With the latest graduation and qualification rates published by the Ministry of Education (MEQ) on Oct. 29, the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board (SWLSB) says it surpassed an ambitious goal set by the MEQ with flying colours.
This SWLSB says its 88.1 per cent result exceeds the objective that had been set for 2022.
“Thanks to the hard work accomplished by our employees, families and partners, SWLSB ranks among the best school boards/school service centres in the province,” the board said in a statement, adding that the new results place the SWLSB 9.5 per cent above the provincial public-school average.
“This accomplishment could not have been achieved without our amazing teachers and dedicated staff who work tirelessly, day in and day out to offer quality services to our students,” said the board’s chairman, Paolo Galati.
The Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board says it has reason to celebrate with the latest provincial performance ratings and results.
“Over the past years, we have been focused on our Commitment-to-Success plan, which is our roadmap to success. Our efforts have paid off,” said Galati.
The SWLSB said all SWLSB stakeholders played a key role in the collective success, by helping to prepare and implement the board’s “Commitment-to-Success Plan,” which was the result of an extensive public consultation.
“We are absolutely excited about this result which is a true testament to the importance of teamwork,” added Galati. “When we work together, there is no limit to what we can accomplish. ENGAGE-BUILD-ACHIEVE certainly takes on its full meaning with this impressive outcome.”
The current issue of the Laval News volume 29-38 published November 3rd , 2021. Covering Laval local news, politics, sports and our new section Mature Life. (Click on the image to read the paper.)
Front page of the Laval News, November 3rd, 2021 issue.
Police, high-schoolers played for the first time since start of pandemic last year
With new and easier measures for Covid prevention announced recently by the Quebec government, officers with the Laval Police Service finally got a chance last week to resume their friendly sporting activities with some Chomedey high-school students for the first time since the start of the pandemic early last year.
Friendly matches
SPL officers met at École secondaire Saint-Maxime on Lévesque Blvd. West to play volleyball, basketball and soccer in friendly but determined matches with the high-school students.
Dressed in shorts, sneakers and a sports top, SPL director Pierre Brochet joined them during the early afternoon for a fun game of basketball on a court on the grounds behind the school.
Curious onlookers
The lively and competitive activity was followed from the sidelines by spectators, including Saint-Maxime students and staff during class breaks, while sparking some curiosity among a few students about police work as a profession.
The weather was perfect for basketball on Wednesday last week when the sun was high in the sky and the air was crisp
According to LPD spokesperson Cst. Chantal Moreau, officers with the force had been getting together for similar sports-oriented events with students from Laval in the past, but had to stop in the spring of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic started.
“We’re in a position now to start over,” she said, noting that the students who were taking part were between the ages of 12 and 17.
Maybe other schools
Last week’s gathering which centered on basketball was just one of three sports events the police and the students were taking part in over a period of three days. They were also playing matches of volleyball and soccer.
Service de Police de Laval director Pierre Brochet (centre) was among the police management and staff who mingled with the Saint-Maxime students during a basketball match on the court behind the school. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)
As it turned out, the weather was perfect for basketball on Wednesday last week when the sun was high in the sky and the air was crisp. Cst. Moreau said the SPL officers had arranged only to play students from École secondaire Saint-Maxime, but added that “the door remains open” to other schools possibly also taking part in in the future.
United by three sports
Rhizlaine Chebani, a community liaison official at École secondaire Saint-Maxime, said the school administrators decided, after being consulted by the SPL, that since the school’s three most popular sports are basketball, volleyball and soccer, they could be the basis for some friendly play between the students and the police.
Cst. Moreau agreed that the three sports formed the perfect medium to bring together exuberant youths and the much older and staid adults. “They get to see us as police officers, but also more informally so they can also see that we are real people like them,” she said.
Quebec’s investigative Bureau des Enquêtes Indépendantes (BEI) has launched an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding a car chase last week involving the Laval Police Department, which ended with a crash and injuries near the corner of Cartier Blvd. and 70th Ave. in Chomedey.
At around 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday Oct. 20, officers from the LPD believed they had located a vehicle that had been reported stolen in a commercial parking lot on Curé-Labelle Blvd. earlier.
