JOSHUA ALLAN

Average tax bill in Vaudreuil to jump 5.4% in 2025

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

The owners of an average single-family home in Vaudreuil-Dorion will see their property taxes rise by 5.4 per cent next year, according to the town’s $120.5-million budget for 2025 approved during a special council meeting last week.

The value of an average single-family home, which is now pegged at $588,200, will be assessed a municipal tax bill of $2,671 next year, which is $163 more than the $2,586 in taxes for the same property this year.

The average tax bill includes an annual water tax charge of $275, which remains unchanged from the previous two budgets.

“While some might find the 5.4-per-cent increase high,” said Mayor Guy Pilon in a prepared statement, “the tax bill for an average home remains among the lowest for a city our size.”

But during the budget meeting he went even further, pointing out that the tax increase means the average homeowner will pay about $14 more per month, or just over $3 more per week, adding that a cup of hot chocolate is more expensive.

“That’s just to say that the raise is more than reasonable,” Pilon said.

The tax bills for 2025 will be calculated based on a new three-year property valuation roll, which will be in place until 2027. The new roll saw an overall average increase in the value of homes of 40.3 per cent, forcing the town to lower its taxation rate.

The residential property tax rate for 2025 has been set at $0.4541 per $100 of valuation, down from $0.5984 in 2024.

Overall, the city’s spending is going up 8.9 per cent, hitting $120.5 million, which represents $9.9 million more than in 2024.

Fixed expenses, which include operating costs, snow removal, debt service, and garbage and recycling collection, represent 83 per cent of the total budget, or more than $100 million, budget documents show.

The cost of the Sûreté du Québec will hit $8 million in 2025, up from about $7.3 million, while the city’s charges from the MRC Vaudreuil-Soulanges; the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal; and the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain, which operates public transit services; has increased by more than a quarter of a million dollars, hitting $8.3 million in 2025. That includes $2.68 million for transport and $5.6 million for the MRC and CMM.

Commenting on local spending, the mayor pointed out the city is investing in upgrading aging infrastructure in certain sectors, including in the Harwood-De Lotbinière and De la Gare areas, to accommodate an expected increase in residential development linked to the opening of the hospital.

“It is important to remember that Vaudreuil-Dorion is still in the midst of a development phase, which requires major investments in structuring projects such as the municipal centre, infrastructure linked to the new hospital, the addition of sports facilities and improvements to our road network,” Pilon said.

“Our financial situation is excellent, and our land wealth continues to grow remarkably,” Pilon said.

Average tax bill in Vaudreuil to jump 5.4% in 2025 Read More »

How will REM affect Vaudrueil-Soulanges?

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

By this time next year – more than nine years after the idea was first proposed – the much-anticipated multi-billion-dollar Réseau express métropolitain train service is expected to be in full service, extending its way to the western tip of the island of Montreal.

The 100-per-cent electrically powered light train, commonly referred to simply by its acronym, the REM, is meant to bolster access to Montreal city centre from the West Island, Longueuil and Laval. Such a project is predicted to reduce about 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases per year – something that citizens and elected officials alike can get behind.

But will this project do anything to benefit commuters in Vaudreuil-Soulanges?

Or could it potentially hinder access to public transit in the region by striking an unintended blow to the already beleaguered Exo transport network?

Competing forms of public transit

Worry about the implications for the region was triggered earlier this fall when a report obtained by Radio-Canada indicated that the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) was preparing for the worst as the REM becomes fully operational.

The opening of new REM stations means the ARTM-controlled Exo train will be competing for ridership in some areas, all while facing a deficit of more than $400 million.

The report notes that the ARTM decision-makers deliberated over how it could overcome some of the likely financial losses that would come should commuters choose the REM over the Exo train in areas where both are offered. This included the possibility of cutting services at some of its most distant stations; Mascouche, Candiac and Mont-Saint-Hilaire were among those mentioned.

And the Vaudreuil-Hudson train line, despite being one of Exo’s most frequented lines, was not exempt from these talks of potential cuts. Exo officials had claimed that the REM’s West Island stations could absorb between 15 to 20 per cent of the Exo line’s ridership, resulting in a significant decline in revenue for the service, which is the only commuter line that serves the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region.

The Vaudreuil-Hudson line provides thousands of commuters from municipalities in Vaudreuil-Soulanges and the West Island with a direct route into Montreal’s downtown every day. Starting in Hudson, the line makes stops in Vaudreuil-Dorion and Île Perrot, and at nine stations in the West Island en route to the city centre.

Data from Exo provided to The 1019 Report shows that around 1,300 commuters from Vaudreuil-Soulanges took the Exo train on average on a daily basis this fall. The same period saw more than 1,800 commuters take the train on average from the nine West Island stations. The highest daily ridership by far was at the Vaudreuil station, which saw 778 daily commuters.

Exo expects ridership numbers to increase with the reopening of the Lucien L’Allier station in downtown Montreal later this month, said media relations officer Andréanne Gagnon. Lucien L’Allier has been closed for renovation since April.

The ARTM has denied that it was seriously considering cutting any train services, stating that all avenues for cutting costs being studied were “preliminary.”

Traffic: from bad to worse

However, discussions may be preliminary, but if a significant chunk of West Island commuters opt for the REM over the Exo service, it could mean more serious talks of cost-saving cuts down the road. Any cuts to services of the Vaudreuil-Hudson line would potentially result in hundreds more cars on the bridges between Vaudreuil-Soulanges and the island of Montreal during the daily rush-hour periods.

Those who commute by car from Vaudreuil-Soulanges into Montreal are already well aware of the region’s traffic woes when attempting to cross onto the island. Bridge construction, lane closures and sharing the roads with transport trucks travelling from Ontario to Montreal mean daily congestion and traffic standstills, causing delays for commuters as well as for locals and businesses along the busiest streets around the bridges.

Residents in Vaudreuil-Dorion have been urging the Quebec government to build a high-speed bypass to alleviate some of the traffic along Highway 20’s stretch of Harwood Blvd. for decades. However, a 16,000-signature petition for the construction of such a bypass was dismissed by the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government earlier this fall, meaning that drivers and businesses along Harwood will be dealing with the traffic for the near future.

In an interview with The 1019 Report in November, Vaudreuil-Dorion Mayor Guy Pilon criticized the CAQ government’s management of transportation around Montreal.

“Right now, the CAQ is really, really, really bad on that topic,” Pilon said. “They don’t know where to go.”

Pilon added that the government-funded development of competing public transportation services is something of a boondoggle.

“It’s so hard to understand the final goal of the government,” he said. “Promote (public) transportation? Or cut (public) transportation?”

A mixed solution

Pilon suggested that if cuts need to be made to the Vaudreuil-Hudson line, he would encourage ARTM decision-makers to at least maintain the line between Vaudreuil-Soulanges and Ste. Anne de Bellevue.

“They have to keep the train at least – it’s not a long run – between Vaudreuil and Ste. Anne de Bellevue,” he said.

Once commuters arrive in Ste. Anne, Pilon continued, they would then be able to catch the REM at the Anse à l’Orme station into Montreal. This, he added, would at least save commuters from having to take a car over the bridge and into the city.

He noted that this would be the only solution for commuters from his city who would like to catch the REM into Montreal. The Anse à l’Orme station, Pilon pointed out, is designed with only 200 parking spaces – well below what could accommodate the hundreds of commuters from Vaudreuil-Soulanges looking to drive to the closest REM station.

Questions to ponder

Despite the worrying reports, officials at ARTM and Exo have repeatedly attempted to assuage fears of cuts to train lines.

“The ARTM’s goal is to continue to develop the service throughout the territory, while respecting the limits of available financial resources,” the organization said in a statement earlier this fall. “To do this, several scenarios are being studied (. . .) They are not for decision or implementation, particularly in the case of trains.”

It is clear that Vaudreuil-Soulanges deserves a viable public transit option. The region’s population reached 162,000 in 2021, a 17-per-cent increase in the last decade. More affordable home prices, open space and numerous seasonal family-friendly festivities attract many to the region. And growth is projected to continue, underlining the need for reliable and efficient public transit to and from the region.

However, this also begs numerous questions: To what extent should citizens’ tax dollars go toward a service that relatively few use on a daily basis? Would an increase in Exo’s bus services in the region encourage more commuters to take the train? Would those who already travel by train tolerate possible decreases in the number of train departures? Could Mayor Pilon’s suggestion of a mixed solution be worth a closer look?

As nothing is set in stone, these questions may be pushed to the back burner of public debate for the next while. But should the REM prove to significantly impact Exo’s revenue, Vaudreuil-Soulanges residents may be required to ponder these questions more seriously in the future.

How will REM affect Vaudrueil-Soulanges? Read More »

5 scenarios for 12 Dahlia

The following are descriptions of five possible scenarios on the future of the annex building at 12 Dahlia, presented on Nov. 26 by Dorval city officials.

Scenario 1: Status quo – The annex would be left as is. However, the building could not be occupied in its current state. The city calculates that the combined annual cost for energy and maintenance of the annex would be around $95,000, with costs expected to vary year by year.

Scenario 2: Partial demolition – Brick cladding would be removed at certain locations of the annex’s exterior and replaced with fibreglass panelling to overcome structural deficiencies. The building’s windows would be replaced. The estimated cost of this option would be just over $9.5 million. This plan does not, however, include the cost of refitting the interior to bring it up to code.

Scenario 3: Full demolition of exterior walls – The annex’s exterior envelope would be demolished and rebuilt. All brick cladding and windows would be replaced. The estimated cost of this option would be around $9.9 million. Like Scenario 2, this plan does not include the cost of refitting the interior of the annex.

Scenario 4: Complete demolition for green space – The annex would be torn down and turned into a community green space. The estimated cost for this scenario would be around $1.2 million. This includes the cost of relocating materials within the annex, like the heating system. It does not, however, include the cost for sealing the wall of the adjoining Quatre Vents building, which would be exposed following the annex’s demolition.

Scenario 5: Complete demolition of the annex to be rebuilt for different uses – Like in Scenario 4, the annex would be completely demolished. Unlike in Scenario 4, however, a new building would be constructed attached to the Quatre Vents residence. The use of the building will depend on public desire. Examples provided include the conversions of historic religious buildings into cultural centres in Bromont, Granby and St. Hyacinthe. Presenters said it would be impossible to determine an exact cost for such a project at this time but noted that the approximate costs could range between $5.4 million and $20.6 million.

5 scenarios for 12 Dahlia Read More »

Dorval pauses decision on future of former convent

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

Earlier this fall, opposition to plans to demolish a former convent in Dorval prompted city officials to reconsider proposed plans. But now, continued pushback from residents has pushed officials to put all discussions of the future of the four-storey building on hold.

That was the decision announced by Dorval Mayor Marc Doret earlier this month.

The move came after the city held a public consultation meeting on the future of the building known as 12 Dahlia, a 40,000 square-foot annex building on Dahlia Avenue, at the site of the former Congrégation de Notre Dame.

Doret cited the Nov. 26 public presentation on the future of the building that had seen pushback from several attendees as one of the reasons to postpone a decision on the building’s fate until 2025. He added at the beginning of the meeting that he would not be answering questions on this topic.

This, however, did not have the intended effect, as the meeting saw more than an hour of questions and debate about the future of the building from both residents and councillors.

“Citizens clearly expressed their concerns on how the city has not given serious study to alternative use of (the annex) and the entire site,” said Fernando Pellicer, a retired architect with a specialization in the restoration of heritage buildings, during the question-and-answer period at the Dec. 9 council meeting.

Animated public presentation

The Nov. 26 presentation offered residents a look at five possible scenarios on the future of the building and their approximate costs.

Two scenarios would see the annex building demolished, two would see restoration work done to the exterior of the building, while one would have the building left as is.

Participants took turns voicing their disapproval with each of the scenarios. Many lamented the fact that they had no decision-making power over the future of the annex, as the presentation did not constitute a public consultation.

“I want to just remind the audience that they’re here to listen to the scenarios, but that we don’t have a vote on these scenarios,” resident Bruno Fournier told attendees.

“I want to see the city solicit proposals from the community, that the community can think about, research and come together,” said resident Rachelle Cournoyer.

Doret and the councillors had attended the Nov. 26 presentation, but did not participate in discussions. Questions from attendees were addressed by Benoît Lévesque and Jad Kadi, Dorval’s directors of urban planning and engineering, respectively.

“I think what came out of the presentation is that everybody wants a public debate with all the real costs on the table,” said councillor Pascal Brault at Monday’s council meeting.

A building with potential

“There are many potential uses,” said Pellicer at the Nov. 26 presentation. He is opposed to demolishing the building.

“The commercial kitchen has fantastic potential,” he said. The annex “could be a music centre. It could be an arts centre (. . .) the usage can be multiple.”

Speaking with The 1510 West, Pellicer said he had voluntarily inspected the annex and had drawn up a mock budget for the building’s restoration. His budget sets the price tag for restoration at around $7 million.

“Total restoration, complete upgrade to code – envelope, roof, windows, everything new,” Pellicer explained.

The two scenarios presented by the city that would see the annex’s exterior restored had an estimated cost of just under $10 million. However, Pellicer maintained that the figures that had been presented “are totally arbitrary.”

Given the public pushback, Doret said council will not rush to a decision on the future of 12 Dahlia. Instead, he said city officials will reflect on the subject “through January and possibly even February,” and that the file will be reopened “maybe as late as March.”

The City of Dorval purchased the former Congrégation de Notre Dame site in 2022 for $8 million. It has two adjoining buildings: the “Quatre Vents” section, and the annex section. The Quatre Vents manor was built in 1873 and was the home of Dorval’s first mayor, Désiré Girouard. It currently is the site that hosts city council meetings.

The four-storey annex is a brick building that was added to the Quatre Vents manor in 1965. The structure served as a residence for the nuns of the congregation and contains a large commercial kitchen, a dining room, two floors of meeting rooms and two floors of bedrooms.

In April, council adopted a resolution of intent to demolish the annex, citing an architectural report stating that the building had no heritage value and did not meet the requirements in the Quebec Construction Code to be used in its current state.

An ongoing petition, organized by residents looking to preserve the annex from demolition, has collected just over 600 signatures.

Dorval pauses decision on future of former convent Read More »

As Guzzo chain struggles, West Island theatre onle one to close

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

The Cinema Des Sources in Dollard des Ormeaux closed its doors Monday after 26 years. With some residents saying they’re sad to part with their local neighbourhood cinema.

“Of course, it’s always sad to see such a business having to close up shop,” said West Island resident Katherine Pottier in a message to The 1510 West. Though she explained that her trips to the cinema were few and far between, “it was a convenience to have Guzzo so close by (. . .) Beats going downtown or other areas so far from me.”

“I was shocked when I heard it would be closing because I grew up living near it,” said Hassan Danab, adding that he had “always felt a sense of it being part of the community.”

Danab had even been part of a group studying the business operations of the Cinema Des Sources as part of a market research course at LaSalle College earlier this fall.

“Part of our project was to choose a business that has seen some decline in sales,” Danab explained. “We thought (Cinema Des Sources) would be the perfect candidate for the project.”

The movie theatre’s final screening was of the highly anticipated Hollywood musical Wicked, which occurred at 9:45 p.m. on Sunday.

Cinema Des Sources was the smallest among the Cinémas Guzzo outlets, with nine digital screens and one IMAX screen. With its closure, Cinémas Guzzo is down to nine movie theatres – three in Montreal, two in Longueuil and one each in Laval, Deux Montagnes, Terrebonne and St. Jean sur Richelieu.

The closure came amid financial struggles for Cinémas Guzzo. A Quebec Superior Court judge placed the company under interim receivership in November, citing the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, following a legal motion by CIBC claiming that the Guzzo Group owed the bank more than $38 million.

Cinémas Guzzo president Vincenzo Guzzo had cited the COVID-19 pandemic as a contributing factor to the company’s financial difficulties. Movie theatres across Quebec had been completely shut down in March 2020. Despite being permitted to reopen in February 2021, Guzzo announced that his theatres would continue to remain closed, protesting the Quebec government’s restrictions on selling snacks. The company reopened its theatres in June 2021.

With the closure of Cinema Des Sources, the sole remaining movie theatre in the West Island now is the Cinéma Cineplex Kirkland.

As Guzzo chain struggles, West Island theatre onle one to close Read More »

Will REM threaten viability of train line along Highway 20?

