What's New

The Government of Québec has announced that non-essential businesses will remain closed until May 4. This measure is intended, among others, for companies offering landscaping, residential maintenance services (e.g. gutters, chimney, window cleaning), pruning and felling of trees and construction services.

Non-essential businesses who do not respect governmental orders are liable to the fines provided by law. 

Some collections are not considered essential services, such as the branch collection. A revised collection schedule will be provided once this service is authorized by the government.

With the arrival of spring, we wish to advise residents that it is prohibited to place branches by the side of the street until the morning of the start of branch collection in your area. The free collection is scheduled to start in May but is dependent upon the government’s ordinance on essential services being lifted. We will keep you updated on this situation in due course.
 
Similarly, felling and pruning are not an essential service as decreed by the Government of Québec. Contractors performing this work, cannot, at the moment, carry out these projects unless it is an emergency. In such a case, obtaining a permit is mandatory. Contact the Urban Planning Department at 514 428-4430 for more details. 

Opening statement from March 23 Council Meeting

In these exceptional times of public health emergency due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, we must all show courage and determination, personal sacrifice and community solidarity to counter the spread of this virus and save lives.

The situation we are facing is a global first. It is a new and demanding challenge for all of us.
Public health authorities ask us to stay at home to limit the contagion. Our outings should be limited to our basic food and health needs and to help our loved ones and those in need. If out for a walk, we must still maintain a 2-meter distance from others we may encounter.

We all understand that no one appreciates being limited in their individual freedoms. However, these restrictions are of paramount importance for saving lives.

Let us also all have a generous thought towards all those who are on the front lines to provide care, safety, essential supplies and logistical support. These people put themselves at risk of contagion to protect us. Let's stay at home to protect them.

Let us remember this daily in this difficult time in the world: the sacrifices we make in our personal lives save lives. We must be aware of this and we must be proud of it. Each of us has a role to play, even if it is simply to stay at home.

When all this will be over - as it will end one day – we will be proud to have saved lives through the personal sacrifices we are all making right now.

Thank you to each of you for taking action, whether it be by directly helping others or by staying at home.

The coming weeks are crucial to the success of the measures in place to counter the spread of the Coronavirus. We must be brave in this humanitarian emergency. I count on each of us and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your personal sacrifices for the common good.

Georges Bourelle
Mayor
 

We will communicate our approach at the latest in early May to some 600 people who have transmitted a post-dated cheque to the City to allow them to benefit from the new payment methods for the 2nd instalment of municipal tax announced on March 24.

March 24, 2020 – In order to help citizens face the economic challenges linked to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, Mayor Georges Bourelle announces that the May 25 tax instalment is postponed to June 29 for 60 % of the amount - the Agglomeration of Montreal’s share - and a second instalment on August 31 for the portion of Beaconsfield's services (40%).

"By doing so, we are able to meet our budgetary obligations while allowing our taxpayers to take advantage of one more month to pay their bill, and by reducing the amount by creating an additional payment, which will be due at the end of August. This will help many people in these global exceptional circumstances”, explains Mayor Bourelle.

The deferral of tax payment was made possible thanks to the request made by the mayors of the suburban cities, including Mr. Bourelle, asking that the administration of Montreal postpone, by one month, the cities’ contribution to the budget for the Agglomeration of Montreal services.

In practical terms, the next tax bill instalment is deferred from May 25 to June 29. This portion of the tax bill will correspond only to Beaconsfield's contribution to the Agglomeration of Montreal. This will represent around 60% of the amount planned initially.

A third instalment is added on August 31. This will represent the portion of the tax bill dedicated only for the services offered locally by Beaconsfield. To make this possible, Council has submitted a draft by-law for notice of motion at the March 23 meeting, for adoption in April.

“We are aware of the exceptional challenges which all are facing. In this context, postponing and staggering the next municipal tax instalments is a concrete solution of financial respite," said Mayor Bourelle.

The Mayor would like to thank the City's employees for their efforts which enabled this solution, in particular for the reprogramming of computer systems.

"The current public health emergency forces us to act in a humanitarian, respectful, tolerant and ingenious manner with each other. Our social solidarity in these circumstances is essential”, concludes Mr. Bourelle.

