After several months of planning, construction work has officially begun on the new Les Coteaux fire station and municipal garage on rue Royal in the north end of the town. 

On Monday, August 19, the municipal administration invited the local media to the groundbreaking ceremony for the 12,600-square-foot building, which is scheduled to open in late fall 2025. 

The event was attended by Les Coteaux mayor Sylvain Brazeau, Soulanges MNA Marilyne Picard, municipal councillors Claude Lepage, Myriam Sauvé and Michel Joly, general manager Pamela Nantel and assistant general manager Audrey Caza, as well as representatives of the Coteaux/Coteau-du-Lac fire department. Coteau-du-Lac mayor Andrée Brosseau was also present at the press conference. 

“This Monday, August 19, 2024, marks an important milestone in the history of the municipality, with the start of work on this major project estimated at $13 million. The project is designed to improve the safety and efficiency of our municipal services. Our current facilities are functional, but they no longer meet current government standards for growing municipalities like ours,” noted Les Coteaux's Director General, Pamela Nantel, at the outset.  

A bill split in two 

The total cost of the project is estimated at $13 million. Of this amount, $7.5 million comes from the Quebec government. The remainder of the bill will be paid by the Municipalité des Coteaux. 

“The City of Coteau-du-Lac will not be footing a portion of the bill, since our municipal garage will also be housed there. However, it's not out of the question that, in the future, a team of Coteau-du-Lac firefighters could be based at the new fire station as soon as it's ready. Discussions will have to be held with this in mind between now and the end of construction,” says Ms. Nantel. 

For her part, Soulanges MNA Marilyne Picard congratulated and underlined the commitment, determination and vision of all those involved in the project.

Two spaces in one building 

While the municipal garage and fire station will be housed under the same roof, each department will have its own space. The new building will have a total of thirteen garage doors.

The fire station will include a decontamination room, specialized equipment storage, changing rooms, dormitories, administrative offices, a meeting room, a common living area and utility rooms.

The municipal garage portion will include welding, carpentry and cleaning workshops, storage space, a mechanical and electrical room, utility rooms and a reception area.

Exterior improvements are also planned, including landscaping, the installation of a digital sign for continuous information broadcasting, a 50-space parking lot and an open-plan equipment and materials storage area for use by the municipal garage.

The work was entrusted to Emery Paquette, the company responsible for the Coteau-du-Lac town hall. Architectural plans were drawn up by J.Dagenais Architecte et associés, the same firm that worked on the Terrasse-Vaudreuil fire station.

The architectural concept is reminiscent of the old barracks, with arched glass garage doors and red brick. The municipality wanted an architectural signature that would stand the test of time while blending into the surrounding landscape.

“We're very proud to see this project come to fruition. It's an important step for the municipality and a major asset for us, enabling us to better respond to emergencies on our territory, but also under our intermunicipal agreement with the City of Coteau-du-Lac. This project is a fine example of what can be achieved by working together. Thanks to the Quebec government for their financial contribution,” added Mayor Sylvain Brazeau.