Laval City Hall Watch - August 31 2016

Cloth diaper grant

According to environmentalists from Recycle Quebec every year 600 million diapers end up in landfill sites in Québec alone. On average, a baby requires 2,400 diapers a year. A set of cloth diapers can cost somewhere between $700 and $1000, including washing costs, whereas families spend anywhere between $2,000 and $2,500 for disposable diapers. Furthermore disposable diapers take from 300 to 500 years to decompose in a landfill site.

The obvious conclusion is that cloth diapers are good for the environment and parents’ budget.  Ville de Laval offers a grant of up to $200 for the purchase of a set of cloth diapers (20 diapers) to the first 125 families to apply for it.

To be eligible for these grant applicants must be Laval residents who are parents of a baby aged 2 years old and under and have purchased of a new set of cloth diapers (set of 20 minimum) of any brand during the current calendar year. An application form can be filled out at on the city web site with complete instructions on how to submit the grant request. For the application to be considered a valid photocopy of a proof of purchase for cloth diapers that clearly indicates the following elements: amount of diapers purchased; name and contact information of the retailer; date of purchase and model brand and name of distributor, is required.  A proof of residency iis also needed and be a copy of a current or previous year tax bill; electricity, telephone or cable bill; and or a driver’s licence.

Sport and recreational activities fall registration

With back to school the priority for many parents it is easy to forget that the numerous sport, recreational and cultural programs and activities offered by municipal and non-profit leisure associations open their registration for fall programming as early as the end of August till mid-September. The Laval municipal offices (bureaux municipaux lavallois) in each of the city’s six sectors are a good source of information regarding services and activities offered in your sector of the city. You can visit the offices or call for information.

Laval’s end of summer Family Festival returns to the Nature Park

The tradition continues as summers end will once be feted with Laval’s Family Festival, La Fête de la famille. The 2016 edition will be held on Sunday September 4^th at Laval’s Centre de la Nature (Nature Park) with programming and activities running between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm. The park will be brimming with fanfare for all ages. From inflatable games, musical children’s shows, family events, face painting and temporary tattoos to name a few. The best part is that these activities are free.

For the youngest Cailliou will host his birthday party from 10:30 am to 11:15 am. Participating in song and dance children will have an occasion to be photographed with their favourite characters. Also the Les Géants children’s troop will present a mystery adventure from 2:30pm to 3:00pm. The Pirates’ Hideout presented by Production Oyez Oyez will transform willing deck hands into feared pirates. If that was not enough the Festizoo will present kids a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with reptiles of the exotic animal world.

For teens DJ and music performances, wall climbing, live graffiti wall painting, games, skate  boarding and competitions, introduction to unicycle and balance boards are just some of the activities offered, As space for these events are limited there will be onsite registration starting at 11:00am. Visitors will be transported back in time a thousand years as the Medieval Company will recreate the feudal times of the noble knights.

Laval’s police, firefighters, environmental service, Urgence Sante, Hema Quebec, Bell and others will be present with kiosks and activities. Also at the education zone presentations from agents of the Cosmodôme, Musée Armand-Frappier, Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles et Centre d’interprétation de l’eau will allow guests to explore and learn about the most recent scientific technologies and discoveries.

For visitors planning to spend the day packed lunches and foods stuff are allowed but cooking appliances like portable BBQs are prohibited for safety reasons. It is also forbidden to bring alcoholic beverages to the park. Food and drink can be purchased at the park chalet or food trucks dispersed throughout the park and will be open till 6:00pm. A corn roast featuring corn on the cob sold at a cost of $ 1 per unit and $ 2 for 3 will benefit the Red Cross as all proceeds will be donated to this organization.

The St. Vincent swimming pool and kids’ water park which are adjacent to the Nature Centre (entrance on Park Avenue or Boulevard de la Concorde) will also be open so if the weather is hot residents can cool off at the municipal pool or water play station.

Classification of Laval’s natural environments

In order to gain the necessary knowledge to address the preservation of Laval’s natural environments and green spaces the Executive Committee has signed a service agreement with the Regional Environmental Council (CRE) of Laval for the classification of numerous locations of its green spaces and natural environments. The contract will extend over a period of three years and the cost will total $ 210,000.