 

 

Sound Wall Update: The City is awaiting the MTQ report


The City wishes to inform its residents that the report scheduled to be tabled this winter 2020 by the Ministère des transports (MTQ) concerning the preliminary draft study for the construction of a sound wall south of Highway 20 in Beaconsfield has not yet been received.

The City is awaiting a new tabling date and will communicate this information to residents once received. 

Click here for all the details regarding summer camp registration. 

The purpose of the survey is to examine NHSP’s impact on seniors' well-being, their social inclusion within their communities as well as the Program's contribution to age-friendly communities.

As such, the survey is an opportunity for you to share with ESDC your experience with a community-based project.

The survey is on-line and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.


Click here to complete the survey

Horizons En

“The unfair and inequitable treatment of our residents must stop”
                                                                      - Mayor Georges Bourelle
 
February 25, 2020 – To ensure the possibility of recuperating overpayments of  millions of dollars annually to the Montreal Agglomeration, the City of Beaconsfield will pay its contribution for 2020 under protest.
 
Last night, the Municipal Council of Beaconsfield adopted unanimously a resolution approving that the next installment of the City’s Agglomeration share (quote-part) be paid under protest in order to provide the possibility to recover overpayments. In December, Council had mandated Marc-André LeChasseur, expert in municipal law, to evaluate the legal options that are available to the City in this context of unfairness and injustice.
 
“This is the first time that a payment is made under protest. The unfair and inequitable treatment of our residents must stop. Montreal turns a deaf ear to our claims because it benefits financially from the present situation and has the sole decisive power despite the serious prejudice to our tax payers”, says the Mayor of Beaconsfield, Georges Bourelle.
 
For Mayor Bourelle who is also vice-president of the Commission sur les finances et l’administration [Standing Committee on Finance and Administration] of the Montreal Agglomeration, it has been demonstrated by all possible means that the quotes-parts paid to the Montreal Agglomeration have become surtaxes rather than taxes for services rendered.  
 
The injustice stems from the distortions caused by the complex calculation used to establish the cities’ shares of Agglomeration expenses. The formula is based on property evaluation, the fiscal potential of the cities and the breakdown of the residential, institutional, commercial and industrial tax bases.
 
Moreover, the Montreal administration uses two different financial approaches for the Agglomeration so as to reduce its contribution and increase its revenues. When it comes to revenues, it keeps 87% based on its demographic representation; however, when the time comes to contribute, it only pays 82% based on its fiscal potential. The suburban cities, such as Beaconsfield, absorb 18% of the expenses, but receive only 13% of the revenues. The suburban cities are therefore being taken for a ride twice by Montreal – they receive less and pay more than their share.
 
“All these factors create significant injustices. This year, Beaconsfield’s general Agglomeration share has increased by 11.3%, which is six times the inflation rate. This is all the more contradictory as the revenues from general Agglomeration shares have decreased by 2%! We can no longer tolerate such discrepancies. There are no reasons nor additional services for justifying the increases. This injustice is driven by the distorted system and Montreal’s lack of political will to address the issue. This can’t keep going on,” states Mayor Bourelle.
 
Since Georges Bourelle was elected Mayor six years ago, he has undertaken all the necessary steps and representations to correct the situation, to no avail. The payment under protest of the quote-parts might allow Beaconsfield to recover the overpayments made to the Agglomeration and to reimburse its residents.
 

SECBenchmarkLogoQUEST and Pollution Probe have launched the Smart Energy Communities Benchmark. The Benchmark measures where a community stands relative to Canadian best practices on ten measures that, taken together, constitute the core characteristics of a Smart Energy Community.
 
The City of Beaconsfield was one of nine pilot communities that participated in the development of the Benchmark. The City is very pleased to have contributed our experience and expertise to this new tool that will help other municipalities in Canada on their energy-smart journey.
 
 
Smart Energy Communities Benchmark: https://smartenergycommunities.ca/highlights/
 

February 3, 2020 – We are proud to announce that the City of Beaconsfield was named one of Montreal’s top employers for 2020.
 
Organized by the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers, this annual competition recognizes the employers in Greater Montreal that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. Evaluations are based on criteria such as work atmosphere, benefits, vacation and paid time off, continuing education and skills development, employee engagement and work-family reconciliation policies.
 
