(TLN) Laval’s city councillors have officially
approved the nomination of a new assistant director-general for the city. She
is Suzie Bélanger.
Bélanger holds a Bachelor’s degree in business and
administration, with emphasis on operations management. Among other things, she
has held management positions with the federal government.
Known for
efficiency
According to the city, Bélanger
has a reputation for completing
large projects efficiently. The city says that optimizing and modernizing
administrative procedures are among her key abilities.
In her new responsibilities, she will be actively
taking part in the strategic and operational planning for office services. She
has been given a mandate to make the City of Laval’s central administration
more efficient.
Cyclists seen off by Mayor Demers and Olympic medalist Bruny Surin
(TLN)
On Sept. 15, the fifth annual Laval à vélo cycling event drew more than 2,500
enthusiasts for the sport to take part under sunny skies.
Families,
couples and singles all came out to the eastern end of Laval to cycle over one
of four circuits that were available: the 20-kilometres, the 40-kilometre grand
tour, the 60-kilometre mega-tour and the 80-kilometre complete tour.
The
cyclists who set off from a starting point on the edge of Laval’s Centre de la nature were accompanied by Laval mayor
Marc Demers, as well as the event’s official spokesperson, Olympic track and
field gold medalist Bruny Surin who is a Chomedey resident.
2019 marks the year Dunton Rainville will celebrate its 65th anniversary. Founded in 1954 under the name Beaudoin, Riel, the firm became Dunton Rainville in 1988, after integrating several other firms. Today, Dunton Rainville employs 225 people in six offices across Quebec. The firm plans to mark this important milestone with various activities for its clients and employees with the theme “65 years of passion”.
“We are particularly proud to have ensured the sustainability of our organization over the years, given the highly competitive environment in which the legal services industry operates. We have grown at the pace of the business world,” explains Jean-Jacques Rainville, Chairman of the firm’s Board of Directors.
Me Rainville believes that Dunton Rainville has succeeded in staying the
course and remaining in an enviable position thanks to its fundamental values, client
loyalty, sustained business development and responsible management.
“For 65 years, our
clients’ interests have remained the primary concern of each member of the
firm, consistent with our tradition of quality, dedication and competence. We
pay close attention to all of our clients, both individuals and companies or
institutions, at all times, providing them with optimal, creative and
competitively priced legal solutions, according to their needs,” he adds.
The Chairman also
believes that it is thanks to its team of highly qualified professionals who
are driven by a desire to contribute to their clients’ success that the firm
has been able to meet the many challenges it has faced over the past 65 years.
The strength of their
passion and the unwavering commitment of each member of the firm have always,
in his opinion, been the driving force behind its success. “We have always
relied on talented people and people with heart. Our predecessors were great jurists.
Their strategic vision for the future has been critical to our success and they
have ensured Dunton Rainville an enviable reputation in the legal
community.
“We intend to pursue
our expansion by continuing to focus on remaining close to our clients. Our
objective is to maintain both the firm’s position at the top of the list of
Quebec firms and our commitment to our clients and the communities where we
operate. We are confident that with the support of our clients and each member
of our team, we will succeed,” he concluded.
About Dunton Rainville:
Dunton Rainville LLP is a firm of 225 people, including approximately 100 lawyers, notaries and labour relations advisors, who work in our Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, Joliette, Saint-Jérôme and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu offices. Our professionals have leading-edge expertise and the firm acts in all areas requiring legal services, particularly in commercial, banking and real estate matters, labour, employment and immigration law, public, municipal, education and health law, as well as civil, insurance, construction and family law. Dunton Rainville is a member of the global network of leading law firms, SCG Legal.
The current issue of the Laval News volume 27-18 published September 25th, 2019, (Laval’s English Newspaper) covers local events such as politics, sports and human-interest stories. It features editorials and other columns. Click on the image to read the paper.
Front page of Laval News, Vol. 27-18
September 25, 2019.
(TLN)
A major undertaking in active mobility was completed recently when the City of
Laval finished implementation of the 100th kilometre of cycling
paths created since 2014.
The
city has set itself an objective of creating 450 kilometres of bike paths
between now and 2031.
Benefits
from cycling
“The
issues of mobility, the environment and public health are enough to convince us
of the collective benefits of a permanent cycling network,” said Vasilios
Karidogiannis, councillor for L’Abord-à-Plouffe and responsible for the active
mobility dossier.
Of
the 100 kilometres of bike path work done since 2014, there are some important
ones that allow cyclists to reach downtown Laval securely, as well as Transit
Oriented Development (TOD) neighbourhoods and areas where there are
concentrations of employers.
