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 […]
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 […]
The main points of North Hatley’s new master plan
In order to better understand the issues surrounding North Hatley’s new master plan, recently adopted by the municipal council and set to be rolled out over the next few years, I will be publishing a series of articles focusing on its main themes and the projects that could come to fruition. To begin with, here […]
Public notice – Minor variance request 4340, chemin Magog
The Municipal Council of the Village of North Hatley will hold a public meeting on December 16, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the community hall of St. Elizabeth Church (3115 Capelton Road). At that time, the Council will review a minor variance request concerning the property located at: 4340 Magog Road, North Hatley (Québec) What […]
Municipal transparency: missing audio recordings, late minutes…
As you know, I regret that audio recordings and minutes are no longer posted on the North Hatley municipal website within days of council meetings. 1. Why are there no more audio recordings? According to the response I received this morning from Ms. Davis-Gerrish, the lack of audio recordings since June is due to the […]
Public contracts: a minefield that is too often underestimated
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
