Municipal infrastructure

Shigawake: Inauguration ofMacKenzie’s Trail and the Ken Duguay Park

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Emily Hocquard, LJI

SHIGAWAKE: – On Sunday, August 24, the Municipality of Shigawake proudly marked a momentous occasion with the official opening of two long-anticipated community projects: the newly restored Mackenzie Trail and the beautifully upgraded Ken Duguay Park. Both developments are a testament to community initiative, partnerships and willing volunteers that Shigawake is lucky to have.

MacKenzie’s Trail

The once-beloved nature walk that had been left overgrown, unsafe and nearly forgotten has now undergone a remarkable transformation, thanks to the vision of the Shigawake Municipality, the trail is now fully revitalized and ready to be enjoyed once again! “The trail’s name has been chosen by the landowner, Mrs. Joyce Mackenzie and her family, in honour of Mr. Arnold Mackenzie and the entire Mackenzie family” says the mayor of Shigawake, Rolande Beebe.

With funding from the PRIMA project (Municipal Infrastructure Program for Seniors) through the provincial government, the municipality was able to contract La Coop Du 3 to completely overhaul the trail. By clearing away years of brush and fallen debris, the safety, beauty and usability of this nature passage was restored. Every detail was carefully considered to ensure minimal environmental impact, meaning natural materials from the trail itself were used to fix the nature walk. “We are honoured to be able to work on this trail and we are happy to make such a beautiful place accessible to everyone and promote one more attraction in our municipality. We appreciate the Municipality of Shigawake for making our participation in this project possible” shares Pierre Jeanneau of La Coop Du 3.

The new and improved Mackenzie’s Trail will offer a safe place for people of all ages to explore all year round. “People will be able to snowshoe and cross-country ski all winter,” says Mrs. Beebe. The trail has been given a second life and has become a beautiful space for the community to enjoy and connect with nature.

Ken Duguay Park

Ken Duguay Park has seen major upgrades. With funding through the FRR4 (Fonds Régions et Ruralité 4) project from the MRC of Bonaventure, the municipality received $100,000 in funding for the pump-track infrastructure and $50,000 for new play structures. An additional $3,000 was contributed by the Caisse Populaire to help cover final installation costs. The Municipality of Shigawake contributed roughly $20,000, towards the large project.

Although the play structures were purchased when the plans first came to fruition in 2023, a shortage of contractors available to install the equipment led the municipality to request, and receive, a one-year extension on the original grant deadline. “Installation was completed by a Gaspé-based contractor, Espace Nature, who did excellent work,” states Mrs. Beebe. With significant volunteer support from brothers Johnny and Jordan Ross, who landscaped and excavated immensely to prepare the grounds, and W.J. Mackenzie who completed the final landscaping using his own equipment, the long wait is now over.

“Volunteers are not something we lack here in Shigawake, when we ask for help, we always get it,” shares the mayor. This new reform marks an incredible upgrade to the park and provides a revitalized recreational space for local families and visitors alike!

When asked by the SPEC what the future looks like for the log cabin and skating rink this winter, mayor Rolande Beebe projects that it will be open and running. “We are already planning renovations to the building through the PRIMA project to make it accessible for everyone,” she shares. A space which was once the heart of the little town, with four-season fun, is step by step becoming the spot to be once again!

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To move or not to move: Ormstown faces urgent library decision

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The municipality of Ormstown will be holding a public information session on September 17 to discuss options for the future of the municipal library.

The consultation will be led by representatives from Aedifica, an architectural and design firm based in Montreal. Mayor Christine McAleer said that the municipality called in external experts to ensure all information pertaining to the potential relocation of the library is presented in a transparent and neutral manner.

“We are going to cover all the points,” McAleer explained, noting that the council is considering the advantages and disadvantages of renewing the current lease, with or without negotiation, or completely relocating the library.

The meeting will address the implications of keeping the library at its current location while providing details on a proposal from the current building owners. Possible cost differences if the library was moved to the basement of the town hall will also be discussed.

“I think there may be some people who associate basements with dungeons,” said McAleer, before noting that a sketch of what the library might look like if it was moved will also be presented.

McAleer explained that the debate over relocating the library is one she and several councillors had been hoping to resolve before the end of their term.

Ormstown director general Daniel Leduc added that a decision on the library was now especially urgent because the municipality must give notice to the building owners before the end of the year.

With time running out before the upcoming municipal elections, Leduc confirmed that the council is divided over the issue. In the event the current council is unable to reach a clear decision, the future of the library will be deferred to the council elected in November.

The information session will take place at 6:30 p.m. on September 17 at the recreation centre.

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Huntingdon inaugurates new playground equipment

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Families in Huntingdon have a new municipal playground to discover.

