Les avantages et les défis d’un complexe sportif à Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville

Saint-Bruno will have a sports complex; at best in 2026, if not in 2028, depending on the site chosen. What are the advantages and challenges of such a project?

The city council chose two locations. Parc Marie-Victorin or the backyard of Mont-Bruno high school. The population must make its choice this week.

First of all, no matter where the Montarville population turns, the presence of a sports complex in the community is a plus.

A multisport complex is an environment that encourages and promotes healthy lifestyles. A physically healthy community leads to a socially and financially healthy community.

Also, regardless of the privileged site, a sports complex benefits the entire population. For families, retirees, teenagers, athletes, seniors, young children… Provided that a diversified offer is offered among the facilities.

Buying a sports center also means updating facilities that are becoming increasingly obsolete or that do not yet exist. For citizens. For clubs and associations. To organize major competitions and welcome athletes from the region, even from the province. Seen from this angle, and regardless of the location, Saint-Bruno can only emerge a winner with these new infrastructures.

Secondary school…

Building the sports complex near the Mont-Bruno high school has its advantages. It is not the Rabastalière park, the place targeted by the previous administration, but it is a site that remains near the city center. In this sense, the school site is a favorable place for active mobility. Businesses could benefit from the traffic of the sports center. Also, there are more residential areas around the school. Therefore, a larger population could feel concerned by the arrival of this new sports option.

Summer 2028
This is the delivery date of the sports complex at Mont-Bruno secondary school.

The possibility of improving the offer of already existing sports facilities of the school establishment is also an attractive aspect. In the same place would be gathered gymnasiums, an athletics track, an arena, aquatic basins… The athletes of the Blizzard du Mont-Bruno, the sports club of the secondary school, would probably be delighted, as would the sports associations that already frequent the yellow building. Saint-Bruno basketball, Club Samak, Club Aqua-Rythme…

… or Marie-Victorin Park

There are also advantages to building the sports complex at Marie-Victorin Park. At $55 million, it is on this site that the cost is the lowest. It is also at Marie-Victorin Park that the first sod will take place more quickly. As an 86-year-old citizen met at the information session at the community center mentioned: “If I have to choose, I go for the one that is less expensive and that will be built the fastest. At my age, if the project takes too long…”

Marie-Victorin Park is far from the village center and most residential neighborhoods. Installing a sports complex this far means reducing heavy traffic in the city center and on residential streets. It also means avoiding construction nuisances for residents. Some will see positive in both aspects. Finally, Marie-Victorin Park is already full of several soccer fields (major tournaments are played there by AS Montis), a BMX track (the Club de BMX Rive-Sud hosts provincial events there), beach volleyball courts, a children’s park and the Marie-Victorin chalet. Establishing the multisport complex at this location would accentuate the sports center.

Obstacles to foresee

The first challenge is to try to please everyone. To citizens, but also to local sports associations. Regardless of the desired location in this folder, the City will fail. It will be impossible to please everyone. Unless you drive up the bill.

The Saint-Bruno Football Club trains and plays at Rabastalière Park. The organization doesn’t see much benefit in having a sports complex at either of the competing locations. Especially since a few years ago, the City dangled the idea of ​​a sports center project in the Rabastalière park… “Our main premises, with our equipment and materials, must be close to the [parc Rabastalière]. The new location would take us away from the field. The amount of space needed for equipment, material, players’ locker rooms… we do not intend to use the complex on a permanent basis, ”argues the president of the Barons, Annie Guillemette.

Same thing for the Mont-Bruno Curling Club. In 2018, when Rabastalière Park was mentioned as a sports hub, the plan called for the curling to be moved or annexed to the complex. A project that delighted the members of the board of directors, who saw in it the opportunity not to carry out the work to upgrade the freon installations.

Moreover, regardless of the site chosen, the sports facilities offered will be a challenge in itself. Will the double gymnasium be sufficient to meet the needs? Could tennis or, why not, squash courts have made their way to the drawing board? Has a space for children been considered? So many possibilities…

Secondary school…

There are challenges to adding a sports complex behind the Mont-Bruno high school. The estimated cost is the highest, at $59 million. It is also with this option that the lead time is longer. If this site is preferred, the City plans to open the doors in 2028. Building the sports complex on the land behind the high school would require clearing. The work would also take place near a protected natural environment. Finally, there would be no plans to expand the complex in the future if it is located near the school.

… or Marie-Victorin Park

Choosing Parc Marie-Victorin also has complications. It is above all a location that does not promote active mobility. It is enough to attend an AS Montis tournament or a major event of the Club de BMX Rive-Sud to see the number of cars moved. Especially since Marie-Victorin Park is located next to the industrial park. In addition to vehicles, we also note the presence of heavy trucks. It is also a place that is far from the shops of downtown Saint-Bruno. It is not favorable for them. Finally, complementarity with other sports programs or local associations is more complex.

The city council chose two sites. Parc Marie-Victorin and the backyard of Mont-Bruno high school. The population must choose one or the other by June 11 at 5 p.m.

QUESTION TO THE READERS:

What do you think is the biggest benefit for each of the sites?