1. law, govt and politics
2. law enforcement
3. fire department

Special year-end edition
featuring our look back at
2014
Merry Christmas &
Happy New Year
IMAGE COURTESY SUSAN JILETTE
Carrying on an annual Your Local Journal tradition, we once again welcome back Rigaud artist Susan Jillette with her unique visual take on the holiday season for our special look back at the year
that was 2014. Our next paper of the New Year hits the stands January 15, 2015, and our office will be open for business January 9. Have a safe and happy holiday season.
“The two most joyous times of the year are Christmas morning and the end of school.” - Alice Cooper
Consult our ad on the back page
Raul
Capela
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Gallagher
Patsy
Graham
Bea
Jarzynska
Andree
Lavigne
Carol (LaRonde)
McGarry
Linda
Noseworthy Burns
Kevin
Owen
Laura
Pittaro
Youri
Rodrigue
Lucie
Thifault
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Thompson
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Vaddapallli
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Vickers
Wishing you all a
Joyous Holiday Season
and a most Prosperous
and Healthy
New Year.
2673 Côte St-Charles #200, St-Lazare (Qc) J7T 2H8, Tel. 450.458.7051
2
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Next to Tim Hortons
STORIES OF THE YEAR
A retrospective of the year’s regional events that had an impact on the residents, made us laugh, made us cry, and in most cases, made us understand
the community spirit.
January
St. Lazare kennel owner
did not have permit to
operate facility
John Jantak
Though technically an event that
happened in 2013, news in our region
began on a sad note after an electrical
fire in a St. Lazare kennel and canine
boarding facility on Montée Street took
the lives of 18 dogs. While the owner
was not found to be breaking any municipal laws, the town vowed vigilance
in preventing any similar future tragedies and called on residents to inform
elected officials of any similar operations. The kennel’s structure was reported to be within the fire safety regulations.
Residents want speed
limit reduced on St. Lazare
unpaved dirt road
John Jantak
Residents living on du Fief Street are
calling on the town to lower the current 70 km/h speed limit to 50 km/h
along the entire stretch of roadway.
For Rhoda Kerr, the issue is about
pedestrian and animal safety, especially since du Fief Street is an unpaved
PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK
dirt road. Speeding wasn’t a problem
when Kerr and her family first moved
into their home almost 40 years ago because it was the only house in the area
at the time and the posted speed limit
was 50 km/h per hour. About 20 new
properties have been built since then,
many with horse stables. The speed
limit was raised to 70 km/h about 10
years ago, according to Kerr.
What Kerr and her neighbours fear
most is the possibility of an accident
occurring because children, pedestrians, cyclists and horses also use the
road. Some of the town’s pedestrian
and horse trails intersect with du Fief
Street and the residents feel it’s only a
matter of time before a tragic situation
occurs.
Update: The speed limit was reduced
to 50 following the approval of the Quebec Transport Ministry.
PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK
FEBRUARY
Vaudreuil-Dorion council
approves de Tonnancour Street
closure to through trafc
John Jantak
The City of Vaudreuil-Dorion unanimously approved a motion to officially close de Tonnancour Street between
Bizet Street and Beethoven Road to
through traffic as part of a pilot project to determine whether alternative
routes will help to ease traffic congestion on the small residential street.
The decision was made in response
to residents’ complaints last summer
about the large volume of daily traffic
that use the roadway to travel between
Valois Street and Marier Avenue to ac-
cess Henry Ford Street.
Only emergency and municipal vehicles and school buses are allowed to
use the closed stretch of road.
Residents Motti Bembaron and
neighbour Marjolaine Audet started a
petition last summer that was submitted to the city requesting administrators look into the situation and a find
solution to the problem. More than
100 de Tonnancour residents signed
the petition, just over 10 per cent more
than the 75 per cent needed for the city
to take residents’ concerns seriously.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
3
Austere
year
While 2014 is ending with most
area municipalities presenting their
respective budgets to residents, it was
almost a ‘one-size-fits-all’ message
that has been spread throughout the
region for the entire year with the singular vision of austerity.
This might be a tad more digestible
if our communities hadn’t already
been slowly bleeding out from the
thousands of other cuts we’d previously been asked to endure. Compound
the realities of an aging demographic
that’s less likely to absorb further increases and more likely to need the
resources of the social coffers and we
have a problem poised to grow exponentially.
While some are saying things are
not as bad as they could be, the short
term squeeze will be more effective
if all parties squeeze their fair share.
It’s time for the little guys to stop being asked to do all the squeezing while
we’re busy helping to feed our friends
and neighbours who are themselves
tapped out.
While the concept of austerity in
dealing with bloat is understandable,
its very severity dictates it be a temporary measure rather than a long-term
solution and if we’re going to dig our
way out in 2015, the big players are going to have to shovel their fair share.
4
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Your Local Journal welcomes reader
feedback and invites citizen letters on topics of
interest to themselves and their communities.
Send your letters to [email protected]
Dear Editor: [email protected]
Dear Editor,
H.D. Reilly’s suggestion (Your Local Journal,
Letters, December 18) that Hudson try to attract
only new Anglophone residents in order to keep
enough of “like-minded” i.e. English-speaking
population to maintain our present “bilingual”
status has fascist overtones. What a preposterous
idea!
I must say when I suggested that Hudson join
up with one of our neighbouring towns I never
thought of tipping St. Lazare into having bilingual
status! That would certainly kill off any idea that
St. Lazare would take us on for sure! Any “likeminded” citizens akin to Reilly’s mindset should
leave town immediately if you ask me.
Naomi Henshaw
Hudson
Dear Editor,
December 15, 2014, marked the last Lester B.
Pearson School Board (LBPSB) council meeting
of the year, and the introduction of more new
features associated with the Public Question Periods.
Chairperson Suanne Stein Day said, effective
immediately, vice-chair Noel Burke would hold
up three different coloured cards to speakers at
Question Period, to signal when there was one
minute left (green), then 30 seconds (yellow),
and then ‘time’s up’ (red), followed by one ring
of a bell.
Ironically, the meeting also marked the 13th
month that I have not been allowed to participate
at Public Question Periods - something I have
done for 15 years. I attempted to say something
but I wasn’t allowed.
Continued on page 6
STORIES OF THE YEAR
A retrospective of the year’s regional events that had an impact on the residents, made us laugh, made us cry, and in most cases, made us understand
the community spirit.
Les Cèdres municipal
nature park annexed to
St. Lazare
John Jantak
An agreement was signed by Les
Cèdres Mayor Raymond Larouche and
St. Lazare Mayor Robert Grimaudo
February 12 to allow St. Lazare to annex and assume control of the Base de
plein air des Cèdres municipal nature
park for $345,000 and make it a part of
its territory.
PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK
“The aim of this annexation is to enable Les Cèdres to reduce the tax burden on its 6,500 residents and enable
St. Lazare to take over the administration and operations of the recreational
centre,” said Grimaudo. “This decision
stems from the desire of both towns to
ensure the centre is preserved for future generations.”
While Les Cèdres has managed
to maintain the park and keep its facilities open to the public when it assumed ownership in 1999, the town
has struggled financially with an annual $300,000 budget shortfall related
to maintenance and operating costs.
“In our discussions with St. Lazare,
we wanted to make sure that Les Cèdres residents are given free access to
the park and that our employees didn’t
lose their jobs,” Larouche said. “Those
were our two main points and St.
Lazare accepted them.”
Residents voice concerns about
new Vaudreuil-Dorion housing
development
John Jantak
A public consultation meeting February 17 to discuss a new housing development proposed for the du Fief
Choisy region in the western sector of
Vaudreuil-Dorion raised the concern
and ire of some local residents who
claim the project is misguided and will
have a negative impact on the area.
Resident John Simpson told council
that the project – which will be built on
the eastern side of Alstonvale Road just
north of Highway 40 – will adversely affect the region’s ecosystem especially
since a sewage treatment plant will be
built to exclusively handle waste material in the new development.
“There’s a big beaver dam down
there and that’s part of the issue,” said
Simpson. “They’re planning on putting
the sewage treatment plant near the
Vivery River which goes into Hudson.
The filtration plant will work well for a
while but it will eventually spew waste
into the river. It’s a delicate area.”
Springtime flooding could also be
an issue because, according to Simpson, water tends to pool in certain
spots within the development zone.
He is also concerned that construction
will negatively affect the wildlife that
live in the area which he feels should
be protected.
Vaudreuil-Dorion Mayor Guy Pilon
dismissed residents’ concerns saying
the provincial Ministry of the Environment made an exhaustive three year
study of the area and concluded the
project could proceed if certain modifications were made to the original development proposal.
The project had originally called
for about 375 houses to be built when
plans were submitted to the Environment Ministry for review in 2010. That
number was reduced to a maximum
capacity of 174 houses specifically
because of environmental concerns,
said Pilon. He added the land has been
zoned for a residential development
for more than 10 years now.
1((+%'5%.15'&
Wednesday, December 24, 2014 to Sunday, January 4, 2015 inclusively
For any non-urgent situation that can’t wait for January 5: call 3-1-1
Community Centre: halls opened if booked
.+$4#4;
December 24 to 26: closed
December 27 and 28: from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
December 29: closed
December 30: from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
December 31st, January 1st and 2nd: closed
Ebooks
are
available
at all time!
$
#5'&'2.'+0#+4(1677 Chemin Saint-Dominique)
Trails will be opened if weather permits it.
Schedule for reception chalet and equipment rental:
December 25: closed
December 26: from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
December 27 to December 31st: from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
January 1st: closed
January 2nd: from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
%1..'%6+105
Regular recycling collections on December 23 and 30
Regular garbage collections on December 24 and 31st
+%'4+0-5#0&4+0)5
Public works will get the ice ready if weather permits it.
%*4+56/#564''5
Tree must be by the curb on January 12.
One-time tree pick-up will start during the week of January 12.
www.ville.saint-lazare.qc.ca
facebook/villesaintlazare
Best wishes of health and
prosperity
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
5
STORIES OF THE YEAR
A retrospective of the year’s regional events that had an impact on the residents, made us laugh, made us cry, and in most cases, made us understand
the community spirit.
MARCH
Senneville residents urge
councillors to reconcile with
mayor and begin working together
Vaudreuil MNA Marcoux
announces he will not seek
another term
John Jantak
John Jantak
The continuing political wrangle
between Senneville Mayor Jane Guest
and the town’s six municipal councillors prompted some residents to
ask whether council was prepared to
set aside their differences and begin
working together as a collective elected body by including the mayor in all
PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK
Letters
Continued from page 4
Another citizen raised the issue
of this ban, and was told I would receive a letter later in the week, which
I did. It confirmed the content of the
last letter, in April 2014, that indicated
I would have to meet the chairperson,
and then sign a document, accepting,
in my handwriting, nine conditions
before I would be allowed to speak at
council.
That said, my first election promise
of my platform when I was running for
chairman in the Nov. 2 school board
elections, stated: “Restore democracy
at public question periods.”
The results of the election indicate
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future caucus meetings.
The issue was raised during the
second question period at the council
meeting February 24 after Guest told
attendees she was excluded from participating in a caucus meeting with the
town’s six councillors just prior to the
start of the regular monthly council
session – the second caucus meeting
she has been excluded from since becoming mayor last November.
Her response prompted one resident to ask whether council planned
to continue working in caucus by excluding Guest from future meetings.
Councillor Brian McManus replied
that despite her exclusion, Guest was
being kept up to date on the issues.
Update: Council is now reportedly
including Guest in all discussions.
that many people agreed with my platform. Consequently, I will not be signing any document. I would be letting
people down.
The rights that are connected with
the Public Question Period are listed
in the Quebec Education Act and in
the LBPSB: “Rules of Internal Management of the Council of Commissioners.”
If I were to sign any democratic rights away, one would wonder,
“Who’s next?”
Consider: During the election campaign, the Central Parents’ Committee
on Oct. 20, organized a debate among
the three candidates running for chair.
Long-time vice-chair Angela Nolet,
characterized the board as a “place of
intimidation.”
How true. Democracy should never
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YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
After serving his constituents for
more than 15 years Liberal MNA Yvon
Marcoux announced he would not
seek re-election for another term.
“I made this difficult decision after
much deep reflection with my family
since the beginning of January,” Marcoux announced the day before the
election was called.
With his wife of 50 years, Odette,
by his side, Marcoux said he informed
Liberal Leader Phillippe Couillard of
his decision last week. “I exercised my
role as MNA for the region with pride
and passion,” said Marcoux. “After
more than 15 years of a very intense
political life and serving the needs of
my constituents, I need to spend more
time with my wife, children and grand-
be limited nor rationed.
Incidentally, this is what I wished
to say to Council, which included the
new parent and student commissioners: “Seasons greetings and all the best
to you and your families throughout
2015.”
Chris Eustace
Pierrefonds
Dear Editor,
Thank you very much for James Parry’s great article (Giant menorah lit up
outside Hudson, Your Local Journal,
December 18). Informative, clear and
concise, a beautiful piece! I enjoyed
reading it and I’m sure the rest of the
community will too.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Nachum
St. Lazare
PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK
children.”
During his tenure, Marcoux held
two cabinet posts as Minister of Justice
and Minister of Transport, worked on
numerous government committees,
and was deeply involved in improving
the social fabric and quality of life for
his residents by promoting transportation, environmental, cultural, social
and other issues.
“I am very honoured and proud to
have had the privilege to represent the
County of Vaudreuil.”
Dear Editor,
Merry Christmas! This is my very
first email to an editor. I would like
to thank you for years of entertaining
Soapbox articles. I make a special trip
each week to the 4 Corners depanneur to pick up my copy of Your Local
Journal and am never disappointed by
your wit, love and cynicism. I am impressed by the way you use your words
like a painter on a canvas. It’s rare
when I don’t either laugh out loud or
feel a tear trying to drop on the page.
I look forward to many more quirky
stories.
Anna Jarolim
Vaudreuil-Dorion
Police les recap
2014 in highlights… and lowlights
Compiled by
Carmen Marie Fabio
[email protected]
Criminals had a busy and arguably
a creative year in our West Island and
Off Island regions as reported weekly
by both Service de police de la Ville de
Montréal (SPVM) and Sûreté du Québec (SQ) socio-community officers.
