‘It’s a way for us to thank our citizens while just having a great time’
More than 800 guests – most of them constituents in Vimy MP Annie Koutrakis’s riding – chowed down on hot dogs, salad and other outdoor BBQ delights on the afternoon of Sunday Sept. 1 in Laval-des-Rapides’ Bernard Landry Park.
Vimy Liberal MP Annie Koutrakis, left, helped cook and serve hotdogs during her annual summer BBQ event in Bernard Landry Park in Laval-des-Rapides on Sunday Sept. 1. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Again next year
Although it was Koutrakis’s first annual BBQ since first being elected in 2019, she pledged it was far from being the last. “We plan to have this event every year,” she said in an interview with The Laval News.
“And it’s a way for us to thank our citizens while just having a great time in a family atmosphere to tell them how much I appreciate them. It’s also for them to know that they have a federal Member of Parliament who is always there ready and willing to help.”
Touching base locally
Koutrakis and her staff spent time since early August visiting more than 40 local community organizations and non-profit groups, including several senior citizens’ retirement residences.
Some of the more than 800 people who attended Vimy MP Annie Koutrakis’ summer BBQ. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
“Everybody knew about our annual BBQ,” said Koutrakis, noting that several buses of seniors were expected to take part in the festivities that afternoon. “For us, when I look at this, it warms my heart to know that we did the right thing.”
While there is a common misconception that MPs enjoy long summer and Christmas holidays when the House of Commons isn’t in session, the truth is that the vast majority of parliamentarians use the time to catch up on local issues in their ridings, while going around touching base with people and organizations.
Busy summer for Koutrakis
“Oh my god, I think summer is the best time for all Members of Parliament to be on the ground and visit the small businesses, family organizations, daycamps.” she agreed. “We visited many of the companies and organizations we helped this summer through Canada employment.”
A senior member of a Cadets Canada corps from Laval helped familiarize Vimy MP Annie Koutrakis with the fine points of using a computerized flight simulator during Koutrakis’ BBQ event in Bernard Landry Park in Laval-des-Rapides on Sept. 1. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
She said the riding of Vimy alone this past summer received nearly $1 million to provide subsidies to 66 children’s daycamps and other groups so they could create 204 jobs for students who were off during summer vacation.
“So, the good word is that summer is the best time for MPs to get some things done, when we’re not torn between parliament and other things that need to be done,” she added. An event such as a large gathering of citizens can also offer opportunities to hear what’s on the minds of constituents. Koutrakis learned what some of them were thinking.
Meeting constituents
“Today I heard from several people who wanted more information on the government’s housing strategy, for instance,” she said. “There were some who said they had reached out in the past for services at my office and they specifically wanted to meet members of my team who had helped them out.
“I can’t ask for better than that,” she continued. “So, it’s really great to be able to have these informal get-togethers to hear directly from people where you know that you’re made a difference in their life. And it makes me better as a Member of Parliament. We learn as a team.”
During the last few days of August, City of Laval work crews were wrapping up the last of a series of coordinated trash and waste pickups on streets throughout the city, after the devastating floods that washed through several neighbourhoods of Laval on Aug. 9.
Over the previous three weeks, a coordinated effort by several key municipal departments focused on the massive task, with assistance from a few contracted outside service providers.
According to the city, more than 25,000 hours of work went into the cleanup, and city teams were resuming their day-to-day operations, as students in schools across Laval were adjusting to back-to-school routines and settling down to classes.
“Planning and coordination efforts as well as the exceptional mobilization of several hundred people made it possible to conduct this never-before-seen cleanup operation on Laval’s soil,” said Patrick Taillefer, director of the Laval Fire Dept. and principal coordinator for emergency measures.
“For every residence affected, our teams had to pick up the equivalent of nearly a year’s worth of trash,” he added. “They managed to do it with success, after a second and then a final sweep over all the territory.”
“Since August 12, the City of Laval’s teams worked incessantly to support our community,” said Mayor Stéphane Boyer.
“This cleanup operation, which quickly became our absolute priority, showed one more time the solidarity and resilience of all the people in Laval. Thanks to the commitment of our staff and the collaboration of everyone concerned, we were able to surmount this challenge together and reestablish order in our neighbourhoods to the best of our abilities.”
