Martin C. Barry

Nearly a half-dozen residents of des Vignobles Street in eastern Rosemère turned up at the town council meeting on June 10 to complain that their street is in riddled with numerous cracks and potholes which are not being fixed despite repeated patchings taking place year after year.

Street repairs needed

“The paving on this street between Roland Durand and Champagne dates from more than 30 years ago,” Élaine Sanche, who spoke on behalf of the group, said during the public question period.

“Can you explain to me why work is still not done when it was part of the five-year plan adopted by the previous mayoralty. What we want to know is when you plan to complete those works. It’s very dangerous for children, for senior citizens, in fact for all residents who get around on foot.”

She said the problem is particularly bad near a park. “We see a problem. We are therefore expecting a solution from you before somebody gets hurt. It’s several times that this has been brought up, and that is why we are here tonight because we really would like to something done about it.”

Hardly the exception

Councillor René Villeneuve responded that “unfortunately it’s not the only street like that. There are a lot of streets that are presently in a bad state.” In addition to the pavement problems, the group’s spokesperson said des Vignobles has over the years also become very busy with traffic because of its proximity to Autoroute 640 and it is also used by drivers coming and going from the Externat Sacré-Cœur.

“It is interesting to see that despite a 30 km/h sign and police surveillance, very few residents respect the posted speed limit,” she continued. “We would like to know what the town can do to deal with the problem. The thing would be not to wait before reacting. We have numerous young families who’ve arrived recently and who would like serenity and security for their children, which is not the case now.”

No work this year, says mayor

Having received the group’s questions in writing before the council meeting, Mayor Eric Westram said this gave him time to check whether des Vignobles St. was listed for work this year. “In all honesty, that particular work was not scheduled for this year,” said Westram.

“What we will do, on the other hand, is to re-evaluate the situation. And if we arrive at the same conclusion as you and there’s no doubt at all about what you’re suggesting, we will see about the possibility of exchanging one project for another. But what’s certain is that yours isn’t listed in the PTI (triennial infrastructure plan) this year.”

Have you checked the latest water bill sent to your home by the Town of Rosemère? At least two residents brought up the town’s water-billing methods during the regular council meeting, as well as during the more informal “plenary” held 45 minutes earlier.

Unhappy with low water bills

What they noticed was that the water bills they received were for extraordinarily small sums – $1.62 in one case, nothing at all in another. They wondered why the town would bother sending out invoices for such small sums, when it might have made more sense to forward the sum onto a cumulative bill next year.

“The problem is that this week I received my water bill, and I would like to pay but I don’t owe you anything,” said Daniel Robinson of Skelton St. “What I don’t understand is why you spent money to send me a bill to say I don’t owe a cent.”

Westram admitted that the town should perhaps have sent notices with the bills, informing recipients that, based on Rosemère’s new water conservation policy, they had succeeded in limiting their water consumption. However, not everyone received a low water bill. One person at the council meeting reported her bill was for more than $900. She was told to check her plumbing for leaks as that was the most likely cause.

Wanted: an accurate flood map

Also during question period, Wendy Gurd asked the mayor whether a chart is available to residents that shows areas of the town that are vulnerable to flooding. According to town manager Guy Benedetti, the most up-to-date map dates from 2005, although it is currently under revision.

“The new chart is not available,” said Mayor Westram, noting that since the catastrophic floods in 2017 and this year the provincial government has decided that any territory bordering the river is now considered a 0-100-year flood risk. “I think this is the first step until they arrive at a chart that is a true reflection of reality,” he added.

And finally, Normand Painchaud, who launched the Atelier d’Ébinisterie Communautaire de Rosemère last week at the public works yard, said that the workshop has done so well that it is now in a position to pay back a subsidy of several thousand dollars that the town had made to get the workshop started.

(NSN) The Town of Rosemère has announced the names of the young Rosemerite winners of the comic book competition on preservation of the environment.

The winners

The talented comic strip artists are: Jade Poirier (14 years old), Lorik Roberge Sauvé (7 years old), Maxim Jacquet (12 years old), Nicolas Gagnon-Fee (16 years old) and Mathilde Lefevre / Juliette Schmaltz (10 years old).

In addition to having their work published in the Rosemère News, the winners receive a $50 gift card redeemable at Place Rosemère.

Great work, says mayor

“The comic strips we have selected are not only beautiful and lively, but they also convey an environmental message that raises readers’ awareness,” said Mayor Eric Westram.

“I am truly impressed by the quality of the comic strips that the Town has received and especially by the interest that young people have in preserving the environment. They are an example to follow.”

Now at the library

In order for all Rosemerites to be able to admire the works of the youngsters who entered the competition, all the comic strips received by the town are being exhibited at the municipal library from June 4-21.

