The current issue of the Laval News volume 27-24 published December 18th, 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.
Renata Isopo
There are shopping extravaganzas and buying sprees of legendary reputation that defy the mind’s eye, but as incredible as it sounds, these experiences would pale when going up against the PopUp2 Shop held this past weekend in downtown Laval.
Conceived, organized and presented to the community by the dynamic duo of Angelia Mantis and Claudia Valiante, the first-ever shopping event of this type on Laval island featured 60 vendors in a classy setting that transformed Laval’s Palace Convention Center into a veritable shopping mall, alas only for the day. But a day of days it was for about 1200 Lavallers who turned up to feast their eyes on anything the shopping heart might desire.
In time for Christmas, the well-balanced inventory included brand clothing for all, exclusive jewelry fit for royalty, seductive footwear, cosmetics, sweets, hand-made huggable animals for tots, natural foods, and more – all of it a delightful expression of festive offerings catching eyes, striking senses, and daring pocketbooks to empty their contents in a gift-gathering adventure second to none.
To describe the ambience as anything less than irresistible would do no justice to the care and nurturing that the organizers invested in this first, of what they announced will be, many future gatherings of this magnitude – unique, theme-oriented mobile malls for Lavallers and beyond.
“When companies like PopUp2 create great shopping experiences, people want to share those experience with others,” Angela Mantis told TLN in an on-sight late-afternoon interview amid the buzz that filled the hall from wall to wall. “Digital marketing facilitates sharing and turns shopping into social activity,” she added, in appreciation of the sizeable turn-out that made the event a resounding success.
“Social media devotees can be influencers for brands. On-line access has opened the floodgates for word of mouth advertising via product reviews. People trust reviews more than they trust what brands themselves are saying,” said Rosy D’Aversa, vendor/creator of hand-made baby clothing, and special occasion arts and crafts, with partner and daughter Amanda.
The Internet has changed the way consumers shop, even for those who do not regularly buy online, now search online prices, product specifications, and availability before heading to malls. Retailers recognize that the internet is transforming the way customers shop, re-shaping savvy shoppers’ habits. More consumers shop from home, unrestricted by store opening times.
“Consumers today rely on others’ opinions for guidance, and they want immediate access to reviews,” said Claudia Valiante. “We have great stores right here today. People love the concept. Everyone is joyfully leaving with lots of bags.”
Several PopUp2 shoppers extolled the virtues of the mobile mall, summing up its advantages as fulfilling the need to see, touch, and handle merchandise as part of the buying experience, as well as enjoying on-the-spot availability, not having to wait for delivery.
“Shopping habits will continue to evolve with technology, and companies will have to continue to adapt to maintain relevance,” said Mrs. Mantis. “This is the raison d’étre for this exceptional shopping event,” first of many more to come for all occasions, added partner Valiante.
Regardless of preferred marketing channel, in PopUp2 these entrepreneurial young women have created a Christmas/holiday idea to add sparkle to holiday strategy. “The vendors aren’t here to compete, they’re here supporting each other,” assured Mrs. Valiante. “In fact, due to overflow response, we had to turn away 40 businesses that wanted to participate.”
Jewelry vendor Georgia Varoutsos said the event effectively promotes brands and retail since the venue is centrally located. “Angelia and Claudia did an incredible job, and I certainly would participate again if opportunity permits.”
Super busy host/DJ Anthony Dagger entertained excited shoppers from opening to closing. “Twelve hundred people reserved, and more kept coming and touring the huge hall checking out purchases. His electrifying voice roused the crowd, generating great excitement with upbeat music. “The shoppers were unstoppable, popping up from all directions.”
The Mantis/Valente partnership thought of everything, including the presence of trauma emergency nurse Melanie Jade who can do tests without prescription. “You never know if there are allergic reactions to a food or candy in these events, that’s why I’m here.”
