262 P D NP D DM93Projet de reconstruction du Turcotà Montréal, Montréal-Ouest et Westrnount

Montréal 6211.06.124124

Brief on the proposed Turcot Reconstruction

Submitted to the BAPE in June, 2009

by Jody Negley

It Takes A VillageOutline

• Introduction• The Village des Tanneries• A neighborhood's comeback• Description of the local population• Impacts of the proposed project to date• The BAPE process• Recommendations to the BAPE• The choices we make• What has changed?• Who is responsible?• Neighborhoods matter• Conclusion

Appendices

• Photos of community projects and neighbours• Video interview with Suzanne and Robert• Video interview with the Tessiers• Photos of Mrs Campbell

Introduction

1moved into my neighborhood in May of 2000. Myhousing options, like my income, were somewhatlimited given my personal circumstances. Luckily,1found an apartment on rue Desnoyers that suitedmy needs, in what was an admittedly unattractivepost-industrial area, in close proximity to theelevated highway. 1saw ifs potential however,and worked to make it into a home, ... my home.

Children were always running loose in the streets.There was little green space for them to play. As 1slowly planted myself a garden, the children werethere to help. They were thirsty like sponges,eager for attention from an attentive adult. It wasthen that 1saw the need for a neighborhoodcommittee (CCVT) that would foster theconditions for a healthy and cohesive community.

The Village des Tanneries

l've once been told by a friend, already living in St­Henri for many years, that there was somethingspecial about the place and the people... Despitethe dust and the rough edges, one cannot help butsmile at this place full of character, so undeniablyproud of its colorful history and working classroots.

l'd like to tell you about my specifie neighborhood,which like many others, is to be greatly affected bythe proposed reconstruction project.

This is where over 400 people will be directlydisplaced due to the new highway...Where theyare to go is not clear to anyone.

Hundreds more people, while not expropriatedper say, will also suffer from the effects of a majorinfrastructure construction site, the likes of whichwe have not been seen for forty years. 1don'tthink anyone will be able to live under thoseconditions (The sewers system on my street iscurrently being replaced: after only four days ofconstant noise from the trucks and heavymachinery,I am going a little crazy).

A neighborhood's comeback

A few community initiatives have changed the faceof the cornmunity in recent years, thanks to acolaboration between citizens, community groupsand municipal services.

The Allée des Tanneries was a barren brownfieldwhere local residents planted 2280 trees to form agreen screen between the CN tracks and theneighborhood.

The Community Gardens were built on the sitethanks to local sponsors and community spirit.

The Bikers' Garden was an abandoned lot where aperennial garden now thrives and where residentshave potluck BBQs on a regular basis.

See appendices for photos ofthese and otherprojects.

Description of the local population

In general terms, it is fair to say that there is aneclectic mix of individuals who live in the area:Young professionals, students, many families withyoung children of low to modest income and a fairnumber of people who grew up here and decidedto raise a family of their own.

It is my understanding that there is a highpercentage of people who are known to the localCSSS for varying reasons; this is significant, simplybecause it underlines the fact that with povertyare associated a host of other problems thatdiminish one's health and weIl being.

This kind of vulnerable population will requireincreased support services in order to weather thekinds of prolonged stressors that any majorreconstruction will entail: Prolonged uncertainty,powerlessness in the face of bureaucracy, loss ofsupport systems, imposed relocation for sorne, forothers there awaits several years chronic noise,air pollution, vibrations and loss of quality of lifeand of sleep.

Most people, especially those who are living in acontext of poverty and alienation, tend to adapt totheir environment, no matter how hostile orunhealthy. They are grateful to have found anapartment that they can actually afford, regardlessof the proximity to train tracks, highways or othernUIsances

Impacts of the proposed project to date

The negative effects of the planned reconstructionhave already been significant to those of us whoare involved: In the context of a vacuum of clearand accurate informationJthere has been muchspeculation and anxiety amongst potentialexpropriates. Renovations are put on hold; longterm plans shelved; apathy and denial settle in forsorne while others begin an anxious search foroptions. Several people chose to beat the rush andhave already left the communityJ anticipating anincreased scarcity of affordable rentaI units in thearea.

There has been considerable frustration at thelack of support available. It would seem thatmeaningful citizen participation is still not anapplied practice in St Henri: Those of us who havechosen to fight for the community's survival havehad to overcome obstacles on many fronts.Community groups and coalitions have not beenable to meet the needs within the communitiesaffected by the project. Local organizations andindividualsJstaff or volunteers alikeJareexhausted and burnt out from a year of Turcot andBAPE related activities. The community has

beeome fragmented and disorganized} as regularprogramming and aetivities have fallen to thewayside in order to foeus on the many issuesrelated to the mobilisation. There have been noBBQs in the eommunity to date} no bloek parties}no fundraising} no respite ... We have done littleelse but eat} drink} breathe} sleep and dreamTureot in the months leading up to the BAPE.