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

Could the launch of the REM light rail service in the West Island trigger cuts to the Exo train services – including to the Vaudreuil-Hudson commuter line that also serves the West Island?

It’s a question that needs to be considered seriously, says Vaudreuil-Dorion Mayor Guy Pilon.

The approaching launch of the REM light rail service in the West Island could trigger cuts to the Exo train services, with officials currently studying the impacts.

Earlier this fall, reports surfaced that highlighted officials at both Exo and the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) have expressed concern over the potential for reduced train ridership on the existing commuter train lines once the REM light rail service to the West Island begins.

According to Radio-Canada, which obtained one of the ARTM’s reports in September, the commuter service is examining the possibility of making cuts to several lines, including the Vaudreuil-Hudson line that makes stops along the West Island’s lakeshore.

In a statement soon after, the ARTM attempted to assuage fears of cuts, stating that “all stones are being turned over to analyze the performance of all public transit services (. . . ) At this stage, the avenues studied are preliminary. They are not for decision or implementation, particularly in the case of trains.”

This offered no satisfaction to Pilon, who says many in the off-island area depend on the train. He described how the CAQ government has doled out well over a billion dollars to fund the REM network, while also putting hundreds of millions in funding toward the Exo train service – two forms of public transit which, due to the close proximity of their stations in the West Island, are likely to compete for ridership.

“It’s so hard to understand the final goal of the government,” Pilon added. “Promote (public) transportation? Or cut (public) transportation?”

The Vaudreuil-Hudson line stretches to the Lucien-L’Alier station in downtown Montreal. Starting in Hudson, the line makes stops in Vaudreuil-Dorion and Île Perrot. The line also makes nine stops in the West Island en route to the city centre. If the number of commuters who access the Exo train in the West Island drops – with users opting to take the REM instead once it is in service – the drop in fare revenue could put the financial viability of the Vaudreuil-Hudson train in question.

If a significant loss of ridership and revenue for the ARTM in the West Island potentially leads to cuts for some Vaudreuil-Hudson services, that could mean hundreds more cars on the roads attempting to cross the Île aux Tourtes Bridge along Highway 40 or the Taschereau Bridge, which links Vaudrueil to Île Perrot along Highway 20.

Data provided to The 1510 West by Exo shows that more than 1,300 commuters in Vaudreuil-Soulanges took the train daily on average this fall. The Vaudreuil station saw the highest ridership on average, with 778 commuters daily, while the Hudson station had the lowest on average, with 62.

Maintain line to Ste. Anne de Bellevue

Pilon added that if cuts need to be made, he would encourage the ARTM to at least maintain the line connecting Vaudreuil-Soulanges to the West Island.

“When the REM is there, (they should) at least keep the train between Vaudreuil-Dorion and Ste. Anne de Bellevue. And then (passengers) transfer onto the REM. I think that would be OK,” he said, adding that this would at least save his citizens from having to take cars across the bridge into the city.

He pointed out that driving to the Anse à l’Orme REM station in Ste. Anne would not be an option for most Vaudreuil-Soulanges residents, as the station is being constructed to accommodate only 200 parking spaces – not enough for the more than 900 train commuters from Vaudreuil-Dorion alone.

The REM began running test trips between the Anse à l’Orme station and the Des Sources station in Pointe Claire in September. The West Island portion of the REM network – comprised of four stations, with one in Ste. Anne, one in Kirkland and two in Pointe Claire – is expected to be in service by the fall of 2025.

Will REM threaten viability of train line along Highway 20? Read More »

New roof for St. James Church taking shape

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

Just as the snowy weather arrives, the reconstruction of St. James Anglican Church in Hudson took a major visible step forward this week as the main components of the new roof were put into place. It is an important step for the 182-year-old stone church, which was devastated by a fire last April.

“It’s a very big step for the church, because until now it’s been mostly demolition,” said Judi Meade, the church’s choir director and organist. “It’s the first really visible positive thing that is happening and we’re quite excited about it. It’s hopeful.”

Once the new beams for the roof are installed, decking and insultation will follow. A protective tarp will likely be used to cover the roof during the winter months prior to the final step of installing metal cladding.

Marcus Owen, the church’s building and grounds manager, has been leading the reconstruction project. Progress has been “very good” thus far, he explained to The 1019 Report. Contractors are expected to complete the permanent roof before Dec. 20.

“And then, when the weather gets more amenable, they’ll put the membranes on,” Owen explained, adding that the roof will look “exactly as it was” before the fire.

Plans to finalize the restoration of the church’s large hall, an adjacent structure used for social activities and community gatherings, have been progressing as well. The hall now has electricity and heating, with work to restore the building’s basement completed.

A trailer with three temporary washrooms has also been installed at the site.

“A lot a lot of work has taken place,” Meade said.

She is hopeful that the hall will be open by the end of December for winter holiday-related activities.

“We hope that our Christmas pageant that we do with the children and families can take place in that hall on Christmas Eve,” Meade said.

After the holiday break, contractors will resume their work on Jan. 6.

It is still not known when services at the church will resume, Owen said. The space has been cleared of debris but requires more work before parishioners can be welcomed back.

“We would hope that we’re back in the church before the end of next year (. . .) the end of 2025,” he said.

The roof of the church was completely destroyed by fire on April 14, when flames engulfed the structure. Despite efforts by firefighters, much of the building was damaged, including the adjacent community hall. It is believed the fire started due to an electrical problem in the church’s kitchen, which had been undergoing renovations.

St. James, built during the early 1840s and completed in 1842, was named after the parish’s first minister, James Pyke, and cemetery on its grounds lays claim to being the oldest graveyard in Hudson.

New roof for St. James Church taking shape Read More »

Will REM make Vaudreuil-Hudson train less viable?

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

Could the launch of the REM light rail service in the West Island trigger cuts to the Exo train services – including to the Vaudreuil-Hudson commuter line that also serves the West Island?

It’s a question that needs to be considered seriously, says Vaudreuil-Dorion Mayor Guy Pilon.

The approaching launch of the REM light rail service in the West Island could trigger cuts to the Exo train services, with officials currently studying the impacts.

Earlier this fall, reports surfaced that highlighted officials at both Exo and the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) have expressed concern over the potential for reduced train ridership on the existing commuter train lines once the REM light rail service to the West Island begins.

According to Radio-Canada, which obtained one of the ARTM’s reports in September, the commuter service is examining the possibility of making cuts to several lines, including the Vaudreuil-Hudson line that makes stops along the West Island’s lakeshore.

In a statement soon after, the ARTM attempted to assuage fears of cuts, stating that “all stones are being turned over to analyze the performance of all public transit services (. . . ) At this stage, the avenues studied are preliminary. They are not for decision or implementation, particularly in the case of trains.”

This offered no satisfaction to Vaudreuil-Dorion Mayor Guy Pilon, who says many in the off-island area depend on the train. He described how the CAQ government has doled out well over a billion dollars to fund the REM network, while also putting hundreds of millions in funding toward the Exo train service – two forms of public transit which, due to the close proximity of their stations in the West Island, are likely to compete for ridership.

“It’s so hard to understand the final goal of the government,” Pilon added. “Promote (public) transportation? Or cut (public) transportation?”

The Vaudreuil-Hudson line stretches to the Lucien-L’Alier station in downtown Montreal. Starting in Hudson, the line makes two stops each in Vaudreuil-Dorion and Île Perrot. The line also makes nine stops in the West Island en route to the city centre. If the number of commuters who access the Exo train in the West Island drops – with users opting to take the REM instead once it is in service – the drop in fare revenue could put the financial viability of the Vaudreuil-Hudson train in question.

If a significant loss of ridership and revenue for the ARTM in the West Island potentially leads to cuts for some Vaudreuil-Hudson services, that could mean hundreds more cars on roads attempting to cross the Île aux Tourtes Bridge along Highway 40 or the Taschereau Bridge, which links Vaudrueil to Île Perrot along Highway 20.

Data provided to The 1510 West by Exo shows that more than 1,300 commuters in Vaudreuil-Soulanges took the train daily on average this fall. The Vaudreuil station saw the highest ridership on average, with 778 commuters daily, while the Hudson station had the lowest on average, with 62.

Maintain line to Ste. Anne de Bellevue

Pilon added that if cuts need to be made, he would encourage the ARTM to at least maintain the line connecting Vaudreuil-Soulanges to the West Island.

“When the REM is there, (they should) at least keep the train between Vaudreuil-Dorion and Ste. Anne de Bellevue. And then (passengers) transfer onto the REM. I think that would be OK,” he said, adding that this would at least save his citizens from having to take cars across the bridge into the city.

He pointed out that driving to the Anse à l’Orme REM station in Ste. Anne would not be an option for most Vaudreuil-Soulanges residents, as the station is being constructed to accommodate only 200 parking spaces – not enough for the more than 900 train commuters from Vaudreuil-Dorion alone.

The REM began running test trips between the Anse à l’Orme station and the Des Sources station in Pointe Claire in September. The West Island portion of the REM network – comprised of four stations, with one in Ste. Anne, one in Kirkland and two in Pointe Claire – is expected to be in service by the fall of 2025.

Will REM make Vaudreuil-Hudson train less viable? Read More »

Bolstering police service will not help Île Bizard: Mayor

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

Île Bizard residents will not see the benefits of significant increases in spending for the Montreal police service in 2025, says the borough’s mayor.

Spending to bolster public security, including police and fire emergency services, will jump 18 per cent next year, according to Montreal’s 2025 $7.28-billion budget approved last week. That will see spending for the police force hit $824 million, an increase of $3 million.

However, residents of Île Bizard will see little improvement in police service despite the increase in spending, said Mayor Doug Hurley.

“Police on the island here are relatively rare,” Hurley said.

A former police commander who is also the program coordinator of John Abbott College’s police technology department, Hurley said that he supports the city providing added support for emergency services. But he does not expect to see any improvement in service in Île Bizard.

The island is served by Station 3 of the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal. Located in Pierrefonds, the station is responsible for serving the boroughs of Île-Bizard-Sainte-Geneviève and Pierrefonds-Roxboro.

Having to cover two boroughs can sometimes be a challenge for the police department, Hurley explained.

The Service de sécurité publique de L’Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève was created “so that we can give our citizens an immediate response” to minor issues, he said. The service is tasked with such duties as enforcing municipal bylaws, managing traffic and monitoring streets on the island.

That has meant added cost for residents.

“Basically, we’re paying for police services, and we have to pay for public security for something that should have been (included) in our taxes before,” Hurley said.

Hurley added that he will be bringing this issue up with the City of Montreal in the coming months.

Bolstering police service will not help Île Bizard: Mayor Read More »

A building that is part of a small town’s history

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

Baie d’Urfé’s town hall is a big part of the town’s 113-year history.

First constructed as a farmhouse in 1875, 36 years before the town was granted  a charter, and just eight years after the British North America Act established Canada as a unified dominion of the British Empire, the property was purchased in 1909 by James Morgan II as a summer home.

Morgan came from the prominent Morgan merchant family, who had helped establish Montreal’s elite Golden Square Mile neighbourhood. He had been serving as president of the Henry Morgan & Company, which would later be purchased by The Hudson’s Bay Company in 1960, giving The Bay access to key markets in Montreal and Toronto.

Morgan was one of the founders of the town of Baie d’Urfé when the town charter was established in 1911. In 1912 he donated the building to the town to be used as a town hall, along with several other parcels of land that would be dedicated for public use.

It is at this time that town councillor and prominent architect Edward Maxwell volunteered to renovate the building.

Maxwell, alongside his brother, William Sutherland Maxwell, who had made a name for himself in Montreal and across Canada for his buildings designed in the beaux arts style, renovated the building for use as a town hall.

Some of William Sutherland Maxwell’s most notable works include designing the Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Canadian Pacific Railway Station in Winnipeg and the Saskatchewan Legislative Building. The brothers were also responsible for two renovation projects for the Château Frontenac in Quebec City.

The renovation of the town hall was completed in 1914 and played host to the first Baie d’Urfé town council, which was presided over by Mayor Vivian de Vere Dowker.

That name may ring a bell for Baie d’Urfé residents, as each time they look out on the water, they see Dowker Island, named after the prominent family that helped develop their town, as well as neighbouring Ste. Anne de Bellevue.

A building that is part of a small town’s history Read More »

Big tax hikes for boroughs due to valuation increases

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

One of the reasons homeowners in Pierrefonds-Roxboro will see the largest percentage increase in municipal taxes next year compared with property owners in other areas of Montreal is that residential properties in the West Island borough have increased at a higher rate than the Montreal average, according to borough Mayor Jim Beis.

In fact, property values in Pierrefonds-Roxboro have jumped 40.8 per cent from 2020 to 2023, 9.4 points higher than the Montreal average.

The impact is a 4.4-per-cent tax increase next year, according to Montreal’s $7.28-billion budget unveiled last week.

This translates into the owners of an average house in Pierrefonds-Roxboro, valued at about $620,000, having to pay $165 more in taxes next year.

Another reason for the tax increase, Beis added, is the hike in spending by the Plante administration.

“They have been spending non-stop since the seven years that they’ve been there,” he said, referring to Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante’s Projet Montréal government, adding that any increase in taxes by the city has “an impact to the residents in my community.”

Meanwhile, homeowners in Île-Bizard-Sainte-Geneviève will see the second-largest percentage tax increase of all the Montreal boroughs – 3.5 per cent.

Property values in Île-Bizard-Sainte-Geneviève saw a 33.3-per-cent increase between 2020 and 2023, 1.9 points higher than the city average.

That means the owner of an average house in the borough, valued at $686,000, will pay $167 more in taxes next year compared with 2024.

Mayor Doug Hurley said that the property tax increase, while unfortunate, was “understandable” for his borough.

“Of all the 19 boroughs in Montreal, we are basically the only one with the smallest population and the vast majority of our tax base is residential,” Hurley said in an interview.

“We have very little commercial or industrial (properties),” he added. “We have a preference for parks and greenery. So, unfortunately, the borough has to put up with different increases.”

Non-residential commercial properties in Pierrefonds-Roxboro and Île-Bizard-Sainte-Geneviève will increase by 1.7 and 1.5 per cent, respectively, slightly lower than the Montreal average of 1.9 per cent.

Beis said accepting the increase is “difficult,” adding: “Any increase in taxes, we know, has an impact on many homeowners. There are folks that, under normal circumstances, would have a difficult time paying that increase.”

Montreal’s $7.28-billion budget for 2025 represents a $290-million increase over spending this year. Since first elected in 2017, the Plante administration has seen the city’s annual budget increase by 38 per cent, or more than $2 billion.

Big tax hikes for boroughs due to valuation increases Read More »

Vaudrueil-Dorion scraps affordable housing project amid pushback

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

Faced with strong opposition from residents, Vaudreuil-Dorion has scrapped its plans to build a three-storey affordable housing complex in a park area.

“Contrary to what the citizens are saying, we have listened to them, and we have understood that the opinion of the citizens in the area with regard to the project is irreversible,” said Mayor Guy Pilon at a meeting Monday as council voted to withdraw the project.

Residents who attended Monday’s meeting applauded the move.

Last Friday, the city had announced the project would be shelved, citing pushback from residents as one of the major reasons.

The project would have seen the construction of a three-storey structure comprised of 18 affordable housing units, each either with two or three bedrooms, and parking, on St. Michel Street. The residence was to be managed by Toit d’Abord, a non-profit specializing in affordable housing in Vaudreuil-Soulanges.

“We’d prefer to work on another project than to lose energy on that project,” Pilon said in an interview with The 1019 Report.

Residents opposed to the project had criticized the location, claiming it would eliminate space in Esther Blondin Park, obstructed the view of the Baie de Vaudreuil, and would be out of place in an area of mostly single-family houses. They also were upset the city had not conducted public consultations before selecting the location.

Faced with the criticism, Pilon had initially suggested that those against the project had intentionally closed their ears off to the council’s arguments.

“They tried everything,” Pilon said, pointing out various topics that residents complained about in relation to the project: “They tried the parking (lot), they tried the cycle path, they tried the height, they tried everything. They don’t want it.”

Another significant issue was the fact that the structure would have been located in a flood zone, according to a the new proposed map unveiled in September by the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal.

Pilon pointed out that the structure would have been elevated, with no basement, so as to avoid flood damage.

