Action Laval launches its own consultation on future of Centre de la nature farm
After the City of Laval declined to hold a public consultation on the future of the Centre de la nature farm, Saint-François councillor Isabelle Piché of Action Laval has announced the appointment of a commissioner to lead an independent public consultation process.
The announcement was made in a press release issued April 1, 2026.
According to the press release, Julie Vézina has been named commissioner for the consultation on the future of the farm, whose closure has sparked strong public opposition in recent months. The issue previously generated a petition of more than 20,000 signatures, while opponents of the closure argued that residents had not been properly consulted before the City moved forward with the decision.
Commissioner appointed to oversee the process
In the press release, Piché described Vézina as a longtime Laval resident with a strong academic and professional background. Vézina holds a doctorate in neurobiology from the University of Basel in Switzerland and completed postdoctoral studies in medical biophysics at the University of Toronto.
According to Action Laval, she has worked in research fields including Alzheimer’s disease, neurobiology, oncology and inflammatory diseases. The release also states that she holds an Executive MBA from Concordia University and founded Consultation ScienTech in 2004, a firm specializing in scientific development and health-sector strategy.
The press release further notes Vézina’s environmental involvement in Laval, including her role as president of Les Amis du Boisé du Souvenir beginning in 2018 and the creation of Les Amis du Trait-Carré in 2020.
Piché stated in the release that Vézina’s experience and ability to explain complex issues would help ensure a consultation process that is both credible and accessible.
Petition organizer also involved
According to the same press release, Piché will chair the consultation process with support from Dennis Fiévèt, identified as the initiator of the citizen petition to save the farm.
Action Laval said Fiévèt’s participation is intended to ensure that the concerns raised by thousands of mobilized residents are represented throughout the consultation.
Two-phase consultation
The press release states that the first phase of the consultation, conducted online, ended on March 31.
A second phase is scheduled for April 30 and will take place in person. According to Action Laval, the session will present the options that received the most support during the online phase.
The future of the Centre de la nature farm has become one of the most debated local issues in Laval this year. City officials have defended the closure by citing the aging condition of the facilities and the cost of maintaining or replacing them, while opponents have continued to call for broader public input before the farm is permanently shuttered.
