(TLN) This year marks the completion of the City of
Laval’s implementation of its organic waste collection at residences of seven
or less units. From now to the end of September, 44,000 new households will be
added to the list, for a total of 130,000 residences taking part in the
collection.
A positive
response
“In 2018, the organic waste collection made it
possible to avoid waste landfill sites, while processing 14,626 tonnes of
materials, representing 290 kgs per household,” says Laval executive-committee
member Virginie Dufour.
“The response by Laval residents has been greater than
expected. We realize that effectively more than 95 per cent of Laval residents
served by the collection take part. These positive results will only increase
with the deployment of this service across the territory.”
To be fully implemented
Since
mid-April, 26,000 households in Laval have received their organic waste kit.
From the end of next August, the last 18,000 addresses will be added. The
organic waste kits include a small kitchen waste container, an outdoor
receptacle on wheels, some documentation and a few other items.
Implementation
of the kitchen waste collection program began in the autumn of 2016. The
program was a response to provincial government efforts to have kitchen waste
programs across Quebec. It should be noted that some sectors of Laval, such as
Champfleury, Chomedey and Laval-des-Rapides, have had an organic waste program
since 1996.
(TLN) On a tour of flood-devastated
Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac north of Laval last weekend, Premier François
Legault announced that the provincial
government will be donating $1 million to the Red Cross to help victims of the
flood.
“This will help for meals, lodging and medication,”
Legault said. “There are children who will need clothing, because people had to
get out in a hurry.”
With water levels on Lake of Two Mountains expected to
remain at high levels by the middle of this week, residents of the area were
not expected to their homes any time soon. He said the Red Cross could be
counted on to provide help until it becomes possible.
April 26 – Police are questioning four witnesses – two
adults and two minors – in an attempt to determine what started the altercation
that left an 18-year-old man dead.
The incident occurred at about 7:15 p.m. on
Marc-Aurèle-Fortin Ave. in the Ste-Rose district, allegedly as two groups
crossed paths in a residential area.
When police arrived at the scene, they discovered the
victim with stab wounds to his upper torso. He was transported to hospital and
later died of his injuries.
So far, no charges have been laid.
Peaceful End to
12-Hour Stand-Off
April 26 – A 12-hour standoff between the police and a
man barricaded in his home ended peacefully last Thursday.
The incident began at about 11 a.m. when the suspect
entered a local store and began causing damage and behaving aggressively. He
then returned to his dwelling and barricaded himself inside as police arrived.
Police were uncertain whether the suspect, who is known
to police and suffers from psychiatric problems, was armed.
A nearby school, daycare, as well as several neighbouring
businesses were evacuated during the standoff as a precaution.
Officers settled in to wait. Almost twelve hours later,
at about 11:30 p.m., the suspect quietly surrendered himself to police and was
placed in custody.
Pickpocket Swipes
Wallet from Restaurant Customer
April 25 – Laval police are asking for the public’s help
to identify a suspect who allegedly stole a wallet from a restaurant customer at
the Mega-Centre in Ste-Dorothée. The incident happened on March 29 at about 7
p.m.
The suspect and his accomplice entered the restaurant and
sat themselves near the victim. They left the restaurant shortly after without
ordering anything.
The victim eventually discovered that his wallet had been
stolen from the pocket of his coat, which had been draped over the back of his
chair.
Before the victim even noticed his wallet was missing,
six purchases had been made on his credit card in Laval and Montreal.
Police describe the suspect as a white male in his 40s
who stands about six feet tall and weighs about 200 pounds. At the time of the
theft he was wearing glasses, and sported a goatee beard. He was also wearing a
black coat with a fur-lined hood and a black cap.
This incident is similar to a wave of pickpocketing
thefts that occurred two years ago and led the Laval police to launch an
awareness campaign warning diners to be vigilant.
Anyone with information on the suspect in this latest
case is asked to contact Laval police at 450-662-INFO (4636) or 911, and mention
file LVL 190330 042.
Newborn Abandoned
in Shoebox, Teen Mom Arrested
April 24 – Laval police arrested an 18-year-old woman
after it was discovered she had abandoned her newborn baby and left it in a
shoebox on a neighbour’s balcony.
Police received a 911 call last Wednesday around noon
from a woman who reported finding a baby girl in a box on her balcony.
Shortly after, police were alerted by hospital personnel
of an 18-year-old woman seeking treatment after childbirth, but the baby was
not with her.
