'Aylmer's lost a big piece of history'

Mall fire: 'Aylmer's lost a big piece of history'
Last updated Jul 7 2005 08:50 AM EDT CBC News

CBC NEWS – As arson investigators comb through the blackened and twisted remains of the Glenwood Plaza in Alymer, residents are lamenting its loss, and merchants are determined to carry on.

The fire, deemed suspicious by Gatineau's fire and police departments, destroyed the 45 stores and businesses housed in what was Aylmer's oldest strip mall. Damage estimates are now ranging between $15 million and $45 million.

While no one was injured, the fire has thrown between 200 and 300 people out of work. As well, so much water was used to douse the inferno that nearby homes were flooded.

Many residents in the area stopped by through the day Wednesday to see the mall's burnt remains. While some people cringe at the idea of a strip mall, people in Aylmer seemed to embrace Glenwood Plaza for the last four decades.

"It's a strip mall, but this is history," said Aline Goodfellow, as she and her husband watched fire crews working to clean up. "Alymer's lost a big piece of its history."

The Goodfellows, like so many people in Alymer, would drop by the plaza often, to pick up a video, fill a prescription, or buy groceries.

"People who had their shops here were local people here in Alymer. So you knew them by their first name," said Al Goodfellow. "They knew you by your first name. So, it's a great place to shop. It's hard to talk about it, because part of our history in Alymer is gone now."

Ali Saad, 13, would hang out at the youth drop-in centre after school, which was also destroyed by fire. He says kids would "just go over there and hang out. There's a pool table, a TV."
The Glenwood Plaza was popular and convenient, says Habib Karnouk.

"Your most essential needs were here," he said. "There are lots of shopping centres, but they don't have the essential needs like this one here."

While the building's remains still smouldered and investigators snapped shots of the scene, many merchants were watching, and reflecting on their future.

Denis Lavergne and his wife have owned the Glenwood Florist store for 26 years.

"Yesterday I had a flower shop and a life," he said. "This morning, no flower shop and I don't know what's left of my life."

Frances Ferguson and her husband owned the bakery in the mall, and after six years had finally built up a solid customer base. She couldn't tear herself away from the scene.

"It's everything we gave of ourselves. It's our personal investment in the last six years and you just cling to that. It's hard to turn away and think about tomorrow, but we'll have to."

The mall's owner is hoping to rebuild on the prime location as soon as possible.

But in the meantime, merchants and business owners are looking for alternative locations from which they can run their businesses.