Public contracts too often end in disaster: cost overruns, delays, disappointing results. An article published in La Presse on Sunday, November 30, 2025, bluntly reminds us that without solid public administration skills for these projects, mistakes are not the exception—they become the norm. Do we have the management expertise to see these projects through to […]
Is it possible to be trapped in your municipality?
As you know, I believe that not making minutes and audio recordings available within a reasonable time frame is a real obstacle to citizen participation. The regulations stipulate a 30-day deadline for filing minutes, as they must be approved at the next meeting according to the municipal elected officials’ welcome guide. And if the municipality […]
The intermunicipal recreation agreement on the agenda this Monday, December 1, in North Hatley
Ce mercredi 1er décembre 2025, à 19 h, à la salle Lucien-Vachon de l’église Sainte-Élisabeth de North Hatley, le conseil municipal se penchera, au point 10.1 de l’ordre du jour, sur la proposition d’entente intermunicipale de loisirs entre le Canton de Hatley et North Hatley. On Wednesday, December 1, 2025, at 7 p.m., in the […]
Le fonctionnement du procès-verbal dans les municipalités du Québec
Selon la LCV (art. 333) et le CMQ (art. 201), le procès-verbal doit être rédigé par le greffier ou, le cas échéant, par le greffier-trésorier. Une fois rédigé, il passe par différentes étapes internes : adoption, signature, puis publication. À North Hatley, le greffier-trésorier est M. Benoit Tremblay, qui agit également comme directeur général, ainsi […]
Construction projects are multiplying in North Hatley
At least three major construction projects are underway or about to begin in North Hatley. The most advanced is the 22 condos at Parc de la Rivière, which will soon be joined by the refrigerated skating rink and the new building at Pleasant View Beach. North Hatley is clearly undergoing a transformation. New residential construction […]
Executive management vs. elected officials: who really runs our municipalities?
Things are getting turbulent in the municipality of Cookshire-Eaton, not far from where we live. After a by-election marked by the presence of a candidate linked to the biker “farm club”—who was ultimately defeated—the new mayor and the entire municipal council now find themselves at the centre of a storm, under investigation by the CMQ […]
A wind of pride and proactivity is blowing through North Hatley
Following my post about the “permanent orange cone,” I received a message from North Hatley’s new Public Works Superintendent, Mr. Francis Nadeau. He’s a proud resident of the village who, like many of us, wants streets without abandoned cones and a road network in good condition. It’s refreshing to finally feel that we’re speaking the […]
What is a reasonable timeframe for a municipality to post its minutes online and make them available to the public?
As you know, I regret that the municipality does not publish the minutes and audio recordings of council meetings on its website within a reasonable time frame. In my opinion, this hinders citizen participation, since citizens simply do not have access to information about the decisions made by their elected officials. One wonders how many […]
Will we be skating in North Hatley for Christmas?
Everything is coming along very well: the Rivière Park looks fully prepared for us to have a skating rink just in time for Christmas. All we need now is a little help from Mother Nature to give us enough cold weather for the ice to set properly. I must say, the person in charge of […]
A cone on Capelton Road for 192 days in North Hatley
Since the flooding on May 18, this cone has been sitting on Capelton Road, along with a half-finished patch over the hole caused by the water. It’s still there—192 days later. I even bet it would still be in place by Christmas and end up decorated for the occasion. We’re getting close: less than 30 […]
Adoption of the Master Plan, a 10-year development vision for North Hatley
I attended the presentation of the master plan on September 23 at Saint-Elizabeth Church. The room was filled with about 50 residents who were curious to see what the municipality and the firm Domus Architecture and Design had developed as a 10-year vision for North Hatley. Unfortunately, there was no question period at the end […]
The municipality of North Hatley donates land to the Massawippi Conservation Trust
On October 1, the North Hatley municipal council confirmed the donation of municipal lot no. 6,641,225 to the Massawippi Conservation Trust. The Massawippi Conservation Trust is a non-profit organization administered by local residents, which manages the Massawippi Trail and Scowen Park, among other things. Its primary mission is to preserve natural environments and play a […]
North Hatley — Summary of the October 1, 2025, City Council meeting
To make it easier to follow the decisions of the North Hatley Municipal Council, here is a summary of the minutes of the October 1, 2025 meeting. The minutes of the November 10 meeting will also be summarized as soon as they are filed by the municipal administration, as will the audio recording. We are […]
Is North Hatley at risk of losing its post office?
Upon reading the recently published minutes from the October 1st council meeting, it appears that there may indeed be a risk that the Village of North Hatley could lose its post office. The document states that: Conclusion The fact that the Council adopted such a resolution and felt the need to explicitly request the post […]
North Hatley, a tiny village in the heart of Hatley Township
It is easy to forget how small the village of North Hatley is: approximately 730 residents in 2025, some 320 homes, and only 4.6 km² in area. By comparison, the Township of Hatley covers 212.35 km² and has approximately 2,300 residents. In the image below, we can clearly see that North Hatley (in blue) is […]
Jazz: Christmas Benefit Concert on December 14 at 4 p.m. in North Hatley
On December 14 at 4:00 p.m., come celebrate the holiday season with music performed by the Auburn Trio, joined by vocalists Marc Tétrault and Michael Gearey, at Sainte-Élisabeth Church (3115 Capelton Road). Let yourself be enchanted by their beautiful interpretations of beloved jazz classics! This concert will help fund the 2nd edition of the festival, […]
Glycol or CO₂ refrigerated ice rink in North Hatley: what are the differences?
