Results of the concerted national alcohol-drugs operation
The Quebec police services, in collaboration with the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), revealed the results of the concerted national Alcohol-Drug operation that took place from November 26, 2021 to January 3, 2022.
These were operations were deployed throughout the province. During this period, more than 3,500 roadside checks targeting alcohol-impaired driving, drugs or a combination of the two have been deployed across the province. The establishment of these checkpoints has enabled the police to raise the awareness of tens of thousands of drivers.
More than 650 drivers were arrested for driving while impaired by alcohol, drugs or a combination of both. Over 1,400 drivers provided a breath sample for the approved screening device and more than 130 drivers underwent movement coordination tests. This concerted national operation was organized in partnership with the Association of Quebec Police Directors, the Sûreté du Québec, the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal and the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec.
Although the holiday season is over, police operations to prevent impaired driving will continue throughout the year. The RIPTB (Régie intermunicipale de police Thérèse-De Blainville) reminds the population that patrol officers can intercept motorists in order to detect impaired driving and arrest drivers at fault. They use different techniques and tools to detect drugs and alcohol in drivers. In addition, the current mandatory testing allows police to demand that a driver provide a breath sample at the roadside, whether or not they suspect that the driver has recently consumed alcohol.
Finally, the 2021-2026 Transportation Network Safety Strategy, “Human life, at the heart of our actions”, aims to reduce the number of fatal collisions and collisions that seriously injure on road and recreational tourism networks. Courses of action are implemented in each of the distinct courses of action: Partnership, Intervention, Awareness, Technology, Evaluation (PISTE) by the Sûreté du Québec and its partners, in order to work together towards a common objective, that of making our roads, trails and bodies of water safer. No matter what time of year, the RIPTB suggests: if you go out and plan to take alcohol or drugs, plan an alternative!
The City of Deux-Montagnes is inviting the public to the very first edition of L’HIVERNALE, which will be held on Saturday, February 5, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., at parc Olympia. This new family event is an invitation to play outside and enjoy the many joys of winter! On the beautifully illuminated site, several activities will be offered: skating to the sound of music (DJ on site!), labyrinth and snow forts, sliding hill, hot chocolate, Sapré Charles Foodtruck ($), singer by the campfire and much more!
As far as programming the events start at 6pm with: Skating on the illuminated ice ring (park chalet open, wearing a mask is mandatory), a sliding hill (bring your sled!), a maze and snow forts to delight the little ones and snow games by the Ludusium org. There will be Music (DJ on site) and hot chocolate, will be offered free of charge by IGA Les Marchés Lamoureux and served by the Maison des jeunes de Deux-Montagnes. Bring your reusable cup. There will also be a Sapré Charles foodtruck.
At 6:30 p.m. there will be a friendly hockey game between teams of the Lac Deux-Montagnes Minor Hockey Association. Finally at 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. the public is invited to enjoy performances by singer André Thériault around the campfire!
In order to comply with the government measures in force, the vaccination passport and a valid ID will be required for people aged 13 and over wishing to access the site. Access to the event site is via Guy Street, near the park chalet. At the Park chalet wearing a mask is always mandatory and no drink or food is allowed. Physical distancing between each family bubbles is mandatory.
On the day of the event, access to the site will be restricted to facilitate the preparation of activities and the planning of the different areas.