When the officers tried to stop the vehicle, the driver refused to stopo, according to the BEI. Following a brief chase that lasted around a minute, the driver of the car reportedly lost control and struck at least one parked vehicle and then a lamppost.
Seen here on the morning of Oct. 20 near the corner of 69th and 70th avenues. and Cartier Blvd. in Chomedey are the remains of the vehicle badly damaged during the brief police chase that took place near there around 1:30 am. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)
An 18-year-old female passenger was seriously injured in the collision, according to the investigators. The injured woman was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
In accordance with BEI protocols, the Sûreté du Québec is conducting a parallel investigation.
Working under the supervision of the BEI, SQ investigators are looking into the circumstances leading to the crash. Five BEI investigators were on the scene last week, assisted by the SQ.
70-something bicyclist dies following car collision
A bicycle rider in his mid-70s was declared dead following a road accident on Oct. 19 during which he was struck by a car around the Samson Blvd. overpass over Autoroute 13.
Around 5 pm, for reasons accident investigators were unable to explain, the cyclist had gone off the roadside bicycling path into the car lanes. Shortly after this, a woman in her 30s driving along struck the bicycle and its driver.
Although the victim was transported to hospital, he was declared dead by the end of the evening. The driver of the car was also treated for shock in hospital.
Stolen cars driven by Laval men recovered in eastern Ontario
In a recent news release, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said officers conducting a traffic stop intercepted a stolen vehicle, and that the investigation revealed that a male driver from Laval was in possession of a stolen 2019 Lexis SUV from Toronto.
Shortly after this, OPP officers stopped a second stolen SUV, a 2017 model from Toronto, being driven by an adult male. Both drivers were taken into custody.
According to a release issued by the Ontario provincial force, Jerry-Pierre Beau-Boeuf, 26, of Laval was arrested and charged with possession of property worth over $5000 obtained by crime.
The report said he was found to have been driving a motor vehicle without a license, while also failing to provide police with identification.
In the meantime, Jeanslee Alexis, 25, also of Laval, was arrested and charged with possession of property worth more than $5000 obtained by crime.
He was charged with driving a motor vehicle without a driver’s licence, and failing to provide identification.
Both accused were released from custody and are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Alexandria, Ontario on Dec.1.
Conservative think tank chooses a Liberal government’s strategy as an example to emulate
Fundamental reform of Canada’s health care system should start by following the example of changes made in the 1990s when former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien’s Liberal government removed strings attached to federal welfare funding and the provinces got more flexibility and autonomy, concludes a new study released last week by the Fraser Institute.
Canada poor to moderate
“COVID-19 has exacerbated two of the most important ongoing public policy challenges facing Canada: the deterioration of government finances and the comparative underperformance of our health care system,” said Ben Eisen, senior fellow at the Fraser Institute.
The co-author of ‘Less Ottawa, More Province, 2021: How Decentralized Federalism Is Key to Health Care Reform’ noted in his study that despite high spending levels in Canada, compared to other universal health care countries, this country’s performance has been poor to moderate on most measures.
Reforming health care
According to the institute, Canada ranks fifth-highest out of 28 universal health care countries examined in terms of age-adjusted health care expenditures per capita, as well as 26th for physicians, 14th for nurses, 25th for acute care beds, and 24th for psychiatric care beds per thousand population on an age-adjusted basis.
Despite the institute’s well-known politically-conservative leaning (it does not accept grants from governments), its study highlighted successes emerging from the Liberal Party of Canada’s Chrétien-era welfare reforms, which the Fraser Institute claims are providing a blueprint for health-care reforms today.
Welfare budgets were high
The Fraser Institute notes that in 1994, more than 10 per cent of Canadians – over 3.1 million people – were on welfare, and it was at that time consuming large portions of provincial budgets. So, as part of its deficit reduction plan, the federal government cut federal welfare transfers to the provinces while also eliminating most strings attached to the funding, thus spurring innovation and reform by the individual provinces.
The institute goes on to note that as reforms were subsequently introduced by the provinces, particularly programs like workfare and limiting benefits periods for employable people, the proportion of Canadians on welfare dropped to less than five per cent, while welfare spending as a share of provincial program spending had dropped to less than four per cent by 2008.
