Gatineau mayor urges residents to take caution as water rises

3 hours ago 7

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Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette has urged residents to take all necessary precautions ahead of an expected continued rise of flood water levels Monday.

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Marquis-Bissonnette told a news conference Sunday the city expects water levels to rise another 30 centimetres by Monday. The city has added 56 buildings to the list of structures that could be affected by flooding over the next two weeks, especially in the east end of the city.

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The list of affected buildings now totals 164.

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“This is why it’s very important for citizens to get ready (and) to have sandbags ready,” the mayor said.

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An accompanying release by the City of Gatineau noted that the latest forecasts shared by the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board (ORRPB) on Friday were overall higher than those for 2025, but lower than those for 2023.

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“Water levels may start stabilizing on Tuesday, but are expected to remain high for several days,” the release noted.

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Marquis-Bissonnette said the city is not recommending any evacuations, but residents need to take the necessary precautions.

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In a release, Gatineau listed a number of roads under close observation:

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Access ramps for autoroute 50 Est at rue Saint-Louis;
Rue Campeau;
rue Carmen;
rue Saint-Denis;
rue Saint-Paul;
rue Saint-Sauveur;
rue Sanscartier; and
ruelle du Como.

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“People should avoid driving in at-risk areas,” the release cautioned.

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“If they must be accessed, it is imperative that drivers exercise caution and slow down. Fast-moving vehicles … generate waves that can cause damage.”

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The mayor said the people of Gatineau are not particularly surprised by this warning.

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“They’ve seen flooding in 2017, the one in 2019, 2023,” she said at the news conference. “So, they know that they are at risk.

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“We can just take precaution … acquire sandbags, prepare adequately. This means doing groceries and having a little more stock at home.”

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She invited residents to seek out mental health support by calling 811 should they need it.

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“There’s a lot of anxiety associated with flooding,” she said. “It means something to the people of Gatineau because they have been through this.”

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Marquis-Bissonnette said sandbags will continue to be provided for residents.

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“For now, the situation is under control for us,” she said when asked whether the City of Gatineau was close to declare a state of emergency.

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“We strongly encourage people to prepare adequately, and we will inform the public of any changes that warrant public communication.”

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Floodwaters continued to swell along the Ottawa River in Gatineau on Sunday, April 19, 2026, as authorities urged residents in low-lying areas to remain cautious.

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A pair of ducks ignore a ‘road closed’ sign on Rue Jacques-Cartier on Sunday.

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A cyclist makes his way through a flooded path between Rue Jacques-Cartier and the Ottawa River Sunday afternoon.

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A woman with a dog and a boy on a scooter make their way through a flooded path between Rue Jacques-Cartier and the Ottawa River Sunday afternoon.

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Cyclists check out the flooded path between Rue Jacques-Cartier and the Ottawa River Sunday afternoon.

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A truck makes its way through the flooded Rue Jacques-Cartier in Gatineau on Sunday.

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Localized flooding continued to spread in Gatineau, with authorities monitoring conditions and urging residents in low-lying areas to remain cautious.

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