At the special 2025 budget session, Treasurer and Director of Finance and Treasury Marco Pilon, FCPA, OMA, unveiled the winning project of the 4th edition of the Ville de Vaudreuil-Dorion's participatory budget, the Verger communautaire participatif. The voting period for the participatory budget ended on November 22 with the compilation of 962 votes.

Citizens voted in favor of the Verger communautaire participatif project proposed by Éric Jean, which received 391 votes. This project aims to create a green space where citizens can grow and harvest fruit, promoting both biodiversity and social ties.

A sum of $65,000 will be earmarked in the 2025 budget for its realization. This initiative is in line with the “Develop a harmonious and sustainable living environment” aspiration of the 2020 > 2025 Habité par ma ville strategic plan.

“The participatory community orchard project, chosen by a majority of citizens, reflects our community's growing interest in this type of initiative. This green space, dedicated to growing and harvesting fruit, will strengthen both biodiversity and social ties. Thank you all for your commitment to a harmonious and sustainable living environment, in perfect harmony with our 2020 > 2025 strategic plan Inhabited by my city. Congratulations to Éric Jean for this wonderful proposal, which has won over our fellow citizens,” said Mayor Guy Pilon.

He also warmly congratulated the promoters of the other initiatives put to the vote, notably the Cage de frappeurs - Cricket idea, put forward by Jaryal Pankaj, the Parc d'éducation cycliste presented by Annie Bouthillier, and the Installation accessible pour une pratique de la pêche en toute saison, put forward by Benoit Giguère. “These initiatives testify to the remarkable commitment of our citizens to enriching our living environment. On behalf of the municipal council, I thank them for their creativity, their involvement and the diversity of ideas they bring to our community,” added Mayor Pilon. The participatory budget is an initiative that enables citizens to familiarize themselves with the budgetary process. The citizen submits a project, and the City carries it out. The result is an excellent collaboration between the citizens and the departments involved. This participatory budget initiative stems from the 2020 > 2025 Inhabited by my city strategic plan's aspiration of Encouraging everyone to participate in the collective well-being.

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From left to right: Paul Normand, Jasmine Sharma, François Séguin and Luc Marsan, city councillors, Éric Jean, winner of the 4th edition of the participatory budget, Guy Pilon, mayor of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Karine Lechasseur, Diane Morin, Paul Dumoulin and Gabriel Parent, city councillors.