A dog park will officially be created for the municipality of Sutton to help better meet the needs of dog owners in the area. 

For the past ten years, Sutton resident Chantal Lavigne has been working to convince the municipality’s town council to provide its citizens with a closed-in area where they can freely take their dogs to run and play. 

It was around this time that Lavigne got her first dog and discovered that there aren't many welcoming spaces for dogs in Sutton. Due to living in an apartment building, Lavigne would bring her dog to play at the municipal park or for a walk on the bike bath. According to Lavigne however, she and other dog owners received a host of complaints. As a result, they are forced to travel to other Eastern Townships' municipalities -  like Knowlton or Cowansville - to use their dog parks. 

Recognizing a need in her community, Lavigne submitted her dog park project as a part of the Town of Sutton’s first participatory budget initiative and citizens voted to bring her project to life. 

Lavigne spoke with CIDI journalist Taylor McClure about her dog park project and her experience taking part in the municipality’s participatory budgeting. 

CIDI also had the chance to speak with Sylvie Grégoire -head of the steering committee for Sutton’s participatory budget initiative - about the need she sees the dog park fulfilling in Sutton and what participatory budgets contribute to citizen’s involvement in municipal affairs. 

To hear more, listen to the full interview below: