As a result of innovative work by the Chief of Neurosurgery at the Jewish General Hospital (JGH), which is part of the CIUSSS West-Central Montreal, patients can now benefit from the least invasive surgery possible. 

“I’m delighted to finally be able to use spinal endoscopy to treat my patients,” said Dr. Jeff Golan. “I used to have to refer them to my colleagues in the United States. But from now on, my patients can benefit from this procedure here free of charge.” 

Spinal endoscopy is a surgical technique that requires only a small incision in the patient’s side for the placement of a tiny tube 7 mm in diameter. Once the tube is near the spine, the surgeon can insert the surgical instruments through the tube and perform the procedure. The doctor can see what’s going on thanks to a miniature camera and an X-ray machine. 

This technology has many advantages. For patients, endoscopic surgery can be done under local anaesthesia, entails a shorter convalescence than conventional techniques and results in much less postoperative pain. 

“When Dr. Golan offered me spinal endoscopy, I didn’t hesitate to choose that option to get my herniated disc repaired,” said Jennifer Orr, one of the first five patients to benefit from this innovation in Quebec. “Today, I’m back to my normal life. I’m back at work and I can go hiking with no back pain.” 

Spinal endoscopy takes less time than other operations. And because patients can go home two hours later, they don’t need to be hospitalized. 

“By introducing spinal endoscopy at the JGH—and being the first to do so in Quebec—we are demonstrating, once again, our commitment to providing healthcare users with access to the latest treatments,” says Dr. Lawrence Rosenberg, President and CEO of CIUSSS West-Central Montreal. “Members of our staff embrace innovation and continually strive to be up to date on any new evidence-based developments in order to restore an individual’s quality of life and well-being.” 

Dr. Golan thinks he’ll be able to operate on as many as 150 patients a year using this technique

Martin C. Barry

With some of the richest agricultural soil in Quebec located on a large swath of its territory, the City of Laval plans to expand a marketing program for locally-grown produce to large grocery stores, according to a member of the executive-committee at city hall.

Focus on local

While many Laval residents were on vacation in mid-July, officials from the city as well as from grassroots community groups gathered in a green space near the Cartier Metro station to mark the opening of a small open-air market that will be selling locally-grown fruits and vegetables there for the rest of the summer.

This is the second year for the Halte du marché, although the first time that it’s located near the Cartier Metro stop. In its first year, it was set up temporarily in a spot along des Prairies Blvd. near des Laurentides Blvd.

Open until October

The concept was developed with financial assistance from Saveurs de Laval and additional support from several community groups including the Association des popotes roulantes de Laval, Enfant d’Abord and Au panier.

The outdoor space was set up by the city in conjunction with La Pépinière Espaces collectifs and will be open until Oct. 18 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2:30 pm to 7 pm.

Expansion foreseen

Operated by Écomarché Cartier, the outdoor market will be selling fresh fruits and vegetables as well as artisanal baked goods, organic honey and other products. Small shows and events are also scheduled to take place there at various times over the remainder of the summer.

“We want to try to enlarge this project so as to take it to other areas of Laval also near Metro stations and transit hubs,” said Alexandre Sicard-Roche, a community organizer who has been overseeing the progress of the project. He said that in the coming years they hope to expand with additional outlets.

Prime farm territory

“One of the big advantages we have in Laval is that we have some of the most fertile land in Quebec,” said Sainte-Dorothée city councillor Ray Khalil, who sits on the executive-committee, while also chairing the city’s Agricultural Consultative Committee (CCA).

“There are different factors to our initiatives, and one of them is bringing agriculture closer to the people,” he added. “At the same time we have very strong economic and urban development in Laval, we have the advantage of being able to combine both.

Close to the land

“The farmers of Laval have the advantage of being so close to the people who live here,” said Khalil. “A lot of them have kiosks right in front of their farms where you can go and buy fresh strawberries and raspberries. People love it. It’s one of the beautiful things about living in Laval and we have to maximize this advantage.”

Although produce grown in Laval has always been available from roadside kiosks, Khalil said the city is working on a strategy to see local fruits and vegetables distributed and sold in the region’s grocery stores as well. “It’s something we’ve been working on for a couple of years and we hope to make an announcement in due time,” he said.

A place to socialize

Laval city councillor for Duvernay/Pont-Viau Stéphane Boyer, who also sits on the executive-committee, said he is pleased with the way the Halte du marché project has been developing.

“This project is in response to a need that was expressed by citizens of the sector,” he said. “The Halte du marché, in addition to offering fresh foods, will also encourage gatherings, discussions and sharing, all of which are good for the revitalization of the neighbourhood.”

(TLN) Mayor Marc Demers, accompanied by several members of city council and staffers from Laval’s economic development team, spent some time last week at Dynacare, a diagnostic and medical tracking company that has branches all over Canada.

Dynacare Laval general manager Yvan Côté and Scott Hickey from Headquarters in Brampton, ON gave the mayor and his entourage a tour of Dynacare’s facilities, including the laboratories and the client service centre.

Discussions were also held on issues concerning the business and innovation in the field of sciences in Laval. Dynacare employs more than 60 people in its Laval lab, as well as at its three testing facilities.

The company evolved into its current incorporation partly as a result of its acquisition of Warnex, another company that started in Laval thanks to the support of the centre québécois d’innovation en biotechnologie (CQIB), located at the Cité de la Biotech.

On June 20th 2019, Agape Executive Director Kevin McLeod was happy to receive a cheque from Chomedey MNA Guy Oullette in the amount of $10,000.

This money goes towards Agape’s 2019-2020 efforts in offering various services to vulnerable families including Quebec newcomers. 

Among it’s many mandates, projects and services, the non-profit organization offers over 1,500 food baskets to Laval residents each year along with much furniture, toy and clothing distribution.

“Thanks to the ongoing support of people like Mr. Ouellette, Agape can continue to offer it’s services across Laval.” McLeod said.