Police suspect the young woman gave birth alone in an
apartment then left it on her neighbour’s balcony. The baby may have spent
nearly two hours outside with the temperature around seven degrees.
The woman was arrested, but investigators had to wait to
question her because she was receiving medical treatment. She could face a
charge of failing to provide the necessities of life.
The baby, who received medical attention and is doing
well, is in the custody of Quebec youth protection.
Priest Arrested
for Sexual Assault
April 24 – Several weeks after a priest was charged with
sexual assault, Laval police are seeking more people who may have been abused.
Laval police arrested Father Henri Paradis on April 4 and
he was subsequently charged with sexual assaulting an individual in 1988.
According to police, Paradis went to the victim’s home in
1988 to hear a confession, and then touched the victim in a sexual manner.
The complainant came forward many years later, and police
believe Paradis may have other possible victims. People are encouraged to
contact Laval police by calling 450-662-INFO (4636). Calls are treated
confidentially.
Paradis was the founder of the Jourdain Catholic
Charismatic Centre in Montreal North in 1976, which refers to a biblical belief
in the spiritual gifts of wisdom, knowledge, and more.
Paradis is scheduled to appear in court on June 17.
(TLN) While not everyone agrees the plan is fair, Quebec
Premier François Legault says the province will help
compensate flooded homeowners with sizeable payments, although he is warning
that taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to shoulder the bill for flood damage
forever.
Last
week just days after the flooding crisis started, Premier Legault said the CAQ
government would buy out flood-area house owners up to a maximum $200,000. As
well, he said the province would establish a ceiling of $100,000 in
compensation to owners making claims after flooding.
Limiting
compensation
Speaking to media in Gatineau last week while touring
the flood-stricken area, Legault said the provincial government will not be
able to afford offering compensation “every year to solve problems, but only on
a temporary basis.” He said the government preferred to offer incentives to
move to stricken homeowners, since the current environmental conditions are
starting to become a regular occurrence.
The
reaction to Legault’s offer was swift in some quarters. In places affected by
the floods, like Laval or Pierrefonds on the other side of the des Prairies
River, homeowners have expressed their outrage that Legault would offer such
low amounts for properties that in some cases are worth several times what’s
being offered.
Relief for tax payers
Provincial
compensation aside, another type of monetary relief appears to be on the
horizon for those impacted by the flooding.
Revenue
Quebec and the Canada Revenue Agency have both announced that they will
overlook late filing penalties on income tax normally due April 30, as well as
businesses filing for taxes, if the tax files in question are from individuals
or businesses impacted by the floods.
However,
the two agencies said taxpayers in this situation must make contact immediately
to report their circumstances.
April 15 – Laval police are asking for the public’s help
to identify a female suspect involved in a robbery and assault that occurred at
a Dollarama in Ste-Dorothée last fall.
The suspect entered the store at about 1:30 p.m. on
October 10, and made her way through the aisles sneaking several items into her
bag before heading for the exit.
A security guard intercepted her as she tried to leave,
but the suspect pepper-sprayed him in the face and then hit him several times.
A female witness was also pepper-sprayed when she tried to intervene.
The suspect fled the scene by car.
Police describe the suspect as a white female in her 20s
who speaks with an Arabic accent. She stands about 5’5” tall, weighs about 135
pounds and has several face piercings.
At the time of the incident, the suspect had auburn hair
and she was wearing a black coat, dark-coloured pants, and black-and-white
shoes.
Anyone with information on the identity or location of
the suspect is urged to call 450-662-INFO (4636), or 911, and mention file LVL
181010 051. Calls are treated confidentially.
April Ice-Storm
Tally
April 12 – Laval was among the regions hardest hit by
last week’s ice-storm which left hundreds of thousands of Quebec residents with
no power for several days.
Local authorities were quick to react and respond.
Two emergency shelters were opened in Laval for those who
needed to get out of their cold homes and sleep somewhere warm and safe, and to
accommodate those simply seeking a place to charge phones and electronic
devices.
Laval firefighters and police officers reminded the
public that people need to be prudent during weather events.
Firefighters rescued several people who had fallen ill due
to carbon monoxide poisoning.
During the first two days of the storm, four adults and
five children were taken to hospital in three separate incidents. Two of the
incidents involved people who were using barbecues indoors, while in the third
a man had a generator very close to his house and was overcome by the exhaust.
