On Sunday, November 29, CP’s Holiday Train made a stop at Les Cèdres. More than a thousand people were on hand to welcome the train and enjoy the entertainment put on for the occasion. Thanks to your generosity, more than $2,000 and many non-perishable food items were collected and given to the Les Cèdres food bank. Thank you, and happy holidays to everyone!

Come one and all, to welcome the Holiday Train...

The new issue of the newsletter for the Les Cèdres Intermodal Complex project is now available. Open it and discover how the project is progressing. Happy reading!

Our team is currently at work preparing the next issue of Intermodal Connection, which will be available in a few weeks. In a nutshell, it will include a message from the President and CEO of Canadian Pacific, a status report on the CPTAQ and CTA approval processes, answers to some of your questions, especially about jobs, and the timetable for the next stages in the project. The environmental assessment we have to carry out as part of the CTA approval process is still underway, and we will have to wait until the end of 2010 to obtain a final decision. Since we cannot start building until we have the CTA’s approval, there will be no construction before 2011.

After issuing a positive preliminary orientation on September 26, 2008 and holding a public meeting on February 10, 2009, the Quebec Commission de protection du territoire agricole (CPTAQ) handed down its final decision on April 2, which is favourable to CP's application. The decision authorizes CP to use for non-agricultural purposes the entire area planned for its Les Cèdres Intermodal Complex project. In its decision, CPTAQ stipulates that implementation of the project must not cause any drainage problems on the adjacent lands, something to which CP committed itself at the early stage of talks with the farm owners concerned. For more details, you can read CPTAQ's decision or visit its website at www.cptaq.gouv.qc.ca. The file number is 356808.

CP intends to continue working in close cooperation with the community throughout the upcoming stages in developing its project, and is currently conducting studies as part of its environmental assessment for the Canadian Transportation Agency.

On February 10, the Quebec Commission de protection du territoire agricole (CPTAQ) held a public meeting attended by Canadian Pacific, the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA), the Municipality of Les Cèdres and some 30 interested citizens or groups. At the Commission’s request, CP presented its Les Cèdres Intermodal Complex project and answered questions from Commission members and the people in attendance. In addition, the UPA presented its position on CP’s application, and a number of the citizens present had an opportunity to express their views as well. The Commission members in charge of CP’s application indicated that they would release their decision toward the end of March. The status of CP’s application can be checked by visiting the CPTAQ website at www.cptaq.gouv.qc.ca. The file number is 356808.

After meeting Transport Canada’s usual requirements, we can now announce that trains will no longer blow their whistles at three level crossings in Saint-Clet!
 
It’s a well-known fact that trains blow their whistles only to ensure public safety. Approval cannot be given to discontinuing the auditory signal until a thorough planning and analysis process has been carried out. In the case of the municipality of Saint-Clet, the process resulted in the installation of fencing, gates and flashing lights to meet specific standards, and designed for each of the three level crossings. The new features have made the level crossings safer so that the whistles could be eliminated.

Motorists and pedestrians, make sure you obey the new signs: they’re there to keep you safe!

After studying CP's project description and consulting with the different federal departments concerned, the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has sent CP the guidelines that determine the scope of the environmental studies to be conducted for the intermodal complex project CP wants to build in the municipality of Les Cèdres. CP will soon be starting the studies and plans to have them finished by the fall. They will then be published on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry website as well as on the CP project's website. You can contact the CTA at any time if you have comments on the project or questions about the environmental assessment process.
To read the guidelines, you may download the included document.

CPTAQ issued its preliminary orientation on October 2, indicating that CP’s application should be authorized, on certain conditions. A letter to that effect was sent to Les Cèdres residents on October 10. As well as on our Website, the document can be consulted at our information bureau located at 1000 Chemin du Fleuve, Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., and at Les Cèdres city hall. You can also obtain additional information by calling CPTAQ at 450 442-7100. The file number is 356808.

Visit the Project section to view the project description*, as presented to the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) in February 2008. Paper versions are available for consultation at our information bureau and at Les Cèdres City hall. Information on projects subject to federal environmental assessment are listed on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry (CEAR).

*Please note that project annexes are only available in paper at locations mentioned above.

More than 600 people braved the cold to welcome Canadian Pacific’s Holiday Train as it pulled into Les Cèdres on December 1. Young and old alike were captivated by the festive lights and the musical show. The event brought in 1,500 lbs of non-perishable food and raised $200 in cash. The donations were given to the food bank at Saint-Joseph-de-Soulanges parish, which also received a $2,000 cash donation from CP.

“People were so generous, we collected a full truckload of food, even though the Holiday Train arrived on the same day as the parish’s Christmas food drive,” said Fr. Gérald Sareault, Pastor of Saint-Joseph-de-Soulanges parish.

Canadian Pacific would like to thank the municipality of Les Cèdres, the first responders, the Sûreté du Québec and the volunteers from the Les Cèdres Optimist Club for their invaluable cooperation. Warm thanks as well to all the people of Les Cèdres, Saint-Lazare and the entire region who attended the event and gave generously. The evening wouldn’t have been such a success without you!

The Holiday Train hits the rails on December 1st visiting over 100 communities to raise food, money and awareness for local food banks. To date, the Holiday Train raised $3 million dollars and 1.6 million pounds of food. This year's entertainers and musicians include Wide Mouth Mason, Melanie Doane and Denis Séguin. Come and enjoy a hot chocolate and see the artists perform. Where : Railroad crossing at Chemin St. Dominique, Les Cèdres When : December 1st 2007, 8:30 p.m. Hope to see you there ! Information : 450 452-2462

More than 120 people visited our information bureau on June 8, 9 and 10 to find out more about the Les Cèdres Intermodal Complex. The open house event attracted visitors mainly from the municipalities of Les Cèdres and Saint-Lazare, but also from elsewhere in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges and Valleyfield regions. The visitors were welcomed by a team of CP representatives who took advantage of the opportunity to speak with local area residents and discover their impressions of the project, as well as their concerns. It is still possible to consult the different communications tools presented during the open house event, such as the project overview and the 3D animation showing how the Complex will work. Just drop in to the information bureau at 1000 chemin du Fleuve, open on Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. See you there!

In 2006, Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) became the owner of the Soulanges Industries site, a property located in the municipality of Les Cèdres where the railway is planning to build a new intermodal complex. Since that time, CP has been holding meetings with adjacent and nearby neighbours in order to understand their expectations in relation with its project and ensure that they will be taken into account as the project evolves. As part of this initiative, we invite you to visit us on June 8, 9 and 10 at our information bureau in Les Cèdres. You will have the opportunity to learn more about the intermodal complex that CP is planning to build in the municipality. We will be pleased to let you know how it is progressing and to answer your questions. When? Friday, June 8, from 12 (noon) to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, June 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, June 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. where? CP Information Office 1000 Chemin du Fleuve, Les Cèdres An invitation to this event has been sent to all citizens of Les Cèdres, as well as to citizens of the surrounding areas in the municipality of Saint-Lazare. Other meetings will also be held later to ensure that we can provide information to more people. If you have any questions about the project or the meetings of June 8, 9 and 10, please call Ms. Marie-Ève Martin at 450 452-2462. As of June 8, you will be able to follow the project’s progress and contact us through our website at www.cplescedres.ca.