Barely installed, the new lighting system at Stade Canac is already set to be replaced due to major issues. The lights are leaking water, and the supplier contracted by the City of Québec has accepted full responsibility for the problem.

Game interrupted due to manufacturing defect?

Jean-François Gosselin, a member of the city’s executive committee responsible for sports and recreation, expressed his frustration: This is unacceptable. At nearly two million dollars for the lighting alone, it simply must work. He confirmed that the supplier will gradually send new light fixtures to replace all 106 faulty units without any additional costs to the city. This is a significant blow, considering the new lighting system had been installed less than a week before the failure occurred.

The problem became apparent during a game when so many lights malfunctioned that the Capitales were forced to interrupt their match in the fifth inning on a Saturday night, postponing the rest of the game until the following day. Gosselin assures fans and officials alike that such a situation will not be repeated. Charles Demers, the new president of the Capitales, emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue. He explained that the lights, installed just prior to the team’s home opener, began leaking water after the very first rain. It was clearly a manufacturing defect, and we noticed it right from day one, Demers said.

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© Capitales Quebec

Temporary fixes to keep the games going

To enable the Capitales to continue playing their home games without further interruptions, city engineers took the practical step of drilling holes into the casings of the affected light fixtures to allow water to drain out. Additionally, some of the fixtures that had burned out were replaced at the end of May with the first batch of new lights. Further deliveries of replacement panels, which are expected to be waterproof, will be arriving gradually over the next several weeks to complete the full replacement.

Before the game disruption, the Capitales had to rely heavily on emergency lighting, including to illuminate the spectator stands at Stade Canac. Notably, the new poles on which the lights are mounted are several meters shorter than the previous ones. However, Gosselin reassures that the reduced height will not pose a problem once the entire lighting system is fully operational. Adjustments will be made to ensure proper lighting coverage for both the field and the stands.

Sound system also experiencing problems

In addition to the lighting woes, the newly installed sound system at Stade Canac has also faced technical difficulties. Temporary fixes are currently in place to maintain an acceptable audio environment during games. Charles Demers commented on this issue as well, stating, While this won’t be a complete replacement, the situation will be manageable enough to continue hosting baseball games. For now, it’s a satisfactory solution. The city and team management are hopeful that these interim measures will suffice until permanent repairs can be made.