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Profiles of projects in Quebec
Renewing the Heart of Acton Vale
Arena Upgrades
Project location: Acton Vale, Quebec
"There are no words to describe just how happy I am," says Patrice Dumont, Acton Vale town councillor, speaking about the project to expand and upgrade the Acton Vale Sports Centre.
Built in 1969, the Sports Centre no longer meets the needs of the Acton Vale's 7,500 residents. The upgrading was funded in part through the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund.
The project involves expanding the centre and bringing it up to modern standards, as well as redesigning the interior to improve performance and sustainability.
The ground floor will be expanded to make room for a box office and food service area, as well as storage, cloakrooms and washrooms with showers.
The mezzanine level will serve as a meeting centre, with conference and multipurpose rooms, offices and an observation area overlooking the skating rink.
Mechanical and electrical upgrades will improve the ice-cooling system, and the building will be made more accessible to people with disabilities.
Federal Contribution: $2,111,156
Improving on "Sheer Bliss"
Improvements to Bellechasse Cycle Route
Project location: Regional County Municipality (RCM) of Bellechasse, Quebec
Improvements to the Bellechasse Cycle Route—known as "74 kilometres of sheer bliss"—have been completed.
Located in the Chaudière-Appalaches region just south of Quebec City, the paved bicycle trail follows the Etchemin River from Saint Henri south to Saint-Malachie then east to Armagh.
Safety improvements include widening and levelling the path, expanding the shoulders, installing fences and redeveloping intersections with public roads.
The bikeway has also been extended by 900 metres with the addition of two urban road segments, one behind the Exceldor plant and the other in the Municipality of Saint-Malachie.
The route not only provides residents with great cycling but also promotes tourism and contributes to rehabilitating and revitalizing municipal lands. The project was funded in part through the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund-Quebec.
"This project allowed us to correct deficiencies path users had reported to us," said Christian Noël, Assistant Director General of the Regional Municipality of Bellechasse. "Thanks to the corrective measures that have now been made, we can safely say that our bike path is now among the best."
Federal Contribution: $264,294
Meeting Community Needs
Ensuring Reliable Infrastructure
Project location: Bromont, Quebec
Residents of Bromont, Quebec, will soon have a reliable, sustainable water supply once again.
The town has used $1,576,899 from the Commuities Component of the Building Canada Fund to rebuild the water infrastructure along a 2,400-metre span of Shefford Street, a main thoroughfare in town.
Four watermain breaks in five years combined with inefficient residential foundation drains left the town with serious concerns about the safety of the municipal drinking water, problems with water pressure and water shortages due to seepage from the leaking and broken watermains. Sewage was also backing up in some homes.
The federal funds helped Bromont replace watermains and separate the drainage network from the potable water network. Public health and safety have been ensured, water shortage problems addressed by using available water more efficiently and wastewater treated in an environmentally responsible manner.
While appreciating the benefits of the project to the entire community, Mayor Pauline Quinlan also points out that the work meets Bromont's sustainable development goals and will help ensure the continued growth of her community.
Federal contribution: $1,576,899
Optimization for the Véloroute des Bleuets
Project location: Lac St-Jean, Quebec
The Véloroute des Bleuets is an important part of Lac Saint-Jean and involves 15 surrounding municipalities. The funding for the project has enabled them to commence construction, as well begin the promotion of the bike path in order to maintain and stimulate tourism around Lac Saint-Jean.
The expectation for this project is to maintain the existing 225,000 cyclists who tour on the path. Also, the communities involved aspire to augment the proportion of path users, as well as to boost the visitors in the region of Lac-Saint-Jean. By injecting funds into the Véloroute des Bleuets project, the government is improving citizens' well-being, creating jobs and supporting a well-performing economy.
"With an annual 200,000 visitors, the Véloroute des Bleuets [Blueberry bicycle route] is recognized as an incentive to attract tourists to the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. The route's annual economic impact is valued in excess of $8 million, which benefits many parts of the region. Thanks to this contribution, we expect an increase in user satisfaction and the bicycle route's popularity,
" says Jean-Claude Lindsay, the President of the Véloroute des Bleuets
Federal Contribution: $1,684,373
Desjardins Drinking Water Facility
Project location: Lévis, Quebec
Ensuring reliable, potable water that is sufficient to meet growing community demands and those of its industrial and commercial base is fundamental to economic growth and sustainable development. The City of Lévis, across the St. Lawrence River from Quebec City, recognized the need to expand its capacities to prepare for the future growth. Since 2004, the City's professional services, business, government and educational institutions have all grown.