Chrétien still active
“Cutting the strings attached to the health-care transfers from Ottawa – as the Chrétien government did with welfare – while maintaining the principles of universality and portability, would free the provinces to experiment and reform health-care delivery and financing,” suggested Eisen.
For his own part, Jean Chrétien, who served as Prime Minister from 1993 to 2003 and is now 87, is still partly active from the sidelines in Canadian politics, commenting to journalists who seek him out from time to time for reactions to the current Trudeau Liberal government’s policies and actions.
Critical of Trudeau Liberals
In a televised interview with CBC TV last weekend, Chrétien said the government should have moved earlier to resolve the issue of the detention of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor who were kept under arrest in China for three years and were tried and found guilty of espionage.
“They should have moved earlier,” he said regarding the Trudeau government’s handling of the situation. Chrétien’s comments came as he was in the midst of promoting a new book, My Stories, My Times, Vol. 2, in which he contends, among other things, that the standoff with China was a political problem and not a legal one.
Says China has changed
On the other hand, Chrétien acknowledged that China had changed since the time he led Canada and this played a role in the Trudeau government’s reaction to the crisis.
Welfare spending by provinces dropped to less than four per cent by 2008 after the federal cuts, says the institute
“We had disagreements, but now they have become a power, and they’re playing as a power,” he said.
He suggested that the Trudeau government might have done better with China had it reached out to the older generation of Liberals like himself for advice, while insisting he wasn’t passing judgment on the current government’s way of doing things.
Montreal Sexual Assault Centre launches a re-branded Sexual Violence Helpline
A province-wide 24-hour phone referral service for victims of sexual violence was given a new name and an official send-off last week, refocusing attention on a problem that continues to impact women, but also increasingly men, children and the elderly.
Deborah Trent, director of the Montreal Sexual Assault Centre (MSAC), announced the new name of the Sexual Violence Helpline during a webconference held in conjunction with representatives from other similarly-mandated organizations.
‘One victim too many’
Previously known as the Provincial Helpline for Victims of Sexual Assault, the renamed Sexual Violence Helpline has been operating 24/7 for more than 10 years thanks to a partnership with the Quebec Justice Ministry.
According to the MSAC, the rebranding takes place as the helpline continues its mandate to provide assistance to a greater number of people affected by all forms of sexual violence. The group says in a press release that “every victim of sexual violence, no matter what form it takes, is one victim too many.”
Cases are increasing
“Reported cases of cyber violence and sexual exploitation have only increased in recent years,” said Deborah Trent, director of the MSAC. “Sexual violence is pervasive. We were initially mandated to help people who had been sexually assaulted, but we quickly adapted our services to respond to calls related to harassment, cyber violence and particularly sexual exploitation.
Clockwise from the top left, Mylène Gauthier, Coordinator of the Provincial Helpline for Victims of Sexual Assault at the Montreal Sexual Assault Centre, webconference moderator Véronique Saumure, Deborah Trent, Director and Spokesperson for the Montreal Sexual Assault Centre and Roxanne Ocampo, Communications Officer for the Regroupement québécois des Centres d’aide et de lutte contre les agressions à caractère sexuel, are seen here during the web launch of the Sexual Violence Helpline.
“Having been in operation for over 10 years, our team of telephone counsellors is on the front lines, providing support in both French and English across Quebec. When the need for support arises, whether for sexual violence that occurred recently or in the past, the source for resources is always available.”
Getting the message out
According to the MSAC, too many people in the greater Montreal region are still unaware of the existence of the Sexual Assault Helpline. They say that people from all walks of life, no matter where they are in the province, should have access to this kind of support as quickly and as efficiently as possible.
The organization feels that the new branding, combined with an increased presence in the digital sphere – particularly on social media – will allow more people to find their way more easily to the help offered by the Sexual Violence Helpline when it is needed.
“For us, the issue is not to encourage victims of sexual violence to follow a specific path, but rather to ensure that they are welcomed, listened to and supported every step of the way, no matter what path they choose,” said Roxanne Ocampo of the Regroupement québécois des CALACS (Centre d’aide et de lutte contre les agressions à caractère sexuel).
Leaving no one behind
“To do this, there must be adequate specialized resources and services to serve the entire territory, with particular attention given to the specific needs of marginalized people. To be able to respond in a way that respects the reality of each survivor, collaboration such as that between CALACS and the Sexual Violence Helpline is essential. We are all working towards the same goal: ensuring that no victim of sexual violence gets left behind.”