"It's a great honour to be recognized among Montreal’s top employers. This recognition is a remarkable accomplishment and demonstrates a key priority for our organization – to provide a healthy and rewarding work environment where employees feel motivated and happy. The dedication and day-to-day commitment of our staff is the driving force behind our success. On behalf of Management and Council, I want to thank them warmly for their excellent work, "said Patrice Boileau, Director General.
 
The City of Beaconsfield is located in the West Island of Montreal. The organization promotes a positive workplace culture and offers many social benefits and pleasant surroundings. Depending on the season, the number of employees varies between 150 and 200 working in the following departments: Culture and Leisure, Sustainable Development, Finance and Treasury, Public Works, Urban Planning and Municipal Patrol, Human Resources, Registry and Public Affairs, and General Management.
 
 

The 2020 Budget was adopted at the Council meeting of December 16.
 
You will also find the three-year capital expenditure program as well as the presentation made during the special meeting.
 
 
 
 
December 17, 2019 - The Mayor of Beaconsfield, Georges Bourelle, announces that Council awarded a mandate last night to an expert in municipal law in order to evaluate its legal options for recuperating overpayments of 12 million dollars annually to the Montreal Agglomeration.
 
“We have been talking about these injustices over and over again ever since I became mayor six years ago. The quotes-parts that we are paying to the Montreal Agglomeration cost us much more than Montreal citizens, without any reason”, explains Mayor Bourelle who is also vice-president of the Commission sur les finances et l’administration [Standing Committee on Finance and Administration] of the Montreal Agglomeration.
 
The mandate for this evaluation was given to Marc-André LeChasseur, expert in municipal law at Bélanger Sauvé.
 
For Mayor Bourelle, a full analysis has been carried out covering all possible aspects. “After providing administrative evidence, we have undertaken countless political actions to address this injustice. Unfortunately, it must be said that the administration of the City of Montreal is turning a deaf ear because it receives an annual surtax from the 15 suburban municipalities. For us, in Beaconsfield, this represents 12 million dollars in overpaid taxes”, denounces Mayor Bourelle once again. 
 
The injustice stems from the fact that Montreal uses two methods of calculation to determine the Agglomeration budget. It keeps 87% of the revenues, but pays only 82% of the costs of the services it receives from the Agglomeration, and makes the suburban cities pay 18% although they only receive 13% of the revenues. The suburban cities are therefore being taken for a ride twice – they receive less and pay more than their share.
 
Given the consistent refusal by the administration of the City of Montreal to review the quote-part formula, Mayor Bourelle considers that the time has come to evaluate legal options, as the current democratic system in place at the Agglomeration allows the City of Montreal to impose all its financial decisions and political choices on the 15 suburban municipalities who are unable to do anything to change that.
 
“We can no longer tolerate that Montreal is using complicated mathematical formula to hide surtaxes that break all rules of justice, social and financial equality in managing public funds.” 
 
“In Beaconsfield, the surtax costs each residents $600 per year. For a property owned by a couple, this overpayment represents $1,200 in surtaxes transferred to Montreal without receiving any additional service in our City. For a couple with two children at home, this represents $2,400 in surtaxes that Montreal is taking out of our pockets to balance its expenses”, concludes Mayor Bourelle.
 

“Montreal balances its budget by overtaxing citizens of suburban municipalities!”

- Mayor Georges Bourelle

 
 
November 29, 2019 – Beaconsfield Mayor Georges Bourelle deplores the fact that once again, Montreal overtaxes the 250,000 citizens of the 15 suburban municipalities by 150 million dollars per year to balance its budget.
 
“For Beaconsfield, this represents a surcharge of 12 million dollars per year – an equivalent of $600 per person. For a property inhabited by a couple, $1,200 goes to Montreal without any services added in our City. For a couple living with two children, Montreal takes $2,400 out of our pockets to balance its expenses. This is completely unacceptable!” denounces the Mayor of Beaconsfield.
 
As vice-president of the Montreal Agglomeration’s Finance and Administration Commission, Mr. Bourelle knows what he is talking about.
 
“Since I was elected Mayor, we have been trying all sorts of means to make the Montreal administration aware that this situation is unfair and, even worse, escalates every year to the detriment of our residents. Montreal is turning a deaf ear for the simple reason that it is benefiting from it”, he says.
 