The BAPE process

While the staff haye been very respectful andprofessional, and there were many positiveaspects to the BAPE process. It must be said thatthe BAPE structure and timetable are far too rigidand too focused on technology in terms ofinformation sharing. The concept of Citizenparticipation is a relative, mostly abstract valuethat needs serious improvements.

Many people do not have a phone, let aloneinternet access. The Documentation Centers arepoorly staffed, poorly advertised within thebuilding itself and the documentation itselfintimidating to say the least.

There is insufficient time for anyone to read andunderstand the huge volume of highly technicalinformation.

l'm both sad for and very proud of the peoplewithin my community who have participatednotwithstanding: Many have come away from theexperience feeling that they have somehow failedin this public consultation process; most feelanxious and exhausted and deeply disappointedthat they did not have the time that they needed toproperly articulate their thoughts; most doubt

whether their voice was heard and wonder in theend whether they wasted their time.

This reaction, expressed by many of the citizenswho participated, is evidence to the fact that theBAPE is not adequately upholding the espousedvalues of equity, impartiality and democracy.

As a society, it is of upmost importance thateverything possible should be done to fostercitizen engagement. Too few take the time andeffort to get involved: We cannot afford to putobstacles in the path of those who want toparticipate.

The BAPE has much work to do in this area:Everything should be done to foster and notdiscourage citizen participation.

Recommendations to the BAPE:

Additional resources must be allocated tocommunicating the documentation in a userfriendly and context sensitive manner; Manypeople have no phone, never mind to ensure thatpeople with no access to internet.

Additional time should be allowed between thefirst and second phase of the BAPE and acommunity based resource person assigned toassist citizens in the writing of their briefs.

Financial subsidies should be offered tocommunity groups to hire community organizerswith the specifie mandate of assisting citizens inthe writing of their brief.

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The choices we make

One thing we know for sure is that change iscertain - progress is not. Progress depends on thechoices we make today for tomorrow.

ln the late 60s, Montrealers were swept up in ashared excitement and optimism for the future.Montreal was a showcase to the world and theTurcot Interchange was a majestic and fittinggateway to our city.

Brian Merrett was there and documented theplight of sorne reported 6000 people who wereforced to leave their homes to make way for thenew highway. A little group of citizens called theWestmount Action Committee fotight to protecttheir homes to no avail.

When 1first saw pictures of Mrs. Campbell and herneighbors, 1was struck by the shared experiencebetween people separated by time ... 40+ yearslater. See appendices for photos.

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Whathaschanged?

And it would seem that not much has changedwithin the mindset and modus operandi of theMTQ. History does indeed threaten to repeat itself.

Yet what has changed is our scientificunderstanding of the impact of car emissions uponour environment and upon our health:

We know much more now than we did even a fewyears aga about how the human brain developsand what children need from their environmentsto develop characterJempathYJ and intelligence.

• One recent study reveals that traffic pollutioncan actually lower children's IQs: TheHarvard School of Public Health found thatchildren living near heavily trafficked roadsscore worse on intellig~nce and memory tests.

• The Canadian Medical Association reportsthat an estimated 21000 Canadians died of airpollution in 200S alone. We know that SooM ofthese were seniors.

• Asthma rates in children continue to risedramatically.

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• We know that seniors that live near hightraffic roads are more likely to behospitalized;

• That pregnant women living near high trafficroads are more likely to give birthprematurely and to underweight babies;

• That an estimated 1500 people per year dieprematurely due to air pollution

• That our emergency rooms are overcrowdedand our healthcare system is overburdened.

One cannot help but wonder how it is that we canlegislate cell phone use in cars and smoking inrestaurants ... Yet schools and seniors residencescontinue to get built alongside high traffic areas.

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Who is responsible?

Whether in the case of a bridge collapse, therazing of a neighbourhood or the increasedincidence of disease due to air quality, ourpoliticalleaders should be ultimately responsiblefor ensuring the health and weIl being of it'scitizens ... Especially those most vulnerablesegments of the population, such as the elderlyand children.

1also believe that as a society, we get thegovernments we deserve. We' need to each takeour share of responsibility for the mess that wehave created in the world: By getting involved inour community, by being informed and by voting,we can help to ensure that the necessary changesare made in time and that future generations willnot pay an even higher price than did Mrs.Campbell and others from that time.

