The current issue of The North Shore News volume 19-04 published February 24th, 2023.
Covering North Shore local news, politics, sports and other newsworthy events.
(Click HERE to read the paper.)
The North Shore News volume 19-04
Winter festivities in Saint-Eustache
As of January 28, the City of Saint-Eustache has been transformed into a real winter paradise, with many activities for young and old.
“Everything is thought out in this program to remind us that winter is a wonderful and invigorating season when you know how to take advantage of all its amenities. For the second year, the activities are held simultaneously in Vieux-Saint-Eustache and in various city parks. It will therefore also be possible to enjoy the many pleasures offered by these winter festivities just a stone’s throw from home. The best part? Everything is free. We are waiting for you! said the mayor of Saint-Eustache, Mr. Pierre Charron.
The Snow Maze
Thanks to the support of the Caisse Desjardins Saint-Eustache – Deux-Montagnes, part of the gardens of the Globensky manor (235, rue Saint-Eustache) will be transformed into a large snow maze at the end of January, weather permitting. Children will have fun getting lost in the twists and turns of our snowy maze and trying to find their way to the exit according to the city’s press release
For lovers of skating and sliding
Mont Saint-Eustache (360, rue Boileau) remains the ideal place for lovers of skating and sliding in winter. Indeed, the snow cover of the mountain, makes it possible to create sliding corridors of different levels. With friends or family, one can discover the joys of skiing. There will also be on-site supervision, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on weekends.
For skating enthusiasts, skating rinks with boards will be available in various city parks. New this year: the Clair Matin, Jean-Guy-Mathers and Rivière-Nord parks will be equipped with ice rinks for free skating, in addition to the path laid out in the gardens of the Globensky manor.
Cabins and trailers remain accessible during supervision hours, both for sliding and skating. To find out all the details as well as the condition of the slides and skating rinks, visit the outdoor skating rinks, skating path and sliding page on the City’s website: saint-eustache.ca, or contact the Service du sport et du plein air at 450 974-5111.
Participate in the Snow Castle Challenge
Once again this year, the City of Saint-Eustache encourages its citizens to participate in the Quebec contest “Défi château de neige”. To participate, all you have to do is build a snow castle at home or in a park, and send a photo of your creation to the defichateaudeneige.ca website, by clicking on the “Registration” tab, “Châteaux “. Then enter the requested information with the “Laurentides” region, the “Deux-Montagnes” MRC and select the “Ville de Saint-Eustache” event. The contest will end on March 13. The prizes to be won are detailed on the “Snow Castle Challenge” website.
Activities not to be missed at Parc Nature Saint-Eustache
“It goes without saying that the Saint-Eustache Nature Park is a magical and essential place to enjoy nature in winter. Come and take advantage of its snowy trails to practice many outdoor activities, such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or walking, to discover magnificent landscapes, trees covered with frost, and perhaps even to see various species of ‘birds. A very special rally has also been developed to entertain the children, not only as part of the festivities, but all winter long, “said the municipal councilor responsible for outdoor activities, Mr. Yves Roy.
Indeed, until March 31, 2023, families will be able to discover, on the squirrel trail in the Nature park, a literary rally which offers them the opportunity to answer 12 questions related to characters from children’s literature, a perfect activity to explore the trail while challenging their literary knowledge!
Winter Carnival at Rosemère
Not to be outdone by the other North Shore municipalities, the city of Rosemère is also planning a great winter outdoor activity in the form of a winter carnival.
The city invited all its residents to celebrate the joys of winter at the 2023 Carnival on Saturday, February 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Charbonneau Park.
One of the activities promising to be a hit among the young ones is the brand-new Snow Maze in which explorers young and old are challenged to stroll through the icy walls and try to find the exit.
The Carnival will also feature outdoor skating for which the residents must bring their own skates. There will also be sliding for the lovers of super downhill speeds who again must bring their own slides. To replenish lost calories the city promises Maple taffy on the snow as well as snacks and hot beverages which will be sold on site by the 49th Lorraine-Rosemère Scout troop.
Music, inflatable games and skill games will also be there for everyone to enjoy as well as snowskate and a fatbike initiation for winter afficionados who must protect themselves by bringing their own helmets.
Thefts of catalytic converters
On the night of January 18th, the Thérèse de Blainville police department, arrested two suspects in possession of Mitsubishi brand catalysts, which had obviously just been stolen.
Vigilance of the police
It was around 2:00 a.m., during a patrol, the police noticed a Nissan vehicle that had just committed a traffic safety code violation in the Des Mille-Iles boulevard sector in Sainte-Thérèse. They therefore intercept the vehicle, driven by a woman, resident of Laval. She was then accompanied by a man residing in Montreal. The officers quickly noticed through the windows of the vehicle’s cabin that the two occupants were in possession of two catalysts, as well as burglary tools.
Arrests
The various findings of the police therefore make it possible to proceed to their arrest. They were questioned and will have to answer charges of theft, concealment and possession of burglary tools before the Court.
Wave of similar flights in the region
It is important to remember that the catalyst is a component of the vehicle exhaust system. For several weeks, there have been several thefts of this nature in the region.