•While pickpocketing incidents
make sporadic appearances, particularly around this time of year, one report in January in the West Island saw
the perpetrator use a razor to slash a
vertical entry point into the targeted
purse, relieving the wearer of her wallet.
• Thefts over the past year ranged
from the mundane to the more obscure, including $25,000 worth of
electric bicycles taken from a Dorval
facility, a man in Vaudreuil-Dorion
caught in the act of stealing wheels
off cars at a dealership, and a 53-foot
transport truck loaded with copper
driven off a fenced-in VaudreuilDorion yard in April.
• A dozen full 33-litre propane tanks
were stolen from a Vaudreuil sur le
Lac business in April and May, the
start of golf season, saw the theft
of an assortment of golf equipment from the Kirkland Walmart,
culminating in the thief reportedly
•
•
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•
beating on the 20-year-old security
guard who attempted to intervene.
May saw a suspect brazenly walk
into an Île Perrot pharmacy and
help himself to a laptop and a bag
of candies before walking out of the
store without paying. Police later arrested the man.
June saw the Dorval theft of about
400 designer eyeglass frames and
sunglasses from a sales rep’s car.
There were also three reports of carbatteries being stolen from under
the hoods of Toyotas in the Dorval/
Pointe Claire region that month.
In July, Pierrefonds police stumbled upon a cache of 31 stolen
garden gnomes in Alexander Park
on Oakwood Street. At last report,
the gnomes were patiently waiting
identification at Station 3.
September saw the theft of four televisions from a business in Dollard
des Ormeaux and a ride-on lawn
mower in Rivière Beaudette.
Shoplifting is an equal-opportunity
crime, practiced by young and old
alike, as evidenced after two women
in their early-60s were arrested after
taking a number of items in Pincourt and forgetting to pay for them.
September saw a West Island teenager make a false criminal confession in a case of ‘swatting’ in which
•
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his bogus claims of killing his parents with an M-16 saw the implementation of a safety perimeter
drawing on the resources of many
officers. The call was subsequently
revealed to be a ‘joke.’
November saw the theft of four
catalytic converters from Pontiac
vehicles in Coteau du Lac and a
number of bottles of liquor from a
‘smash and grab’ incident in a Vaudreuil-Dorion retailer in which the
perpetrator shattered a front display
window and grabbed the bottles on
display.
Counterfeit $20 bills surfaced in
February after a Kijiji transaction
conducted on a street in Pierrefonds
saw the seller out $300.
Some people were so adept at their
respective infractions, they committed the same offense twice (or more).
In February, a St. Lazare woman was
arrested for driving with three times
the legal limit of alcohol in her system. After being released by police
who suspended her license and
impounded her vehicle, she was arrested driving another vehicle just
a few hours later. Nobody was reported injured. Later in the month,
a man, also from St. Lazare, was
arrested after being ejected from a
bar on Chemin Ste. Angélique and
producing false identification to police. He was subsequently arrested
a second time for damaging the SQ
headquarters in St. Clet following
his release from the first arrest.
Three young Chateauguay men attempting to take a shortcut between
Île Perrot and Beauharnois by driving an SUV on the ice found it wasn’t
such a good idea after the vehicle
sank into Lac St. Louis in March. No
one was reported injured.
• SQ officers made five arrests in June
following reported incidents of
rocks being thrown at drivers from
passing vehicles in St. Lazare. Those
arrested were all males between 16
and 18 years of age.
• A perceived ‘bomb’ threat after a
delivery at a Pierrefonds jewellery
store in July ended up being a box of
rocks.
• Phishing and internet scams continue to make the news as perpetrators find new and innovative ways to
obtain personal information about
their targets. Be aware of any email
that claims to be from a banking
or insurance institution. When in
doubt, contact your bank by telephone before providing any information online.
The green thumbs were busy both
on and off island with a reported $3.7
million worth of marijuana plants
seized primarily from private homes
including:
• 1000 plants January 28 Duke of Kent
in Pointe Claire in January
• 362 in an undisclosed West Island
town in February
• 1000 plants in St. Clet in February
• 25 plants in Rigaud in April
• 450 plants in Coteau du Lac in April
• 100 plants in NDIP June
• 90 in Rivière Beaudette in May
• 687 in Dorval in September
Five-alarm re destroys snow removal equipment in Vaudreuil-Dorion
James Armstrong
Special Contributor
Firefighters from five communities
responded to a blaze at 1885 Montée Laboissière in Vaudreuil-Dorion
on Saturday, December 20. “The call
came in at 3:53 p.m.,” said Joël Sauvé,
Chief of Operations Division of the
Vaudreuil-Dorion Fire Department
on Monday afternoon. According to
Sauvé, firefighters were on the scene
until approximately 9 p.m. Firefighters responding to the call came from
Vaudreuil-Dorion, St. Lazare, Hudson,
Les Cèdres, and Pincourt.
The building in question belongs
to Excavation Roxboro. Although his
report is not complete, Sauvé said that
the cause of the blaze was likely due to
a defective electrical entry. A fire prevention inspection earlier this year had
revealed a firewall inside the building
that was not up to code. The company
rectified the situation quickly, Sauvé
pointed out, noting that firefighters
were able to save part of the building
because of the firewall. Losses are estimated at $500,000 by the fire chief and
the company. Company spokesperson
Yvon Thèorêt said that that the snow
removal equipment damaged by the
fire has been replaced and the garage
will be rebuilt.
No one was injured in the blaze and
the building did not have fire alarm
or smoke detection system. Sauvé explained that this type of building is not
legally required to have these systems
in place. Rigaud resident Stephen Kerr
who happened to be passing through
the area placed an emergency call. “I
saw smoke coming out of the roof with
flames on the west side of the building,” said Kerr, “and called 911.”
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Tuesday, December 23, 2014
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
7
STORIES OF
THE YEAR
Light and
reection
I’m easily distracted by shiny things and pretty lights – and
quite adept at procrastination – so it was a no-brainer when, while
trying to write this column, I wandered over to watch my son experiment with his plasma globe lamp, pulled out my camera to
take multiple shots of the purple and blue energy arcing through
whatever noble gas contained within, showed the photos to the
whole family, and researched plasma lamps extensively on Wikipedia before sitting down again and trying to write this column.
This is a special time of year for a number of reasons and even
though I’m not an especially Christmas-y person, the multitude
of additional light sources in the home add substantial atmosphere that we just don’t have in, say... September.
The front porch is adorned in intensely coloured LED lights,
cool enough to avoid melting through the icicles that accentuate
the criss-crossing strings. The tree inside is festooned in dignified
shades of blue following a mishap a few years back that saw our
last string of incandescent lights burn out after all the stores had
closed Christmas Eve, leaving us to resort to pulling out the Halloween lights. Yup, nothing says Christmas like silicone-dipped
purple light bulbs and little skeleton heads.
Having kids means you go from sleeping eight to 10 hours
straight in total darkness to a series of naps perpetually punctuated with nightlights and low wattage lamps in almost every room.
While our little turtle lamp suffered a nasty demise recently after
my foot got caught in the power cord, smashing his orange frosted lampshade shell and likely generating years of therapy for my
son who was waiting patiently to be tucked in, we’ve found that
its ugly replacement merely bounces after hitting the ground a
number of times, allegedly by accident.
Besides the obvious and practical aspects, any child knows that
light has the ability to bring comfort in the middle of the night and
I learned early on that flashlights make the absolute best birthday
party gifts, loved by kids and appreciated by parents. The lights’
designs change as the kids themselves age, starting with cutesy
cartoon characters and morphing to sophisticated fixtures with
the inevitable foray into lava-lamp territory... awesome creations
as long as you don’t shake them. You’ll just have to trust me on
that one.
Years ago while on a business trip to Omaha, Nebraska, I found
a gift for my youngest – a beautiful, remote-controlled, wallmounted light named ‘Moon in my Room’ that cycles through the
lunar phases, from crescent to half to full, turning off after 30 minutes thereby allowing the user to fall asleep to the gentle replica
glow of one of nature’s most intriguing light sources. I carefully
wrapped and packed it in my suitcase only to have the baggage
go AWOL upon my arrival at Trudeau International, leaving me
in a state of near panic, not at the lost clothing but at the missing moon. I almost pounced on the luggage carousel when my
suitcase finally, and somewhat dejectedly, rolled into view on the
conveyor long after my fellow travellers had ambled off. It was
only after I finally installed it in my son’s room did I realize the
same frickin’ thing was available for sale here at Zeller’s.
It’s possibly out of spite and defiance that I insist any stories we
read are under the changing lunar phases of that damned ‘Moon
in my Room.’
The year 2015 is peeking over the horizon and I hope it brings
you love, laughter, and lots of light.
Happy holidays.
8
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
A retrospective of the year’s regional events that had an impact on
the residents, made us laugh, made us cry, and in most cases, made us
understand the community spirit.
Hospital a priority as team player
Nichols prepares to tackle issues
for Vaudreuil constituents
John Jantak
More than 200 supporters, including former Premier Daniel Johnson, Jr.,
gathered to rally their support behind
first-time provincial Liberal candidate
Marie-Claude Nichols at the launch
of her Vaudreuil riding election campaign last Wednesday, March 12, replacing outgoing Vaudreuil MNA Yvon
Marcoux.
Nichols, the current mayor of Notre
Dame de l’Île-Perrot (NDIP) and recently appointed Prefect of the Municipalité Régionale de Comté (MRC)
Vaudreuil-Soulanges, is hoping to become the first woman elected as Member of the National Assembly (MNA)
for Vaudreuil, as ardent supporters applauded her candidacy.
Nichols was elected by acclamation
for a second term as mayor in the November 2013 municipal election, and
three weeks later on November 27, was
elected by acclamation by the 23 re-
PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK
gional mayors of Vaudreuil-Soulanges
to head the MRC.
Nichols expressed confidence at being able to fulfill her role as Vaudreuil
MNA if she is elected and was ready to
tackle the important issues that affect
the region, including making the longawaited Vaudreuil-Soulanges hospital
become a reality. Liberal leader Phillippe Couillard recently said the hospital will be a top priority if the Liberals
win a majority in the upcoming provincial election on April 7.
Reaction to Earl
Jones’ early release
Carmen Marie Fabio
News that convicted fraudster Earl
Jones gained early release from Ste.
Anne des Plaines prison where he was
serving a sentence for bilking almost
150 investors out of $50 million in a
Ponzi scheme elicited a range of reactions from incredulity to philosophical
acceptance.
“Jones’ release was only a matter
of time,” said Kevin Curran of the Earl
Jones Victims Organizing Committee
whose mother, Karlene Kennedy, was
one of Jones’ victims. “Sentenced to 11
years, he only spent four years in prison for a crime that will have an impact
on his mostly elderly victims for what
remains of their lives.” The victims
sued The Royal Bank of Canada alleging poor banking practices that, besides honouring forged cheques, also
allowed Jones to pool all his ‘In Trust’
accounts through a single account requiring his sole signature. The bank offered a settlement of $17 million without accepting any liability. The group
chose to settle out of court to avoid a
protracted legal process and all funds
were disbursed just before Christmas
2013.
VILLE DE SAINT-LAZARE
M.R.C. DE VAUDREUIL-SOULANGES
PROVINCE DE QUÉBEC
EXPLANATORY DOCUMENT
ADOPTION OF THREE-YEAR PROGRAM OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
FOR THE YEARS 2015, 2016 AND 2017
The 2015, 2016 and 2017 Three-Year Capital Expenditure Program was adopted by members of Council at the Extraordinary Sitting of December 16,
2014. The said program can be summarized as follows:
Breakdown of expenditures according to the period of expenses
Three-year program
Services
Expenses
prior
to the
program
2015
2016
2017
Total
of the 3
years
Expenses
subsequent
to the
program
Total
Breakdown of expenditures according to the period of expenses
Three-year program
Permanent financing
methods
Expenses
prior
to the
program
2015
2016
2017
Total
of the 3
years
Expenses
subsequent
to the
program
Total
General Administration
$60,000
$3,132,500
$3,142,500
$125,000
$6,400,000
$0
$6,460,000
Long-term loans – General $4,047,000 $6,188,000 $4,926,500
$0
$11,114,500
$4,470,000
$19,631,500
Public Security
$240,000
$5,798,800
$1,102,300
$0
$6,901,100
$0
$7,141,100
Long-term loans – Sector
$624,400
$9,229,000
$4,298,500
$0
$13,527,500
$0
$14,151,900
$3,328,100
$1,204,500
$3,111,500
$1,024,000
$5,340,000
$1,836,000
$10,504,100
Government grants &
contributions
$25,000
$3,437,500
$1,147,000
$0
$4,584,500
$0
$4,609,500
$850,000
$13,246,500
$0
$14,171,500
Administration fund
$1,143,700
$3,283,300
$1,716,300
$1,913,000
$6,912,600
$1,391,000
$9,447,300
$110,000
$515,500
$371,500
$448,000
$1,335,000
$0
$1,445,000
$0
$150,000
$0
$0
$150,000
$0
$150,000
$37,624,100
$5,861,000
$49,435,200
Transport
Environment Hygiene
Urban planning and
environment
Recreation and Culture
Total
$925,000
$10,191,500 $2,205,000
$1,018,000
$570,000
$1,725,000
$125,000
$2,420,000
$3,125,000
$6,563,000
Working fund
$379,000
$1,906,000
$1,173,500
$237,000
$3,316,500
$900,000
$4,595,500
Parks fund
$37,624,100
$5,861,000
$49,435,200
Total
$5,950,100 $22,803,300 $12,459,800 $2,361,000
$5,950,100 $22,803,300 $12,459,800 $2,361,000
VILLE DE SAINT-LAZARE
M.R.C. DE VAUDREUIL-SOULANGES
PROVINCE DE QUÉBEC
EXPLANATORY DOCUMENT
ADOPTION OF BUDGET ESTIMATES - 2015
Ville de Saint-Lazare’s town council has adopted the budget estimates for the 2015 fiscal year at an extraordinary sitting held on December 16, 2014.
