One of the largest private camps in Quebec is targeted for expropriation, and the protest is organized to thwart the city of Mirabel, which wants to build two schools there.
The battle is organized and sold out annually at the 80-year-old camp site of Donald in the Saint-Connet sector in Mirabel. During our visit on Monday afternoon, TVA Nouvelles was able to observe a strong sense of community.
Recently, an expropriation announcement created a shock wave and quickly, in protest, yellow sweaters and “Save the Campsite” buttons appeared.
“Across the camp, there is a sand pit. Instead of usurping the old and the young there is room to do that. I ask the people of Saint-Connet and Mirabel to support us,” said Martin Simart, brother of Nathalie and René Simart. The latter has no intention of sweeping.
The 400 campers in this small village will have to pack up until November because the municipality of Mirabel has chosen the site, subject to the necessary ministerial approval to build two new schools. So this is the new attack of the city, which suffered defeat after the rejection of the metropolitan community of Montreal regarding the location of a school establishment in Camp Donald in 2022.
The trailers are too old to go anywhere else
However, for many campers, changing locations is not an option because their trailers are so old. “We cannot replace them. We will lose everything. Other camps are mostly for 10 years and less. We can’t have 12-year-old trailers that don’t fit,” one woman explains to TVA Nouvelles.
Another woman shows her installations, she has installed a small terrace on her land. “Also, I have a gazebo, I have a sofa, I have another patio. I have a house but my land is small. What am I going to do with all this?” she asks.
The owners of Donald Campsite had no comment as they were in discussions with their attorney.
For its part, the City of Mirabel responds in writing that it must meet the needs of present and future generations.
“It is important to point out that camping users will be able to take full advantage of their facilities throughout the summer of 2024, as this has not been compromised in any way. Although the city is aware of the inconvenience caused by the closure of Camping Donald, these acquisitions are part of a larger project that corresponds to the city’s strategic planning,” the municipality underlined.
Camp operators are taking legal action
Lawyer Denis Beaudon, a former MP for Mirabell, will meet with the campers organizing their protest on Thursday evening.
A few years ago, Mr. He demanded that Prime Minister Trudeau publicly apologize for what their families have suffered.
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