Protect East Hawkesbury: Preserve our peace, our land, and our future against the ALTO project

Personal Concerns
I am the chef and owner of CàB Café in Chute‑à‑Blondeau, a gathering place for residents, families, cyclists, farmers, and the many newcomers who have chosen Hawkesbury East for its peace, nature, and rural quality of life.
The current Alto route threatens:

• the accessibility and viability of local businesses;
• the farmland that forms the economic and cultural backbone of our region;
• the tranquility and safety sought by new residents who left large cities for a quieter life;
• the social cohesion and rural heritage of our villages.

A Community Already Marked by Expropriation
Our region still carries the scars of the mass expropriations that occurred during the construction of the Carillon Dam in the early 1960s.
According to Hydro‑Québec, the Carillon generating station was commissioned in 1962 and required the creation of a large reservoir, which led to the expropriation of numerous families and the loss of valuable agricultural land along the Ottawa River.
This history explains the deep concern surrounding another major infrastructure project that could impose similar losses on our community.
Why Action Is Needed Now
Permits for the Alto project may be issued as early as this fall.
Residents of Hawkesbury East must have the opportunity to be heard before irreversible decisions are made.
Sources

• Hydro‑Québec – Carillon Generating Station (historical and technical information)
• Regional archives and local testimonies regarding expropriations linked to the Carillon reservoir
• Public documentation from the Alto project regarding proposed routes and consultation processes