Questioned by the media in Quebec City last week, Quebec Environment Minister Benoit Charette called the notion of building an affordable housing project in a flood zone “irresponsible.”

Pierre Z. Séguin, a resident who had opposed the project, emphasized the residents are not against affordable housing, but rather where the city had chosen to build the facility and the lack of public consultation.

“I’d like to express my point of view very clearly,” Séguin said. “I agree with the construction of affordable housing, it’s the location that’s the problem, not the goal.”

 “I haven’t heard anybody say that they disagree with (building) affordable housing in the city,” he added.

The city is currently studying other locations where a future affordable housing project could be constructed.

Vaudrueil-Dorion scraps affordable housing project amid pushback Read More »

Dollard to build $3.9-million chalet in Centennial Park

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

It’s out with the old at Centennial Park in Dollard des Ormeaux. The park’s 50-year-old chalet was torn down last month to make room for a new $3.9-million structure.

The town is emphasizing that “accessibility” will be the keyword for the new and improved chalet.

“The new building will be adapted for access by people with reduced mobility (wheelchairs, walkers, etc.), which the old park chalet was not,” Natalia Correa, head of the city’s communications department, explained in an email to The 1510 West.

Since the 1970s, the chalet has been Centennial Park’s multi-purpose building, offering a space for park-goers to rest, use the washroom and fill up their water bottles on hot summer days, as well as a place to lace up their blades for a wintertime skate in the park.

Designed by Groupe Leclerc – architecture + design, conceptual images of the new multi-purpose chalet illustrate an exterior mirroring the previous design with its signature red roof. However, the new design includes additional windows for increased natural light. The interior features a mix of light wood slats and white walls with a stone accent wall, as well as several washrooms adapted for visitors with decreased mobility, and changing tables for parents with small children.

This new and improved chalet will offer a “more welcoming, safe and accessible space for our entire community,” the city says.

The project is expected to be completed by August 2025. Centennials Park’s trails, playgrounds and dog park will remain open throughout the construction period. Three portable toilets have been installed near the parking area in the meantime.

Dollard to build $3.9-million chalet in Centennial Park Read More »

Info sessions for renters start next week

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

The West Island Tenants Action Committee (CALODI) is inviting renters to one of four upcoming information sessions to learn about their rights when facing eviction.

“The reality is that there are a lot of protections in place for tenants, but the most important thing is to understand (their rights),” said Lily Martin, a community organizer for CALODI.

The aim of these information sessions, Martin explained, is to educate West Island tenants about new protections they have under legislation passed in the National Assembly this past summer.

Bill 65 declared a moratorium on the province’s landlords using renovation as a pretext for evicting residents for the next three years.

The issue of “reno-victions” – landlords renovating buildings, leading to raised rental costs and evicting existing tenants – has become a hot topic for renters across Quebec.

“That’s something that we’re really going to highlight to people,” said Martin. “If you get that specific type of eviction notice, it is completely illegal.”

Though only around 20 per cent of West Island residents rent rather than own their own homes, renters in these municipalities have not been immune to the trend of landlords wanting to repossess their properties.

A document from the Tribunal administratif du logement shows that applications for repossessions by landlords have been on the rise in the West Island in recent years. The number of applications gradually grew from just nine in 2017 to 33 by 2023.

“It’s a good indication of the desire for landlords to repossess,” Martin said.

CALODI will hold four information sessions – two in English and two in French. Participants are able to choose to attend either an in-person or online session in their language of choice. Participation in these sessions is free, but registration is required on CALODI’s website.

The first session in English is on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m. at the Pointe Claire Library.

Info sessions for renters start next week Read More »

W.I. mayors like idea of photo radar

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

Transports Quebec’s plan to install photo radar detectors by 2026 in municipalities that request them has piqued the interest of some West Island mayors.

“There’s no doubt that speeding and respecting the stop signs is a major issue with many municipalities in the West Island,” said Beaconsfield Mayor Georges Bourelle in an interview. “We have been looking to use photo radar for quite a while.”

In August 2023, the Quebec government introduced its Plan d’action en sécurité routière 2023-2028. Part of the plan includes a new strategy focusing on the implementation of hundreds of fixed photo radar detectors across the province. Municipalities will have the chance to make an official request to have them installed within their boundaries.

But earlier this fall, Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante criticized the plan, saying the city would need 300 photo radar detection devices installed to regulate traffic, a number that exceeds the 250 units the Quebec government aims to purchase for the entire province.

Plante also chastised provincial Transport  Minister Geneviève Guilbault for taking too long to roll out the devices.

The photo radar units automatically take pictures of the licence plates of speeding vehicles, and of vehicles that fail to stop at red lights, automatically issuing a fine to the vehicle owner.

Dorval Mayor Marc Doret said that while it is too early for concrete discussions about installing these radars, he would be potentially interested should Transports Quebec allow municipalities increased control over these devices, including allowing them to be moved different locations, depending on need.

“It would be a benefit (if) we could deploy them on our territory in problematic areas,” Doret said. “Anything that helps us combat (traffic violations) is a good opportunity.”

Transport Quebec currently has 11 photo radars installed on the Island of Montreal, none of which are located in the West Island.

The first photo radars were introduced in the province in 2009. According to data provided in the government’s action plan, the percentage of vehicles exceeding the speed limit fell from 59 per cent to 13 per cent on roads with these photo radars, while the average driving speed was reduced by 11 kilometres and hour, and the number of accidents that caused bodily injury fell by 41 per cent.

In terms of location for these devices, Doret said school zones “would be a prime place to put a photo radar.”

Bourelle suggested that a photo radar on St. Charles Boulevard in Beaconsfield would be optimal for preventing dangerous driving. Indeed, several fatal car crashes have occurred on or approaching the north-south artery in recent years, caused by what some believe to be drag racing.

“We know that the SPVM cannot be there 24/7,” Bourelle said.

He is certain that there would be pushback from some residents about the installation of these devices in Beaconsfield and other West Island municipalities.

“My answer to that is don’t speed,” Bourelle said. “Respect the laws and respect the code of the road.”

It is still too early to determine how many photo radars could be installed in the West Island, Transports Quebec media relations officer Gilles Payer told The 1510 West.

“The deployment of new devices is in the planning stage,” Payer wrote in an email. He explained that the government will open an international call for tenders to produce the devices, followed by a provincial call for proposals by municipalities for potential installation sites by 2025.

The first of these photo radars are expected to come into service by 2026.

W.I. mayors like idea of photo radar Read More »

Vaudreuil residents oppose affordable housing planned for park

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

It was a packed house at the council meeting in Vaudreuil-Dorion on Monday, as residents expressed their opposition to plans to build a three-storey affordable housing complex on land that is currently part of a park.

Residents were adamant that they support affordable housing projects and were not taking a not-in-my-backyard stance. Rather, they were against allowing the structure to encroach on Esther-Blondin Park, how it would obstruct the view of the Baie de Vaudreuil and the ill-suited placement for a multi-storey building in a neighbourhood of mostly single-family houses.

“The decision has been made, and we are just here to be heard for show,” resident Sebastien Ménard told Mayor Guy Pilon.

“It’s very evident that you have no intention to take us seriously even if there are many of us against (the project),” said resident Roger Laroche.

The mayor accused many of the residents of approaching the project in bad faith, and said he was disappointed with their attitude.

“No matter what reasons we give, your mind is made up,” he told the audience, drawing a vocal reaction.

Residents frequently applauded after questions were posed and jeered after answers were given by officials.

The proposal put forward by the city includes allowing a three-storey 18-unit affordable housing unit at 25 St. Michel St. The building will be on part of Esther-Blondin Park and a neighbouring parking lot. The project would include two- and three-bedroom units and provide parking spaces for its residents. The base of the structure would be elevated to avoid risk of flooding.

In a brief presentation, Vaudreuil-Dorion’s director-general Olivier Van Neste explained that the city would be reimbursed for part of the project by the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal.

The residence will be managed by Toit d’Abord, a non-profit specializing in affordable housing solutions for the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region. The group did not respond to a request for comment yesterday. No start date for construction has been officially set.

Vaudreuil residents oppose affordable housing planned for park Read More »

Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac residents back town’s puchase of forest

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

With no resident of Vaudreuil sur le Lac having voiced opposition to the town’s $961,500 borrowing bylaw, representing its contribution to the purchase of a 28-acre wooded area, the last hurdle leading to the preservation of the forest has been removed.

“We were all crying on the call when we heard the news,” said Geneviève Roy, a spokesperson for Regroupement En Faveur De La Protection Du Boisé de Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac, a citizens’ group that has been advocating for the town to purchase the undeveloped tract of land to prevent it from being developed.

“When we learned that there had been no signatures (on the register), it was very emotional,” Roy explained.

In the end of September, the town unveiled a plan to purchase the land, just more than half of a 50.5-acre forest, for $2.8 million from Planimax D.S.F. Inc., a construction company that intended to develop on the land. The purchase scheme includes a $1.34-million subsidy from the Commaunauté métropolitaine de Montréal and a $500,000 grant from the Nature Conservancy of Canada, leaving less than $1 million for taxpayers to shoulder.

In October, the town adopted a loan bylaw to cover its contribution. That bylaw was subject to a register Oct. 22, providing residents the opportunity to sign if they opposed the move. But no taxpayer stepped forward to oppose the move.

“I think it speaks to the quality of the project that we have and the way we have set it up,” said Mayor Mario Tremblay in an interview. “After all, it’s something to make sure that we would have this forest protected forever.”

The loan bylaw means that the owner of an average home in Vaudrueil sur le Lac valued at $547,000 will see a tax increase of around $165 annually over the next 30 years.

“We’re very proud of (the project) because not all municipalities get as much support as we did,” Tremblay said.

Many residents are attached to the wooded area, referred to by residents simply as “the Boisé,” said Roy, who described it as a place where residents go for a walk or a hike with their friends, children and pets. The land also serves as an important noise barrier between the community and Highway 40.

“For us, the forest is like a citizen in its own right,” she said.

The remaining 22.5 acres of undeveloped land that makes up the rest of the forested wetland is owned by a family. It is not under immediate threat of development, Tremblay said, adding that t he town has expressed interest in purchasing it in the future.

But for now, the town will focus on a few minor administrative steps to finalize its first purchase. Tremblay expects that an official ceremony to acknowledge the purchase will be held by January.

Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac residents back town’s puchase of forest Read More »

Rigaud pauses peermits as sewer network hits capacity

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

With an aging water treatment plant that has reached its processing capacity, the Town of Rigaud has issued a moratorium on building permits and any other construction certificates that would result in increased wastewater output.

“Right now, we’re maxed out,” Geneviève Hamel, communications director for the town, told The 1019 Report.

Hamel explained that the town is examining different solutions to resolve the issue, but that the first step is to determine how the town’s wastewater output will grow over time.

“We have to figure out how much development we’re going to have over the next 40, 50 years,” Hamel said.

In the meantime, all permit applications for construction, reconstruction or renovation within the town’s urban centre filed after Oct. 8 will be analyzed by the town’s urban planning department. Receiving a permit under these circumstances would depend on whether the project would increase the strain on the town’s wastewater network.

This measure will last “a maximum of two years and may be renewed, if necessary, after this period, until the wastewater treatment system is brought up to standard,” the town said in a statement. However, Hamel predicted that it may take longer than that.

“Realistically, we have to first do the conception of the solutions, then have somebody put a price on it,” she explained, adding: “We don’t see it happening in the next two years. It (the permit freeze) will probably be renewed.”

Rigaud’s wastewater treatment plant, including four aeration ponds, was constructed in 1985, 39 years ago, with a then-predicted lifespan of between 25 to 30 years. The ponds can each hold nearly as much water as five Olympic swimming pools (17,000 square metres) and was designed to treat up to 2,650 square metres of water a day from residential homes, commercial businesses and industrial sites in Rigaud. However, with population growth and development in the region, the plant now treats around 3,000 square metres of water a day.

One possible solution being studied would be to split the city’s wastewater treatment network in two, between the eastern and western portions along the Rigaud River. The existing plant would then be renovated to manage the wastewater of the eastern portion of the town, where around 70 per cent of Rigaud’s population resides, while a small plant would be constructed to manage the western portion, serving the remaining 30 per cent of residents. This is one of several solutions the town is studying, Hamel explained.

In the meantime, she said that the town is working closely with citizens to determine how it should proceed, specifically concerning how they pictures the town growing in the next few decades – be it growing in residences, commercial businesses or industry – and how the wastewater treatment plant can accommodate the vision of that future. The town is compiling answers from a recent survey it sent out to residents on this topic.

Rigaud pauses peermits as sewer network hits capacity Read More »

Montreal refuses to relocate trees from Pierrefonds park

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

The City of Montreal will not remove any of the 500 trees that were planted in a clearing in the riverside Parc des Rapides-du-Cheval-Blanc in Pierrefonds-Roxboro.

That is the latest word from the city’s executive committee, despite pleas from local residents that the decision earlier this summer to plant about 500 trees and 250 shrubs in the park will eliminate a much-used open green space in the community.

The news of the refusal to the residents’ request to move the trees was delivered by Montreal city councillor Alex Norris earlier this month during a meeting with bourough councillors.

Local residents say the decision is not only disappointing, but frustrating as they have failed at every turn to plead their case with city officials.

“It just seems like they’re doing everything they can to not face us,” said Pierrefonds-Roxboro resident D.J. El-Tayar, who has acted as spokesperson for the residents.

Since early July, El-Tayar and several other residents of Riviera St. have been speaking out after their neighbourhood park was roped off and about 500 trees and 250 shrubs were planted without consultation. The planting was conducted on behalf of the REM, as part of an effort to offset the environmental impact of constructing the new light rail transit network across Montreal.

The approximately 14,000 square metres of mostly open green space in the park had been enjoyed by residents as a locale for many barbecues, outdoor games and other social gatherings.

Now, the park will grow into a small, dense forest. This will not only eliminate the open green space but will also block much of the view of Rivière des Prairies from the neighbouring apartment complexes once the trees have grown.

El-Tayar pointed out the issues the neighbourhood has experienced with squatting in the more heavily forested areas. By expanding the forest into their section of the park, El-Tayar said some residents fear that it will bring vagrancy and drug use closer to their doorsteps.

Officials in Pierrefonds-Roxboro said they too had been caught off guard by the planting. Though they had named this portion of the Parc des Rapides-du-Cheval-Blanc as one of several potential planting spots for trees in the area, the borough had not been made aware of when the planting would take place, nor how many trees would be planted.

“The scope of and the quantity of trees was something that we had no idea about,” Pierrefonds-Roxboro Mayor Jim Beis said in an interview. The borough halted NouvLR from further planting in the park following the initial outcry from residents.

A ‘pattern’ by the city

Both Beis and the residents have been adamant that they are not “anti-tree.”

“Nobody is opposed to planting trees,” Beis explained: “We (have) one of the highest, if not the highest tree canopy on the Island of Montreal. We’re very proud of that.”

Indeed, each time the residents have spoken to The 1510 West about this issue, they have firmly stated their desire to see some, not all, of the trees removed and replanted elsewhere in Pierrefonds-Roxboro, even presenting possible locations.

Beis and the residents point out a lack of communication on the part of Montreal city officials.

For Beis, this isn’t anything new from this city administration. He lamented that the city has shown a pattern of making unilateral decisions impacting boroughs, lacking proper communication and collaboration.

“If they would have communicated with us, we would have come up with a better solution, including the residents in that area,” he said.

El-Tayar and the other residents added that they will plan their next steps over the coming weeks and are not giving up on this issue.

Montreal refuses to relocate trees from Pierrefonds park Read More »

Dorval residents push to save convent building

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

Residents of Dorval attempting to stop the city from demolishing a former convent building are demanding to be consulted before bulldozers are called in. But so far, municipal officials have only agreed to outline their plans for the site rather than debate whether the building should be torn down.

Dorval Mayor Marc Doret announced Monday that a public presentation by the city will be held next month on the future of the former convent of the Congrégation de Notre Dame. The presentation will give citizens a chance to hear about the possible options for the site following the likely demolition of a large section of the building.

But that is not good enough for a group of residents calling for the preservation of the building. They say nothing short of a proper public consultation should be required to determine the future of the site.

“There are public needs that can be used in that building,” said Fernando Pellicer, a member of the citizens’ group Save Residence 12 Dahlia. “The taxpayers bought that building, and now we can’t have a word of what to do with it? It’s unacceptable.”

