Borough mayor says work ongoing for new community centre in Parc Extension
During the November public meeting of the Villeray/St-Michel/Parc Extension borough council, Borough Mayor Jean François Lalonde said work is ongoing on plans for a new community centre to be built in Parc Extension.
After opening the meeting, he commented on recent fires that caused extensive damage to properties located on Saint-Roch St. in Parc Ex as well as on Saint-Michel Boulevard at the corner of Crémazie in the borough’s Saint-Michel sector.
“To all these families I wish to express my support as well as that of the members of the borough council,” he said very briefly before passing onto another topic.
Chinese hospital being demolished
According to Lalonde, work to demolish the former Montreal Chinese Hospital building on Saint-Denis St. in Villeray has started and should be completed sometime during the first few months of 2027.
“This is a chapter that is very important for the neighborhood which will allow the land to be prepared for the realization of affordable and social housing,” Lalonde added.
In Parc Extension, according to the borough mayor, plans for a social services project backed by the borough are also progressing. He noted that the council would be passing a resolution during the meeting to mandate the construction a three-storey community services building.
“These spaces are essential,” said Lalonde. “They allow organizations to offer their services for citizens to be able to gather, and to allow community living to continue to develop.
“Although different, these two projects answer to the same objective: to better respond to the needs of our neighborhoods, while pursuing the priorities that we outlined together.”
Lalonde leaves Projet Montréal
Concluding his remarks, the borough mayor commented on his recently-announced decision to leave the municipal Projet Montréal party to sit henceforth as an independent.
“This is our first council meeting since my decision to sit as a mayor without political affiliation,” he said. “I know that this decision caused reactions and raised questions and I respect these.
“My decision ensues from a disagreement about certain ways of doing things, and not from the values which I continue to share with the party,” he added. “I would like to reiterate my commitment to all the people, in addition to my willingness to push forward the priorities which we decided together.
“These issues stand above political affiliations and directly concern the quality of life of the citizens, who are part of our duty to serve,” said Lalonde. “I will therefore continue to work with all my colleagues on the borough council, with the administration teams, as well as with our partners in a spirit of respect, cooperation and responsibility. Our priorities are known and we must now realize them.”
Parc Ex councillor loyal to Projet
In an interview with Nouvelles Parc Extension News last week during a public event, Parc Extension city councillor Elvira Carhuallanqui, who was elected under the Projet Montréal banner last November, said she remains loyal to the party and to its principles.
“We are going to work for the best interests of Parc Extension and the borough,” she said. “For me what is important is collaboration.” However, she noted that the borough mayor’s new status as an independent adds an element of uncertainty.
“Now I am not sure how things are going to go,” said Carhuallanqui. But she insisted she has no doubts about the direction being followed by Projet Montréal.
“With Projet Montrèal we have our values and our plans as to how we are moving forward. What’s certain is that we will continue to work in that same spirit in the best interests of the population. We are party that believes in inclusivity and in being equitable and fair.”
