What's New

October 9, 2019 - The Evening Exchange event held on October 8 attracted many motivated residents and association representatives to take part in an exchange of ideas for collectively enhancing and improving the services that could be offered at the future library and cultural centre.
 
Participants were called upon to imagine the activities and equipment to be offered at the multi-purpose centre based on the following five themes: space, services, learning and discovery, community and technology.
 
“This consultation evening is part of our participatory approach to gather the opinion of citizens ahead of upcoming decisions to be made by Council. Through collaboration, our City strives to ensure the sustainability of cultural services offered to the community. The establishment of a new multi-purpose centre brings residents together and encourages community life. It is a place where a community takes root and that people of all ages highly appreciate. We wish to thank everyone who has given their time so generously in this flagship project,” stated Mayor Georges Bourelle.
 

To send your ideas, please write to imagine@beaconsfield.ca

 

Brookside Park will be closed due to replacement work of a protection grid in the storm sewer mains which will take place from September 23 until October 25.
 
We ask you to please use caution and ensure that you respect the temporary signage.

The City of Montréal’s Service de l’eau is carrying out work on the drinking water supply system until November 2019. All efforts are being made to maintain regular water service, however, some buildings and homes may experience a temporary drop in water pressure during the connection process.
 
If your water pressure is affected and does not return to normal within 24 hours, please contact Public Works at 514 428-4500.

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.
 
 

The City of Montréal’s Service de l’eau will perform work on the drinking water supply system on Elm Avenue, between Westcroft and Allancroft.
 
Nature of the work
Flow measurement chamber work.
 
This is part of the project to optimize the main drinking water supply system in the greater Montréal area: construction and repair of a number of flow measurement chambers in the water system supply pipes.
 
Traffic
  • Elm Avenue, between Westcroft and Allancroft: complete closure with local traffic only controlled by traffic control persons. Detours and alternatives routes proposed.
  • Westcroft: closed, detour via Fairway and Brighton.
  • John-F-Kennedy School: access to parking lot
  • The bike path on Elm Avenue will generally remain open to cyclists but may be hindered during certain stages of the work.
Anticipated impact of this work
Access to buildings: Pedestrian access to the buildings around the work site will be maintained at all times. The sidewalk at the height of the work will be hindered.
 
Work duration and schedule
  • September 11 to October 11, 2019
  • Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Work may be carried out during evenings, nights and weekends
 
Temporary supply during the closing of water
A temporary supply will be put in place during the closure. Some residences will be directly connected to the temporary network. Residents will be notified a few days before the connection is done.
 
INFO: 514 872-3777 or 311 or ville.montreal.qc.ca/chantiers
 
 

As part of our action plan for the maintenance of our sanitary and storm sewers, the City of Beaconsfield will be performing mandatory sump pump inspections in the North sector as follows:inspector

North limit: Kirkland border
South limit: Elm Avenue
East limit: Westcroft
West limit: Montrose

Over the years, the City’s sanitary system has experienced significant infiltration, causing undue pressure on the sewer network. The largest contributor to this surcharge is the illegal connections of residents’ sump pumps into the City’s sanitary sewers. Respecting the City’s by-law against illegal sump pump connections is important for numerous environmental, health, and safety reasons. Among them are the following:

  • An overloaded sewer system caused by illegal connections can lead to sewer backups in your home or that of your neighbours. Raw sewage can reverse especially if you do not have a proper backwater valve connection installed.
  • Sewage treatment facilities cannot handle the added volume of water, and as a result are unable to properly treat the wastewater that they receive and discharge.
  • The added pressure on our lines can cause pipes to burst throughout the City, as the sanitary network is not designed for such an influx of water flow. This phenomenon is especially prevalent in the spring and during periods of heavy rain.

If you are not home at the time that City inspectors passed by, we kindly ask that you schedule an appointment with one of our inspectors:

Click here to schedule an appointment online

or call Public Works at 514 428-4500 during opening hours.

At the time of your appointment, a City employee will pass by your home and verify that your sump pump is properly connected. The inspection should require no more than 15 minutes. Owners of homes with problems will receive information on corrective action and deadlines for compliance.

Inspectors will at all times arrive in a marked City vehicle, be wearing a “Beaconsfield” safety vest and possess a City identification card.

