By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
This past weekend, Bury residents were invited to an open house event celebrating the town’s newly acquired and renovated fire station at 783 McIver Street. The event, held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 19, featured guided tours, discussions with firefighters, and a speech by Mayor Denis Savage. The community turnout demonstrated local support for the town’s upgraded emergency services.
Louise Brière, General Director of Bury, elaborated on the significance of the new facility during a recent interview after the event. “This project has been in the works for over 11 years,” she stated, outlining the challenges faced during the planning phases. Initially, there were considerations to renovate the old station, but it was deemed too small to meet current standards. The municipality then explored building on various plots, but plans evolved several times before settling on the current location.
The new station was built in a former mechanic’s garage purchased for $325,000. “We managed to secure this location at a fraction of the projected $1.5 million cost,” Brière explained, crediting the successful acquisition to the Canada Community-Building Fund subsidy, which she said is available every five years. The total renovation and setup costs amounted to approximately $355,000, with only about $20,000-$30,000 expected to fall outside the subsidy coverage.
The new station, measuring 40 by 80 feet, meets all the specifications required. “The steel structure and concrete floor, complete with drainage, were already compliant,” Brière said. She highlighted that ventilation and electrical work were the major expenses, amounting to roughly $160,000.
The station is currently 90 per cent operational, with the remaining work expected to be completed by the end of October. “We can’t operate in two places at once, so we need to be fully ready before the complete move-in,” Brière noted, projecting that the station will be fully functional by early November.
The open house event provided an opportunity for residents to see the nearly finished facility firsthand, and Brière emphasized its importance for transparency and community involvement. “We want citizens to understand how their tax dollars are being utilized,” she added.