The police asks the residents if they witness this type of theft or if they notice that someone seems to be slipping under a vehicle in their neighborhood, or in a commercial parking lot, to not hesitate to call 9-1-1.
A national problem
Ironically enough, it isn’t the catalytic converters themselves that are valuable, but the precious metals inside them that are. “It’s not a new issue…catalytic converters have been stolen for years,” says Bryan Gast, national director of investigative services at the Insurance Bureau of Canada. As the value of these precious metals has risen, so have the thefts with, intentions of being sold on the black market. These types of valuable metals include palladium, rhodium and platinum, which are “more valuable than gold right now,” according to Gast.
The CISSS des Laurentides once again maintains its Healthy Enterprise certification
The Laurentians Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) had one more reason to celebrate as it announced that it maintained its Healthy Enterprise certification.
For several years, the organization has continued to be recognized for implementing initiatives that have a significant impact on the mobilization, health and well-being of the personnel in its employ. Focusing on the prevention and promotion of practices conducive to health and well-being in the workplace, the Healthy Enterprise standard focuses on four spheres of activity: lifestyle habits, management practices, work-life balance, personal life and work environment.
Last December, during the virtual audit of the entire process, auditors from the Bureau de normalization du Québec (BNQ) pointed out that the initiatives deployed are recognized and appreciated by staff. In addition to a multi-level governance structure, the proximity management of managers as well as awareness of physical and psychological work-related risks emerged as elements that make the difference.
“Our organization is currently deploying its new action plan aimed at promoting employee mobilization, health and well-being. This excellent news encourages us to continue the efforts invested in these actions and to advance our organizational practices at all levels. At the CISSS des Laurentides, the Healthy Enterprise approach remains a guarantee of success, both to focus on the well-being of employees at work and to offer the best quality care and services to the population,” said the President- Director General of the CISSS des Laurentides, Ms. Rosemonde Landry
The Bureau de normalization du Québec (BNQ) is a Quebec public organization founded in 1961 whose purpose is to develop standards in Quebec. It therefore makes it possible to develop consensual standards up to national standards and the development of regional standardization activities.
Spring break: fun in Sainte-Thérèse!
From February 27 to March 3, spring break will be fun for Teresian families, since a host of activities will be offered to them free of charge. This year, the theme of the week will be A Thousand and One Bubbles for Spring Break. By participating in the activities, residents will receive a small bottle to blow bubbles.
“This week off is fast approaching, don’t be caught off guard and sign up for City activities. The advantage is to create your schedule piecemeal according to your preferences. There will be no reason to be bored during the break! “, said the mayor of Sainte-Thérèse, Mr. Christian Charron.
Daily activities
Every day of the week, several activities will be offered to the children. Each more amusing than the other, here is an overview of what awaits them according to the city’s announcement:
Stimulating workshops (LEGO®, DJ, reading and writing)
Sports activities (soccer, touch tennis, pickleball)
A winter family beach party
Unless otherwise indicated, all daily activities are reserved for residents of Sainte‑Thérèse and registration is mandatory as of February 8 online at inscriptions.sainte‑therese.ca or in person, at the library or at the Maison du citoyen.
Continuous activities
There will also be continuous activities during the period such as a Teen Rally in which teenagers can solve puzzles at the comic book-themed library and could win a gift basket worth $75, a Cartoon contest where kids can download the template from the City’s website and create their own comic book featuring their favorite winter activity with a chance to win a bubble machine and a gift card from the Special Project store and finally the Revisit photo exhibition where at the library people can admire the exhibition put on by students from the Sport-études program at École Saint-Gabriel.
Six Athletes Sign Rosemère’s Golden Book
On February 1, six young athletes playing hockey, golf and volleyball respectively were invited to sign the Town of Rosemère’s Golden Book in the library’s atrium. The tribute paid to them was in recognition of their performances at two major sporting events in 2022—the Québec International Pee-Wee Tournament and the Québec-Laval Games. The athletes’ relatives and municipal officials attended the signing ceremony.
Rosemère Mayor Eric Westram began the signing process with the following four hockey players who were named champions in the AA Elite category at the International Pee-Wee Tournament held in Québec City in May 2022: defenceman Alexis Bonin-Lallemand, forwards Alex Auger and Thomas Harvey, and goalie Vincent V. Desautels. These four youngsters were part of the Seigneurs des Mille-Îles’ M13 AAA Elite team.
In addition to being ranked to participate in this prestigious tournament, the team was selected to wear the colours of the Armada of the Québec Major Junior Hockey League during their games. The two other athletes honoured during the evening had taken part in the Québec Games held in Laval last summer: golfer Félix V. Desautels and volleyball player Léo Albert signed the Golden Book.
“With these official signatures, the Town is showing that it attaches real importance to the achievements of young Rosemère athletes. And I mustn’t fail to mention the contribution of their families. Behind every athlete are parents or family members who, week after week, drive their child to a practice or tournament. Without the help of parents or other family members, it would be very difficult for these young people to excel in a sport,” stated Mayor Eric Westram.