A major fire broke out around 10 p.m. on the 26th of January at the CPE Les Petits Amis de Lorraine, located on rue Belfort. Firefighters from the city of Bois-Des-Filion quickly arrived on the scene to control the flames. Five fire departments from neighboring municipalities were called in for reinforcement. The building was completely destroyed by the intensity of the blaze. Concerned parents were present at the scene early this morning to see the extent of the damage. The parents received, through the CPE, a message to advise them that the establishment would be closed until further notice due to a fire. For the moment, no information has been published regarding the relocation of the daycare center and the children. Arson rejected as a cause for the moment After the alert 4 was triggered at the barracks of Bois-Des-Filion, the night was long for the firefighters of the 5 municipalities who lent a hand. “Our firefighters have been working very hard since 10 p.m. last night in very difficult conditions, the extreme cold did not help the cause, but we quickly managed to control the blaze. “, announced to local media Steve Canestrari, director of the fire safety service of the city of Bois-Des-Filion. Fire search and cause investigators are attempting to establish the exact causes of the fire and for the moment there appears not to be any criminal intent. A mechanical shovel was at work even the following day to extinguish the last hot spots following the collapse of the structure. As for the firefighters from the city of Sainte-Thérèse who came as reinforcements, it was also a very difficult night: “Our team was dispatched to the scene in order to provide additional resources, we were on the scene from 10 p.m. last night until 4am. Our equipment was put to the test,” said Mathieu Lacombe of the Sainte-Thérèse fire department. The latter specified that no firefighter was injured during the operation, in addition to a few minor injuries which are part of the risks of the profession. In a press release, the mayor of the city of Lorraine, Mr. Jean Comtois, said he was relieved that the worst had been avoided: “The positive point in this drama is that the fire started during the night. The situation would have been much more dramatic if the children and educators had been there” added the mayor of Lorraine. In order to help parents and educators, who found themselves facing a CPE that no longer exists, the city also mentioned offering their collaboration to the administrators of the CPE in order to be able to relocate them as quickly as possible.
If there’s one thing, we all need these days, it’s kindness and love! Building on last year’s success, the City of Sainte- Thérèse is once again offering the contest A Valentine’s Day.
Until February 6, the city invites its residents to send them a message of love addressed to a specific person or to the whole community and they could have the chance to get their hands on a gift basket from the Maison des métiers d’arts 2021, an assortment of chocolates from Fays Terroir chocolaté, a gift certificate redeemable at 425°F restaurant, Jardin Dion, Libraire Ste‑Thérèse, and more!
Whether the message is in the form of a poem or sweet words, the important thing is that it is composed by a resident and sent to saint‑valentin@sainte‑therese.ca. On February 7, ten winning messages will be drawn at random from all the texts received.
“Pull out your finest pen and be creative! What’s more, this contest sends a wave of love to Teresian merchants. In addition to the prizes to be won at some of them, I invite you to think about the restaurants and shops of Sainte-Thérèse in anticipation of your next Valentine’s Day evening! », said Mr. Christian Charron, Mayor of the City of Sainte-Thérèse.
To create a great chain of love, the messages received will be shared on the City’s website just in time for Valentine’s Day. For the more shy, the messages can be broadcast anonymously on request.
As the new year started, the new budget was presented by the administration with Mayor Jean Comtois highlighting certain files that were significant for the year 2021. With regard to public safety and the beautification of the territory, Boulevard De Gaulle has been reconfigured to improve the sharing the road. A new cyclopedestrian route has been set up on the west, north and south sides of the boulevard. On the other hand, several streets in the Ronchamp sector have been repaved and new play structures have been added to the André-Rufiange, Sorbiers and Sapins parks.
The Comtois administration pointed out that the city has been creative in the context of a pandemic, especially in the desire to get citizens moving and entertained. The mayor also reviewed the agreements concluded with the Golf de Lorraine and the Domaine Vert park in Mirabel to allow citizens to practice winter sports there for free. With a balanced budget of $17,499,443, the fiscal year is down 0.18% compared to the previous year and allows both the continuity of ongoing projects such as the sports complex, the noise barrier and the seniors’ residence. The budget also involves a three-year capital expenditure program which announces investments of $10,285,000. These amounts will be used to renovate, acquire equipment, and bring various buildings, parks and green spaces up to standard.
In addition, the new three-year roll indicates a variation rate of 18.53%, leading the city to reduce the combined property tax rate. Thus, the increase in the municipal tax bill is limited to 1.5%, below the consumer price index.
Public work of art: call for applications
Sculptors of Lorraine are invited by the city to present their abilities by submitting their application by February 20, 2022 at the latest to imoreau@ville.lorraine.qc.ca and propose a work that harmonizes with the chosen location and evokes seniors. It is expected that the selected sculpture will be installed in the spring of 2022. The selection committee will be made up of representatives of the municipality and a member of the Club Lorr “Aînés”, an elected official as well as a person specializing in visual arts with knowledge of public art. Click here to find out how to register and the selection criteria.
