Youth Commission: young Eustachians invited to get involved
The members of the municipal council of the City of Saint-Eustache invite young Eustachois, aged 16 to 25 and wishing to put their ideas to contribute, to apply to become a member of the Youth Commission. Their mandate will be for a period of two years, renewable.
The Commission is made up of seven volunteer citizens, aged 16 to 25, accompanied by three municipal councilors, namely Ms. Isabelle Lefebvre, Mr. Marc Lamarre and Mr. Patrice Paquette as well as employees of the City of Saint-Eustache. The selected candidates will be asked to provide ideas or suggestions to the municipal council, to analyze projects, to participate and to represent the young Eustachians at municipal events, to propose projects to be carried out according to a budget, as well as to produce an annual action plan.
The impacts of the first two years
“In barely two years of existence, the Saint-Eustache Youth Commission has already left an important mark on the community. She is not only at the origin of many innovative projects, but she has also positively influenced several orientations within the municipal administration, in particular with regard to the environment and the future of the Nature Park. His contribution to the advancement of our community is undeniable and we sincerely hope that other young people will in turn enrich us with their ideas and their dynamism,” said the president of the Youth Commission, Mr. Marc Lamarre.
Among the projects initiated by the Youth Commission, Marc Lamarre notably highlights the holding of workshops on composting in schools, the use of reusable glasses for events, and the organization of a virtual show for children. youth. “In addition, the members got involved with heart in several popular events and with community organizations in the region, which allowed them to easily reach the youth clientele throughout the territory”.
With the first term of the advisory members about to end, it is now time to recruit new faces to represent the youth of the municipality. The City of Saint-Eustache therefore invites young Eustachians from all walks of life who wish to get involved, to complete the online application form, available until November 6, 2020, at saint-eustache.ca/ youth-applications.
The revised fire safety risk coverage plan comes into effect
On July 28, the Ministry of Public Security approved the revision of the fire safety risk coverage plan for the MRC de Thérèse-De Blainville. The last version dated from 2011 and in 2017, the revision process began when the number of fire calls in the territory increased by 123% between 2012 and 2019.
“With this revision of the plan, we want to continue improving fire protection and continue our collaboration with all the municipal services concerned. Our objective remains the reduction of material and human losses and this is what continues to guide our work,” declared the president of the Fire Safety Committee and Mayor of the City of Boisbriand, Ms. Marlene Cordato.
Other objectives of the new scheme
The coordinator of the risk coverage plan, Mr. Maxime Gendron, explained the other objectives pursued by the revision:
Adjust the various public awareness programs according to the clientele, regardless of age;
Update fire regulations, if applicable, and implement the building chapter of the Safety Code (CBCS);
Initiate areas for improvement to reduce the number of false alarms.
“We are convinced that regional coordination and the multi-barrage response are the keys to our operations. The revised plan will also allow us to optimize our resources according to risk and the target population, and to ensure better efficiency. Finally, we intend to adjust our strike force according to the response plans made by the firefighters,” said Mr. Gendron.
“The MRC de Thérèse-De Blainville is very proud of this revised plan, which beautifully reflects our past achievements while perpetuating our desire to live up to our ambitions in terms of fire safety. I thank all the municipalities of the MRC for their collaboration. They have made investments in line with the priority given to the safety of citizens,” concluded the prefect of the MRC of Thérèse-De Blainville, Mr. Richard Perreault.
