Martin C. Barry

More than 50 members and supporters of Rosemère Volunteer Services along with their guests gathered at Memorial Community Centre on Grande Côte Road in Rosemère around noon on Oct. 25 to celebrate a noteworthy milestone.

Marking a half-century

It was the 50^th anniversary of the opening of the RVS Gift Shop, which helps raise funds for worthy causes in Rosemère. The shop, which is located at Memorial Community Centre, was founded on Oct. 28, 1969.

The shop was originally the initiative of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Victorian Order of Nurses (V.O.N.) Mille-Îles branch, which had been established during the 1950s.

When the V.O.N. disbanded in Quebec in 1973, the women involved at the time decided to continue their efforts and form a new group which they named Rosemère Volunteer Services.

Many volunteers over time

In 1975, Rosemère Volunteer Services was officially incorporated as a non-profit organization. They have had numerous volunteers over the years and many different types of services have been offered during that time.

However, today many of those services are no longer needed as they are fulfilled by government agencies. But the RVS Gift Shop remains and its mission is also the same: funds raised are donated to local charities and two scholarships are provided to high school students to help them further their education.

RVS archives donated

Befitting an occasion marking a half-century of service to the public, the RVS board decided that as a commemorative gesture they would donate the RVS archives to the Société d’histoire et de généalogie des Mille-Îles.

The archives illustrate all the hard work done by the many RVS volunteers over the last five decades. “The donation is sure to ensure their preservation for future generations,” said Rosemère Volunteer Services president Gloria Kuhr. Gilles Charron and Kathy Nolan, president and vice-president respectively of the Société d’histoire et de généalogie des Mille-Îles, accepted a file box representing the contents of the RVS archives.

History booklet planned

“As we prepared our archives for this donation, it came to our attention that we were fortunate to have on hand most of the documents dating back to 1969,” said Kuhr. “This being the case, it was suggested that a complete history of the Rosemère Volunteer Services could be documented in the form of a short booklet.”

Although the RVS’s main archives documents are available, Kuhr said they felt certain that there might be more out there in members’ personal archives, such as photos, newspaper clippings, notes, etc. For example, a scrapbook of newspaper clippings was given to RVS recently by Alice Wallace, for which Kuhr expressed thanks.

RVS history docs needed

She said that if anyone else has any documents or photos pertaining to RVS history that they would like to donate, to please let the RVS board know. “This will greatly help should we decide to go ahead with the short history booklet project,” Kuhr added.

Among the guests at the 50^th anniversary luncheon was Rosemère mayor Eric Westram, town councillor Philip Panet-Raymond, Fondation Rosemère president Andrée Guilbeault and Jessy Turcot of Turcot Olivier Optometrists who is vice-president of the foundation.

Mayor Westram speaks

“In Rosemère volunteers are the heart of the community’s life,” Mayor Westram said in an address. “The Rosemère Volunteer Services Gift Shop is truly a valuable asset for our community.

“Every year the RVS Shop donates part of the proceeds from the sale of its gift items to Entraide de Rosemère and the Fondation Rosemère organizations which are here with us today,” the mayor continued. “Entraide de Rosemère helps the needy and the Fondation de Rosemère comes to the aid of the elderly.”

Martin C. Barry

After commissioning a consultant’s report last June on the state of Rosemère’s three anti-flood dikes along the Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, Rosemère town council reported during the Oct. 15 council meeting that a final report will be tabled in February.

Three flood dikes

The dikes are located along Belleville St. in eastern Rosemère, around the centre of the town on Skelton St. and in the west near the Exo commuter railway line.

“The mandate was granted with the goal of evaluating the security of the dikes and to furnish us with recommendations and possibly with stabilization work to be done if necessary,” said Councillor René Villeneuve who is responsible for the dossier.

While suggesting that council has been receiving initial information from the consultant in bits and pieces, Villeneuve said they would be providing residents with more conclusive information as soon as it becomes available.

Flood protections sought

On the other hand, regarding another mandate that was granted to analyze sectors of the town not protected against spring flooding from the Rivière des Mille Îles, Villeneuve said experts will be guiding town officials as they seek ways to protect built-up and natural areas vulnerable to flooding.

“This analysis will allow the town to put into place an intervention and management scenario,” he said. “As well, protective measures will be suggested taking into account legal considerations and environmental impacts.” He said the above actions should take around four months to complete and the town should have a final report at the end of February 2020.

Permits needed from Ministry

“Once we have received the first orientation of that mandate, we will work in close collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change to obtain the authorizations necessary in order to revise the protection measures because we must ask permission from the Ministry of the Environment.”