Neighborhoods matter

Living in a good neighborhood has nothing to dowith the price you paid for your home or theamount of your monthly rent. Living in a goodneighborhood depends on the support system thatexists within the community.

We need to take the responsibility of truly being agood neighbor. It takes a village to weather thetrying times. Ifwe want thatkind of support, theplace to begin is with ourselves, in our ownneighborhoods. If everyone were to get involvedin their immediate neighborhood, the largerMontreal community would become a muchhealthier, more cohesive place in which to raise afamily..

Over the past year, we've discovered many peoplewho's shared vision of community extends beyondstreet boundaries and who contribute to makingtheir world, their city, the kind of place whereeveryone feels safe and healthy and connected.

One need not live on Cazelais or Desnoyers, to beconsidered a part of the Village des Tanneries:

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l'd like to say Thank You to our many good friendsand neighbors from the Coalition pour HumaniserNotre Dame} from Concordia} from McGill and inNDG; we have good neighbors on the web too} inSpacing Montreal and Walking Turcot Yards.

There are so many things in life over which wehave no control but building a good neighborhoodis something that anyone can do} right now} in theplace where you live now.

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Conclusion

1add my voice, for what it's worth, to the manyexperts and community representatives whoreject the MTQ project as proposed. There are toomany negative impacts to allow such a plan toproceed. The Turcot issue has brought into focusthe sad truth that Quebec is woefully behind thetimes .... And there is little excuse for it. We haveeverything we need to build a world class,sustainable, dynamic city.

Our government must radically rethink it'sposition towards transportation infrastructure inour urban centers and quickly take steps towardsbecoming a world leader in the field of sustainableinter-modal transportation systems. Montrealdeserves nothing less. We have the industries, thetechnologies, the experts; and we have an everincreasing number of committed citizens, willingto share in the process.

The choices we make today will have a lastingimpact on the look, the function and on the healthof this city weIl into the 21st century.

The Village des Tanneries

Le Village des TanneriesSt·Henrl

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The CCVT

Le Comité des Citoyens du Villa~

Tisser des liens entre voisinsjWeave bondsbetween neighbours

Créer des opportunités pour s'impliquer et seconnaîtrejCreate opportunities to becomeinvolved in one's neighborhood

Déveloper les sentiments d'appartenance et defierté envers son quartierj Develop feelings ofbelonging and pride towàrds one's community

Améliorer la sécurité et la qualité de vie desgens du quartierjlmprove security and quality oflife ofresidents

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L'Allée des Tanneries

2,2280 trees were planted by local residents in2005 to create a green screen.

Les Jardins Communautairesdu Village

Building raised garden beds

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Spring Clean-Ups

An abandoned lot is brought back to life

Bringing beauty where there was none

The Bikers' Garden

Creating opportunities for people to gatber

Spring Bazaar at the 780 St Remi

Building Community

Members of the CCVT past and present whohave made significant contributions to theircommunity

Jules Chomedey and Andrew Harvey

Jules and Mark McLellan

Daniel Roy, gardener extraordinaire

Caroline Duchesne and Stéphanie Dugas

(CCVT)

Brian Merrett (photographer of Mrs Campbellseries) with Daniel Guilbert (CCVT)

Mireille Gagnon, Nathalie Moisan andStéphanie Dugas (CCVT)

George Hughes

The MTQ's Environmental Impact Study put verylittle focus on the human impact of the Turcotreconstruction. There are many people for whomthe BAPE process and timetable are not accessible.Their voices need to be heard nonetheless (thanksto Karen Vanderborght for making this possible).

- Interview with Suzanne and Robert

http://www.youtube.com/wateh?v=rZSZV vLfI1

One recent study reveals that traffic pollutioncan actuaHy lower children's IQs.

-The Harvard Sehool of Public Health found thatchildren living near heavily trafficked roads

score worse on intelligence and memory tests.

- Interview with Charlotte Séguin andRaymond Tessier: (will he onHne shortly:please search Turcot video scrapbookFattageimale or via above link)

The Canadian l\'ledical Association predictedthat 21000 Canadians would die of air

pollution in 2008 atone.

80% of these are seniors.

Ah Real Mess, eh Mrs Campbell?

Your street is gone,

And so are your neighbours

...And people who drive cars don't stop to talk

http://wwwJacebook.com/pagesjMrs­Campbellj40731087076

Thanks to Brian Merrett for these photographs

View ofthe Village before the construction ofthe 720

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Homes along StJacques destroyed

Businesses along StJacques also destroyed

Proposed path ofnew highway would destroythe homes on Cazelais street and the 780 St

Remi

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ln life, change is certain -

but Progress depends on the choices we maketoday for tomorrow.