Opening Comments by Mayor Peter J. Malouf - Regular Meeting of Tuesday, May 26, 2026

" Good evening, everyone, and thank you for joining us tonight. Fortunately for council attendance, the Canadiens are not playing a semi-final game this evening… otherwise we might have needed to adjourn early for “technical difficulties.” And despite last nights defeat – we are still going to the cup - Go Habs Go.

As has become my custom, I’ll give you a brief overview of the issues we’ve been dealing with lately—and which sometimes keep us up late into the night.

Town Centre & Infrastructure Projects

We continue to have an exceptionally active construction season across Town. While this can occasionally test everyone’s patience, it is also the visible sign of a community continuing to invest in itself and in future generations.

No one likes to undertake major home renovations, but we all appreciate the results.

The Town centre is particularly bustling this summer. With work underway on bridges, water mains, sidewalks, and the expansion of the bike network, several projects will be moving forward simultaneously over the coming months.

Our objective remains the same: to create a safer, greener and more connected Town Centre linking the east and west sides of TMR in a coherent and practical way.

Of course, the work isn’t limited to the Town Centre. Bates Road continues to be transformed, the Plymouth Road project will begin shortly, and several other streets will undergo major repairs.

Infrastructure work is never glamorous. Nobody wakes up excited about underground retention basins or water mains — until the day they are truly needed. Good municipal management often means investing today to avoid larger problems tomorrow.

We are aware of the inconvenience this construction may cause, and we sincerely thank you for your patience and understanding. Since the construction season in Quebec is relatively short, several projects unfortunately have to be carried out at the same time.

Canada Day & Construction Schedule

Please also note that because Canada Day falls on a Wednesday this year, the construction industry holiday has been moved to Friday, July 3. In order not to lose two valuable workdays during an already compressed season, we have authorized contractors working on roads, sidewalks, the CSC and the new municipal services complex at 10–20 Roosevelt to continue operations on July 1.

CSC & Municipal Services Building

Construction of the new Community and Sports Centre and the future municipal services building is progressing very well. The changes are becoming increasingly visible on Roosevelt, and I believe that many residents are finally beginning to see the full scope of these projects.

These are major investments, but they are investments that will serve residents for decades to come — and hopefully long after all of us around this council table have retired somewhere warmer than Montreal in February.

Lucerne & Beaumont PPU

We are also continuing our discussions regarding Lucerne Road and hope to be able to present concrete proposals to residents by the end of the summer.

At the same time, discussions continue regarding the Beaumont PPU. We are meeting with major landowners and developers in an effort to build a vision that balances development, quality of life, mobility and respect for the character of Town of Mount Royal, so that we can present a plan to residents that meets everyone’s expectations.

MRMA

I would also like to highlight the recent closure of the MRMA (Mont-Royal Municipal Association) after nearly a century of existence.

I would like to sincerely thank the many volunteers and residents who dedicated their time and energy over generations to following municipal affairs, attending meetings and contributing to civic life in TMR.

Constructive and collaborative Community involvement is one of the things that continues to make this Town unique.

Flower Show

And since summer finally seems to be on its way—even if the weather is still a bit unpredictable—I invite everyone to visit the annual flower show hosted by the TMR Horticultural Society, which will take place right here in Schofield Hall on June 18.

The flower show is always a reminder that, despite construction cones, budgets and engineering reports, beauty and community spirit still matter greatly in municipal life.

Closing

In closing, I would like to remind you that information about our municipal projects and activities is available on the Town’s website, and I encourage you to check it regularly to stay informed.

Municipal politics is not always simple, particularly during periods of major transformation and construction, but it becomes much more positive and constructive when residents stay informed, engaged, and cooperative in the life of our community.

Thank you all for remaining understanding, constructive and supportive as we continue building the future of our Town together.

And now we begin our formal meeting."

Visit the Mayor's Messages and Columns page for more information.