At Zéro Limite Fitness in Blainville, owner Patricia Chiasson lamented the situation and the decision to close the gyms
By Dimitris Ilias
North Shore gym owners faced once more the grim news that they cannot go back to work this past Monday October 26th when Premier Francois Legault announced the red zone restrictions that went into effect on Sept. 28 will be extended until Nov. 23. Legault noted that while cases of COVID-19 have plateaued at around between 800 to 1,000 new cases per day, the province is also seeing an average of roughly 10 new deaths per day. The premier announced that restrictions might be eased after 2 weeks once the case numbers are reevaluated but he added that he has to see those numbers drop below 500 cases a day in order for that to happen. Coalition of Gym owners A coalition of Quebec gyms, yoga studios and other activity centers which threatened to reopen, even though the province is extending its 28-day partial lockdown is now backing off its threat to defy red zone restrictions. Deputy Premier Geneviève Guilbault says the province will still go ahead with a new decree to allow fines for owners who reopen their facilities as well as their customers. They’re now inviting their members to protest the province’s guidelines by gathering — while respecting physical-distancing rules — in front of their respective activity centers. They’ve been closed since Oct. 8, along restaurants and movie theatres as part of a series of measures imposed by the Quebec government to contain the spread of the virus. The Premier said that gyms that open in those zones, in defiance of the restrictions, will be met with a police presence and will face fines. According media reports, Dan Marino and Christian Ménard, who represent this coalition, have posted controversial and misleading information about COVID-19 on social media including posts that question the effectiveness of masks and minimize the dangers of the novel coronavirus. Ménard has asked people to sign a petition against Quebec’s mandatory mask law. North Shore gyms Just like everywhere else in the Quebec red zones, North Shore gyms were heavily impacted by the restrictions. At Zéro Limite Fitness in Blainville, owner Patricia Chiasson lamented the situation and the decision to close the gyms considered arbitrary by a lot of the gym owners when malls and small stores remain open. “We will not open and we will follow the government regulations but things are getting really hard” she said in an interview with NSN. “Financially we are hanging from a thread and I do agree with the coalition’s request to have the Quebec government release more detailed figures on where do we get most of the cases. I would like to see what percentage of those cases come from the gyms” she said. The distressed gym owner, a naturotherapist with more than 30 years of experience, reaffirmed that her gym not only spent a substantial amount of capital to bring her location up to specs to combat the virus according to the government’s regulations, but they were also strict in applying rules like social distancing to all the clients.
Karim Toupin-Chaieb, owner of Crunch-Fitness in Boisbriand affirmed that he is not planning to open against regulations
Karim Toupin-Chaieb, owner of Crunch-Fitness in Boisbriand echoed similar sentiments with Chiasson. “We are not planning to open against the regulations” he affirmed. “Our situation is, however, atrocious. We opened our brand-new gym in Boisbriand on the 27th of February 2020 and had to close 3 weeks later on the 15th of March”. Karim described the difficult situation he and his co-owner are in not being able to use government aid since they cannot prove a reduction of revenue since last year. “We fell through a crack in the legislation because we opened in 2020. We also follow strictly all the government directives concerning safety and have invested heavily in our client’s well-being” he added. Shutting down gyms when there is no transparency about case numbers related to the propagation of the virus in them is absurd according to Karim. The health benefits, physical and mental, are immense. Εspecially during pandemic times. For many people going to the gym represents their only outlet and a healthy way to shed stress, negative emotions and all sorts of dark emotional baggage related to Covid. Like many other businesses hit by the pandemic, gym owners have had to adapt. A lot of gyms are offering online workouts and many have been investing heavily in acquiring new online skills to keep their businesses afloat. New websites and camera equipment are purchased and used to facilitate a greater online presence. The pandemic has increased the addressable market for virtual fitness offerings and also forced traditional gyms to move into offering more virtual products for at-home workouts. The pandemic has also raised awareness of the health benefits of working out: Poor cardiovascular health is one of the major risk factors for severe illness or death as a result of COVID-19. For many of the North Shore gyms however, who depend on the steady neighborhood clients and who do not necessarily have the funds for such online upgrades, the situation is dire. The coming months before the vaccine will be hard and owners hope the Government is listening. Pictures: Zéro Limite Fitness: At Zéro Limite Fitness in Blainville, owner Patricia Chiasson lamented the situation and the decision to close the gyms Crunch Fitness: Karim Toupin-Chaieb, owner of Crunch-Fitness in Boisbriand affirmed that he is not planning to open against regulations
The current issue of The North Shore News volume 16-31 published October 30th, 2020. Covering North Shore local news, politics, sports and other newsworthy events. (Click HERE to read the paper.)
