By Ruby pratka

Local Journalism Initiative

Brome Lake residents who plan to apply for vignettes to take their boats out on the lake this summer can now do so online through the municipality’s new web portal.

Town of Brome Lake (TOBL) director of communications and citizen relations Ghyslain Forcier said the framework for the portal had been in place since late last year, but the online vignette application service had only been live since May 20. He said the web portal would eventually allow citizens to access other municipal services, such as phone and email alerts for non-emergency situations, garbage collection schedules and reminders and potentially pet licence applications.

Residents who create an account on the web portal to apply for a vignette will also be able to save their data, meaning that they won’t have to re-enter their information when applying for a vignette next year.

“At this point, 500 people have already created accounts, and applied for 700 vignettes,” Forcier said. “These are people who have not had to come to the town hall with a paper application. This frees up time for our frontline staff, makes for less foot traffic in and out of the town hall and people don’t have to stand in line.” People who apply online for vignettes can choose to come to the town hall and pick up their vignette or to receive it by mail. Brome Lake residents are required to get vignettes for any motorized or non-motorized watercraft they plan to take on the lake, including paddleboards; after June 15, boaters who haven’t yet applied for a vignette may face fines. 

Forcier invited people who are having trouble setting up an account to call the town hall; those who can’t or don’t want to set up an account can still print and mail the vignette application form or pick up a paper form in person at the town hall; however, their data won’t be saved from year to year.

Forcier said the town’s new website, which went live late last year and included the “shell” of the web portal, cost $32,000; the addition of the vignette application tool cost an additional $1,750.

“We’ve wanted to improve our online services and accessibility for a while,” Forcier said. “We’re very happy with the results.”

New boat washing station

On May 23, ​​the town also announced the purchase of a new  self-service wash station, accessible at all times and relocated to 704 Lakeside Road, next to the Tourism Welcome Centre “With its chemical-free decontamination equipment for interior compartments, pipes, and engines, as well as its wash progress display, the station features advanced, state-of-the-art technology,” town officials said in a statement. Residents who have motorboats will be able to request free wash station access when applying for their vignette. Non-resident motorboat users will pay a fee of $20 for a single wash or $200 for a season pass. The service is free for non-motorized watercraft.

“These changes mark another step toward better protecting our lake while simplifying life for our citizens,” Mayor Richard Burcombe said in a statement. “The new citizen portal and self-serve wash station demonstrate our commitment to modernizing our services and preserving Brome Lake’s natural wealth for future generations.”