People also accidentally set 17 fires in Laval, often by
knocking over candles.
Laval police spokesperson Evelyne Boudreau said many
people were calling 9-1-1 to ask for help with health issues and with flooding.
“Firefighters were going door-to-door to say that
carbon monoxide detectors have to be checked. Fire detectors also,” said
Boudreau, adding that people with known health issues were also being checked
on.
While proving extremely inconvenient for everyone on the
island (except school-aged kids who enjoyed having the schools closed) the ice-storm
did not cause any fatalities.
Hydro-Quebec, with the help of Hydro-Sherbrooke and crews
from Vermont, had re-established power to nearly everyone by Thursday evening.
Laval Police
Accused of Using Excessive Force on Minor
April 8 – A 16-year-old girl who was arrested recently by
Laval police has accused the officers of using excessive force during her
arrest, and breaking her nose in the process.
Photos of the girl and her injuries started circulating
on social media after the incident, which took place on March 24. The images
also include pictures of a blood smear on a Laval police cruiser’s hood.
The girl, whose name can’t be published because she is a
minor, spoke out about her experience alongside her mother at a news conference
organized by the Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations.
The incident occurred as police officers arrived at the
scene of a complaint they had received.
According to the teen, an officer grabbed her by the arm
and as she tried to pull away, she found herself face down on the asphalt. She
was then handcuffed and her head was placed on the hood of the police cruiser.
She alleged that she was punched twice in the head and then fitted with a spit
guard. Her mouth was full of blood and she had to struggle to breathe without
choking.
She claimed that one of the officers told her it was her
own fault that her nose was broken.
Laval police offer a different version of events.
Responding to a call from a witness who reported seeing
someone breaking the side mirrors of cars parked on a street near a party, officers
attempted to arrest the young woman as part of their investigation.
According to Evelyne Boudreau, a spokesperson for the
Laval police, when the officer tried to put the handcuffs on the teen, she fell
to the ground and hit her face.
After the incident garnered attention on social media,
the arresting officers’ conduct was reviewed by their supervisors, Boudreau
added. The supervisors determined that the officers had done nothing wrong.
The girl was issued two tickets on the night she was
handcuffed: one for public drunkenness, and the other for assaulting a police
officer.
She may face further criminal charges, including
obstruction of justice and mischief related to property damage.
The current issue of the Laval News volume 27-08 published April 17th, 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.
On
April 12th 2019, Agape’s Executive Director, Kevin McLeod received a generous
cheque in the amount of $3,106 from Chomedey MNA Guy Ouellette.
This
money was for the Volunteer Support Program of the Ministry of Education,
Recreation and Sports and was to support Agape’s 2018-2019 efforts with the
Chomedey community.
“Mr.
Ouellette always has and remains to be a big supporter of our organization”
said McLeod. “I think it’s important that the residents of Chomedey know how
involved he continues to be.”
Public
safety officials in Laval had the situation in hand last week following one of
the most challenging freezing rain and ice storms in years brought down power
lines, cut electricity and left debris from thousands of ice-laden trees
scattered on the ground for salvaging over the weeks to come.
For
many who were around more than 20 years ago, the pandemonium was a jarring
reminder of the far greater ice storm that roared through the Montreal and
Laval regions, the province of Quebec and large parts of eastern Canada in
January 1998.
No power and fire hazards
Last
week, Laval’s police and fire departments were kept busy with incoming reports
of power outages, leading many homeowners to seek alternative heat and cooking
sources which in turn resulted in some cases of carbon monoxide poisoning and
domestic fires.
By
mid-week, the Laval fire department reported at least 10 people suffering from
the effects of carbon monoxide, sometimes coming from improperly operated
emergency generators. As well, more than a dozen fires in Laval were believed
to have been caused by unsafe use of candles and fireplaces while the electric
power was out.
Traffic lights out of
order
Traffic
lights which were out of order at dozens of intersections in many parts of
Laval are believed to have been a factor contributing to numerous car accidents.
There were also reports of flooded basements caused by pipes which froze when
electric heating was off. The Laval Police stepped up their patrols in areas
where there were vacant homes, while also checking that residents who remained
were safe.
Responding
to the crisis, the City of Laval opened two storm shelters (centre
communautaire Accès at 6500 Arthur-Sauvé Blvd. in Laval-Ouest and centre
communautaire de Lausanne at 455 rue de Lausanne in Vimont) for residents
displaced from their homes by cold and hunger.