The town council officially inaugurated a two-storey playground installation at the Leo-Cappiello Park on West Street on August 13. The park was completely renewed to accommodate the new structure, which features a colourful treehouse design including rope ladders, multiple slides, and different levels.

“The old park was quite obsolete,” said Huntingdon’s mayor, André Brunette. “The fence was rusted and the swings and the slide as well,” he added, while acknowledging the equipment had become less safe for children.

Brunette confirmed that while the purchase of the equipment from the Lévis-based playground manufacturers, Jeux 1000 Pattes, was approved as part of the 2025 budget, the apparatus was originally destined for the park on Russell Island. “We decided to build it here,” said Brunette, while suggesting the state of the older equipment necessitated the change of plan.

The installation required the pouring of a concrete slab to provide a solid foundation for the structure. The park was then renovated and landscaped to include four park benches and a picnic table. “There are more families now in this part of town, so it was time to do this,” said Brunette. “The kids are already playing on it.”

The cost for the structure and installation was just under $125,030, while the total cost to renew the park was $146,003, without including the time spent by municipal employees who poured the concrete slab, built the furniture, and landscaped the grounds.

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Huntingdon promises sidewalk on busy strip is coming

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Construction work has begun on the new Maxi grocery store in Huntingdon at the corner of François-Cleyn Street and Ridge Road. The Uniprix pharmacy just opened its doors in the new commercial buildings across the busy street. Traffic is increasing at the intersection, and that volume is expected to grow with the anticipated supermarket opening before the end of the year. The flow of cars has also ticked up, because the lack of a sidewalk means foot traffic is not safe.

Huntingdon has been requesting a sidewalk for the in-town section of Route 202 since 2021. The municipal council passed a resolution last October seeking a transfer of authority over the road from the Ministère des Transport et de la Mobilité Durable.

Huntingdon’s mayor, André Brunette, insists that the provincial cabinet, which makes decisions concerning the implementation of legislation and the administration and proper operation of the state, has agreed to transfer ownership to the town. He explained he was hoping to receive official notification from Transports Quebec in writing before the National Assembly broke for the summer. He confirms that as of now, no agreement has been signed.

“It’s still a provincial highway or road. The town does have plans to construct a sidewalk. It’s a must, and we will do it,” Brunette said, noting improved safety along this stretch of road is a priority.

The Transport Ministry has lowered the speed limit on Ridge Road (Route 202) when approaching the town from 70 kilometres per hour to 50. Brunette says two new stop signs will also be installed once construction on the Maxi is complete. The town is also considering the installation of a flashing light.

Brunette maintains that once the town has control over the road, work will begin to install a sidewalk leading to the medical centre, the childcare centre, and the Maxi.

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Hinchinbrooke debuts new hockey installation, has plans for b-ball and dek

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The ice hockey season has officially come to an end at the new rink at Athelstan Park in Hinchinbrooke. The marks on the boards suggest the installation was well-used over the winter, and that bodes well for the upcoming dek hockey season this summer.

Firefighters and members of the public works department worked diligently from late December to maintain the ice surface on the municipality’s new installation. The cold winter allowed for good ice over several weeks as skating parties, pick-up hockey, and broomball games developed organically around the new equipment.

“The council is ecstatic with the turnout and is hoping we will have the same results this summer for the basketball nets and dek hockey,” says Hinchinbrooke director general Adam Antonopoulos.

After the municipality installed new playground equipment in Athelstan Park as well as in Davignon Park a few years ago, Antonopoulos noted that citizens began to ask questions about additional structures. He suggested installing dek hockey equipment with a multi-sport surface that could be used year-round.

The council was on board, and Antonopoulos began searching for grants. The municipality received just under $114,000 from the provincial government as well as $100,000 from the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent through the Fonds Régions et Ruralité (FRR) – volet 4: Soutien à la Vitalisation et à la Coopération Intermunicipale program, in partnership with the Ministère des Affaires Municipales et de l’Habitation.

“Everyone thought it was a very good project that would benefit pretty much all the neighbouring municipalities,” says Antonopoulos, who notes the municipality has contributed around ten per cent of the final costs.

Delays in the fall almost prevented the installation from being ready this winter. “We are fortunate that the installers were able to get the material and put it up before, you know, our big first freeze,” he says.

The installation is mostly complete. The lights have been installed, and the permanent playing surface is scheduled to be installed this spring along with player benches. 

A second phase, for which the municipality is currently applying for funding, includes upgrades to the small building in the park known locally as the “snack shack.” A new building would serve as a changing room and include bathroom facilities, a rest area, and storage. Cyclists and tourists would also be able to benefit from the rest area and public washrooms during the summer.