The budget estimates are summarized as follow:
REVENUES
OPERATION REVENUES
Local taxes
Payments in lieu of taxes
Transfers - Government grants
Services provided
Fee assessment
Fines and penalties
Interests
Others
2014
2015
$19,809,800
$250,000
$536,200
$887,700
$1,454,800
$130,000
$345,200
$68,600
$23,482,300
$20,658,000
$243,400
$490,300
$1,002,400
$1,512,800
$130,000
$351,800
$40,000
$24,428,700
$626,000
$96,000
$722,000
$496,000
$79,000
$575,000
$24,204,300
$25,003,700
INVESTMENT REVENUES
Transfers
Others
TOTAL REVENUES
2014
2015
$3,835,000
$3,965,000
($1,375,000)
($1,375,200)
($751,000)
($423,300)
$1,798,000
$303,750
($235,100)
$3,575,650
$1,706,000
$404,750
($269,100)
$4,008,150
$-
$-
RECONCILIATION FOR TAX PURPOSES
Capital cost allowance
Repayment of long-term debt
Allocations
Investment activities
Accumulated surplus (deficit):
Allocated operating surplus
Expenses incurred to tax or provide
Financial reserve and reserve fund
Operating surplus (deficit) for tax
purposes
TAXATION RATES – 2015
EXPENSES
General Administration
Public Security
Road Transport
Environment and Hygiene
Health and Welfare
Urban planning and Land exploitation
Recreation and Culture
Financing Services
TOTAL EXPENSES (before capital cost allowance)
Capital cost allowance
$3,577,475
$5,745,340
$4,534,400
$3,310,895
$171,000
$1,515,775
$4,014,165
$353,900
$23,222,950
$3,946,350
$5,801,300
$4,795,500
$3,271,400
$147,400
$1,569,900
$4,568,800
$371,200
$24,471,850
$3,835,000
$3,965,000
TOTAL EXPENSES (Including capital cost allowance)
$27,057,950
$28,436,850
Surplus (deficit)
($2,853,650)
($3,433,150)
Deduct : Investment revenues
Operating surplus (deficit) before reconciliation for tax purposes
($722,000)
($575,000)
($3,575,650)
($4,008,150)
General property tax :
Mill rate residual (base rate per $100 evaluation)
Mill rate E.A.E. (per $100 evaluation)
Mill rate non residential buildings (per $100 evaluation)
Mill rate debt (per $100 evaluation)
• La Pinière ($0,0023)
• Ste-Elisabeth ($0,0029)
• Municipal garage ($0,0060)
• Westwood synthetic field ($0,0016)
Water
Garbage
Waste water treatment
SQAE’s share (Waste water treatment plant)
Water treatment plant
Garbage bins
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
2014
2015
$0,6356
$0,6356
$1,0314
$0,0110
$0,6716
$0,6716
$1,0898
$0,0128
$200
$165
$135
$45
$20
$9,50
$200
$165
$135
$21
$20
$9,50
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
9
MAURICE JEFFRIES
W
here on earth has the year
gone? Sheesh, seems like
only yesterday that I was
wrapping presents and trimming the
tree. Come to think of it, it was yesterday. But hey, I’m talking Christmas
2013!
Yup, another year is winding down.
A year that saw dramatic developments on the international scene.
Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine,
although he still says he was only there
by invitation. The emergence of ISIS
and its atrocities that continue to send
shock waves throughout the civilized
world.
Also terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
Two so-called lone wolves murdering
and manifesting their madness in both
Ottawa and Saint Jean sur Richelieu.
And, south of the border, President
Barak Obama setting the wheels in
motion to end a 60-year-old battle
from the Cold War and warm up relations with Raoul Castro and communist Cuba.
The very same week that Kim JongUn, leader of North Korea, got mightily ticked off with the U.S. and Sony
Pictures over some dumb, supposedly funny, movie titled The Interview
about a successful assassination of
said leader that we are probably now
never going to see because it has been
yanked - pardon the pun - for fear of
retaliation. Following a hacking attack
allegedly perpetrated by North Korean
‘cyber warriors’.
Forget about all this claptrap about
censoring free expression, for a moment. Truth be told, how the film
showing the killing of a still-living
leader of his country ever got made in
the first place is beyond me. I’m not
condoning the hacking, of course. Or
diminishing the possible retaliation in
cinemas throughout North America.
But just imagine some tin pot country
with a potential audience of millions
doing the same about Obama or Prime
Minister Stephen Harper. Showing
their heads exploding on the screen
and audiences rolling in the aisles with
laughter! But that’s another story.
---------------------LIFE GOES ON - As for here in
Hudson well - apart from Pine Lake
and the Town’s coffers both going bust
and our former director general, Louise Léger Villandré, having her first
day in court on 19 fraud-related charges although she didn’t show up and
pleaded not guilty through her lawyer
- what can I say?
Except that as it gets set to celebrate
its 150th Anniversary next year, Hudson is still Hudson. A town my beautiful Sunshine and I are proud to call
home with a caring community that
provides me with enough good positive news to fill this page week after
week.
Just like any small town today, of
course, it is replete with its own little
quirks and problems. Cliques and,
on occasion, vociferous vested interest groups. Rumours, innuendos, and
half-baked theories based on gossip.
Plus, on a more positive note, countless volunteers that - like Eveready
batteries - just keep on ticking while
contributing immeasurably to the
quality of life in our fair burg by the
lake. As well as that of those in need in
our region, and particularly at this special time of year.
There are also those who, for the
first time, will be spending Christmas
without their loved ones who passed
away in the past year. And our thoughts
and love go out to them, whether we
really knew them personally or not.
For aren’t we all one big family here
in Hudson? I would certainly like to
think so!
PHOTO BY JAMES PARRY
On behalf of the Hudson Coronation Street Appreciation Society, Mireille Lemelin, presents
Carol Laws of Le Pont-Bridging Food Bank with gifts from HCSAS members to help local families
in need over Christmas.
10
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
PHOTO BY JAMES PARRY
Taking a break from serving breakfast at their new café at the back of IGA Poirier, Jessika Klaiman and Sue Verronneau are all positive for the future.
---------------------A FAMILY AFFAIR - Speaking of
families, members of the Hudson Coronation Street Appreciation Society
- of which I have humbly given myself
the title of Founder and President for
Life - sure came through to help a lot
over the holidays with their generous
donations at their recent 10th Annual Christmas Lunch at the Auberge
Willow Inn recently. All delivered by
Mireille Lemelin to Carol Laws of Le
Pont-Bridging Food Bank - which
is currently helping about 30 families
here going through a rough time of it
until they get back on their feet.
And I’m delighted to report that gifts
for Ste. Anne’s Hospital were still being dropped off at the Royal Canadian
Legion Branch #115 and wrapped by
volunteers there this past weekend to
be presented by Santa to Veterans on
Christmas Day.
A day, incidentally, that for the first
time in four years SamGeorge Cockburn will be celebrating here at home
in Hudson with his beloved wife,
Heather. For former Air Canada pilot
SamGeorge, you see, has been working for the past few years as a flight
simulator instructor and evaluator on
the Airbus 330 and 380 in South Korea and has not had much time off this
year.
In fact, says Heather, between June
and December he had only three
weeks. So much for retirement! Welcome home SamGeorge and have a
good one guys! Ah, don’t you just love
it?
---------------------PROOF POSITIVE - And you simply just gotta love those local business and entrepreneurial spirits who
continue to spend their time, talents,
and hard-earned money investing in
our community despite all the doom
and gloom merchants and critics who
seem to take delight in being negative
nabobs and saying it will never work.
I’m thinking of people like Jessika
Klaiman, who first opened her Café
Cakes par Haute Couture at the back
of the IGA mall on Main Road in April.
And who has just gone in to partnership in the very same location with
Sue Verronneau who has been voluntarily creating marvellous meals at the
Vaudreuil-Soulanges Palliative Care
Residence on Como Gardens for the
past three years.
Together they have just launched
their 16-seat Le Cozy Café serving up
fantabulous breakfasts and lunches in
what can best be described as classic
cuisine with an edge and a dab of innovative creativity that has to be seen
– and tasted – to be believed. Mireille
and I checked it out this week and
were lucky to get a table. So popular
has it become in just two weeks.
Tell you folks, not only is it real cozy,
but the food scrumptious and the presentation is a work of art in itself. Their
specialities? Crepes and Eggs Benedict
- no, not named after Benedict Cumberbatch - complete with a choice of
five different secret-recipe sauces that
the dynamic duo have created themselves.
And why are they opening with
confidence just as 2014 is closing? “Because we make a great team and we are
convinced that by offering something
special in cuisine with a very personal
touch and service, we will attract not
only a local clientele but also clients
from the West Island and even just
over the border in Ontario,” said Sue.
Added Jessika, who will continue
with her speciality cakes while building her business with Sue, “No store
or restaurant can survive in Hudson if
it relies solely on local residents. They
must make it worth the trip from elsewhere.”
Ain’t that the truth? And bravo to
you both for having the courage of
your convictions!
---------------------THRILL OF A LIFETIME - Meanwhile, don’t know if it was courage,
skill, or just sheer luck that caused
golfer extraordinaire John Connor,
who retired from IGA in May, to hit
his first-ever hole in one just before
Christmas. With his beloved wife, Judith, as a witness and with the certificate to prove it.
John was back at the store helping
out just before we went to press and,
for the record, it was at The Shipyard
Golf Club in Hilton Head, South
Carolina, on the Clipper Course, involving a 140-yard shot over water.
Knowing John, he may be reluctant
to talk about his thrill of a lifetime. But
I do have it on good authority that he
will be back at the store this coming
Sunday if you want to give it a try. But
please don’t mention that you read it
here!
Merry Christmas one and all. Back
on January 15th!
And that’s a wrap!
E-mail: [email protected]
STORIES OF THE YEAR
A retrospective of the year’s regional events that had an impact on the residents, made us laugh, made us cry, and in most cases, made us understand
the community spirit.
APRIL
Painting the town red
Carmen Marie Fabio
The celebratory mood in incumbent
Liberal MNA Geoff Kelley’s Cartier Avenue riding office in Pointe Claire was
evident mere minutes after the April 7
polls closed and gained continued momentum culminating in whoops and
cheers from supporters as it became
clear Quebec had voted the Liberals
into a majority government over the
Parti Québécois.
“I have never seen people so motivated to vote,” said Kelley moments after learning the magnitude of the Liberal victory. “The turnout was high and
I found it very encouraging the way
the campaign turned around and a lot
of credit has to go to Philippe Couil-
lard. He ran a flawless campaign and
stuck to his message.” Kelley said the
Liberal campaign slogan Ensemble/
Together, conceived by Couillard, was
instrumental in winning the race, following feedback from Quebecers that
said they didn’t like ‘chicane’ and were
ready to embrace inclusion rather than
continued division.
Kelley said Couillard has definitive
plans on where he wants to take the
government, focusing on the economy, healthcare, and education. “He
doesn’t want to think about dividing
Quebecers along linguistic lines or
what you wear on your head. Whether
you live in the regions or in Montreal,
he really wants to govern for all Quebecers.”
Charlebois wins fth consecutive
term as Soulanges MNA
John Jantak
An emotional Lucie Charlebois was
re-elected to a fifth term as Soulanges
MNA after the April 7 provincial election with 54.4 per cent of the total ballots cast.
Charlebois thanked her all her supporters, volunteers and family during
her victory speech for their continued
support and for giving her a fifth consecutive mandate that will allow her to
continue to serve the needs of her constituency.
Even though early results indicated
that Charlebois had won her riding,
she waited until just before 10 p.m. before proclaiming victory. “We wanted
to be absolutely sure that I had won,”
Charlebois told Your Local Journal.
“I was very emotional when I won. I
PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK
don’t know why. Maybe it’s because it
was my fifth campaign. It was a great
campaign and I’m very excited with
the result.”
For Charlebois, the Liberal majority
victory under leader Philippe Couillard means that she will be able to address the essential concerns that are
important for her region, including job
creation, economic revival, education
and health care.
The Ship of Fools docks at Mon Village to
share tall tales of their past exploits
All former firefighters or fire buffs from throughout Greater Montreal and further afield
Rod Hodgson
Special contributor
A dozen long-time friends who are
among the ‘who’s who’ of the Greater
Montreal area Fire Service gathered at
Restaurant Mon Village in Hudson December 19 for their annual Christmas
luncheon. This exclusive group known
as the ‘Ship of Fools’ have been friends
for decades and, over the years, many
new members have been added while
other dear friends have passed on
to the great firehouse in the sky. The
name originated from Chief Bob Kirby
of Dollard des Ormeaux and it dates
from early literature.
Many of the early members - all fire
buffs or firefighters themselves- would
happen to meet at multiple alarm fires
in Montreal or the suburbs and take
photos. They decided to gather at one
of their homes and show slides and
talk shop. The group has always been
a small tight ship with generally fewer
than 20 members.
Former members were well known
in the Montreal Fire service such as
Montreal Star photographer John
Daggett, CTV cameraman Peter
Wright, Montreal Fire Assistant Chief
Reg Campeau, John Smith Div. Chief
of Montreal Fire Dept., Chief George
Alray of Roxboro Fire Brigade, Capt.
Andy Smith of Westmount Fire Brigade, Bob Lipscombe who was a fire
buff and a manager of the Bank of
Montreal, and Vic Fleischer of Les
Pompiers Auxiliaires de Montreal.
The group was founded in the late
1960s or early 1970s and from time
to time the current members will
still meet at the scene of a major fire.
However, as they have grown older
and away from the fire service, these
meetings are fewer and fewer. Thus the
annual lunch which began about 15
years ago and of which Hudsonite Rod
Hodgson is the current organizer.
All of the members who have been
firefighters have been awarded the
Governor General of Canada’s Distinguished Fire Service Exemplary Medal
for long service.
With hundreds of years’ firefighting experience between these 12 men,
one would be amazed at the stories
they still tell each year at their annual
luncheon. Many of them have been
told over and over but they never tire
of hearing them.