The two groups say that the last few years have demonstrated beyond a doubt that thousands of people across the province still need support services to deal with sexual violence. Many organizations and specialized services are available to help these individuals regain control of their lives.
Finding the resources
They say what is needed now is to promote the Sexual Violence Helpline as the starting point for resources that can help steer victims towards services adapted to their needs. The team, which is specially trained to work with victims of sexual violence, is made up of nearly 20 counsellors who serve the general public and are capable of meeting new challenges.
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the Sexual Violence Helpline is anonymous, confidential, free of charge and bilingual. The line is open to anyone affected by sexual violence, regardless of age or gender, including victims, their loved ones, counsellors, people in doubt, as well as the general public.
The service is managed by the MSAC and is mandated and funded by the Ministère de la Justice du Québec. The Sexual Violence Helpline’s phone number remains unchanged: 1-888-933-9007.
Transit agency says essential services will be maintained on strike days
Management at the Société de transport de Laval says it finds unacceptable the recent decision by its unionized bus drivers to go out on strike on Nov. 2, 15 and 26, while mediation is still underway.
“This action, especially during a pandemic, has as a consequence that it is depriving the clientele of an irreplaceable, efficient and low-cost service,” the STL said in a statement.
Maintain essential services
The STL said it wants to reassure transit users that essential services will be maintained at adequate levels. The public transit agency says it will be taking means to assure that the union honors its legal obligations to provide essential service, as defined in provincial law.
The STL said it is currently working on a draft schedule of bus services, which will be deployed when service interruptions become imminent.
STI Logo
The transit agency also noted that given the current budget restraints brought on by a decline in ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is facing tough economic realities.
Other agreements reached
Among other things, the STL recently reached new collective agreements with its maintenance and office employees. The company said the terms of the agreements were similar to those presented to the drivers’ union, which has so far turned down the offer.
“The rebooting of public transit, in which we are trying to reestablish ridership and the revenues of the STL to levels seen before the pandemic, should be an occasion to work cooperatively with our drivers to improve the client experience and encourage the population to opt for public transit in the struggle against road traffic and climactic changes,” said the STL’s management.
‘We appreciate being recognized by the industry, said STL president Éric Morasse
The Société de transport de Laval (STL) is proud to be the recipient of a special mention at the Jalon Mobility Award in the Energy efficiency and electrification category, which it earned for the commissioning its electric buses.
Another first for STL
The STL was presented with the award on Oct. 22, during a gala hosted by Jalon Montréal, an organization focused on accelerating the use of innovative sustainable and intelligent mobility solutions.
With this first commissionning on such a large scale of 100 per cent electric buses in Quebec, the STL achieved a major milestone in the electrification of its fleet and other resources.
Reducing GHGs
Laval residents and riders became the first to enjoy a new generation of long-range electric buses, which are gradually being rolled out on the network to provide quieter and greener public transit.
A leader in transit electrification since 2012, the STL says it stands committed to reducing its GHG emissions by 45 per cent by 2028.
Much appreciated
“We appreciate being recognized by the industry for an initiative we are especially proud of,” said STL board president Éric Morasse.
“This project proves to stakeholders in public transit, and in other industry sectors, the feasibility of using low GHG emission vehicles, thus helping to develop Quebec expertise in transportation electrification.”
Among most innovative
The STL develops and operates an integrated network consisting of buses, school transport, shared taxis and paratransit transport, which together combine for more than 19 million transit trips per year. The STL’s regular bus network consists of 47 routes, some 2,700 stops and covers over 1,500 kilometres across the City of Lavalès territory. The STL considers itself to be among the most innovative transit authorities in North America.
During public meetings held by the City of Laval’s executive-committee on Oct. 13 and 20, the members voted to provide subsidies to a Laval-based volunteer centre and food bank, as well as to approve support by the city for copyright licensing agreements in order to pay composers and musicians for the use of their lyrics and music.
Subsidy for volunteer centre/food bank
During the Oct. 13 session, the executive-committee members decided to award a $31,175 subsidy to the Centre de bénévolat et moisson Laval.