The comic strip contest, launched last winter, was aimed at Rosemère residents under the age of 18 and designed to raise public awareness about environmental protection.

Martin C. Barry

The artistic creations of up to 65 artists from all over Quebec – including a good number from Rosemère –  graced the lawns next to Sainte-Françoise-Cabrini church on Grande Côte Road on June 1-2 during the Rosemère Artists Gathering’s second annual 2019 Rosemère en Arts Symposium.

While we now live in turbulent times when the weather can change completely overnight, the Symposium’s organizers got in at least one full day of sunshine on Saturday, although by Sunday rain threatened and it was a touch-and-go matter.

Music complements art

The Symposium opened on Friday evening with a VIP cocktail event. On Saturday, musical entertainment was provided by the jazz-oriented band “Ol Blue Eyes,” performing an homage to Frank Sinatra. On Sunday, there was more musical entertainment with the Duo Annie Gaudreau. Lead singer Roy was accompanied by pianist Stéphane Ménard.

To encourage this major biennial event, the Town of Rosemère provided financial support of $10,000, as well as the loan of equipment and personnel for the technical aspects of the event. The Symposium was fully managed by the Rosemère Artists Gathering (RAR).

Young collectors were also invited to visit La petite galerie, where they could purchase a signed canvas that they could take the time to choose for themselves.

Chance to win a painting

A silent auction was also held in the library’s atrium. Participants also had a chance to win a painting by the Symposium’s guest artist, Madone Simard.

As Rosemère, with its tall stands of trees and riverside views, is a particularly beautiful area of the Montreal region, it was apparent that many of the local artists drew inspiration from the beauty of the setting in their paintings and other artistic creations.

One of the Symposium’s special features was a collectively-created mural painted by children and adults under the supervision of noted Montreal muralist Sophie Stella Boivin.

Martin C. Barry

His name is Alexis Lafrenière and you may be hearing a lot more of it by this time next year when he’s turned 18 and becomes eligible for the National Hockey League’s annual player draft.

Seventeen year old Lafrenière, who started playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League at age 15, was the honoured guest on June 1 at Denis Breton Chevrolet Buick GMC on Dubois St. in Saint-Eustache, where he signed autographs and talked with fans young and old.

Rookie of the Year

The 6’1”, 192 lb. Saint-Eustache native is currently one of the most promising stars in the QMJHL, playing centre for the Rimouski Océanic. Selected first overall by the Océanic in 2017, he was awarded the QMJHL’s Rookie of the Year award and was named to the First All-Star team in his first season.

Lafrenière also represented Canada internationally at the 2018 IIHF World U18 Championships, the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and at the 2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. As captain of Team Canada’s junior team, Lafrenière led the squadron to a gold medal.

Goal-scoring record

In his rookie season with the Océanic, Lafrenière scored 42 goals, the most by a rookie since Sidney Crosby in 2004. He was also awarded the RDS Cup. At the age of 16, Lafrenière was the youngest player selected for Team Canada’s U18 team at the 2018 IIHF World U18 Championships.

Despite being the second youngest player on the roster, he captained Team Canada at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He led the tournament with 11 points in five games, helping Canada win the gold. Lafrenière also won the Canadian Hockey League’s Most Valuable Player designation, which is particularly impressive since it involves the OHL, WHL and QMJHL.

Sure to be a high pick

“Next year is his draft year and so he will be a very high pick,” says Émilie Castonguay, an NHLPA-certified hockey agent who represents Lafrenière. “We’re hoping that he’ll have a great year. Hopefully he will participate in the World Junior Championship and have a great year with his team and we’ll see. We don’t want to put too much pressure on the first overall pick. But if he continues this way, then I wouldn’t be surprised that he would be picked.”

For his part, Lafrenière, who comes across off the ice as polite and gentlemanly, appears to be very focused on the year that lies ahead, without too much concern about the outcome. “It’s going pretty well right now and I just try to keep going and keep working hard,” he said in an interview with the North Shore News. “You dream about the draft since you’re really young. To be at your draft year is something exciting and I look forward to that.”

Making an impression

In the tight-knit world of Canadian junior hockey, news of Lafrenière’s talent on the ice has started to get around. In a sports news short last November by the Canadian Press, Rimouski Océanic head coach Serge Beausoleil was quoted suggesting that he sometimes feels a little bit humbled watching Lafrenière performing.

“He’s always two steps ahead when he plays and he sees a lot of things most hockey guys cannot see,” Beausoleil said. The wire service agreed that Lafrenière’s 2018-19 season was something that ordinarily would see him in NHL draft discussions already, except for his late birthday. But certainly, the similarities between Lafrenière and two other precocious hockey talents – Sydney Crosby and Wayne Gretzky – are undeniable.