This mandate will allow the CRE to categorize and describe 269 wetlands in 2016, 337 in 2017 and 222 additional marshlands in 2018. It is believed that this information will provide a basic data base which can be used by the environmental service in the future conservation and development strategies to preserve Laval’s green spaces.

Grant to the Armand-Frappier Museum for the promotion of biosciences

Members of the executive committee have awarded a grant of $ 150,000 to the Armand-Frappier Museum. This annual grant will subsidize the promotion, development, organization and management of the museum’s permanent exhibits and educational activities.

Founded in 1992 as an initiative of the Armand-Frappier Institute and foundation and the City of Laval, the Armand-Frappier Museum opened in doors 1994. At the time, the Museum’s mission was to introduce the life and work in biosciences of the scientist for which the museum is named, Armand Frappier. In 1999 the Museum renewed its exhibits and reoriented its mission towards disseminating scientific knowledge related to the newest developments in biosciences. The institution began offering educational programs.

The MicroZoo exhibition was introduced in 2001. Since then, the Museum has offered its clientele a wide variety of activities: visits to the exhibition, laboratory activities, itinerant scientific workshops, science camps, initiation to research apprenticeships and scientific conferences for the general public all in the hopes of promoting research and career opportunities in the life sciences.

LAVAL À VÉLO scheduled for Sunday September 18^th 2016

Cycling enthusiasts will be glad to learn that the 2nd edition of Laval à Vélo will take place on Sunday, September 18, 2016 starting from the Centre de la Nature. Organized in cooperation with the Vélo-Québec association this cycling tour will traverse picturesque terrain on the eastern tip of île Jésus offering cyclists breathtaking views of Laval’s diverse landscapes. There is a 20-km and a 40-km route along the streets of Laval that will be closed to all motor vehicle traffic and include rest stops where both services and refreshments are available.

While the event is organized to be a family event seasoned cyclists or those wanting to take up a challenge will have the opportunity of opting for an express departure. This faster version of the 40-km route gives participants a chance to set out before the others and to travel along the route at a speed of 30 km/hr. Registration is mandatory and can be made online at the city web site, by phone: 514 521-8356, ext. 504, or 1-800-567-8356, ext. 504m and in person at Maison des cyclistes, 1251 rue Rachel Est, in Montréal.

Participation for children twelve years of age and under is free. Adults and teens will have to pay a registration fee. Racing bibs will be mailed three weeks before the event, along with notification of the time to arrive at the starting line.

Laval City Watch August 17 2016

Laval funds research chair in solid waste management

Philippe Vaillancourt acting division head of Laval’s environmental service has been named by the city executive committee to act as its representative on a newly created research chair for solid waste management technologies at Montreal’s Polytechnic Institute.  As of August 2016 the city council has approved funding for the research venture. Laval will pay the institute $10,000 annually for a total of fifty thousand dollars over the five year term of the engagement.

Membership in this study program will give Laval’s environmental engineers access to state of the art research and technologies that address issues submitted by the partners, training for qualified personnel and the addition of relevant knowledge which will allow the continued development of rational and sustainable resource use.

Promoting Scientific Exploration activity in parks

The Executive Committee has approved funding for an innovative initiative to promote life and health related biological sciences as part of its summer park activities. An amount of $22,000 has been budgeted for the Armand-Frappier Museum to present exhibitions, laboratory activities, and itinerant scientific workshops at various parks of Laval as part of Laval’s summer community events.

The mission of the Armand Frappier Museum includes the dissemination and popularization of scientific knowledge to promote comprehension of the important issues related to human, animal, and environmental health. While a primary goal is to broaden the scientific and technical knowledge of the general population it is hoped that the exhibits and activities may generate interest among young people for scientific careers in health sciences.

Closing Celebration for Laval Music Zone summer tour

Residents who took advantage of the great summer weather and spent time outdoors in one of Laval’s many public places may have been treated to live musical performances. As part of Laval’s Zone Musical program concerts of pop, folk, classical, swing and jazz music resonated in all regions of Laval. The shows featured local talent highlighted by Laval’s Symphonic Orchestra.

