Ambitious plans to expand La Broquerie’s network of trails will come at no additional cost to ratepayers.

Councillor Larry Tetrault, who sits on the Local Urban District (LUD) Committee, says the top request from residents in their latest recreation master plan was for more pedestrian infrastructure. His committee has responded favorably.

“With Covid, people are outdoors more and we have had a lot of people asking for walking trails,” states the councillor. “That is what people are asking for so that is what we will give them in 2021.”

When the snow melts and construction season commences, Tetrault says several projects will begin taking shape across the LUD. In their most recent plan, the community’s trails will be extended into Tetrault Park, the sidewalk on Simard Street will be upgraded, a 600-metre loop will be built around the baseball diamond, and more pathway lighting will be added throughout the region.

“We are hoping that one day the lighting could go all around the golf course so people could enjoy the outdoors there by day and night,” notes Tetrault who says his committee is also working with the La Verendrye Golf Course to improve walking paths there as well. “It is a very exciting time for the whole municipality, really.”

To Tetrault, the most exciting addition this year will be the installation of a brand new pedestrian bridge, made possible only because of a $400,000 donation from former La Broquerie resident Russ Edwards.

“Mr. Edwards was raised in La Broquerie in the 40s and he is giving back to his community after being gone for many years,” explains Tetrault. “He felt he needed to recognize pioneers from 1881 to 1940.”

According to Tetrault, the bridge is a sort of historical commemoration of early La Broquerie settlers whose names will be engraved directly onto it.

He stresses that all of this work and more will be done without burdening local residents with special levies or tax hikes. La Broquerie Council, which determines the LUD budget, finished 2020 with a considerable surplus. Because COVID-19 negated certain operational expenses and the RM’s tax base increased with an influx of people moving to the region, Tetrault says Council has more money to play with and, quite naturally, the LUD will benefit as a result.