(NSN) More than 150 persons, including elected officials, parents friends and community group leaders, paid homage to Thérèse-De Blainville Liberal MP Ramez Ayoub during an event held May 31 at the Chalet des citoyens in Bois-des-Filion to celebrate Ayoub’s 20 years of involvement in politics.

Many supporters

Among those who attended were Liberal MP for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles Linda Lapointe, Laval-Les Îles Liberal MP Fayçal El-Khoury, Brossard-Saint-Lambert Liberal MP Alexandra Mendès, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin Liberal MP Yves Robillard.

Also present were Lorraine mayor Jean Comtois, Bois-des-Filion mayor Gilles Blanchette and many municipal councillors. Former Bois-des-Filion mayor Paul Larocque gave a warm testimonial about Ayoub.

Trudeau sends a letter

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent a letter in which he praised Ayoub for his dedication to public service.

Ramez Ayoub first became involved in public life as a baseball, hockey and soccer coach in the Town of Lorraine. At the same time, he was active in business, while president of the Chambre de commerce Bois-des-Filion/Lorraine in 1997 and 1998. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 2015.

Martin C. Barry

After a year-and-a-half of planning, Rosemère resident Normand Painchaud’s dream of having a community wood workshop came true with the official opening of the Atelier d’Ébinisterie Communautaire de Rosemère recently at the public works yard.

Located in part of the municipal garage that was freed up when Rosemère shut its fire department, ACER has actually been up and running for the last three months, Painchaud told a small crowd of supporters who gathered for the launch on May 30.

The smell of wood

The moment you step into the workshop, the scent of fresh cut wood is unmistakable and inviting. The location is provided by the Town of Rosemère without cost. Painchaud founded the workshop with the help of a $5,000 repayable subsidy provided by the town.

Following some criticism by a few residents last year about the appropriateness of the loan, Painchaud said during the town council meeting earlier this week that ACER has now managed to enlist enough members so as to be able to repay the loan.

Fully equipped

One of the tasks the members of the workshop are busy with now is the creation of large wooden boxes for the implementation of part of the town’s community gardens project at Val-des-Ormes school on Grande Côte Rd. The workshop is equipped with some very up-to-date woodworking gear as well as woodworking supplies.

“I would say that this modest initiative contributes among other things to strengthening the social fabric, to create a feeling of togetherness in the population in a small way,” Painchaud told the gathering. “Yet it’s the sum of these and other activities that contribute eventually to people feeling good and integrated in the community in all sorts of ways. And that is a very important aspect of this activity.”

Located in old firehall

An irony in all this is that although Painchaud was among the Rosemère residents who stridently opposed the closing of the firehall three and a half years ago, ACER now occupies the space that was freed up as a result. Mayor Eric Westram, who was elected in 2017 after serving for years as a member of council, had also objected to the closing of the fire department.

“I was one of the first to climb the barricades,” said Painchaud. “I sought an injunction to keep the fire department open, appeared in the media three or four times – Radio Canada, TVA, and others. We didn’t succeed in keeping our firefighters, but we are giving new life to the firehall.”

Other workshops

Rosemère isn’t the only community where a woodwork shop has been established successfully. A similar workshop has operated for years in Town of Mount Royal, also in a location provided by the municipality at the public works yard. Information on the Atelier d’Ébinisterie Communautaire de Rosemère can be found on the organization’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/acer.rosemere).

(NSN) On Saturday June 8, the Town of Rosemère, in collaboration with biologists and residents Michel Leboeuf and Réjean Dumas, the Société d’horticulture et d’écologie de Rosemère (SHER) and approximately 30 Rosemerites, planted more than 285 trees and shrubs to revitalize part of the wooded area around Externat Sacré-Coeur that belongs to Rosemère.

“For Rosemère, these new trees are a grassroots initiative that is both symbolic and sustainability-oriented,” said Rosemère Mayor Eric Westram.

Renewing the woods

“By planting these saplings, you are leaving your mark on these woods, considered to be a true ecological treasure, and doing something concrete to enhance our urban forest. This is a noble gesture on your part and one of which you can be very proud.”

On May 28, the town announced that 625 trees and shrubs would be planted between now and spring 2020 to revitalize the Sacré-Coeur woods, increasing its size by half and improving its biodiversity.

More trees in September

A second planting operation will take place in September, when Externat Sacré-Coeur students will “get their hands dirty.”

They will then be asked to keep close watch on how everything grows throughout the school year. Westram said it is an incomparable opportunity for youth to take part in a rewarding hands-on experience and help protect the natural environment.