“This project fits well with the orientations of our Cultural Policy. The latter aims to develop projects integrating the arts into the environment, to oversee the cultural development of our territory and to make culture accessible to all. It also pursues the objective of creating a sense of belonging to their living environment among the people of Lorraine. The choice of the surroundings of the Cultural Center as the place where to develop this Place des Aînés and install a permanent work of art was self-evident since this building has housed the premises of the Club Lorr “Aînés” for many years. We are excited about this project and are eagerly awaiting applications,” said Diane D. Lavallée, municipal councilor responsible for arts and culture.
Over 1,114,000 doses administered in the Laurentians
Over 1,114,000 doseshave been administered (as of January 11) in the Laurentians since the start of the vaccination campaign and the operation is progressing at a good pace according to Alain Jutras, director responsible for the COVID-19 vaccination file at the CISSS des Laurentides, during a conference call with regional media Tuesday January 18th
“It is important to check on Clic santé , because we are constantly adding appointments)” added Mr. Jutras. So much so that there is, according to him, “possibility of having an appointment in a nearby site and not too late in the calendar”. Other good news, according to Alain Jutras: “We are pampered in the Laurentians, because we recruit vaccination staff every week”.
One hypothesis that was put forward on Tuesday was this increase in opening hours could perhaps go through the addition of reinforcements in the coming days. It’s still very early to think about that, but, in response to a question, Alain Jutras mentioned the possibility that we could take advantage of a helping hand from the Canadian Armed Forces in the centers of vaccination.
If that were to be the case, it would be in the vaccination centers in the south of the region that this extra help would be given. In fact, Alain Jutras explained that discussions have been going on for some time for the deployment of a contingent for Greater Montreal. If members of the armed forces were to come and lend a hand in the Laurentians, it would be in the vaccination clinics of Saint-Jérôme, Saint-Eustache and Blainville. The possibility of them coming to support the nursing staff must be ruled out. “These are service aids. They have no medical training,” concluded Mr. Jutras.
The municipal council of Blainville elected last November presented its new permanent commissions as well as their mandates and composition.
“Beyond the appointments of elected officials who will sit on the commissions, considerable reflection has been done on our governance and the decision-making process that we want to be both effective and aligned with the orientations and priorities that we have presented to the Blainvilloises and Blainvillois during the election campaign. Our priorities will thus be supported by the administrative apparatus and municipal services thanks to this governance structure. The commissions will be workplaces that will receive mandates directly from the municipal council and that will implement projects in line with our commitments with game plans, deadlines, follow-ups, and ultimately, the achievement of objectives,” explained Mayor Liza Poulin.
The commissions will be overseen by the commission for administration, planning and development. In addition to the main commission which will meet on a weekly basis, the other commissions will hold monthly sessions. Each of the commissions will be supported by municipal directors and employees. Their main mandate will be to present the progress of files and make recommendations to the Board in their sectors of activity.
Budget
In a special meeting, the municipal council also adopted the city’s operating budget for 2022.
This balanced budget includes a revenue and expenditure forecast of $113.5 million. It also provides for measures to mitigate the impact of the new 2022-2023-2024 assessment roll, which increases the average value of properties by 18.48%. Yhese valuations are established by an independent firm, based on the sales market.
“We are lowering tax rates and pricing to achieve a slight variation of $54 in the tax bill for owners of a house with an average value of $439,400. Without these measures, these same owners would have seen their tax bill increase by $478. As often as our public finances allow us, we will act to preserve this ability to pay by the residents. This is our commitment,” said Mayor Liza Poulin.
Highlights of the 2022 budget
All residential tax rates are revised downwards, which makes it possible to reduce the total of these rates from 0.685 to 0.613 cents per 100 dollars of assessment.