While researching the construction and operation of refrigerated ice rinks, I realized that there are essentially two main types of technologies for cooling ice: glycol systems and CO₂ systems. Behind my question lay one main concern: is there a refrigeration solution that is less expensive than glycol? It seems so, but it is not very […]
The operating costs of refrigerated ice rinks in Quebec
It is essential to consider not only the cost of installing a refrigerated ice rink, but also its annual operating costs. I have therefore compiled examples of operating costs for refrigerated ice rinks in other municipalities. Obviously, these costs cannot be directly applied to a future refrigerated ice rink in North Hatley, as everything depends […]
Example of a project to build a refrigerated ice rink
The purpose of this article is to present the costs and parameters involved in building a refrigerated ice rink in Quebec. The town of Coteau-du-Lac, which has a population of 7,473, wanted to build a refrigerated ice rink. The proposed indoor refrigerated ice rink would have a surface area of 26.21 m by 61.26 m, […]
The costs of a refrigerated ice rink: budgets of 14 cities and municipalities in Quebec
A refrigerated skating rink makes it possible to offer up to 25 weeks of activities, compared to only 10 to 11 weeks previously. In North Hatley, the Municipality is currently working on equipping the village with a refrigerated rink to be built at Parc de la Rivière, despite uncertainties regarding soil quality at the site. […]
North Hatley: how to develop the village while preserving its tranquility?
I’m having a hard time understanding the long-term vision for the village of North Hatley. Right now, the village is disarmingly quiet: you can’t even go for a coffee in the center anymore, and the temporary or permanent closure of several businesses only reinforces this impression of an empty, lifeless town. Do we truly want […]
These local entrepreneurs are revitalizing the village of North Hatley
When you’re an entrepreneur, you see and understand the world differently. Starting a business means putting in your own money, investing your unpaid time, and working 100 hours a week on a project whose outcome is uncertain. It often borders on insanity… The truth is, only entrepreneurs truly understand entrepreneurs. Sometimes they’re seen as mercantile […]
North Hatley in winter: how to breathe new life into the village?
With several businesses temporarily or permanently closed, the village is starting to look like a ghost town. You simply need to observe the tourists walking through the streets — they seem a bit disoriented, disappointed to find so many closed doors. It is urgent for the Municipality of North Hatley to take action to reverse […]
Is Lake Massawippi safe from invasive species at 10°C or below?
On October 16, the Municipality of North Hatley announced in its municipal newsletter that the gate at the public boat launch would be opened once the water temperature reached 10°C. I quote the Municipality of North Hatley: Federal dock and winter period North Hatley As soon as the water temperature reaches 10°C, usually around mid-November, […]
The limits of the boat ramp and car wash with an attendant
To fully understand the issue, you need to have used North Hatley’s boat ramp and its washing station. It quickly becomes clear that it is difficult—if not impossible—to adequately serve all types of users. Think, for example, of boaters who go out in the evening: motorboat owners, kayakers, paddleboarders… Many enjoy stargazing on the lake […]
A hunting territory that many hunters dream about
I’m certain most of you have already noticed — for better or worse — the strong presence of deer and wild turkeys around the village of North Hatley. There is no need to travel all the way to Anticosti Island to hunt deer; everything is right here. And on top of that, we even have […]
Major economic benefits that North Hatley has been missing out on for a long time
As a passionate angler, guide, and someone who works closely with the Lac Massawippi Conservation Club, I’ve noticed that North Hatley has been missing out on significant economic benefits related to fishing activities for many years. This is especially true in the spring, as Lac Massawippi is one of the first accessible lakes at that […]
Christmas Market in North Hatley on December 6, 2025, at Rivière Park
For the past four years, the Municipality of the Village of North Hatley has been organizing an outdoor Christmas Market at Parc de la Rivière, the same location where the summer farmers’ market is usually held. This year, for the 5th edition, the Christmas Market will once again take place at Parc de la Rivière […]
Summary of North Hatley Municipal Council Meetings (2022–2025)
Following what is happening in the municipality isn’t easy. Meeting minutes are often long and dry to read, and the audio recordings are not much more digestible. Also, very few people attend council meetings, either because of lack of time or lack of interest. Usually, you have access to the minutes and audio recordings of […]
Winter looks set to be quiet in North Hatley: several businesses closed
Comme vous le savez, c’est tranquille à North Hatley durant l’hiver. Heureusement que le Solstice Sauna dynamise le village avec ses saunas sociaux avec baignade dans le lac Massawippi. Malheureusement, plusieurs autres commerces sont fermés dont : Chocolatière (saisonnier), Casa-Wippi (saisonnier), dépanneur toujours fermé et aussi le Mercantile qui a fermé définitivement ses portes tout […]
