What's New

June 19, 2018 – In an effort to ensure the best possible use of public access points to Lake Saint-Louis for present and future generations, the City of Beaconsfield has reviewed its lease agreements with Beaconsfield Yacht Club and Lord Reading Yacht Club to incorporate a vision for the future and for sustainable development.
 
 “Public access to waterfronts is rare and therefore constitutes a true jewel for the population, even more so for a municipality in an urban area. In Beaconsfield, we have enjoyed this huge privilege for more than 200 years. This is a major asset that we have been able to preserve and that we really appreciate. It is our intention to maintain and optimize this asset for the benefit of all and to ensure its perpetuity,” explains Mayor Georges Bourelle.
 
At its public meeting in June, the Municipal Council approved the renewal of the lease agreements with Beaconsfield Yacht Club and Lord Reading Yacht Club geared towards a forward-looking approach to ensure public access, mixed usage and sustainable development. 
 
 “Beaconsfield Yacht Club provides much appreciated access for boaters on an exceptional site that has been owned by the City since 1966. This site is important, as it offers both private and public access for recreational boating. For a city, this is a rare service that we want to preserve in the interest and for the benefit of all,” underlines Mayor Bourelle. The lease has been renewed for 15 years with an option for five more years.
 
Boaters use the site for sailing on Lake Saint-Louis. A protected bay and relatively deep water provide appropriate conditions for sail boats as well as for light and recreational watercraft. A historic building serves as reception centre and restaurant.
 
The City also renewed the lease with Lord Reading Yacht Club for two years in order to take the time to assess the best usage and improvements requested and required for the services offered in Centennial Hall Memorial Park adjacent to the private club, as projected in the 3-year Capital Investment Programme adopted last year.
 
“Council perceives this renewal as an ideal opportunity to rethink our long-term actions so as to assure the best possible usage, services and private and public developments for the benefit of all. As responsible managers, this context provides us with more latitude and allows us to plan, together with our residents, a layout that will refresh our range of services, rethink the usage, satisfy emerging needs and benefit our population,” states the Mayor of Beaconsfield.

June 18, 2018 - The pool at the Recreation Centre will remain closed to the public until the water quality is restored. Additional water testing is currently underway following the receipt of non-compliant test results. The public will be advised when the pool reopens.
 
For swimming lesson information, please call 514 428-4520.

As of June 18, the contractor Sanivac will begin the annual cleaning and inspection of the sanitary sewer pipes on certain streets in Beaconsfield.
 
 
This procedure aims to remove all deposits that may affect the proper flow of wastewater into the main sanitary sewer network. During these operations, residences equipped with functional backwater valves in their private sanitary sewer line should experience minor inconveniences only. However, for residences without backwater valves, it is possible that pressurized air may agitate the water inside the toilets, and that a sewer odour may be noticed temporarily.
 
We kindly ask affected residents to please CLOSE the lid of every toilet to avoid water damage. The City will not be responsible for any water damage experienced during the work.
 
We apologize for the temporary inconvenience this work may cause. If you would like more information, please contact the Public Works Department, at 514 428-4500 or 514 428-5999 (outside opening hours). 

June 5, 2018 - The City of Beaconsfield has been selected as a finalist for the Prix Environnement from the Association québécoise des transports (AQTr) for its project consisting of building a green sidewalk with the use of glass powder in 2017.
 
This sidewalk was constructed on the west side of Neveu Avenue, from Beaconsfield Boulevard to Lakeshore Road, to address the concerns of parents and Saint-Rémi elementary school regarding student safety around the school's approach. This eco-friendly sidewalk is composed of a mixture of concrete that replaces 20% of the cement powder by the addition of Verrox cement; this mixture has the same properties as conventional concrete. Its employment allows for the reuse of glass, a material which is found in large quantities in peoples' recycling bins. 
 
Last September, an inauguration ceremony was held to commemorate the project, and an informative, playful outdoor sign for the schoolchildren was installed. This event also celebrated the important collaboration between the school and our municipality.
 
“We are proud to see this project recognized by independent experts. We are all the more pleased to have been able to join forces with other stakeholders in the community, the Marguerite-Bourgeoys School Board and the management of Saint-Rémi elementary school to ensure that the school year is held under safe conditions. Therefore, parents can rely on a safe environment when their children travel to school, on foot or by bike. These habits encourage their independence while encouraging active transportation,” said Mayor Georges Bourelle.
 
Representatives of the City of Beaconsfield will be at the Gala on June 14 for the occasion of the Grands prix d'excellence en transport.
 
For twenty years, the Association québécoise des transports (AQTr) has been awarding several prizes that highlight the excellence of transportation projects. By organizing the Grands prix d'excellence en transport Gala and by renewing the event from year to year, the AQTr wants to reward projects that have promoted or improved transportation. By publicly recognizing these efforts, the AQTr wishes to support outstanding initiatives and encourage industry to build upon them.

April 30, 2018 - The City of Beaconsfield is proud to launch its new awareness campaign aimed at making drivers more mindful of the need to slow down and drive cautiously. Outdoor signs will soon be set up at main entry points of the municipality, school zones and near parks and playgrounds to highlight this message to drivers.
 
