inundated with surveys,” the mayor explains. 

The demolition of the former Minister of Transport (MTQ) buildings was completed in January, with decontamination still to be carried out. 

The town is expected to take possession of them at the end of the year or early next year. “The arena property will be fine when there is a financial assistance program that will accept us to build a new arena. We still have a few years before the land is available,” he notes. 

The consultation will address both properties. “We don’t want to duplicate. If people choose to build a citizen space on land x, there won’t be two citizen spaces,” explains the elected official. 

The survey on the strategic plan is available online until February 28 on the town’s website. 

Gaspé Strategic Development Plan has four major components  Read More »

110,000 metres of drilling in Murdochville’s underground

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

MURDOCHVILLE – Osisko Metals recently launched its 2025 drilling campaign, which will be larger than was originally planned at the Gaspé Mines site in Murdochville. 

In January, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Robert Ware, was planning 100,000 metres of drilling. However, the plan has since been expanded to 110,000 metres. 

Osisko has four objectives: to convert existing inferred resources into indicated or measured resource categories; to test the potential extent of current resources at a depth of 250 metres below the E Zone horizon and further south towards Needle Mountain; further characterize higher-grade skarn zones (0.5% to 3.0% Cu) and validate new geological models. 

In addition, the company plans 10,000 metres of drilling outside the main mining concession to test regional exploration targets on surrounding claims. The first drill rig has begun operation and drilling is expected to be completed in November 2025. A second drill rig will arrive later this month, followed by additional drills in the spring. 

The company says this intensive drilling program will lead to an updated mineral resource estimate, which is expected to be released in the second quarter of 2026. 

In November, Osisko said the mine site would contain 824 million tonnes grading 0.34% copper and 670 million tonnes grading 0.38%. There would be 4.91 billion pounds of copper, which would make it the largest undeveloped deposit in Eastern North America. 

The preliminary economic study should be published in 2026 and the feasibility study in late 2027. The decision for exploitation will be made in late 2029, with the permits obtained. 

The company estimates that the construction and start-up of the mine could cost approximately $2 billion. 

110,000 metres of drilling in Murdochville’s underground Read More »

The federal government provides support for winter cruise ships

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI

Cruise Association is receiving funding from the federal government to continue its activities for the next four years, including the development of winter cruises. 

Canada Economic Development will provide $1,860,000 to the organization, awarded by the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Jean-Yves Duclos, taking advantage of the visit of the first winter cruise aboard the Commandant Charcot to the Port of Quebec City. The vessel had stopped in Gaspé on January 21. 

A first non-refundable installment of $960,000 is part of the renewal of the association’s support. This funding will cover a period of four years, and will allow the organization to support businesses in developing and structuring the tourism offering and marketing outside Quebec, in collaboration with the Quebec Ministry of Tourism, the Quebec Tourism Industry Alliance and ecosystem partners. 

The second non-refundable portion, totalling $900,000, will help the association promote a new winter cruise offer and improve the cruise tourism offering in Quebec. 

This funding will support a dozen tourism businesses in the regions, including five cruise stopovers, four of which are in the regions of the Magdalen Islands, Gaspé, Sept-Îles and Saguenay, in addition to the Quebec stopover, which serves as the port of embarkation and disembarkation for cruise passengers. 

With this support, local businesses and tourism organizations throughout the province will benefit from financial assistance to enhance their tourism products and experiences, helping to attract more visitors to the regions. 

“The support from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions has allowed us to support stopover organizations so that they can equip themselves with essential equipment and infrastructure to improve the offering and ensure the comfort and safety of reception staff operating in winter conditions. The renewal of our agreement will also allow us to continue to support companies in the sector for the development of cruises in Quebec,” commented René Trépanier, General Manager of Croisières du Saint-Laurent. 

Gaspé is scheduled to receive four more stops by the Commandant Charcot this winter, bringing a total of approximately 500 passengers for this first experience. If successful, the ship may return to the St. Lawrence in 2027. 

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First winter cruise in Gaspé after a decade of efforts 

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – The first winter cruise ship arrived in Gaspé on January 21 at noon.  The Commandant Charcot of the Ponant cruise line anchored at the Sandy Beach wharf in a project that had been on the table since 2018. 

The ship is carrying 153 passengers on this inaugural winter cruise, sailing through the St. Lawrence on its journey.  This stopover is the first of five scheduled by the shipowner between now and March 9.  “It’s happening. It’s taking shape. We can’t wait. We’re on the lookout.” We’re looking forward to it,” said Destination Gaspé’s Port of Call director, Igor Urban, a few hours before its arrival 

The ship was docked at the wharf for 24 hours, a rare occurrence during summer cruises in Gaspé. The lack of snow forced the organization to adjust the activities offered to passengers. 

The guests went snowshoeing in Forillon Park, met with the Micmac Nation of Gespeg, and took part in an interpretation activity on Gaspesian plants in Coin-du-Banc. 

“Backcountry skiing was planned, but potentially with the February 4 and 5 stopover, this activity will be on the agenda once again,” said Mr. Urban. “We’re adapting,” he said. 

The organization mobilized extra staff to ensure a proper welcome for the cruise ship passengers.  “It requires a little more effort because it’s outside of what we usually do. But people responded. We had all our guides and our people at the reception. We are really happy. We also feel a mobilization at the team level,” mentions Mr. Urban. 

A significant first also occurred during this inaugural winter stop.  “For the first time, we had a resupply. The ship comes from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. It had crossed the Atlantic before starting its stay in the St. Lawrence. They needed food and instead of resupplying in the big centres, they chose to do it in Gaspé,” explained Mr. Urban. 

