Saint-Anicet

Phase one of new housing project is underway in Saint-Anicet

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Club de Golf Saint-Anicet will soon be welcoming more than golfers, as construction is now underway on the Domaine Port-Lewis residential project just steps away from the green. 

The housing development, which features custom-designed single-family homes on large lots, was officially launched on April 25 at the golf club. Developers Marc Faubert, Patrice Bougie, Naim Baksh, and George Maziotis were all present at the launch, as were real-estate partners Judy Pomminville and her team, and representatives from Elli Construction and the Caisse Desjardins du Haut-Saint-Laurent.  

Also present were Sainte-Barbe mayor and MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent prefect Louise Lebrun, Saint-Anicet mayor Gino Moretti, and several municipal councilors. 

Faubert and Pomminville presented the project, which will see at least 126 lots developed over three phases at the golf course.  

“We understand that in the regions, we do things differently,” said Faubert, who emphasized the importance of harmoniously integrating the development within the surrounding area and the natural environment. “I think this project is unique,” he added, noting their decision to offer large 30,000-square-foot lots and to work with the rolling terrain at the club. “It gives the project a cachet,” he explained, adding that property owners will have privileged year-long access to the walking trails on site and the golf course. 

Pomminville mentioned her experience working with Elli Construction on housing developments in the area, including the Domaine de la Vallée des Outardes in Ormstown, the Projet West in Huntingdon, and the Domaine des Brises in Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka. She agreed that Domaine Port Lewis represents a unique project. 

Faubert admitted the project has taken time to develop, and he thanked those who signaled their interest as far back as 2020 and who have stuck with it. He also thanked the municipality of Saint-Anicet for their cooperation and belief in the project. Mayor Moretti praised the developers in turn for their vision and insistence on creating harmonious living environments. “Saint-Anicet is the paradise of the Haut-Saint-Laurent!” he exclaimed. “We need to be looking ahead at the future. This project will go far beyond the first phase. There is so much potential,” he said. 

Faubert confirmed that lots are already being reserved for the first phase of construction, and project partners expect to begin signing contracts in early May. The developers anticipate the second phase will begin later this year, in the fall. 

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Saint-Anicet mayor in Washington with Canada/U.S. delegation

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Saint-Anicet mayor Gino Moretti joined over 30 other mayors from both Canada and the United States in Washington D.C. earlier this month as part of a Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative delegation participating in Great Lakes Day.

The delegation, which also included the mayors of Montreal, Laval, and Quebec City, and several more from Ontario, participated in over 20 meetings with congressional leaders, senior United States administration officials, and business representatives.

The mayors worked to promote the protection of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River watershed, while advocating for a strong Canada-U.S. trade relationship. Members also reiterated the Cities Initiative’s opposition to tariffs imposed on Canadian goods entering the United States.

The organization recently passed a resolution opposing blanket tariffs on Canadian imports while calling on the two federal governments to “institute relief measures for affected municipalities, recognizing the need to protect workers, businesses, and local economies from the consequences of a trade war.”

Moretti is the co-chair of the Cities Initiative, which brings together more than 270 member municipalities, cities, and Indigenous leaders that make up the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River region. The delegation arrived in Washington D.C. on March 5 for an afternoon of congressional meetings followed by a reception at the Canadian Embassy, which was attended by Kirsten Hillman, the Canadian ambassador to the United States.

The following day included a congressional breakfast followed by more meetings, receptions, and roundtables. The trip concluded on March 7 with a breakfast at the Residence of the Ambassador to France, and a press conference where delegates repeated the importance of bilateral trade partnerships between the two countries.

Moretti describes the relationship with the United States as strong and multifaceted, but not without challenges. “Trade issues, energy policies, and environmental issues require constant attention and ongoing cooperation,” he said. “However, the resilience of this bilateral relationship rests on a solid foundation of mutual respect, shared interests, and open dialogue.”

This was not the first trip to the American capital for Moretti this year. He was in Washington as a guest speaker at the United States Conference of Mayors, just days before Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Moretti believes very strongly in the significance of mayors. “We are on the ground, and we know what is needed,” he expressed, while noting it is important that mayors take on an active role in representing their region.

Moretti says mayors of larger cities have sometimes admired how active he is on both sides of the border. “I say we have to be, if we want to make sure we prosper. We can’t wait until we are confronted by an obstacle. Then we don’t know what to do.”

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Saint-Anicet plans to purchase the land known as ‘the beach’

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The municipal council in Saint-Anicet wants to develop the area known as “the beach” at Jules-Léger Park.

