Borough works with student for community ideas

When a Saint-Laurent resident needed a personal project to submit for her master’s application in landscape architecture, she decided to look no further than her own backyard.

The entrance to Saint-Laurent via Marcel-Laurin Blvd. became the eye of Louise Capelle-Burny’s work because it is an area she frequents, “and it needs help,” she said. Collaborating with the borough, she held a workshop on Tuesday, Dec. 15, to get residents’ ideas on what they think would work best.

At the Centre des Loisirs, Capelle-Burny had posters along the wall for residents to check off the positives, negatives and what they could imagine for the area.

“The top thing people selected was greenery—green canopy, more plants, more nature,” she said. “It’s such a big space. There are grasses that have grown wild but there’s nowhere for people to go during their lunch break.” Benches and shaded seating are also ways to improve the boulevard according to Capelle-Burny.

Improving walkability is key for her. “There are no bars, no cafés, there’s a Tim Horton’s and one restaurant. For the most part, people have to walk to the metro or take their car to get to things. When you live somewhere, why not walk?”

Capelle-Burny is expecting to do another 120 hours of work on the project, between gathering more data (there were not enough people at the last event), sketching ideas and eventually making 3-D renderings.

Data compiled will be handed to the borough, and Mayor Alan DeSousa, who attended the workshop, is behind the project 100 per cent. “We like to recognize the young talent in the community.” He explained that Saint-Laurent has collaborated with students in the past.

“There’s a need to tap into the new ideas that are coming up and also the energy from people in the university community.”

The area where Marcel-Laurin Blvd. enters Saint-Laurent is undergoing redevelopment as more land has become available. With work expected south of Saint-Louis St., DeSousa looks forward to receiving a copy of Capelle-Burny’s report. “I’d rather take the ideas from the community,” he said.

To share your ideas with Capelle-Burny, reach her through her site at louisecb.com