Just what was done
Work crews passed twice on all Laval’s territory, for a total of 2,900 streets
15,363 addresses visited
More than 8,000 tons of debris gathered
4,170 10-wheel truck trips
12,455 visits to the écocentres
Around 1,000 tons of debris dumped
More than 25,000 hours of work
Estimated cost $4 million
Other options still available
Laval’s écocentres continue to be an excellent option for those still needing to rid themselves of trash and debris left from the flooding. Because of the exceptional nature of the situation, the city is allowing a much greater volume of materials per resident to be accepted.
They are also reminding residents who were impacted that some insurance policies include rental charges for steel containers to gather debris and its pickup by a specialized contractor.
Giant mural completed at Chomedey high-rise
On Aug. 29, representatives of the City of Laval were on hand for the official unveiling of a large mural created over two exterior walls on a high-rise building at the corner of Saint-Martin and Daniel Johnson boulevards in Chomedey.
The work, titled Inner Child Healing, was created by multidisciplinary artist Jacquie Comrie, on the outside of the 14-storey Tours Saint-Martin.
“Adding to the City of Laval’s already impressive collection of public art, this impressionist and brilliant work will be embellishing the sector to make it even more lively, while at the same time adding to the experiences of those using the sector,” said Laval city councillor for Sainte-Rose Flavia Alexandra Novac, who is responsible for cultural dossiers on city council.
“The building’s architecture was perfectly suited for such a large project in an area where its visibility over a wide and well-trafficked area will ensure it is seen by a maximum of passersby,” she added.
The artist who created the work explained how she went about it. “In my artistic efforts, I use color as a tool for social transformation in order to create a positive impact and beneficial effects on mental health,” Comrie said.
“Color is a universal language for transmitting emotions, in addition to being a powerful tool to embellish spaces. It has healing properties and also the capacity to influence our thoughts, our behaviors and our well-being.”
The mural was created with the assistance of MU, an organization that has been behind the creation of many other exterior murals in the Montreal region since 2007. The City of Laval undertook to sponsor the mural as part of an existing cultural policy to promote public art in open outdoor spaces in strategic locations.
Around 60 other murals and other works of art are part of a growing collection on Laval’s territory. They can be found on many municipal buildings including libraries, sports and community centres, as well as in green spaces and public parks.
Since Sept. 7, the City of Laval library network’s Marius-Barbeau branch in Saint-François has been closed while a move is undertaken to a new location at the Espace citoyen des Confluents (ECC) at 1000 Marie-Uguay St.
According to Laval city councillor Flavia Alexandra Novac, in charge of library services on city council, the new locale will give the branch more space and convenience for its users who are mostly in Duvernay-Est and Saint-François.
“They will have access to a collection of more than 55,000 documents, several new pieces of digital equipment, a terrace, a reading room, a special section especially set aside for teenagers, meeting rooms and much more,” said Novac.
“This will be a place very simply that is exceptional where you will be able to find places for gatherings, exchanges and for culture, which is sure to become an important focal point for the community,” she added.
Until Nov. 2 when the ECC is schedule to open, library users from the area are invited to use the Germaine-Guèvremont library branch located at 2900 boulevard de la Concorde Est in Duvernay, or any of the eight other Laval public library branches.
At the same time, library users are reminded that many of the City of Laval’s services are not available online, making it unnecessary to go in person to a library branch. For example, books and documents can be reserved online, while other resources can be consulted directly in databases of information. Book and document loans can also be renewed online.
Donation of school bags to primary schools in Chomedey to promote integration, academic success and fight against children’s poverty
(NEWSFIRST) – In this back-to-school period, it is essential that all children in Chomedey schools have the necessary resources for their success and academic development.
Like last year, Chomedey’s representative, Sona Lakhoyan Olivier, worked with the Néz pour vivre Foundation to provide school bags to students in need.
Francine Laplante from the Néz pour vivre Foundation launched the project “The Star Godmother” to help students in difficulty through various actions.
Sona Lakhoyan Olivier generously contributed to the progress of this cause by allowing seven schools in Chomedey to receive a total of 200 bags, valued at $10,000, which will be given to children in need.
The current issue of the Laval News, volume 32-17, published on September 11th, 2024. Covering Laval local news, politics, and sports. (Click on the image to read the paper.)
