Aylmer residents pack community centre for joint public assembly
Tashi Farmilo
Aylmer's four city councillors hosted a public pre-council assembly on the evening of March 16, drawing residents from across the sector's four districts to the Ernest-Lattion Community Centre on Rue Court. The two-hour meeting, which ran from 6 pm to roughly 8 pm, was the first such joint gathering for Vincent Roy (Aylmer), Sonia Ben-Arfa (Lucerne), Caroline Murray (Deschênes), and Rachel M. Deslauriers (Mitigomijokan). Gatineau's mayor also attended briefly to address the crowd before leaving to prepare for the next day's council session.
The councillors described the meeting as a format they intend to repeat, aimed at bringing residents into direct conversation with their elected officials before formal council decisions are made. About 98 people had registered in advance.
The most prominent item was the upcoming opening of the Lucy-Faris Library in its new home, the Constance-Provost building at 115, rue Principale. The facility will enter a period of reduced hours between April 7 and 22 during a transition period, followed by a ceremony for schools and elected officials on April 24, and a full public opening on April 25. The weekend of April 25 will feature a full programme of public activities, including workshops, draws, conferences, and a youth evening, timed to coincide with the Transistor music festival.
The most prominent item was the upcoming opening of the Lucy-Faris Library in its new home, the Constance-Provost building at 115, rue Principale. The facility will enter a period of reduced hours between April 7 and 22 during a transition period, followed by a ceremony for schools and elected officials on April 24, and a full public opening on April 25. The weekend of April 25 will feature a full programme of public activities, including workshops, draws, conferences, and a youth evening, timed to coincide with the Transistor music festival. Once the library vacates its temporary space in the former cinema at the Galeries d'Aylmer, Unigym Gatineau is set to move in. The local gymnastics club currently operates out of École secondaire Grande-Rivière in roughly 4,000 square feet and the new space would give it 15,000 square feet, tripling its capacity.
On waste and recycling, residents learned that the previous drop-off site for electronics at the former location is no longer available. A temporary arrangement has been in place with the Knights of Columbus, but a newer and more convenient option is now the Renaissance store located behind the Galeries d'Aylmer. The social economy business accepts electronics, old tools, and textiles, and is open during regular mall hours. A mobile eco-centre event is also planned for April 25 at the arena parking lot from 9 am to 3 pm. Separately, the city passed a borrowing bylaw in February to fund a permanent neighbourhood eco-centre, with construction expected around 2027 and a mobile unit to be used in the interim.
The outdoor refrigerated skating surface at Parc des Cèdres wrapped up a successful first season this winter. Open daily from mid-November to mid-March, the rink drew more than 30,000 skaters and hosted seven themed evenings, including a holiday ugly sweater night and a visit from Santa Claus. Skate rentals were available on site and local schools used the facility for daytime outings. The city is treating it as a two-year pilot project, after which it will assess whether to make the installation permanent, with the mayor having committed to eventually equipping every sector of Gatineau with a refrigerated surface.
On the tramway, the mayor noted that the project continues to have strong backing from federal MPs and ministers, but acknowledged that Quebec's provincial budget, expected March 18, would clarify the financial picture. She urged residents to stay the course on a project she said the city remains committed to.
The Paul-Pelletier Aquatic Centre on chemin d'Aylmer has been closed since January for major repairs to its ventilation, mechanical, and water management systems, with reopening not expected before early 2027.
The meeting closed with a look at upcoming community events. The Fête des Sucres at Parc Central on rue de Bruxelles is set for March 21, with maple taffy, music, activities, and pony rides from 11 am to 2 pm. The Vieux-Aylmer sugar shack event, organised by APICA in partnership with the city, will run April 11 and 12 from 10 am to 4 pm. Further ahead, the Outaouais en fête festival marks its 50th anniversary from June 19 to 24 at Parc des Cèdres in Aylmer, with headliners including Marjo, Ariane Moffatt, Kaïn, and Salebarbes among roughly 50 artists performing across the six-day event, which wraps on the Fête nationale du Québec.
A question period followed, with residents raising a range of neighbourhood concerns. One resident flagged both potholes and the red light timing on boulevard de Lucerne, arguing that signal cycles are impeding traffic flow rather than improving it. Another called for the return of a previous compost pilot programme in which organic material was collected and finished compost was returned to participating households. The timeline and location of the permanent eco-centre also drew questions, and the closure of the Paul-Pelletier Aquatic Centre was another source of frustration among others.
The next round of district meetings is scheduled for April 13 at 6 pm, with individual assemblies for Aylmer, Deschênes, and Mitigomijokan. A second joint gathering of all four Aylmer districts is planned for mid-June.
Aylmer's four city councillors held their first joint public assembly March 16, covering a packed agenda of neighbourhood projects, recreational facilities, and upcoming events while opening the floor to residents with questions. Photo: Tashi Farmilo