As you probably already know, the building which housed until recently the Pioneer, the former Pointe-Claire Hotel, is now at risk of disappearing. The notice concerning its demolition, posted by the City of Pointe-Claire on July 18 in front of the 286 Lakeshore Road building now make this very clear. The Société pour la Sauvegarde du Patrimoine de Pointe-Claire strongly objects to this new threat to our exceptional architectural heritage.
In order to block the proposed demolition, two opened letters penned by our former president Claude Arsenault have been published in both French (Le Devoir and La Presse) and English (The Suburban) in various newspapers, who have relayed the news. An online petition,which is still online, and its printed version have allowed to gather close to 4000 signatures. More letters, written by persons who wish to save our architectural heritage, continue to be sent to City Hall. The level of citizen implication over this issue is and continues to be extremely impressive. To learn more about it, you can visit the page Save Le Pionnier.
The Pointe-Claire Hotel building is of great historical and heritage interest. From the time of its construction in 1900, it already carryed heritage significance of an earlier hotel built on the same site during the 18th Century and lost to the great village fire of 1900. It reminds us of the historic period of vacationers, when Pointe-Claire was a destination of choice. Among them, many eventually settled on the shores of Lake Saint-Louis in the early 1900s, contributing to the development of areas like Bowling Green and Golf Avenue. For their descendants, the former Pointe-Claire Hotel is better known under its more recent identity – the Pioneer Bar and Restaurant – and they will keep of it the memory of a well appreciate venue. From an architectural point of view, even though the present state of the building reminds us of the many modifications that have affected it over the years, its attributes are precious remnants of the building’s original lustre. With the help of old photographs, it would be quite possible to restore the building and give it back its original appearance, thereby respecting its historic and heritage value.
We further consider that the proposed re-development project – a massive complex of luxury condominiums – would significantly disfigure Pointe-Claire village’s core in a permanent way and reduce its special spirit and cachet. The area would undeniably lose much of its charm and interest if the old Pointe-Claire Hotel was replaced by imposing condominiums, poorly integrated into the village’s present physical and social fabric.
We also object considering the project overlaps onto the public parking lot adjacent to the Pointe-Claire Hotel, which the City is selling to the promoter at a price that seems inferior to the lot’s market value.
And so it is that we firmly object to the demolition of this building, which is of major heritage and historical significance for the village of Pointe-Claire. For this purpose, we have prepared a brief which was addressed to the members of the demolition committee and deposited at City Hall on Friday.
We invite you to join our efforts and get involved!
To voice your own opposition to the demolition of the former Pointe-Claire Hotel, you can send letters, as soon as possible and before August 9, to the Legal Affairs City Clerk’s Office for the Demolition Committee. We encourage you to write personalized letters to the Demolition Committee members, to your councillor and to the mayor. But, above all, we invite you to attend the public meeting concerning the demolition that will held on August 9 at 7h30 pm at the Holiday Inn and Suites Pointe-Claire, “Champagne” room, at 6700 TransCanada Highway. This room holds 700 places; it will be important that we show up in great numbers to express lous and clear our opposition to this project, which could prove disastrous for our village. Invite your family, your neighbours and your friends! Spread the word around you!
We also ask your help and involvement, as we are searching for volunteers to make phone calls, go door too door, help with carpooling, etc. and contribute with ideas and input that can help us with our awareness campaign. Such a campaign also requires funding. If you are able to help in that regard, please contact us at 514-693-9114 or write to us at info@patrimoinepointeclaire.org.
As a heritage protection society, we have a voice that we must use with conviction, making sure that it is heard loud and clear and bringing to bear the full weight that you, our members, confer it. With this in mind, we urge you to get involved for the sake of our village and that of future generations.
Please highlight the August 9th date on your agendas. We look forward to seeing you there in great numbers!