This weekend, the municipality of North Hatley released a wonderful press release featuring several images of future projects to beautify and improve the village. These include architectural sketches for a potential marina. However, the project that particularly caught my attention concerns the redevelopment of the intersection of Main Street and Chemin de la Rivière—a project that, it should be noted, could have initially begun in August 2023.
It is certainly very inspiring to see all these beautiful architectural renderings circulating.
A plan to relocate the bike path rejected in 2023
This redevelopment is closely linked to a well-known project: the relocation of the bike path from Route 108 (Capelton Road) to Chemin de la Rivière. However, this project was rejected by the municipal council in August 2023, which at the time was composed of mostly the same elected officials as today.
Nevertheless, a majority of citizens were in favor, and Vélo Québec had issued a favorable technical opinion, indicating that the change in route—via Laprise Road, Veterans Street, and Rivière Road to Main Street—would allow for:
- improve safety and comfort for cyclists;
- promote the discovery of the village’s tourist attractions.
Article from Reflet du Lac: https://www.lerefletdulac.com/actualites/la-piste-cyclable-seme-le-mecontentement-a-north-hatley/
Article from La Presse : https://www.latribune.ca/actualites/actualites-locales/estrie-et-regions/2023/09/16/north-hatley-divisee-sur-la-relocalisation-de-la-route-verte-LJGYR4X2INBF7IJGO7Q3R2XXNE/
A redevelopment largely financed
At the time, I met a young professional from the Memphremagog Regional County Municipality who had worked on setting up a project to take advantage of ministry work to finance a large part of the redevelopment of the bike path from Route 108 to Chemin de la Rivière. Despite this potential financial opportunity, the project never saw the light of day, as the municipal council voted against it by a margin of 4 to 2.
Official decision of the city council
On August 7, 2023, the city council rejected, by a vote of 4 to 2, the modification of the bike path route, despite the technical recommendations of Vélo Québec and the support of the population.
The project was then shelved until the presentation of the master plan on September 23, which was adopted by the city council seven days later, on October 1, 2025.
A clear rejection… and ethical questions raised
Four out of six city councilors opposed the project, leading to its rejection. However, according to my research, three of the six councilors present lived on Chemin de la Rivière. Some nevertheless voted against the project, despite an obvious conflict of interest.
Citizens present at the meeting denounced the situation, openly calling it a scandal. Several felt that the elected officials concerned should have recused themselves from the decision, in accordance with their ethical obligations. Some of them were in a conflict of interest because the project directly affected their immediate environment: construction, noise, increased traffic, and the tranquility of the area.
The law is clear, however.
Section 6 of the Municipal Ethics and Professional Conduct Act (MEPAA) states:
“A member of the municipal council must refrain from sitting or voting on a matter when they know or should know that it involves their personal interest, distinct from that of the citizens.”
In short, when a decision directly affects the street where an elected official lives—and may impact their quality of life, environment, or property value—there is a real risk of conflict of interest.
In 2023 as today: the same players
Two and a half years later, it is clear that most of the elected officials and municipal leaders are still in office. However, this project—which was rejected in 2023—now seems to be regaining appeal in the eyes of these same decision-makers.
Comparison of the city council in 2023 and the city council in 2026
| August 2023 | February 2026 |
| Benoit Tremblay (Town chief executive officer) | Benoit Tremblay (Town chief executive officer) |
| Marcella David-Gerrish (mayor) | Marcella David-Gerrish (mayor) |
| Michel Desrosier | Michel Desrosier |
| Elizabeth FEE | Elizabeth FEE |
| Danielle DUPRÉ | Danielle DUPRÉ |
| Andrew J. PELLETIER | Andrew J. PELLETIER |
| Carrol HALLER | Astrid Dangoise |
| David Wilson (absent à ce moment) | Claude GENDRON, conseiller |
Several questions remain unanswered
What has changed since 2023? The principles? The priorities? Have the elected officials involved moved on? Who knows… probably all of the above! Perhaps the fact that a firm specializing in urban planning recommended this redevelopment. Regardless, in my opinion as a simple citizen of Capelton Street (108), the bike path must definitely run along Chemin de la Rivière to ensure the safety of cyclists and promote the discovery of the attractions of the village of North Hatley.
With that said, let’s hope this time is the charm!
Fortunately, Ms. Gerrish promises that taxes will not increase.
That’s lucky, since we are among the top 10 municipalities with the highest taxes in Quebec.
Photo credit : Journal Le Reflet du Lac