Front page of The Laval News, September 11th, 2024 issue.
Moderna Inc. (Nasdaq:MRNA) announced on Monday that its Canadian manufacturing facility, which is located in Laval, has been granted a Drug Establishment License (DEL) by Health Canada.
The certification, according to a statement issued by the company, affirms the facility’s compliance with rigorous safety and quality standards, authorizing it to produce drug substance.
“This key milestone enables Moderna’s Canadian manufacturing site to become fully operational, bringing the company closer to ensuring a reliable and onshore supply of mRNA vaccines within Canada,” said Moderna.
Moderna’s mRNA facility in Laval.
With the DEL in place, the facility will proceed with the final qualification process, positioning it to domestically manufacture a portfolio of mRNA vaccines against respiratory viruses beginning in 2025, including COVID-19 and, contingent on approval by Health Canada, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and seasonal influenza.
“This is another landmark in Moderna’s long-term strategic partnership with the Government of Canada to provide onshore respiratory vaccine manufacturing capabilities and support national pandemic readiness,” said Roger Ngassam, Laval Manufacturing Site Head at Moderna Canada.
“This platform will be the foundation for enabling the manufacturing of multiple mRNA vaccines right here in Canada,” he added.
“This is a significant achievement in our efforts to bring certified end-to-end mRNA manufacturing capabilities to Canada and is the first of our manufacturing sites outside the U.S. to reach this milestone,” said Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna.
“We look forward to continuing our work with the Government of Canada to support the national supply of vital respiratory vaccines.”
The DEL status adds to Moderna’s existing global manufacturing footprint, which includes key facilities in the United States, as well as facilities under construction in Australia and the United Kingdon.
According to the company, the Laval facility will be playing a crucial role in furthering Moderna’s positive impact on global health, while contributing to the local economy, and ensuring Canadian access to safe, high-quality mRNA medicines.
Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Moderna focuses on RNA therapeutics – mainly mRNA vaccines.
The company, which underwent a massive surge in growth during the Covid pandemic, has only one commercial product so far, which is the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
However, Moderna has 45 treatment and vaccine candidates, of which 38 have reached the advanced stage of clinical trials.
They include potential vaccines for influenza, HIV, Epstein-Barr human herpes, and several vaccines against cancer.
The Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board, the Centre de services scolaire de Laval and the Laval Police have teamed up once again at the beginning of a new school year to get things underway with a focus on student safety.
Their initiative aims to promote safe driving habits around school zones during drop-off times to ensure the well-being of students.
Seen in the photo: Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer, city councillor Sandra Desmeules, Laval Police chief Pierre Brochet, Yves-Michel Volcy, executive-director Centre de services scolaires de Laval, SWLSB chairman Paolo Galati, Carl Vaillancourt, director of École Saint-Paul, Laval Police safety and prevention officer Simon Morissette, Justine Fleury of the Laval Police school crossing guard detachment, school crossing guard Nicole St-Père, and students Jad Bouhdad and Arya Sinanan, élève of École Saint-Paul.
The “Drop Me Off Safely” campaign is an initiative of the Laval Police and has won the Recognition award granted by the Association des directeurs de police du Québec, in the Road Security category.
Recognizing the importance of safety during the crucial moments of student drop-offs, the Laval Police initiated the campaign to raise awareness and ensure every student is safe on their journey to school.
Once again, the campaign will be spread over four strategic periods under various themes throughout the 2024-2025 school year.
More specifically, the police will be reminding motorists of speed limits to respect and mandatory stops to watch out for when a school bus turns on its flashing red lights.
“Our focus at the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board is always the safety of our students and staff,” said school board chairperson Paolo Galati.
“Being part of the “Drop Me Off Safely” campaign is important to us and we are proud to support this initiative to keep our students safe,” he added.
Laval-based INRS gets over $4 million from Quebec to prepare for future pandemics
As the climate continues to change, insect-borne viruses—also known as arboviruses—are becoming a growing threat to public health around the world.
These viruses, which are spread and transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, and flies, could be the source of future epidemics or pandemics in Quebec and the rest of Canada.
Indeed, some of them are already in the World Health Organization’s sights.