A selection of bike
paths
The
bike paths include: The Oka-Mont Saint Hilaire path (143 kilometres long and
crossing 17 municipalities); the Saint-Martin Boulevard path, from 100th
Ave. in Chomedey to Pie-IX Boulevard in Laval’s east end; the Dagenais
Boulevard path, from Autoroute 13 to René-Laennec Blvd.; the Le Corbusier Boulevard path; and the Daniel
Johnson Boulevard path.
Some facts about Laval and cycling: There are more
than 230,000 cyclists in Laval and nearly 260 kilometres of bicycling paths;
and 37 kilometres of the paths are part of the provincial Route verte bike path
system.
Pictured here with this year’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch 251 donation cheque are Eric Larsen, Ana Falco, Patricia Piche and Roger Nowlan.
Martin C. Barry
On Sept. 15, members of the Royal Canadian Legion’s
Branch 251 in Chomedey announced the donation of a cheque in the amount of
$3,000, collected by the branch during last year’s RCL poppy campaign, to the
Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital.
“Every year we donate to a different cause,” said Shannon
Westlake, second vice- president/membership/poppy chairperson at RCL Branch
251. “This time around it happened to be the Jewish Rehab.”
Donation for aquabike
According
to Westlake, the JRH will be using the money to purchase an aquabike, which is
an exercise device that will allow JRH patients to enjoy the benefits of a
cardiovascular workout from pedaling on a bicycle while also drawing low-impact
benefits from being in the water.
Westlake
said the donation to the JRH seemed particularly appropriate this year as
several members of the legion branch found themselves in need and requiring the
JRH’s services.
“We
had some members who had strokes this year and they passed through the
hospital,” she said. “They realized that the hospital was in need of one of
these aquabikes for rehabilitation.”
Stroke rehab work
She
said JRH patients who use the aquabike will be able to strengthen their legs
while recovering from disabling strokes.
Every
year, from the end of October to Nov. 10 (the day before Remembrance Day), RCL Branch
251 members conduct their poppy campaign. According to Westlake, this year’s
poppy campaign will be starting on Oct. 25.
Poppy campaign coming
“We’ll
be going out and asking for donations for the little red poppies that we offer,”
she said. “And then whatever is donated we use to give back to the community.
Sometimes we have given money to Cadets from the area. Other times we have
given money to a hospital.
“We
do whatever we can with whatever money we raise,” she continued. “The people
who are offering the poppies and those donating money for them every year
deserve to know that their money is going to a good cause.”
Recent published revelations, by journalist Bernard Drainville, of leaks from anonymous government sources pointing to the retention of English school boards by the Legault administration, even if it’s just the preservation of the elected dimension of these boards, have done little to dispel people’s concerns over the nagging problem of dysfunctional school boards, such as English Montreal (EMSB). Public debate, in recent months, has been dominated by a widely held and articulately expressed view that if the English school boards are indeed to be retained, they will require major internal reforms and modifications of practices, specified in law, as to how they will function.
In a telephone interview with The Laval News (TLN), Christopher Skeete – Sainte-Rose (Laval) MNA and Parliamentary Assistant to Premier Legault for Relations with English-Speaking Quebecers, expressed alarm and disappointment over the unsubstantiated leaks from the anonymous sources revealing that the government intends to retain the elected dimension of Quebec’s nine English school boards. Mr. Skeete reaffirmed that the Projet de loi, which is soon to be deposited in the National Assembly, will have provisions for general internal reforms for all of Quebec’s 72 school boards, implying that the plan is to abolish elections for the 60 French boards, and three multi-language boards. He said he could not specify what the internal reforms would entail, but he did confirm that some form of the Service Center model would definitely come into play for all school boards, French, English or other.
“The Council of Ministers is being duly consulted. We have a pretty good idea of where we’re going,” said Mr. Skeete, adding that the Bill is presently being tabled, and thus he could not comment on what it will eventually look like in its final form, although he did say that no (official) definitive public statement has been made as to where the government is going with its intention to enact school board reform.
Affirmation
of the rights of the English community
Mr. Skeete spoke optimistically about the work-in-progress for school board reforms currently being conducted by Education Minister Jean-François Roberge, but expressed serious concerns over the negative fall-out from the recent anonymous revelations.
“The conclusions drawn are very distressing and there’s lots of speculation. People think they’re getting shafted. Our intention is to respect the English community. There’s discussion with various English community groups concerning the make-up of the (proposed) service centers and their operation,” Mr. Skeete specified, summing up, in a nutshell, that “universal suffrage (elections) is of great importance to the community, we’ll guarantee the best results for our kids.”