Access to water on site would also allow the municipality to flood the rink in winter without having to use a tanker from the fire department. Antonopoulos acknowledges the hard work and time invested by local firefighters and the public works crew to remove the snow and flood the ice. “It was used so much that we had to ice it quite often,” he adds.

Antonopoulos is looking forward to the summer. The park is already used for community softball and T-ball activities. “We had basketball nets with some asphalt, but it was getting pretty tired,” he explains. “It was a nice way to add something without subtracting anything,” he adds.

The infrastructure is available and accessible to the public. “I think the turnout is going to continue and people are going to use it. That’s what it is there for, so people get out and get active,” says Antonopoulos.

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Sainte-Barbe inaugurates pétanque courts

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Sainte-Barbe mayor Louise Lebrun ceremoniously threw the first jack, or “cochonnet,” to officially inaugurate the municipality’s new pétanque courts on August 14.

The popular boules sport, which involves players tossing balls towards a target ball (the jack), is somewhat like lawn bowling or bocce.

The new playing surfaces cost a total investment of $104,520 and were installed by Ormstown-based contractor Construction Jacques Théorêt Inc. They are located on Rue des Moissons, near the Cooperative de solidarité du Parc seniors’ housing development.

Huntingdon MNA Carole Mallette was on hand for the inauguration to represent the provincial government, which invested $99,832 in the project through the Programme d’infrastructures municipales pour les aînés (PRIMA) program aimed at providing municipal infrastructure for seniors.

“Seniors in Sainte-Barbe have been eagerly awaiting these new courts, and they are already being put to good use,” said Lebrun, while pointing out that the popularity of the playing surfaces suggests they meet a real need within the community.

“Facilities like these encourage seniors to stay active, while providing new opportunities for socializing,” added the mayor, who acknowledged the provincial government’s support of their creation.

“I’m delighted to see that residents of the Coopérative de Solidarité du Parc are already enjoying the pétanque courts,” said Mallette.

“This demonstrates that the financial assistance granted under PRIMA is fully meeting its objectives to improve seniors’ quality of life, and to promote active aging in the community as part of the Age-Friendly Municipality initiative,” added the MNA.

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Québec Invests $23 Million to Improve Municipal Infrastructure

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Maria Diamantis, LJI journalist

In a significant move to bolster municipal infrastructure, Mario Laframboise, the Member of the National Assembly (MNA) for Blainville, announced a substantial $23 million allocation to the municipalities within his constituency. This funding, aimed at enhancing local infrastructure projects, is part of the broader Programme de transfert pour les infrastructures d’eau et collectives du Québec (TECQ) 2024-2028, overseen by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.

The TECQ program is designed to assist municipalities in financing critical projects related to potable water treatment, wastewater management, local roadways, and energy efficiency improvements in municipal buildings. Additionally, it supports the development of resilient infrastructures with cultural, community, sports, and recreational purposes.

Announcing this funding on behalf of Minister of Municipal Affairs Andrée Laforest, MNA Laframboise emphasized the program’s significance: “With this investment of over $3.2 billion across Quebec, cities and municipalities will be able to bring numerous infrastructure projects to fruition and improve the services they provide. The TECQ 2024-2028 program offers flexibility to municipalities and focuses on their autonomy. By supporting municipal work in this way, our government reiterates its commitment to being present in all regions of Quebec, fostering the vitality of our territories.”

Minister Laforest’s office confirmed that the total investment under the TECQ program exceeds $3.2 billion, with $1 billion contributed by the Government of Quebec. The remaining $2.2 billion comes from the administrative agreement related to the Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF), finalized with the federal government in June 2024.

MNA Laframboise expressed his satisfaction in being able to contribute to the enhancement of municipal services and infrastructure. “Municipal infrastructure requires substantial investment, which is why our government is financially supporting municipalities in implementing their projects,” he stated.

In a related effort to improve local infrastructure, the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility recently granted the City of Blainville $136,484 under the TAPU Program. This funding will support Blainville’s project focused on creating safer intersections and implementing traffic calming measures, further underscoring the government’s commitment to enhancing public safety and infrastructure across Quebec.

This substantial investment marks a significant step in ensuring that municipalities in the Blainville area and across Quebec can improve their infrastructure, ultimately leading to better services and quality of life for residents. The TECQ program’s focus on water treatment, road maintenance, energy efficiency, and community spaces, along with targeted investments like those from the TAPU Program, underscores the government’s commitment to sustainable and resilient municipal development across the province.

Pictures 1 and 2: “Under the TAPU Program, the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility granted the City of Blainville $136,484 to support its project for safer intersections and traffic calming measures.”

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