“In addition, the total amount of the tariff is reduced from $444 to $335 since the water tariff is now integrated into the residential rate. For owners who do not have a swimming pool, the total amount of the pricing is reduced to $315,” explained the councillor for the district of Alençon, Stéphane Bertrand.
For owners of commercial and industrial buildings and buildings with six or more dwellings, the municipal administration has also decided to lower the tax rates to limit the impact of the new assessment roll.
Regarding public debt, it remains stable “With a ratio of debt to our property wealth which stood at 8.5 billion dollars as of December 31, 2021, we obtain a ratio of 1.88% which is a slight decline despite significant investments that have been made such as the new workshops,” added the adviser.
2022-2023-2024 capital plan
In addition to the budget, the municipal council also adopted the 2022-2023-2024 capital plan which provides for projects with a total value of $19.6 million, but whose cost is reduced to $13.5 million thanks to government grants.
“For the WATER component, investments of $11 million have been granted, including $8.5 million for the construction of a 2nd Ayotte reservoir which will allow the City to build up a water reserve in the event of a fire. and to supply water to residents during peak hours of consumption,” said Henri-Dunant District Councilor Jean-François Pinard.
In the SAFETY component, the Poulin administration is investing $1.15 million, in particular to replace vehicles and equipment.
In the QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CITIZENS component, a budget envelope of $1.3 million has been set aside for improvements to municipal buildings and to begin developing the concept plan for Place de la Savoie in the Chambéry district.
“The parks and green spaces development program, in the amount of $3.6 million, will, among other things, replace the usual bins at the Equestrian Park with semi-buried bins to introduce organic materials, recyclable materials and waste. It will be a great addition to make our public activities more eco-responsible. Also, trails will be developed in the ravines of Fontainebleau, which includes revegetation and planting of trees, once the stabilization work currently underway is completed,” said Councilor Jean-François Pinard.
Finally, $2.6 million will be allocated to road repairs.
Improvement projects in some parks will be announced in the coming weeks.
Environment, forestry, citizen services, youth and others
Mayor Liza Poulin listed other projects that will help improve the quality of life of the population and that will be carried out thanks to the 2022 budget:
Major projects such as a new environmental policy including citizen consultation;
The hiring, in 2022, of a new resource who will report to the Direction générale to ensure an ecological transition in all municipal services;
A winter space at the Equestrian Park and the themed weekends Rendez-vous sous zero in February;
The urban forestry plan with investments totaling $1.1 million for 2022;
A first economic development policy in collaboration with the business community;
New funds injected into the financial assistance program for entrepreneurship and the revision of admission criteria to help SMEs in the context of the pandemic;
Establishment of two new commissions to optimize the service provided to citizens and to consult our organizations and associations;
The realization of the youth commission’s action plan and the involvement of young people in various city projects;
And finally Improved maintenance of outdoor skating rinks and analysis of options to allow citizens to skate despite bad weather.
“This budget and new governance mark the beginning of our mandate. The year 2022 will be important in terms of consultations, major reflections, and start-ups under the themes of the environment, youth, inclusiveness and services to the population. The budget will also make it possible to launch initiatives that will contribute to the implementation of these themes. We are proud of this very first budget from our new administration,” concluded Liza Poulin.
The current issue of The North Shore News volume 18-03 published January 28th, 2022. Covering North Shore local news, politics, sports and other newsworthy events. (Click HERE to read the paper.)
Front page of The North Shore News, January 28th, 2022 issue.
By March 14, 2022, Theresians of all ages are invited to participate in the Snow Castle Challenge. This contest provides the perfect opportunity to play outside and enter for one of the many entry prizes.
By March 14, 2022, Theresians of all ages are invited to participate in the Snow Castle Challenge. This contest provides the perfect opportunity to play outside and enter for one of the many entry prizes.
Participating is simple! Build a snow fort or castle in your backyard or in a park near your home, and take a picture of it! Then register at the Défichateaudeneige.ca by selecting the Laurentians region and the MRC of Thérèse-De Blainville.
To the question “Which category is it?” choose the “Family/Friends” option from the drop-down menu. Then choose “City of Sainte-Thérèse” under the question “Is your castle participating in an event?” “. You have until March 14 to participate!
