Couple says goodbye to beloved home on Quebec coast after erosion put safety at risk

Joanne Audet and Marcel Breton say they have lived an extraordinary life by the sea, but the coastal erosion along the shores of Maria, Que., has become too much for the couple.

"We were hit by three enormous tides within a year. You can't stay here anymore. At home, it was scary. It was rumbling, it shook. The water hits your windows. You become surrounded by water everywhere," Audet said. "We no longer had a choice. We had to leave."

Their residence is among eight homes threatened by imminent coastal submersion, jeopardizing their safety and qualifying them for provincial financial assistance. They had a choice to relocate or demolish the home. Satisfied with the compensation offered, the couple chose demolition as the simpler option.

Their home on des Tournepierres Street was demolished Friday. They moved there in 2009.

"Living there was our retirement dream. Seeing the sea and the vastness every day was pure joy," Audet said.

The municipality of Maria is in Quebec's eastern Gaspésie region on the Baie-des-Chaleurs. It has fewer than 3,000 residents.

Joanne Audet and Marcel Breton, photographed on the steps of their new house in Maria, Que., a bit further inland than their demolished coastal home. (Roxanne Langlois/Radio-Canada)

About two weeks ago, the couple moved into a new home on des Cardinaux Street, not more than two kilometres away and a bit further inland.

There was a severe storm on Nov. 27, but at the time they were still undecided about the move. Subsequent storms in January, just three days apart, convinced them to leave. The municipality of Maria had to declare a state of emergency on Jan. 10 and 13.

During those states of emergency, residents of des Tournepierres and des Pluviers streets, which were most at risk, were given voluntary evacuation notices. Almost a metre of water accumulated on des Tournepierres.

"The decision wasn't hard on Jan. 13. We decided it was time to go," Breton said.

Family members and friends of the couple left messages on the walls of the house to remember the good times they had there and to encourage the couple in this major transition. (Roxanne Langlois/Radio-Canada)

Contacted by the Ministry of Public Security in March, the couple had 18 months to decide but chose to leave quickly as a protective wall on their property was about to give way.

"It's becoming critical. The tides are higher, and storms are more frequent than when we first moved here," Breton noted.

Breton injured his leg during the Jan. 13 storm and had to be taken to hospital. He said he now wonders how emergency responders would reach them if flooding made the street impassable.

Joanne Audet and Marcel Breton had chosen to live their retirement on des Tournepierres Street. They moved there in 2009, but finally left the home about two weeks ago. (Submitted by Joanne Audet)

Audet and Breton acknowledged that other residents may choose to stay, and said they are careful not to judge those that do. The couple is among three of eight homeowners who have taken the government's offer to help.

Breton believes more will choose to leave, and he worries those who stay will ultimately lose everything, he said.

A disaster prevention framework is being developed to assess protective measures for Maria's vulnerable areas, which may include further relocations if necessary. This framework will include the engineering works to be carried out to counter coastal erosion and submersion.

The couple bought a new home in a nearby subdivision where they can still visit the beach easily.

"I can finally sleep soundly," Audet said. "It's a new chapter."

The two owners say they lived wonderful years by the sea, on des Tournepierres Street in Maria, Que. (Submitted by Joanne Audet)

Breton admits that seeing the demolition equipment arrive at their home this week was a shock. He said they have been grieving in piecemeal. First, the house was emptied. Then, the doors and windows were sold.

Maria Mayor Jean-Claude Landry acknowledged the significance of Friday's demolition for the community. It's a day that could be called historic, he said.

Work continues on addressing Maria's coastal submersion issue, with the ministry set to update residents of des Tournepierres next month on progress and potential solutions.

"The recurrence of storm surges is there. We cannot deny it," said Landry, and safety remains the municipal administration's priority.

"The last three winters, there's very, very heavy storms. High tides."
    
Landry said it's not always possible for first responders to reach the homes during the floods. The municipality has hired a communications officer who will be responsible for establishing the link between the citizens affected by this situation, the provincial government and the municipality.