The more than century-old Mont-Laurier station will be destroyed. The MRC of Antoine-Labelle “favored the demolition of the station and the construction of a new building meeting current needs, while ensuring its heritage value is recalled.” Will this new building take the form of a pastiche, in whole or in part, of the old historic station? The plans have not yet been finalized.
The recommendations adopted by the MRC suggest “conserving the original location, favoring materials such as wood, in order to preserve the history and the close link with the forestry industry, and to favor traditional colors”, while by promoting “historical and social values”.
A study, commissioned from the firm C2V Architecture by the MRC, at the request of the Ministry of Culture and Communications, highlighted the interest of the place. The historical, social and architectural values of the building, the site and the landscape are recognized. “These values can measure the potential of significant cultural elements, but do not have the ultimate goal of conserving materiality,” indicates the MRC.
Heritage inventories have already noted that the Mont-Laurier station stands out in the local landscape because of its high heritage value. “Mont-Laurier Station is […] an emblematic witness embodied in the collective imagination,” indicates the MRC.
Inaugurated in 1908, the Mont-Laurier station made it easier for Canadian Pacific convoys to establish settlers in “the upper lands”. This is a building erected according to standard plans at the time for this type of station. It was enlarged in 1927. The station master lived there with his family.
This station constitutes one of the most important historical markers on the route of the “P’tit Train du Nord”, the final stop on the route which ran from Saint-Jérôme.
The station ceased its railway activities in the fall of 1981. It had been recycled into a multi-function stop very popular with the public. It is part of the linear park Le P’tit Train du Nord. Due to the condition of the building, the station has been inaccessible to the public since summer 2022.