The North Hatley marina building is currently in a concerning condition. According to several observations, it would likely be difficult for this building to meet current standards if a full inspection were conducted by the Quebec Construction Commission. In my opinion, major interventions should have been carried out long ago to prevent anyone from circulating […]
PPCMOI: The next phase in North Hatley’s future planning
PPCMOI: What does it mean? PPCMOI stands for Specific Project for the Construction, Modification or Occupancy of an Immovable. It is a legal urban planning tool provided under Quebec’s Act respecting land use planning and development, allowing a municipality to authorize a project that does not fully comply with existing zoning regulations when it is […]
North Hatley is planning the next decade at full speed… but what about day-to-day service to citizens?
I don’t know about you, but after speaking with several residents, I realize that I am not the only one receiving little — or often no — response from the municipal administration. If many of us are already experiencing difficulty obtaining answers and services today, what will happen with the addition of new infrastructure such […]
Understanding the Role of the Special Planning Program (the well-known SPP)
A Special Planning Program (SPP) is a detailed municipal planning tool used in Québec to guide the development of a specific sector within a municipality (downtown, village core, waterfront area, redevelopment zone, etc.). Role of the SPP The SPP translates a strategic planning vision for a specific area into concrete rules and clear guidelines. It […]
The Impact of the SPP: Let’s Make Sure We Fully Understand the Future Consequences of Our Decisions
Tonight at 6:30 p.m., the public consultation on the SPP — the Special Planning Program (stemming from the master plan presented on September 23, 2026, and adopted by Council on October 1, 2026) — will take place. This plan will guide the development of the village of North Hatley for the next 15 years. It […]
Mill Street: What can we expect this summer in North Hatley?
Even though we currently have both feet in the snow and winter is beautiful, the summer season will arrive in less than 90 days. Boating season will already begin on April 23. Every time I try to travel along Mill Street, whether on foot or by car — often with great difficulty — I wonder […]
Inter-municipal recreation agreement: what next for North Hatley and the Township of Hatley?
Last spring, the Township of Hatley, a partner in the intermunicipal recreation agreement with the Village of North Hatley, chose not to renew the contract that allowed both municipalities to share certain services and the associated costs. Earlier this year, the municipal council indicated that the administrations of both municipalities had been mandated to work […]
Plans for refrigerated ice rinks… put on ice elsewhere, but not in North Hatley
Refrigerated skating rinks represent an excellent solution for extending the winter season, which has become increasingly difficult to maintain due to significant temperature fluctuations that complicate the upkeep of outdoor ice surfaces. Across Quebec, many municipalities are turning to this type of infrastructure. North Hatley is also among those wishing to offer such a facility […]
February 28, 2026 – Winter Reappropriation Day at Lake Massawippi
As planned and announced last year, come have fun on the frozen lake with family and friends on February 28. Initially planned as an ice fishing tournament, the event has evolved to be more accessible to everyone and has become a real day of celebration on the ice. Since Mother Nature is finally giving us […]
Redevelopment of the intersection of Main Street and Chemin de la Rivière: collective memory is a faculty that forgets
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 […]
Pression budgétaire sur les habitants de North Hatley
Suite au dépôt des budgets de North Hatley et des municipalités environnantes, j’ai comparé le poids budgétaire des habitants des municipalités environnantes pour l’année 2025. Il est important de noter qu’il s’agit des budgets 2025 des municipalités puisque les données réelles ne seront disponibles que lors du dépôt des rapports financiés audités en juillet 2026, […]
Reclaiming Lake Massawippi in winter: it has begun!
For several weeks now, I have been going out onto the ice to drill holes and measure its thickness. With ice measuring 6 inches or more, consistently observed at the various points checked, I was able to begin ice fishing in North Hatley with due caution. Last Sunday, I also invited a few friends from […]
Council meeting summaries: a loss of momentum or simply a delay?
The first two public council meetings of North Hatley held following the elections were summarized and sent to citizens the very next day through the Entre Nous municipal bulletin. However, no summary has been distributed since December 12, despite the fact that two additional public council meetings have been held since then. At the beginning […]
2026 budget: more elected officials and municipal employees than citizens in the room
Only four citizens attended the presentation of North Hatley’s 2026 budget, despite the importance of this exercise. The schedule, which was not very convenient for workers, raises questions about accessibility and citizen participation. Nevertheless, the session took place in an open and interactive atmosphere, allowing for many questions to be asked. Key findings: The budget […]
December 17 at 4:00 p.m. — Presentation of the 2026 Municipal Budget of North Hatley
Presentation of the 2026 Municipal Budget in North Hatley This Wednesday, December 17 at 4:00 p.m., the Municipality of North Hatley will present its annual budget for 2026. The budget is a pivotal moment in municipal life: it is when the Council’s orientations, priorities, and commitments take concrete, quantified, and measurable form. In practice, what […]
Call to North Hatley ambassadors: let’s come together to promote the village
North Hatley can count on a large number of citizens who are deeply devoted to their village. A few months ago, together with a small group of citizen ambassadors—mainly entrepreneurs from North Hatley—we launched an initiative: ANHA, short for Ambassadors of North Hatley and Surrounding Areas (Alentours). For now, the association is aimed at project […]
Ice rink ready in North Hatley: delighted children and parents
Sunday, December 14: our first family skating outing. And today, two of my children are putting on skates for the very first time. With gentle snow falling and a temperature of −3 °C, the ice gives us a truly joyful moment. On the rink, the atmosphere is already there: younger kids mix with older ones, […]
Everything indicates that the skating season is about to begin in North Hatley
My kids keep asking me when they can finally go skating. So today, we went to check out the ice… and honestly, it’s very encouraging. There’s already a good layer of ice in place. In our opinion, it’s possible to skate. Yes, there are a few bumps here and there, but nothing dramatic: for 5-year-olds, […]
What if we reclaimed our Lake Massawippi in winter?
