Downtown deal: North Hatley’s core changes hands

In this segment, North Hatley Mayor Marcella Davis Gerrish discusses the recent sale of several village-core properties by longtime owner Richard Laliberté to Vie North Hatley, a newly formed community investment group founded by two local residents and led by executive director Dominique Voyer. The transaction follows years of debate over redevelopment proposals and differing visions for the scale and character of projects in the downtown core. Gerrish explains how the municipality’s master plan — adopted in October 2025 after extensive public consultation — is intended to guide future development and ensure it reflects community values. She says the new ownership group participated in that process and understands residents’ desire to protect the village’s identity while allowing thoughtful growth. The municipality is expected to present its detailed planning framework, known as the plan particulier d’urbanisme (PPU), later this month.