According to Mr. Bourelle, Montreal must stop this serious injustice which it conceals with complicated mathematical formulae that violate every rule of justice and of social and financial equity in terms of public funds management.
 
“The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Andrée Laforest, has also urged Montreal and the municipalities to find a new, equitable formula in order to restore the fairness that every tax payer on the island of Montreal should rightfully expect”, reminds Mr. Bourelle.
 
The Minister has set the deadline for August 2020. “Montreal must stop systematically obstructing the restoration of equitable and fair sharing of Agglomeration service costs for the people in the suburban cities of which Beaconsfield is a part,” concludes Mr. Bourelle.
 
The administrative system in place at the Agglomeration allows the City of Montreal to impose all its financial decisions and political choices on the 15 suburban cities, without them having any say.
 

November 26, 2019 – The City of Beaconsfield is proud to announce the adoption of By-law BEAC-129, which prohibits the distribution of certain single-use shopping bags in retail stores located in Beaconsfield.
 
On October 22, City Council voted in favour of the implementation of a new by-law which will take effect on April 1, 2020. 
 
This prohibition specifically targets oxo-degradable, oxo-fragmentable, biodegradable and traditional plastic bags less than 50 microns thick.
 
Plastic bags are harmful to the environment because their production requires petroleum products and large amounts of water and generates greenhouse gases. Moreover, they have significant impact on wildlife and plants in addition to being a visual nuisance.
 
Aware of the importance of protecting the environment, the City of Beaconsfield has always been proactive in the fight against climate change. This by-law is in line with the actions taken by the City to implement the three action plans of the i3p project.
 
"We are proud to follow this initiative already adopted by other municipalities. Cities play a central role in climate protection. By adopting this by-law, we demonstrate our commitment to fight climate change. Reusable bags are the most ubiquitous items known by all, but all too often forgotten. This way, we play a positive role and we hope to motivate our residents to adopt a more sustainable behaviour towards the use of these types of bags, “says Mayor Georges Bourelle.
 
The City will conduct a campaign to help raise awareness among residents and targeted retailers in the coming months. 
 

November 19, 2019 – The Mayor and members of Council are proud to announce an agreement with the Lord Reading Yacht Club regarding the management of the Beaconsfield Centennial Marina. Adopted at the Council meeting of November 18, this agreement will allow the City to offer residents access to the banks of Lake St. Louis and the services of a marina.
 
“We are completely rethinking the space currently in use by the Lord Reading Yacht Club by renaming the future marina “Beaconsfield Centennial Marina” and by reducing the occupied area to allow more space for the park," explains Mayor Georges Bourelle.
 
As a property of the City, the marina will be located near the lake, and current buildings will be gradually replaced by a harbour master’s office which will be dedicated to the operation of docks and related equipment, for the benefit of residents and other users. By signing this agreement, the City recognizes the expertise of the Lord Reading Yacht Club in the management of quality boating activities. With a 15-year term and two renewal options of five years each, the agreement entails long-term projects for this municipal facility, and the Club is committed to a number of development, maintenance and improvement projects in order to ensure the sustainability of the facilities.
 
“I am very pleased with this agreement with the Lord Reading Yacht Club, which demonstrates the importance of working together to best serve our citizens. I want to acknowledge the openness of Commodore Wagner and his team, as well as the City managers involved in this community-based project,” said Mayor Bourelle.
 

 
November 5, 2019 – The City of Beaconsfield, among twenty-five municipalities across Canada, was selected for an intensive pilot project with the leading global climate initiative. 
 
The City will benefit from a network of leading municipalities across Canada who have joined the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy to help Beaconsfield achieve our specific climate action priorities. Over the next year, the municipality will receive targeted technical support, training and access to tools and resources. The City’s participation in this pilot project will be an important step in the implementation of the three action plans of the i3P project to make our community more resilient to the impacts of climate change: GHG Reduction Plan, Community Energy Plan and Climate Adaptation Plan.
 
"Municipalities play a central role in climate protection because they have a direct or indirect impact on almost half of Canada's GHG emissions. We are proud of this unique initiative that allows us as a City and community to consolidate our efforts in this fight against climate change. This is a great opportunity that our administration is undertaking with energy and enthusiasm," says Georges Bourelle, Mayor of Beaconsfield.
 
