Category: | Point of interest, Establishment, Local government office, City hall, |
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Address: | 567 Chem. du Village, Morin-Heights, QC J0R 1H0, Canada |
Postal code: | J0R 1H0 |
Phone: | (450) 226-3232 |
Website: | http://www.morinheights.com/ |
I haven't been living here for a long time and thus am not much of an authority on the area. I bought a house a few years ago and these are my impressions of the town so far. I've assumed a false identity because I do mention an unpleasant person below and do not want to face this petty person's retribution.
One of the most astounding things that I first learned about Morin-Heights is that a sect in the 90's committed mass suicide here. That's pretty much all I have to say about that.
The second most astounding thing I learned about Morin-Heights is that there used to be a place called Le Studio where the likes of David Bowie, Rush, April Wine and the Bee Gees recorded. Now if you are even able to find it, you will discover a collapsed ruin. Just my two cents but hey! Wouldn't this have been a prime opportunity for the local government to step in, preserve the place, make connections with those artists who found the spot so enticing as to want to spend several months there? This would in turn increase tourism, revenue dollars and development. But for now the town seems content enough with projects like the construction of an IGA (a supermarket) which provides vital jobs. This is the extent of the local government's ambition.
As for the town itself, well back in the 70's apparently it used to be Hippie Central. Nowadays it has one recently built coffee shop opened by a guy who use to make tennis rackets. The local bar has its days when it isn't mostly empty and then is populated by mostly grey haired people.
There is a real lack of vitality in this town. There is no energy or vision. The mayor also works for a local developer who does the snow removal on the local roads. According to the owner, having this connection doesn't at all impact his company's ability to secure such contracts. Given how convincingly he spoke those words (without choking on his own BS) I asked him if he ever thought of running for office.
The women at the front counter of the town hall are helpful and, as a bonus, attractive. This makes dealing with bureaucratic affairs pleasant. The one with the flower tattoo on her right arm is especially pretty. I recently went to her with a pothole issue and it was resolved in one day! I also like Mr. Jackson. He has always given me patient and knowledgeable advice about local environmental affairs.
I prefer to live here than in the city. I like that (some) people know me, there is also a lack of pressure in this town. I just wish that a few more small businesses/boutiques opened up and that there would be more grass root projects.The town needs someone who has a vision on how to make things vital again if not if runs the risk of becoming a senior's residence. Oh yes, speaking of seniors, their property taxes should freeze after the age of retirement. What's the point of working your whole life only to risk losing your home when you are too old to do anything about it? The town should also be pioneering in not charging welcome taxes. This just makes any government which applies these taxes appear crooked. It's not because it is legal that it is moral. What this might do in turn is cause more people to come to the area and then there would be a regular stream of tax revenue. But again, will the politicians embrace such innovative ideas or remain with stagnant policies? Most likely the latter.
If you ever do plan on moving here, beware lake associations such as the one in the Blue Hills area (these are the people whose vindictiveness I am concerned about). One of the members, Brenda Hunter, is especially petty (the third astounding thing I discovered about this place). She stalks local residents online, keeps notes on them and reports those who rent their cottages to the minister of tourism. I went on vacation for two weeks and used Airbnb to rent out my cottage and she reported me. She also sent me a letter in which she used all manner of profanity and told me to leave. This lake association has been branded the Lake Nazis on account of their narrow-minded zealousness.