Borough of Jacques-Cartier - Ville de Sherbrooke

Borough ServicesJacques-Cartier Borough ServicesRole of the Borough of Jacques-CartierThe Borough of Jacques-Cartier contributes to theenhancement of community life and acts as a liaisonwith the Ville for neighbourhood services.The Borough’s primary roles:• Organize and manage the Borough’s recreational, sportsand socio-cultural events and activities.• Make fire prevention recommendations.• Financially support organizations that focus their activitieson local, community and social development within theBorough.• Conduct Borough council meetings and public consultations.• Respond to questions and requests from residents and referthem to the appropriate services.• Cooperate with the urban planning, permits and inspectiondivision (minor exemptions, site planning and architecturalintegration program (PIIA), notices, recommendations, etc.)• Work with the maintenance and roadways service (traffic,parking, etc.)• Work with the police department prioritizing interventionsto improve safety within the Borough.NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCHCOMMITTEE• Are you curious to know what crimes havebeen committed in your neighbourhood?• Would you like to be notified if there are suspectindividuals or vehicles in your area?• Are you wondering about the best ways to protectyour home?Become a member of the Neighbourhood Watch Committee!Visit our Web site at surveillancedequartier.org forinformation about our activities.The Neighbourhood Watch committee is always looking forvolunteers. The contribution of volunteers is important to thework and success of this committee. If you would like to getinvolved, don’t hesitate to contact Marcel Cyr by telephoneat 819-822-4522 or by e-mail at ginmar@abacom.com.Services offeredYour Borough office is at your service! Be it for a document,a telephone number, or simply to find out about servicesavailable to you. Our staff is there to point you in the rightdirection, to the right person, or the correct city department,whatever the reason.The various services offeredby your Borough office include:• Information on municipal services• Information on recreational activities (ex.: SherbrookeLoisirs-Action programs, activities offered by variousorganizations, and events taking place in the Borough)• Information on waste collection• Purchase of roll-out bins• Permit applications for garage sales• Purchase of promotional articles• Purchase of street maps• Request form to file a complaint• Reservations for indoor and outdoor playing areas• Support for organizing public celebrations and street parties• Authorization to hold activities.For any problem relating to road maintenance, wastecollection, or park hours, call 819-821-5858. This service isavailable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.CAROLINE-BOWNCOMMUNITY GARDENThe Caroline-Bown Community Garden, next to Parc du Bois-Beckett, opened in June 2012. It brings together amateurgardeners dedicated to growing organic vegetables. Thegarden has 95 small gardens, five of which are raised to makeit possible for people with impaired mobility to garden. Theplots are 10, 15, and 25 m 2 and rental costs vary between $15and $25 for the season.Members assume the site’s management and maintenance.The small gardens are rented out to residents based on thefollowing order of priority: Beckett sector, Borough ofJacques-Cartier, Ville de Sherbrooke.To have your name placed on the waiting list, please send yourcontact information to: jardinbown@gmail.com.156INFOSHERBROOKOIS | Spring - Summer 2013

Borough ServicesBorough ServicesMini-puttIn addition to its many activities, theAzimut Nord youth centre is responsiblefor operating the mini-putt at Parc Jacques-Cartier. In June,responsible members of the youth centre are selected to workat the mini-putt, hence providing them with their first workexperience. The profits resulting from running the mini-putt aredivided between these young workers and funding activities forour organization. Come play with your friends and kill two birdswith one stone. You’ll have fun while encouraging our youth!Spring – June 1 to 23Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.Summer – June 25 to August 241 to 9 p.m., dailyAvailable mornings by reservation onlyFall – August 23 to September 6Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.CostChildren – age 5 and under: FreeChildren – age 6 and over: $3Students and seniors (with card): $4Adults: $5Groups (10 +): $2/child, free for accompanying adultInformation819-560-4275 or 819-823-5138BOIS BECKETTRegroupement du Bois Beckett Annual General MeetingWhen: Monday, April 22, 7 p.m.Location: Centre communautaire et culturel del’Arrondissement de Jacques-CartierThe Regroupement de Bois Beckett has invited Mr. Lin Sweenyto speak at its AGM. Mr. Sweeny, a retired agriculturist fromthe Ministry of Agriculture, will speak on the importanceof biodiversity and the impact of the Japanese knotweederadication project in Parc du Bois-Beckett.Cleaning BeeSaturday, May 4, 7 p.m.In case of heavy rain, postponed until the following dayThe Bois Beckett spring cleaning bee will take place onSaturday, May 4. Teams of two will spread out along the 6-kmtrail and the cleaning bee should last about 90 minutes.Participants will meet at the main entrance, located on RueBeckett, 100 metres west of the end of Boulevard Jacques-Cartier. Bring your good humour, a reusable bag to collectwaste, and a pair of work gloves.Initiatives underway...• Work to eradicate Japanese knotweed will continue at thejunction of trails 5 and 6.• Picnic tables will be set up at the entrance.Jacques-CartierComité Vie de quartier Nord (CVQN)The CVQN is made up of residents, community organizations, and institutions in the Borough ofJacques-Cartier that wish to contribute to improving the quality life of residents on various levels:personal, family, social, cultural, economic, and environmental.The CVQN is also responsible for supporting and organizingactivities in disadvantaged neighbourhoods of our community.Citizen involvement is at the heart of this approach.This spring, two projects will be carried out: coffee gettogethersfor the Vieux-Nord sector (North Ward), and“Citoyens allumés” for the Saint-Jean-de-Brébeuf sector. Wecontinue to pursue our actions associated with social andeconomic integration of immigrants living in the Borough.With this in mind, a welcome and integration party will beorganized for new arrivals on Saturday, April 20, from 1 to6 p.m. at the Pavillon Amand-Nadeau in Parc Jacques-CartierDon’t miss the next issue of La Voix du Nord newspapercoming out this summer. This community newspaper isdistributed to about 18 000 homes and families in theBorough through the Publi-sac. For more information aboutCVQN actions and resources in our neighbourhood, friend uson Facebook.Information: contactcvqn@gmail.com158INFOSHERBROOKOIS | Spring - Summer 2013

