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Rosemère supports its residents

Dimitris Ilias
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Rosemère supports its residents
A slew of measures announced to support Rosemère residents

The Town of Rosemère, just like many other towns in Quebec, has stepped up its efforts to ensure the well-being of its residents through a series of initiatives starting with the support of its seniors and isolated residents.
Since April 1—a new “friendly call” service is offered to people living alone who feel isolated and may need someone to talk to. Residents may call the Town at 450 621-3500, ext. 7384, and mention that they would like to receive a “friendly call”. The Town is also inviting residents over the age 70 or anyone else with a special need, such as grocery delivery service or otherwise, to call this same number. The town will make sure to direct them to the appropriate services.
“I am proud and happy to see that residents have responded in large numbers to our call for volunteers. Thanks to their support and commitment, we have made more than 200 friendly calls to seniors and residents living alone and we are continuing to do so! Our community is uniting and I’m convinced that together we can win this battle!” stated Rosemère Mayor Eric Westram.
Furthermore, the town is offering an online entertainment service on the library’s website for youngsters and grown ups and the ecocentre remains open to the public.

In order to comply with government orders, the Town is cancelling the pick-up of large items scheduled for April 13. However, the ecocentre remains open to the public.
As an additional financial help to its residents, Rosemère has decided to cancel interest and penalties on residents’ and merchants’ unpaid tax bills, effective March 13 and until June 1.
Town Council will be holding a special meeting in the Council room this Monday, April 6, at 4 p.m. The meeting will be held in private and the pre-recording will be available on the Town’s website. The video will be webcast immediately following the meeting. Residents wanting to take part in the question period must send their questions to mcthemens@ville.rosemere.qc.ca before 3 p.m. on Monday, April 6.
The Council meeting of April 14 will be held in private as well, but will be webcast live. Residents will be able to view it live on the Town’s website via webcast.
In addition, the Town is stressing that gatherings in parks are strictly prohibited. This order applies, in particular, to parks and playgrounds (soccer fields, skatepark, baseball fields, etc.). Soccer games with friends, skateboarding outings at the skatepark and all other group activities are prohibited in public places. In fact, signs have been posted at the entrances to these parks to remind people of the rules. The police force has been made aware of this situation and will take the necessary measures to ensure that these orders are obeyed. The Town is also reminding residents of the importance of not flushing disposable disinfectant wipes down the toilet. They create major problems in the sewer system by blocking the pipes and causing sewer back-ups.
Essential services will always be provided and that the vast majority of Rosemère employees are carrying out their work off-site (in telework mode) so that administrative services remain operational. Residents can continue to contact their Town at 450 621-3500 and are assured that any urgent request or special situation will be dealt with appropriately.

April 4th North Shore recap

Dimitris Ilias
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April 4th North Shore recap

A summary of North Shore News according to each city Hall:
Rosemere
In keeping with the Town’s desire to move forward on its priority projects despite the current situation, Town Council will hold an extraordinary meeting on Monday, April 6 at 4:00 p.m. at Town Hall to address issues that require action. The council meeting will be filmed and will be available on the Town’s website. Videoconferencing will be used in order to respect social distancing guidelines. The video will be broadcast immediately following the session. For question period, citizens must send their questions to mcthemens@ville.rosemere.qc.ca before 3 p.m. on Monday, April 6.
Sainte Thérèse
Following the operations which took place during the night of March 29 to 30 in a sector of the city bordered by the Rivière aux Chiens, the City of Sainte Thérèse maintains the critical situation status regarding the possibilities of flooding of the river until further notice.
This means that citizens who have already installed sandbags must maintain these protective measures until the critical situation status is lifted. No houses were flooded, no streets were blocked, and the City continued to monitor the level of the river closely. The teams remain ready to intervene if necessary.