They have seen tragedies, wonderful rescues and amazing new innovations over the years. They have lost
countless friends and colleagues to
the ‘Red Devil’ as the fire is known but
they continued to serve their fellow
citizens. When the alarm bells rang,
these men were there, just like the current crop of young firefighters all over
the world.
PHOTO BY JAMES PARRY
Current members of the ‘Ship of Fools’ gather around the fireplace at Restaurant Mon Village
in Hudson for their annual lunch celebrating Christmas while remembering dear friends who
have passed away.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
11
12
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Appeals court decision will determine
Pincourt Sports Complex fate next year
The on-again, off-again saga of the abandoned arena
John Jantak
Your Local Journal
Pincourt residents will have to wait
until next year to see whether the
town’s long-awaited sports complex
will finally become a reality depending
on the outcome of a highly anticipated
Quebec Court of Appeals case scheduled for 2015.
Even if the ruling is in favour of the
Société d’Exploitation Sports Sherbrooke (SESS), the date of the court
case which is still pending and the
date of the judge’s eventual ruling, will
determine whether the SESS will have
enough time to complete the necessary construction and renovation work
to have the arena operational by the
start of the 2015-16 hockey season.
There was much anticipation that
the sports complex would have been
ready this September after SESS representatives held a press conference in
mid-February to announce they had
worked out a deal with the Town of
Pincourt to purchase the boarded-up
arena and surrounding land which has
sat empty for more than 12 years.
Then, two weeks after construction
began, representatives from the Burrows Group including NHL Vancouver
Canucks hockey player Alexandre Burrows and local businessman Paul Roy
who are planning to build a similar
facility in Notre Dame de l’Île Perrot,
took legal action against the SESS and
received a court injunction that halted
construction at the Pincourt Sports
Complex.
A Quebec Superior Court case was
held in early June in which arguments
from both sides were presented. After
three days of testimony, Quebec Superior Court Justice Danille Mayrand
ruled in favour of the SESS on June 10,
stating that the arrangements made by
the Town of Pincourt to sell the struc-
ture and surrounding land to the SESS
complied with provincial regulations,
as did arrangements for ice time rental
between the SESS, the town and the
Commission scolaire des Trois-Lacs
(CSTL).
The Burrows Group appealed the
decision shortly after it was rendered
arguing that the sale of the abandoned
building and land by the Town of Pincourt to SESS for $1 – substantially less
than the assessed market value – violated the province’s Cities and Towns
Act.
The group also claimed that ice
time rental agreements with the town
and Commission scolaire des TroisLacs (CSTL) were inflated and unfair
because they constituted what could
be considered as subsidies in favour
of SESS. In her ruling, Justice Mayrand
found no irregularities in any of the
agreements with the town, SESS and
CSTL.
The SESS group – comprised of former NHL player Jocelyn Thibault, Stephen Cabana, Pascal Rhéaume and
Benoît Goulet who also own and operate the Complexe Sportif Thibault GM
in Sherbrooke – remain committed to
seeing the Pincourt Sports Complex
project through to completion despite
the legal challenges.
For Thibault and his partners, their
biggest disappointment was realizing that the Pincourt Sports Complex
would have been completed on time
and fully operational by September if
they weren’t hampered with the injunction, lawsuit and current appeal.
The Burrows Group have been
working to bring their own two-arena sports complex project to fruition
since February 2013, but have yet to
announce a location and construction
start-up date.
Robin Hood and his Merry Men in tights
packing them in at Hudson Village Theatre
Pantomine back for the 14th year for the entire family
James Parry
Your Local Journal
Think of a traditional Christmas
pantomime, and what immediately
comes to mind? Cinderella, Snow
White, Sleeping Beauty? And what do
they all have in common apart from
guys dressing up as women, women
dressing up as men, jokes the more
the punnier the funnier, and love conquering all with a big wedding scene at
the end?
Why, of course, they all feature a
lady in the starring role.
Now think of a pantomime with a
guy in the title. You got it, Aladdin. But
how about Robin Hood and his Merry
Men? Sorry, make that cheerful persons.
For in what can only be described
as a laugh-filled departure from the
Normans - sorry again, make that the
norm - that’s the panto currently on
stage at Hudson Village Theatre this
Holiday Season through January 11 as
directed by Mary Vuorela and played
out in a dual cast by leading local panto
veterans as well as newcomers from
throughout the region performing for
the very first time in Hudson’s little
theatre by the tracks. In a local Christmas tradition now dating back some
14 years, the only one of its kind in the
Province of Quebec, and with Vuorela
having played a major role - in various
capacities - in every one.
And in what can also only be described as an inspired bit of casting,
none other than Jamie Nicholls, NDP
MP for Vaudreuil-Soulanges and a
long-time member of the Hudson Players Club, stars as Robin along with his
very merry men in tights. And the very
same guy - Robin that is, not Nicholls who according to legend took from the
rich to give to the poor.
But you don’t have to be poor to reserve your tickets by calling the Box Office at (450) 458-5361 or going to www.
villagetheatre.ca A traditional treat for
the entire family at this special time of
year.
Hudson Badminton Club
OPEN HOUSE
- FREE ENTRY*
th
Monday Jan. 5 , 8 – 10 p.m.
Westwood Senior High School Gym
69 Côte St-Charles, Hudson
FIND US ON FACEBOOK. EMAIL: [email protected]
*Must be 16 years or older, court shoes required. Loaner rackets available, shuttlecocks provided.
PHOTO BY JAMES PARRY
Some of the merry men in tights, now appearing at Hudson Village Theatre, strut their stuff atop
a float in Hudson’s recent Santa Claus Parade.
Forest Hill School
Junior Campus (Kindergarten – grade 2)
Pavillon Junior (maternelle - 2e année)
OPEN HOUSE/
JOURNÉE PORTES OUVERTES
January 16th, 9:30am - 11:30am / le 16 janvier de 9:30am - 11:30am
No appointment required / Aucun rendez-vous nécessaire
Registration for New Kindergarten Students
will take place January 26-30, 2015
Please call 514-798-0777 to make an appointment.
Inscription pour la maternelle
aura lieu du 26 au 30 janvier, 2015
S.V.P. appelez le 514-798-0777 pour prendre un rendez-vous.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
13
STORIES OF THE YEAR
A retrospective of the year’s regional events that had an impact on the residents, made us laugh, made us cry, and in most cases, made us understand the community spirit.
Nichols elected
Liberal MNA for Vaudreuil
John Jantak
Marie-Claude Nichols became the
first female Liberal Member of the
MNA for Vaudreuil after handily win-
ning Monday’s provincial election
with 61.2 per cent of the vote.
“I’m very happy,” Nichols told Your
Local Journal. “It was teamwork and
the support of many people in the rid-
ing including the electors, volunteers,
and my family and friends that helped
me to win the election. Without their
support and confidence in my abilities, I don’t think I would have won.”
Her two closet rivals, PQ candidate
Marcos Archambault and CAQ candidate Luc Tison, each received 16 per
cent and 15.6 per cent of voter support
respectively.
Nichols’ victory comes just five
months after being re-elected by acclamation last November to a second
term as mayor of Notre Dame de l’Île
Perrot and being elected by acclamation three weeks later as the first women to head the Municipalité Régionale
de Comté (MRC) Vaudreuil-Soulanges.
A lawyer by profession, Nichols said
that as a woman who has been elected
to three major political posts within
the past five years should serve as an
inspiration to other women to continue pursuing their goals “because anything is possible.”
CTA dismisses Vaudreuil-Dorion resident’s
complaint about excessive train noise and vibrations
John Jantak
The Canadian Transportation
Agency (CTA) has dismissed a complaint by Vaudreuil-Dorion homeowner Michel Girard who alleges that
excessive noise and vibrations from
passing freight trains on the Canadian
Pacific (CP) rail line are seriously affecting and disrupting his quality of
life.
Girard contends he was misinformed by the realtor who sold him
the house when he was told that only
14
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
two to three freight trains travel along
the rail corridor located approximately
150 feet behind his residence each day.
After conducting extensive research
for a two week period and providing
the CTA and CP with video recordings
and decibel readings, Girard noted
that up to 17 freight trains averaging
about 150 cars in length use the tracks
each day mostly at night, that noise
levels inside his house reach over 100
decibels, and that the vibrations from
passing trains shake his house.
Girard is also concerned about the
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
speed of the trains, which he claims often travel in excess of 100 km/h, could
derail. He worries that a derailment
with tanker cars carrying hazardous
materials could have disastrous consequences for residents living in the
immediate area.
The City of Vaudreuil-Dorion took
up Girard’s cause, started an on-line
petition on the city’s website and posted three 40 km/h speed limits in three
strategic locations alongside the tracks
leading into the city last summer
shortly after the Lac-Mégantic disaster
in an effort to get CP train engineers to
voluntarily reduce their speed when
travelling through the community.
In its ruling dated February 27 that
was obtained by Your Local Journal,
the CTA noted that the railway tracks
have been in operation for over a
century and were double tracked in
1912, well before Girard moved into
his house and that he “may have been
misinformed” about the actual number of freight trains that travel daily
along the rail corridor.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
15
STORIES OF THE YEAR
A retrospective of the year’s regional events that had an impact on the residents, made us laugh, made us cry, and in most cases, made us understand
the community spirit.
MAY
Hudson community consultation
a positive step forward
Fire devastates Main
Road apartment complex
Carmen Marie Fabio
James Armstrong
“The mood was clearly different
from the town council meetings,” said
Hudson Mayor Ed Prévost in reference
to the community consultation meeting held at the Stephen F. Shaar Community Center on Saturday April 26.
“The overall message from citizens appears to be, stay the course and keep
the right direction,” he added.
The Strategic Planning Consulting Process, hosted and facilitated by
moderator John Angus, was organized
on a table discussion model. Each
table discussion group, headed by a
town councilor or a town employee,
was dedicated to a specific part of
community life, including Parks and
Recreation, Culture and Tourism, and
Public Works.
“This is the first step in healing,” said
Angus, on Saturday morning. “The demographers outside of the town are
predicting a decrease in (population)
PHOTO BY JAMES ARMSTRONG
size for Hudson,” he continued, “We
have to have a goal – no goal, no future.”
As a specialist in corporate turnaround, Angus views the Hudson administrative situation as a business
model that has been badly handled
by in the past. “It’s had two CEOs in
a row who didn’t have the experience
and they ran the place into the mud.
Ed has a difficult task of getting it out
of the mud and figure out where to go.
This is his process and he wants to find
a goal,” said Angus. “My job is just gently maneuvering things in a cohesive
manner towards a solution.”
Though some reports of the cause
of the blaze that destroyed the Hudson
apartment complex that stood at 552
Main Road point to a kitchen mishap,
Hudson Fire Department and Public Security Director Philippe Baron
would not confirm this, saying the investigation has not yet been completed.
“The third floor is completely damaged, the second floor is half-damaged
fire-wise,” said Baron on the scene the
morning after the blaze, “and the rest
is water-damaged. The insurance company will determine if the building is a
complete write-off or not.”
The fire originated in a second-storey apartment at the 14-unit, three-storey building just before 7 p.m. Sunday,
May 4. Over 50 firefighters responded
to the blaze from with help from neighbouring municipalities including Pincourt, Rigaud, Ste. Marthe, St. Lazare,
PHOTO BY CLAUDE ROBILLARD
and Vaudreuil-Dorion.
Baron said that although the building was not equipped with sprinklers,
smoke detectors and the alarm system
were functioning and all the residents
were able to leave the building safely.
“That’s what we always hope for,” he
said. “The objective on that side was
attained.”
Update: A much more modern structure geared towards seniors is currently
under construction. The building is
scheduled to open sometime next year.
Season’s grætings and happy
new year to everyone!
May your 2015 be àçed wië
love, joy and happiness!
The Town Council and
municipal employees
16
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
STORIES OF THE YEAR
A retrospective of the year’s regional events that had an impact on the residents, made us laugh, made us cry, and in most cases, made us understand
the community spirit.
Battle for Angell Woods
goes another round
Carmen Marie Fabio
The ongoing saga to determine the
fate of Beaconsfield’s Angell Woods
took another turn at the May 26
council meeting with Mayor Georges
Bourelle tabling a motion that included $250,000 being allocated from the
unappropriated budget surplus to the
Woods’ preservation fund. The motion
carried with five of the six councillors’
approval while District 4 Councillor
Pierre Demers opposed.
“At the April council meeting, you
passed a resolution designating the
ecological value of Angell Woods,” said
private landowner Diana Shahmoon.
“You made no effort to notify the landowners about it in advance – we heard
about it from a reporter.” Shahmoon
went on to say the city did not share
any of the flora and fauna studies with
the landowners, namely Yale Properties Ltd. and smaller parcels belonging
to conservation organizations includ-
ing Ducks Unlimited, the Association
for the Protection of Angell Woods
(APAW) and the provincial and municipal governments. Shahmoon maintains the claims the woods’ ecological
value needs to be substantiated by an
impartial party and approved by both
sides.
Shahmoon reminded council that
her family had been paying taxes in
Beaconsfield for 60 years but had recently stopped, citing a more fair response from the judicial system than
the town has ever shown.
“Angell Woods’ landowners have
a great reason to be skeptical of Beaconsfield’s motives,” she said, describing the passing of resolutions in a “covert” manner compromising trust in
negotiating a resolution.
Update: The adoption of the recommendations by the agglomeration that
was supposed to happen November 20
will reportedly take place at the January council meeting.
NDIP applies for subsidies ahead of
landslide public information meeting
John Jantak
The Town of Notre Dame de l’Île
Perrot passed a resolution May 13 announcing it will apply for subsidies
from the provincial government to
help defray the cost of stabilizing the
land in areas recently identified in a
Ministry of Transport (MTQ) report
that could be prone to potential landslides.
The town’s General Director, Katherine-Erika Vincent, said the subsidies
will apply to homeowners who live in
the Les Palissades de l’Anse au Sable
luxury home development on Simone
de Beauvoir Street, a section of Perrot
Boulevard directly across from the development, and along 150th Avenue,
which is also included in the landslide
risk zone.