The municipality has been renting the waterfront property on Lake Saint-François from the Pilon family since 1980. Residents who took part in a public consultation during the fall of 2023 made it clear they were in favour of maintaining the site. The sentiment was echoed during a second consultation on February 22, which was attended by around 20 residents as well as five elected officials, and three municipal employees who explained the financial implications of maintaining the beach.

During its regular meeting in February, the municipal council adopted a resolution authorizing the municipality to enter negotiations with the Pilon family to purchase a 1,781-square-metre portion of the lot. On March 3, the council passed a loan bylaw to borrow $325,000 over ten years for the purchase the land. The average annual cost to property owners is estimated to be around $15.81 as part of their municipal taxes.

A referendum on the loan bylaw is now scheduled to take place on March 31, between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the town hall. At least 267 residents must sign the register for the bylaw to be reconsidered. If the number of signatures falls short of this figure, the loan bylaw will be sent to the Ministère des Affaires Municipals et de l’Habitation (MAMH) for final approval.

During the public consultation in February, the municipality detailed some of its development plans. Parking, or the lack thereof during the summer, was brought up as an issue. The municipality plans to discuss the parking situation with residents in the village to see about renting land to create more parking spaces. Signs were installed last year directing visitors to use the parking area at the town hall.

Work began in November to renovate the park, wharf, and swimming area. The municipality received two $100,000 grants as part of a revitalization agreement between the provincial government and the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent. The remaining work in the beach area includes removing rocks from the water, the softening of the slope depending on erosion, and the expansion of the sand surface at the water’s edge.

Additional work will also be done in the park, including repairs to the stairs and cement platform along the wharf, the installation of handrails along the stairs, and the construction of a new building to house public washrooms. 

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Saint-Anicet adopts balanced budget; mayor will not seek third term

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The mayor of Saint-Anicet, Gino Moretti, will be moving on from municipal politics after the end of his second mandate this fall.

Moretti announced he would not be seeking a third term just before the start of a special council meeting and budget presentation on December 16. “Tonight will be my last municipal budget,” he confirmed. “I have other opportunities in the future,” he added, without further explanation.

The mayor then turned the floor over to director general Denis Lévesque, who presented the details of the municipality’s annual financial exercise, which predicts a balanced budget of $6,418,064.

Lévesque explained that this year’s figures were influenced by several key factors, including the filing of a new municipal roll that saw a 54-per cent increase in the value of all properties. The average assessment for a single-family home jumped from $288,647 in 2024 to $431,032 in 2025, which represents an increase of over $142,000.

The director general was also careful to note a 5.5-per cent increase in shared expenses with the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent, the impact of inflation on all municipal expenditures, and the need to invest in municipal infrastructure having an impact on the overall budget.

Lévesque then presented the details of the capital expenditures program, which estimates an investment of $11,358,000 over the next three years. The municipality expects to invest over $4.9 million in 2025 on the paving of several roads, equipment for the fire service, and several major infrastructure projects.

Saint-Anicet will spend $1.2 million over three years to renovate the town hall, which Lévesque explained was lacking space. Half of the investment will be made in 2025, while an additional $300,000 has been budgeted for 2026 and 2027.

An additional $1.2 million will be spent in 2025 for repairs to the Catholic Church and community centre. Lévesque explained that the roof is currently leaking, and the municipality hopes to stop this before the structure is damaged.

The municipality will be installing washrooms at Parc Jules-Léger at a cost of $150,000, while development plans for Parc Génier will incur annual investments of $350,000 over the next three years. An additional $50,000 will be invested in the park in Cazaville as well.

Investments in the fire service include the purchase of a new boat as well as a new auto-pump fire truck, which is expected in 2026 at a cost of around $1.2 million. An underground cistern is also being installed in Parc Génier at a cost of $138,000. This will allow the fire department to fill their tanks with water more quickly. Lévesque noted excavation work has already begun in the park and a concrete slab has been poured.

Around $4.2 million will be spent on road maintenance between now and 2027, including the repaving of the Chemin St-Charles Ouest, the Chemin Rivière La Guerre, sections of the Chemin des Prairies, as well as sidewalk maintenance within the town and work on the Montée Cazaville.

Lévesque noted that the municipality was required to bring its wastewater treatment facility to standard, requiring an investment of $1.2 million. The municipal garbage truck is also in need of replacing at an estimated cost of $500,000 in 2026.

The director general noted that much of the planned expenditures will be covered by different grants and subsidies as well as loan bylaws.

The council unanimously approved both the budget and the capital expenditures plan before a notice of motion was tabled presenting the tax rates, service taxes, and the terms and conditions set out for this year.

The tax rate in Saint-Anicet is set to decrease from $0.4686 per $100 evaluation in 2024 to $0.3049 in 2025.

The bylaw was on the agenda for approval during the regular council meeting on January 13.

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