Vanier construction rejected: Aylmer residents demonstrate united front against Vanier developments

Sophie Demers 

Plans for two large apartment complexes were on the table during Gatineau’s December 10 council meeting. A 12-storey, 289 maximum unit building at 595 Vanier as well as a 15-storey, 251-unit building at 435 Vanier. 

The locations of planned buildings are near high-traffic areas as 595 Vanier intersects with Boulevard du Plateau while 435 Vanier intersects with Boulevard des Allumettières. Vanier has long been in need of expansion, which is currently being planned by the City. In the meantime, residents are worried about the traffic, safety, and security of the area. 

During a public information session in November with developer Dev Meta, dozens of Aylmer residents voiced their discontent with the management of road infrastructure and the rate of development in Aylmer as a whole. During the meeting, residents stated that it was not the developers that were the issue, as they were all regulations, but mismanagement on the City's part. 

Eleven concerned Aylmer residents addressed the council before the vote asking for the City to have a more global view of all the projects slated for Vanier before approving plans for construction. 

“When we talk about a lack of planning, we're talking about how we're going to take into account the quality of life of current residents in the area. In our sector in particular, there are very few sidewalks, there's a bike path, there's a bus, there's no alternative route in or out of our sector.  And the various real estate developers we've met over the last few years, they're talking about 6,000 new doors,” said Alexandre Vezina, representative of the Champlain Park Residents’ Association. 

Other residents highlighted that 435 Vanier will use Rue des Attikameks as the main entrance, which is already dangerous and congested with accidents happening regularly. One resident stated that the studies used to evaluate traffic in the area were out of date or done during the pandemic, and therefore reflected less traffic as many were working from home. 

“Ordinary citizens are very concerned about the lack of vision for the development of their neighbourhood, by the lack of infrastructure linked to roads, sidewalks, bike lanes, traffic lights and public transport designed to support the massive densification in progress. They are very concerned about the loss of beauty, harmony and inherent history to the plan. They are very concerned about the loss of these resources, green space and the lack of community space that allows children, various members of the community and the elderly to gather,” said Nina Dani, a concerned resident, during the meeting. 

The residents that organized against the development gathered 1,236 signatures on an online petition and 590 signatures on a paper petition, 42 of which were from parents of children at the daycare on Rue des Attikameks. 

The 435 Vanier was rejected by the council in a 12 to 8 vote while the 595 Vanier was accepted. Caroline Murray, Deschênes councillor, and Anik des Marais, Mitigomijokan councillor, who have been actively working with citizens on these files voted against the 435 Vanier project. Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, Gatineau’s mayor, also voted against the 15-storey project.