Cots for overnight stays
They
were able to recharge smartphones and use washing facilities. For those who
chose to stay overnight, the Red Cross set up cots in the community centre
basements. Several hundred residents are believed to have availed themselves of
the offer.
The
Laval News dropped by the Accès community centre in Laval-Ouest on Tuesday last
week as some of the first displaced residents were arriving. Among the dozen or
so people seated at tables in a second-storey meeting room were Pierre Tremblay
of Laval’s Sainte-Rose district.
Refuge from
the storm
“I have no electric power since yesterday around two
in the afternoon and I haven’t slept all night,” said Tremblay, seated
comfortably at a table with his smartphone and a few possessions, while adding
that it was the lack of heat at home that finally drove him out. Also among the
people who took shelter at the Accès community
centre were some from Chomedey and Duvernay.
“We’re
still waiting for power to be restored,” said Karla from Chomedey who preferred
not to be identified by her last name. She was there with her mother who lives
in Duvernay. At one point during the blackout, she found herself driving along
Laval’s de la Concorde Blvd. trying to find a restaurant so that she and her
mother could have a hot meal.
Scenes like this in Laval-Ouest of trees toppled from thick coatings of ice were common in throughout the Laval region last week.
Uneven electrical service
“Some
areas had power, but then not even a block later no power,” she added. They
didn’t expect to stay overnight at the community centre. The kitchen in her
home was furnished with gas so she expected at least to be able to fix a hot
meal, although staying warm would be another matter altogether.
Stéphane
Brion of Laval-Ouest was also coping as best he could with the situation. He
turned up on Tuesday last week after losing electric power around noon the day
before. Looking tired and disheveled, he said he found it too cold in his home
to wash up properly and came to the community centre for some respite.
Area’s schools impacted
Among
those inconvenienced at least one day by the storm were educational
institutions. The Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board closed Pierre
Elliott Trudeau Elementary and Pinewood Elementary, as well as McCaig
Elementary and Rosemère High School on the North Shore.
The
Commission scolaire de Laval (CSDL) also cancelled classes, although
some CSDL professional training centres were open. Also on the
North Shore, the Commission scolaire de
la Seigneurie-des-Mille-Iles closed 22 schools and training centres. Some
private schools, such as Collège Laval and Collège Letendre closed
as well.
Mayor Demers reacts
At
one point, Mayor Marc Demers urged residents of Laval to look out for one
another. “If you have members of your family – parents, brothers, sisters – who
are in a zone that’s lacking electricity, check in on their situation to make
sure we’re not forgetting someone in distress,” he said.
Around
the middle of last week, 213,000 Hydro Quebec clients in the Laval, the
Laurentians and Lanaudière regions were
without electric power, with Laval being among the most impacted areas. According
to the city, more than 40 per cent of Laval was without power on the day
following the freezing rain and ice storm. In addition to no electricity, phone
service was also knocked out in some parts of Laval.
443.1. Every driver of a road vehicle
and every cyclist are prohibited from using a cellular telephone or any other
portable device designed to transmit or receive information or to be used for entertainment
purposes, or from using a display screen, except in the following cases:
(1) the
driver of the road vehicle uses a hands-free device; or
(2) the
driver of the road vehicle or the cyclist consults the information displayed on
a display screen, including that of a portable device, or uses a screen command
if the screen
(a) displays only such
information as is relevant to driving or riding the vehicle or related to the
operation of its usual equipment;
(b) is integrated into the
vehicle or mounted on a bracket, whether detachable or not, attached to the
vehicle;
(c) is placed so as not to
obstruct the driver’s or cyclist’s view, interfere with driving or riding
manoeuvres, or prevent the operation of equipment or reduce its efficiency and
in a manner that does not present a risk of injury in case of an accident; and
(d) is positioned and designed
in such a way that the driver of the road vehicle or cyclist can operate and
consult it easily.
For the
purposes of the first paragraph, the driver of a road vehicle or cyclist who is
holding a portable device in hand or in any other manner is presumed to be
using the device.
The
Government may, by regulation, determine the manner in which this section is to
be applied, in particular by defining the meaning of certain expressions. It
may also prescribe other exceptions to the prohibitions under this section and
other standards applicable to display screens.
