Avenue des Calèches
Angry residents demand repair after a valuable tree line is cleared
Jude Osmond
All the trees lining Avenue des Calèches up to the corner of John-Egan Street were felled by Hydro-Québec without any prior notice on March 19, leaving residents of the area extremely upset. Readers should know that this small street is located right behind L’Arrimage, an adult education centre on LeGuerrier Street, and is also near the Galeries Aylmer – two very busy public places by day. Thus, for many residents, these trees played a vital role in shielding them from prying eyes, while also serving as a sound barrier.
“Those trees were the only effective buffer between the school and our homes, including neighboring properties, some of which are even more directly impacted than mine,” specified a longtime resident of Avenue des Calèches. “They provided privacy, muffled noise, and embellished the view. With their removal, the benefits they provided are gone.”
The trees were reportedly cut down to prevent them from damaging the power lines running above them. But this explanation has failed to satisfy the residents, and many of them are wondering why they were not simply pruned. Gabrielle Lajoie, who also lives on the street, told the Bulletin that she can now see directly inside a classroom of the school from her living room window. The same is true for those in the school’s parking lot, who now have an unobstructed line of sight to multiple nearby houses.
“I never would have gotten the house if it were facing a parking lot and not that beautiful tree line,” someone else expressed.
A real estate agent weighs in
Homeowners on Avenue des Calèches believe that the value of their properties has plummeted because the lack of greenery and the wide openness of the area will prevent future buyers from any privacy.
“Removing established greenery creates a starker landscape, where views of natural canopies and local birdlife are replaced with brick walls and sun-exposed pavement. This can influence a buyer's first impression and the perceived desirability of a street,” explained Catherine Labelle, a real estate agent from the Chambre immobilière de l’Outaouais.
“The value of our home has dropped by $15,000 because the market on our street went dead when the tree line was cut down,“ said a resident who is selling their home on Avenue des Calèches.
No accountability
A Hydro-Québec spokesperson told the Bulletin that this tree-cutting operation was carried out to prevent outages due to branches touching power lines. “It’s part of an action plan to reduce vegetation-related outages by 30% by 2028,” the spokesperson said. “Those hydro lines power many of Aylmer's essential services, including the fire station, schools, residences, and more.”
According to some residents of the street, most of the trees were not touching the lines, and some that were not even located under an electric wire were still cut. They also mentioned that in the last 20 years, the branches were pruned four times to prevent them from touching the power lines. But never had an entire line of trees been cut down.
A longtime resident of Avenue des Calèches told the Bulletin that 25 years ago, the City's urban planning committee promised them a permanent tree line that would serve both as a privacy and a sound barrier from across the street.
20 full cords of wood left on site
All the branches and debris resulting from the tree-cutting operation were left on site by Hydro-Québec. Residents had to take it upon themselves to pick it all up, which required a significant amount of time and effort on their part.
Hydro-Québec told the Bulletin they are not responsible for picking up debris or replanting the trees they cut, nor were they required to notify residents of the tree-cutting operation in advance, calling it “routine maintenance.” They stated that it is the responsibility of the City and the school.
André Fortin, Pontiac Member of the National Assembly of Quebec, mentioned that Hydro-Québec is a Crown corporation operating at arm's length from government, meaning it is governed by its own decision-making structure. Fortin assured he would follow up with them about the decision not to tell the residents about the plan to cut down the trees in their neighborhood.
Caroline Murray, municipal councillor for the Deschênes district, told the Bulletin that she had looked at the different options available to the City. However, she said that tree lines under electrical wires do not fall under the City's jurisdiction. “We are limited when it comes to direct intervention,” she admitted.
Gatineau City officials and Hydro-Québec have been blaming each other for different parts of the situation, leaving residents feeling bounced around. They would rather get answers about how their situation can be fixed – temporarily, in the short-term, and then permanently.
According to a Gatineau police spokesperson, the police services do not have jurisdiction in this matter, and that it should be dealt with at the municipal level.
Next steps
The residents of Avenue des Calèches are demanding immediate action to restore their privacy, as the loss of it impacts their daily lives and is considered unacceptable.
These residents also want clear communication on how the decision was made and what measures will be put in place to prevent a situation like this from happening again. They also ask for the remaining debris to be cleaned up without delay; for the site to be rehabilitated; and for the confirmation of the City’s role and authority in the matter.