tree branches

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Hydro-Québec is currently trimming and felling trees in Beaconsfield with the aim of protecting its equipment. The work being carried out will continue until 2025. The agency is actively removing tree branches or whole trees that are incompatible with the electrical network or that pose a risk during severe weather.

Provincial laws override Beaconsfield’s requirement for permits and tree replacement. In order to protect the canopy, Beaconsfield Mayor George Bourelle has asked Hydro to report its activities taking place within the Beaconsfield city lines. In the interim, affected residents are asked to replace the trees that are removed. “They are not required to plant the new tree in the same location on their property. Beaconsfield is providing a free service via its tree planting program (Ensemble on verdit),” Bourelle explained to The Suburban.

The tree planting program provided by the City of Beaconsfield is available each spring until the end of September.

Beaconsfield is also offering a collection service for debris, such as trunks and large-diameter branches, left on residents’ properties as a result of the Hydro-Québec operations. In accordance with current provincial regulations, the agency can access any tree that may affect its equipment, cut or fell trees and leave the debris near the site of the operation.

“While this may cause inconvenience for some citizens, several options are available for recovering or reusing the wood. For example, you can organize a collection in partnership with a community organization or a wood-selling company. It is also possible to offer it to local artisans or interested citizens,” the City of Beaconsfield wrote in a public memo.

“Beaconsfield has a major tree canopy and we don’t want to destroy that canopy. We can replant in a nearby spot on the same property and our Urban Planning Department can help residents choose the right tree. We understand the work that needs to be carried out, but we asked them (Hydro-Québec) to communicate with us regarding their operations, to update us and make us aware of their plans, so we can work with residents to replace their trees and preserve Beaconsfield’s tree canopy,” Bourelle told The Suburban. n