Noise in St-Lambert? Hey, that’s life!

I have been a quiet resident of St-Lambert for many years while the debate on the “noise” from Montreal threatens to be louder than the actual decibels being discussed. So, rather than turn a deaf ear to the problem, I will raise my voice, (sotto voce, of course) in defence of those who may be in the silent minority — all puns intended.

It seems times are tough for the citizens of St-Lambert as they bray about the noise from Montreal and endure the clanking of freight trains, the deep sonorous vibrations of ships along the seaway and the ever-present cacophony of home renovations as they all impede the pursuit of a quiet life of solitude during the summer months.

It is perhaps a good time to rise above the din of voices being muffled by the likes of Osheaga and the F1 to remind ourselves that, despite what we may have been led to believe, St-Lambert is not some bucolic haven nestled in the woods — it is just about a 10-minute drive from downtown Montreal, a metropolis of three million people.

My view is that St-Lambert is nearly 50 years too late in putting its hands over its ears about noise coming from Montreal. After Expo 67, Highway 132, the St-Lambert Locks and CN trains running directly through the town, the noise issue is a moot one at best.

And, by the way, what about the trains, the highway, the ships and St-Lambert’s own music festivals and Thursday night concerts? Those are homegrown St-Lambert sounds and far more constant and intrusive than the intermittent sound waves blowing across the river from Montreal.

Personally, I don’t think either is a problem.

The so-called noise we make here in St-Lambert is a symptom of our economy at work, while Montreal’s so-called noise serves a similar function, albeit with more cultural panache than Highway 132 and with far less howling than those in St-Lambert with sensitive ears and even more sensitive feelings. Tim Mahoney, St-Lambert