Professor Laurent Chatel-Chaix, a molecular virologist at INRS who heads the CL3 laboratory, will be working with his team to perform cutting-edge research on arboviruses like West Nile virus, chikungunya, Usutu, and yellow fever. (CNW Group/Institut National de la recherche scientifique [INRS])
The Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), based in Laval, a leader in the fight against infectious diseases, has received $4,163,688 in funding from the Quebec government to technologically develop an innovative research pipeline in its Containment Level 3 (CL3) laboratory on the INRS Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie Research Centre in Laval. Today’s announcement is a major boon for biotech sector.
“This major investment strengthens INRS’s position as a hub of expertise in health and biotechnology in Quebec and the rest of Canada,” said Luc-Alain Giraldeau, Chief Executive Officer of INRS.
“This will provide our institution with state-of-the-art facilities to take on current public health challenges, while helping to train the next generation of scientists specialized in infectious diseases,” he said.
“By supporting this INRS project, we are affirming the importance of Quebec in research and innovation,” said Christopher Skeete,Minister for the Economy, Minister responsible for the Fight against Racism and Minister responsible for the Laval region in the Legault cabinet.
“This support contributes to making Laval a major center for biotechnology and health, and we are proud to see our region shine in these essential fields,” Skeete added.
CL3 infrastructure allows pathogens that may be hazardous to human and animal health to be handled and studied under infectious and highly secure conditions.
A better understanding of arboviruses
Professor Laurent Chatel-Chaix, a molecular virologist at INRS who heads the CL3 laboratory since 2021, will be working with his team to perform cutting-edge research on arboviruses like West Nile virus, chikungunya, Usutu, and yellow fever.
“Arboviruses are potential sources of epidemics and pandemics, especially since they are influenced by the effects of global warming in some parts of the world,” said Chatel-Chaix.
“The technological innovation of this CL3 facility will allow us to deepen our knowledge of certain diseases and better understand how these viruses spread while preparing for future pandemic and epidemic threats.”
Minister of Tourism Soraya Martinez Ferrada, accompanied by Vimy Liberal MP Annie Koutrakis, last week announced a non-repayable subsidy of $520,000 to Tourisme Laval, to help the agency guide Laval businesses in developing and structuring their tourism offering in the Laval region while also marketing it outside Quebec.
Founded in 1982, Tourisme Laval orients and facilitates the region’s tourism industry, actively contributing to its economic prosperity.
With 170 members, the non-profit organization provides leadership in welcoming tourists and promoting attractions, while also helping to create new tourism experiences through stand-out initiatives.
Officials with Tourisme Laval are seen here with Vimy MP Annie Koutrakis and federal Tourism Minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada following last week’s funding announcement.
Tourisme Laval also plays a role in gathering its members and partners together to focus on sustainable development and is particularly known for its expertise in business and sports tourism.
The four-year project for which Tourisme Laval was granted the funds targets three of the federal government’s priorities: sustainable tourism, inclusive tourism and the acceleration of business digitization.
The project also prioritizes tourism experiences targeted by the Alliance de l’industrie touristique du Québec.
The government’s contribution will help pay Tourisme Laval’s operating costs, which include salaries, professional fees and other costs directly related to authorized activities.
“The Government of Canada is keen to support the tourism industry which, we must remember, was hit hard by the pandemic, while it plays a key role in reinforcing Quebec and Canada’s competitiveness and appeal,” said Martinez Ferrada, who is also Minister responsible for Canadian Economic Development Quebec in the Trudeau cabinet.
“Tourisme Laval showcases all that the region has to offer to tourists, something it does so well,” she added emphatically.
“The investment announced today signals our commitment to Laval’s tourism businesses and will make it possible to attract even more people from abroad to visit us. We can be proud of all that our regions have to offer.”
“Tourisme Laval spearheads efforts to attract and retain tourists from outside Quebec,” said Koutrakis, who is Martinez Ferrada’s Parliamentary Secretary.
“Its team, consisting of a vast network with solid expertise in guiding tourism businesses, knows how to face increasing competition to position Laval as a destination of choice for visitors from Canada, the U.S. and abroad,” she continued. “CED’s support will make it possible to boost this important component of Laval’s economy.”
“We express our gratitude towards CED for this decisive support,” said Yanick Pazzi, president of Tourisme Laval’s board of directors. “The confidence the government of Canada has placed in Tourisme Laval highlights our key role in the region’s economy.