(NSN) The board of the Sainte-Thérèse-based Fonds communautaire d’accès au micro-crédit (FCAMC) reported at their 2018-2019 annual general meeting on June 4 that they had a good year and that microcredit has become an indispensable tool for economic development in the Lower Laurentian region.

“Over the years, hundreds of businesses have been helped to get started thanks to the Fonds communautaire d’accès au micro-crédit,” said board president Ginette Demers. According to the annual report, the FCAMC made 28 loans, leading to the creation of 78 jobs. The FCAMC has $445,000 in capital to lend to qualifying entrepreneurs.

Very high success rate

In 2018-2019, the FCAMC also provided 1,436 hours of assistance to entrepreneurs. Despite the fact the fund’s clients are regarded as being in an elevated risk category, the FCAMC reports a 94 per cent rate of reimbursement on repayable loans.

In the coming year, the FCAMC plans to maintain current services, while increasing the size of the fund so as to be able to also raise the maximum amount payable per loan to fledgling businesses. The FCAMC has existed since 1999. It has a mandate to provide small-business loans to enterpreneurs who have limited access to mainstream financing methods.

Martin C. Barry

Some green spaces in Rosemère that have been informal play areas for generations of local children have been chosen as the future sites of community gardens as well as for a tree planting project undertaken by the town in conjunction with two schools.

A beautiful setting

Mayor Eric Westram and members of town council joined staff from the Externat Sacré-Cœur on May 27 on the grounds of the school for the launch of the community gardens project, a short distance from where the town will also be planting new trees.

The two projects are part of an agreement reached between the town and Externat Sacré-Cœur, as well as Val-des-Ormes School, to allow gardening enthusiasts to grow fruits and vegetables. A $30,000 investment is being split between the town and the schools. In addition to the areas at Externat Sacré-Cœur, ten raised planting beds in front of Val-des-Ormes School will give ten families the opportunity to experience gardening.

Brings back memories

For Westram, being at Externat Sacré-Cœur was a bit of journey back down memory lane. “It’s a school I know well because two of my daughters who are now grown up attended here, and I used to play soccer in the gym,” he told a gathering of officials from the town and the schools.

The community gardens’ planting beds, which will be made in the community woodworking workshop, will be accessible after school hours until June 23 and then all day long over the summer holidays. There will be 24 gardening spaces set up on municipal land behind Externat Sacré-Coeur that will be made available to the public. For each space, a Rosemère family will be paired with a student.

Intergenerational project

“These community gardens have come to life because of the partnership and wonderful collaboration that has been established between the town and both schools,” Westram added. “And because they are located on opposite sides of the town, they will be easy for residents to get to.”

Denyse Hébert, head of Externat Sacré-Coeur, was delighted by the news. “Not only will this project allow people to grow their own fruits and vegetables, the garden plot at our school is a compelling example of intergenerational cooperation, pairing our students with local families,” she said.

Rosemère residents who are interested in taking part in the community gardens initiative are encouraged to call the Recreation Department at 450-621-3500, extension 7380. However, only a limited number of applications will be accepted so don’t delay.

Revitalizing the woods

At the same time, the town announced a partnership between biologists and residents Michel Leboeuf and Réjean Dumas, Externat Sacré-Coeur and the Société d’horticulture de Rosemère (SHER) to plant 625 trees and shrubs to revitalize the wooded area around Externat Sacré-Coeur. A video montage was also shown, demonstrating how forests on the North Shore have been steadily shrinking from urban development over the past decades.

“The Sacré-Coeur woods are a true ecological treasure,” said Michel Leboeuf. “They are home to a stand of bitternut hickory, a type of tree that is increasingly rare, accounting for only one per cent of the forest cover in Quebec. It is one of the most complex ecosystems in the province in terms of the variety of flora and fauna.”

The first round of planting is set to take place on June 8 with local residents and SHER members. When school starts back after the summer break, students will be given the opportunity to get their hands dirty and help with a final round. They will then be asked to keep close watch on how everything grows.

Proud of Rosemère’s trees

“We are very proud of our trees in Rosemère,” said Westram. “In fact, they’re one of the things we are known for. When Michel Leboeuf came to us with the idea to revitalize our urban forest, we did everything we could to make it happen. And all of our project partners shared our enthusiasm.”

“For the many students who will be involved in the initiative, it is a symbol of their commitment and their hope for the planet,” said Denyse Hébert. “Our school is thrilled to do our part for the environment.”

Residents who wish to plant trees on Saturday June 8, can sign up on the town’s website or call the Recreation Department at 450-621-3500, extension 7380. But, again, it is important to hurry, since places are limited to a maximum of 30.