Boisbriand
Due to current precipitation and melting snow, the City of Boisbriand asks citizens to remain vigilant and to prepare for spring floods
The City of Boisbriand has activated its municipal civil security plan and is going into “standby mode” to monitor the level of the Mille-Îles river. Citizens will be notified of any change or intervention in the territory.
The conditions surrounding the distribution of sandbags will be communicated over the next few days, if applicable.
Citizens are also asked to note that disaster assistance will be adapted to the health requirements implemented by the Government of Quebec in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deux-Montagnes
As soon as the provincial government announced that it was putting Quebec in lockdown until April 13, the City of Deux-Montagnes began taking measures to reorganize the workloads of employees whose services were deemed non-essential. These employees were reassigned to community work for providing assistance to organizations in the area and to elderly and vulnerable residents in need of support.
Anyone wishing to receive assistance from the city should call the recreation and community life department at 450-473-2796, extension 4226. City of Deux-Montagnes employees are now making courtesy calls to residents over 70 years of age. The calls are being made to ensure that their basic needs are being met, to keep them up to date with any necessary information (including details on the city’s pandemic action plan), to assess their situation, and to help out with any reasonable assistance (such as a bit shopping, and the like).
Blainville
Unless new instructions are given by the Government of Quebec, the next municipal council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, will be held via teleconferencing and videotaped. It will be possible, as usual, to view the session in the days that follow on the city website. Except for the mayor, the councillors will participate in the session via their telephone as a precautionary measure.
As they will not have access to the council hall, citizens are invited to send their questions and comments to the municipal council by email at directiongenerale.mairie@blainville.ca.
Saint-Eustache
The City of Saint-Eustache asks citizens not to bring donations (articles, clothing, etc.) to organizations that usually receive them, for example the Grenier populaire des Basses- Laurentides, the Marie-Eve Center, Les Trouvailles d’Eustache (parochial parlor), JouJou Recover-R, etc. It is the same for the blue boxes of clothing donations that can be found everywhere on the territory.
Indeed, in the context of Covid-19, these organizations are not in operation and there is no staff to collect donations. Please note: Anyone who leaves donations on the ground or around the drop-off points could be fined.
Citizens are asked to keep their donations at home while waiting for the Covid-19 crisis to pass.

Jean-Philippe Cotton appointed as Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the CISSS des Laurentides

Dimitris Ilias
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Jean-Philippe Cotton appointed as Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the CISSS des Laurentides

The Integrated Center for Health and Social Services, (CISSS) des Laurentides announced the appointment by the government of Quebec, of Jean-Philippe Cotton as deputy president and general manager (PDGA) of the CISSS des Laurentides.

Mr. Cotton took office on April 2, 2020 taking over from Mr. Yves St-Onge who will be retiring after a career spanning over 30 years in the health and social services network of Quebec.

Mr. Cotton is very familiar with the residents served by the CISSS des Laurentides and the care and services it provides since for the past five years, he has held the position of director of mental disability, autism spectrum disorder and physical impairment. In addition, he also acted as interim director of multidisciplinary services and professional practices as well as interim director of mental health, addictions and general adult psychosocial services programs. He also served as Director General of the Gingras-Rehabilitation Institute from Lindsay-de-Montréal from 2011 to 2015.

Having acquired a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of Montreal, a graduate certificate in microprograming in public management from the National School of Public Administration, a graduate diploma specializing in organization management and a master’s degree in administration, management and organization development from Laval University, Mr. Cotton acquired solid experience in the health and social services network.

“Mr. Cotton is recognized for his mobilizing leadership and his strategic vision. It is considered a benchmark in terms of the involvement of partner users and staff when reviewing various processes aimed at optimizing and improving hospital or ambulatory clinical services or various administrative or human resources support services. He also has in-depth knowledge of clienteles with specific needs. He is the right person to successfully meet the challenges ahead. I wish him the best of luck in his new role,” said Mr. André Poirier president of the council of administrators of the Integrated Center for Health and Social Services, (CISSS ) des Laurentides.

BAUER face-shields-Canadian generosity at its best.

Dimitris Ilias
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BAUER face-shields-Canadian generosity at its best.

Dimitris Ilias

The Bauer face shield is the first level of protection for health care workers dealing with COVID-19

An in-depth interview with Dan Bourgeois, Vice President of Product Innovation at Bauer Hockey. How they work, how they are made, how they are used and how this Canadian brand with its Blainville factory has become a world leader in a vital protection product against COVID-19. Read all about it in our next North Shore news, April 17th

Travelling restricted in the Laurentians.

Dimitris Ilias
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Travelling restricted in the Laurentians.

Dimitris Ilias

Control points have been added for Antoine-Labelle, Argenteuil, Pays-d’en-Haut and Laurentides following the Government of Québec’s previously announced checkpoints preventing travel to certain regions.

The new directives issued by Department of Public Health aim to control all non-essential travel in those areas as of noon yesterday. The goal is to protect these regions who although have fewer cases, remain vulnerable and more isolated. By controlling entries and departures, the public health authorities are confident that they will be able to limit and better prevent the spread of COVID-19.

These control points are visible in various routes leading to these regions. Exceptions apply to all those who are:

  1. transporting goods in these regions to ensure continuity of the supply chain
  2. travelling for humanitarian reasons
  3. need to travel to get the care or services required by their state of health or to provide such care or services to someone needing them.
  4. are priority services professionals.

This closure period will last as long as the authorities deem it is necessary for public health.

All residents are reminded to avoid all non-essential travel no matter where they are.