Nadia Saputo, daughter of entrepreneur Lino Saputo, was present to sell her cook book, In the Kitchen with Nadia.” Known as Chef Mom, Saputo said all proceeds would go to Emma, a child suffering from leukemia, whose family has no income; the proceeds would help the family cover their expenses. The book, at $30, has sold over 2000 copies, 70 at PopUp2.
“Katherine Karambelas jewelry designs earned global presence making its way to some famous and inspiring ladies such as Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, Mitsou Gelinas, Christine Cho, Maria Guzzo, and other celebrities,” Katherine proudly stated. “We were very successful at this PopUp2, busy all day, and, yes, we would do it again.”Donations from gift wrapping were earmarked for the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada. The Foundation grants wishes of Canadian children with life-threatening illnesses. Communications coordinator Marie Claude Murray told TLN in a telephone interview that eight volunteers of the Foundation assisted at PopUp2. Children’s Wish is committed to never refusing the wish of eligible children, ages 3 to 17. “We thank the community for giving their support,” stated Mrs. Murray.
(TLN) The City of Laval’s executive-committee took a number of decisions during public meetings held on Nov. 13 and 20, including decisions about the multifunctional sports and cultural centre (Place Bell), the volunteer recognition evening and new infrastructure for pedestrians and bicyclists over the next three years.
During the Nov. 13 meeting, the executive-committee received a statement of finances from the Cité de la culture et du sport de Laval which oversees Place Bell. According to the executive-committee, there were no irregularities in the report completed by an auditor.
The executive-committee decided to accept a recommendation made by city council that the annual volunteers’ banquet be made a “zero waste” event beginning in the year 2020. As such, the city’s culture, leisure, sports and social development service will be mandated to make this a reality in conjunction with the city’s department of environment and eco-citizenship.
During the executive-committee’s Nov. 20 meeting, the members approved a plan by the city to implement a major plan to add 55 kilometres of new sidewalks, bicycle paths, pedestrian walkways and other infrastructure in Laval over the next three years.
The following streets in Laval have been chosen to be part of the plan: Esther St. (between Foster and Dagenais); Panneton St. (between 9th and 12th); Chomedey Blvd. (between CHSLD de Laval and Saint Elzéar West); Daniel Johnson Blvd. (between Jacques Bureau and Saint Elzéar West); La Périère St. (between Montée du Moulin and Tilly); Déry St. (between Romain and Adrien); Bédard St. (between de Trèves and Saint Elzéar East); De Trèves St. (between Bédard and Capitol); Adrien St. (between Déry and du Moulin); De Tilly St. (between du Moulin and la Périère); and Boisvert St. (between de Trèves and Saint Elzéar).
In order to allow this work to go ahead, the executive-committee agreed to hire the services of FNX-INNOV INC. for a contract worth $69,575.90 before taxes.
(TLN) In the municipal by-election which took place in the district of Marc-Aurèle-Fortin on Nov. 24, Parti Laval leader Michel Trottier succeeded in winning the seat with more than 35 per cent support.
Mouvement lavallois candidate Bruny Surin came second, Action Laval candidate Francine LeBlanc finished third and Progrès Laval candidate Gabriel Vellone was in last place.
“Firstly, I would like to congratulate Michel Trottier for his victory, as well as Bruny Surin and Gabriel Vellone for their campaigns,” said LeBlanc. “It was a very tight fight. I am proud of the positive campaign I made which was in line with my values. I now wish that Mr. Trottier will serve the people of the district with care and that he will be listening to their needs.”
Action Laval interim-leader Archie Cifelli thanked LeBlanc, as well as all the volunteers and team members with Action Laval, for their hard work on the campaign.
“The results are obviously not the ones we were hoping for,” he said. “However, two thirds of the voters rejected the vision of Marc Demers and his followers, and this motivates us to work even harder in order to become the true voice of all people in Laval.
“One thing is certain,” Cifelli continued. “The voters in Marc-Aurèle-Fortin sent a strong message to the mayor, to the effect they no longer want his bad management.” Regarding Trottier, Cifelli added, “We will be watching to make sure he delivers the merchandise and we will continue to vigorously defend the interests of citizens. This is our big priority.”