The proposed subsidy would cover
about 75 per cent of the cost related
to the land stabilization project with
homeowners possibly having to shoulder the remaining expenses. For hous-
PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK
ing developer and promoter Gilbert
Rashi who attended the council meeting, the news from the town is somewhat reassuring.
“They’re proposing a solution for
the issue and they seemingly would
like to get financing, so they’re obviously taking a certain amount of responsibility,” Rashi told Your Local
Journal after the meeting.
“Technically, they’re going to go
looking for funds from the Quebec
government, which is fine, but they’re
going to have to come up with a share
too because a portion of Perrot Boulevard is also affected,” Rashi added.
“Let’s wait and see what the technical
solutions to the problem are.”
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
17
STORIES OF THE YEAR
A retrospective of the year’s regional events that had an impact on the residents, made us laugh, made us cry, and in most cases, made us understand the community spirit.
NDP holds town hall meeting to discuss Canada
Post service cuts in Vaudreuil-Soulanges
John Jantak
The federal New Democratic Party
(NDP) province wide tour denouncing
cuts to mail delivery service proposed
by Canada Post made a stop in Vaudreuil-Dorion during a meeting that
was attended by about 50 residents
from across the region May 16.
Jamie Nicholls, Member of Parliament (MP) for Vaudreuil-Soulanges
and Alexandre Boulerice, MP for the
Montreal riding of Rosemont La Petite-Patrie and Deputy Critic for Canada Post, said the cuts would place
an unnecessary burden on residents
throughout the region, particularly for
people living in rural communities.
“The fact is there’s still a lot of rural
home delivery in Vaudreuil-Soulanges
and people have had this service for
the longest time,” said Nicholls. “What
Canada Post is proposing is ending
this service which is a radical change.
JUNE
Deschênes elected new mayor of Notre
Dame de l’Île Perrot
John Jantak
Danie Deschênes – the former District 1 councillor– was elected mayor
of Notre Dame de l’Île Perrot June 1
replacing former Mayor Marie-Claude
Nichols who resigned in early April
after becoming the provincial Liberal
Member of the National Assembly
(MNA) for Vaudreuil.
Deschênes, who ran her candidacy
under the Option Citoyens party ban-
ner, received 1,357 votes giving her a
clear majority over her two rivals who
ran as independent candidates. Richard Mainville received 882 votes and
Peter Koppes garnered 50 votes.
“I’m ecstatic,” Deschênes told Your
Local Journal after being declared the
winner. “I’m so happy the citizens followed me in this adventure and believed that I can continue in the footsteps of the former mayor.”
A lot of people will have difficulties
because it will mean that an elderly
person who has always received mail
in front of their house will now have to
go to a community mailbox.”
Claims made by Canada Post that it
needs to cut home mail delivery to re-
main profitable in the Internet age are
unwarranted, according to Boulerice,
who said during the past 19 years, the
Crown Corporation has posted an annual profit except in two recent years.
MRC takes steps to restore
native ora in Appleglen pond
Carmen Marie Fabio
Following late winter work the Municipalité régionale de comté (MRC)
says was necessary to alleviate flooding at Vaudreuil-Dorion’s Como Golf
Club, workers returned to the site of
the trench dug through Hudson’s Appleglen pond June 4 to replant seedlings in the terrain that was disturbed
during the March 28 operation.
“Initially, we asked the government
if we needed a permit to do the work
on the land,” said MRC Spokesperson Simon Richard. “We were told we
didn’t need a permit because (the terrain) was frozen and the job was small.”
Richard said that because of the unknown conditions of the ground that
was then covered with snow, the ensuing work exceeded the initial estimate.
Following up on complaints to the
Ministère du Développement durable,
de l’Environnement et Lutte contre
les changements climatiques (MDDELCC) from Como Gardens Street
residents, the department conducted
its own investigation. Richard said it
was at that point the ministry asked for
replanting measures but contends that
was included in the MRC’s initial plan.
Update: A number of species of
grasses were replanted and no contamination was reported.
Escaped kangaroo back
with St. Lazare owner
John Jantak
A red kangaroo that escaped from
a St. Lazare farm last Sunday evening
was found 24 anxious hours later and
returned to its temporary owner late
Monday afternoon, June 9.
Luc Lefebvre, who has spent the
past three months training the oneyear-old kangaroo named Mirka, said
he was greatly relieved when a neighbour called to inform him the animal
was on the adjacent property.
“I feel great,” Lefebvre told Your Local Journal. “Everything is fine. We are
very happy now. She’s fine and not
injured. It was a short escape into a
neighbour’s backyard.”
PHOTO BY CARMEN MARIE FABIO
Mirka was lent to Lefebvre by the
Papanack Zoo in Wendover, Ontario,
about 45 kilometers east of Hawkesbury, to determine whether the kangaroo would be a good fit for a zoo therapy program he is currently creating to
help children with special needs.
Vaudreuil-Dorion could issue drastic water
restrictions to Como area residents
John Jantak
A letter sent to homeowners in District 4 in Vaudreuil-Dorion warning
severe water restrictions could be put
into effect because of excessive consumption has rankled at least one resident who said an entire community
could be unfairly targeted because of
the actions of a few.
Resident Louis Léger told councillors at the June 16 council meeting that
a lot of excessive water usage comes
18
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
from homeowners who moved into
new houses in the area within the past
five years.
And as more new houses are built
and more residents move in, especially
along Rue des Saules, Léger feels the
reservoir that provides the area with
potable water can no longer handle
the increased demand because of unnecessary wastage.
Continued on page 19
STORIES OF THE YEAR
A retrospective of the year’s regional events that had an impact on the residents, made us laugh, made us cry, and in most cases, made us understand
the community spirit.
Restrictions
Continued from page 18
The situation was so acute last
weekend that the city had to lower the
water pressure to ensure the reservoir
wasn’t emptied completely which
could have resulted in contamination
of the system, according to Pro-Mayor
and District 3 Councillor Robert Laurence.
Laurence, along with the city’s Assistant Executive Director Martin Houde,
said a campaign will be launched in
the area to sensitize homeowners to
the situation and to ask them adopt
voluntary water conservation practices including making sure lawns are
only watered within the allowed time
frame on specified days.
Failure to comply with watering bylaws could result in fines being issued.
The city is currently studying raising
fines for water by-law violations which
could happen soon if the current fines
are deemed an insufficient deterrent,
said Laurence.
“This is part of our thinking. If we
put the fines high enough, then people
will think twice.”
JULY
Bassenden family begins
moving into new location
John Jantak
Allan Bassenden and his family
joined thousands of other Quebecers
who were on the move across the province on Tuesday by beginning to move
their belongings from inside their St.
Lazare trailer home to their new rental
unit in Ste. Marthe on July 1.
The move marks the end of a longstanding and often acrimonious legal
dispute between the town and Bassenden that has lasted more than two
years. The sense of optimism was palpable as the family surveyed the modest but vastly improved living accom-
modations in their new home.
Neighbour Francisco Vinuela purchased the Ste. Marthe home in early
June shortly after learning about the
town’s deadline and made arrangements to rent it out to the Bassenden
family after the deal closed. While
Vinuela has not responded to requests
from Your Local Journal for an interview about his generosity, for Malley
and her family, the arrangement proposed by Vinuela was a godsend.
“I love it,” Malley said. “It sure beats
living in the trailer. I’m happy but I’m
overwhelmed. We’ve never had help
like this before, ever. I just want to start
over, brand new.”
The voluntary move by the family was the result of a last minute deal
that was hammered out by Bassenden, Malley and town officials. It was
unanimously adopted by council at
a special session last Thursday, June
26, and rescinded a previous resolution that would have allowed the town
to remove the trailer using any means
necessary by June 30.
Hudson properties auctioned
for unpaid taxes
John Jantak
Following months of efforts to
reach home and land owners, six private properties were sold at auction by
the Town of Hudson yesterday morning for non-payment of property and
school taxes.
About 30 people gathered at the
Stephen F. Shaar Community Centre
to offer bids on each property.
The highest seller was a residential property at 57
Lower Whitlock
Street which sold
for $50,000 to recoup $18,319.55
in unpaid taxes
and fees. The lowest seller was a
lot at 62 Parsons
Street which sold
for $1,381, the exact amount owed
in taxes and fees.
Director Gen-
eral Catherine Haulard, who acted as
auctioneer, said it would have been
preferable if none of the properties was
sold, but the town had to proceed with
the auction to collect on delinquent
taxes.
“It’s never a good feeling for anybody but it’s going to help us recoup a
bit of the money that was owed to the
town and maybe we’ll have some left
for some special projects.”
PHOTO BY CARMEN MARIE FABIO
PHOTO BY CARMEN MARIE FABIO
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
19
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The prospect of having to pay for
parking when the new CLSC medical
facility opens its doors to the public on
September 30 in Vaudreuil-Dorion has
upset some area residents who feel the
fees are unjustified.
“It’s just a money grab,” said Pam
Sidhu-Mahal, spokesperson for the
Vaudreuil Residents Action Group
(VRAG). “People are going for medical
services at their CLSC which are free.
Why do we have to pay for parking? Is
there something great about the parking lot that you have to pay for it? It’s
ridiculous and obviously not right.”
The CLSC moved to 3031 Boulevard
de la Gare – across the street from Wal-
Mart – as part of an initiative by the
Vaudreuil-Soulanges Health and Social Services Centre (CSSS) to consolidate the various health services that
are provided in five different locations
throughout Vaudreuil-Dorion.
Clients who park at the new CLSC
will be charged on a sliding scale depending upon the amount of time they
spend at the facility, between $4 and
$8.
“We’re aware a lot of people are
not happy with the fees but we can’t
do anything about it,” Montpellier told
Your Local Journal. “The government
obliges us to charge for parking at the
new facility and we have to comply
with their directive. We don’t have a
choice.”
Pincourt asks Hydro to consider moratorium
on residential smart meter installation
John Jantak
The Town of Pincourt has formally
requested Hydro-Québec and the Régie de l’énergie Québec to postpone
further installation of the power utility’s new radio frequency (RF) emitting
smart meters and adopt a moratorium
until more indepth and thorough studies are conducted to allay public concerns about their possible health impact.
The announcement was made on
the home page of its website on Tuesday under the heading, Next-generation meters – Position of the Town of
Pincourt. According to the posting, the
decision was based on recent meetings with representatives from HydroQuébec and Soulanges Refuse, a local
group opposed to the installation of
smart meters, so that the town could
learn more about the issue.
“These meetings showed that
Hydro-Québec has not dispelled the
fears surrounding next-generation
meters,” read the statement. “Doubts
persist as to the long-term effects of
the electromagnetic waves transmitted
by the pulsed-radiation transceivers
with which the meters are equipped,
particularly for hypersensitive individuals.”
Homeowners who decide to opt out
of the smart-meter program in favour
of retaining their current electromechanical meters have to bear a onetime installation charge of about $100
and an annual meter reading fee of just
over $200.
SEPTEMBER
Beaconseld prepares to pass EAB by-law
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Over 200 residents gathered at Beaconsfield’s Town Hall September 15 to
hear city officials present their Slow
Ash Mortality approach to the impending threat to the city’s more than 11,000
ash trees on public and private property by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)
and to discuss the by-law to battle the
insect.
“We want to raise our level of understanding about what EAB is, what’s
at stake, and why it’s such a problem,”
said Director General Patrice Boileau.
“We want to keep our canopy. Beaconsfield is known for its trees, for the
green canopy that we have.”
The invasive insect is described as
highly destructive, having the potential to kill all untreated ash trees within
two to three years by burrowing under
the bark and feeding on the vascular
tissue of the tree that’s responsible for
carrying water and nutrients to the up-
per canopy.
“It’s a major economic threat to the
health of urban forested areas across
Canada and the United States,” said
Boileau, describing how a reduction
in the canopy would result in a direct
effect to air quality, and water runoff
and flooding. Ash trees currently make
up about 20 per cent of Beaconsfield’s
trees, on public and private property,
not including the predominantly privately-held tracts of Angell Woods.
The insect has already been detected in Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Pointe
Claire, Dollard des Ormeaux, and Ville
Saint Laurent.
A projection representing theoretical inaction on the town’s part on the
impending invasion would result in
a significant impact to the number of
thriving ash trees in the community.
“This is a very sad situation,” said
Boileau. “It’s not as if we have a choice.
No one here wanted to have the EAB.”
The English
Indoor Gardener
PHOTO BY GREG JONES
The Holly and the Mistletoe
Synonymous with Christmas for centuries
James Parry
Your Local Journal
Now, I’ll be the
first to admit that
I don’t have a Holly plant growing
in my indoor - or
outdoor - garden
this winter. Never
have, as a matter of fact. And unlikely
I ever will.
But at this special time of year when
the traditional British Christmas carol,
The Holly and the Ivy, is surely being
sung or played on the radio as I type
this, thought you might be interested
in learning a little more about English
Holly. Or to give it its Latin moniker,
Ilex aquifolium. After all, “Of all the
trees that are in the wood, the holly
bears the crown.”
Apparently, holly - together with
ivy - have been a mainstay of British
Christmas decoration for church and
home use since at least the 15th and
16th centuries when they were mentioned regularly in churchwardens’
accounts.
But centuries before that, the plant
- with its bright red, yellow or orange
berries and thick, glossy, dark green
and wavy leaves with sharp spines
along the edges – was sacred to Druids
who associated it with the winter solstice. While, for Romans, it was considered the plant of Saturn.
Why even that much-married monarch, jolly olde King Henry VIII - until
he turned nasty, that is - loved holly
and even wrote a love song about it,
including the lines ‘Green groweth the
holly resisting winter blasts and not
changing their green hue. So I am and
ever hath been unto my lady true.’ Not
sure for which of his wives he wrote it.
How ironic if she didn’t live to hear it!
Am sure, however, that out in British Columbia where it thrives, English
Holly has become seriously invasive
because of its adaptability to grow in
shade or sun, and the ease with which
its seeds are spread by birds. Seedlings
are now commonly found in mixed deciduous and coniferous forests around
the coast, along the edges of wetlands,
and especially near residential areas.