The former convent, located at 12 Dahlia Ave., is made up of two sections: the Quatre Vents manor, which dates back to 1873, and served as the home of Dorval’s first mayor, Désiré Girouard; and an attached four-storey, 40,000-square-foot brick annex built in 1965. The annex was added by the previous owners of the property, the Congrégation de Notre Dame. It contains a large commercial kitchen, a dining room, two floors of meeting rooms, two floors of bedrooms and a chapel.

The City of Dorval purchased the entire property for $8 million in 2022. This past April, Dorval council adopted a resolution of intent to demolish the annex section of the building. No date for demolition has been set.

In its April 16 statement, the city pointed out that the annex “does not meet the requirements of the Quebec Construction Code, particularly in terms of wind bracing, fire protection, insulation and personal safety.”

At Monday’s city council meeting, Doret said the city would present citizens with four scenarios on the future of the site. Though citizens will not vote on which scenario they prefer, city councillors will be asked to take the input from the community into account.

This announcement did not satisfy the citizens’ group Save Residence 12 Dahlia. The group has been speaking out in recent months against the city’s intent to demolish the annex, arguing the building could serve a number of needs in the community. A petition organized by the group calling for a proper public consultation has collected more than 300 signatures.

Group member Mario Mammone told the council Monday that he had been in contact with food banks and other community groups providing meals to residents in need.

“They would love to use that space,” Mammone told council.

The group has also been advocating for residents to have a say in plans for the site.

 “The building is in good condition,” said Pellicer, a retired architect. “(It’s) a complete waste of a good building.”

The annex would need a new roof and other upgrades, he said, but that the restoration of the building for public use would best serve the community.

“I don’t think you need to demolish a 40,000-square-foot building that’s chockablock full of all kinds of spaces that could be adapted for any kind of community uses,” said Rachelle Cournoyer, another group member.

 “There’s a place that used to feed 75 nuns plus staff,” Cournoyer added. “They have two walk-in refrigerators, a walk-in freezer, (and) a huge storage space. It could be used for any number of purposes.”

Save Residence 12 Dahlia says it will continue collecting signatures for its petition until the city organizes true public consultations. The group is collecting signatures at various public locations across Dorval and via its Facebook page Sauvons/Save Résidence 12 Dahlia.

Cutline:

The city of Dorval is proposing to tear down the four-storey brick annex attached to the former convent’s Quatre Vents manor (left) on Dahlia Avenue.

Dorval residents push to save convent building Read More »

A brief history of water fluoridation in Canada

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

Adding fluoride to drinking water supplies  was first studied in Canada in 1947. The federal Department of National Health and Welfare launched a seven-year study on the effects of adding small amounts of fluoride to the drinking water supply of the town of Brantford, Ont., specifically with regards to the dental health of children.

By 1955, research results indicated that resistance to tooth decay and overall tooth health among children in Brantford had become far higher than that of children in the nearby town of Sarnia, whose water supply was not fluoridated.

The federal government began recommending the fluoridation of drinking water supplies to the provinces in 1968 at a target of 1.2 milligrams of fluoride per litre of water. This target was lowered to 1 milligram in the 1970s, and again to 0.7 milligrams by 2008, the amount still recommended by Health Canada today.

The most common side effect of the consumption of fluoridated water listed by Health Canada is dental fluorosis, resulting in small, often unnoticeable white spots on permanent teeth. Dental fluorosis can only develop as children’s permanent teeth are budding and is found in about 16 per cent of all children who consume fluoridated water.

A 2023 report by the U.S. National Institutes of Health National Toxicology Program indicates that children consuming over 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per litre of water showed signs of scoring lower on IQ tests than other children. However, a panel of experts commissioned by Health Canada found that there is not enough evidence to determine that smaller amounts of fluoridated water (0.7 milligrams/litre) had any negative neurocognitive effects on children.

Today, some 14 million Canadians access fluoridated drinking water. The provinces with the highest proportion of fluoridated water systems are Ontario (73%), Manitoba (68%) and Nova Scotia (50%).

In Quebec, however, just 1 per cent of water systems are fluoridated, a figure that will drop after the Pointe Claire and Dorval water treatment plants stop fluoridating by next year. St. Georges in the Beauce region will become the last municipality in the province that fluoridates its water supply.

A brief history of water fluoridation in Canada Read More »

Fluoridation: W.I. mayors decry lack of consultation

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

West Island officials are voicing disappointment with the City of Montreal’s lack of public consultation as it prepares to put an end to fluoridating drinking water at the Pointe Claire and Dorval water treatment plants by the end of 2024, claiming it is just another example of how the central city imposes its will on the demerged suburbs.

“The City of Montreal basically just decided without consulting the West Island or giving the West Island a chance to weigh in on it,” said Pointe Claire Mayor Tim Thomas, adding that this is not the first such instance.

“I was disheartened,” said Baie d’Urfé Mayor Heidi Ektvedt.

The decision “has pretty much been presented to us as ‘fait accompli’ (and) did not sit well with me,” Ektvedt added.

The drinking water for more than 100,000 West Island residents is expected to be fluoride-free by the end of the year. A recommendation by the City of Montreal’s water services department to end water fluoridation at the Pointe Claire and Dorval water treatment plants is expected to pass a vote by the Montreal Agglomeration council some time later this year.

Ektvedt explained that she had been invited to a presentation on the topic by the City of Montreal last month, where it was revealed that the city was going forward with its plan to end water fluoridation in the West Island.

“It didn’t feel like we were partners in anything,” Ektvedt said.

Demerged municipalities collectively have 13 per cent of the vote on the Montreal Agglomeration council. The City of Montreal holds the remaining 87 per cent.

“The people who are going to be making the decision for these plans are other borough mayors who sit around that table, who are not health experts, are not affected by the status quo, and will be voting without having supported a public consultation (. . .) I find that very, very concerning,” Ektvedt said.

Pointe Claire Mayor Thomas added that he believes the City of Montreal must, at the very least, hold information sessions with West Island residents about this topic to provide them with the opportunity to understand all the facts behind water fluoridation, as well as why the city is putting an end to it.

“I think Montreal is obliged to explain it to the citizens of the West Island why they’ve done this,” he said. “Whenever you remove a service from citizens who are paying taxes, you should probably explain it.”

Dorval Mayor Marc Doret says his municipality is investigating whether the move is a breach of contract.

But not everyone is upset with the move.

Pointe Claire resident Ray Coelho has been pushing for several years to see fluoridation ended.

“People didn’t like the fact that they were being medicated without their knowledge,” said Coelho, who has brought up the issue numerous times to elected officials in both Pointe Claire and the City of Montreal.

From 2021 to 2022 he collected around 6,000 signatures from residents in Pointe Claire and Dorval for a petition to put an end to water fluoridation.

He also pointed to recent news out of the U.S., where a federal judge ruled for stricter regulation of fluoridated water last month. The ruling noted that while studies on fluoridated water impacting children’s IQ levels are inconclusive, it presents an unreasonable risk to their health. This, Coelho said, should be a clear indication for Canadian municipalities to end the practice.

“My goal in all this is to give people closure,” he added. “Obviously (residents) have been drinking fluoridated water for years (. . .) I think people are entitled to some sort of apology.”

Since the 1960s, drinking water from the plants in Pointe Claire and Dorval, distribute to the towns of Beaconsfield, Kirkland, Baie d’Urfé and parts of Dollard des Ormeaux has been fluoridated. The City of Montreal has never fluoridated its water supply.

Health Canada, the Canadian Dental Association and Montreal’s Direction régionale de santé publique are some of the agencies and organization that support water fluoridation. Health Canada recommends that no more than 0.7 milligrams of fluoride be added per litre of drinking water.

The federal department also maintains that this practice serves to strengthen tooth enamel, as well as prevent cavities and tooth decay.

However, some studies have suggested that overconsumption of fluoridated water can lead to such effects as lowered IQ levels among youth – a topic that is disputed among health professionals.

In an email to The 1510 West, City of Montreal media spokesperson Hugo Bourgoin explained the city’s decision to end water fluoridation by the end of this year.

“Fluoride is a highly corrosive substance that can damage our water infrastructures over the long term,” he wrote, adding that wastewater treatment cannot remove the chemical from the water. “Fluoride is therefore ultimately discharged into the St. Lawrence River, with little documented impact on aquatic flora and fauna.”

When it comes to the documented benefits of fluoridated water, Bourgoin added: “There are other ways than water fluoridation to promote good dental health.”

In the statements by Baie d’Urfé and Pointe Claire, both municipalities encourage residents who are concerned about the lack of consultation to reach out to Maja Vodanovic, the City of Montreal’s executive committee member responsible for water.

Fluoridation: W.I. mayors decry lack of consultation Read More »

Vaudreuil residents offered input on city’s 2025 budget

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

For the first time, residents of Vaudreuil-Dorion will have the floor to express their concerns and priorities to elected officials for the next annual municipal budget. A public pre-budget consultation is being organized for Wednesday, Oct. 23.

“We felt that usually we just have these discussions among the elected officials and the administration, but we don’t really have a chance to chat with citizens themselves and hear what their thoughts are,” said councillor Jasmine Sharma, who is co-organizing the meeting.

Sharma, along with city councillors Diane Morin and Karine Lechasseur, will be on hand to inform, answer questions and deliberate with citizens on priorities for the 2025 municipal budget and investments for future projects in the city. The takeaways from the meeting will be included in next month’s budget discussions and preparation between elected officials and city administration.

Vaudreuil-Dorion has held citizen consultations in the past on various topics, ranging from municipal communications to public transit. But for the annual budget, this is a first.

“The whole idea of doing these chats is to really get people’s perspectives, hear their concerns (and) understand their reality as well,” Sharma said.

She added that the event will act more as a conversation than the regular question-and-answer period that occurs at the monthly city council meetings.

The meeting takes place Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Centre Multisport André-Chagnon. Attendance is open to all residents of Vaudreuil-Dorion. A registration link is being prepared on the municipality’s website. Though registration is not required to participate, it is encouraged to help organizers plan.

“At the end of the day, if we can come out of these meetings having been exposed to one argument, one perspective, one concern that we weren’t necessarily sensitive to going in, it’s a win,” said Sharma.

Vaudreuil residents offered input on city’s 2025 budget Read More »

CAQ’s lack of action on bypass for Highway 20 ‘makes no sense’

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

A group calling for the construction of a high-speed bypass route for Highway 20 in Vaudreuil-Dorion is speaking out after the Quebec government turned down a request to study the project last month.

“It makes absolutely no sense at all in my view,” said Pierre Z. Séguin, one of the members of The Alliance of Citizens for a Real Highway 20.

This past summer, Séguin and a group of volunteers collected more than 16,000 signatures on a petition in support of the group’s call for the construction of a bypass route that would redirect heavy traffic away from Harwood Blvd. in Dorion. The urban thoroughfare, which connects directly from Highway 20, is currently one of the last sections of a major highway in Canada that is controlled by traffic lights.

Adding to the group’s frustration is the Coalition Avenir Québec government’s plan to become a minority stakeholder in a plan to build a tramway in Quebec City, a project the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, it was revealed last week, will invest $1 billion in  to move forward. It is estimated the construction of a tramway will cost $5.7 billion.

This “makes absolutely no sense,” Seguin said.

Harwood Boulevard in the Dorion sector links Highway 401 directly with Montreal, leading to heavy vehicle congestion. Around 87,000 cars and trucks use the boulevard each day, causing traffic headaches for local commuters and local businesses alike. Adding to the congestion is the increased traffic seen on the artery as ongoing work on the Île aux Tourtes Bridge along Highway 40, the only other link between Vaudreuil-Soulanges and Montreal, is regularly diverted to Harwood.

“The economic activity in Quebec is between Montreal and Toronto,” Seguin said. “That means to go (directly) to Toronto from Montreal, you take Highway 20.”

The group’s proposal would see the construction of a high-speed bypass starting at Taschereau Bridge, which links Île Perrot to Vaudreuil. The high-speed lanes would run westward north of Harwood alongside the railway tracks for about three kilometres before reconnecting to Highway 20 on the outskirts of the municipality. The group maintains that the plan would relieve Harwood of much of the daily bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Vaudreuil MNA Marie-Claude Nichols, who sponsored the petition, also expressed her disappointment in the CAQ government’s decision.

“Thousands of people asked their government to intervene, but the government told them it didn’t even want to talk about it,” she said in a statement issued last month. “This is unacceptable.”

The construction of a bypass route is not a new issue. Residents in Vaudreuil-Dorion have been calling for such a project since 1964 to no avail.

But Séguin confirmed the group is not giving up and will be meeting next week to discuss next steps.

“It’s a long-term issue and we’re going to keep working,” he said.

CAQ’s lack of action on bypass for Highway 20 ‘makes no sense’ Read More »

82 affordable rental units for seniors going up in Dorval

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

Construction of an 82-unit affordable housing project for seniors will begin construction next month in Dorval, according to Mayor Marc Doret, a project he describes as “hugely important” given the ongoing housing crisis in major urban centres across the country.

“This (project) is for the most vulnerable in our society,” Doret said in an interview, adding that there are currently 120 seniors registered in Dorval looking for subsidized housing.

The $32.6-million project is being led by the Office municipal d’habitation de Montréal and being financed in partnership with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the City of Dorval.

The project ­– dubbed “Habitations Les Îles Courcelles,”  referencing the three islands off Dorval’s shores – will be built at 750 Dawson Avenue and cater to autonomous individuals ages 55 and over. It will be three to four storeys and will be built using prefabricated wooden modules designed for on-site assembly. The modules will be provided by Les Industries Bonneville, a manufacturing and building design company that specializes in prefabricated homes.

The central location of the project offers the added bonus of being within walking distance to shops and restaurants, as well as to bus stops, Doret pointed out.

In the planning since 2018, Doret said the current housing crisis, which has been marked by increasing rents and evictions across Montreal and the province, underlines the importance of the project.

The median rental price for a two-bedroom apartment in Dorval is now $2,223, up 48 per cent from last year, according to rentals.ca.

Construction of the building is expected to take around 12 months to complete, Doret said.

82 affordable rental units for seniors going up in Dorval Read More »

Women’s rights trailblazer honoured

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

The city of Kirkland was named in honour of Charles-Aimé Kirkland, a former member of the National Assembly who represented the West Island riding of Jacques-Cartier from 1939 to 1961. But it was his daughter, Claire Kirkland-Casgrain, who was posthumously honoured by the city last month – very nearly a century after her birth – as a trailblazer who has left an enduring legacy.

“The City of Kirkland is very proud to be linked today to Claire Kirkland-Casgrain,” said Kirkland Mayor Michel Gibson, describing her as “a pioneer of women’s emancipation in Quebec politics and a symbol of the feminist cause in Canada,” as he unveiled a photo and plaque at city hall thatnow hang alongside her father’s.

A lawyer by training, Kirkland-Casgrain decided to follow in her father’s political footsteps, entering the by-election race for her father’s seat shortly after his death in 1961. Running under the Quebec Liberal Party banner, she won, becoming the first woman to sit in the National Assembly.

A push for equality

Being the first elected female representative in the province wasn’t the only glass ceiling Kirkland-Casgrain would break.

She went on to be named Minister Without Portfolio by Premier Jean Lesage, becoming the first female cabinet minister in Quebec’s history. Over her 12-year political career, Kirkland-Casgrain served as minister of Transportation and Communications, minister of Tourism, Game and Fishing, minister of Cultural Affairs and briefly sat as acting premier in 1972.

In 1964, Kirkland-Casgrain tabled Bill 16, which expanded the rights of married women, including the right to open a bank account or sign a lease without their husbands’ consent.

In 1973, she tabled legislation that would establish the Conseil du statut de la femme – a government agency tasked with consulting the provincial government on issues related to women’s rights and gender equality.

She remained the only female MNA in the National Assembly during her 12-year tenure. The province’s second female MNA, Lise Bacon, was elected in 1973 just after Kirkland-Casgrain resigned from politics after being appointed as a provincial court judge.

An ‘object of couriosity’

Being Quebec’s first female MNA and minister came with no shortage of speculation and scrutiny.

Speaking about her time in office to Radio-Canada’s Rachel Verdon in 1978, Kirkland-Casgrain explained that she was viewed by many as an “object of curiosity,” adding that observers were just as keen to critique her clothing as her politics.