“Thanks to this assistance, we will be able to not only promote ethical, innovative tourism, but also strengthen sustainable growth in our region,” said Pazzi. “This funding will enable us to market our destination outside Quebec and to modernize our tourism offering, in perfect harmony with the priorities of our governmental partners.”
Photo: Courtesy Association des Pompiers de Laval)
On Aug. 26 shortly after 1 am, firefighting personnel from the Laval Fire Dept. contended with a relatively minor blaze at a home on Guénette St. in Chomedey.
According to a report posted by the Association des Pompiers de Laval on social media, smoke was seen by firefighters coming out of the one-story house as soon as they arrived.
A code 10-07 was called in, meaning the firefighters’ intervention was necessary.
LFD firefighter Abelly retires after 34 years
The Association des Pompiers de Laval, which is the union representing the City of Laval’s firefighters, paid homage on their social media feed recently to a veteran fireman who recently retired.
Firefighter Jean-Philippe Abelly took his retirement on Aug. 11, having accumulated an impressive 34 years of service with the LFD.
The APL wished him a happy and restful retirement and so does The Laval News.
Trucks can now use all lanes on Papineau Bridge
The Papineau Bridge, which carries Autoroute 19. (Photo: Courtesy Transports Québec)
Since late last week, trucks have been allowed to use all the lanes on the Papineau Bridge which links Laval to Montreal Island via Autoroute 19.
Truckers were restricted to using only some lanes in each direction on the busy bridge since last May 17 as special repairs were being carried out on the structure.
According to Transports Québec, the work done on the bridge since then has strengthened the bridge’s concrete platform with steel plates and other additions.
However, the ministry cautions that some more work will be necessary to finish the job in September, although it will require work taking place only at night.
‘We know they’re going to be here to stay,’ LPD official says of growing mobility trend
With electric scooters quickly becoming an ever-more common sight on Laval’s streets, officers from the Laval Police Dept. held a safety and information session in the parking lot outside the Carrefour Laval mall last Saturday in conjunction with the firms that are currently renting out e-scooters in Laval in public locations.
According to Cst. Simon Morrissette, an LPD veteran who oversees the force’s road safety and prevention unit, the LPD is taking proactive action to clarify the conditions for the safe and legal operation of e-scooters on the city’s roads and streets.
Making e-scooter use safe
“Our job right now is to promote the secure way of using them,” he said, adding that the LPD also wants to get the message out about the highway safety code rules that apply to e-scooters.
Left, a Laval police officer rides one of the for-rent e-scooters available in Laval during a safety information day held in the parking lot outside Carrefour Laval last Saturday. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Since last year when the city first allowed and began promoting the use of rented e-scooters, the number of scooters available at rental stations in Laval has doubled, according to Morrissette.
“Because they’re a new type of mobility, which is also an active one, we know they’re going to be here to stay,” he said. “So, we want to be sure that everybody, before they start using them, are aware of the risks and the responsible ways of using them.”
$100+ tickets for violators
As it now stands, said Morrissette, e-scooters are defined within the Quebec highway safety code. That being said, those who ride them but who fail to abide by the rules risk receiving $100 tickets (plus administration fees) from the police for moving violations.
Perhaps the most important of these is failure to wear a helmet while operating an e-scooter.
Other e-scooters rules: The minimum age to operate one is 14 years; the electric motor cannot exceed 500 watts power; wheels must be at least 19 centimetres in diameter; it is forbidden for more than one person to travel aboard an e-scooter; and operating an e-scooter on sidewalks is strictly forbidden.
Electric scooters are currently being made available to rent in Laval at a number of public locations, including this one next to Parc Frégault in northern Saint-Martin district. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
E-scooter sobriety test
As Morrissette pointed out, e-scooter promoters Bird and Lime have incorporated a number of technical features in their vehicles (and the apps used to lease them), which are designed to detect when someone who is impaired by alcohol or drugs is trying to take one out on the road.
E-scooters are just one of a growing range of new mobility devices which have come rapidly onto the market in recent years – often through relatively lax internet-retailing – leaving governments and road safety regulators playing a game of catch-up to adapt laws to the new technology.
But for the time being, the LPD is focusing on making e-scooter use safer for the growing number of users.