The Global Covenant of Mayors Canada is a collaboration between FCM, ICLEI ˗ Local Governments for Sustainability, the Global Covenant of Mayors Secretariat and the International Urban Cooperation Project supported by funding from the European Union. 
 
The initiative combines two leading domestic climate programs, the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program and Building Adaptive and Resilient Communities (BARC), with the global climate program. 
 

GES PriDistinction FondBLANCOctober 28, 2019 - The City of Beaconsfield is proud to announce that the municipality took first place in the category « Management practices and psychological wellbeing – small and medium-sized enterprises » at the 2019 Distinction Award Gala of Groupe Entreprises en santé which took place on October 23, 2019, in Montreal.
 
The jury took into consideration the commitment of the City’s executive management to improve its actions relating to the health and well-being of its employees by introducing a very well structured programme aimed at obtaining the “Healthy Enterprise” certification under the BNQ 9700-800 standard. The standard sets out requirements regarding good organizational practices that foster healthy lifestyles among employees, a healthy workplace, and sustainable improvements in the health of individuals. 
 
The jury also took into account the numerous initiatives included in the City’s health and well-being programme implemented in 2018 which are based on needs previously evaluated by an extensive survey among its entire workforce. In terms of management practices, a number of actions have been put in place, including a survey tool used to regularly evaluate the mood, mindset and satisfaction of its employees and to take action as needed. 
 
“This award acknowledges the efforts of all the employees of the City of Beaconsfield who have contributed to the implementation of the Healthy Workplace Policy adopted by Municipal Council in 2018. All this work was carried out thanks to the involvement of our Health and Well-being Committee and senior executives,” states the Director General of the City of Beaconsfield, Patrice Boileau. “Investing in the health of our employees is a choice that pays off!”
 

Average property value increased by 25.9%  
 
“We will keep tax increases within inflation” 
                                    – Mayor Georges Bourelle
 
 
While the value of Beaconsfield properties has experienced one of the strongest growth rates in the Montreal area with an average of 25.9% over the last three years, the impact on the next municipal tax bill will be contained within inflation, which should be around 2% for the local portion of the property tax.
 
The average value of a single-family home in Beaconsfield, established by the evaluation service of the Montreal Agglomeration, rose from $571,900 to $732,800. This is a difference of $130,000 compared to the same type of property on the island of Montreal, assessed at $600,900.
 
“This is excellent news. The considerable increase in value of our homes means, in concrete terms, that we all have become wealthier. This is important, as for the majority of us, our home constitutes our most valuable asset”, explains Mayor Georges Bourelle.
 
Mayor Bourelle also wishes to reassure residents that the next municipal tax bill for 2020 will be adjusted to the consumer price index of about 2% for the local property tax portion which is controlled by the municipal administration of Beaconsfield, while the other portion is strictly the responsibility of the Montreal Agglomeration.
 
“The role of public managers is to ensure that the taxpayers’ ability to pay is preserved. This is what we have done over the past seven years, while maintaining our infrastructure, roads and parks, and continually improving our services and offers. This is what we will continue to do despite the increases recorded in the property assessment role”, indicates Mayor Bourelle.
 
The assessment role, tabled every three years by the Agglomeration determines the market value of properties on the island of Montreal, therefore also for Beaconsfield. However, the tax bill contains a variety of elements used to determine the property value, including the assessment.
 
“We will weight this major increase of 25.9% in property values by reducing the mill rate accordingly. Since the assessment increases vary for each property, some tax bills will be adjusted to inflation, while others will be slightly higher or lower”, concludes the Mayor.
 
 

August 20, 2019 - The Mayor and Council members are pleased to announce that they welcome the recommendations made by the Reimagining SPACE Steering Committee following the findings which emerged during the consultation process with residents to revitalize Centennial Park and the Lord Reading property.
 
At the August 19 meeting, the first step was taken when Council adopted a resolution concerning a list of criteria to help select a qualified professional advisor. Once chosen, this advisor will assist the City in launching a multidisciplinary architectural competition for the construction of a future multipurpose center. For this innovative project, the City is working with the Ville de Montréal Bureau du design, which has extensive expertise to oversee this process.
 