Front page of The North Shore News, October 30th, 2020 issue.
The employees of the Public Works Department of the city of Lorraine are busy pruning the grasses on our medians in preparation for winter. This year, one of them had the idea of making pretty bouquets free of charge as a service to the residents in Lorraine, just like they do for mulch. Here is an ideal outdoor decoration idea for Halloween decorations! The city informs us that as quantities are limited, around 200 bouquets, citizens that are interested in acquiring them have to limit themselves to three bouquets per residence. These will be placed in the mulch trough, located near the municipal garage (boul. De Gaulle, south of Adolphe-Chapleau). Bouquets will be added as the cuts are made, until next Friday, or while stocks last. The city reminds citizens that it will be “first come, first served”. When your grasses take on a dull hay look, consider placing them in your brown bin so that they end their life in composting!
The City of Rosemère unveiled its most recently completed sculpture, located in the new meditation garden at Hamilton House! Designed by artist Maud Palmaerts, this work entitled “Les racines de l’être” is an integrative sculpture whose primary intention is to create a comforting and protective space. It is composed of a rust-coloured Corten steel structure that looks like a tree, roots and branches intertwining. The characters are holding an umbrella glowing with transparency and bright colours! During the cultural mediation, during which the residents took part in designing the sculpture, the artist told us how pleasant all the residents were. Some came to visit her regularly to support her and keep her company throughout her residency. She would like to express her heartfelt thanks to them all. “I discovered caring people, open to new things, intrigued and curious about the process and the discourse of the emerging work of art. I had the opportunity to meet members of the Goodwill Committee and we had wonderful discussions! The values and mission of this Committee aim to reconnect residents of all generations around the challenges of aging. This is an important topic, especially in the situation we are facing today,” noted the artist. This sculpture will be part of a magnificent floral walkway that will enhance the superb meditation labyrinth starting next spring. At its centre, the sculpture becomes integrated and rises as a return to unity, a symbol of love of self and others and unifying bonds. With its commemorative umbrella, the sculpture offers us shelter, respite and protection, while bringing light and colour to the stages of life we go through. “I discovered a remarkable town and its residents. Thank you for your confidence and trust as well as for your inspiring vision. I have come away enriched from this experience, and with increased stature, too,” stated Mrs. Palmaerts. Drop by Hamilton House to admire it! Who is Maud Palmaerts?
Maud Palmaerts
Artist and sculptor of Belgian origin, Maud Palmaerts was born in Quebec in 1985. Her interest in creation manifested itself from a young age when she discovered painting and developed an acute attraction for the language of colors. In 2003, she obtained a diploma in visual arts at the Lionel-Groulx college, in Ste-Thérèse. From 2D to 3D, the works are deployed more in space. In 2007 she graduated from the Maison des Métiers d’Art in Quebec with a specialization in sculpture. She continued her studies at UQAM in 2018. Her research focused on the desire to inhabit space through her creations. Anthropomorphic subjects are revealed through his creations. In perpetual transformation, the material is associated with the evolving spirit. Thus she is interested in the passage from one dimension to another by integrating light projections. Driven by a sharp sensitivity, Maud Palmaerts is interested in the spirit of things. The magnetism that emanates from a work becomes as important as the form generated. She wants to bring out the essence that expresses itself beyond time. Since 2010, under the name of Création Vitale. She offers art workshops to children and adults. Inhabited by the desire for easy access to creativity in everyone.
