Schools, hospitals react swiftly to boil water advisory

CBC News: May 22, 2013

Today’s widespread boil water advisory has had many Montrealers scrambling, including employees and administrators at schools and hospitals around the city.

The Jewish General Hospital’s communications director Glenn Nashen said the hospital has enough water to last at least a couple of days.

“We do have an emergency supply of drinking water on hand at any given time and we immediately put in orders for additional emergency supply,” Nashen said.

All McGill University Health Centre hospitals are distributing bottled water to patients, and have put certain procedures on hold.

Richard Fahey, the MUHC’s director of public affairs, said all non-emergency dental operations were cancelled when they received the city’s communiqué around 11 a.m. this morning.

He also said the Lachine Hospital was not affected by the advisory.

Over at the English Montreal School Board’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary School in Rosemont, school principal Michelle Stein first heard of the boil water advisory from a concerned parent.

Then, she said, she got a ding on her computer alerting her to a new email from the city issuing the advisory .

“I thought, ‘Oh dear, I have 323 children at the school I have to provide for,’” Stein said.

She immediately ordered that the water supply to the school’s fountains shut down, and then sent staff members to “raid” a local depanneur for water.

She’s asking parents to send their kids to school tomorrow with a day’s worth of water.

Related articles

• Water in most of Montreal unsafe to drink (montreal.ctvnews.ca)

Parking-gate: PQ minister takes aim at Jewish ‘parking tolerance’

How lucky we are that the PQ isn’t in charge of parking.

That didn’t stop PQ Democratic Institutions Minister Bernard Drainville from coming up with the latest moronic notion of what parking rules would look like in an independent Quebec where the PQ would control everything from pasta on menus to the language kids may use while playing in the schoolyard.

PQ parking rules would never accommodate any Jew whose religion prohibits him or her from driving on a holiday. But G-d forbid that Quebec would ever remove the display of Christmas trees, or close roads for a Santa Claus parade or remove the crucifix from the National Assembly. Not to mention other tolerances such as road closures for the St. Patrick parade or Italian festival or any number of multi-cultural or religious festivities enjoyed by hundreds of thousands across Montreal. Secularism in the PQ’s Quebec is one way, against “les autres”.

The PQ doesn’t miss a chance to insult or denigrate one minority or another in its pursuit of linguistic purity and uni-culturalism. Whether it’s parking, playgrounds or pasta this mean-spirited and ill-advised government has shone a light on itself for the world to see.

Does parking tolerance here or there threaten the French language any more than a christmas tree threatens Judaism?

The vast majority of Quebecers know that accommodation is reasonable, that tolerance is welcoming. The PQ should figure it out too. Live and let live. Park and let park.

Read more:

PQ minister takes aim at Jewish ‘parking tolerance’ in apparent attempt to inflame Quebecers | Full Comment | National Post.

Related articles

• PQ minister nixes parking accommodation for observant Jews (cbc.ca)
• PQ minister riled up over street-cleaning delays on Jewish holiday (montreal.ctvnews.ca)
• Rotrand calls eased parking restrictions on Jewish holiday ‘a Montreal value’ (cbc.ca)

Yield signs will replace stop signs in Beaconsfield

Less frustration for motorists.  Less pollution in our neighbourhoods. Still safe for pedestrians. Good idea or madness?

Beaconsfield will soon be replacing stop signs with yield signs, improving the flow of traffic on their side streets. This somewhat off-beat sounding method is the norm in many jurisdictions outside of Quebec.

When I first saw this kind of setup 25 years ago in Winnipeg I thought it was kukoo.  But lately we’re seeing roundabouts make an appearance in Quebec and so this yield sign craze might just take off too.

Can it work in Cote Saint-Luc? It’s worth watching Beaconsfield and studying the situation here at home.  I’ll be bringing this idea to our Transportation committee to ask our experts what they think.

Meanwhile, what do you think?  Please offer your input by clicking comment.

Read the Gazette article here: Yield signs will replace stop signs in Beaconsfield | West Island Gazette.

Resident thanks Public Security Agents

Cote Saint-Luc Dawn Mirsky was so pleased with her chance encounter with the city’s Public Security department last week that she felt compelled to send the following email (reprinted with permission) to her councillor, Mike Cohen:

Yesterday morning, as I was walking Artie (that’s my dog), a CSL Public Security van pulled up next us. He rolled down his window, we exchanged pleasantries (“Good morning, how are you doing?” etc…) and then he asked, nice as can be, “Is your dog registered with the city?” He was preaching to the choir here, Mike. Haha! I said, “Of course he is!

And you know the whole poop issue, the agent asked? I’m the one who spoke with Mike and…” He laughed and laughed and told me, “We’re on it! We’re completely on it!” Such a nice, nice, NICE guy.

Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that your guys are great. Not just because of this — is this a small issue (except to me) — but because they obviously take their jobs seriously and do it well.

It so happens that Dawn spoke with Councillor Cohen a few days earlier commenting on the amount of doggy doo left behind (ie. not scooped).  This is a significant complaint received by the city each year.

All dog licenses expired on April 30 and must be renewed. Please remember to renew your dog license at City Hall.

City bylaws require that all dogs must be on leash, are not allowed in parks and city land owners must pick-up after their dogs. Only licensed dogs are permitted in the Dog Park.

So thanks to Dawn and to those residents (and of course their obedient dogs) who follow the rules to make Cote Saint-Luc a cleaner and safer community. And to those of you who allow your pet to run around off leash and who don’t pick up after them, please save yourselves the aggravation of your neighbours and an unwanted ticket.  The regulations apply to all pets (and their owners) and can be consulted on the city’s website.

And congratulations to the mystery Public Security agent who received the admiration of an appreciative resident (and her dog!)..