In total, 15 pallets of food had to be transported on the ship.  “Usually, we can help out with eggs or things like that, but here, we are in a real ship’s grocery store. We had been warned two weeks ago. The Port of Gaspé was proactive,” he explains. The shipment included trout and Gaspé salmon. 

In total, 503 people will visit Gaspé during the ship’s five scheduled stopovers, according to current reservations, marking a historic chapter for the region. 

“This is a pilot year. The company will see how it goes and if everything works to their liking and the passengers are happy, it could come back in 2027. Other cruise companies that also offer winter activities are looking at what is happening right now. It’s a double benefit for us,” says Mr. Urban. 

Other companies have already shown interest in the destination. “In April 2024, we were already being asked questions by other companies. It’s something that is being observed,” says Mr. Urban as shipowners inquired about the situation at a cruise convention in Miami. 

Looking ahead, for the 2025 summer season, 19 ships have confirmed visits so far, with a total of 12,579 passengers expected. The season will run from May 11 to October 27 

“We will receive slightly fewer ships in 2025. There may be changes. That is why the calendar is not official. We expected it. It is due to a transition in the organization of cruises. 2025 is the result of 2022. We are already seeing an increase in 2026 and we are talking about 26 cruises booked for the moment,” notes the port manager. 

In 2024, Escale Gaspésie welcomed 7,405 cruise passengers during the summer season. 

The season wrapped up on October 28 with 22 ships, but since the boats are smaller and more luxurious, the attendance statistics were affected. 

First winter cruise in Gaspé after a decade of efforts  Read More »

Town of Gaspé is close to dropping housing developer

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – The Town of Gaspé is issuing a serious warning to the developer Logements CVP regarding the construction of 144 apartments near Carrefour Gaspé, as announced in September 2021.

“The municipal council tells me that the elastic is stretched to the limit. We were supposed to have a working meeting today (September 3) on this subject that unfortunately did not take place. The council is starting to get exasperated. The land has been acquired for three years,” explains Mayor Daniel Côté.
According to the elected official, there have been changes in the developer’s partners.

The mayor is hoping to have a quick follow-up. “We have no choice but to put pressure back on. We had applied pressure by giving notice of the exercise of our termination clause, which allowed us to take possession and full ownership of the land we had ceded,” Mr. Côté mentioned.

The elected official hopes for a positive, credible and solid response by mid-September. “Not a day goes by without citizens or developers contacting us. We are concerned and we hope to see progress on the file. There will be a meeting – I hope – within the next two weeks, that this will be resolved and that buildings will be raised,” the mayor adds.

“It is not the Town that is delaying the process. We have placed a lot of hope in this project. We still hope that this project will be carried out, but our patience has reached its limits,” the elected official clearly stated.
In February, the Town of Gaspé had already mentioned its intention to exercise its termination clause. A termination clause is a contractual mechanism that allows for sanctions for a party’s failure to meet its contractual obligations, by providing that the contract will be terminated at the fault of the party that has failed to respect its commitments.

In September 2021, Logements CVP purchased the municipal land for $300,000, when its assessment at the time was $566,000, to create Le Domaine de la Baie.

The investors also deposited a $266,000 security deposit, repayable in four installments each time a complex was built.

The project includes four buildings with 36 units each, to be built at a rate of one building per year until 2026. CVP had promised to start construction on December 31, 2023. In fact, the first foundation was to be poured by that date, which did not happen.

The project ran into technical issues due to the steeper-than-expected slope, which forced the developer to go back to the drawing board, erasing hopes of starting construction as early as 2022.
The pandemic also caused delays for materials, shifting the construction start date to the original plan of 2023.

Initially estimated at $25 million, the project could now reach over $40 million in its current form.
The announcement had been made with great fanfare, and the project was presented as the largest real estate development in Gaspé in 50 years.

The site offers an exceptional view of Gaspé Bay, is close to a shopping centre, and is less than five minutes from the heart of downtown and an equivalent distance from the LM Wind Power blade plant.

144 housing units: Developer responds to Gaspé’s ultimatum

The developer Logements CVP, which plans to build 144 housing units near Carrefour Gaspé, attributes the delay in the project to the Town of Gaspé.

On September 3, Gaspé issued a serious warning, demanding that the project announced in September 2021 be completed. The mayor said the town council was getting frustrated by the slow pace of development.

“We are really disappointed with what is happening with the Town of Gaspé. They are threatening us. I have been asking for a meeting with the council for over six months to explain that the constraints put in place by the town are too restrictive,” says one of the administrators, Allyson Cahill-Vibert.

The potential land reclamation included in the contract is the element that causes problems. “It’s really restrictive for us from the point of view of financial institutions. We’re taking enormous risks,” she says, bringing up the initial dispute with the Ministry of Natural Resources to complete the transaction. “There was a clause with the Environment (ministry). The town couldn’t sell it to us. We lost a year right there. We changed our plans several times to adapt them with the town. We have to connect to a pumping station that still doesn’t exist. The CPE (Centre de la petite enfance) was imposed on us. We tried to work with them. We wasted a lot of time and energy with the Ministry of Families and the CPE to give them a head start on the ground so as not to lose 80 daycare spaces. We’re working very hard. Our plans are made,” notes Ms. Cahill-Vibert.

The developer is looking for a contractor to move the file forward as well as a new partner. “But as long as the Town of Gaspé leaves clauses such as the repossession of the land in their favour or the performance bond penalties, we cannot move forward, we are blocked,” she continues.

Furthermore, the nearby project of 80 affordable housing units is pulling the rug out from under their feet. “We were supposed to collaborate with the Town of Gaspé and not work in opposite directions,” she says.

In the event that the Town carries out its threat, the developer is reserving its options. “If the Town takes back the land from us, we will analyze all the options on our side,” warns Ms. Cahill-Vibert, who indicates that she could build apartments elsewhere in the Gaspé Peninsula.

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