More than 1000 traffic studies have been conducted in the last 10 years in Beaconsfield. They were used to analyze and measure the speed of close to 365,000 vehicles. Here are the highlights:
 
  • Nearly 60% of motorists travel at a speed of between 11 km/h and 20 km/h above the speed limit in school zones
  • More than 8% of motorists travel at a speed exceeding 20 km/h above the speed limit in school zones
  • Less than 12% of motorists travel at a speed below the speed limit of 40 km/h
  • Nearly 58% of motorists travel at a speed between 1 km/h and 10 km/h above the speed limit of 40 km/h
Targeting local schools
Over the next few days, communication tools for parents will be given to students attending elementary schools in Beaconsfield. Parents are invited to take the Safe Driving Pledge and become Road Safety Ambassadors by affixing an electrostatic sticker with the slogan “Safe Driving Pledge. I’m on Board!” to their vehicle.
 
The City plans to install speed displays in school zones in 2018 in order to make motorists more aware of the speed limit of 30 km/h. This project is receiving financial assistance equivalent to 50% of the costs for purchasing and installing equipment under a financial assistance program from the ministère des Transports, de la Mobilité durable et de l'Électrification des transports.
 
“The respect of signage requires all users of the road to exercise vigilance at all times. As a motorist, we need to know, adhere to and adopt the practices of a good driver in school zones; the safety of our children is at stake. While road safety improvements are essential, the fact remains that awareness and education are crucial to changing one’s own behaviour and that of others,” said Mayor Georges Bourelle.
 

Flushing of the water network is scheduled from April 15 to June 30.
 
Employees of Aqua Data, the company in charge, work between Sunday evening and Friday morning, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The quality of drinking water will not be affected. This one-way rinsing operation removes deposits in the pipes and ensures the continued supply of good quality drinking water.
 
Despite all the precautions taken by the City, this operation can cause a slight drop in pressure accompanied by rust-coloured water. If this should occur, we recommend that you let the cold water run until it is clear. There is no risk for your health.
 
We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this work. For more information, contact Public Works at 514 428-4500 or info@beaconsfield.ca.
 
A notice will be distributed to homes three to five days before we start work in each area.
 
Do not fill your pool during the work within your sector.
 
For those registered in the CodeRED automated call system, a message will be sent to inform residents. To subscribe, click HERE.

 
211An information and referral service available 7 days a week, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., 365 days a year, which will eventually be open 24 hours a day.
 
211 Community resources directory is also available on the web. In collaboration with community organizations, all information on social and community resources is updated annually.
 
With the help of statistics from calls and web frequency, 211 sheds a light to government officials and decision-makers on social needs and in determining missing resources that are needed.
 
211 service helps curb poverty and social exclusion, giving the people with non-urgent social needs rapid information on the social and community resources that will help them find solutions to move beyond their precarious situations.
 
211 is a free service, largely accessible especially for low-income people, seniors and newcomers.
 
 

sewer grate 2sewer grate rectThe Public Works department has noticed that certain sewer lines in your sector are blocked due to an accumulation of small branches and other small bits of debris which can only be there if they were purposefully put down the gaps in the sewer grates.  Recently, the accumulation of debris has caused many sewer back-ups.

We would ask for your cooperation in stopping this recurring issue in your sector by asking you to inform your children and anyone else who you might see putting debris in the gaps in the sewer grates of the consequences of their actions.

Thank you for your cooperation.

 

July 20, 2017 – The Mayor of Beaconsfield, Georges Bourelle, and the members of the City Council, have mobilized all necessary resources over the past year to ensure the health and safety of the users of municipal public pools.
 
“The safety of everyone is our priority in the management of the public swimming pools, as it is for the volunteers who, with merits, assume the management of the facilities and the vitality of the activities that take place there," specified the Mayor.
 
To this end, a complete audit of the pools was carried out over the past year in close collaboration with the volunteer administrators of three public outdoor pool organizations in Beaconsfield in order to ensure the quality and safety of the public facilities. The pools at the Lord Reading Yacht Club and the Recreation Centre, as municipal facilities, also underwent a similar review, resulting in the implementation of necessary corrections.
 
Working closely with the Lifesaving Society of Québec – Québec's foremost authority for safety and aquatic regulations – and numerous professionals with structural, legal and insurance expertise, these works and procedures were undertaken with the specific goal of maintaining all sport activities in the municipal facilities, including the use of the diving boards.
 
"This is how we recently received the approval to allow shallow dives from the ledge of the swimming pools during competitions and training sessions," adds Mayor Bourelle.
 
The new safety requirements imposed by the Government of Québec with regard to private and public pools, especially the safety measures concerning the diving boards, no longer permit their use in municipal pools under the current conditions.
 
The administrators of the pools and the City have tried everything to allow their use, looking with specialists into repositioning the boards above the basins, as well as examining the possibility of excavating the basins, or raising the side walls to increase and thus reach the required depths.
 
