Aylmer councillor working to get Parc des Cèdres canteen open this summer
Sophie Demers
The canteen building, also known as “Chalet de Service de la plage des Cèdres”, in Parc des Cèdres near the beach area, has been vacant for many years. The city stated that they have plans to analyze the property this fall but were unable to provide any other information about the building or its future use. They said they did not anticipate the building would be in use this summer.
The City could not provide the exact number of years the building had been vacant.
However, Aylmer councillor Steven Boivin states that the building was one of his concerns when first elected. Boivin pushed to have it evaluated to make sure it was safe and secure in the summer of 2022 and hopes to see it occupied by the summer.
According to the councillor, the city is looking to find a not-for-profit organization to make an agreement with the City and use the building. City officials told the Bulletin that a call was put out to local organizations to see if they would be interested in using the space, without specifying which organizations or how the invitation was made. Local business-people who already sell items such as ice cream and chips told the Bulletin they have not been contacted by the city to see if they’d occupy it. Place aux jeunes was the last renter at the canteen, they rented for several years, running the nearby mini-golf area behind the Sailing Club building for years.
Beach users note they still visit the beach with money in their pocket to buy refreshments and see the city as sitting on their hands, waiting for someone else to contact them about the rental space.
The area Residents’ Association, les Amis de la Marina, told the Bulletin they have not heard anything from the city about the public asset.
Photo credit: Bulletin Archives.
Photo caption: des Cèdres beach area in front of the canteen building on a typical day is packed with people, many who use the canteen building bathrooms, the exterior showers and the drinking water fountain.