“City Council has carefully considered the recommendations of the Committee's report and agrees to proceed with this first step of the project. The process leading to an architectural competition involves several phases, and we must evaluate, along the way, the feasibility and relevance to pursue this venture. The support of a professional is essential for this unique project which is an exceptional experience for our municipality”, says Mayor Georges Bourelle.
 
In addition, the City will hold an evening dialogue with residents about the customers’ user experience of the cultural and library services on October 2, 2019, in the Council Chamber.
 
“We hope that residents will continue to get involved in this unifying project and that they will participate in large numbers during this special evening. Architecture shapes our public spaces, our neighbourhoods and has a lasting effect on the territory, which is why it is important for Council to have the pulse of our residents. We hope that this consultation approach, which we have applied since the beginning of the Reimagining SPACE project, will allow us to share information in order to envision a modern and adapted centre as a magnificent cultural and community place for our citizens”, declares Mayor Bourelle.
 

January 28, 2019 - The City of Beaconsfield is pleased to announce its participation in the Project for the electrification of municipal trucks and specialized transport - Study Component - (PéCTS) together with the cities of Nicolet, Plessisville, and Varennes. Led by the Société d’innovation en environnement and YHC Environnement, the four cities will participate in a feasibility study to evaluate the technical and financial considerations for the electrification of the municipal fleet.
 
The PéCTS project will develop solutions to convert trucks to use electric power or some of their components to achieve a reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of at least 20% and to lessen the environmental impacts of transportation.
 
In addition to GHG reduction in the identification of solutions, the targeted benefits of this study include the reduction of energy expenditure, the optimization of the management of the municipal trucks, the development of new regional expertise in the field of electrification of transport, and modernization of the vehicles of the municipal fleet.
 
"Municipalities play a central role in climate protection because they have a direct or indirect impact on almost half of Canada's GHG emissions. For Beaconsfield, there is no doubt that the environment is an important issue and that it is obvious to encourage the development of technological solutions aimed at reducing the ecological footprint of transportation. Thanks to the PéCTS project, this collaboration between Quebec municipalities allows us to multiply our efforts in this joint initiative for the benefit of our respective communities," says Georges Bourelle, Mayor of Beaconsfield.
 
The realization of the PéCTS project is possible thanks to funding from the Municipalities for Climate Innovation program of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). The FCM contributed $95,440 for the study component of this project.

January 9, 2019 - The City of Beaconsfield is proud to have been selected to participate in the development of the Smart Energy Communities Scorecard. QUEST and Pollution Probe are non-profit organizations bringing together nine communities across Canada to help develop a roadmap on how to transition towards being a “Smart Energy” community, and evaluate their progress along the way. “Smart Energy” communities improve energy efficiency, limit energy consumption costs, enhance energy reliability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
 
"Beaconsfield is the only city in Québec to make the short list for the QUEST pilot project. We are proud to collaborate with innovative communities across Canada, which will serve to motivate our residents to join us in the efforts to become a more sustainable, self-sufficient, and resilient community in the face of climate change," said Mayor Georges Bourelle.
 
The Scorecard is a tool that will help benchmark and evaluate the progress of Smart Energy Communities in Canada. Beaconsfield will join Bridgewater, Calgary, Grande Prairie, Inuvik, London, Yellowknife, Markham and Campbell River to provide insight on how best to gauge a community’s progress towards energy efficiency.  At the end of the pilot, Beaconsfield will receive a Scorecard Report that will contribute to its ongoing community energy planning efforts.
 
To learn more about QUEST and the Smart Energy Communities Scorecard visit questcanada.org/scorecard

City representatives participated in a first meeting with Transport Québec on October 11, 2018. The objective of this meeting was to launch the project. The firm mandated by Transport Québec, WSP, was also present at the meeting. WSP presented the work schedule and issues perceived. The next steps are to analyse the rights-of-way and to establish the concepts retained according to the results.  
 
A first deliverable should be submitted in 6 months, followed by consultation meetings with citizens. The initial schedule is being respected. The preliminary pre-project study for the construction of a sound wall on the south side of Highway 20 in Beaconsfield should be submitted in the fall of 2019.

 
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.

 

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.