She later recalled the glances she drew on her first day in office by not wearing a hat in the National Assembly, a requirement for women at the time.

“In the beginning, the focus was on the material perspective much more than the intellectual perspective, unfortunately,” Kirkland-Casgrain had said.

A woman who dared

She commented further about overcoming the gender barrier in a 2007 interview for the National Assembly’s archives: “Some people valued me. They knew I had progress in laws concerning women at heart. But a good number of people were curious to see this woman who dared to run for a party. It was so new to see a woman who dared.”

Regardless of the detractors, Kirkland-Casgrain went on to receive many accolades for her years of public service, including being named to the Ordre national du Québec in 1985 and to the Order of Canada in 1992.

In 2012, Kirkland-Casgrain, along with fellow pioneers of Quebec’s feminist movement Idola Saint-Jean, Marie Gérin-Lajoie and Thérèse Casgrain were honoured with statues outside of the National Assembly for their advocacy for women’s rights in the 20th century.

Kirkland-Casgrain’s achievements in Quebec have blazed the trail for other women to take the plunge into provincial politics over the years. In the 2022 Quebec election, a record 58 women were elected – nearly half of the 125 seats in the province.

West Island MNA Brigitte Garceau was among the record number of women elected in 2022, and the first woman to represent the district of Robert-Baldwin since its creation in 1965. She attended the unveiling of the honour for Kirkland-Casgrain at Kirkland town hall on Sept. 6.

Kirkland-Casgrain “continues to be an inspirational figure for women who strive to advance women’s rights,” Garceau said in a statement to The 1510 West.

Kirkland-Casgrain died in 2016 at the age of 91.

Women’s rights trailblazer honoured Read More »

St. James making progress in rebuild effort

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

The effort to rebuild St. James Anglican Church in Hudson following a devastating fire in April is progressing well, says a spokesperson for the congregation, with services possibly returning to the 182-year-old church as early as next spring.

There is no solid timeline in place for when parishioners will be welcomed back, said Reverend Sophie Rolland, however, she is hopeful activities could resume by next summer.

“Bit by bit we’re getting things done,” Rolland told The 1019 Report. “Everything might not be finished (by the spring/summer), but we’ll be able to use it.”

Last month, the fire-damaged walls of the adjacent community hall, which was destroyed in the blaze, were torn down, while the stained-glass panels – which were largely untouched by the flames – were carefully removed and stored, and a woodworker was hired to prepare wooden beams and trusses for the new roof of the church.

The focus now is to install a permanent roof over the remaining structure before winter in order to protect the stone foundation and interior of the church, Rolland explained. The church is looking to build a roof that will look identical to the one that was destroyed by the fire. A call for tenders for roof cladding has been issued.

Rolland said the cost of repairs will probably surpass the $5-million insurance coverage the church will receive, necessitating additional fundraising.

“Everything is so expensive right now,” Rolland explained.

As of Sept. 30, the church’s GoFundMe page for the rebuilding effort had raised about $13,000.

The church will organize fundraisers in the coming months to help drum up financial support to defray any outstanding costs “once we get a better sense of how much that $5 million will get us,” Rolland said.

St. James making progress in rebuild effort Read More »

Tree-planting in Pierrefonds- Roxboro: Residents frustrated with lack of answers

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

Pierrefonds-Roxboro residents upset about the surprise planting of hundreds of trees in a local park used as a community gathering space say they still have not received any answers from Montreal city councillors.

Again this month, residents of Riviera St. in Pierrefonds sought answers to questions as to why in July more than 500 trees and 250 shrubs were planted in the Parc-des-Rapides-du-Cheval-Blanc – a green space bordering Rivière des Prairies that is popular among locals of all ages for outdoor activities.

The planting was done by infrastructure company NouvLR on behalf of the firm behind the REM transit train line, as part of an initiative to offset the environmental impacts of the construction of the rail network.

If left as it is, the once open green space will be transformed into a small forest in a few years, robbing locals of communal gathering space, as well as blocking the view of the river for the surrounding apartment buildings.

No consultations were held locals prior to the planting. Officials from the borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro also say they were blindsided by the planting.

Cookie-cutter answers

Last month, resident D.J. El-Tayar had told The 1510 West that she looked forward to speaking to Montreal executive committee Laurence Lavigne Lalonde, who is responsible for major parks.

However, El-Tayar and other residents in attendance were disappointed to learn that Lavigne Lalonde was not at the meeting, and that their questions would be addressed instead by Ville Marie Councillor Sophie Mauzerolle, head of transport and mobility.

Both El-Tayar and fellow Riviera St. resident Lise Trudel asked why the city had not required the REM to consult with citizens prior to the planting. They also requested to have most of these trees removed and planted elsewhere in Pierrefonds.

In her response to each question, Mauzerolle pointed out the role that tree planting plays in combating climate change and boosting “resilience” to the territory in instances of flooding. She also blamed a lack of communication with the residents on the REM and NouvLR.

Her answers left the residents unsatisfied.

Disconnected from community

In an email to The 1510 West, resident Olga Mora described Mauzerolle’s responses as “well-rehearsed” and “scripted.”

She added Mauzerolle failed to adequately address concerns.

For Trudel, a resident of Riviera St. since 2008, it was clear that neither she, nor the REM were aware of what the park meant to the local community.

Trudel explained that the park was used by locals for everything from having barbecues, to outdoor games, to reading a book in a lawn chair.

“It’s been used for decades as a municipal park,” she said in an interview. “Why would you wipe it out?”

El-Tayar and Trudel were adamant that the concerned residents are not against the REM’s reforestation efforts, and do not wish to be painted as being “anti-tree.”

Indeed, each time the group has spoken to the media or to municipal officials, they have recommended that the majority of the trees in the park be replanted elsewhere in Pierrefonds, even offering possible replacement locations.

Pierrefonds-Roxboro Mayor Jim Beis has been vocal in his support for the residents. He made it clear during the August meeting – and again earlier this month – that the borough had not been informed of when the planting would take place, nor how many trees were to be planted.

“Although we believe strongly in biodiversity and planting of trees,” he told the council, “the borough was never informed of the gravity of this plantation, to the point where we received the plan a month and a half after the planting was put in place.”

The residents confirmed that Beis has kept in contact and has been “extremely supportive” of the group. El-Tayar said that Beis and other borough councillors have encouraged the group to continue to press Montreal on this issue.

The group launched a phone-in petition last month, denouncing the planting of the trees.

Though the residents said they are frustrated with the situation, they are not planning to give up their park so easily. While they discuss next steps, they will be “peppering” Lavigne Lalonde with emails, Trudel confirmed.

Tree-planting in Pierrefonds- Roxboro: Residents frustrated with lack of answers Read More »

Beaconsfield’s new Centennial Park ro offer unique look, building

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

Beaconsfield has taken another key step forward in its long-awaited revitalization project for Centennial Park.

The IMAGINE Centennial project named the architecture group that will design the new multi-purpose cultural centre – the Montreal-based firm Lemay-Bouthillette Parizeau-Elema in July. And in doing so unveiled the look of a unique building that has never been seen before in the West Island.

The group’s concept, titled “A Landscape Reinvented,” blends “harmoniously into the picturesque landscape of Centennial Park,” according to a statement issued by Beaconsfield Mayor Georges Bourelle after council endorsed the design selection. He added that the estimated $18-million project, “will provide citizens with a unique experience in a bucolic setting.”

Among one of the most unique features of the design is a sod-covered slanted rooftop that will gradually rise from the ground, almost camouflaging the building into the landscape, and a waterfront boardwalk. Visitors will be able to walk along the graded roof, where at its edge, they will be able to take in a view of Lake St. Louis.

This serves “to blur that boundary between architecture and landscape,” said Eric Pelletier, a design principal and senior partner with the group, referring to the roof design.

Gavin Affleck, an architect and co-chair of the project’s selecting jury, praised the group’s ingenuity in an interview with The 1510 West

He pointed out that the park and the neighbouring Lord Reading Yacht Club currently occupy two separate spaces.

“A lot of the objective (was to) find a way to kind of join them together in a more comprehensive way, making a unified new Centennial Park,” Affleck said.

Affleck said he was also impressed by the fact that all four groups of finalists chose the same location in Centennial Park for the building within the park setting.

“It’s almost a scientific study by controlled experiment,” he explained. “That only could have happened in an architecture competition, because normally there are way more exchanges.”

Representatives of the winning group had pitched their vision for the park at a public consultation in July at Beaconsfield city hall.

“What we really want to preserve is the landscape, to retain its uniqueness,” Pelletier said.

He explained that their design sought to intertwine the cultural centre with the surrounding nature of the park.

The new single-storey centre will include a library, a bistro and meeting rooms, as well as several areas to accommodate groups.

The exterior will include footpaths connecting between the centre, a boardwalk that will run along the waterfront and the yacht club. An “events promenade” will also be featured for hosting larger events and outdoor activities.

The centre is modelled in the modern Scandinavian minimalist style – a design commonly used for structures that are intended to blend into forested settings and offer lots of natural light.

Pelletier also pointed out that the structure will be made almost entirely of wood.

“We are in an exceptional forest,” he explained. “We couldn’t imagine doing this project with steel or concrete.”

He added that the group is looking to achieve “nothing less” than a carbon-neutral project.

The next step is for the city to award the winning group with contracts to develop detailed plans and specifications. These will allow the project to go to tender hopefully by 2025, said Andrew Duffield, Beaconsfield’s director of Sustainable Development, who has been responsible for the project since 2019. The idea of re-imagining municipal facilities at Centennial Park was first made public in 2018.

When it comes to a specific timeline on when the project will be completed, Duffield said that it is too soon to tell. Factors he cited include a municipal election next year. “It remains to be seen what council will decide in terms of when to award the series of contracts that will come up, the biggest of which is the construction of the building,” he explained.

Once the contracts have been awarded and the start of work is confirmed, Duffield said it would take about two years until the project is finally completed.

Cutline:
A sod-covered slanted rooftop that gradually rises from the ground, which features walking paths, is one of the most unique features of the design for the planned Centennial Park centre.

Credit:
Courtesy City of Beaconsfield

Beaconsfield’s new Centennial Park ro offer unique look, building Read More »

Gerdy’s legacy honoured in Kirkland

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

The woman who was known to many simply by her first name – Gerdy – and for her love and dedication to animals, was posthumously honoured in Kirkland earlier this month when a dog park at Parc des Bénévoles was named in her memory.

“It was a great event,” said Jayne Heitmeyer, a board member and long-time volunteer for Gerdy’s Rescues and Adoptions, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering and finding homes for dogs and cats.

“Gerdy would have been very proud (and) very honoured,” Heitmeyer said.

Gerdy Cox-Gouron, who died in February 2023 at age 80, left a legacy in the community as someone who showed a passionate dedication when it came to caring for animals.

Having founded the rescue in 2004, Cox-Gouron and a team of volunteers have fostered, cared for and found new homes for thousands of dogs and cats – a mission that the rescue continues today.

The city of Kirkland decided to honour her legacy because many of Gerdy’s animals have found homes in the municipality, Heitmeyer said in an interview.

 “Many of her rescues were adopted by a large number of families throughout Kirkland over many years,” she said.

Cox-Gouron’s selflessness when it came to caring for these animals was a true example of altruism, said Kirkland councillor Karen Cliffe, who had known Cox-Gouron through her time volunteering and fundraising for Gerdy’s Rescues and Adoptions

“She basically dedicated her entire life to saving animals,” Cliffe explained: “Of course we did fundraisers, but she would use her own money to save cats and dogs. She was a very rare person.”

One of Cliffe’s fondest memories of Cox-Gouron was the dedication she showed to a Rottweiler named Enzo a few years back.

A bacterial disease had left the 12-week-old puppy’s back legs paralyzed, requiring him to use a wheelchair designed for dogs. Rising veterinary bills forced Enzo’s owners to surrender him to the rescue.

Cox-Gouron would not give up on Enzo, Cliffe explained. She saw to it that the pup received special veterinary treatment, medications and physical therapy.

The Rottweiler went on to regain his mobility and was adopted at the age of 1. Enzo was among “Gerdy dogs” at the ceremony at the dog park Sept. 15.

“She was a tough cookie,” Cliffe said of Cox-Gouron: “She would not give up on an animal. She would just say ‘Let’s do it. Let’s take him. Let’s fix him.’”

Cox-Gouron discovered her passion for caring for animals at a very young age.

“The first thing she remembered was trying to save a cat,” Heitmeyer explained. “And she never stopped.”

Today, Gerdy’s Rescue, through a dedicated team of volunteers, cares for between 25 to 30 animals at a time.

“It was Gerdy’s wish that the work continue,” said a member of the group’s board of directors, Larry Day. “And we felt that the best way to do that was to continue the rescue as she would like it to have been. So that’s what we’ve done.”

Cutline:

Marilyn Gelfand, a member of the board of directors of Gerdy’s Rescues, unveils plaque along with Kirkland Mayor Michel Gibson.

Credit:

Courtesy of Gerdy’s Rescue

Gerdy’s legacy honoured in Kirkland Read More »

Pearson board facing staff shortages at start of school year

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

The Lester B. Pearson School Board is not immune to the province-wide teacher shortage and is actively looking to fill vacant staff roles as the new school year gets under way.

There continues to be “some teacher staffing shortages across the (board’s) network,” explained Darren Becker, the Pearson board’s director of communications, in a written statement. “But the school board is continuing its efforts to fill the spots as soon as possible. And in the interim, we are not anticipating any impacts on the quality of education we offer our students.”

Becker declined to offer any further details or provide figures on how many teaching positions remain to be filled.

Last month, Quebec  Education Minister Bernard Drainville said that the province was short 5,700 teachers as the new school year approached.

The Pearson board, which operates nine elementary schools and two high school campuses in Vaudreuil-Soulanges along with 19 English-language elementary and six high schools in the West Island, has admitted to hiring non-legally qualified teachers to fill vacancies. It is a practice the board had been following for years, Becker said, adding that all personnel have training in related fields.

However, this practice often leaves parents scrambling to ensure that their children are learning properly, said Katherine Korakakis, president of the English Parents’ Committee Association of Quebec.

“There’s a lot of repercussions when you don’t have teachers in the classrooms that are qualified,” Korakakis said. “When you have a teacher in a classroom that doesn’t know the subject matter, then children aren’t learning the subject matter. That affects their motivation, but it also affects exams at the end of the year.”

Korakakis used her personal experience as a parent when it comes to non-legally qualified teachers in school classrooms. She explained that her daughter, who attends a school managed by the English Montreal School Board, now has a French teacher who does not speak French.

“Tell me how this serves my child,” she said. “Tell me how this is going to help me do everything in my power to help keep my daughter here and not lose her to other Canadian provinces or to the United States.”

Korakakis said that the practice of hiring non-legally qualified teachers is partly to blame for the jump in the number of students signing up for summer school across the province.

“It does a disservice,” she added, “and the victims are children.”

In July, media reports claimed the number of summer school registrations had hit an all-time high. Although there were no figures for the summer school registrations for the Pearson board, the reports claimed the number of students seeking help in the summer jumped 48 per cent in the French-language Montreal School Service Centre and 114 in the St. Hyacinthe School Service Centre.

Pearson board facing staff shortages at start of school year Read More »

Amid reports of illegal dumping in Kanesatake, Hudson endorses new charter to protect Lake of Two Mountains

JOHSUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

A new charter proposing to bring municipalities bordering the Lake of Two Mountains together to protect both the lake and the surrounding ecosystem received Hudson’s stamp of approval earlier this month. The municipal council voted unanimously to add the town to the charter’s list of supporters during the Sept. 3 council meeting.

The unveiling of the charter comes as the Quebec government last month pledged to implement an “action plan” to address complaints of illegal dumping in the Mohawk community of Kanesatake along the north shore of the lake.

Environment Quebec officials have started taking soil samples in the Kanesatake area where trucks have been dumping potentially contaminated soil reportedly for years. Pollution in the area could be affecting fish habitat, government officials claim.

Hudson is committed to environmental protection, but cannot act alone, Sofia Fuga, an environmental technician for the municipality, told The 1019 Report in an email.

“The charter is a wonderful opportunity for all regional stakeholders to come together and work towards the common goal of protecting the lake and its tributaries,” she wrote.

