Wednesday May 24 2017 – The Annual General Meeting of the Trois-Rivières Port Authority (TRPA) offered an opportunity to provide an assessment of the On Course for 2020 plan. Launched in 2008, On Course for 2020 will be completed by the end of 2017, or three years ahead of schedule and within budget. As Mr. Gaétan Boivin (President and CEO) explained, “In recent years, construction sites have multiplied at the Port of Trois-Rivières. The changes in infrastructure were designed to better meet market needs, increase productivity, improve safety and security, and improve intermodality. But above all, the projects aim to better integrate the port into the surrounding urban environment and reduce its environmental impact”. [Translation]
These projects have required investments of $ 131.6 million, of which $ 49 million by the TRPA, $ 22.2 million by the Government of Canada, $ 8.2 million by the Government of Quebec and $ 52.2 million by the private sector. The TRPA would like to acknowledge the excellent cooperation of the Government of Canada, including Minister of Transport Mr. Marc Garneau and Minister of International Trade Mr. François-Philippe Champagne, as well as the Government of Quebec, in particular the Minister for Maritime Affairs Mr. Jean D’Amour, the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Mauricie region, Ms. Julie Boulet, and the MNA for Trois-Rivières, Mr. Jean-Denis Girard.
The Chair of the TRPA Board of Directors, Ms. Danielle St-Amand, took the opportunity to inform the Assembly that the On Course for 2030 plan is in preparation and will be presented in the coming months. As she explained: “These achievements would have been impossible without an unwavering commitment by members of the port community and the Trois-Rivières socio-economic community. In fact, this collaborative culture is certainly the greatest legacy the On Course for 2020 plan has left as it brings about even more ambitious changes to come”. [Translation]
2016: A busy year
At the Annual General Meeting, the TRPA presented the 2016 results. The Port welcomed 178 vessels, including 18 cruise ship calls and traffic totalling 2.8 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo. The TRPA recorded profits of $ 1.8 million. The year was marked by three major events: the construction of Terminal 13, the announcement of the extension of Pier 10 and the development of a storage area on Bellefeuille Street. These projects, valued at $ 65 million, are part of the On Course for 2020 plan and will be completed by the end of 2017.
End of mandate for three directors
May 2017 also meant the end of mandates for three members of the TRPA Board of Directors. Ms. Danielle St Amand took the opportunity on this day to acknowledge their outstanding contribution. “Mr. Cléo Marchand, Ms. Martine Gravel and Mr. François Dupuis, who were appointed in 2008, participated in the creation of the On Course for 2020 plan. The TRPA had the privilege to rely on their talent, expertise and continued involvement during this pivotal period of the history of the Port of Trois-Rivières”.