Hélène Reeves remembers growing up on a very different St. Lawrence River.

A lifelong resident of Contrecoeur, Que., she remembers when sailors would salute as their vessels floated by. Reeves says people move here to get away from the hustle and bustle of Montreal. The small town is home to colourful ecosystems and diverse species, several of which are at risk.

“In the summer, you could go for a walk along the St. Lawrence. There's a nice beach," she said. "This land has not been touched for more than 100 years — until now.”

Reeves is concerned about how Contrecoeur will change with the expansion of the Port of Montreal underway on the outskirts of town. MAP | Contrecoeur is 70 km northeast of Montreal:

The original port, which is 70 kilometres to the south, is designed to handle ju

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