“Playing in the snow is a pleasure that has no age. So, dress the whole family warmly, give free rein to your creativity and above all, have fun! Do not hesitate to go to a park or a roundabout near you to build your snow castle and enter it in the contest without delay,” said the mayor of Sainte‑Thérèse, Mr. Christian Charron.
About the Snow Castle Challenge.
In 2011, two nurses from Matagami had the idea of creating the Fort en Famille project with the aim of getting children active who do not usually involve themselves with a lot of winter sports. With the support of the Kino-Québec consultant from Baie-James, a first event was held.
In the winter of 2012, the Abitibi-Ouest Group of Healthy Lifestyle Partners, with the support of the region’s Kino-Québec councillor, deployed the project in 3 municipalities of the MRC. In the winter of 2013, the entire territory of the MRC de l’Abitibi-Ouest was targeted with a result of 268 families registered.
In February 2014, the H2GO network of La Haute-Saint-Charles, inspired by Fort en famille, got together to launch the first edition of the Défi château de neige in Quebec City. The members of the H2GO Network wanted to offer families an opportunity to enjoy Quebec winters through the pleasure of outdoor play. After a first year in which 200 families registered, the H2GO Network had the ambition to make it a regional initiative. For this reason, the Challenge was presented to the Regional and Local Mobilization for Healthy Lifestyles, Weight and Health in the Capitale-Nationale region, which immediately took an interest in further developing the project. This was the project leader until 2017. It was then that the project was taken over by the Leisure and Sports Unit of the Capitale-Nationale.
In 2018, five administrative regions of Quebec participated in the Snow Castle Challenge organized by the Recreation and Sports Unit of the Capitale-Nationale. 375 castles were built by families and friends, early childhood centres, schools and organizations. This project was a huge success with everyone.
This event is now deployed at the provincial level from 2019 and the years to come. 11 regions participated in the Challenge for the 2019 edition. The Snow Castle Challenge wishes to become a challenge with a high reputation. It will participate in the long term in positioning Quebec as an active province in winter, and where we will have the most snow castle constructions. It wishes to promote healthy lifestyles and foster the interest of children and families in outdoor physical activity during the winter season.
The new Mayor of Blainville, Liza Poulin, has been appointed to several positions and to the Union des municipalités du Québec and the MRC de Thérèse-De Blainville
The new Mayor of Blainville, Liza Poulin, has been appointed to several positions and to the Union des municipalités du Québec and the MRC de Thérèse-De Blainville in sectors of activity related to fields of action deemed as priorities by the municipal administration, such as the environment, natural and recreational environments and culture.
The Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ) is an organization that represents nearly 400 municipalities in Quebec and brings together 50 elected officials, mayors, prefects and presidents of metropolitan communities within its board of directors. The UMQ defends the interests of its members with the Quebec government and informs them about current issues and current debates in the municipal world.
Mayor Liza Poulin therefore sits on the caucus of the municipalities of the Metropolis as a representative of the Northern Crown. She is also a member of the Laurentides regional caucus.
At the level of the MRC de Thérèse-De Blainville, Liza Poulin has been appointed vice-president of the Table Action Culture et Patrimoine, a regional body that brings together various partners in the field of culture and aims to make it a lever for economic and social development in the territory. The mayoress of Blainville is also part of the Office of delegates for waterways and of Le P’tit train du Nord regional park as an elected delegate.
Ms. Poulin also became president of the wetlands and bodies of water committee, which oversees the conservation and restoration of natural environments. We know that the territory of Blainville is largely made up of these natural environments.
“These appointments clearly reflect my administration’s priorities, including environmental protection. Blainville wants to have its say in these areas, both in the MRC and in the greater Montreal area. As for culture, we know that it is an added value in our region and it will be a source of pride to promote it with our precious partners from the Table Action Culture et Patrimoine. Finally, I will be able to carry the voice of Blainville and our region within this great municipal forum that is the UMQ. It is a great honor to sit on these bodies,” she announced.