 

The work is scheduled to begin on September 3. This project, which will take about 9 weeks, entails demolishing the existing parking lot, installing new storm sewer pipes, correcting the parking lot structural base, re-pouring concrete curbs as well as paving the area. We will also be upgrading the parking lot lighting equipment and finally coating the dark asphalt with a specialized paint which reflects UV rays and reduces the temperature emitted by the asphalt.
 
Please note that for the duration of the work, traffic will be disrupted. For your own safety, while near the construction site, we ask that you stay clear of the heavy machinery and excavated trenches and follow the detour routes according to the road signs and directions from the work crews.
 
If you would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact our Public Works department at 514 428-4500.

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.
 

trekfit citylaneYou will be pleased to learn that the installation of new Trekfit training circuits at Montrose and City Lane parks is complete!
 
Currently very popular, this equipment aims to attract and appeal to more users and provide residents 13 years of age and older the ability to complete workouts in stimulating outdoor settings.
 

Details on the installations:

 
CITY LANE (Recreation Centre)
  • Features a cargo net
  • 7 exercise stations
  • 56 exercises divided into 2 fitness programs Trekfit instruct
 
MONTROSE 
  • 6 exercise stations
  • 28 exercises divided into 2 fitness programs 
 
HEIGHTS (coming Fall 2019)
  • Features a bamboo jungle, recreating the movement of bamboo in the wild
  • 3 exercise stations
  • 16 exercises divided into 2 fitness programs 
     

August 7, 2019 - Mayor Georges Bourelle is pleased to announce that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAMH) revised the flood map on Monday and that a preliminary analysis has determined that no more buildings are included in the Special Planning Zone (SPZ) on Beaconsfield territory.
 
Along with other elected West Island officials, the Mayor and a senior city manager had the opportunity to meet with Minister Andrée Laforest and her team last Friday in Québec City. During this meeting, they successfully substantiated Beaconsfield’s arguments and presented exhaustive documentation demonstrating that the City was erroneously included in the SPZ. 
 
As a matter of fact, no buildings were flooded in Beaconsfield in 2017 nor in the spring of 2019, and there were no damages in the 0-20 year zone established by the government in 1985 at an elevation of 22.75 metres. This threshold has been applied in Beaconsfield for 34 years and was never exceeded by the rising water levels during major floods. Moreover, the regulation of the Seaway water levels controls the water levels on our shores.
 
In this context, Beaconsfield’s inclusion in the SPZ did not reflect the reality and inflicted unacceptable financial prejudice as well as major stress on the homeowners concerned. Ever since the government tabled its draft order on June 17 and the map of affected properties, the City has prioritized this dossier and ensured ongoing communication with the residents concerned. The Mayor acknowledges the meticulous and thorough work accomplished in order to gather all information as well as the joint efforts by residents, Council members and administration.
 
“The City had mobilized because, although the SPZ included only certain properties in Beaconsfield, the whole City could have been financially affected in the long run. Supported by city staff from various departments, Councillors Dominique Godin, Karen Messier and Robert Mercuri followed up closely with the affected residents in order to obtain the owners’ declarations. This has allowed us to properly document the situation in Beaconsfield and to demonstrate that we should not be included in the SPZ”, declares Mayor Bourelle.
 
Beaconsfield has always supported the actions taken by the government and Minister Laforest to handle the emergency situations and difficulties caused by the floods in Québec – an issue that is not new and must be addressed in order to protect and ensure the safety and health of the people who live close to the flood zones.
 
Mayor Bourelle states, “In Beaconsfield we are fully aware of this. We have been rigorously and successfully monitoring this situation for almost 40 years. Construction or reconstruction is not allowed in the 0-20 year zone, as established by the Agglomeration’s land use plan and integrated in Beaconsfield’s zoning by-law. We believe that we have already proven by our actions, and we reaffirm, that we are committed to the quality of the environment, sustainable development and protection of Lake St-Louis”.
 
 “We are pleased and satisfied by the decision of the MAMH. By acting quickly, documenting the situation in Beaconsfield and being well prepared for the meeting with the minister, we have obtained the desired outcome, which is the exclusion of any buildings on our territory. We thank Minister Laforest for hearing us. We also thank our MNA, Gregory Kelley, for accompanying us throughout the process to correct the situation. What is left of the portions of land included in the ZIS can be managed as we did before, and residents shall no longer be exposed to undue financial prejudice and stress due to the SPZ that was applied in an arbitrary manner but has now been modified to our satisfaction”, concludes Mayor Bourelle.
 