Hudson Mayor Chloe Hutchison shared this sentiment, saying at the Sept. 3 meeting: “This is really the first step for the different (municipalities) to engage and to commit to wanting (to protect) the health of our rivers and our public waters. I think it’s a wonderful initiative.”

Since 2022, the Regroupement national des conseils régionaux de l’environnement du Québec (RNCREQ) has been drafting The Lake of Two Mountains Charter of Commitment.

The charter states that its goal is to “invite all involved organizations, from one shore to the other, to unite and act in response to the need to protect this valuable and natural fresh water reservoir.”

The charter requires all municipalities that signs the charter to agree to collaborate to raise awareness about best practices in protecting the lake and the surrounding ecosystems, as well as participate in future ecologically-focused events and projects.

“It’s really to get us all together so that we can share ideas and plans and access grants,” said Hudson councillor Mark Gray, who presides over the town’s environment committee.

The RNCREQ has been seeking endorsements on the charter from organizations focused on environmental protection as well as from municipalities bordering the Lake of Two Mountains and the Ottawa River. The Regional Environmental Council of Montreal declined to provide numbers of signatures and other details on support for the charter

Amid reports of illegal dumping in Kanesatake, Hudson endorses new charter to protect Lake of Two Mountains Read More »

Region still vulnerable to 311, 911 system failures

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

The MRC Vaudreuil-Soulanges is asking the federal government for assistance to improve its telecommunications infrastructure to avoid a repeat of the chaos caused last month when the 911 and 311 emergency phone services collapsed as the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby ravaged the region with heavy rains, causing flooding in many areas.

“We remain concerned about this situation,” said Patrick Bousez, prefect of the MRC of Vaudreuil-Soulanges, in response to questions from The 1019 Report.

Bousez explained that the “overloading of cellular networks and communication towers” were the main vulnerabilities the emergency lines experienced on the evening of Aug. 9 during the height of the storm.

The region’s 911 and 311 emergency lines received more than 1,500 calls between 6 p.m. and midnight that day, MRC officials claim, as heavy rains sent rivers of water down some residential streets and flooded thousands of basements in some areas of the region.

The 911 call centre is able to simultaneously accept 16 calls, but reached a peak of more than 100 new calls every 15 minutes between 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., overloading the telecommunications network, according to authorities. This resulted in difficulty for some calls to go through to operators, while some calls were involuntarily re-directed to 911 service centres outside of the region.

See EMERGENCY, Page 2.

EMERGENCY: 311 helpline had complete outage during Aug. 9 storm

From Page 1

“It’s not the 911 system that was down,” explained Catherine St-Amour, communications officer with the MRC Vaudreuil-Soulanges. “It’s the communication towers that can’t handle the call capacity.”

She added there was no shortage of call centre agents on hand that day.

The 311 service, on the other hand, experienced a complete outage that lasted several hours that evening.

MRC officials suspects a computer system failure was the cause. Bousez said the region is working with the 311 centre “to ensure that this technical problem does not recur.”

The city of Vaudreuil-Dorion, which saw about 1,400 dwellings impacted by flood waters, notified citizens via its Facebook page of the emergency line overload.

“We are in an emergency situation,” read the city’s post on the social media platform on Aug. 9. “311 and 911 are overwhelmed.”

Vaudreuil-Dorion representatives were invited to a meeting with MRC officials on Monday to “take stock and identify possible improvements that could be implemented,” said city spokesperson Jessica Genest.

Genest did not offer whether this meeting alleviated the concerns of municipal officials.

Bousez noted that in June 2023, he spoke before the federal Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, calling for improvements to the region’s telecommunications infrastructure network.

He pointed out that events like the deluge Aug. 9 demonstrate that “we’re going to need more help from governments to adapt infrastructures to these increasingly frequent climatic hazards.”

The MRC “will continue to make its case, as will a number of other municipalities and MRCs facing the same challenge elsewhere in Quebec,” Bousez wrote in a statement.

Region still vulnerable to 311, 911 system failures Read More »

First pride celebration in West Island this weekend

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

The first official celebration of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the West Island is set to kick off this Saturday in Pointe Claire.

West Island Pride will be a one-day event featuring activities for all ages, genders and sexual orientations.

“Every single person that we spoke to kind of immediately said: ‘Hey, this sounds really wonderful. How do we get involved?’” said David Hawkins, executive director of the West Island LGBTQ2+ Centre, which is organizing the event.

“Just the fact that we had such a groundswell of community support without even having a firm plan told us that this is definitely the time to do it,” Hawkins continued.

The day will feature a community market with local vendors, artists, artisans and community organizations; musical sets by local MCs; Rainbow Story Time with drag performer Bambi Dexterous; as well as panels and special presentations aiming to educate event-goers about the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. 

Despite the local support, Hawkins said a rise in anti-2SLGBTQIA+ sentiment across the country in recent years was another reason to organize the event.

An Ipsos poll in June revealed that support for LGBT+ visibility among Canadians has declined over the past three years. For example, belief that people from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community should be open about their sexual orientation notably dropped from 61 to 49 per cent between 2021 and this year.

“For us it was also important to make sure that we have a space locally that reminds people that they do belong here, and that there’s love and community and support here for people of all backgrounds,” Hawkins explained.

West Island Pride will be held at Edgewater Park, just off Lakeshore Road in Pointe Claire, on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance is free.

First pride celebration in West Island this weekend Read More »

Petition calling for Highway 20 bypass nearing deadline

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

A petition calling on Transport Quebec to construct a high-speed bypass route for Highway 20 in Vaudreuil-Dorion is approaching its Sept. 8 deadline after having amassed more than 15,000 signatures this summer.

As of Sept. 2, the petition had collected 15,191 signatures, said the Alliance of Citizens for a Real Highway 20, the group behind the initiative.

“We’re happy with the numbers because it shows that people are taking it seriously,” said Céline Pilon, one of the group’s organizers.

A total of 3,745 signatures were collected virtually on the National Assembly’s website, while 11,446 have so far been gathered on the paper version of the petition, which has been made available at a variety of locations across Vaudreuil-Soulanges.

Pilon predicts there will be as many as 2,000 more signatures added to the count as the group gradually collects the physical petitions this week.

The group launched the petition May 30, looking to resolve an issue residents of Vaudreuil-Dorion have been advocating for over the past 60 years.

The length of Highway 20 that runs through the old Dorion section of Vaudreuil-Dorion and across Île Perrot is the only stretch of a major highway in Canada that is controlled by traffic lights. It is used by an estimated 87,000 vehicles daily, as it directly connects Ontario’s 401 highway with the Island of Montreal. It has also seen increasing congestion as traffic is diverted from Highway 40 due to work on the Île aux Tourtes Bridge, including during periods when the bridge is closed completely.

The group is calling for the implementation of a bypass route to redirect traffic away from the suburban thoroughfare.

Starting at the Taschereau Bridge, which links Île Perrot to Vaudreuil-Dorion, the proposed bypass route would run alongside the railway tracks, linking to the existing highway about three kilometres westward, relieving Harwood of much of the bumper-to-bumper traffic it now regularly sees.

With support from Vaudreuil MNA Marie-Claude Nichols, the group plans to table the petition in the National Assembly on Thursday, Sept. 12. The assembly resumes its sitting after the summer break on Tuesday, Sept. 10.

The next step for the group will be to increase its profile through advertising and social media channels to continue to raise public awareness of the issue and applying pressure on the government to act, Pilon explained.

“We just want a commitment,” she said. “We’re done with promises.”

While the online petition is closed, the group is accepting signatures on the paper version of the petition until Sunday, Sept. 8. The petitions can be found at businesses along Harwood Blvd. in Vaudreuil-Dorion, as well as at IGA grocery stores across Vaudreuil-Soulanges.

As the group is gradually collecting the petitions this week, Pilon recommends that anyone looking to add their name to the list reach out to the administrators of the “Pour une vraie 20 à Dorion/Île Perrot” Facebook page.

Petition calling for Highway 20 bypass nearing deadline Read More »

Le Nichoir launches first-in-Quebec program

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

A new $250,000 project at Le Nichoir bird conservation centre in Hudson will train wildlife professionals from across Quebec in providing emergency care to birds impacted by oil spills.

The organization will receive a $117,000 federal grant to help get the Oil-spill Avian Response System (OARS) off the ground.

Starting this coming April the project will train 40 individuals with professional backgrounds in animal biology and environmental science on how to properly wash oiled birds. The program will detail the step-by-step process on identifying containments, wearing the proper protective gear and safely cleaning the animals.

“A lot of these containments are toxic for people, as well as the animals,” Susan Wylie, director of operations at Le Nichoir, said in an interview.

She said a lot more goes into the cleaning process for these birds than a popular dish-soap commercial might make one think.

“It’s important that the people taking the course understand how to protect themselves because it can become a dangerous situation if you don’t know what you’re doing,” Wylie said.

Staff at Le Nichoir, one of Canada’s largest wild bird conservation and rehabilitation centres, assist many oiled birds each year. But on the whole, Quebec is alarmingly underprepared to act should a large oil spill impact numerous birds in different areas of the province, Wylie explained.

As thousands of commercial ships and recreational boats travel the St. Lawrence Seaway each year, she added that it is not a matter of if, but when an oil spill will occur.

“If something were to happen tomorrow, everyone would be scrambling,” Wylie said, adding that it is “unrealistic to think that it won’t occur, knowing that we have a lot of boats that are coming and going, we have a lot of industry in the province. To me it’s about being preventative and being prepared.”

The project will be launched in collaboration with International Bird Rescue – a California-based non-profit specializing in rehabilitating aquatic birds impacted by oil spills.

Trainees will be given three courses, taught in English and French, two of which will be hands-on training sessions.

“By supporting Le Nichoir through the Environmental Damages Fund, we are increasing our collective capacity to respond to environmental emergencies and improve the outcomes for impacted birds,” said Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault in a statement.

“In time, OARS could also become an important platform for oil-spill training across Canada,” Vaudreuil-Soulanges MP Peter Schiefke added.

The federal government’s $117,000 contribution to the $250,000 project will mean Le Nichoir is tasked with raising the final $133,000. So far, $77,000 has already been raised, Wylie said.

As well as the training sessions, funds will be put toward the construction of a new aquatic aviary, which will allow the centre to receive and rehabilitate aquatic birds year-round.  

Le Nichoir rehabilitates about 2,500 to 3,000 injured birds every year. Founded in 1996, the conservancy began its operations in a 200-year-old barn on its property on Main Road in the west end of Hudson. In 2016, a new facility was built, enabling the organization to operate all year round.

It takes in songbirds, aquatic and insectivorous birds, referring to species that feed exclusively on insects while flying, like barn swallows, nightjars and flycatchers. It does not admit pigeons or birds of prey.

There are other sanctuaries in Canada, but what makes Le Nichoir unique is its size. In addition to its nursery it has an equipped treatment centre and a large outdoor flight enclosure where vistors get to watch the birds while they rehabilitate safe from predators.

The facility is licensed by the federal and provincial governments to rehabilitate and care for wild birds in captivity with the goal of releasing them back into nature. But its funding is all privately sourced.

Le Nichoir launches first-in-Quebec program Read More »

Major development brewing along Cité des Jeunes

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

Anyone driving along Cité des Jeunes Blvd. in St. Lazare may have noticed some changes over the recent months. Several of the commercial buildings along the route have been put up for sale, while at least one has already been torn down. Change is coming to this sector. It’s all part of the municipality’s long-term vision to transform the corridor into a vibrant residential environment with about 1,200 new dwellings.

Fuelling the change is the anticipated opening of the $2.6-billion Vaudreuil-Soulanges Hospital – located just a kilometre from the St. Lazare border in Vaudreuil-Dorion – that will front on Cité des Jeunes.

Slated to open by the end of 2026, the hospital is expected to bring an influx of workers and economic activity to the area, which will increase the demand for housing in the region.

That expected increase in demand for housing, services and retail outlets prompted St. Lazare to plan for how the area will be developed, leading the town to draft a Special Urban Planning Program – known by its French acronym, PPU – which was released in 2022. It outlines what development along the Cité des Jeunes corridor will look like.

“The massive influx of workers with varied socio-economic profiles is expected to put pressure on housing demand, particularly for affordable units corresponding to the median salaries of hospital staff,” reads St. Lazare’s PPU in its explanation for the need for new development.

As the Cité des Jeunes sector is “the closest within the urban perimeter to the future hospital . . .  it is also the one that contains the most vacant lots to be developed,” explained Alexandra Lemieux, St. Lazare’s director of urbanism services and the environment.

Vision for the future

The municipality’s vision for the sector sees new development along a 3.6-kilometre stretch of the two-lane artery – an area that runs roughly from just east of Mergl Farm in St. Lazare to just before Montée Labossière in Vaudreuil-Dorion. The plan for the sector is called Projet des Pins.

The area now is home to just over a dozen single-family houses, several commercial buildings and long stretches of land zoned for agricultural use, although little of it is actually being cultivated. A description of the PPU on the municipal website describes many of the empty plots as “herbaceous, shrubby and wooded wastelands, ditches and wooded edges.”

“On the whole, travelling along this stretch of Route 340 gives the impression of a territory in latency, with development imminent,” the document continues.

There is no plan to rezone the farmland, however.

The PPU envisions most of the empty stretches of land along the route to be transformed into an urban area containing about 1,200 new dwellings – a mix of townhouses and multi-family dwellings, with integrated affordable housing.

The PPU will also propose zones for new commercial businesses serving the everyday needs of these new residents, including a grocery store, day-care centres and restaurants, Lemieux added.

The plan also dedicates a future commitment to building a new elementary school in the area.

The closest school to the sector now is École des Étriers, located in a relatively new housing development off the intersection of Ste. Angélique Road and Cité des Jeunes. It is at capacity at 450 enrolments as of 2022.

“Given that the majority of residential development will take place in the Cité des Jeunes sector over the next few years, the town is targeting the PPU zone as the site for the future school,” the plan states.

Last year, St. Lazare Mayor Geneviève Lachance had confirmed that a new school would be located in the municipality after the French-language Trois Lacs school network determined it would need to build a new French-language school in the municipality to meet the needs of the ever-growing population.

There are currently eight schools in St. Lazare. Three of those schools – École à l’Orée du Bois, École Auclair and École des Étriers – are French. The remaining five are English – Evergreen Elementary, Birchwood Elementary, the junior campus of Westwood High, as well as both campuses of Forest Hill Elementary.

The exact location of a new school, however, has not been determined.

“The PPU is still in the early stages, zoning for such venues has not been drawn up yet,” said Christelle Paré, St. Lazare’s director of communications and community relations.

“When contracts with be signed with entrepreneurs, then a timeline will be drawn,” Paré added.

Looking down the road, the PPU paints a picture of what the Cité des Jeunes corridor may look like by the year 2035, describing it as “a true living environment that welcomes a variety of households within attractive and complete neighbourhoods.”

Simultaneous PPUs

Will the Cité des Jeunes corridor be a new commercial hub in St. Lazare?

Not exactly.

Lemieux pointed out that a simultaneous development plan is being outlined for St. Lazare’s village core.

Though less development-heavy than on Cité des Jeunes, plans for the future village area would stretch along Ste. Angélique Road, from Borderlais Street in the west, until Chevrier Road in the east.

This plan includes creating a municipal core that is less car-dependent, encouraging more active transportation via bike paths and better conditions for pedestrians, as well as improving “public green spaces.”

“The strategy behind the simultaneous production of two PPUs is to make sure that both sectors can grasp new opportunities, while being complimentary to each other, avoiding competition between the two,” Lemieux added.

One of the main concerns in past decades, as St. Lazare has seen its population grow, has been adequate water supply. This service has been factored into the municipality’s plans, Lemieux explained.

Development plans will respects water-use limits recommended in a 2022 study by TechnoRem Inc, an environmental consultant group. The study stated that the municipality has the water capacity to grow the population to around 27,000 residents – a number that has been repeated publicly by Lachance.

“The PPU takes these numbers into consideration,” Lemieux wrote in an email to The 1019 Report. “The new planning bylaws will be respectful of the water supply.”

How fast development proceeds will be up to the owners of the land along Cité des Jeunes. But as the number of ‘for sale’ signs grows, anticipated change appears to be imminent.

Major development brewing along Cité des Jeunes Read More »

St. Lazare votes to allow development on Sandmere

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

Despite loud opposition from some residents, St. Lazare council last week moved to municipalize one of its last two remaining private streets, removing the last barrier preventing the building of more residential dwellings along the artery.

