Sandbags outside Saint-Leonard homes spark flooding debate among residents

A wall of sandbags outside a residential building in Saint-Leonard has sparked a debate on social media, as residents grow increasingly frustrated over frequent flooding in the borough.

A wall of sandbags outside a residential building in Saint-Leonard has sparked a debate on social media, as residents grow increasingly frustrated over frequent flooding in the borough. The sandbags, provided by the borough, were recently placed in front of a home on Belmont Street. The owners told CTV News the building has flooded multiple times and their insurance will no longer cover flood damage, so they opted for the solution.

Next-door neighbour Emmanuel St-Leger says he wants sandbags too, after being flooded two years in a row. He says he lost a sound system he had built piece by piece, worth at least $25,000. Images of city workers installing the sandbags drew disbelief and confusion on social media, with some assuming they were installed without permission and others calling them a ridiculous solution.

Borough Mayor Dominic Perri says the sandbags are a temporary measure and an optional flood-prevention tool offered to residents. He’s encouraging people to contact the borough to learn how they can protect their homes. “At least they have the proper information, rather than having information circulating on social media, which is misleading, which is at times false,” Perri said.

The mayor says the borough has done what it can to divert water from high-risk streets. Residents have been waiting years for the promised expansion of the Langelier water collector, and while the project has gone through studies, Perri says it could be years before it’s completed. “I cannot tell you when, but we know that we are the first one online for that major renovation,” he said.

In the meantime, St-Leger recognizes his neighbour’s sandbags aren’t the most attractive solution, but says anything that protects your home is worth it. The borough has offered three information sessions on flood prevention in recent months, and plans to offer more as needed.