How a famous Montreal bridge is getting a second life at a camp for Scouts – Montreal | 24CA News

After being decommissioned practically 4 years in the past, a part of the unique Champlain Bridge, the metal construction that linked the Island of Montreal to the south shore, will stay on on the longest constantly open Scout camp in Quebec.

A number of items of the bridge will go towards a model new crossing — however of a special variety. They shall be used to construct a footbridge on the sprawling Dunn Memorial Scout Camp in Elgin, Que., about 80 kilometres southwest of Montreal close to the United States border. The camp, which has been open since 1954, spans about 100 acres and borders the Châteauguay River.

Cory Ovans, chair of the camp, mentioned the footbridge shall be constructed above a swamp to permit Scouts and campers to formally cross between two camps on the website. It may also change the previous one, which has slowly rotted away after practically 20 years.

“Our 70th anniversary is next year,” Ovans mentioned in a latest interview. “So we’re hoping to have the bridge at least partially completed by then because we’re going to do a big field day in celebration of the 70th.”

The Dunn Memorial Scout Camp is one in all 11 winners of the unique Champlain Bridge Material Reuse Competition. More than 400 metal elements dismantled from the bridge shall be utilized in totally different initiatives, starting from a residential greenhouse to artworks.

Sandra Martel, CEO of Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated,  mentioned the number of tasks will honour the reminiscence of an necessary construction in Montreal’s historical past. The previous bridge over the St. Lawrence River is about to be totally deconstructed by January 2024.

“The participants have shown creativity and innovation, and we look forward to seeing these proposals come to life,” Martel mentioned in a press release in late April, when the winners had been introduced.

At the Scout camp, the footbridge comprised of the historic items of metal will formally be known as the Sunshine Bridge. The moniker is in honour of Cecile Antink, whose Scout chief identify is Sunshine. The bridge shall be used to commute on the previous Champlain Bridge daily “so it’s particularly special to her.”

“I wanted to honour her in some way,” Ovans mentioned.

Antink just isn’t solely passionate in regards to the mission, she is the driving drive behind Scouting within the space, Ovans mentioned. After taking six months to design the footbridge and drafting paperwork, the camp’s committee submitted their software. About a 12 months later, their mission was chosen as one of many winners of the competitors.

The crossing shall be constructed because of the dedication of volunteers, starting from farmers to building employees. A former camper who’s now a welder has supplied his time whereas a trucking firm will assist choose up and transport the metal items of the unique Champlain Bridge to the location.

The group has come collectively to lend a serving to hand to place up the Sunshine Bridge, which is about to be about eight ft (2.4 metres) vast by 60 ft (18.2 metres) lengthy. Ovans put a name out on-line and folks shortly responded to supply their providers.

“It has been shocking, but really amazing,” Ovans mentioned.

The Sunshine Bridge ought to take a couple of 12 months to construct and the precedence is to not harm the swamp or bushes on the website, he added. Ovans has little doubt that it’ll go to good use too, since a whole lot of campers use the location yearly.

Dunn Memorial Scout Camp has robust ties locally and a wealthy historical past within the space, so it’s no shock individuals are excited to assist with the mission. About 20 folks have already proven curiosity in serving to the development the brand new footbridge.

“I’m sure everyone is going to come out of the woodwork,” Ovans mentioned.

2:04Significant portion of Montreal’s iconic Champlain bridge taken down

&copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.