In closing, Villeneuve said he wanted to point out that the Town of Rosemère was able to obtain a subsidy from the federal government’s Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund covering 80 per cent of the future work likely to be recommended for the town’s current dike network.

Report on public security

Reporting on the state of public security in Rosemère, Councillor Philip Panet-Raymond said a public security plan has been updated to take into account natural disasters which could happen in the future. The plan was modeled on an example provided by the Quebec Public Security Ministry, he added.

“This plan allows us to respect regulations for procedures to follow for security alerts and mobilization and the means to take to protect security of people and property in case of disasters, while encouraging reflection on the risks of disaster on the territory of our municipality in order to take into account concerns in the context of preparation for disasters,” he said.

High mark from Ministry

Panet-Raymond said the town’s civil security plan aims for continuing improvement, as well as the development of a civil security framework centred on the well-being of the municipality. He noted that following the plan’s update by town personnel, the Quebec Ministry of Public Security gave the new plan a 92 per cent grading.

“This should be reassuring to us all,” he said. “The town is giving to itself the mission of maintaining up to date its plan to keep abreast with new regulations regarding civil security, to work in concert with its front-line operational partners, that is the firefighters and the police, and to maintain a constant contact with the Ministry of Public Security.”

(NSN) On October 8, the Town of Rosemère and students from Externat Sacré-Cœur, in collaboration with biologists Michel Leboeuf and Réjean Dumas, the Société d’horticulture et d’écologie de Rosemère (SHER) and a number of adult volunteers, planted over 300 trees and shrubs to finalize the revitalization of a Town-owned portion of the woods surrounding Sacré-Cœur Externat.

Fighting global warming

“As climate and environmental change are fundamental issues, we are proud to promote initiatives to fight global warming, while involving our community and our youth,” said Mayor Eric Westram.

“In planting these trees today, we adults are starting to bring an air of change to our environmental habits; however, it is the young people who are taking over and are the important players in this process.

An educational activity

“In addition to being positive for the environment, this planting project is an educational activity that will give Secondary 1 and 2 students the opportunity to improve their knowledge of horticulture,” he added.

On June 8, the first part of the project was carried out: 285 trees and shrubs were planted at that time. The Town of Rosemère announced that a total of 625 trees and shrubs will be planted by next spring to revitalize the Sacré-Cœur woods. They are expected to increase in size by 50% in this way so as to improve local biodiversity.

Martin C. Barry

In spite of demands by some Deux-Montagnes residents impacted by the impending closure of Exo train service that the city should support a moratorium on further REM train development, Mayor Denis Martin says Deux-Montagnes will be asking instead for the pace of work to be accelerated.

The Réseau de transport métropolitain’s Exo commuter train service between Deux-Montagnes and Montreal is slated to be closed in two stages — from Central Station into Du Ruisseau station from 2020 to 2022, and from Bois Franc to Deux-Montagnes stations between 2022 and 2023.

Transit chaos anticipated

Although the Quebec government has announced a $192-million plan for shuttle buses that will take most of the affected riders from the Bois Franc train station to the Côte-Vertu Metro station, there is widespread concern there will be chaos beginning in the new year when the current train service ends.

“The position of the city regarding a moratorium – I spoke with the people and the organization behind this – we think that it’s not the best of ideas,” Mayor Martin said in a statement at the beginning of the Oct. 10 city council meeting. “What we would prefer is an acceleration of the work rather than a moratorium.”

‘No’ to REM moratorium

According to the mayor, he and city officials discussed various points the residents raised, which he said were “interesting all the same,” while adding that a petition demanding the moratorium was signed by at least 300 people.

He said the position of the City of Deux-Montagnes, along with the MRC de Deux-Montagnes, the MRC Thérèse-De Blainville and the City of Laval is that they should work together to convince CDPQ Infra to shorten the length of time it takes to complete the REM project. “We are working on that particular point and we are hoping that we will get results,” he said.

In an interview following the council meeting, the mayor said, “Some people are asking for a moratorium and we’re not really in agreement with that. We don’t want to give them (CDPQ Infra) a chance to delay the work.

‘Need to move ahead,’ says mayor

“The mitigations that were announced are still a work in progress: as we’re moving along we’re still at work and still applying pressure for them to improve those measures,” he continued. “I don’t think that a moratorium will help. We really need to move ahead on that project – that’s the city’s position.”

Regarding what is probably the second-most pressing current issue in Deux-Montagnes – construction of the new anti-flood dike along the waterfront – the City of Deux-Montagnes says on its web site that it has been removing the temporary dike since mid-August and has permission from Quebec to make adjustments to the original dike project.

The dike route that was first approved and presented to lakeshore residents goes from 9^th Avenue to 13^th Avenue then onto Lakebreeze St. Although the route remains unchanged, the height of the dike is being raised to 25.71 metres (the originally-proposed height was 25.42 metres).

