Gatineau reveals 2nd plan for new police HQ

Following months of deliberations that included rejecting an earlier proposal, Gatineau, Que., city council has voted to build a new policeheadquarters further northby the end of 2026.

In early 2023,councillors turned down a plan favoured by the city's administration to build the headquarters on a parking lot nextto the Robert-Guertin Centre.

That site is next to an emergency shelterand a supervised injection site, which created concerns that people who use those services would avoid the area if there was more of apolice presence.

On Tuesday, council agreed to build the headquarters in an industrial park connecting 975 boulevard Saint-Josephand 80 rue Jean-Proulxin the northern section of the Hull district.

"Essentially we evolved toward a great project, soit's a good day today," said Gatineau Mayor Daniel Champagne.

Once built at an estimated cost of $187 million, the new headquarters will replacethe existing headquarters at 590boulevard Grber, as well as the police station at777 boulevard de la Carrire in Hull.

According to Gatineau police Chief Simon Fournier, the city needs a new headquarters because their existing one was opened in 1990 and no longer meets modern standards.

The new facility will be 165,000 square feet and includea four-storey above-ground parking garage.

Manoir-des-Trembles-Val-TtreauCoun.Jocelyn Blondincastthe lone vote against the project, arguingthe parking garage should be built underground since that is something the city itself encourages developers to do.

The city will still need to decide what to do with theRobert-Guertin Centre property, which until its closing in 2021was a concert venue and more notablythe long-time home of the Gatineau Olympiques juniorhockey team.

Hull-Wright Coun. Steve Moran, whose district includes the centre, said Tuesdayhe was relievedsince both he and his constituents have long pushed for consultation to decide what to do with the land.

New Aylmerpolice station

While the new police headquarters means a new facility for officers in Gatineau's Hull and Gatineau districts, the needs ofAylmerwere also consideredTuesday.

The city will replace the district's 66-year-old police post at an estimated cost of $25.7 million.

"[Housing] development in Aylmer is big and we have more and more people," said Aylmer Coun. Steven Boivin. "So what we're going to have there is going to be great for the people of Aylmer."

The target opening date for the Aylmer station is early 2027.