Investing in Lac-Mégantic it pays and win for the entire population and Quebec
Les Affaires
"We have the equivalent of 10 football fields to build," says Stéphane Lavallée Office of the reconstruction of downtown Lake -Mégantic.
Lac-Mégantic passes to phase three of its reconstruction following the tragic explosions which have shattered in July 2013. The first two phases involved humans. The third focuses on the economy with the establishment of 11 reconstruction projects of the Municipality of 6000 inhabitants.
Of these projects, the magnetic center, an incubator and collaborative space for self-employed, which hosted, October 9 a hundred entrepreneurs at the boot camp "Reinventing Entrepreneurship". This initiative echoed "Reinventing the City", citizen consultation held in the last year.
"We had talked enough, it was time to act," says Bernard smiling Ark. The youth board for over a year on the magnetic Centre project, with Cécile Branco-side, like him young graduate of McGill University, in cooperation with local development actors.
The boot camp marked the official launch Magnetic Centre. It was attended by 12 speakers who joined three clienteles. First, the self-employed and start-up, about the creation of the brand. Second, micro-enterprises, who learned more about innovation and corporate culture. Finally SMEs, with whom Sébastien Gagnon, General Manager of Operations at Aldo, discussed watch market and international development.
Interestingly, this boot camp was addressed not only to Lac-Megantic entrepreneurs. "We welcomed entrepreneurs from other regions, says Bernard d'Arche. Following the tragedy, Quebecers gave generously. Lac-Mégantic now needs to invest in its "The
revival.boot camp concluded with the announcement of the beta version of the magnetic center. It will be housed in a room of 1400 square feet on top of the Caisse populaire des Hauts-Cantons, waiting to slip into a reconstruction projects of the new downtown.
Eleven reconstruction projects
The magnetic center is the a reconstruction of the 11 projects selected by the participants of the exercise "Reinventing the city." There are among these projects, a hotel and a convention center, a cultural center and a knowledge center.
"We will develop educational tourism, says Stéphane Lavallée, executive director of the new Office of Reconstruction downtown Megantic lake. The tragedy has allowed us to develop expertise in crisis management, and citizen participation in psychosocial intervention, for example. On railway safety, too.
"For their part, the training of the future knowledge center are part of the economic diversification efforts of the municipality. "We have the equivalent of 10 football fields to build, said Stéphane Lavallée, a native of the area where still lives half of his wife.
"The Monday following the explosion, I said to my "I'm leaving a few days there. " I stayed there a few months and I returned this fall, "said the former publisher of Les Affaires.
The reconstruction of downtown office coordinates the third stage of the recovery. The first revolved around a temporary Musi-Café which hosted 24 shows in 45 days. "We needed to be appeased, says Stéphane Lavallée. Culture soothes.
"The second phase focused on the encounter and exchange. The people of Lac-Megantic needed to talk. Was manufactured boardwalk surrounding the place of the tragedy to reclaim the place and cause meetings with visitors. The route is lined with signs telling the history of the municipality.
Two challenges
The city's reconstruction from the perspective of economic recovery. This is to rebuild basic infrastructure, such as the headquarters of the MRC, as well as add new ones.
This third phase poses two challenges. The initial challenge is investment. "The first capital are local, says Stéphane Lavallée. The provincial government announced that every entrepreneur reinvests will receive a sum equivalent to the insured value of his business the day before the explosion. A budget of $ 40 million is available. It is expected a strong positive response. But Lac-Megantic also needs external capital.
"The second challenge is to maintain citizens' consultation to ensure the continuation of the recovery. "We must co-construct with the community, said Bernard d'Arche. It would be a mistake to let outside investors dictate the next steps. We must come here without pretending to know everything right
Adresse :
5527, rue Frontenac
Suite 200
Lac-Mégantic (Québec)
Canada G6B 1H6
Phone : 819 583-2441
Fax : 819 583-5920
General information: info@ville.lac-megantic.qc.ca
Lac-Megantic Astrolab
Diane Bérard Journal Les Affaires, Les Affaires Newspaper
http://www.lesaffaires.com/secteurs-d-activite/immobilier/lac-megantic--passer-des-dons-aux-investissements/582229/2
