Public meeting to shape the future of Old Aylmer

Tashi Farmilo

Residents of Old Aylmer are invited to help shape the future of their neighbourhood at a public consultation hosted by the City of Gatineau on Sunday, July 13, from 9:00 - 2:00 pm at the Old Aylmer Market, 120 Main Street, outside the cabaret La Basoche.

The event will showcase Gatineau’s proposed Special Urban Planning Plan for Old Aylmer, or PPU, which aims to guide growth through 2041 while preserving the area’s historic character and improving public spaces, housing options, and transportation. City staff and planners from L’Atelier Urbain will be present to explain the plan, answer questions, and gather feedback before it moves to the municipal council for potential adoption later this year.

Part of Gatineau’s broader commitment to sustainable development, the PPU focuses on increasing housing diversity, enhancing pedestrian and cycling routes, protecting green spaces, and supporting local businesses along transit corridors to reduce car dependency.

Planning for the PPU began in 2022 with the “Understanding Old Aylmer” initiative, which involved over 160 residents in workshops to identify local priorities and challenges. A visioning session in September 2024 set shared goals, followed by an online consultation in March 2025 to gather community input on design and development preferences.

This consultation will be the final in-person opportunity for residents to provide input before the plan is finalised. For those unable to attend, the exhibition will be available from July 14 to 18 at the Robert-Middlemiss Pavilion at the Aylmer Marina, with comments accepted online at gatineau.ca/consultations during that period.