Evidently, it grows rapidly to 7 to
10 m tall, casting deep shade that deprives native plants of light. Moreover,
its roots effectively out-compete many
native species for nutrients and water.
But hey, don’t let that spoil your
Christmas. Holly that you buy here in
our neck of the woods has certainly
been grown commercially specifically
for the Holidays and floral arrangements year-round.
And what about that sprig of Mistletoe - synonymous with smooching
- that you might find yourself under
some time soon? A plant that starts
out in life as parasite on both oak
and apple trees and which, since ancient times, has been one of the most
magical, mysterious and sacred plants
of European folklore.
Evidently, the Druids considered
the mistletoe to be a sacred plant and
believed it had miraculous powers
which could cure illnesses, serve as an
antidote against poisons, ensure fertility, and protect against the ill effects
of witchcraft. Ah, and here’s where
the smooching came in. They also believed it to be an aphrodisiac or a sexual symbol!
From these strange beliefs has come
the modern-day custom of hanging a
ball of mistletoe from the ceiling and
exchanging kisses under it as a sign of
friendship and goodwill.
Way back when, apparently, the
Anglo-Saxons associated the powers
of the mistletoe to the legend of Freya,
the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. And according to the legend, a
IMAGE COURTESY PIXABAY
man had to kiss any young girl who,
without realizing it, found herself accidentally under a sprig of mistletoe
hanging from the ceiling. Guys would
pluck a berry when they smooched
the girls and when the last berry was
gone, there would be no more kissing!
Fascinated to learn that although
the mistletoe is considered to be the
seed of love, the common name of the
plant is actually derived from the ancient belief that mistletoe grew from
bird droppings. And that this bizarre
belief was related to the ancient principle that life could spring spontaneously from dung.
You see, in ancient times, people
observed that mistletoe appeared on
a branch or twig where birds had left
droppings. Mistel is the Anglo-Saxon
word for ‘dung,’ and ‘tan’ is the word
for ‘twig’. Ergo, mistletoe actually
means ‘dung-on-a-twig’. Who would
have thunk it?
Meanwhile, in Scandinavia, mistletoe was considered a plant of peace,
under which enemies could declare
a truce or warring spouses kiss and
make-up. Whenever enemies met
under the mistletoe in the forest, they
had to lay down their arms and observe a truce until the next day.
And on that note, until my next
column that will appear in our first
issue of Your Local Journal in 2015 - on
January 15 – I wish Peace and a Merry
Christmas to all you indoor gardeners out there. And watch out for that
mistletoe. Unless, of course, you really
want to be kissed!
E-mail: [email protected]
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
21
STORIES OF THE YEAR
A retrospective of the year’s regional events that had an impact on the residents, made us laugh, made us cry, and in most cases, made us understand
the community spirit.
Pilon anticipates economic spin-offs for Westbound Exit 41 link to Boulevard des
Vaudreuil-Dorion from Ericsson arrival Anciens Combattants ofcially reopened
John Jantak
The arrival of the new $1.3 billion
Ericsson Information and Technology
Centre in Vaudreuil-Dorion will produce economic spin-offs in the city,
said Mayor Guy Pilon September 18.
Construction is proceeding as
planned and the completed facility
is scheduled to open June 3, 2015. It
will house 430,000 square feet of floor
space, the equivalent of eight American football fields, said Henderson.
For Pilon, just the fact that a leading
global high technology enterprise like
Ericsson chose to locate one of three of
its ICT centre in Vaudreuil-Dorion out
of 40 possible locations in Canada, is a
coup in itself because it shows that the
city has something to offer the world,
especially when it comes to hi-tech industry.
Pilon said the city has already received inquiries from companies interested in possibly locating to its industrial park because of Ericsson. He also
touted the highly skilled workforce that
lives in the immediate vicinity and said
new enterprises would benefit from a
preferential tax rate, lower than other
municipalities, among other perks.
MRC demands TransCanada Pipelines
deliver detailed pipeline plans
John Jantak
TransCanada Pipeline has been put
on notice that unless it complies with
a request to provide full disclosure regarding its plans for the new Energy
East Pipeline, the MRC will not authorize any certificates or permits that
would allow the project to proceed on
its territory until the requested information is provided for analysis and
review.
The demand was unanimously approved and adopted as an official resolution by the mayors of the 23 regional
municipalities after MRC Deputy Executive Director Raymond Malo read
aloud from a copy of a letter that stated the reasons why it’s imperative for
TransCanada to comply with the MRC
request.
The letter said TransCanada Pipeline has failed to deliver specific information regarding its plans as to where
the Energy East Pipeline will be located, the number of pumping stations
that will be built to ensure the smooth
flow of oil, or what emergency measures the company will put in place to
deal with an oil leak or other emergency situations.
The MRC is especially concerned
about TransCanada Pipeline’s timeframe of three to four hours before it
responds to an emergency situation
and the fact that municipal public
security and fire personnel have no
specific training on how to deal with
pipeline leaks and fires. The letter also
questioned whether the company will
be able to operate the new pipeline in
a secure manner.
Auberge Willow Place Inn enters new year
with plans to return it to the ‘glory days’
Following Michel Poirier becoming sole owner this week
James Parry
Your Local Journal
Weeks of rumours and speculation
about the Auberge Willow Place Inn
possibly being sold ended this week
with confirmation that Michel Poirier
- owner of IGA Poirier in both Hudson
and St. Lazare and until now a 50 per
cent owner of the landmark establishment - has taken it over completely.
Explained Poirier in an exclusive interview with Your Local Journal yesterday, “Negotiations with my sister-inlaw Carole Ménard and her husband
22
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
Pierre Lanctôt, who will be leaving to
pursue other interests, were concluded this past weekend most amicably.
They have contributed so much to the
continued success of the inn since
becoming partners with me when we
bought it from Mike Dobbie. But they
feel it is now time for them to move on.
And I wish them well in their new endeavours.”
As for his future plans for the Willow, Poirier is promising to return it to
the ‘glory days’ of when it was owned
and operated by Dobbie complete
with ‘old favourites’ on the menu at
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
John Jantak
After being closed for more than
three-and-a-half years, Mayor Paola
Hawa and representatives from the
City of Ste. Anne de Bellevue ceremonially reopened the westbound Exit
41 service road link that connects to
southbound Boulevard des Anciens
Combattants, September 11.
The solution involved configuring
and paving a small stretch of road to
reconnect the two roads. “It came in
slightly under budget and four days
ahead of schedule,” said Hawa. “How
often do you get to say that on an infrastructure project? I’m proud of our
city. All it took was a little ‘out of the
box’ thinking. It was a very simple solution. It may not be perfect, but it’s
better than nothing.”
For Hawa, the temporary road earmarked at about $50,000 is an inexpensive stop-gap measure designed to
improve the quality of life and address
safety concerns for residents living in
the north sector of the city until a permanent T-intersection is completed
next year.
Hudson residents opt to oppose
$750,000 loan by-law
Carmen Marie Fabio
While some Hudson residents may
be pining for their drained Pine Lake,
it appears not enough of them were
willing to assume the cost of the necessary repairs to its compromised dam
following the September 8 registry that
garnered enough signatures to halt the
$750,000 loan by-law.
“We got 591 citizens of Hudson who
signed the registry,” said Town Clerk
Vincent Maranda. “Council now has to
decide whether it’s going to withdraw
the by-law or whether it’s going to submit the by-law to a referendum. I think
people were well informed as to what
was going on.”
According to Quebec law, only 423
signatures were needed to nullify the
by-law, a quantity Maranda explained
is determined by a government-defined formula from the electoral act.
The hours of the one-day registry signold prices.
Said Poirier, “His philosophy was
always good food at good prices. And
working with the current team, and
particularly with Nancy Campeau and
Christine Booth, this is what we are
going to bring back starting in the New
Year.”
Laughed Poirier, who was a life-long
friend of Dobbie, Mike must surely be
turning in his grave knowing that I’m
now the sole owner. But I know he will
be proud that we are going to transform the Willow into what it was when
he was alive. And even better. A fun
place to be with great entertainment,
as well good comfort food at decent
prices in a fabulous setting overlooking the lake.”
While currently focused on The
Willow, Poirier is also burning the
midnight oil drawing up plans for the
ing period, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. are also defined by law and are not open to modifications. “I phoned to see if we could
do it (registry signing) over two days
but we couldn’t – it’s against the law.”
“It’s democracy at work, I suppose,”
said Mayor Ed Prévost, reached at his
home following the registry result. A
number of residents waiting to sign
had expressed reservations specifically about the amount of the by-law.
“If that’s the case,” said Prévost, “then
they didn’t understand (the by-law). It
could go up to $750,000 but it could be
much less.
Update: Council passed resolutions
for the withdrawal of the referendum
for loan By-law 649 concerning the
Pine Lake dam in November and the
termination of the call for tenders for its
construction. It was noted by the mayor
that the committee wanted to speak
with potential dam builders and that
new tenders will be by invitation.
65th anniversary of his Hudson store
in April. “We must be doing something
right to have been around this long,”
he said. “But I have always believed
that to be successful in any business
you have to give the customer what
they want if they are to continue supporting you. Especially in these tough
economic times.”
PHOTO BY JAMES PARRY
Now owned 100 per cent by Michel Poirier,
Hudson’s Auberge Willow Place Inn is in store
for some major changes in 2015.
STORIES OF THE YEAR
A retrospective of the year’s regional events that had an impact on the residents, made us laugh, made us cry, and in most cases, made us understand
the community spirit.
OCTOBER
Health Minister promises to announce new Vaudreuil-Soulanges hospital site
John Jantak
The site of the long-awaited hospital that will eventually serve the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region will be made
within the next few weeks before the
end of fall, said Gaétan Barrette, provincial Minister of Health and Social
Services at a press conference October
6, that officially inaugurated the region’s new CLSC in Vaudreuil-Dorion.
As new medical and social services
are integrated into the facility over the
next few weeks, residents will eventually benefit from additional outpatient
services dealing with endoscopy, in-
ternal medicine, cardiology, general
surgery, orthopedics, urology, otolaryngology, pulmonology and neurology.
The new CLSC and eventual announcement of the hospital location
both conform to the provincial Liberal
majority government’s plans to reor-
ganize the province’s health care system under Bill 10 which aims to ensure
that all residents have access to a complete range of medical services close to
where they live within their immediate
territory.
Update: We’re still waiting.
Picking up the post-UPAC pieces in Hudson
Carmen Marie Fabio
While news of the October 9 arrest
of former Hudson Director General
Louise Léger Villandré for 19 charges
of fraud came as a relief to present
and previous elected councils, questions remain on whether others will be
charged in a decades-long misappropriation of funds scheme that saw the
theft of at least $1.1 million with some
speculation the actual amount allegedly stolen could be much higher.
“That’s just one of the charges,” said
current Mayor Ed Prévost of the at
CECI N’EST PAS UN
CONTENANT
least $1.1 million amount. “There are
18 other charges that have financial
ramifications to them as well.
Léger Villandré held various postions at the Town of Hudson over her
43 year career including Town Treasurer, Town Clerk, DG, was also responsible for the municipal court,
for which, according to Prévost, she
drew an additional salary even after its
transfer to Valleyfield. Léger Villandré
resigned from the town in April, 2013,
just as the newly hired Treasurer Sylvain Bernard began looking into financial irregularities.
CECI N’EST PAS UN
EMBALLAGE
With the DG gone by spring of 2013,
council had full access to the files and
discovered unpaid business and property taxes and what seemed to be misappropriated funds, leading them to
contact the Sûreté du Québec (SQ).
“Had the DG not been asked to leave,”
said Piacente, “we would probably
never have discovered what led to the
19 accusations.”
Former Mayor Michael Elliott said
that when his council discovered that
Léger Villandré, upon her resignation,
was due to receive a severance package of over $200,000, they intervened
CECI N’EST PAS UN
IMPRIMÉ
and held onto it. “That might be the
only money the town will ever be able
to claim back.” Elliott also concurred
that the amount Léger Villandré is being accused of stealing seems to be
on the low side. “I suspect it could be
higher than that but I think somebody
shredded a lot of the evidence.”
Update: Léger Villandré’s case has
been remanded to January 21, 2015.
Her lawyer said she will plead ‘not
guilty.’
CONTENANTS
EMBALLAGES
ET IMPRIMÉS
C’EST TOUT
CE QUI VA
DANS LE BAC
POUR TROUVER LE POINT DE CHUTE DE
TOUT CE QUI NE VA PAS DANS LE BAC
RECREER.CA
Le placement publicitaire de la présente campagne s’inscrit dans le cadre de la Loi sur la qualité de l’environnement (chapitre Q-2) et de la réglementation relative.
Les journaux assujettis sont tenus de contribuer en espaces publicitaires à leur juste part.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
23
ATTORNEY
COMPUTERS
FRAMING
GRAPHIC DESIGN
SALES - new & refurbished units
REPAIRS - CONFIGURATION
SYSTEM UPGRADES - NETWORKS
(450) 424-6205
www.pc-teck.com
E-mail : [email protected]
590 Ave. St-Charles Vaud-Dorion
MANAGEMENT SERVICES
NOTARY
Mtre. Kim Isings
B.Sc., P. Eng, B.C.L., L.L.B., D.D.N.
MOVING
NOTARY – NOTAIRE
CONSEILLÈRE JURIDIQUE –
LEGAL COUNSEL
Spécialist(e): Successions
DÉMÉNAGEMENT
P. ENOS MOVING
LOCAL & LONG DISTANCE
PACKING & STORAGE
ONE ITEM OR WHOLE HOUSE
LICENSED & INSURED
61 Cameron, Bureau 220
Hudson QC J0P 1H0
Tel : 450-458-0007 Fax : 450-458-0168
Tel: 450.458.4857
Cell: 514.386.1278
Your Local Journal
Pierre Enos
PHOTOGRAPHY
RENOVATIONS
[email protected]
OPTICIAN
REAL ESTATE
RENOVATIONS
ROOFING
TREE SERVICE
BREAKFAST / LUNCH
FUSION
Restaurant Café Campagne ~
3673 Harwood, Hudson (450) 4588204 ~ Breakfast daily from 7:00 am,
lunch from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm ~
Specialty teas, chocolates & gifts.