Borough ServicesBorough Family CelebrationFREE ACTIVITIESSaturday, June 810 a.m. to 4 p.m.(behind the Centre communautaireet culturel de l'Arrondissement,2050-B, boulevard de Portland)Free lunchfrom 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.Children's stage shows with the Tonton Ninourock band: 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.Themed workshops with the Caravane du goûtInflatable gamesFitness courseFace paintingCircus workshopsScience workshopsOnsite surprises!Jacques-Cartier Borough ServicesFor information: 819-822-6060In case of rain, the celebration will be held inside the Centre.INFOSHERBROOKOIS | Spring - Summer 2013 159

Borough ServicesBorough ServicesJacques-CartierA PAGE FROM THE BOROUGH OF JACQUES-CARTIER’S HISTORYParc du Bois-Beckett – An exceptional wooded area in the cityThe Parc du Bois-Beckett is one of the oldest urban woodedareas in Quebec. It has become a natural and heritage treasurein the Sherbrooke area and, since 2000, has been recognizedas an ancient forest by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Itfeatures 1.4 square kilometres of land with diverse wildlife andvegetation just minutes from the downtown core! The park’sforested area mainly comprises hemlock and beech wood.About a hundred species of birds live there and the site ishome to a dozen species of mammals. A favourite destinationfor outdoor enthusiasts and bird watchers, the park is steepedin history – traces of one of Sherbrooke’s pioneer families, theBecketts, can still be found.Around 1819, Henry Beckett and his wife Caroline B. Beckettleft England to settle in Sherbrooke that, at the time, was ahamlet and home to about 50 families. The Beckett familymoved into a small house on Rue Belvédère on the edge of theMagog River. Shortly after arriving, Henry purchased a lot onthe corner of Prospect and Queen-Victoria streets to build hisbrickyard. In 1824, the entrepreneur was awarded constructioncontracts, in particular for the first prison in Sherbrooke andthe first buildings of Bishop’s University.Ten years later, Henry Beckett purchased a 0.4 squarekilometre lot on the corner of Melbourne (today Prospect) andQueen (today Queen-Victoria). He purchased the other half ofwhat would become Parc du Bois-Beckett around 1850. TheBeckett family grew just about everything and raised animals,in addition to running a sugar bush. Upon Major Beckett’sdeath in 1870, his son Frederick James continued to run thefamily farm. He built his house, “The Willows,” at the end ofa row of willow trees. The building’s foundations can still beseen at the edge of the paths that crisscross the park.“L’érable à l’anneau,” a tree that grew through a forgottencartwheel, has over time become a symbol of the Becketts’pioneering presence in the area. Unfortunately, the 150-yearoldtree fell in 1998. In its place, a sculpture was createdin 2001: Acer Saccharum (sugar maple). Three generationsof Becketts worked the family farm for almost 100 years.Upon his death, Frank George left his land to his sisters whoabandoned farming.In 1963, the Ville de Sherbrooke bought the land from theBeckett family, but allowed Cecilia Julia Beckett to live in herchildhood home where she remained until 1968. Thanks tothe commitment of several residents intent on preservingthis heritage and cultural forest park, the Ville de Sherbrookeconverted the Beckett farm into an urban park, creating asite that can be enjoyed year round. In 2009, when the cityannounced it would expand the park, it ensured the protectionof this exceptional site and responded to the concerns ofnumerous residents. Over the last decades, the Regroupementdu Bois Beckett has played a predominant role in safeguardingand developing the woods. Thanks to this committed groupof residents, visitors can discover the wealth of Parc du Bois-Beckett: since 2010, interpretative panels can be found alongthe paths. Over the years, thousands of people have visitedParc du Bois-Beckett, on foot, snowshoes, and cross-countryskis. It’s your turn to discover this natural heritage!The Beckett family poses on the front porch of “The Willows,”their family home (circa 1900). Regroupement du Bois BeckettFond. Sherbrooke Historical Society.Frank George Beckett, the last family member to haveworked the farm, cigar in hand, with Cecil Leech (circa 1950).Regroupement du Bois Beckett Fond. Sherbrooke HistoricalSociety.160INFOSHERBROOKOIS | Spring - Summer 2013