By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
The long-awaited restoration of Sherbrooke’s historic armouries is moving ahead, with government officials announcing the launch of the design phase. The project, which has been in the works for nearly a decade, will see the Belvédère Street and William Street Armouries preserved and modernized, while plans for a third facility are also in the works.
The announcement was made by Élisabeth Brière, Minister of Veterans Affairs and MP for Sherbrooke, alongside Marie-Claude Bibeau, MP for Compton-Stanstead, and Honorary Colonel Wilfrid Morin. The event, held in Sherbrooke on March. 19, confirmed that the federal government has signed an agreement to move the project forward.
“Today marks an important milestone in the preservation of our armouries in Sherbrooke,” said Brière. “After four years of hard work alongside reservists, veterans, the city and the Sherbrooke community, I am very proud to have obtained the signature of phase 2 of the project.”
The restoration efforts are part of Canada’s broader defence strategy, aiming to provide reservists with modern, well-equipped infrastructure while maintaining the historical significance of these buildings.
A decade-long battle
The fight to preserve the two historic armouries dates back to 2015, when the possibility of replacing them with a new facility was first discussed. At the time, there was opposition from certain branches of the Department of National Defence (DND), which had proposed a completely new building rather than investing in restoration.
“They would have preferred something new, something functional near the highway, like a Costco,” Bibeau said in an interview after the announcement. “But Sherbrooke has such a rich military history, and these two armouries are an important part of our heritage.”
Bibeau and Brière worked closely with Morin and the “Sauvons les manèges” group to push for the preservation of the existing buildings. The efforts were supported by strong recruitment numbers from Sherbrooke’s reserve units, which are among the most active in Canada.
“Sherbrooke is recognized for being one of the best in Canada in terms of recruitment and responding to calls for action,” Bibeau noted. “When National Defence calls Sherbrooke, we go.”