With only one dissenting vote, council approved two bylaws affecting the private stretch of Sandmere Street on Aug. 13, including reducing the minimum width of lots permitted from 50 to 37 metres and dropping the minimum front setback from 12 to 10 metres, among other measures.

These changes will allow an estimated 42 to 44 single-family homes to be built on Sandmere in the Saddlebrook area of the town.

The group of 24 property owners along the private artery are breathing a sigh of relief as the change was finally approved, bringing them a significant step closer to selling their lots after years of waiting.

The western portion of Sandmere – one of the last private roads in town – is home to four houses and dozens of lots, which up until now could not be developed.

Owners of the lots have spent years pushing for the municipalization of the street, as its private status has made it impossible to build on their properties and difficult to sell off. These owners have nevertheless been paying taxes on these plots of land.

No more than 20 per cent of the existing trees can be removed if a house is to be built on the lots, however. This limit was imposed, said St. Lazare Mayor Geneviève Lachance,“to reduce the impact of residential development on the forest ecosystem” within the area.

Lachance also pointed out that this number of new houses would be consistent with the current density in the area – 2.7 dwellings per hectare.

She also highlighted the fact that the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM) is in the process of drafting its 2025 Plan métropolitain d’aménagement et de développement (PMAD), which will likely call on the municipalities like St. Lazare to densify to around 40 dwellings per hectare.

If the proposed CMM plan is eventually approved before the area along Sandmere St. is developed, the new housing density ratios could see as many as 880 units built instead of a maximum of 44.

“I think it’s clear that all of us don’t want that high density in that sector,” Lachance said. “We would rather be in control of the development now while we can. Allowing these changes would help solidify the low-density aspect of the project before the PMAD is implemented in our bylaws.”

Barbara Dodds, who owns several of the empty lots, is pleased.

“That was very much a relief on my part and everybody else’s too,” Dodds said.

Dodds and her husband had purchased the property when they were in their 20s and were among those who helped build the road that became Sandmere Street.

She recalls when the municipality “arbitrarily” declared that Sandmere would become a private street in the 1980s. “Nobody asked us about that,” she said.

Now almost 80 years old, Dodds explained her frustration over the years in trying to get the street municipalized, coming up short each time.

She noted that she and the other lot owners – many of whom are also seniors – would like to finally get these properties off their hands and use the revenues to help their families.

“I’ve got two daughters and four grandchildren,” said Dodds. “I’d like to leave them some money.”

However, not all St. Lazare residents are pleased. Several residents have repeatedly expressed their opposition to a development project that would see a portion of the surrounding woodland destroyed to make way for housing.

Objectors to the project had turned out en masse to a public consultation meeting July 30. Several expressed their concerns again during question period Aug. 13.

David Hill was the only member on the council to vote against both zoning change which was approved by a majority of council.

In an email to The 1019 Report, Hill explained that he believes his vote was an “accurate reflection” of the will of the constituents in his district.

Though he wrote that agrees with certain articles of the bylaws, including efforts to reduce tree cutting and protect forest cover, he stated that the deforestation of the lots for development, even limited to 20 per cent per lot, would be unwise under the circumstances of climate change.

“At a time when the effects of the climate crisis are being felt so intensely by so many of us, the deforestation of this pristine forested area does not seem prudent,” Hill wrote.

The next step is for town officials to meet with developers to discuss a way forward.

However, according to Alexandra Lemieux, St. Lazare’s director of urbanism services and the environment, no timeline for development has yet been put in place.

St. Lazare votes to allow development on Sandmere Read More »

St. Lazare unveils plans for year-long 150th anniversary celebrations

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

What’s better than a day of celebration?

Try a year!

That is how St. Lazare’s 150th anniversary festivities will roll out over the course of 2025, organizers unveiled at a press conference last Wednesday.

Notable events to commemorate the milestone anniversary will include a hockey game featuring former Montreal Canadiens players in the winter, giant kite flying in the spring, barbecues and the “largest parade ever seen in St. Lazare” in the summer and a tribute to some notable figures throughout the town’s history in the fall.

The municipality will organize several festivities spanning the four seasons in 2025, with a cluster of events for each, said Paul Lavigne, president of the St. Lazare 150th anniversary celebration committee at the press conference.

The celebration will kick off on Friday, Feb.14, with a tailgate barbecue, followed by the hockey game, where a team of former Montreal Canadiens will face off against St. Lazare’s best players in the 35 and over age category at the Complex Sportif de St-Lazare.

The full roster of Canadiens’ old-timers will be confirmed in January.

The highlight of the spring festivities will be a giant kite flying activity at the St. Lazare air field. The event, which will take place on May 24, will bring together some 25 of Quebec’s best kite flyers to let these giant gliders soar.

“The kite activity is not something that’s available in southern Quebec,” Lavigne told The 1019 Report, adding that the committee predicts that the event may see up to around 4,000 guests.

In the summer, the committee said it will be teaming up with Festi Ouest organizers to highlight the history of St. Lazare. Lavigne promises a “grandiose” event.

“I can confirm that it will be a show that’s never been done before in the region,” he said.

Lavigne also added that the “largest parade ever seen in St. Lazare” will take place Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. The parade will “bring together associations, merchants, the builders, the pioneers and our founding families of St. Lazare in a colourful and nostalgic parade.”

The fall portion of the festival will see tributes paid to some notable names throughout the town’s history who played roles in the foundation and growth of St. Lazare.

The 150th anniversary will feature numerous community dinners, brunches, workshops and other activities over the course of the year.

Locally-brewed alcoholic beverages will be available at all events throughout the year, courtesy of the Trois Lacs de Vaudreuil-Dorion microbrewery, the Distillerie 3 Lacs and Le Bourg des Cèdres winery.

The Trois Lacs microbrewery will even be introducing a commemorative beer for St. Lazare’s 150th anniversary, which will see its preview debut at this year’s Festi Ouest 2024 celebrations next week.

Ninety per cent of all anniversary-related events throughout 2025 will be free of charge and will not require pre-registration.

St. Lazare unveils plans for year-long 150th anniversary celebrations Read More »

Hudson Day combines with annual auto show

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

Hudson is hosting its fourth annual Hudson Day this Saturday, Aug. 24.

Among the features of this event will be the Hudson Auto Show, giving vintage car enthusiasts an up-close look at hundreds of classic cars. The show will be located at St. Thomas Park, at the end of Blenkinship St., and will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Organizer Joseph Eletr said anywhere between 200 to 300 vintage cars at will be on display at this year’s show.

Other “activity zones” for this year’s Hudson Day festivities will stretch along Main Road and Cameron Ave. and will range from arts and crafts to outdoor musical performances to a market with local merchants.

A “Family Zone” will be located at Benson Park, featuring circus workshops, face painting, temporary tattoos and line dancing.

Other zones include open houses at municipal buildings. The fire department will offer visits of the station and the firetrucks. Various community organizations, including the seniors’ committee and environment committee, will be meeting with guests at the town hall. The community pool will also be holding a free swim.

Above all else, Hudson Day creates a “sense of community” that is cherished by attendees, said Laura McCaffrey, communications coordinator for the town. She added that event-goers appreciate the opportunity to see old friends, visit the shops, “and just take in the vibe of the village,” from noon until 5 p.m.

Parking is available along Wharf St. and at the St. Thomas Elementary School.

Hudson Day combines with annual auto show Read More »

Major development site draws attention as trees stripped from lot

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

A first step in what appears will be a major residential construction project in Pierrefonds-Roxboro has raised concerns, as more than the permitted number of trees has been felled on the lot.

A number of trees on a property co-owned by real estate development company Groupe Boda, just off Gouin Boulevard bordering Anse a l’Orme Nature Park were felled last month. Although the owners had permission to cut 32 trees, including 17 ash trees, several more were removed.

“We cannot estimate the number of exceeding felled trees as we are conducting the investigation,” said Marie-Pier Cloutier, a spokesperson for the Pierrefonds-Roxboro borough.

This has triggered concerns over the environmental impact a major construction on the site could have on the surrounding area and has sparked residents to ask questions.

According to Groupe Boda’s website, a planned residential project next to the nature park will include 666 housing units, including single-family homes, townhouses and condominiums. The project has not been given final approval, according to borough officials.

The group, however, had received permits from the borough to fell 32 trees on the property, Cloutier said, adding that the group exceeded the 32-tree limit. The borough is investigating the situation and will issue a fine to the developer.

“As of now, there is no permit given to build anything,” Cloutier told The 1510 West. “There are no projects on the table.”

Groupe Boda did not respond to a request for comment.

The company’s website does not provide a timeline for the project.

Gilles Paquin, a former resident of Pierrefonds, was visiting last month when he saw what he referred to as a “massacre” of the forested area next to the park.

Once a member of the group Sauvons l’Anse-à-l’Orme, Paquin said that residential developments on the property would most likely intrude on wetlands that are sprawled alongside the Rivière à l’Orme.

Wetlands are important for supporting high levels of biodiversity and storing carbon, but are also essential ecosystems for flood prevention, and their protection is regulated by provincial authorities.

Paquin explained that the wetlands in the park absorb surface runoff in an area that is both close to sea level and is located right next to a large body of water – the Lake of Two Mountains.

In an email to The 1510 West, Cloutier addressed the concern about wetland protection: “Wetland regulations must be respected and taken into consideration in any proposed development project, no matter the developer.”

However, Paquin said that he “didn’t feel heard at all” when he brought the issue to the borough and to the City of Montreal earlier this month.

Those concerned about the development will wait for the project to be proposed to the borough before taking serious action, Paquin explained.

“We won’t begin a petition for the moment because the town told us there is no permit to build,” he said, adding that he will organize a petition should the residential development go forward.

Major development site draws attention as trees stripped from lot Read More »

Staggering rent hikes top tenants’ issue in W.I.

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

Staggering rental increases in the West Island is emerging as the top issue facing tenants in the West Island, according to a spokesperson for a new group aimed at helping renters.

“It’s the hot topic that everybody’s calling about, that everybody’s struggling with,” said Lily Martin, a community organizer with the West Island Tenants Action Committee.

And with good reason.

Rental rates have been steadily increasing in the West Island in the last few years, according to data from the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal.

Between 2019 and 2022, the average monthly rent has seen double-digit increases in many places – form a low of nine per cent in Beaconsfield, 23 per cent in Pointe Claire to a whopping 67 per cent in Ste. Anne de Bellevue.

Putting that into real dollars, the average renter in Ste. Anne, for example, went from paying $780 a month in 2019 to $1,302 a month in 2022. Many renters have also been hit with subsequent increases in the last two years since these statistics were published.

The data also shows that the highest average rent recorded in the region was in Pointe Claire, at $1,507 a month in 2022.

Martin pointed out that around 40 per cent of renters in the West Island are living in “unaffordable housing.” This refers to having to pay rent that costs tenants 30 per cent or more of their gross household income.

To get a better picture of the issues facing tenants in the region, the West Island Tenants Action Committee, which refers to itself as CALODI, the acronym of its French name, Comité d’acion des locataires de l’Ouest de l’Île, launched a survey last month.

It is the first such survey to focus solely on tenants in the West Island, Martin said. It will serve to analyze the main issues facing the tens of thousands of renters in the area, as well as to familiarize the population with services offered by the group, which aims to provide renters with a platform to share the challenges to renting in the region. It is an initial step toward what the group aims to do – advocate for renters’ rights.

“We want to really ensure that this portrait that we’re putting together is as complete as possible,” Martin said. “We want to try and reach people who might not already be aware of our services, people who might be in more vulnerable situations.”

The results of the survey will help CALODI define its priorities, setting the stage for “broader advocacy, raising awareness for tenants’ issues and working to mobilize and organize tenants in the West Island,” she explained.

The survey asks tenants about the composition of their household, the condition of their building or unit, if they feel their rights have been respected by their landlord and their overall experience in renting.

So far, the group says about 100 respondents have completed the survey. Martin said that while this is solid progress “we’re obviously hoping to get a lot more.”

The survey takes about five to 10 minutes to complete and will run until October. It can be accessed on CALODI’s website or Facebook page.

Launched in June 2023, CALODI has worked with hundreds of tenants across the West Island. The group has been educating renters about their rights and resources at their disposal through webinars, workshops, booklets and a help line, which can be accessed by calling 514-505-0840.

Staggering rent hikes top tenants’ issue in W.I. Read More »

Number of renters in West Island increasing

As development in the suburbs shifts from construction of single-family dwellings to multi-family units, including apartments, the number of residents in the West Island who are renters is growing.

For example, in 2016, the population of Pointe Claire stood at 31,380, according to the 2016 Census. At that time there were 12,275 private residential dwellings, including 2,275 apartments, which represented 18.5 per cent of the occupied dwellings, the figures from the census show.

Five years later, Pointe Claire had 13,310 private occupied homes, including 4,405 rental units, representing 33 per cent of the households, according to the 2021 Census.

In Dorval, which had a population of 18,980, according to the 2016 Census, there were 8,390 occupied households. Of that total, 3,940 were rental units, representing about 47 per cent.

In 2021, the percentage of renters in Dorval had jumped to 48 of a slightly larger number of residential dwellings, as there were 4,190 rental units out of a total of 8,715 occupied households.

Number of renters in West Island increasing Read More »

Residents oppose 500 new trees in Pierrefonds park

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

Several Pierrefonds-Roxboro residents have been reaching out to officials at different levels to voice their opposition to the planting of hundreds of trees in a local park – land that was once enjoyed by many as a large community gathering space.

However, constant blame-shifting by municipal leaders has left these residents with little satisfaction and few answers.

In early July, more than 500 trees and 250 shrubs were planted in an open space in the west end of  Parc des-Rapides-du-Cheval-Blanc at the end of Riviera Street in Pierrefonds. This portion of the park, part of the Grand Parc de l’Ouest, had been an open green space that offered a beautiful view of Rivière des Prairies from the neighbouring apartment complexes. The space was also frequently used for gatherings and other outdoor events by local residents.

As they grow, the trees will become a small forest, blocking the view of the river and stripping locals of their much-valued social gathering space. 

The planting was done by infrastructure company NouvLR on behalf of CDPQ Infra, the firm that is building the REM train line as part of an effort to offset the environmental impacts of constructing the new light transit network across the island.

At the Aug. 5 Pierrefonds-Roxboro borough council meeting, several residents pressed borough Mayor Jim Beis on why the planting took place.

Resident Mark Eccles, who has frequented the park during the past 15 years, spoke about the environmental disruption that 500 new trees could have on the existing ecosystem. He pointed out how competition for sunlight would see existing plants and flowers wither under a new tree canopy.

Resident Olga Mora questioned why, at the very least, the community was not consulted first.

“It’s a drastic change,” Mora said. “We just felt that it was very inappropriate that we weren’t consulted, and we felt very disrespected because of that.”

Mora offered more detail in an email to The 1510 West: “It should have been a collaborative effort between the residents, the City of Pierrefonds-Roxboro and the City of Montreal to determine what works for everyone. . . that’s what a democratic society does.”

Beis responded by explaining that the borough had not been informed the trees would be planted.

He explained that in 2022, all boroughs were asked by Montreal to provide a list of areas within close proximity to the REM that could potentially receive new tree plantings.

“According to that criteria . . . that green space was one of the areas that was identified,” Beis said.

The borough never received word from the city that trees would be planted – nor was it informed how many trees would be added.

“This was sprung on us, exactly like you,” Beis explained, adding that the borough halted an additional 100 trees from being planted in the park after hearing the outcry from residents.

Over the past month, one resident of Riviera St., D.J. El-Tayar, reached out to different officials trying to track down who to hold accountable for the drastic change to her local park.

At an information session hosted by CPDQ Infra on July 22, she asked about the trees and was prompted to direct her questions to officials from the City of Montreal, El-Tayar told The 1510 West. In turn, a member of Montreal’s executive committee responsible for major parks, Laurence Lavigne Lalonde, encouraged her to take the issue up with her borough.

“Basically, everyone was pointing fingers at each other,” El-Tayar said.

A spokesperson from the CPDQ Infra also suggested that The 1510 West direct questions to Montreal, while Lavigne Lalonde did not respond to a request for comment.

Both Mora and El-Tayar want to have most of the trees removed and replanted elsewhere in Pierrefonds-Roxboro.

