Coderre declares Pierrefonds library is ‘on budget, on time’
The new Pierrefonds Library is not expected to open until the fall of 2018, but Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre visited the construction site last Friday and proclaimed the project a “major” step forward for the Pierrefonds-Roxboro borough.
The original library, built in 1983, closed in March. It is undergoing a complete overhaul and expansion at its Pierrefonds Blvd. location.
Coderre said the considerable redesign and reconstruction will bring the library into the 21st century.
“The city wants to offer to all Montrealers a modern, interesting, welcoming, well-furnished, connected, inclusive library. Basically, a true library for the 21st century,” the mayor said.
Coderre was flanked by borough mayor Jim Beis, councillor Yves Gignac, and provincial cabinet ministers Carlos Leitão and Martin Coiteux.
The Quebec government is kicking in about $4 million to the total cost of the $24.4-million project.
“Today is another demonstration of our collaboration of the city of Montreal and the Quebec government,” Coderre said. “As I say often, alone you go faster, together you go further.”
Leitão, Quebec’s Minister of Finance and the MNA for Robert-Baldwin, said the library project is a sign of co-operation between levels of government.
He said it “highlights the partnership between the government of Quebec, the city of Montreal and the borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro. And we all work together for the benefit of our citizens.
“There is a new and renewed enthusiasm and dynamic growth in Montreal and the West Island is a fundamental part of Montreal,” Leitão said. “Listen, the future looks great from our perspective,” he added.
Coderre said the new library is an example of how Montreal’s boroughs benefit from being part of the “metropolis.”
“The metropolis is like that,” Coderre said. “We’re having a great city for great citizens and at the same time we want to give the tools to work with to all the boroughs so every citizen, no matter where they’re from, can benefit from those wonderful services.”
Coderre said the new library, which will be close to 4,000 square metres in size, will help serve as the heart of the local community.
“As you know, diversity is an asset for us. And a library is a tremendous (space) to bring people together. So in the process of integration, and in the process of respecting everybody and sharing the culture, libraries are truly, through our policy, a great integration factor.” Coderre said the new Pierrefonds library should be “on budget (and) on time.”