Fire Hall to Bistro Ambrosia

Is 100 Principale of historical value?

Before welcoming diners, the unique building at 100, rue Principale, which until recently housed Bistro Ambrosia Ristorante, was the home of firefighters. 100, rue Principale had been Aylmer’s second fire hall. The first was located at 120, rue Principale, which today is Old Aylmer’s Culture Centre.

According to Aylmer’s Heritage Association, the edifice was built circa 1920. Initially, it housed equipment from Quebec’s road works department; then it became a fire hall, which explains the large window-doors facing Principale. It served twice as a restaurant before finally becoming Ambrosia.

The fire department moved to 100, rue Principale, from number 120 in 1961. By 1976, it had moved to the current fire hall at 425 Wilfrid-Lavigne Boulevard. Named in honour of Aylmer’s former Fire Chief, Roland Guertin (1919-2004), this new hall is the second oldest station in Gatineau, behind the James-John O'Farrell Fire Station in Gatineau.

Guertin was Aylmer’s Volunteer Firefighter Chief between 1956 and 1984, spending 15 years working from the fire hall at 100, rue Principale. Mr Guertin worked for the Canadian International Paper Company (CIP) as an electrician. In 1959, he became Aylmer’s first permanent fire chief. He resigned from CIP in 1971 when city council named him as Aylmer’s Director of the fire department.

Chief Guertin was instrumental in improving the fire brigade’s equipment. He helped switch the fire squad’s woodenladders to metal ones and acquired a modern water pump. During his tenure as chief, the department was able to control the majority of blazes in Aylmer.