As announced on August 5, the Town of Rosemère has closed the three clay tennis courts at Bourbonnière Park, located at 333 Florian Street, as a precautionary measure until further notice.

As of August 12, 2025, the Direction générale de la santé publique du Québec (DGSP) of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) currently recommends:

• Not conducting asbestos characterization tests and waiting for guidelines from government authorities.

The Town of Rosemère will therefore comply with this new directive and await further recommendations from government authorities.

It should be noted that sampling tests on different types of clay soil (e.g., red clay) are being conducted by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to verify the presence of asbestos. The results are expected shortly.

The Town therefore maintains its decision to temporarily suspend access to these facilities until new guidelines are issued by the Direction générale de la santé publique du Québec (DGSP) of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS).

Please note that the courts will continue to be watered, in accordance with the recommendations of the Laurentides Public Health Department, to prevent dust from spreading. In addition, the Town will take the preventive measure of installing tarps over the clay surfaces and fences of the tennis courts concerned.

It should be noted that the decision to close clay tennis courts as a precautionary measure was made following the discovery, in another municipality, of a product (manufactured by the American company Har-Tru) used for maintaining playing surfaces that contained asbestos levels exceeding Canadian standards. This product, commonly used in Quebec for the maintenance of clay tennis courts, is used in several municipalities, including Rosemère. 

Aware of the inconvenience that this closure may cause tennis enthusiasts, the Town reminds residents that the safety of citizens and employees, as well as compliance with environmental and safety standards, remain its top priorities.

While awaiting further developments in this matter, players are invited to use the hard courts at Bourbonnière Park and Hamilton Park, located at 133 Parc Street.

Updates will be provided as soon as new information becomes available.