Flood dike progress report

As well, interlocked sheet piling is being added to prevent quicksand from developing. According to the city, these panels, forming steel curtains sunk into the ground, will provide more strength and much greater resistance to leakage.

The city says that following the major spring floods along Lake of Two Mountains earlier this year – and particularly the devastating impact they had in neighbouring Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac – engineers responsible for Quebec government dikes and dams developed a series of recommendations. The adjustments to the Deux-Montagnes dike are based on these findings.

The City of Deux-Montagnes maintains that the new dike will be completed and operational by the end of 2019 as planned. However, some finishing touches for esthetic purposes will be completed later on, they add. Various forms of public access to the waterfront are being planned and will be developed beginning in the spring.

‘Dangerous’ sidewalk

During public question period, Keith Pattenden of 12^th Ave. complained to the mayor that a group of workers who altered a section of sidewalk on Du Lac Blvd. just west of 13^th Ave. more than a month ago made it dangerous in the process.

As he uses the sidewalk twice a day every day all year, Pattenden said he found the change dangerous. “I think you probably will have some lawsuits if people fall down in the winter,” he said, because the sidewalk will be difficult to clear of snow the way it is now.

Mayor Martin said that he and other city officials, including Councillor Manon Robitaille who is responsible for Pattenden’s district, would be going to take an up-close-look at the section of sidewalk and determine whether action will have to be taken.

Martin C. Barry

On Oct. 10, Rosemerite Audrey-Maude Bouffard was honoured by town officials for saving a man’s life this past summer while she and her family were on vacation in Ontario.

A ceremony, attended by more than 30 family members and guests, took place in the atrium of the Rosemère municipal library, with family and friends in attendance.

Courage in a crisis

During the summer on July 21, the 17-year-old was getting ready to leave the beach at Sandbanks Provincial Park in Ontario, where she was visiting with other members of her family.

That’s when they heard cries of distress coming from the lake. Without hesitating, Audrey-Maude sprinted toward the beach where, with the help of several other people, she pulled a man ashore and proceeded to administer CPR. After about three minutes, he started to breathe again.

Showed character, mayor said

During the ceremony, Rosemère Mayor Eric Westram expressed his unreserved admiration for the young woman’s heroic conduct. “Audrey-Maude Bouffard saved a man’s life,” he told the gathering.

“She showed tremendous character and courage in a situation that may have otherwise been fatal. We are fortunate to have someone like her living in Rosemère. Her courage and perseverance are an inspiration for us all. We congratulate her on this act of bravery, which is richly deserving of our praise.”

National Assembly Medal

The ceremony included a number of touching tributes as well as the presentation of an honorary plaque to Audrey-Maude. She also received the Medal of the National Assembly from Éric Girard, MNA for Groulx, in recognition of her heroism, which was presented by one of Girard’s constituency office attachés.

In addition, Audrey-Maude took part in a time-honoured tradition, signing Rosemère’s Golden Book to immortalize this extraordinary act in the annals of the town’s history.

Martin C. Barry

Canadian National engine No. 6710, one of the first and last “boxcab electric” locomotives to serve on the Montreal-Deux Montagnes commuter rail line from 1918 to 1995, will be moved by the end of this month to a new location on Oka Rd., after being on display for decades outside Deux Montagnes’s main commuter train station.

CDPQ Infra to pay

According to Deux-Montagnes mayor Denis Martin, an agreement between the city and CDPQ Infra when the company expropriated the Deux-Montagnes train station to build the new REM train terminal stipulated that the historic CN engine would be moved to a new location at CDPQ Infra’s expense.

“Because it’s part of our history, a decision was taken to bring it to a good spot at the entrance to the city,” said the mayor, noting the location just on the edge of the Mille-Îles River is more picturesque and more people will see the engine.

A permanent spot for the unit with a section of closed railway track has already been set up in a green space with a parking area on the south side of Oka Rd. across from the public library. “I don’t exactly know what date, but we should have it moved there by the end of the month,” said Mayor Martin.

City to pay for painting

While CDPQ Infra is paying for the relocation as well as for installing the trackage to place the engine on, the City of Deux-Montagnes will be footing the bill to repaint and refurbish the outer appearance of the electric locomotive, he added.

As well, according to the mayor, the city plans to put up a sign or plaque of some sort with information on the history of the engine and its significance in Deux-Montagnes. He said the city plans to obtain a tourism promotion subsidy from the MRC Deux-Montagnes to pay for the refurbishment and paint job.

“The painting will probably be done only in the early spring,” he continued. “We’re not going to do it at this time of year. There’s a lot of traffic on Oka Rd., so a lot of people will see it at the entrance to Deux-Montagnes.