All possible solutions examined by the experts - architects as well as legal advisors – lead to the same conclusions: the pools have to be rebuilt in order to allow the use of diving boards. The new government standards prohibit any modifications. For each community pool, the costs are so expensive that it would make more sense to build new ones, at a price of about three million dollars each.
 
In this context, it has been agreed with the administrators of each swimming pool association to prohibit the use of diving boards in order to guarantee the safety of pool users and to respect the civil liabilities of the concerned parties.
 
In addition to evaluating the pool facilities, the City also organized a training session for pool administrators in collaboration with the Lifesaving Society. Participants were given an overview of the industry’s best practices in terms of operation, maintenance, safety, responsibilities, legal obligations and insurance coverage.
 
"Our public pools are a significant asset in our community. The involvement and dedication of the volunteers who assume their management is very important to us and we are very grateful to them. Just like ourselves, they act to ensure the health and safety of the citizens", concludes the Mayor of Beaconsfield.
 
 

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Given the current situation involving the issue of dangerous dogs, the City wishes to remind residents that By-law BEAC-099 regarding animal welfare includes several provisions regarding the care and control of a dog in Beaconsfield.

This By-law aims to raise awareness of dog guardians and ensure the safety of the public as well as that of the animal. It also provides that all dogs must be licensed and wear a tag issued by the City at all times.

No dog without a leash will be tolerated on public property
At all times, dogs must be leashed on public property, including all parks and green spaces in the City of Beaconsfield. For private properties, the guardian must at all times have control of the dog in order to prevent the animal from leaving the property.

Dangerous dogs
In cases of dogs which have caused damage to others, the City requires that the dog be muzzled on public property. To ensure the safety of residents, the By-law allows, in some cases, that a dog be placed in the pound and even be euthanized.

Compliance
In collaboration with the SPVM, an awareness campaign is underway to ensure that citizens comply with By-law BEAC-099 on animal welfare. Fines will be issued to those who do not comply with provisions of the By-law.

For all provisions concerning dogs, please consult  By-law BEAC-099 (PDF)

 

Muted citizen response regarding utility and financing

November 20, 2015 – Beaconsfield residents are cautious in their assessment of the utility and financing methods of a sound wall along the south side of Highway 20, despite the exceptional proposal made by the Provincial Minister of Transport Robert Poëti for its implementation.

This was revealed by a survey of 600 adult Beaconsfield residents conducted by Léger Marketing from October 16 to 23, 2015; the results were weighted according to sex, age, owner or tenant status and district of residence. Such research reflects an overall position of citizens regarding the project’s relevance and financing methods. The results can be expected to be accurate to within 4% if repeated again 19 out of 20 times.

“We have conducted this survey to become fully aware of the overall position of our residents on this project. The results confirm the caution with which we have handled this matter from the beginning”, explains Mayor Georges Bourelle.

According to the pollster’s analysis, the survey results show that “the majority of the citizens seem unconvinced of the sound wall’s necessity […], because they have doubts regarding its efficiency and appearance or disapprove of the costs related to the implementation of the project.

“This first level of consultation allows us to take stock of the stakes to be considered before deciding whether to accept the Minister’s proposal. We will now address the financing and consultation methods to ensure that the decision will be made with total transparency as part of a democratic exercise which will respect all parties concerned”, adds the Mayor.

Transport Minister Robert Poëti recently offered to bear 75% instead of 50% of the project costs. Despite this exceptional proposal, Beaconsfield’s part would still amount to five million dollars.

The survey results demonstrate that the noise problems caused by the highway affect a very slight majority of respondents in the three districts closest to Highway 20, whereas the respondents in the three other districts declare to be hardly or not affected.

The two main reasons given by those opposed to the project are the costs (53%) and the fact that they are not directly affected by the noise generated by highway traffic (46%).

This trend is even more pronounced when considering the cost issue. The most impacted districts favour a general cost-sharing solution, while those less or not impacted believe that the costs should be covered by the affected owners.

Click here to consult the survey and its results (PDF)

 

The City of Beaconsfield has implemented an automated call system called CodeRed to provide the means to reach citizens in an emergency. It is an efficient call system that can reach a large number of people in a very short time and can be deployed in a specific area, even a street if, for example, a broken water main were to force interruption of the water supply. In other cases, authorities could use it to announce an environmental accident, a gas leak or other emergency. The message could include information on procedures to be followed.

Is your phone number confidential, have you only a cell phone or have you moved in the last month?
The CodeRed database system contains numbers of landlines in our territory. In case of an emergency, citizens are called at home, on their cell, or at both numbers. If your phone number is not in the database, you will not be called. The CodeRed automated call system gives individuals and businesses the ability to add their own telephone or cellular numbers directly to the system's database. This can be done by visiting the City's website and clicking CodeRed.

Caller ID

When you see 866 419-5000 displayed, you will know the call is from the City. If you would like to hear the last message delivered to your phone, simply dial the number back.

This project complements other procedures already established as part of the City's emergency plan to improve efficiency during emergency situations.