Dr Éric Goyer, director of Public Health, invites residents to get their flu shot to protect themselves and their loved ones. The vaccination campaign starts November 1, 2020 in the Laurentian region. In light of the recommendations made by the experts at the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), vaccination is recommended and provided free of charge to people who are at greater risk of developing complications: Infants and children with a chronic disease Adults with a chronic disease (including pregnant women) Pregnant women in their second and third term Seniors aged 75 years old or older To minimize the risk of contamination, vaccination will also be free for: People living under the same roof as, or an informal caregiver to, a child under 6 months old or someone in a high-risk category (those mentioned above) Health care professionals Target groups can be vaccinated: In a pharmacy, for more information, residents should contact their local pharmacy During some appointments in CISSS des Laurentides facilities By appointment This year, making an appointment will be mandatory. One can do so by visiting clicsante.ca website or by calling 1-888-664-2555. It will not be possible to make an appointment on site. To ensure the safety of all people and health care professionals, prevention measures and physical distancing will be enforced in vaccination facilities: Disinfection after each patient Mandatory face-coverings for patients and personal protective equipment recommended for professionals Monitoring of preventative measures and control of circulation by security personnel Mandatory hand washing upon entering and leaving No waiting in line at the door, individuals must arrive precisely on time for their appointment or wait in their vehicle More frequent cleaning of vaccination facilities Individuals must come to their appointment alone, as much as possible Individuals must not come to their appointment if they are experiencing COVID-19-like symptoms or if they are self-isolating as a precautionary measure
The current issue of The North Shore News volume 16-30 published October 23rd, 2020. Covering North Shore local news, politics, sports and other newsworthy events. (Click HERE to read the paper.)
Front page of The North Shore News, October 23rd, 2020 issue.
It was the great experiment! A country that went against all others in the way they handled Corona. They paid a price of almost 6000 dead Swedes. Their epidemiologists insisting against lockdowns and depending on the general good will of the population to follow the rules. The second wave appears to have arrived in Sweden as in all of the world, but according to the stats posted daily on Worldometers the daily cases are not as high as the spring and the deaths from the disease lately, up to now, have been infinitesimal (Graph A-Worldometers)
The WHO is also beginning change its story about the necessity of lockdowns and we are all left with the impression that this virus is toying with us, making our scientists change their diagnoses constantly. So, where does the truth lie? Was Sweden right to sacrifice 6k of its citizens? We turned to our regular contributor Dr. Christos Karatzios assistant professor of Paediatrics/Infectious Diseases at the Montréal Children’s Hospital, to enlighten us about the Sweden situation. Not convinced In a previous articles Dr. Karatzios had critiqued their approach to lax mitigation strategies while all their neighbors and most countries on the planet closed down to “flatten the curve”. According to the doctor, Sweden didn’t flatten any curve and while most deaths that occurred in that country were in the elderly and in nursing homes, it still is quite telling that their hospitals were overrun in the spring. They had to resort to refusing admissions to their ICUs to anyone over a certain age and (obese) weight or Body Mass Index. When compared to similar countries in terms of population density and total population numbers, Sweden has one of the worst per capita death rates from COVID-19 in the world. Also, the excess mortality in Sweden between March and May 2020 has dwarfed that of its neighbors’. Dr. Anders Tegnell (the controversial state epidemiologist responsible for the Swedish approach) admitted that Sweden did not achieve any form of “herd immunity” at the end of the first wave when reports of only 12% of Stockholm’s population had antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. So it begs the question: what happened after the first wave? FB “epidemiologists and doctors” angrily denounced new mitigation strategies in the last few days here in Quebec, Canada. Dr. Karatzio’s answer to them is: WAIT. We have all been humbled by this pandemic but what he has learned is this: leaders and countries that have boasted about getting control of the pandemic, have ended up eating their words more often than not. Cases in Sweden have surged in the last 2 weeks and ever since people have returned to the largest urban centre