 

The work is scheduled to begin on August 12. This project, which will take approximately 10 weeks to complete, entails installing new drainage pipes, constructing the sidewalk and restoring the landscapes to their original state.
 
Please note that for the duration of the work, traffic will be disrupted. For your own safety, while near the construction site, we ask that you stay clear of the heavy machinery and excavated trenches and follow the detour routes according to the road signs and directions from the work crews.

Construction work on the Beaconsfield water network will be carried out by the City of Montreal from July 15 to November 11, 2019.
 
Locations and dates:
  • Elm Avenue, between Westcroft and Allancroft: July 15 to September 10
  • Beaconsfield Boulevard between St-Charles and Kenwood: July 15 to August 23
  • Brighton Street, between Shamrock Road and London Drive: July 25 to October 11
  • St-Andrew Street at the intersection of Beaurepaire: July 25 to October 18
  • Lakeshore Road at the entrance to Pointe-Claire: partial obstruction in August
  • Beaconsfield Boulevard at the intersection of Valois: October 29 to November 11
 
Schedule: Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Please note that operations could be staggered or the duration of work extended depending on weather conditions or due to other constraints.
 

It is possible that the water may be discoloured for a period of time. If it is, please run it for a few minutes until it is clear again. We apologize for any inconvenience you may experience.

 
Traffic
Local traffic will be permitted at all times. We ask you to please use caution and ensure that you respect the temporary traffic signals.
 
Parking 
Parking restrictions will be in place in the work site.
 
We apologize for the inconvenience caused by this work. 
 
For additional information, please call 311.

bike safety signRecent modifications to the Highway Safety Code allow municipalities to let cyclists use sidewalks where designated lanes for cyclists are not feasible and when cycling on the roadway is considered to be too dangerous. 
 
The City of Beaconsfield has therefore recently installed signs informing road users that cyclists are now allowed on St-Charles Boulevard sidewalks, between Highway 20 and Kirkland City limits.
 
However, we would like to remind you that this new configuration comes with certain obligations on the part of cyclists. A cyclist using the sidewalk must travel at a safe and reasonable speed and always give priority to pedestrians.
 
When approaching a pedestrian, the cyclist has the obligation to reduce his speed to ensure that the pedestrian is aware of his presence and to pass beside the pedestrian only if there is enough available space. Failure to comply with these rules could result in fines.
 
For more information, visit codesecuriteroutiere.gouv.qc.ca

The City is pleased to announce the launch of a new citizen platform that will allow residents to centralize their interactions with the City.
 
Bciti is an application serving municipalities. Several cities have already successfully made this digital shift. We are glad to announce we are taking a step towards the digitization of the City's communications.
 
Access to the bciti platform can be done via a computer, tablet or smartphone. The usefulness of the application will continue to grow as new features are gradually implemented. Citizens can take advantage of the following options today:
 
  • Receive important notices and news from the City by email or text message
  • Make requests, ask questions or make comments and track the progress of your file online and in real time
  • Report a non-urgent problem
 
« It is with great pride that we launch bciti in Beaconsfield. We are confident that this new multiservice platform will positively transform the relationship our residents have with the City's administration. To evolve in the digital era, a city must be able to count on citizen engagement, in addition to being able to communicate with residents very quickly. The more informed citizens are, the more involved they become », said Mayor Georges Bourelle.
 
In the coming months, other services will be offered on this platform: online citizen consultations, a calendar of activities, a digital citizen card offering direct access to the resident’s secure file, including registration for leisure and library activities and more!
 
The app is available for Android and iOS mobile devices. To access bciti, visit beaconsfield.b-citi.com.

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.

In keeping with the recommendation of the Parks Master Plan, Heights Park has been earmarked for renovation in 2019. The objective is to create a universally accessible park which encourages play and social interaction for residents of all ages.
 
Three Open House sessions in November offered residents the opportunity to view concept plans and provide feedback on the redesign of Heights Park. 
 
girl swing
Consult the plans for the two proposed concepts for the redesign of Heights Park as well as additional documents relating to urban furniture and equipment:
 
 

 

 
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.