The summer musical tour culminates with a closing weekend party on September 9^th to 11^th where the music world will be honored in the city center at Maison des Arts.  On Friday September 9^th   Laval’s Symphony Orchestra partners with Quartetto Gelato to provide music for dancing the Argentinian tango, Italian tarantella, Spanish flamenco and Polish polka to name a few. Saturday Florence K and friends will present a festive show of Latin and jazz hits including original songs from their latest albums. These performances begin at 8:00 pm.

Sunday’s musical program of African percussion with Melissa Lavergne will be presented at 3:00 pm but festivities and activities will run from noon including food trucks providing tastes of the world’s cuisine. The shows are free of charge.

Funding of the Regional Social Economy Center of Laval (PRESL)

The Executive Committee has granted the second installment of funds earmarked for the social economic development of Laval to the local organization PRESL (Pole Regional D’Economie Sociale de Laval). The disbursement of $20,000 is part of a first year global budget of $110,000. The monies are needed to help PRESL establish a permanent administrative presence in Laval and provide it with working capital to fund its first year of operation.

The social economy is a concept that combines the words “economy” and “social”, which means that an organization of this type is pursuing a social mission, while providing support for economic development. Unlike a private company where the owner has the power to make all decisions, the social enterprise is democratic, that is to say, it is composed of members who participate in decision-making processes of the organization. In Laval, collaborators of social economy development are primarily non-profit organizations, like work integration groups or adapted work, and cooperatives. Much of the work undertaken is in the health sector and social services (personal services), and also in the areas of environment, manufacturing, food, financial services, arts and culture.

While the organization is non-profit company its projects pursue a goal of economic viability. This means that the company conducts business and marketing development activities to sell its products and services and if there is a surplus, it can be reinvested in the organization for the development, creation and consolidation of jobs, improved working conditions or in the community as well as allotting reserves for future expenses. Primarily the goal is to invest in projects that address local social needs and whose profits are reinvested in the community. The primary mandate is to create employment, integrate people on the fringes of society and to combat poverty.

Des Praries Park bustling with free summer activities

Friday July 8^th 2016 marked the launch of the summer program and activities at Des Praries Park. This natural green space 30 hectares large is located adjacent to the river and street of the same name and can be accessed on 5 avenue du Crochet. The mayor of Laval Marc Demers who was on hand for the festive open ceremonies said, “I am very pleased to see how one of our great parks is so popular and crowded. Citizens will benefit from the visit to the park this summer thanks to the wealth of programming and the involvement of several community partners, “said Mayor Demers.

The park is crisscrossed by five kilometers of Quebec’s Green Route bicycle path, multiple Trek Fit exercise stations and pedestrian walkways for those wishing to stroll, run or cycle through a natural environment. The programming includes musical performances highlighted by a concert by Laval’s Symphonic Orchestra. While back to school is fast approaching there is still time for family fun as activities run till August 28^th. Wednesdays and Thursdays get physical in an outdoor setting with scheduled Tai Chi, line dancing, Zumba gold, circuit training and Latino cardio for all ages.

Popular Latin dance nights are on the menu every Friday night till the 26^th of August with lessons at 7:00 pm for salsa, bachata, merengue, cha-cha-cha followed by open dancing from 8:00 pm. Saturday evenings at 7:00pm hit movies including The Good Dinosaur, The Jungle Book, Angry Birds were screened under the stars.

A new mobile ice cream stand will operate on Thursdays through Sundays manned by young entrepreneurs twelve to seventeen years of age as part of a youth cooperative program. They will sell the products of the dairy CaFardeur as well as other refreshments.

The Laval-des-Rapides and the Pont-Viau (formerly held at Cluny Park) neighbourhood fests, will also highlight the last weekend of activities on the 27^th of August. A corn roast, shows, activities and kiosques will be ongoing all afternoon and the summer program will close with the last movie night presentation of Zootopia (French language version).

The municipal leisure activity office has noted the contributions of the community organisations Loisirs Bon-Pasteur and Diapason-Jeunesse who were active partners in the organization of this summer long celebration. The best part is that all these activities are free for residents of Laval and their families.