Expropriation of hotel land | Val-David loses his case

After more than two years of battle with the municipality of Val-David, the Administrative Tribunal of Quebec ruled on Monday in favor of an entrepreneur who wanted to build a resort.

Alice Girard-Bosse
The Press

“I am in shock. It’s extremely stressful, going to court. The decision reconciles me with justice,” rejoices entrepreneur Diane Beaudry.

In 2014, Mr.^me Beaudry, who has been working in the hotel business for twenty years, bought the former La Sapinière hotel in Val-David to open a resort there. On the menu: treatments, yoga, meditation, hiking, cross-country skiing and a gastronomic experience. When work began in January 2020, his plans were thwarted by the municipality of Val-David.

The City judged that the La Sapinière land was the ideal location to build its new school and therefore put a land reserve on 85% of its land.

This decision upset the plans of Mr.^me Beaudry. The noise caused by school buses and school customers would interfere with the rest and relaxation of its customers, she said. As long as to expropriate part of the land that was compromising her project, she preferred that the City take over the entire estate. A proposal that Val-David rejected.

The Administrative Court ruled in favor of Mr.^me Beaudry: the municipality will have to buy almost all of the land.

The sum for the purchase of the land will be decided later. “When I got the judgement, I was shaking. My life and that of my spouse were at stake,” says Ms.^me Beaudry, very moved.

“We have just received the judgment; we will take the time to fully understand it before commenting on it, ”for his part declared to The Press the Mayor of Val-David, Dominique Forget.

Challenging procedures

Diane Beaudry had been looking for several years for the ideal location to develop her accommodation and spa concept. When she came across Domaine La Sapinière in Val-David, she immediately knew that “her life project” could come true.

The site corresponded to all his search criteria: its own network of hiking trails, cross-country ski trails, a climbing cliff and a body of water suitable for non-motorized nautical activities.

After meeting with the mayoress of Val-David at the time and the director general, she took steps to obtain funding.

The entrepreneur received assistance of 4 million from Investissement Québec, a grant of 1.7 million from the Ministry of Tourism, a financing offer of 1.5 million from the Business Development Bank of Canada and a loan of $750,000. from Canada Economic Development. The total investment was nearly 15 million.

When the municipality decided to take back a good part of its land in 2020, Diane Beaudry began a lawsuit in Superior Court against Val-David, claiming 5.4 million in damages for the losses suffered. The legal proceedings are still ongoing.

Intimidation and Mayhem

Many citizens supported the municipality’s decision. ” […] People don’t want it to be wealthy tourists who come to take advantage of this environment that belongs to the citizens of Val-David, “said the mayor of Val-David at the time, Kathy Poulin, on the airwaves of the ’emission 15-18on Radio Canada Première, in May 2021.

“The day after this interview, we got fucked up in the hotel. It happened five days in a row. The intimidation continued many times. This week, we have twice had signs written “Objection” on our land”, confides M^me Beaudry.

When she received the judgment in her favor on Wednesday, she hastened to notify the Sûreté du Québec, fearing for her safety. However, she tries to see the bright side of things. “I hope there is something positive that comes out of this decision and that it can help other people who are in a similar situation,” she concludes.

With Suzanne Colpron, The Press