Martin C. Barry
A refusal by the Laval mayor Marc Demers’ administration to release some recent survey results has prompted Laval’s second opposition party to denounce the mayor’s actions as “partisan,” “secretive” and contrary to residents’ interests.
The claims stem from a Laval city council public meeting on Sept. 10 when the 21 city councillors had been expected to express themselves on the City of Laval’s new parking policy for the emerging downtown area.
However, according to Action Laval, the results of a major public consultation conducted by the city among residents and service users from the downtown core area were not available.
The administration maintained at the time that the results couldn’t be immediately revealed to council members as the results contained privileged information that could jeopardize municipal revenues.
As a result, former Laval city councillor for Laval-des-Rapides Pierre Anthian filed a complaint with the Quebec Information Commission which mediates aspects of access-to-information issues.
In a ruling issued on Sept. 25, the commission ruled that the City of Laval should make public the results of the survey as there was nothing in the survey the commission could find which could compromise the city’s interests.
“As the only municipal councillor for the downtown sector, I can’t get over that the results of a survey regarding the development of my own district have been deliberately hidden from me,” said Action Laval city councillor Isabelle Tassoni, who represents the downtown district of Laval-des-Rapides.
“What’s even worse is that no one ever asked me to participate in the process, while at the same time the survey was paid for by Laval’s taxpayers,” she added. “This sort of initiative is supposed to be neutral without political bias.
“This deliberate attempt to deprive me of crucial information simply because I am not in Mr. Demers’ camp is harmful to my capacity to completely represent the people of my district,” said Tassoni.
“A culture of secrecy has taken over the Demers administration,” said Action Laval city councillor for Vimont Michel Poissant who leads the party caucus on city council. “As is his habit, the mayor deliberately chose to get around the rules in order to leave the elected officials in the dark for his own political advantage.”
“The mayor has in a way been very dishonest to try to withhold this information from elected officials and from the citizens of Laval,” said Action Laval city councillor for Saint-Bruno David De Cotis, formerly the executive-committee’s vice-president.
“This is a partisan survey from the mayor of Laval for the Mouvement lavallois,” claimed De Cotis. “Because he can take this information for his own personal use or the party’s personal use, whereas us as elected officials we don’t have access. But more than that, one other question we ask is what other information are they hiding from us?”
Action Laval city councillor for Saint-Vincent-de-Paul Paolo Galati said he agreed that the Demers administration’s withholding of the survey results is symptomatic of a secretiveness unbecoming the leadership of a city like Laval and an indicator of partisanship.
“He’s hiding stuff,” he said of the mayor’s attitude. “If you want to be transparent then things like this would not happen. This is a hundred per cent partisan. The judge who rendered the decision said it: She said we should have been entitled to see everything.
“They’re holding things back for partisan reasons and it doesn’t make sense,” he insisted. “Especially in a city like Laval where corruption has been in the spotlight for the past several years. They say they’re going to be transparent and then this happens. I say it shows their true colours.”
(TLN) Santa Claus himself is inviting Laval’s many families to come out and meet him – while at the same time donating a gift for the needy – during a special pre-Christmas event taking place at the Maison des Jeunes at Place publique de Sainte-Dorothée on Sat. Dec. 7 from 10 am to 3 pm.
During the event, families are asked to bring either books or toys in good condition as gifts. Santa in turn will redistribute them to needy children in Laval through various community organizations.
In addition to having the opportunity to meet Santa, the children will also be able to take part in handicrafts activities, take a horse-drawn sleigh ride and borrow books from the Laval library network’s Bibliomobile.
As well, a few lucky ones will receive mini-teddy bears especially made by members of the Cercle des fermières de Sainte-Dorothée (available in limited quantities).
The event is being organized by Loisirs Sainte-Dorothée, the Cercle des fermières de Sainte-Dorothée, the Chevaliers de Colomb Sainte-Dorothée, the Société Saint-Vincent-de-Paul de Sainte-Dorothée, the Chœur de Sainte-Dorothée and the Maison des jeunes de Sainte-Dorothée, in conjunction with the City of Laval.
