Lachine residents hope to give their lighthouse area a major revamp
Lachine's picturesque lighthouse and pier could be getting a revamp courtesy of a $10 million city fund set aside specifically for implementing citizens' ideas.
The lighthouse, which sets near 34th Ave. serves as a “meeting space” for residents, according to Julie Levasseur.
“It's also a landmark. Anybody that knows Lachine knows if you want to meet up with people on the side of the river, you usually say the lighthouse.”
Levasseur is part of a group of residents that want to make the lighthouse and pier an even bigger attraction. The group pitched the idea to the city, which has set aside the $10 million to carry out citizen-led projects. The pier and lighthouse facelift are among 35 ideas in the running.
“When the budget of the City of Montreal was proposed, we were like, 'You know what? We're going to propose a project and we're going to propose to revamp the whole area and create a boardwalk,” said Levasseur.
Among their ideas for the area is increasing vegetation and eliminating much of the asphalt and making the lighthouse accessible to the public.
“It's not that pleasant, satnding on a paved site like this. You can tell it's an industrial site. Our goal is to convert it to a public-use site,” said resident Tyler Ball.
The initiative has the blessing of the borough, which has plans for a larger revamp of the nearby marina.
“We have two bays that are incredibly beautiful on Lac St-Louis, that are just like a little nook that's protected from the rapids,” said Mayor Maja Vodanovich.
Part of the plan for the lighthouse area includes making it safer as a waterfront area.
“I didn't come here very often when my children were very young. They were very active, they would run around. I didn't want them to fall into the water, so the railings will really improve security,” said city councillor Michele Flannery.
Montreal residents area able to vote on their five preferred projects on the city's website until July 11.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61
Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.