In search of a golden ticket!
Willy Wonka was not the only one to issue a Golden Ticket wrapped in his chocolate bars. The Association des bibliothèques publiques du Québec (ABPQ) and its partners BIBLIOPRESTO, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec and the Réseau BIBLIO du Québec are inviting residents of Québec to take part in the Great Contest: A visit to the library could make you a winner!, which will be held February 12-25, 2023 inclusively. This first-ever event in Québec aims to remind everyone that libraries are lively places to (re)discover.
“We sometimes underestimate all the services that our library can offer us. Of course, in Rosemère, we can borrow books here, but also board games, films, vinyl records, seeds, and soon video games as well. Spaces are set up for studying and reading, and a variety of activities are available. This contest is an opportunity for our residents to reconnect with their municipal library and discover what it can do for them on a daily basis,” stated Eric Westram, Mayor of the Town of Rosemère.
To thank Quebecers for using their public libraries or to encourage them to drop by for a visit, the Great Contest invites them to come and search for Golden Tickets and to register online at greatlibrarycontest.ca. Seventeen regional grand prizes awarded by Québec personalities and 200 instant prizes to be won! Guylaine Guay, Mélissa Bédard, Fabien Cloutier, Samuel Piette, Louise Penny, Marianna Mazza and many other celebrities will represent the administrative regions of Québec and will present a personalized gift to the winners. In addition, iPads and gift cards from Leslibraires.ca, Rabais Campus and Chocolats Favoris may be won by filling out the online form. Keep your eye out because a new Golden Ticket will be hidden every day in your local Rosemère library for the duration of the contest!
“As is the case for many cultural institutions, the pandemic has had a significant impact on public library visits. Now it’s time to reconnect with the libraries and come back to visit them,” stated Eve Lagacé, Executive Director of the Association des bibliothèques publiques du Québec (ABPQ). “Public libraries are present and well rooted in their communities, offering residents free services that are adapted to their needs. The Great Contest encourages users to rediscover these very valuable places that local libraries truly are!”
For the H.-J. Hemens Library, participants in Rosemère have a chance to win Guylaine Guay’s award. This is a very special prize developed by the artist herself to promote Québec culture. It will also allow the lucky winner to enjoy a special moment thanks to the Great Contest!
About the ABPQ
The Association des bibliothèques publiques du Québec is the main association of public libraries in Québec. Since 1984, it has provided leadership to ensure the development, strategic positioning and outreach of Québec’s public libraries. The ABPQ raises awareness among decision-makers about the importance of quality library services to give the public democratic and universal access to knowledge and culture.
Carbon monoxide, the silent killer
The Public Health Department recalls the safety advice to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in very cold weather
Faced with the severe cold during the winter months, the Health Department of the Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) of the Laurentians, is reminding all the residents about the public safety advice related to the use of fireplaces, stoves or heating systems
supplements to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Heating systems and ashes can give off carbon monoxide. If you use a fireplace, a wood stove or a supplemental heating system, make sure the room is well ventilated to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
It is important that your devices are cleaned regularly and are in good condition. When you remove the ashes, it is essential to put them in outside in a metal container with a raised bottom and fitted with a metal lid.
This toxic, invisible and odorless gas can cause permanent damage or even death. Only one
carbon monoxide detector can alert you to the presence of this gas. It is therefore important to
provide one, preferably one that remains functional during a power outage. Remember that a smoke detector does not detect carbon monoxide.
For more information and general prevention recommendations, visit Quebec.ca in the sections: Preventing carbon monoxide poisoning and Winter storms and extreme cold.
Solidarity with regard to homelessness
In addition, people who are homeless or in a state of great vulnerability are particularly
at risk in extreme cold. Out of social solidarity, The CISSS des Laurentides is inviting everyone to encourage these people to contact community organizations to access resources. In addition, line 811, available 24/7, can also inform them. Citizens should not hesitate to contact 911 if someone seems to be in difficulty.
Boisbriand supports Blainville’s bid
The municipal council of the City of Boisbriand ratified, at its January meeting, its support for the bid committee of the City of Blainville in its process of obtaining the Finals of the Quebec Winter Games 2026.
The City of Boisbriand thus undertakes to offer all the necessary support in the implementation of the competitions and to participate in the promotion of the candidacy and the mobilization efforts.
For the Mayor of Boisbriand, Christine Beaudette, it is only natural to support the City of Blainville in this mobilizing project: “This major sporting event offers a great opportunity for our young people to perform in their discipline in front of their community. In addition, it promotes the practice of sport whose benefits on physical and mental health are well established. I also invite the residents of Boisbriand to support the application process or to volunteer. »
The Jeux du Québec
According to their website descvription the jeux du Québec are a unique and still innovative social phenomenon more than 50 years after their creation and the largest multi-sport gathering in Quebec. Through its various activities aimed at introducing sports, recreational practice, competition and high-level performance, the Quebec Games Program promotes sports practice among young people by supporting them in their journey towards excellence. It is a way to get young Quebecers moving and promote sport as a healthy lifestyle habit in addition to being synonymous with fun.
