Residents of Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac are planning a citizen march on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 11 a.m. to back the municipality’s long-sought purchase of a remaining nine-hectare section of local woodland for conservation. Geneviève Roy of the Regroupement pour la protection du boisé de Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac says the mobilization aims to counter skepticism over the $2,270,000 purchase price ahead of upcoming municipal referendums scheduled for Oct. 18 and Oct. 25.
Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac Residents Mobilize for Sunday March
The citizen group organizing the event expects roughly 200 participants to gather at Parc J.E.A. Bernardin in the heart of Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac. Environmental organizations from across the region, including Mères au Front and Sauvons Sandy Beach, are slated to join local residents. According to Geneviève Roy, speaking in an interview with Néomédia, the primary objective is to demonstrate broad public backing for the conservation initiative and raise awareness about protecting local green spaces.
A Decade of Discussion Meets Financial Skepticism
Discussions regarding the acquisition of the woodland have stretched across nearly a decade. While a majority of local residents agree that preserving the roughly nine-hectare territory is a positive goal, disagreements persist regarding the financial cost and the strategy used to secure the land. The upcoming referendums on Oct. 18 and Oct. 25 will give voters the final say on whether the municipality moves forward with purchasing lots 1 676 802 and 2 580 981.
The total price tag for the targeted lots sits at $2,270,000, which will be offset by acquired subsidies. However, Geneviève Roy notes that opposition stems from residents who believe the purchase price is inflated, expecting that costs might drop through negotiation, that development restrictions will hold anyway, or that subsidies will remain available past 2027. Roy rejects these assumptions as incorrect.
Calls for Public Endorsements From Regional Bodies
To shore up confidence in the project, the Regroupement pour la protection du boisé de Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac issued a statement calling on regional bodies to take a public stand. The group urges the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM), the regional county municipality (MRC), the landowner, and federal député Peter Scheifke to endorse the municipal plan. Roy argues that relying solely on the town council and the mayor for project promotion is insufficient to secure peace of mind among voters.
Broader Ecological Mandates on the Ballot
Proponents of the purchase emphasize that acquiring the remaining forest parcels directly supports broader ecological mandates. The citizen coalition maintains that finalizing the conservation project is necessary for Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac to help the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal reach and sustain its regional natural environment conservation targets. The outcome of the October referendums will determine whether the municipality successfully closes the decade-long acquisition effort.
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