Opening Comments by Mayor Peter J. Malouf - Regular Meeting of Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Good evening, everyone, and thank you for joining us tonight.

Summer has finally arrived in TMR. It’s a season that many look forward to: outdoor dining, parks, family activities, get-togethers with neighbors, and the many events that bring our city to life.

Summer is also the season when many of the projects we have planned, discussed and invested in throughout the year become visible throughout our community.

This year is particularly important because, throughout our region, we can see that our long-term vision continues to take shape.

Whether it is infrastructure renewal, environmental resilience, community facilities or public spaces, we are continuing to invest today in order to preserve the exceptional quality of life that residents enjoy and expect in Town of Mount Royal.

Last week, several Council members, our Town Manager, Ava Couch, and I were in Edmonton for the annual conference of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. This conference brings together more than 1,200 municipal elected officials and administrators from across the country.

As always, the conference provided an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas with municipal leaders from across Canada. Discussions ranged from housing and infrastructure to artificial intelligence, environmental sustainability and emerging technologies that are increasingly shaping the way municipalities serve their residents.

A few weeks earlier, I also had the privilege of serving as a guest speaker at an event organized by the Mount-Royal–Saint-Laurent Chamber of Commerce and of delivering the opening remarks at an event hosted by PME Montréal Centre-Ouest.

It was a particular honour to be invited to deliver the keynote address before business leaders, entrepreneurs and community partners from across our region. The discussion focused on leadership, collaboration and the important role municipalities play in creating environments where businesses and communities can thrive together.

And for those who are wondering, yes, I even put on a Canadiens hockey jersey for the occasion.

Fortunately, the jersey received better reviews than my golf game has received this season.

I would also like to provide a brief update on the work being done on the swimming pool at Pierre-Laporte School. According to the most recent information received from the CSSMB, the work is now expected to continue until the end of the year.

While this news is disappointing for many families, we remain in contact with the CSSMB and will continue to keep residents informed as the project progresses.

This time of year also means construction. Yes, construction sites sometimes cause detours and temporary inconveniences, but above all, they represent investments that will improve our quality of life for decades to come.

We recognize that traffic in and around the Town Centre is not always ideal during construction season. We appreciate the patience and cooperation shown by residents as we complete this important work.

Among the most high-profile projects this summer, the one in Plymouth is making good progress.

Beyond the reconstruction of the roadway itself, the underground retention basin being installed beneath Plymouth will have the capacity to retain nearly one million litres of water during significant rainfall events, strengthening our infrastructure for decades to come.

The Bates project is also moving forward and serves as another example of our commitment to modernizing our infrastructure while improving green spaces and travel safety.

Projects like Bates remind us that successful urban planning is not only about infrastructure — it is about creating spaces that are safer, greener and more welcoming for residents.

Meanwhile, construction of the future Community and Sports Centre continues to progress at an impressive pace. The project is now about 35% complete and remains on schedule and within budget. If everything continues according to the current schedule, the building’s exterior shell should be completed by the end of the summer.

Every week residents can better appreciate the scale of what will become one of the most important community investments in our history — a place where future generations will gather, learn, play and build memories together.

Whether it’s the Community and Sports Centre, Plymouth, Bates, or our many road repair projects, each of these initiatives shares the same goal: to invest today in order to preserve and improve the quality of life we’re all proud of here in Mount Royal.

Taken together, these projects tell the story of a community that continues to plan ahead, invest responsibly and build with confidence for the future.

But summer in Mont-Royal isn't just a season of construction. Thank goodness!

It is also a season of community life.

Over the next few weeks, the farmers’ market, Thursday night concerts, food trucks, and our many recreational activities will once again offer wonderful opportunities to get together and enjoy our Town to the fullest.

These moments may seem simple, but they are what truly transform a municipality into a community.

Before concluding, I would like to note that the 2025 financial report will be officially submitted this evening, in accordance with legal requirements. The highlights will be presented in greater detail at our July meeting.

I am pleased to report that the Town recorded a very positive operating surplus for fiscal purposes of approximately $24.5 million in 2025.

However, it is important to note that approximately $19.5 million of this amount stems from the assessment of Royalmount’s properties for the 2024 and 2025 tax years, making it a one-time gain.

Even so, these results reflect prudent financial management and provide Council with additional flexibility as we continue investing in infrastructure, services and the quality of life of our residents.

A quick reminder about upcoming holidays: Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day will be observed on June 24. In the construction industry, the July 1 holiday will be moved to Friday, July 3, which means that contractors will be working on July 1 to keep our various construction sites on schedule.

Garbage, recycling and compost collection will continue according to the normal schedule during both holiday weeks.

In closing, I would like to thank our residents for their patience, trust, and commitment to our city. The projects we are undertaking today may sometimes cause some temporary inconveniences, but they all share the same goal: to preserve what makes Mount Royal great while preparing for the future.

On behalf of Council, I wish you and your families a wonderful summer filled with good health, great memories and many opportunities to enjoy everything our community has to offer.

I hope you have a great meeting.