(TLN) On Monday November 25th, recently-elected Liberal MP for Vimy Annie Koutrakis took the oath of office. The ceremony took place with friends and families present.
After swearing allegiance to the crown, Koutrakis said: “This role I take seriously and I see myself defending with vigor and diligence the interests of all citizens of Vimy.“I believe in democracy and the importance of representing honestly and to the best of my capacities my constituents,” she added.
Martin C. Barry
Members and friends of the FILIA Association for Senior Citizens gathered at the Château Royal convention centre in Chomedey on Nov. 24 to celebrate a rare milestone – the organization’s 35th anniversary.
Since its establishment in February 1984, the FILIA Senior Citizens Association has been promoting the care and well-being of senior citizens. Initially it was in Montreal’s Park Extension neighbourhood. In more recent years it has been active in Chomedey and Laval.
Through a number of diverse activities and charitable events, FILIA works to ensure that elderly members of the community can continue to enjoy an independent and dignified life in a comfortable environment, while remaining connected to their rich culture and heritage.
“Not enough attention is paid to older people,” FILIA founder Joanna Tsoublekas said in an interview with Newsfirst Multimedia. “We are an organization that has a mission and dreams to build and meet the needs to make life easier for the older generation.”
Among the special guests at the early afternoon gala were the Consul General for Greece in Montreal Michalis Gavriilidis, the MNA for Chomedey Guy Ouellette, Laval city councillor for Souvenir-Labelle Sandra El Helou, Liberal MP for Saint-Laurent Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Montreal city councillor for Park Extension Mary Deros, Laurier-Dorion MNA Andrés Fontecilla and former Liberal MP for Ahuntsic Eleni Bakopanos.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent a message to the guests. “Tonight, we gather to celebrate Canada’s seniors, and to recognize the many contributions that seniors have made, and continue to make to our communities,” he said.
“Events such as today’s are great because they not only help foster new relationships, but encourage more seniors to lead active and healthy lifestyles,” Trudeau added. Montreal mayor Valérie Plante also sent a message.
“As Mayor, I am particularly proud of the contribution of all the communities that shape the identity of our city, such as yours,” she said. “Montreal can be proud of its diversity and vibrancy. Your contribution to the vitality of our metropolis is important.”
Villeray/St-Michel/Parc Extension Borough Mayor Giuliana Fumagalli also sent greetings.
“I am especially proud to participate in the celebrations surrounding the 35th anniversary of the Association du troisième âge FILIA,” she said. “Thanks to diversified and accessible programming, the association is creating more than social occasions: it is offering to seniors an environment that is dynamic and stimulating.”
And Laval mayor Marc Demers sent this message. “For the past 35 years, the Association du troisième âge FILIA has been an example of kindness by offering direct assistance to seniors, including 4,500 meals prepared over the past year,” he said.
As Demers pointed out, “some problems take a lot more heart to overcome. And that is exactly what the Association du troisième âge FILIA has: heart!” Although FILIA started in Park Extension, the group’s influence has been felt increasingly in Chomedey in recent years.
“I’ve been around for 12 years and Joanna and FILIA have been around for at least 10 of the past 12 years,” Guy Ouellette said in an interview. “They are working hard to provide services to older people in Chomedey, so obviously we feel very much like supporting FILIA.”
Councillor Deros said in an interview, “I am extremely proud of the services that Joanna Tsoublekas has been offering seniors. Everyone is welcome. FILIA offers a lot of individual as well as group support.
“With a lot of the people who go to FILIA their children are grown and they feel alone and neglected,” Deros continued. “With FILIA you feel like you have a family to be with and do things together. For that we are all very grateful and we hope that Joanna and FILIA will continue for many more years.”
Laurier-Dorion MNA Fontecilla said, “It’s very, very important to have an association like FILIA for the elderly in the community, for their rights and for the services they need. It is very important for all of us to have such an important resource in our community.”