Officials from the City of Laval, including Mayor Marc Demers, and from the provincial government, including Sainte-Rose MNA Christopher Skeete, gathered at the Axion 50 Plus seniors centre in Chomedey last Monday to announce an almost $1.5 million subsidy given to L’Appui Laval to improve support for Laval’s home caregivers.
Elected officials from Laval, including Mayor Marc
Demers and Sainte-Rose MNA Christopher Skeete, gathered at the Axion 50 Plus
seniors centre in Chomedey last Monday for an
announcement that L’Appui Laval will be receiving $1,476,000 over the next two
years to help provide support to persons in Laval who are caregivers to senior
citizens.
The
amount is being provided from a fund established by the Lucie and André Chagnon
Family in conjunction with the provincial government.
In an address, Skeete said he understood the need to provide better support to
caregivers as he was in that position at one time.
Skeete was a
caregiver
“When I was younger I was a caregiver,” Skeete said,
noting that he provided home care to his late mother when he was still in his
teens. He said he could have used some caregiver support back then, although it
wasn’t available at the time.
“I’m particularly happy that we’re going to be
announcing $61,000 over two years for SCAMA, which will help the English
community and the Allophone community do a little bit more and provide and
provide a little bit more assistance to its people,” added Skeete who is
Premier François Legault’s principal liaison to Quebec’s English-speaking community.
Services Provided
to Caregivers
In a statement issued to the media, L’Appui Laval said
it is committed to funding 13 projects presented by eight Laval organizations.
The group said the subsidy will serve to increase and consolidate different
types of services to improve the quality of life of caregivers.
According to L’Appui Laval, 66 per cent of the amount
will be dedicated to respite services, for a total of $978,384 over two years.
Twenty-one per cent will be allocated to psychosocial support services,
totalling $305,208 over the same period.
Thirteen per cent of the amount will go to information
services, including training and support, for a total of $192,523 for this
purpose over two years. L’Appui Laval said the investment prioritizes respite
services to prevent the exhaustion of caregivers. Services will be available
during the day, evening or at night.
Group
Respite
Three community centres will offer day group respite
for a total of five days: The Centre Communautaire le Rendez-Vous des Aînés,
the Centre de services communautaires et d’aide au maintien de l’autonomie
(SCAMA), and the Comité d’Animation du Troisième Âge de Laval (CATAL).
L’Appui Laval said the Société
Alzheimer Laval is also proposing two group respite projects. A first atypical
(occasional) respite, available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, and a
respite project for caregivers of people less than 65 years of age.
Home Respite
Regular
or atypical (occasional) individual respite services in the comfort of the home
are also offered by three organizations: The Association Lavalloise des
Personnes Aidantes (ALPA), the Coopérative de soutien à domicile, and the Société
Alzheimer Laval.
Psychosocial
Support Services
L’Appui Laval said the
role of the caregiver sometimes reveals concealed strengths, but sometimes the
caregiver needs support at different times in his or her experience. The Société
Alzheimer Laval offers home-based consultations and follow-up services, with a
focus on families.
Beginning
in the month of May, Parkinson Montreal-Laval will prioritize offering group
meetings once a week as well as a few individual follow-ups. And the
Association Lavalloise des Personnes Aidantes (ALPA) offers support groups and
individual support to caregivers who feel the need.
Information
Services – Training
L’Appui
Laval said the caregiver needs to be informed about his or her role and to
understand their loved one’s illness. As such, the Association Lavalloise des
Personnes Aidantes (ALPA) offers information sessions and conferences in French
and English. An assessment of caregivers is possible, with referrals and
support as needed.
As
well, the Hellenic Social Services of Quebec (SSHQ) offers a variety of
information-training activities and mainly targets Laval’s Anglophone and
Allophone clienteles.
A Priority at L’Appui
Laval
L’Appui
Laval said that a major challenge for all organizations providing services in
Laval is to reach out to the Anglophone populations, including ethno cultural
minorities. In addition to services already funded, L’Appui Laval said it is
investing in a new project at a community centre in Chomedey. The Centre SCAMA
will offer new respite activities aimed at reaching mainly Anglophone and
Allophone clients.
L’Appui
Laval has also published a handy folder in English for persons caring for a
spouse, a friend, a neighbour or a friend. For more information on the services
available in Laval for caregivers, L’Appui Laval invites you to contact the
INFO-AIDANT phone line at 1-855-852-7784, Monday to Friday from 8 am to 8 pm.