Carambola Café ~ 72 Cameron Ave,
Hudson, (450) 458-0098
Lunch 11:00am to 2ish and Supper
5:30pm to 10ish. BYOB. New menu.
Tapas - style dining available.
Want to join the Restaurant Directory?
Call: (450) 510-4007
24
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
WHERE’S
YOUR
CARD?
VENTILATION
(450) 510-4007
YLJ
ANTIQUES
BANKRUPTCY
CAT CARE
Experts
ABRACADABRA Local
turn your hidden in matters of
treasures into ready Bankruptcy and
cash. International Insolvency since
You are going
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vacation
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paintings,
china,
crystal, gold, silverware, jewellery, rare
books, sports, movies, postcards, coins,
stamps, records.
514-501-9072.
APARTMENTS
FOR RENT
Two floor open
concept studio
apartment for
rent. Prime location in center of
Hudson Village. Includes 1 full bathroom & 1 powder room. Large
private backyard
with screened in
porch. Immediate
occupancy. $985
per month.Heating included. Call
450-458-1144.
Apartment
3 ½ in SaintLazare. Freshly
painted.
Ready
to move in January 1, 2015. $600/
month. Call Harry
514-781-4377.
YLJ
Supplying your
Vaudreuil-Dorion,
St-Lazare,
Hudson and
West Island
Regions
Nights & Weekends.
Solid reputation for
Reliability, Honesty &
Integrity in our field
of Expertise. Blumer
Lapointe Tull & Associes Syndics Inc.
www.blumerlapointetull.com. 514 426
4994
BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITY
AT T E N T I O N
SELF-MOTIVATED ENTREPRENEURS
- Build an income
in the Health and
Wellness Industry
by operating a
Mini-Office Outlet from home.
Free online training. Visit www.dianepartenza.com
to see if this is a fit
for you.
CARS FOR
SCRAP
$ Buy cars for
scrap. Running
or not. 24/7. www.
scrapvehicule.com
Call 514-951-4203
ACCOUNTANTS
KARAVOLAS BOILY, CPA INC.
Taxes and Accounting
438 Main Road, Hudson
Tel : 450-458-0406,
ATTORNEY
Aumais Chartrand
100 boul. Don Quichotte, bureau 12
L’Ile-Perrot, QC J7V 6C7
Ph: 514-425-2233 ext. 229
[email protected]
BOOKKEEPING
Bryan Todd, B. Comm (Acct.)
Business and Personal Accounting
Services, Tax Preparations & Filings
Ph. (514) 730-5966
DENTISTS
Dr. Don Littner & Dr. Morty Baker
472B Main Rd, Hudson
Ph. (450) 458-5334
Labelle is available
for Hudson,St-Lazare
area. Call 514-6058237.
CLEANING
SERVICES
A Special Christmas Gift for the
extraordinary
person in your
life. Sylvie Farmer’s Professional
Cleaners
offers
a new service:
“one-shot cleaning” for house,
garage, basement,
seasonal, etc. Call
for free estimate:
514-972-8237.Pet
and house sitting
available. Sylvie
Farmer wishes all
of her clients Season’s
Greetings
& Best Wishes for
the New Year.
COMPUTER
SERVICES
Wolftech Inc.
Since 2004.
PC/Laptop repair,
sales and services.
Custom
system
builds. Software/
hardware
upgrades, virus –
malware removal
Data
recovery,
network and internet troubleshooting. Pick up or
In-home service.
Very competitive
rates.
Windows
and other software tutorials.
HTTP://wolftech.
ca
service@wolftech.
ca
514-923-5762
CUSTOMER
SERVICE
Customer
Service Position available
with E-commerce
Fashion Brand in
Hudson. Experience with e-mail
and
Facebook
support. $15.00
per hour. Full or
part time. Contact:
Graham 514-9804848 / graham@
holyclothing.com
COLLECTIBLES WANTED
A Military Collector looking for medals, flags, swords and uniforms, pins, documents, books, helmets, hats, all related
war memorabilia. WWI, WWII, Canadian/
German or others. Also looking for antique
items, collectibles of all kinds, aviation
and nautical items, coins, badges, maps,
old signs. Top dollar paid. Please call Patrick, 514-234-4323 or email patrick148@
ca.inter.net. 2760A Cote St-Charles, St-Lazare (next to Mon Village)
DOULA SERVICE
Tamar Dodenhoff CLD
EnhancingYour Birth
Prenatal, full in hospital labour
support, & postpartum care
Free consultation (514) 799-7836
FITNESS & INJURIES
Greg Lothian, B.Sc.,CAT(C), CSCS
Professional strength coach & Low back/
injury reconditioning therapist.
Become strong & injury free!
514-867-5684 mifitpro.com
IMMIGRATION
Brazolot Migration Group
35 Wharf Road, Hudson, QC
(450) 458-2186
[email protected]
EXCAVATION
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
Mini-Excavation SAWMILLS from
of any kind (10 only $4,397. years
experiGrad- MAKE MONEY
ence).
ing, French drains, & SAVE MONEY
QCNA (Quebec
Community
Newspapers Ascan
sociation)
spreading of top soil
and stone, driveways
etc. ... RBQ and insurance. Ben 514-8385922.
place your classified
ad into 24 weekly
papers throughout
Quebec - papers just
like the one you are
reading right now!
One phone call does
it all! Call Marnie at
QCNA 514-697-6330.
Visit: www.qcna.org.
FIREWOOD
FOR SALE
Dry
with your own bandmill - cut lumber any
dimension. In stock
ready to ship. Free
info & DVD: www.
NorwoodSawmills.
com/400OT. 1-800566-6899 ext:400OT.
firewood. Memory foam
for double bed,
Stacking and kindling available. Very
reasonable.
Dan:
514.291.1068
never
used,
in
original packaging.
$200.00
450-458-7940
FOR SALE
GENERAL
HELP
TEAM LEADERS
REQUIRED
to
direct production
of hand assembly
products in Vaudreuil-Dorion.
Afternoon
shift
available.
Start
$13.50/hr.Must be
able to read, write,
speak English and
meet/exceed production quotas.
Email resume, cover letter to
careers@
portablepackaging.
com.
STEEL BUILDGUITAR
I N G S / M E TA L
LESSONS
B
U
I
L
D
I
N
G
S
HOT TUB (SPA)
Covers. Best Price, 60% OFF! 20x28, HOLIDAY GIFT
F I N A N C I A L Best Quality. All 30x40, 40x62, 45x90, C E R T I F I C AT E
60x150, SPECIAL: ASSESSP R O B L E M S ? Shapes & Colours 50x120,
FINANCIAL
SERVICES
Drowning in debt!
Stop the harassment.
Bankruptcy
might
not be the answer.
Together let’s find a
solution - Free Consultation. Bill Hafner
- Trustee in Bankruptcy. 514-983-8700.
MONTREAL
AREA
ONLY
Available. Call 1-866652-6837. www.thecoverguy.ca.
80x100 sell for balance owed!
Call 1-800-457-2206.
www.
MAG WHEELS crownsteelbuildings.
(Set of 4). RTX ca.
Baron
15”
Mag
Wheels with Kumho
GARBAGE
P185/65R15 All SeaREMOVAL
son Tires. Used one
season. $400. 514Ivan’s
Gar705-8760
bage Removal
#1 high speed
The LoanProvider internet $32.95/
Abso.com 750$ Loans month.
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lutely no ports are
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downloading. Up to
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Order today at www.
acanac.ca or call toll
free 1-866-281-3538.
NOTARIES
Jean-Pierre Boyer
L.L., L., D.D.N.
1576 C Ste. Angélique, St. Lazare
Ph. (450) 455-2323
OPTICIANS
Lunetterie Vista
1867 E Ste. Angélique, St. Lazare
Ph. (450) 455-4500
ORTHODONTISTS
Dr. Amy Archambault
Dr. Paul Morton
Your Local Specialists in Orthodontics
3206, boul. de la Gare, Suite 160
Vaudreuil-Dorion (450)218-1892
PHARMACIES
Marilou Leduc
Affiliated BRUNET
1771 Ste. Angelique, St. Lazare
Ph. (450) 424-9289
will remove renovation debris and
junk from houses,
sheds,
garages,
basements. Also
old fences, decks
and
balconies.
Available 7 days/
week. Call 514804-8853.
MENT PLUS 4 HOURS
OF GUITAR LESSONS,
TAILORED TO STUDENT, ONLY $100.00.
CONTEMPORARY
BLUES A SPECIALTY.
CALL DOMENIC FOR
DETAILS:
438-2891467.
HOUSE FOR
RENT
Hudson-Furnished, Brick
cottage. 2+Bedroom. 2 Bath. Medium to long term.
$1850
/month.
Telephone & Cable-Extra.Call 450763-2232.
PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES
drs. Martina Kleine-Beck
Psychologist
514.265.1386
martinakb _ 58@ hotmail.com
PSYCHOSOCIAL SERVICES
Are you feeling overwhelmed?
Marianne Birch BSW, MSW,
OTSTCFQ Member
Anxiety Issues, Self-Esteem, Substance
Abuse & Behavioral Concerns
514-240-2692 [email protected]
PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL SERVICES
Sandy Farrell, Davis Facilitator
Dyslexia, ADD, ADHD & Learning
disabilities can be corrected.
www.dyslexiacorrection.ca
(450) 458-4777
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
25
HOUSE
CLEANING
MUSIC
LESSONS
Cleaning
available.
lady Music lessons
Excellent references. for Christmas! PiCall Sharon:
450-424-6593.
MOVING
¿Moving?
All
jobs.
Reliable,
reasonable,
fully
equipped. Local and
Ontario, Maritimes,
USA. 35 yrs experience. Call Bill or
Ryan. 514.457.2063
ano, singing lessons
from a qualified professional with over
20 years experience.
Adults and children.
Various styles. 450424-1072.
OFFICE SPACE
FOR RENT
Two Small offices or studios. Main Road
near Cameron in
Hudson. $175 and
$250 per month
respectively. Immediate. Flexible.
Possibility of 3
more professional
office spaces. Call
514-677-7696
PHOTOGRAPHY
WORKSHOPS
PIANO
LESSONS
PIANO FOR
SALE
RUST
PROOFING
Photography
Wo r k s h o p s
in St-Lazare!!
Jacques Harvey
Piano School. Ex-
1926 Knabe
Grand Piano,
6’ 4”, Mahogany exterior.
Professional
Rustproofing. Marty Auto
Learn,
make
friends, have fun
while you master the tricks and
tools to bring
your photography to the next
level. Now taking
registrations for
the Winter 2015
season!!
More
info at
perienced, qualified
teacher offers piano
lessons to beginners
or advanced students. Children and
adults are welcome.
Call 450-455-1544.
ThePhotoAdventure.
com
YLJ
Supplying your
Vaudreuil-Dorion,
St-Lazare,
Hudson and West Island
Regions
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
New
hammers.
Wonderful sound.
Includes
36”
bench.
Professionally evaluated
at $10,500. Selling
for $5,000. Call
450-458-4848 or
514-938-1816.
Body. 84 Bellevue,
Hudson, 450-4581148.
SERVICES
Cleaning services available. Efficient, reliable. Good
references.
Please
call 450-202-0600
CAREER OPPORTUNITY
SERVICES
SERVICES
PA I N T I N G PLASTERWALLPAPER .
V a c u u m
Cleaner. Sales
and repair of
all brands, 27
LET HANS AND
MICHAEL DO IT.
40 YEARS EXPERIENCE. CALL:514262-3329 or 514549-1330.
Brunet Renovation for all
your
home
general
repairs. Renovation big or small
,drywall paint,
Bathroom ,basement years of
experience. Call
Sylvain 514-5922173.
All
renovations
and
construction.
Free
estimates.
Framing, plaster,
windows, doors,
floors,
stairs,
ceramic
tiling,
painting.
Basements, kitchens,
bathrooms.
Experienced work.
Jonathan:
514402-9223.
RBQ
5688-2244-01.
Handyman.
Painting, installing
fixtures, locks,
and
most
household
jobs. Ask about
senior discount.
Call John the
Handyman- 514623-5786
26
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
years in service
(Electrolux, Filter
Queen, Kenmore,
Samsung and Central Vac) Special
on Hoover Central
Vac
w/standard
kt at $399. (other
brands avaialable
from $329 and up.
Repair and service of all central
vacuum systems.
Parts and bags (all
makes). Small appliance repair. Carpet cleaner rental
available.
NEW:
Oreck Excel air purifiers $329.
Aspirateurs Hudson.com
67 McNaughten
Hudson, Quebec
450-458-7488
C A R P E T
CLEANING also
sofas, mattresses,
interior of vehicles, and other.
613-675-2428
work done Saturday & Sunday
only.
Computer, Pets,
Odd Jobs. Friendly Hudson Nerd
available for computer repairs, help
with pets, shopping
& jobs around the
house. Call Robin
514-234-3780
AUTOS FOR SALE
1996
Honda
Civic Si with
multiple modifications: JDA B16A
SIR II, cams, Exedy
clutch, JDM ITR S80
LSD trans. w/short
shift, urethane engine mounts, Sparco
quick release steering wheel, Sparco
seats w/Willans 4 pt.
harness, Neuspeed
sport springs w/Koni
front shocks, frt/
rear strut bars, stainless brake lines and
much more. $6500
or best offer. 514218-2776
1996
Camry,
AUTOS FOR SALE
Convenience Package, (4WD), manual,
136,000kms,
very
good condition, never accidented, new
4 season tires, towing hitch inc., asking
$8,900 neg.,
450-424-4308
Mazda Protégé
5, 2003, 5 doors,
manual
transmission, A/C, 171,000
km. Runs well. Asking $1,675. Call 450458-0581 (evenings),
438-822-6875 (cell)
1999
Lumina
Toyota LS – 103,000km.