Saint-Laurent MP Lambropoulos said, “Thanks to Joanna Tsoublekas, FILIA continues to be strong every year. And so we need more people like her in the community who are willing to give their all for the benefit of others. And the seniors in the Greek community definitely benefit from having FILIA. It helps break social isolation, helps get them active and helps with all the problems seniors today face.”
The current issue of the Laval News volume 27-23 published December 4th, 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.
Renata Isopo
Neuroscience research suggests that learning outcomes are not solely determined by the environment. Biological factors play an important role in accounting for differences in learning ability between individuals. The emerging field of Educational Neuroscience presents opportunities as well as challenges for education. It provides means to develop a common language and bridge the gulf between educators, psychologists, and neuroscientists.
Laval resident Cindy Hovington, PHD in Neuroscience from McGill University, recipient of six awards and author of eight journal articles, has impressive credentials in the field.
This is Dr. Hovington’s fascinating story as told to TLN.
I am a doctor of Philosophy, Neurology, and Neurosurgery. I graduated McGill University in 2013. My thesis was based on Defining Persistent Negative Symptoms and Identifying their Neurocognitive and Neuroanatomical Correlates. I also completed a Post- Doctoral Fellow at McGill in Education in 2013. And, I was also accepted into Harvard. In 2008, I attended Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario I completing a Master’s in Rehabilitation Science. I also attended Concordia University in 2006, obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology.
It’s an integrated program in Neuro science. I created Neuro-science-based presentations for young students in collaboration with committee members. I taught the program and worked with grade 4 and 5 students in English and French schools on a monthly basis.
Simply stated, Neuro education is a nascent discipline that blends the collective fields of Neuro science, psychology, cognitive science, and education to create a better understanding of how children learn and how this can be used to create more effective teaching methods, curricula, and educational policy. This interaction is already opening critical new dialogues between teachers, administrators, school boards, parents, and brain scientists.
Education is about enhancing learning and neuro science is about understanding the verbal process in learning. This common ground suggests a future in which educational practice can be transformed by science, although merging neuro science with education is rather new — about 15 years.
I launched the “Curious Neuron” website last year because learning is through curiosity and neurons must be stimulated in order to learn, thus the name. Curious Neuron discusses different aspects of the brain through articles and discussion groups composed of various professionals. I’m the only neuro scientist on the team, which includes psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, and teachers. We’re international, 70 countries visit the website. We get instant feedback from Instagram, etc. However, research changes rapidly; after six months, you’re out of the loop, and then you can’t get back in if you don’t keep up. It’s a tough job.
To keep building our team as a huge resource for parents, giving them the tools for easy access to activities, with articles backing the activities. For example, what is homework bringing to children? Executive Functions such as organization and planning, and attention skills. Not born with these skills, we have to develop them. The lower the skills, the more you struggle in school. Extensive information is offered to parents, teachers, counselors, and others who trouble shoot different intellectual areas. It’s a great aid.
You have two lovely pre-school children and another on the way. How do you teach or interact with them?
There’s absolutely no screen time and no battery operated games for them. They learn through play. It’s an important way of bonding. They are given blocks, marbles, paper, and coloring books to practice gross and fine motor skills. Kids don’t need much since they’ll discover how to play through independence. They create their own imaginative games.
Be more mindful about brain functioning behavior response. Be aware of the environment and how quickly brains develop. The environment plays a huge role and quickly changes the architecture of your brain, particularly 0-5 years old. The brain makes connections and they are pruning. Explore as much as possible – music, languages, dance. Don’t create a mundane environment. Teachers have to be aware of aspects of brain functioning such as exam anxiety, attention span. Don’t have expectations that can’t be met. Create the foundation to build cognitive skills, brain skills that will help in school. Feedback on grades where improvement needs are essential..
I graduated Laval Catholic High School in 2000. Ironically, I struggled with all my Sciences and that was a problem because that’s where I wanted to be. The system made it impossible for me to get into those courses because I wasn’t achieving the marks. I didn’t give up my desire because that’s what I loved and that’s where I wanted to be, and that’s where I am now.
