Laval City Hall Watch – August 17 2016

Laval City Hall Watch - August 17 2016

Laval funds research chair in solid waste management

Philippe Vaillancourt acting division head of Laval’s environmental service has been named by the city executive committee to act as its representative on a newly created research chair for solid waste management technologies at Montreal’s Polytechnic Institute.  As of August 2016 the city council has approved funding for the research venture. Laval will pay the institute $10,000 annually for a total of fifty thousand dollars over the five year term of the engagement.

Membership in this study program will give Laval’s environmental engineers access to state of the art research and technologies that address issues submitted by the partners, training for qualified personnel and the addition of relevant knowledge which will allow the continued development of rational and sustainable resource use.

Promoting Scientific Exploration activity in parks

The Executive Committee has approved funding for an innovative initiative to promote life and health related biological sciences as part of its summer park activities. An amount of $22,000 has been budgeted for the Armand-Frappier Museum to present exhibitions, laboratory activities, and itinerant scientific workshops at various parks of Laval as part of Laval’s summer community events.

The mission of the Armand Frappier Museum includes the dissemination and popularization of scientific knowledge to promote comprehension of the important issues related to human, animal, and environmental health. While a primary goal is to broaden the scientific and technical knowledge of the general population it is hoped that the exhibits and activities may generate interest among young people for scientific careers in health sciences.

Closing Celebration for Laval Music Zone summer tour

Residents who took advantage of the great summer weather and spent time outdoors in one of Laval’s many public places may have been treated to live musical performances. As part of Laval’s Zone Musical program concerts of pop, folk, classical, swing and jazz music resonated in all regions of Laval. The shows featured local talent highlighted by Laval’s Symphonic Orchestra.

The summer musical tour culminates with a closing weekend party on September 9^th to 11^th where the music world will be honored in the city center at Maison des Arts.  On Friday September 9^th   Laval’s Symphony Orchestra partners with Quartetto Gelato to provide music for dancing the Argentinian tango, Italian tarantella, Spanish flamenco and Polish polka to name a few. Saturday Florence K and friends will present a festive show of Latin and jazz hits including original songs from their latest albums. These performances begin at 8:00 pm.

Sunday’s musical program of African percussion with Melissa Lavergne will be presented at 3:00 pm but festivities and activities will run from noon including food trucks providing tastes of the world’s cuisine. The shows are free of charge.

Funding of the Regional Social Economy Center of Laval (PRESL)

The Executive Committee has granted the second installment of funds earmarked for the social economic development of Laval to the local organization PRESL (Pole Regional D’Economie Sociale de Laval). The disbursement of $20,000 is part of a first year global budget of $110,000. The monies are needed to help PRESL establish a permanent administrative presence in Laval and provide it with working capital to fund its first year of operation.

The social economy is a concept that combines the words “economy” and “social”, which means that an organization of this type is pursuing a social mission, while providing support for economic development. Unlike a private company where the owner has the power to make all decisions, the social enterprise is democratic, that is to say, it is composed of members who participate in decision-making processes of the organization. In Laval, collaborators of social economy development are primarily non-profit organizations, like work integration groups or adapted work, and cooperatives. Much of the work undertaken is in the health sector and social services (personal services), and also in the areas of environment, manufacturing, food, financial services, arts and culture.

While the organization is non-profit company its projects pursue a goal of economic viability. This means that the company conducts business and marketing development activities to sell its products and services and if there is a surplus, it can be reinvested in the organization for the development, creation and consolidation of jobs, improved working conditions or in the community as well as allotting reserves for future expenses. Primarily the goal is to invest in projects that address local social needs and whose profits are reinvested in the community. The primary mandate is to create employment, integrate people on the fringes of society and to combat poverty.

Des Praries Park bustling with free summer activities

Friday July 8^th 2016 marked the launch of the summer program and activities at Des Praries Park. This natural green space 30 hectares large is located adjacent to the river and street of the same name and can be accessed on 5 avenue du Crochet. The mayor of Laval Marc Demers who was on hand for the festive open ceremonies said, “I am very pleased to see how one of our great parks is so popular and crowded. Citizens will benefit from the visit to the park this summer thanks to the wealth of programming and the involvement of several community partners, “said Mayor Demers.

The park is crisscrossed by five kilometers of Quebec’s Green Route bicycle path, multiple Trek Fit exercise stations and pedestrian walkways for those wishing to stroll, run or cycle through a natural environment. The programming includes musical performances highlighted by a concert by Laval’s Symphonic Orchestra. While back to school is fast approaching there is still time for family fun as activities run till August 28^th. Wednesdays and Thursdays get physical in an outdoor setting with scheduled Tai Chi, line dancing, Zumba gold, circuit training and Latino cardio for all ages.

Popular Latin dance nights are on the menu every Friday night till the 26^th of August with lessons at 7:00 pm for salsa, bachata, merengue, cha-cha-cha followed by open dancing from 8:00 pm. Saturday evenings at 7:00pm hit movies including The Good Dinosaur, The Jungle Book, Angry Birds were screened under the stars.

A new mobile ice cream stand will operate on Thursdays through Sundays manned by young entrepreneurs twelve to seventeen years of age as part of a youth cooperative program. They will sell the products of the dairy CaFardeur as well as other refreshments.

The Laval-des-Rapides and the Pont-Viau (formerly held at Cluny Park) neighbourhood fests, will also highlight the last weekend of activities on the 27^th of August. A corn roast, shows, activities and kiosques will be ongoing all afternoon and the summer program will close with the last movie night presentation of Zootopia (French language version).

The municipal leisure activity office has noted the contributions of the community organisations Loisirs Bon-Pasteur and Diapason-Jeunesse who were active partners in the organization of this summer long celebration. The best part is that all these activities are free for residents of Laval and their families.