190,000
km. 4 door sedan,
fully loaded, new
disc brakes & exhaust. Extra clean.
Asking $1,225. Call
514-652-7020
AUTOS FOR SALE
AUTOS FOR SALE
Kia
Sportage Mazda 3 for sale,
LX 2009 with 2006, charcoal-black,
Original Owner-Non
Smoker.A/C,
ABS,
Cruise Control &
Towing Hitch. 4 new
Winter Tires on Rims.
Excellent Condition –
$ 1,500. Call Frank at
450-458-8699.
2003 Kia Rio,
Automatic,
4-door, 5-speed AC,
159,000 km, $3495.
(514) 941-5320
Green, new all
season tires, very
clean, 121000kms,
$2,500
2003 Kia Rio, Standard, Silver, very
clean, 172000kms,
$2,200
both 4door. 514773-0394
Acura
CSX,
2008, lady owner,
5 speed standard
transmission, 169600
km. Taupe on black
leather, Sun roof, AC,
Includes additional
snow tires on rims
ready to install
Upgrades in August
2014 include: New
battery,
Complete
rear brakes and rotor. Front brakes serviced, Front lower
control arms replaced, wheel alignment. No accidents.
Excellent condition.
$7,000.
514-9413409 / 450-458-4778
2010
Chrysler
300 LTD 3.5 litre, 89,000 km . All
equipped, excellent
condition, sun roof,
leather interior, snow
tires. $13,900. Call
450-218-3564
Mazda 3 Sport
2007. Std. 97000
km. 4 door. Black.
Excellent condition.
$6,200. Phone or text
438-496-1299.
LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE OVER
MY LEASE… 2012 Honda Civic, burgundy
Great condition.
fully loaded with AC 159, 000km. Includes $284.86 per month. 40,000 kilometers. Lease
4 winter tires used 1 season. Asking $ 3400. ends June 6th 2017. Superbly maintained!
Also selling 4 summer tires with mags asking Please contact : Marco Gonzalez Cell: 514$450. Call or text 514-690-5463.
919-3753 Work: 450-458-4247
Mazda3 2006, 4 door, manual, sunroof, Sedan, automatic, FWD.
STORIES OF
THE YEAR
A retrospective of the year’s regional events that had an impact on
the residents, made us laugh, made us cry, and in most cases, made us
understand the community spirit.
Candidates spar for
LBPSB Chairman position
James Armstrong
Marking the historic first time ever
election by universal suffrage of school
board chairman in Quebec, the Central Parents Committee (CPC) of the
Lester B. Pearson School Board (LBPSB) organized the live webcast of the
candidates’ debate held the evening of
Monday, October 20.
Watched by approximately 600
viewers, the candidates, Chris Eustace,
Angela Nolet and Suanne Stein Day
engaged in a sometimes-lively debate
moderated by former West Island Liberal Member of the National Assembly
Yolande James.
The format of the debate, as explained by James, began with opening statements from the candidates
followed by three groups of questions
based on three subjects, the future of
the LBPSB, maximizing student success and vision leadership. The questions were asked on a rotating basis
PHOTO BY JAMES ARMSTRONG
and the candidates were given specific
periods of time to answer and rebut.
Topics covered included declining enrollment, top-heavy management structure, and French language
instruction with all three candidates
promising innovation.
Update: Suanne Stein Day won with
by a margin of 1606 votes over her closest rival Chris Eustace.
West Island mayors call for
immediate action to improve public
transit ahead of future development
PHOTO COURTESY HUDSON BADMINTON CLUB
Hudson Badminton
Club celebrates its
50th anniversary
The Hudson Badminton Club will
host an open house January 5, 8 p.m.
to 10 p.m., an opportunity for all to
learn firsthand why badminton is
such a fun sport enjoyed by young and
old alike. As Denis D’Aoust, the club’s
president, noted, “The broad appeal
of badminton certainly contributed to
the longevity of the club.” Indeed, the
Hudson Badminton Club has been in
continuous operation for the last 50
years and is still going strong.
The club welcomes players of all
calibers, beginner to expert, from
Hudson and neighboring municipalities and plays at the Westwood
Senior High School on Monday and
Wednesday evenings, 8 p.m. to 10
p.m. Drop ins are welcomed, only $5
a night. For more info, you can email
[email protected] find them on
Facebook or call Denis at (514) 2332134.
John Jantak
The mayors of three West Island
municipalities said steps should be
taken to further develop and improve
the region’s existing transportation
and public transit network to offset an
expected major increase in traffic before large residential developments,
such as the one proposed in Pierrefonds West are allowed to proceed.
The development plans were outlined during a public information session attended by over 50 residents in
DDO October 22, where the draft version of the Montreal Urban Agglomeration Land Use and Development
Plan, also known under the French
term as Schéma, was presented for
public consideration and consultation
by commission representatives.
Paola Hawa, Ste. Anne de Bellevue
Mayor and Commission Vice-President; Beaconsfield Mayor and Commission member Georges Bourelle;
and Senneville Mayor Jane Guest said
they were not opposed to new developments but said bringing more residents into the West Island without having the proper public infrastructure in
place, would only further exacerbate
the worsening traffic situation on
Highways 20 and 40.
Update: Despite many committees,
studies, and projections done for both
the proposed north/south 440 Boulevard and east/west Train de l’Ouest,
we’re still waiting for a firm government commitment.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
27
28
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
Thursday, December 23, 2014
STORIES OF THE YEAR
A retrospective of the year’s regional events that had an impact on the residents, made us laugh, made us cry, and in most cases, made us understand
the community spirit.
NOVEMBER
Hudson nancially hung out to dry:
new audit reveals cumulative decit
James Armstrong
If Hudson were a company, it would
be seeking bankruptcy protection.
This was the message Mayor Ed Prévost delivered at the November 18 special budget presentation meeting as
the dozens of attendees sat in stunned
silence while representatives from the
accounting firm Goudreau Poirier Inc.
presented the news.
“The numbers are astounding
and they go back to before 2003,”said
the mayor. The deficit for 2013 is
$1,752,939. “I’d like to remind you that
we inherited this situation,” he added.
“We are quite livid about what former
administrations did to rape, pillage…
steal, your taxes and our tax money.
We will be relentless in our pursuit of
justice.”
The Goudreau Poirier auditors
were not prepared to offer an opinion on the town’s financial situation,
only their recommendations. In their
presentation, they noted many incongruities and entries that could not be
reconciled or explained over the last
10 years.
“This could impact the interest rates
on any loans, going forward,” said Prévost, “The reality of it is that we are
broke.”
Update: It’s not all bad news. The
National Bank will continue to partner
with the town and will work with elected officials to see them through until
the new taxation year. Prévost said the
town will take legal action to recover
the alleged misappropriated funds.
PHOTO BY JAMES ARMSTRONG
St. Lazare ofcially inaugurates new Chaline Valley access road
John Jantak
PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK
More than 12 years after it was first
proposed, Rue de Carillon, the longawaited second access road into and of
out of Chaline Valley was decreed officially open by St. Lazare Mayor Robert
Grimaudo and all six municipal councillors during an inauguration ceremony November 24.
For District 3 Councillor Brigitte Asselin, the opening of the road that connects to Chemin Ste. Angélique marks
the end of a long struggle to realize and
complete the project.
“I’ve been councillor of the district
for more than 10 years now and this
project was completed with the extraordinary cooperation of all our current council members,” said Asselin.
Without going into detail, Mayor
Robert Grimaudo said the road wasn’t
built earlier because of political reasons during former mayoral administrations, until the current council
decided it was time to finally proceed
with the project.
Update: Plans to stabilize the Chaline Valley land are set to begin in 2018
contingent on provincial financial aid.
Given there’s no imminent danger, the
town is not on the list of priorities according to the Public Security Ministry.
Green light for new Rigaud
town hall, re station and
municipal garage
James Armstrong
According to Mayor Hans Gruenwald Jr., the results of the registry for
loan by-law authorizing the borrowing
of $7.4 million for the new infrastructure project indicates that the municipality can move forward.
“There were only 122 signatures,”
said Gruenwald Jr. November 25. “In
order to warrant a referendum, we
needed 500 signatures.” The registry
took place November 24.
“I have no problem with the people
who came and signed the registry,”
said the mayor. “That’s 122 people that
exercised their democratic right to ex-
PHOTO BY JAMES ARMSTRONG
press their concerns,” he continued. “I
am comfortable with that.”
Proceeds from the sale of the former town hall property on chemin de
la Mairie and the former convent at 73
rue Saint-Pierre will partially fund the
new infrastructure project and reduce
the amount of the loan.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
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YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
STORIES OF THE YEAR
A retrospective of the year’s regional events that had an impact on the residents, made us laugh, made us cry, and in most cases, made us understand
the community spirit.
Donations to anti-pipeline
movement exceed expectations
Carmen Marie Fabio
What started out as a challenge for
Quebec residents to match a $25,000
prize to Coule pas chez nous to fight
the TransCanada Pipeline Energy
East project surpassed expectations
within two weeks’ time to grow to
$385,000. Former student leader Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois started the campaign by donating his winnings from
the Governor General’s Literary Award
on his essay about the 2012 Printemps
d’érable student that saw thousands of
students mobilize to protest tuition fee
increases.
Vaudreuil-Soulanges citizen group
Citoyens au courants is composed of
home and landowners living in one
of the many regions through which
the proposed pipeline will travel. The
members are challenging both the
Enbridge 9B reversal project and the
TransCanada pipeline project that
seek to transport diluted bitumen from
the Alberta tarsands project eastward
Havre du Lac campground
owner takes legal action
against Vaudreuil-Dorion
John Jantak
PHOTO COURTESY CITOYENS AU COURANT
to refineries in Montreal East prior
to exporting it to overseas markets.
Member Katherine Massam said they
applaud the donations as a comparatively small but significant boost.
“We’re still discussing what we’ll do
with the money,” said Coule pas chez
nous spokesperson Jacques Tétreault.
“But for right now, our focus is to provide citizens with up-to-date information about the pipeline projects. We
believe in civil intelligence and we’re
sure that when we explain something
correctly to the residents, they can
make up their own minds.”
The owner of the proposed Havre
du Lac campground on rue Meloche
just off rue Lotbiniére has taken legal
action against the City of VaudreuilDorion after council scrapped the
project at the December 1st council
meeting.
Developer Diane Lévesque told
Your Local Journal she was disappointed with council’s decision to stop
the project.
The most troubling aspect for
Lévesque is that the revamped Havre
du Lac campground was unanimously
adopted by all 15 members of the city’s
urban planning committee in August
2013, and that all the work and the
$700,000 she has spent to finance and
promote the project has ostensibly
been for nothing.
For the residents of Meloche who
only learned about the scale of the
project after several mature weeping willow trees were cut down at the
campsite mid-October, 31 trailer spots
were just too many. Area residents
joined forces and presented a petition
at the November 17 council meeting
asking the city to stop the project.
Mayor Guy Pilon couldn’t comment
specifically on the legal action except
to say that certain aspects of the current project were not in line with what
had originally been proposed.
PHOTO BY CARMEN MARIE FABIO
Vaudreuil-Dorion
raises most property
taxes by 3.4 per cent
John Jantak
Vaudreuil-Dorion residents will
have to dig a little deeper into their
pockets after the city announced that
residential property taxes will rise by
3.4 per cent next year during a presentation of its 2015 municipal budget
that was adopted at a special council
meeting December 15.
For homeowners, the 3.4 per cent
increase represents a hike of $61 for
a house evaluated at $277,100, said
Marco Pilon, the city’s Treasurer and
Director of Finances.
Without intending to minimize
the financial difficulties many people
are facing, Pilon said for the average
homeowner, the $61 increase represents an additional weekly expenditure of $1.25, less than a cup of coffee.
Former Mayor Georges Lefebvre
told council that while the increase
may seem insignificant, when coupled
with the rise in school taxes and the
ever-increasing cost of living, the average $61 jump in property taxes puts
additional financial pressure on those
living on fixed incomes.
Lefebvre also criticized Municipal
Affairs Minister Pierre Moreau for his
recent comments that the province
would reimburse citizens if municipalities adopted excessive tax increases.
“I have a lot of respect for Mr.
Moreau and he’s doing a job that isn’t
easy to do, but he can’t make $300 million in payment cuts to the municipalities and expect us to absorb it,” said
Pilon.
“Right now he has 1,100 mayors on
his back and no one agrees with what
he said that he will come and lead
our towns. If he wants to take over
our towns, then go ahead and resign
the mayors and councillors. And if he
thinks he can do a better job than us,
then do it. The problem is the provincial government has lived with deficits and they don’t understand that.
Municipalities are not allowed to have
deficits.”
Update: Municipalities throughout
the region face similar challenges but
Pilon probably summed it up best.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
31
L’Équipe Exit Performa vous remercie de votre conÀance
et soutien. Nous vous souhaitons un très Joyeux temps des
Fêtes à vous et votre famille et que la nouvelle Année vous
apporte Santé, Paix et Prospérité!
The EXIT Performa Team would like to thank you for your
continued conÀdence & support. We wish you a very Happy
Holiday with Best Wishes of Health, Peace and Prosperity
for the New Year!
EXIT Performa
Real Estate Agency
450.458.1116
2774 Côte St-Charles, Saint-Lazare
$269,500
189 Leroux, St-Zotique
Centris #17262870
$275,000
117 Bellevue, Hudson
Centris #16583130
$329,900
264, 5e Boulevard,
Terrasse Vaudreuil
Centris #16588800
$399,900
23-27 Soulanges
Pointe des Cascades
Centris #26720929
$409,000
235 Rivelaine, St-Lazare
Centris #24732154
$574,900
275 Ch. De La Marie
Rigaud
Centris #16860381
$621,874 (plus taxes)
Du Violon, St-Lazare
Centris #23854529
$649,000
2336 Pl.Gala, St-Lazare
Centris #15815208
EXIT Performa is currently seeking
Devoted, Enthusiastic, Professional Brokers to be part
of our experienced and dynamic Team.
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
Tuesday, December 23, 2014