When they started digging up St. Joseph Blvd. to make way for a water trunk renewal a few weeks back, I started having flashbacks to 1998 when former Orleans Business and Community Development Association president Diane Boucher began calling on the City of Gloucester to bury the overhead wires that run along the road. She felt that the work should be included as part of a larger revitalization effort for Orléans’ “Main Street”.
Back then Boucher owned the Caldwell Banker Real Estate Brokerage on St. Joseph Blvd. and burying the overhead wires became a near obsession with her.
A year later, a report authored by Gloucester city staff called for $2.8 million in upgrades to St. Joseph including $1.7 million to take care of the wires.
By the time the work began in June 2001, the newly amalgamated City of Ottawa had slashed the amount needed to bury the overhead wires to just $157,000, which wasn’t nearly enough money to do the job. Instead, the city built the roundabout at Jeanne d’Arc and used the $157,000 to install lateral cement conduits from one side of the street to the other.
The conduits would be used to help bury the overhead wires whenever the city got around to installing similar conduits along the length of St. Joseph, which has yet to happen and might never will.
Not much has really changed since those early days except for the installation of the roundabout and a few “beautification” elements including some benches, light standards and banners.
Since Diane Boucher first started fighting for the overhead wires to be buried along St. Joseph Blvd. 17 years ago, overhead wires along the city’s other “Main Streets”, namely Montreal Road through Vanier, Wellington Street in Westboro and Bank Street in Ottawa South, have all been buried and are now out of sight.
You would think digging up the street and installing a sewer main would be the perfect time to bury the wires on St. Joseph, but it never even came up for discussion. Part of the problem is that it would take the cooperation of Rogers, Bell Canada and Hydro Ottawa. Of course, they would have to be consulted first.
It’s been 25 years since St. Joseph was last dug up. It may be another 25 years before it ever happens again. In the meantime, Orléans residents and the businesses along St. Joseph must live with the wires, and the eyesore they create, on a street that has never been able to realize its full potential despite a lot of well-meaning intent but very little in the way of actual results.
KIDS SPRING FLING from 9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at the Blackburn Community Hall on Glen Park Drive. For children ages 2 - 10 years old accompanied by an adult. This is an oportunity for kids and their parents to engage in various Spring-themed arts and crafts activities and games. Presented by the Blackburn Community Association.
TRIVIA NIGHT from 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday night at the Royal Oak Pub Orléans. Free to play. Prizes for the winning team! The Royal Oak Pub is located at 1981 St. Joseph Blvd. near Jeanne d'Arc. For more info visit 
TRIVIA NIGHT from 6:30 p.m. at the Stray Dog Brewing Company. Exercise your grey matter before it turns to mush over the holidays. Reservations are a must to secure your spot. Send your team name and number of people to info@straydogbrewing.ca. The Stray Dog Brewing Company is located at 501 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park.
KARAOKE NIGHT staring at 7 p.m. at the Orléans Legion, 800 Taylor Creek Dr. Come sing your favourite songs.
YARD SALE along Stojko Street and Senateurs Way in Fallingbrook from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Something for everyone. Toys. Clothing. Sports equipment. Housewares and more.
