Pointe-Claire’s Cedar Park Heights chalet damaged after fire

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The Cedar Park Heights chalet in Pointe-Claire has been closed indefinitely after it was damaged in a fire last Thursday.

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No one was injured in the blaze which gutted the upper floor of the two-storey building located off Robinsdale Ave.

Major Tim Thomas said most of the damage appears to have been confined to the second floor. “The (firefighters) blew out the windows to save the roof and they may have saved it.”

Thomas said the cause of the fire is not yet known, but it might have been caused by a stove element that may have been left on overnight. “There was a cooking class the night before in the building. But it could also be defective plugs. So the cause of the fire is still open.”

The mayor said the chalet is a popular venue for local community groups and sports associations. He hopes the building will be repaired as soon as possible, but the extent of the fire damage has yet to be determined.

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“The chalet was and must remain a neighborhood institution, home to many community groups and activities as well as a place for neighbors holding events and celebrations. It will be a priority for me to work with council and city staff to see that the chalet is rapidly rebuilt, with better accessibility, ”Thomas said on his Facebook page. “We will also work to find a quick interim solution in a public facility for the Pointe-Claire community groups who have been using the chalet for their activities.”

“It is a beautiful building,” he added. “The meeting area upstairs had nice big windows that looked out over the park. I can remember my team hockey banquets up there. It was a great little spot.”

Thomas praised the work of Montreal firefighters who extinguished the flames. He also lauded the efforts of Public Security and the Pointe-Claire Volunteer Rescue Unit for assisting during the emergency.

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“Members of the Pointe-Claire Volunteer Rescue Unit were fantastic,” he said. “They’re volunteers and you can’t give them enough praise. We’re fortunate to have them.”

In 2020, the city of Pointe-Claire did renovation work on the tennis, basketball and softball courts at Cedar Park Heights.

The foundation and the asphalt surface of the tennis and basketball courts were rebuilt. The drainage network and fence was also replaced. The softball field also underwent upgrades, including protective netting and new player benches.

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