Schools go to war against COVID-19

Dimitris Ilias
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Schools go to war against COVID-19

Dimitris Ilias

Volunteers from Rosemere High help distribute desperately needed material for the front line workers of the COVID-19 war

In times of crisis, unfortunately, negative and scary information tends to dominate the news.

Here at North Shore News we also want to bring you the good news which are quite numerous, inspire people, and relieve stress which is responsible for lowering our immune systems.

Rosemere High along with Crestview and Laval Senior Academy donated over 3000 pairs of gloves and 500 masks to Santé Publique in order to deal with the rising demand for materials in the front lines of the war against the virus.

The move came after administrators contracted the Director General of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School board  to share some essential supplies they had in their schools.

Santé Publique  were very pleased and appreciative not to mention the sense of solidarity and pride shared among the organizers and school communities, helping the front line workers. Santé Publique said that they will distribute accordingly as the needs arise and welcome more donations.

In the meantime, word was spread to all in-school/centre administrators of SWLSB. Many local initiatives are also taking place in various school communities (food banks, volunteering, etc).

Let’s hope this wonderful initiative will inspire others to do the same.

Contagion: 27 infected at the Kyrias Tosh Hassidic community in Boisbriand

Dimitris Ilias
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Contagion: 27 infected at the Kyrias Tosh Hassidic community in Boisbriand
Kyrias Tosh community
The Kyrias Tosh community in Boisbriand quarantined for COVID-19

An explosion of COVID-19 positives came to the Laurentian community of Boisbriand among the close-knit community of 4000 Hassidic Jews residing at the west end of the Rivière Cachée street.

The Laurentides Public Health Department issued an order of confinement and held a

press briefing last Monday with the City of Boisbriand and the Intermunicipal Police Board of Thérèse-De Blainville in order to better explain the measures taken.

The containment order will last 14 days and has nothing to do with religion but rather the protection of the residents and the elderly as well as the avoidance of new hotspots of contagion. That is what was announced by Quebec’s public health director Dr. Horacio Arruda. 

During March break several members of the Tosh community travelled to New York to celebrate Purim with members of their sister community. As soon as the news of the positive results from the tests came back, the Hassidic community closed all their schools as well as the synagogue. The police proceeded in quarantining the entire community which is now inaccessible. There are barricades in both main entrances. 

The CISSS des Laurentides announced that the leaders of the Jewish community collaborate very well with them and ensure that protective measures are followed diligently to protect their

population as well as the residents of neighboring municipalities.

The members of this community have a lot of social ties and the population is very

dense in a relatively small territory.

In order for the quarantine to be enforced, the community reached out to local police to make sure no one comes in or out, unless they’re providing an essential service.

None of the members of the Hassidic community that tested positive required hospitalization

” Buy local, eat local!”

Dimitris Ilias
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” Buy local, eat local!”

Boisbriand city councillor and business owner Jean-François Hecq, encourages everyone to save the small businesses during COVID-19 storm.

Boisbriand City Councillor says “Buy local-eat local”

Dimitris Ilias

The interview with JF Hecq was not a usual laid-back talk that someone has when times are normal. There was a sense of urgency in his voice, amplified by the interrupted sound and picture of messenger, one among the various platforms in use for online teleconferencing. An online city council meeting had just finished, one of many happening during this crisis.

Boisbriand measures

The city of Boisbriand, in collaboration with the surrounding cities has implemented a slew of measures to protect the citizens and staff as well as make financial burdens a bit lighter for everyone. “We have postponed tax payments for 2 months and there will be no interest charges for late payments” said Hecq, adding that all the municipal buildings are now closed to the public since a lot of municipal employees are working online. All the essential services are maintained with workers’ shifts and rotations adapted to prevent the spread of the virus. The city communicates with everyone via social platforms, the big video panels across the city as well as mailings distributed.

Community mood

J.F. Hecq confirmed that despite the seriousness of the situation, the city hall team is focused and determined. On the citizens side, Mr. Hecq confirmed that the people are following instructions well. Even though the police has increased the patrols to enforce the safety rules set by the Quebec Government, there are very few reports of citizens not complying.

Regular communication of the city with everyone has helped ease anxiety.

Businesses affected

Jean-François’ love for fine Quebec beer, urged him and his friend Maxime Hébert to start a distribution company for Quebec microbrewers. Les distributeurs Brouhh in a very short time grew in renown distributing at present for over 20 fine beer producers.

Although his company, having been deemed an essential service by the Quebec government, hasn’t received the brunt of the COVID-19 storm, there are a lot of businesses in Boisbriand that are suffering.

