It was a harsh wake-up call for many residents of Rosemont, who found their medians pounded by snow removal operations the day before on Friday morning. A nightmare that has been repeated since last winter, despite complaints from the neighborhood.
Posted at 10:08 p.m.
“The snow plows removed all the snow, they did a good job in that regard. The problem is that they also tore up the plants and the grass,” laments Michael Bourdeau. The Rosemont resident and many other neighborhood residents landscape the six-foot medians located in front of their residence each year by planting clover, perennials and hydrangeas.
But everything will have to be done again next spring. “Since last winter, we get up in the morning and they have removed as much earth as snow,” laments Michael Bourdeau.
On Friday, the damage extended for kilometers, along several streets between Saint-Joseph Boulevard and Rosemont Boulevard. “They dug so deep that you can see the roots of the trees in certain places,” says Marie Hélène Harvey, who lives on the same street.
Neighborhood residents have filed complaints with the City since last winter. “But there is no intervention, and we continue to have our trees plowed without knowing why,” laments Mathieu L’spérance, who had a higher fence installed around his garden to protect it during snow removal. .
We took the trouble to create a community neighborhood, it became flowery, it created lots of links between us. But having to endure this in winter undermines our efforts.
Mathieu L’spérance, resident of Rosemont
“Almost sabotage”
For Marie Hélène Harvey, the situation is all the more frustrating because the borough actively encourages residents to garnish and maintain their flower beds, which belong to the City. “So why are they so aggressive when they pass?” It’s almost sabotage,” she laments.
Snow removal operations in the area were carried out by employees of the Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie borough.
“During this first snow loading operation of the winter, and while the ground is not yet completely frozen, our teams responsible for snow removal have indeed been informed that certain green developments have been damaged by machinery, particularly in the sector mentioned,” commented Judith Gratton Gervais, spokesperson for the borough, by email.
The borough’s horticultural teams will tour the area in the spring to “evaluate whether specific repair measures can be put in place,” added the spokesperson.
Cyclists also outraged
All this comes while a little earlier this week, on Thursday, cyclist Elodie Augier also denounced on social networks that her bicycle, parked on a public structure in the City, had been mowed down by a truck clearing snow from the sidewalks, the corner of De Lorimier and Laurier avenues.
“Thanks to the snow removal caterpillar driver. This morning, great discovery. The journey is really suspicious on the sidewalk,” lamented Mme Augier, sharing photos and a video of the scene upon his arrival.
Its publication then sparked a lot of outrage on social networks, with some Internet users even seeing it as a form of hit-and-run. In the office of Mayor Valérie Plante, it was then argued that “the work of snow plows is essential to clear streets and sidewalks and thus ensure the fluidity and safety of travel in winter.”
“However, despite the need to act quickly, caution remains necessary. It is crucial to ensure that citizens’ property is protected at all times. We are closely monitoring snow removal operations and will take the necessary measures to prevent similar situations from recurring in the future,” noted press officer Béatrice Saulnier-Yelle.
Montreal also invites citizens affected by this type of situation to claim compensation from the City. A reporting form is available on the municipality’s website to achieve this, recalls the public relations officer.