‘Preserve history,’ says mayor

“And the way we’ve been looking at it, it does not block anybody’s view so it’s a good spot and we’re happy to keep it,” he added. “If we weren’t doing this, we wouldn’t know what to do with it. We think it’s important to preserve history like this. There’s even parking there, so it was the perfect spot.”

According to an online encyclopaedia source, CN engine No. 6710 is one of six “boxcab electric” locomotive units that were built by General Electric for the now defunct Canadian Northern Railway in 1917.

CNoR built the Mount Royal Tunnel, carrying rail traffic up the line to Deux-Montagnes. When the Canadian Northern Railway went out of business, it was merged in 1923 into the Canadian National Railway.

The first and the last

According to the online source, engine No. 6710 was the first of the series of locomotives to inaugurate the Mount Royal Tunnel in 1918, and was the last of its kind to arrive at Central Station in Montreal on June 2, 1995 when it was retired from service.

Of the four remaining boxcab electric units, one (No. 6711, which is said to have pulled the last train along with No. 6710) is preserved at Exporail in Delson, Quebec). Another (No. 6714) is preserved at the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor, Connecticut U.S.A. No. 6715 is preserved at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa. And, of course, No. 6710 is in Deux-Montagnes where it is the property of the city.

(NSN) Town of Rosemère officials say they would like to thank the 147 donors who took part in the Rosemère town council’s blood drive on Sept. 27 at Place Rosemère.

At that time, a total of 120 bags of blood were collected during the course of the day. Once the various components are separated in the lab, that will mean over 480 units that will be sent to Quebec’s public hospitals to save as many lives.

“My councillors and I were thrilled by these amazing results, especially when we realized how many products will be made from the donated blood,” said Rosemère Mayor Eric Westram.

All the donors thanked

“This act of kindness by 147 donors will help save many lives, and I thank them for it. I would also like to acknowledge the contribution of Héma-Québec’s staff and volunteers who were on site, as well as Place Rosemère, which year after year makes space available at the mall for us to hold the event.”

According to Héma-Québec, it takes 1,000 blood donations every day to keep Quebec’s blood supply at optimal levels. One donation can save as many as four lives. Donors can give blood as frequently as every 56 days, or six times a year. To learn more: www.hema-quebec.qc.ca.

Martin C. Barry

Persons in need of wheelchairs and walkers, eyeglasses as well as large-print books will be well served in the North Shore region in the coming year thanks to thousands of dollars in sales last weekend at the Deux-Montagnes Lions Club’s annual Giant Book Fair.

Books for everyone

Held at Veterans Hall in Deux-Montagnes on Oct. 4, Oct. 5 and Oct. 6, the popular fundraising event proved to be as successful as ever. Hundreds of book lovers explored tables heavily loaded with an amazingly diverse assortment of volumes for everyone’s reading delight.

“It’s gone very well this year,” said fair co-organizer Nancy Rupnik, noting that the event was scheduled three weeks earlier than usual because of the coming federal election.

“But I think we’re going to probably keep it like this,” she added, “because the weather is nicer and it doesn’t conflict with the pre-Christmas bazaars taking place this time of year.”

Books for a long winter

Autumn is a time when everyone seems to want to get out before winter sets in and makes it more difficult to get around. It’s also a period when a lot of people buy books for the months ahead when they’re at home during the winter feeling a need for comfort and warmth.

As such, it was an opportunity for anyone with an interest in books to stock up on their favorite reads.

The book sale usually raises $10,000 to $15,000 for the Lions’ local philanthropic activities, which include support for the Deux-Montagnes Canada Day celebrations as well as service projects that involve the visually-impaired.

Helping North Shore causes

The money is usually distributed to causes over a wide area on the North Shore, from Oka in the west, to Deux-Montagnes and St. Eustache along the Mille Îles River, and St. Augustin and Mirabel more to the north of the region.

In all, there were more than 30,000 books, in good condition, all classified into categories normally found in a book store in both English and French, including a great choice of children’s reading.

Among the many volunteers helping were a group of students from Lake of Two Mountains High School taking part in a leadership development program. LTMHS grade seven student Jaida Wilkins was one of them.

LTMHS volunteers helped

While the others had put in their time and seemed to have left when the North Shore News dropped by on Saturday, Wilkins saw fit to stay behind. “I just wanted to help out and I like doing things like this,” she said.

Rhonda Gibson, a teacher at LTMHS who helps oversee the student leadership program, said this wasn’t the first year they helped out at the Deux-Montagnes Lions Book Fair. “We do this every year as part of the student leader program,” she said. “It’s part of getting the teens to become involved in their communities.”