The Desjardins Drinking Water Treatment Facility upgrade project supports this growth by expanding the filtration plant. The goal is to almost triple its production capacity. Adding filters and an ultraviolet disinfection system, completing building repairs and exterior work at the site all form part of the project. A new water intake next to the St. Lawrence River and a larger raw water pumping station will also contribute to the goal.
"The work done at the Desjardins Plant will increase the production capacity which will go from 25,000 m3/day to 65,000 m3/day to meet the needs of the Lévis, Lauzon and Pintendre areas for the next thirty years," says Lévis Mayor Danielle Roy Marinelli.
Federal Contribution: $10,786,000
Preserving our Heritage at Maison Saint-Gabriel
Project location: Montreal, Quebec
Montreal’s Maison Saint-Gabriel Museum is dedicated to preserving the heritage of 17th century New France settlers. The museum includes a small farm that has been administered by the Sisters of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame for more than 300 years. Declared a national monument of interest in 1965, it became a museum in 1966.
The project to refurbish the museum is possible through more than $1 million from the federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund together with investments from the Government of Quebec and the Maison Saint-Gabriel itself.
The improvements will expand the facilities to accommodate a steadily growing number of visitors, transform a neighbouring building to include service upgrades, and include a tunnel linking the two buildings. Specialized equipment is being installed to track energy use.
All these improvements will not only allow the museum to expand its programming, but will also provide visitors with a first-class experience.
Federal Contribution: $2,100,000
Stimulus Funds Provide Upgrade
Community Centre Receives a Facelift
Project location: Princeville, Quebec
In Princeville, Quebec, the Pierre-Prince Community Centre plays an essential role in town life.
Many community groups use the Centre's facilities, and it provides a venue for recreational activities and meetings, and a hall for community suppers, dances and theatrical events. But it had been 35 years since the Centre last received a major facelift.
With $126,252 from the federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, matched by the provincial and municipal governments, Princeville undertook essential upgrades to enhance the functionality and safety of the building.
The funds paid for mechanical and electrical updates, improved wheelchair accessibility, and upgrades to the kitchen and washrooms.
Renovations also included an updated entranceway and stairwells, better air conditioning, and a new stage so the Centre could expand programming to include larger theatrical and musical productions.
"For the people of Princeville," said Mayor Gilles Fortier, "this project means a lot and will have a big impact on daily life."
Federal contribution: $126,252
Port of Sept-Îles: Investments to meet growing demand
Project location: Sept-Îles, Quebec
As one of the most important ore handling ports in Canada, demand for services at the Port of Sept-Îles is expected to grow as the market for iron increases over the coming years. Located on a prime maritime route between North America, Europe and Asia, and providing year-round access to the St. Lawrence, the port rates among the most important in the country with nearly 80 per cent of merchandise destined for international markets. The port also forms a core part of the regional economy, and helps ensure community development and business diversification.
Thanks to federal investments amounting to almost $25 million through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, the port is being rehabilitated and expanded to be able to meet the increasing demands of local and international markets. The work focuses on improvements to port operations, in particular, the expansion of the pier's iron ore shipping and storage capacity to more than twice its current capacity.
"With the anticipated start-up of new iron mines in Northern Québec," says Pierre D. Gagnon, President and CEO of the Port of Sept-Îles, "these investments are a first step in preparing for the expected growth in iron ore shipments in the coming years. They are key to fully optimizing the [port's] potential."
In line with the development of a large number of major mining projects on the North Shore, this project will have a highly positive effect on medium- and long-term economic development in the region while creating short-term jobs.
Federal Contribution: $24,535,000
World Competitiveness
Meeting the Needs of Tomorrow
Project location: Trois-Rivières, Quebec
The Trois-Rivières Port Authority had a long-term modernization plan to help the port grow and prosper in the increasingly competitive world economy. Now, with $5.9 million from the federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, the port has the critical support needed to move ahead with its plan, which got underway in late 2009.
Phase 1 work will improve port and intermodal operations through upgraded rail handling and more capacity, increase warehousing capabilities, both inside and out, and enhance integration of the port into the urban environment with added dust collectors, green spaces and better traffic control. Energy consumption will also be reduced.
Access to the port will be altered to improve security and further reduce the port's impact on the surrounding area. Public access to the St. Lawrence River will be improved.
Pierre Ducharme, Chairman of the Board of the Trois-Rivières Port Authority, welcomes the changes. "We're embarking on major new developments that will create opportunities for our businesses. In addition, the transformation of our current port into one that meets the needs of tomorrow will facilitate the emergence of new national and international markets."
Federal contribution: $5,900,000
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