Winter is usually quiet in North Hatley. Yet, when Mother Nature gives us a solid freeze—as is the case right now—there is tremendous room for creativity. Solstice Sauna is already proving that it can be done. In simple terms, once the ice reaches about 4 inches thick, it becomes possible to access the lake. Caution […]
Access to Lake Massawippi: between protection and exclusion
As you know, I have long been campaigning for access to the lake to be truly open to everyone. I often repeat that 98% of Quebec’s bodies of water are private or difficult to access. This issue is very close to my heart, because I am both a passionate fisherman and a lover of water—like […]
Dinner on the municipal dock: when citizens reclaim the shores of Lake Massawippi
A few weeks ago, I published an article presenting a series of ideas to restore true access to the lake for everyone in North Hatley. I would now like to explore each of these ideas separately, in its own dedicated article, to better illustrate their potential. To give people access to the lake again, we […]
Reinventing access to Lake Massawippi: the shared electric boat option
Electric cars have experienced tremendous growth in recent years. Now it’s the turn of watercraft to enter the electric age. Imagine a lake where only silent boats travel, without smoke or the smell of gasoline. It’s no longer just a dream: electric boats can already be seen on Lake Massawippi. Take an interest in this […]
Reminder: The North Hatley Christmas Market will be held this Saturday, December 6, starting at noon
Tomorrow, from noon to 6 p.m., North Hatley’s outdoor Christmas market will take place at Parc de la Rivière. Hot chocolate, music, campfires, and inflatable games for the whole family! A host of vendors will be on hand for young and old alike. We hope to see you there in large numbers! Crédit photo : […]
When will the ice rink be ready in North Hatley?
The cold weather has set in since early November: no rain, no thaw… in short, all the conditions are right for skating. The boards are already in place: what are we waiting for to start watering and making ice at Rivière Park? To be continued… Do we need snow to make an ice rink? On […]
Access to the lake for all: myth or reality in North Hatley?
Let us recall that 98% of Québec’s waterways are private or inaccessible. In North Hatley, almost every access point to Lake Massawippi — as well as most nautical activities — is directly or indirectly controlled by the municipality: On top of that, extensive water-related activities (swimming, marinas, boat rentals, etc.) are only permitted in three […]
Renovating rather than demolishing: a truly sustainable choice?
Following the recently published demolition notice, several residents seem to be questioning the real environmental impact of tearing down buildings like the one at the beach. After looking into it, I discovered that an average 1,000- to 2,000-square-foot house typically represents 30 to 100 tons of materials to manage. And depending on how carefully the […]
December 1, 2025 – North Hatley council meeting summary
Here is a summary of the Entre Nous newsletter – Follow-up to the public meeting of December 1, 2025. Ethics and Transparency Human Resources MRC Memphrémagog – 2026 Budget Local Road Assistance Program (PAVL) New Agreement with the Magog Ecocentre Urban Planning and PIIA Projects Modernization of Boat-Wash Stations and Launch Ramps Recreation Agreement with […]
Tip: Know who owns a piece of land or lot
Did you know that it is possible to identify the owner of a lot—land, zoning, property value—and even verify, if necessary, the purchase price and the mortgage attached to it using tools such as JLR. Here’s how to do it: 1. Locate the lotFirst, go to:https://appli.foncier.gouv.qc.ca/Infolot/Info/LicenceUse the interactive map to find the lot you are […]
Tip: Know the transaction amount and the mortgage on a property
Did you know that in just a few seconds, you can find out the date a property was sold, the transaction amount, the welcome tax, the identities of the sellers and buyers, and even download the mortgage details if there is one on the property? Yes, you can! The jlr.ca website offers all this information […]
North Hatley undergoing transformation: demolition and reconstruction underway
Following the recent demolition of 190 Main Street and the upcoming demolition of the Pleasant View Beach building, a public notice of demolition has now been issued for 2013-2015 Lake Road. In all these cases, we are talking about large-scale construction projects intended to replace existing buildings. I remain both surprised by the disappearance of […]