Strangely, I also struggled in CEGEP to the point where I was pulled out. Then something just clicked-changed. I figured myself out. I did one year of Developmental Science at Dawson College — I couldn’t get into it in high school but I did here, determined to get into Health Sciences. The rest is history. I also started volunteering with researchers, sparking my interest and I had a strong drive to continue into the field. My priority is family. My mom is my true hero, my brother, my uncle and my grandparents are my angels.
Yes. “It’s not what happens in your life, it’s what you do about it. A smile is your most powerful weapon in life and remember angels are everywhere.”
Martin C. Barry
What should you do if you suspect that you or a loved one may be having symptoms of an on-coming stroke?
According to an expert who spoke at the Agape English-speaking Senior Wellness Centre in Chomedey last week, you shouldn’t hesitate to call 9-1-1.
That’s because what you do during the first few hours after the onset of a stroke will make all the difference in the severity of an attack, as well as the length of time it could take to recover following a stroke.
The technical phrase for a stroke is cerebro vascular accident (CVA), said Suzie Gagnon, a nurse/clinician at the Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital. However, there are many different kinds of strokes, all depending on which of the many zones of the brain are affected.
“Some people will have a stroke in the frontal lobe,” she said. “Some of them it’s going to be in the parietal lobe. It could be in the occipital, temporal, brain stem. Depending where it is you’ll have different symptoms.”
Although she described some of the serious damage that strokes do to the brain and the consequent symptoms, Gagnon was quick to reassure the overflow crowd of seniors at the Wellness Centre.
“Don’t worry, there’s hope at the end,” she said, noting that modern medicine has come up with a wider range of effective treatments than ever for stroke. All the same, stroke remains one of the most challenging medical conditions faced by patients.
As Gagnon pointed out, the main risk factor for stroke is high blood pressure. Other risk factors include tobacco smoking, obesity, high blood cholesterol, diabetes and atrial fibrillation (an abnormal heart rhythm characterized by rapid and irregular beating).
There are two types of stroke: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. The former is typically caused by blockage of a blood vessel. The latter is caused by either bleeding directly into the brain or into the space between the brain’s membranes. Blood clots that form and circulate in the blood stream are also a crucial factor.
And then there is the Transient ischemic attack (TIA), the so-called “mini stroke,” said Gagnon. “The blood circulates well, but then suddenly there’s a blockage. But a few minutes later, maybe one hour later, everything returns to normal. The blood clot dissolves and the circulation returns.”
She advised that when these types of symptoms manifest themselves, “it’s a serious warning sign of a stroke. You have 50 per cent risk of having a stroke in the next 48 hours.” As well, you can remain at risk of a stroke for up to three months under these circumstances, she added.
Her advice? “I want you to go to the hospital, even if it went away,” she said. “There’s a reason why it happens. Maybe your blood pressure is too high. Maybe your diabetes is not well controlled. Maybe you have a carotid which is blocked. We have to do some tests to see why it’s happening. So please go to the hospital. And, like I said, emergency.”
Although the physical consequences of stroke can include anything from limb weakness in minor cases, to partial or complete paralysis with major strokes, Gagnon’s good news was that “it’s all reversible” with the proper treatment. For that reason, she continued, “I want you to learn those symptoms” to better respond.
During the presentation, two handouts published by the Heart & Stroke Foundation were presented to all participants. The first, a quick reference card, offers some handy information on learning the signs of stroke. The second, a booklet offering more comprehensive information on stroke, summarized a good deal of the information in Gagnon’s presentation.
Located at 3860 Notre Dame Blvd. Suite 305 in Chomedey, the Agape English-speaking Senior Wellness Centre offers a range of activities and presentations related to health and well-being for seniors throughout the year.
There was capacity attendance at last week’s presentation. Agape executive-director Kevin McLeod said in an interview afterwards that the Wellness Centre has become so popular that the organization is currently looking for larger premises to accommodate everyone.