“Things are very hard for sure. Some restaurants will close down forever. What is important right now is for people to understand that they need to buy from local businesses. Buy local, eat local!” emphasized Hecq. “Amazon and the other online giants will be there after the storm. But your neighborhood grocery, your corner restaurant, even your area franchisee that employs 100 people from the community, those are the businesses that will need everyone’s support.”

North Shore News Volume 16-06

Dimitris Ilias
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North Shore News Volume 16-06

The North Shore News Volume 16-06, published March 20, 2020. This issue covers local events such as politics, sports and human-interest stories. It features editorials and other columns. Click on the image to read the paper.

North Shore News Volume 16-06
North Shore News front page. Volume 16-06, March 20, 2020

It’s spring! Time for Relais 8 Heures Deux-Montagnes

Dimitris Ilias
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It’s spring! Time for Relais 8 Heures Deux-Montagnes 
Martin C. Barry
Gaétan Asselin, a teacher at Polyvalente Deux-Montagnes and a member of the Fondation de la Polyvalente Deux-Montagnes board, is seen here with Deux-Montagnes mayor Denis Martin with a poster promoting the Relais 8 Heures event on May 2. Photo: Martin C. Barry

Deux-Montagnes city council’s monthly public meeting on March 12 started on an upbeat note with an announcement by Polyvalente Deux-Montagnes teacher Gaétan Asselin that the school’s annual Relais 8 Heures Deux-Montagnes is scheduled to take place on May 2, depending, of course, on the circumstances arising from the COVID-19 crisis.

Relais 8 Heures

If all goes well, this will be the sixth year for the Relais 8 Heures. As Asselin pointed out, just as you can count on maple sap to start running in the hills of the Lower Laurentians each spring, so too have North Shore residents been able to look forward during the first warm weeks to the Polyvalente Deux-Montagnes Foundation’s fundraiser.
Deux-Montagnes city councillors Frédéric Berthiaume and Erik Johnson were among the hundreds of people who took part in last year’s Relais 8 Heures, in teams of six, around a 1.5 kilometre oval on the grounds of Polyvalente Deux-Montagnes.

Helping students

“While I don’t want to get into politics, Mr. Berthiaume’s team finished fourth among the 60 teams that took part,” said Asselin, who invited everyone on city council to take part in this year’s event. It will raise funds to help Polyvalente Deux-Montagnes students who have learning problems.
In his monthly report to residents and council, Mayor Denis Martin said work on a major section of the REM high-speed train project will be starting in May along du Lac Boulevard where an overpass is going to be built to replace the level crossing that currently goes over the Exo train line.
“This is going to cause a major disruption and we will have to manage traffic,” he said, noting that the east and west sides of du Lac Blvd. will be closed off from one another for the next two years or so.

Ongoing flood zone efforts

According to the mayor, the main Deux-Montagnes Exo train station on Deux-Montagnes Blvd. is also scheduled to be demolished – beginning probably in late May or in June, he said.
Regarding the city’s continuing efforts to have the provincial environment ministry lift building restrictions in areas where a Special Intervention Zone was decreed after the spring 2019 flooding, Mayor Martin said some Deux-Montagnes homeowners are worse off today than they were before the 2019 floods as a result of the intervention zone.
“We find ourselves in a situation today after the new flood maps that is worse than before the 2019 floods,” he said. “We’re trying to change that and we’ve been pulling out our hair trying.”

Flood zone frustrations

As he noted, the provincial government held consultations last year on its new flood zone policy – although the manner in which the flood maps have been applied in Deux-Montagnes and in surrounding communities has left many property owners frustrated.
Since the implementation of the new zones, low-risk 20-100-year areas have been eliminated and replaced with 0-20 zones. “Around 100 of our residents who were 20-100 are now 0-20 and it’s causing them problems,” the mayor said in an interview, noting that the changes stop new construction and renovations from being carried out, while also having other impacts.
“Everybody who was in 20-100 zones that became 0-20, they’re having more problems selling their house. They cannot do things, like add a pool, which they could before. All we are asking is that they (Quebec) brings it back to what it was before.”

The COVID-19 crisis

While Quebec insists the redefined flood zones are necessary in view of the likelihood of future flooding, Mayor Martin maintains the new flood map should be redrawn, taking into account the preventive measures Deux-Montagnes is implementing (mainly new anti-flood dikes along the waterfront).
Regarding the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and its impact in Deux-Montagnes, the mayor said the city is receiving instructions from the Quebec Ministry of Public Security. The preventive measures being implemented by the city include the closure of the library, the arena and the suspension of all cultural, sporting and leisure activities. As well, the Quebec government’s directive to ban events gathering more than 250 people is being respected.

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Weather

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