According to city officials, the decision took into account the direct impact that the Covid pandemic had on the most disadvantaged people in Laval, who from one day to the next in the past year-and-a-half often found themselves without income or with drastically reduced revenues.
Since January this year, according to the city, the municipal administration has disbursed $151,325 in subsidies to the Centre de bénévolat et moisson Laval.
Music authors’ and composers’ rights
In a separate issue during the Oct. 20 meeting by the executive-committee, the members dealt with the question of paying royalties to composers and musicians who own the rights to music or song lyrics they created.
Professionals in the domain had approached the city to work out an agreement whereby their rights would be recognized, and they would be compensated for music used especially during City of Laval recreational activities, as well as on municipal communications systems.
As a result, the executive-committee members voted to approve licensing agreements between the City of Laval and the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) and Ré: Sonne (Sound Music Licensing Company) in order to legalize the use of the music in question by the city during 2020-2024.
The licensing fee amounts to $114,975 (taxes included). The agreement with SOCAN is for five years and is retroactive to Jan. 1 2020. The agreement also takes into account the pandemic years 2020 and 2021.
The city noted that by using the services of a third authors’ rights organization, Entandem, as the mandate-holder collecting and paying out the royalties for the other two, made it easier for the city to obtain a license based on terms set down Canadian copyright law.
Executive-committee members
The City of Laval’s executive-committee meets each week to make decisions on a variety of issues. The executive-committee includes the following people: Mayor Marc Demers, vice-president Stéphane Boyer (also councillor for Duvernay–Pont-Viau) councillors Sandra Desmeules (Concorde–Bois-de-Boulogne), Ray Khalil (Sainte-Dorothée), Virginie Dufour (Sainte-Rose) and associate member Nicholas Borne (Laval-les-Îles).
The Éco-Nature team is proud to announce that this year, the recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Quebec for Outstanding Merit is Mr. Jean Lauzon, co-founder and Director of Development of Éco-Nature, the organization responsible for the management of Parc de la Rivière-desMille-Îles. The official handover took place on Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 11 a.m. at the Exploration Centre of the Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles.
The Honourable J. Michel Doyon, Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, presented this medal to Mr. Lauzon in recognition of his involvement and dedication in the field of the environment, culture and recreational tourism.
Jean Lauzon has dedicated more than 35 years of his career to the protection and enhancement of the Laval region and the surrounding area. He has created strong alliances and negotiated several agreements, which have allowed Éco-Nature to carry out many projects.
Thanks to his work and perseverance, a park and a wildlife refuge were created on the Rivière des Mille Îles. The rehabilitation and protection of this river has not only facilitated the reintegration of many plant and animal species, but has also allowed the inhabitants of river communities to enjoy all the benefits of this natural environment. He is also the designer of several projects such as the recreational and utility transport project, ERRE ecomobility, the first phase of which was launched this summer.
“We are extremely pleased for Mr. Lauzon who deserves to be recognized for his many years of extraordinary work, especially on the eve of his well-deserved retirement. He has never stopped looking for ways to protect the environment and convince citizens to support him in his cause,” said Christine Métayer, Executive Director of Éco-Nature.
“I receive this distinction with humility and gratitude. I would like to share this medal for exceptional merit with all those who have contributed in any way to the mission of Eco-Nature over the past 35 years. Without them, I would not be the man I am today. “ revealed Jean Lauzon.
“Mr. Jean Lauzon is an example of commitment to his community. Throughout his life, he has shown remarkable leadership within the greater Laval community. His innovative spirit and dynamism have certainly had a positive influence on his fellow citizens. He has demonstrated an extraordinary social commitment for many organizations and has been able to ensure their development thanks to his vision of the future, simple and fair. His commitment to the protection and enhancement of the Thousand Islands River is admirable. “ said the Honourable J. Michel Doyon.
Moreover, Mr. Lauzon is the recipient of several honorary awards, including a special mention in the Individual category at the 2021 Heritage Action Awards, the medal of the National Assembly of Quebec in 2018 and the title of “Guardian of water” in 2017 by the Conseil des bassins versants des Mille-Îles, because of his involvement in the community and his dedication to the cause of water. Although this is his last year before his retirement, he continues to dedicate himself body and soul to the mission of the organization.