Beis said he would look into that option. “Certainly, we can find other areas,” he said. “We have one of the largest canopies on the island of Montreal.”

Residents oppose 500 new trees in Pierrefonds park Read More »

St. Lazare reopens debate on Sandmere

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

A packed public information meeting in St. Lazare last week brought a contentious issue into focus once again – the plan to municipalize a private road, which would allow additional development along the street.

The issues involved are complex and have evolved over decades, sparking debate among residents who live on the street and those who own lots in the area, but have been denied the right to build because the street had not been municipalized.

The issue resurfaced last month, when the town proposed two bylaws that would effectively municipalized the private stretch of Sandmere Street – one of two private roads that remains in the town. The street  is currently a dead-end route that runs east from Côte St. Charles in the Saddlebrook area. The plan would extend the road and link it up with the other section of Sandmere Street, which is already public. The proposal would also finally give the greenlight to owners of land in the area to subdivide their land into smaller residential lots.

Frustrated residents took turns voicing their opposition to the project at the public information last week.

The plan to link the two sections of Sandmere Street would see development allowed in a forested area, said Roger Stehr, a resident of the street.

Like many who are opposed, Stehr said that the forest is a beautiful space that he would like to see conserved.

But what’s more, he is troubled by the fact that the project is moving forward despite the fact that residents voted to block it last year, when a plan was first proposed to change the size of lots along the streets.

At that time, there was an “amazing outpour” of community support to halt the project and preserve the forest, Stehr said. He thought that would have been the last word on the issue.

But for the municipality to “just ignore the vote” a year later, he said, “that bothers me more than anything.”

His frustration was echoed by several concerned residents at the information meeting.

“Last year, the will of the population was clearly expressed,” resident Cesar Inostroza said as he addressed members of council. “Why has the city not taken account of that? Why is the city proceeding with a project that the citizens of St. Lazare don’t want?”

In response, Mayor Geneviève Lachance explained how circumstances have changed over the past year, including the forthcoming obligations that will be imposed by the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal for municipalities to densify.

Time to act now

While Lachance said that she understands the frustrations of citizens, she explained that acting now to start this development would be in the best interest of the municipality, the residents and the local environment.

She added that avoiding the issue and hoping that the CMM does not ask for increased density on the street is not a gamble the town is willing to make. 

In addition, Lachance pointed out the proposed plan will limit deforestation of lots to a maximum of 20 per cent, resulting in much of the trees being preserved and developers encouraged to build smaller houses.

“In a time when we are facing a housing crisis, balancing development with environmental conservation is incredibly delicate,” Lachance wrote in an email to The 1019 Report in response to a question. “Striking this balance and making these sometimes difficult decisions is crucial for our city.”

The two bylaws are slated for final adoption at the Aug. 13 council meeting. If passed, they would go into effect in the fall, with housing starts expected to begin shortly thereafter.

St. Lazare reopens debate on Sandmere Read More »

Allowing some development on Sandmere best option: mayor

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

The future of Sandmere Street in St. Lazare has been an issue that has divided residents in the Saddlebrook area for decades. And now, with the latest proposal, the debate has been reignited.

Residents of the street, along with those looking to preserve the dense forest, have been at odds with the town council and the owners of empty lots in the immediate area over what to do with one of the last private roads in town.

While those opposed are decrying the environmental impacts and noise that new development would bring to the quiet road, town officials maintain that this is the best option given likely future obligations to increase population density for new developments.

New provincial legislation adds fuel to the fire, as municipalities now have more control over zoning changes for construction.

But issues involved are far from simple for this unusual street.

Split in more ways than one

Sandmere Street is split into two sections, separated by about 300 metres of forest. The eastern portion of the street is public, home to around 27 single-family homes, while the western portion is private.

The private section runs a straight line from Côte St. Charles eastward for about 800 metres and is home to four houses and about 34 empty lots.

The street does not receive municipal services – like garbage pickup and regular street maintenance. Manoeuverability is also a challenge for fire trucks, ambulances and other municipal vehicles, as the private road leads to a dead end.

However, one issue stands above the rest for the owners of the 34 empty lots: they are unable to build anything on these properties.

This has been the source of growing frustration for the lot owners, as they still pay taxes for the land, but have been unable to build, which also limits their options to find a buyer if they wanted to sell their lots.

On the other end of the spectrum, many residents of St. Lazare, including the inhabitants of the few houses on the private section of Sandmere, which were built before the province halted development on private roads, have spoken out against the municipalization project for one reason or another.

Many have expressed concern about how the development of new houses on the street would lead to the destruction of part of the lush forest that makes up many of the empty lots.

Others worry that the tranquil street will turn into a popular route for speedsters, as both sections of Sandmere would create a straight thoroughfare with no intersections.

The lot owners have unsuccessfully been pushing for Sandmere to be municipalized for years. But it wasn’t until recently that the tide began turning in their favour.

New law renews push

Last summer, the Quebec government amended legislation respecting land use, planning and development. Requests for certain zoning changes, like the minimum size of lots, are no longer subject to municipal referendum procedures, giving towns more power.

This legislative change fuelled a renewed push by lot owners to municipalize the street.

Enter St. Lazare’s two bylaws that were proposed last month. They aim to reduce the minimum width of properties on Sandmere from 50 metres to 37, which no longer is subject to municipal referendum procedures, and drop the minimum frontage from 12 metres to 10, among other measures, which still could be subject to a registry and possible referendum if enough residents object.

This reduced minimum space would allow between 42 to 44 single-family homes to be built along Sandmere and would “help lower the cost of municipalization for the current landowners who want to develop their land,” St. Lazare Mayor Geneviève Lachance told The 1019 Report in an email.

Why municipalization now

According to Alexandra Lemieux, St. Lazare’s director of urbanism services and the environment, the addition of 42-44 homes would maintain St. Lazare’s current densification standard of 2.7 dwellings per hectare. It would also limit deforestation on lots to a maximum of 20 per cent for each property. 

Connecting the 300-metre stretch that separates the two sections of Sandmere, Lemieux added, would also facilitate the flow of local traffic and emergency vehicles.

Lachance explained that although the proposal was blocked by residents last year, it is being considered again because it is better than what could eventually be imposed on the town by the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal.

The CMM is expected to impose greater housing densification norms on the 82 municipalities on and around the island of Montreal, including St. Lazare, by 2025.

“Basically, they tell us what to do,” Lachance said at the meeting. “If (the CMM plan) passes, it would mean that the density is not 2.7 homes per hectare. It’s 40 homes per hectare.”

By that calculation, Sandmere Street would be required, in theory, to build 880 dwellings under the revised PMAD.

“If residents are worried about 42-44 additional homes on Sandmere, imagine if the CMM increases this density as they’re proposing!” Lachance told The 1019 Report in an email.

With that in mind, it would be imperative that the development get under way prior to the adoption of the PMAD, Lemieux explained to The 1019 Report. Any construction on the vacant lots “will not be subject to any new minimal density if it is done before the new density is prescribed.”

Allowing some development on Sandmere best option: mayor Read More »

Festi Ouest returns to St. Lazare

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

Festi Ouest, St. Lazare’s western-themed weekend of fun, is set to return this August following a highly successful first year.

Running from Aug. 23 to 25, this year’s event features an entire extra day of family-friendly festivities. Attractions will include carriage rides, line dancing, mini golf, a small-scale animal farm, mechanical bull rides and plenty of options for food and drink.

Like last year, the events will also feature musical performances by some notable names from Quebec’s music scene. Montreal-based singer and pianist Grégory Charles will be headlining the event. Country music singer Marven James, who is also resident of St. Lazare, will also be performing. Their performances will take place on Saturday, Aug. 24.

Last year’s event, which saw a turnout of around 5,000 guests, was by all measures a success, said Christelle Paré, St. Lazare’s director of communications and community relations.

She added that the success of the new event “wasn’t just a feeling.” The town distributed a survey to several participants a few weeks after the event to quantify the reaction.

Survey respondents said they enjoyed the family-friendly environment, as well as the rides, accessibility and the overall atmosphere. Paré added that respondents gave the festival a high approval rating.

Prior to last year’s event, some St. Lazare residents had voiced their disappointment with the fact that celebrations for both St. Jean Baptiste Day and Canada Day had been scrapped, part of the funds being redirected to this new event.

However, Paré emphasized that the festival worked to bring together the community for a weekend of fun, without having to compete with neighbouring municipalities for attendance.

“The Festi Ouest was really an event where we wanted to have everybody together, and we’re really happy with the results,” she said, noting that guests had arrived from across the Montérégie region and Montreal.

It remains to be seen whether Festi Ouest will become a regular annual function unique to St. Lazare. However, with the 150th anniversary of St. Lazare approaching, Paré said plans for a 2025 edition of the festival are already in the works.

Festi Ouest returns to St. Lazare Read More »

Group calling for ‘real’ Highway 20 encouraged by progress

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

A grassroots group calling on Transport Quebec to build a high-speed bypass route for Highway 20 in Vaudreuil-Dorion that would allow through traffic to avoid having to navigate a series of traffic lights is making solid progress, as thousands have signed its petition supporting the initiative.

“In the stores on Harwood Blvd. there’s been a lot of people signing,” said Céline Pilon, a member of the Alliance of Citizens for a Real Highway 20.

The group launched the petition at the end of May, with Pilon saying it was finally time to give Transport Quebec “a little kick in the derrière” to get going on this long-promised project.

The petition has been collecting signatures at various locations across Vaudreuil-Soulanges and on the National Assembly’s website. As of yesterday, 3,351 people had signed the online petition, while an additional 3,154 signatures have been collected on paper versions of the petition, said Pierre Z. Séguin, one of the organizing members of the Alliance.

The group is calling on the provincial government to immediately start building the long-promised high-speed bypass route along a right-of-way north of the existing lanes of Harwood Blvd., allowing vehicles travelling to and from Vaudreuil-Dorion to Île Perrot to avoid the lights on Harwood. The lights along the Highway 20 lanes in Île Perrot would also need to be eliminated in a second phase of construction.

About 87,000 vehicles travel the route daily, causing headaches for commuters and local businesses located along the strip. It is the only stretch of a major highway in Canada that still has traffic lights.

Earlier this month, Transport Quebec announced it would begin studying the possibility of building the bypass. The group behind the petition greeted the move with enthusiasm, with Séguin saying he was was “very encouraged.”  

But he tempered his optimism, by pointing out that the provincial government has been dragging its feet on this project, which locals have been urging for decades, with the first stretches of land having been expropriated about 60 years ago.

When the petition was launched, Pilon said the group is looking to collect a similar number of signatures as was collected in 2010 on a petition demanding a hospital for the region, which collected about 43,000 signatures.

The group plans to submit the petition to the National Assembly at the opening of the new session in September.

However, the petition itself will not end there, Séguin said.

“We’re going to continue after that,” he said: “We won’t stop at the end of September [. . .] nothing prevents us from going ahead with the petition and asking for more signatures.”

The deadline to sign the petition via the National Assembly’s website is Aug. 17. The physical petition will remain available to sign and can currently be found at numerous businesses located along Harwood Blvd., as well as at each of the IGA grocery stores in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Île Perrot, St. Lazare and Hudson.

To access the online petition, go to https://www.assnat.qc.ca/en/exprimez-votre-opinion/petition/Petition-10811/index.html

Group calling for ‘real’ Highway 20 encouraged by progress Read More »

Hudson weighs option to buy Villa Wyman lot

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report

The town of Hudson is considering its options on whether to invoke its right of first refusal on the sale of a 37,000-square-foot lot off Main Road, which had once been the planned site of the proposed Villa Wyman seniors’ residence.

Listed for sale for $650,000, an offer to purchase the lot was accepted last month.

A member of the board of directors for the Villa Wyman declined to comment, including revealing the identity of the party who submitted the offer of purchase or the amount of the bid.

But news of the accepted offer has triggered a 60-day period that allows the town to decide if it wishes to apply its right of first refusal.

Last August, Hudson council voted to formally register a right of first refusal on 22 lots within the town’s territory, including all the lots owned by Nicanco Holdings Inc. in the waterfront area surrounding Sandy Beach; all the churches in the town, along with the parking areas surrounding them; the Sikh temple on Main Road; the Como golf course; two vacant lots on Como Gardens Street; and the Manoir Cavagnal seniors’ residence. The move was made after the provincial government passed a law that allows municipalities to register a right of first refusal on properties that are put up for sale.

By filing the right with the land registry, the law allows municipalities to match, or even increase offers, in order to purchase properties and buildings that are up for sale once an offer on a registered property is accepted by the current owner.

Last week, Hudson Mayor Chloe Hutchison said it was too soon to tell if the town will invoke its right in this instance.

“We are still collecting information to bring to council for review and consideration,” Hutchison wrote in an email in response to questions posed by The 1019 Report.

She added that she expects the preparation material to be ready for the August council meeting.

The deadline for the town to invoke the right of first refusal is Monday, Aug. 5 – the day of the next council meeting.

The empty lot, which is situated across from the Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar – formerly the Wyman Memorial United Church – is currently zoned exclusively for the construction of a seniors’ residence/assisted living facility.

The property had been planned as the site of the Villa Wyman, a two-storey, 18-unit seniors’ residence, which had been in the works since about 2015. That was until the project was scrapped in December 2023 due to what the project’s board of directors called “untenable” delays and requests for revisions to its plans by the town.

The decision to drop the project was made after Hudson council rejected a request to modify the layout of a parking area proposed for the residence. The modification had been requested after the project’s board of directors discovered the initial plan for parking, which the town had approved, encroached on the former church lot and it could not reach an agreement with the new owners of that property to permit a right of way. At that time, in a statement to the town, the Villa Wyman board of directors said: “After eight years since the inception of this project we lack the confidence in the town of Hudson to facilitate the timely completion of this project.”

Hudson weighs option to buy Villa Wyman lot Read More »

Hydro rejects call to bury power lines in Beaconsfield

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

A letter sent by Beaconsfield Mayor Georges Bourelle calling for Hydro-Québec to implement measures to prevent power outages has been received, the Crown corporation has confirmed. But the response from the utility may not be everything the mayor had hoped for. 

Bourelle sent a letter to Hydro-Québec CEO Michael Sabia earlier this summer, proposing both short- and long-term solutions for Hydro to pursue in order to decrease the number of power outages in Beaconsfield.

In the short term, he requested the utility work with the municipality to increase the frequency of tree trimming around power lines, aimed at curbing potential outage-causing accidents.

In the long term, he suggested Hydro come up with a plan to bury its power lines – a project Bourelle has called for in the past.

While Hydro agrees with increased tree maintenance, burying the power lines would be a far-too-expensive step, Jonathan Laporte, a community relations adviser with Hydro, told The 1510 West.

The organization is taking steps to increase its vegetation control and has earmarked $130 million in its yearly budget for the West Island.

In June, the Coalition Avenir Québec government granted Hydro the right to enter private properties to clear any vegetation encroaching on power lines. This can be done without the property owners’ knowledge or consent.

Bourelle told The 1510 West that he was surprised to hear that Hydro had been given such power, saying that he disagrees with the organization’s authority to “indiscriminately fell trees” without at least working with municipalities.

Removing Beaconsfield’s tree canopy without consent is not an option, he said, adding: “We are very proud of our tree canopy. It has all kinds of advantages in terms of cooling, absorbing carbon dioxide, all the things that a tree canopy does. It makes people want to live in Beaconsfield.”

His letter to Sabia describes the canopy as a “jewel” that makes “a major contribution to reducing greenhouse gases in the global fight we must all wage to counter global warming.”

In terms of burying the power lines, Laporte explained that such a project is not something Hydro is considering, given the high price tag. He pegged the price of building and maintaining underground power lines anywhere between four to 10 times more expensive than above-ground networks.

The process for repair work on underground networks is far more complex than overhead networks, Laporte added.

Bourelle, however, has been adamant that the benefits would outweigh the cost. He said that even a piecemeal plan to bury lines done over time would be better than no plan at all.

“This choice is all the more responsible in that, in addition to guaranteeing quality of life and peace of mind for the entire population, it will limit intervention in our urban forest,” Bourelle wrote in his letter.

“We understand that the costs of such an improvement are high, but they will guarantee, in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way, the reliability of the network itself and, as a result, that of the power supply to the 7,000 properties in Beaconsfield.”

Hydro rejects call to bury power lines in Beaconsfield Read More »

Scroll to Top