Asked about the current crisis at the English Montreal School Board (EMSB), Mr. Skeete pointed out that Education Minister Roberge’s investigation was a long time coming, but is totally unrelated to the Projet de loi aimed at school board reform in general.
School Board reform, whatever form it takes, is essential to the proper governance of 2,670 public schools – 1,895 primary, 576 general or professional secondary, 199 combined primary/secondary. Billions of dollars are pumped into these schools, not to mention the sizable number of semi-private schools also generously funded, in part, by the public purse.
Seen in the photo (from bottom to top, left to right) are Pierre Bouthillier, architect, Bergeron Bouthillier Architectes; Mélanie Tremblay, general manager Loisirs Ste-Dorothée & Espace Famille Ste-Dorothée; Mayor Marc Demers; Samuel Bélanger, representing Espace famille Sainte-Dorothée; Sainte-Dorothée city councillor Ray Khalil; Mélissa Giroux, general manager Maison des jeunes de Sainte-Dorothée; Sylvie Pilon, president Maison des jeunes Ste-Dorothée; Suzanne Lepage, president Club de l’âge d’or Ste-Dorothée; Lyne Labrecque, president Chœur Ste-Dorothée; Natalie Lamarche, president Loisirs Ste-Dorothée & Espace Famille Ste-Dorothée; and Claire Proulx, president Cercle des Fermières Ste-Dorothée.
(TLN)
There’s a new community centre now to serve residents of Laval’s Sainte-Dorothée
area. Located at 996 Montée Gravel, Mayor Marc Demers was there with members of
council last week to officially open it.
The building cost the City of Laval nearly $7 million.
It was built in response to a growing demand for community services for the
expanding population of Sainte-Dorothée.
Space for
everyone
The new centre has a dance hall, a multipurpose room
and a community kitchen. Spaces have also been set up to accommodate the Maison
des Jeunes de Sainte-Dorothée as well as activities for early childhood.
In
addition, the building is wheelchair accessible. The city is currently waiting
for an expected LEED Gold certification for the building’s environmental
integrity.
(TLN)
Several elected officials and police officers from the Laval Police Department
met on Sept. 6 at the Eureka School in Laval to draw attention to the safety of
students during the back-to-school period.
A
campaign supported by the city and the police is called “Débarque-moi au bon
endroit” (Let Me Off in the Right Spot). The police were on hand to hand out
courtesy “good driving” tickets to motorists passing through the area while
following all the rules of the road properly.
Mayor
Marc Demers was accompanied by Laval Police chief Pierre Brochet, Commission
scolaire de Laval president Louise Lortie, Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board
president Paolo Galati, Eureka School principal Amélie Fortin, Laval city councillor responsible for youth issues
Aline Dib, Auteuil city councillor Jocelyne Frédéric-Gauthier, Laval Police officer Lyne Chartier and Eureka School
students Philémon Henry-Fortin and Samar Ethéart,
élèves.
The festive and free gathering featured shows, activities, a teen zone, inflatable structures and colourful characters.
Martin C. Barry
Thousands of moms, dads and children from all over
Laval observed an annual ritual that has become associated with the end of summer
when they went to the city’s Centre de la Nature on Sunday during Labour Day
weekend to have fun at the Fête de la Famille.
Family
took front stage – even if there was no mistaking for even a moment that the
day belonged to the kids – at the festive and free gathering that featured
shows, activities, a teen zone, inflatable structures and colourful
characters.
During the all-day event, the
Centre de la nature was transformed into a vast amusement park that also
featured interactive shows and workshops, makeup artists, clowns magicians and
much more.
Canadian track and field gold medalist Bruny Surin (second from left) is seen here with promoters of the City of Laval’s Laval à Vélo biking event during the Fête de la Famille on Labour Day weekend.
Olympic
great Bruny Surin
For some, one of the highlights early on in the day
was a chance to meet Canadian Olympic track and field gold medalist Bruny
Surin. While greeting parents and children, the 100-metre dash record holder
(who is a Chomedey resident) was also promoting the fifth annual Laval à
Vélo bike rally taking place on Sunday Sept. 15.
“I am so pleasantly surprised to see so many people
here today,” Surin said in an interview with The Laval News. “We are very lucky
to have such nice weather today. Nice to see so many families have come out
today for this event.”
Surin won a gold medal in the 4×100
metres relay at the 1996 Atlanta U.S.A. Summer Olympics. He is also
one of the select few track and field athletes to have broken the 10-second
barrier many times.
