The Table de Quartier Sud de l’Ouest de l’Île held its second Citizens’ Forum

The Table de Quartier Sud de l’Ouest de l’Île held its second Citizens’ Forum on March 20, 2014.

We would like to congratulate the event planning committee, our volunteers and supporters for their efforts to make our Citizens’ Forum in Beaconsfield a successful one.

Despite the competing event scheduled on the same night, the Quebec election debate broadcast, our Forum attracted 40 participants. Politicians from all levels of government showed their interest and came to hear what citizens have to say about the quality of life in their community. Mayor Georges Bourelle, City Councillors Karen Messier and Wade Staddon, MP Francis Scarpaleggia, Québec Solidaire candidate for Jacques-Cartier Jean-François Belley, and Suzan Stokley – Assistant to the Mayor of Baie‐d’Urfé sat together with citizens, community organizations as well as representatives of Beaconsfield Citizens’ Association and Association for the Protection of Angell Woods to discuss the variety of topics such as housing, urban planning, transportation, local economy and others.

Forum participants shared not only their preoccupations but also provided some ideas and solutions that could improve the quality of life in their community. Revitalizing volunteer-based crime prevention programs, such as Block Parent and Neighbourhood Watch, was suggested as a possible solution that can improve the situation with public security.  Participants at the ‘Local Economy and Employment’ table recommended that it is essential to encourage cooperative development projects as well as support young entrepreneurs who want to start innovative projects. It was suggested to develop a centralized database of accessible and affordable housing which should be available to our citizens. Some also recommended to increase citizens’ involvement in urban planning. These are just few examples of the many recommendations that were discussed at the Forum.La Table de Quartier Sud de l’Ouest de l’Île a tenu son deuxième Forum des Citoyens le 20 mars 2014.