Stockholm (home to 22% of Sweden’s population) after summer holidays (most Swedes leave for the sparsely populated countryside essentially socially distancing from others), and after schools started. Death surges usually lag by 2-4 weeks. Sewer water analyses in the last month show high levels of SARS-CoV-2 in the water indicating widespread community infection.This is an indication that herd immunity has not been achieved and the Swedish idea may be just a dream. The WHO 🇺🇳 was too quick to state 2 weeks ago that the Swedish approach is a model “to study”. The Swedish model cannot be applied to other more densely populated countries of the world. Sweden is densely populated around Stockholm but essentially the hinterland is forest and tundra and sparsely inhabited. Stockholm was never spared and has not been spared. The Swedish economy contracted just as much as other similar economies in locked countries. Maybe it fared a bit better in general but at a high cost to its people. Also, other countries with denser populations tried to emulate the Swedes and failed – locking down after the house caught fire – only to control the infections well into lockdown: the UK 🇬🇧, and the Netherlands 🇳🇱. Countries that were caught off guard and didn’t have time to lock down before the house burned down had some of the worst death rates per capita: Italy 🇮🇹, Iran 🇮🇷, Spain 🇪🇸, France 🇫🇷, and Belgium 🇧🇪. Countries that were caught off guard but locked down hard eventually controlled the infections: China 🇨🇳 Countries that saw the danger and locked down early and effectively, had a good first wave: Vietnam 🇻🇳, Thailand 🇹🇭, Taiwan 🇹🇼, Hong Kong 🇭🇰, Singapore 🇸🇬, Australia 🇦🇺, New Zealand 🇳🇿, Greece 🇬🇷, Finland 🇫🇮, India 🇮🇳, and Israel 🇮🇱. Countries with inconsistent lockdowns or no lockdowns have some of the highest per capita death rates in the world: the US 🇺🇸, Brazil 🇧🇷, and Sweden 🇸🇪. Countries that initially did well and opened up too fast or recklessly are now seeing big surges and the deaths have started to climb: Israel 🇮🇱, Greece 🇬🇷, Canada 🇨🇦, and India 🇮🇳. As a result, new mitigation measures ranging from semi to full lockdowns have been reimplemented. Conclusions according to Dr. Karatzios
It is too soon to make any conclusions but the numbers are not looking rosy for Sweden as it is entering its second wave. The Swedish model cannot be used as an example of a success story. Too many people have died, the economy isn’t significantly better than other places, and herd immunity has not been achieved. The Swedish people have paid a high price for this. Sweden has started mitigation strategies and has admitted it may need to close down some sectors and even Stockholm if cases continue to rise sharply. They didn’t test and contact trace as much before. They are starting now. Lockdowns (full or semi with effective testing and case tracing) work. No one likes them but there is no sugar coating this. The Swedish story is not over and the Dr. Karatzios would be curious to see how it unfolds. He has reservations about success (and always had) looking at reports out of Sweden. Stool PCR testing Stool PCR testing for the SARS-CoV-2 has been used as an early warning of an upcoming surge in cases. The ability to detect SARS-CoV-2 in the upper respiratory tract ceases after 2 to 3 weeks post-symptom-onset in most patients. In contrast, SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in the stool of some patients for greater than 4 weeks, suggesting that stool may hold utility as an additional source for diagnosis. The graph below shows how the rise in detection of SARS-CoV-2 in sewer water precedes the wave of positive cases.
Dr. Karatzios has posted about PCR detection in sewage as an early warning tool Public Health can use to gauge an upcoming surge and take the necessary measures to prevent a wave.
On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, Earth Day Canada launched its Municipal Tree Planting Relay, a Canada-wide movement during which every 22nd of the month, for one year, municipalities announce their commitment to plant at least 50 trees. The City of Deux-Montagnes proudly took over the relay on October 22, announcing the planting of some 130 trees, including those planted in recent weeks along Boulevard Deux-Montagnes.
“We attach great importance to tree cover in Deux-Montagnes. The presence of trees on our territory not only contributes to beautifying and greening the landscape around us, but also brings many well-known benefits, such as improving air quality and reducing heat islands” says Mayor Denis Martin.
Planting sites
• Along Deux-Montagnes Boulevard
• Mikaël Kingsbury and Louis-Warren Parks
• In front of the CHSLD
• On the site of the Public Works & Urban Planning building
Tree policy
Committed to protecting, conserving and developing its urban forest heritage, the City of Deux-Montagnes also adopted a first Tree Policy last June. This Policy aims to supervise various actions concerning the trees found on its territory.
