Martin C. Barry

Agape, the Chomedey-based charity known for its fierce determination to help the needy while promoting access to English-language health services in Laval, last week celebrated the 20^th anniversary of the day in 1995 when it first opened in a former fish market on Notre Dame Boulevard.

An evening not to be missed

Supporters gathered at the Agape daycare on June 11 to mark the occasion. The evening included the celebration of a Holy Mass of Thanksgiving by former Holy Name of Jesus parish pastor Fr. Peter Sabbath, followed by a buffet style supper with beer and wine, a few words from Agape’s president, and finally a social evening with music and entertainment.

One of Agape’s most faithful supporters, Chomedey Liberal MNA Guy Ouellette, dropped by with his wife to spend some time, in spite of the fact he had to attend another function that night. Addressing the crowd, he referred to Agape as “one of the few resources that we have in Laval in the anglophone community. I have called it a jewel before and when you have a jewel you take care of it.”

“This has been a place of laughter, tears, passion,” said Fr. Sabbath. “If I were just to describe Agape, to me it would be as a great instrument of mercy not only in this Year of Mercy, but also in the many years of its existence. We’re all very grateful.”

Mulcair’s help instrumental

Describing the events leading up to Agape’s taking up residence at its permanent address, treasurer Elizabeth McLeod recounted how they were initially rebuffed by elected officials from the municipal, provincial and federal governments. However, they received support from future MNA and NDP leader Thomas Mulcair before he went on to be elected to the Quebec National Assembly.

McLeod recalled the treatment they got when they went to see former Laval West Liberal MP Michel Dupuy, whose political attaché, she said, told her and other Agape supporters, including Mulcair, “You walk in here as if you were in a bakery.” According to McLeod, Mulcair told the attaché that, with or without him, Agape would open. “And three months later we opened,” McLeod said.

Mind you, since the venue that became available to Agape was a former fish store which had been closed for a year-and-a-half, “the stench was unbelievable,” she continued, “and being the fancy little girl that I am, I said wait Cliffe, we’re not coming here.” But Agape co-founder Cliffeline Young had other ideas and tried to persuade McLeod that 3952 Notre Dame Blvd. in Chomedey was indeed the right place.

First opened on June 29

Thus it was that on June 15, 1995, Elizabeth, Cliffeline and other Agape supporters got on their knees and prayed for guidance. Then on June 29, they finally opened and held a large press conference which was well-attended. Among Agape’s first supporters, she added, was the Laval News.

McLeod gave credit to former Liberal MP for Laval-Les Îles Raymonde Folco for helping Agape obtain a federal subsidy that allowed the organization in 2002 to acquire ownership of the building it had been leasing until then. Folco, who has been out of politics since 2011, described McLeod as someone who is so tenacious when pursuing a goal that it becomes easier for someone being lobbied to say yes.

“One thing that we hardly ever mention about Agape is the fact that this organization that Betty and the other volunteers have created has become a family,” Folco said. “And it’s a wonderful thing that all the people of different ages have got together and are helping other newcomers who are coming into Laval, whether their language is English, French, Arabic, whatever. It doesn’t matter. They are helping and in doing so they are helping themselves.”

The following are “OPEN” during the Fête Nationale:

– 311, the city of Montreal’s information hotline
– some dépanneurs (aka corner stores)
– stores and food outlets located in hospitals, train stations, airports, cultural centres, sports – centres and tourism destinations
– some pharmacies, especially large chains, hours and staffing may be reduced
– cinemas
– Montreal Casino (hint: it’s always open)
– Montreal Beaches
– Parc Jean-Drapeau’s Attractions
– Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
– Montreal Biodome
– Montreal Planetarium
– Montreal Botanical Gardens
– Montreal Insectarium
– Montreal Science Centre (not in 2016 though, the Centre is on strike)
– Montreal’s Museum of History and Archeaology
– public markets/farmers markets
– grocery stores 375 square meters (4,037 feet) or less in size can remain open at their – –     leisure, though hours may be reduced
– service-based businesses like hair salons, restaurants, gas stations and manufacturers are   free to remain open at their discretion
– bookstores, flower stores and antique shops are free to remain open if they wish
– some arenas, swimming pools and sports centres remain open, others don’t, depending on   the neighborhood, call 311 for details
– public transit follows a slower weekend schedule
– parking meters are always in operation (no freebies)
– garbage pickups and recycling generally stay on schedule but it depends on the year,

The following are “CLOSED” during the Fête Nationale:

– Banks
– most city of Montreal offices
– municipal court
– most provincial and federal offices
– many private sector offices
– shopping malls
– postal service delivery and Canada Post post offices, with the exception of offices operating   in the private sector, the latter which can remain open at their discretion
– grocery stores/supermarkets larger than 375 square meters (4,037 feet) in size
– retail stores with the exception of bookstores, flower stores and antique shops, which can     remain open if they wish
– the Claude-Robillard sports centre (except the tennis courts, which remain open)
ecocentres, citywide
– all SAQ liquor stores

Always call 311 in case of exceptions….

Pierre Lalonde (20 January 1941 – 21 June 2016) was a singer and television host from Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Lalonde attended high school in the United States but returned to Canada in 1960, where he worked at radio station CKJL with his father in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec. Shortly after, he worked in Montreal at CJMS.

In 1961, Lalonde moved to television station CFTM-TV to host a variety of programs, including the popular show Jeunesse d’aujourd’hui (Today’s Youth). The following year, he released his first single and made his first LP in 1963. Lalonde mainly recorded in French, but he released a number of singles in English as well.

Lalonde’s success led to his own program in New York, The Peter Martin Show, in 1967 on WPIX. He also recorded one album, Introducing Peter Martin, under this name.

His English language shows include Music Hop, The Mad Dash, Circus and The Pierre Lalonde Show, In 1983 and 1984 he hosted the Miss Teen Canada Pageant.

His father, Jean Lalonde, was a popular singer in the 1940s.

Lalonde died on June 21, 2016 at the age of 75.

Product description

This recall involves the Infinity Bamboo Torch sold exclusively at Réno-Dépôt stores. The fuel container is permanently attached to the bamboo and comes in a variety of colours. The product UPC 671424665405 is printed on the attached instructions.

Hazard identified

The recalled products do not meet the labeling requirements for consumer chemical products under the Consumer Chemical and Container Regulations, 2001, made under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act.

The products do not have the symbols and warnings that are required to be placed on the containers of consumer chemical products. The lack of labeling information, including appropriate warnings, may lead to serious injury or property damage.

Health Canada has received one report of a consumer incident related to the use of this product. No injuries have been reported.

CTM International Gift ware Inc. has not received any reports of consumer incidents or injuries related to the use of this product.

Approximately 2,448 units of the recalled torch have been sold at Réno-Dépôt stores across Canada.

The recalled products were sold from March 2016 to June 2016.

The Egyptian Investigative Committee reports that the Cockpit voice recorder from EgyptAir Flight 804 has been located and retrieved, but it is damaged.  The recorder is now being transferred to Alexandria, Egypt for the investigation.  Searchers are now looking for the other “Black Box” which is the flight Data Recorder.  This recorder gathers 25 hours of technical data from the airplane’s sensors.