Joe Schwarcz: No evidence radio-frequency devices are hazardous to health

Hydro-Québec (Photo credit: Lothann)

Smart meters are coming to Cote Saint-Luc.  Hydro Quebec has begun notifying residents that the new, more efficient mechanisms are on their way.

Some residents have expressed resistance to the move citing possible health concerns.

However, resident expert, “Dr. Joe”, or McGill University and CJAD fame, and a frequent speaker at the CSL Public Library claims that with over 25,000 research studies and no conclusive evidence to suggest concern he would be just fine having a smart meter in his own house.

Read Dr. Joe’s full article, published in the Montreal Gazette on May 4, 2013:

Joe Schwarcz: No evidence radio-frequency devices are hazardous to health.

Lexus owners beware

Free Press, May 8, 2013. Click to enlarge.

On EP week, thank an emergency responder

Cote Saint-Luc’s finest in orange: volunteer Citizens on Patrol

As Emergency Preparedness Week winds down across Canada I believe it’s important for everyone to take a moment to thank someone involved in emergency services and emergency preparedness, especially those who volunteer their time.  It is because of these fine individuals and their sense of dedication that all of us are safer where we live, play and work each day.

Cote Saint-Luc’s long-serving EMS volunteers being congratulated by City Council

I salute everyone involved in Cote Saint-Luc’s Public Safety Department starting with our volunteers.  These folks who give so much of themselves within EMS and vCOP are terrific in so many ways.  Without salary, they show up for their shifts, rain or shine, heat wave or deep freeze.  They do continuous training and provide extra coverage at special events, all to ensure our safety.  They respond when called upon and are always at the ready.  Thanks so much to all of you.

CSL launches eco-friendly COP Scooter Patrol

Our CSL Public Security agents patrol our streets 24/7.  They are friendly and helpful professionals here to maintain order within our city, to educate our residents and visitors and to help when help is needed. They enforce our bylaws to ensure our neighbourhoods are clean and orderly.  Merci a tous l’équipe pour vos efforts remarcable.

Cote Saint-Luc volunteer Emergency Medical Services honour guard

Our emergency communications staff, also known as dispatchers, must answer all the phone calls and send the right resources, quickly and professionally.  They juggle phones, Urgences Santé and EMS radio systems, computer-aided dispatch screens and more. Thanks to them for keeping calm under pressure and for their polite and helpful interactions with residents.

Public Safety Director Jordy Reichson

Public Safety Chief Jerome Pontbriand

 

Our team is headed by Director Jordy Reichson and Chief Jerome Pontbriand.  Jordy oversees the entire operation of 150 volunteers and some 20 staff members.  He also plans for wide scale emergencies. Jordy deals with residents and partner agencies and plans strategically to keep our city safe.

Jerome works directly with our volunteers in vCOP and EMS.  He helps to bring them ongoing training and improvement to help them meet the challenges of servicing our city. Jerome is a seasoned paramedic who makes sure you get a first responder fast when you need one.

Both Jordy and Jerome are committed emergency professionals, dedicated to the safety and security of all Cote Saint-Lucers as well as those working and visiting here. YOu may even bump into one of them on a 911 call.

EMS Chief Sheldon “Shloime” Goldberg and his team of skilled and dedicated medics are always close at hand, ready to spring into action

So please be sure to salute our emergency responders that are in and around Cote Saint-Luc (and all across our country). In addition to those solely in our city I mentioned above, there are also Montreal police officers and firefighters and CP Rail police.  You’ll occasionally see the RCMP here as well.  And of course there are the paramedics of Urgences Santé, responding to all of our medical 911 calls.  Please thanks them for all they do to keep us safe and secure, for answering our calls, for being ready when we need them most.

Cote Saint-Luc Public Security officer Jean-Noel Champagne

 

Montreal’s emergency services prepare for major disaster

Montreal’s major emergency responders collaborated in 2012 to test their reaction and training to deal with disaster.  This effort, coordinated by the regional health board, highlights the response by ambulance and hospital, primarily, in dealing with a large number of injured and sick patients.

Being Emergency Preparedness Week I figured it’s a good time to be reminded of the preparation that’s underway to safeguard Montrealers.

A visit to the Montreal Emergency Preparedness Centre

L-R: CSL Public Security Chief Jerome Pontbriand, Montreal Fire Department Section Chief Gordon Routley, CSL Cllrs. Glenn J. Nashen and Ruth Kovac, FD Assistant Director Rick Liebman, CSL PS Director Jordy Reichson

As Emergency Preparedness Week is marked across Canada I took part in a site tour of the Montreal Agglomeration Emergency Preparedness Centre located at the Fire Department’s headquarters on Mount Royal.  Housed in a stately, mansion-like structure on sprawling grounds rolling down to Park Ave, the centre is ready, 24/7 in case of a large scale crisis anywhere on the Island of Montreal.

The mission of the Emergency Preparedness Centre (Centre de sécurité Civile) is to ensure the prevention of major accidents and to prepare boroughs, suburban cities  and central city services related to major risks and provide strategic support to the coordination of stakeholders in civil safety during disasters and disaster recovery.

While the website of the Emergency Preparedness Centre is full of information and resources, it is quite absurd that none of this information is available in English.  I was sure to point this out to fire officials on the tour, as I have done in the past.

Another excellent feature launched some months ago by the centre is an emergency notification service, also known as Reverse 911. This service will make outbound calls to thousands of agglomeration residents’ landline phones to signal a large scale emergency, such as warnings to stay indoors in case of chemical explosion, or to evacuate, or to boil water.  You can also manually register your cell phone for SMS and voice notifications.

Inexcusably, the registration page is not available in English however emergency centre officials assured me that the outbound calls are in French as well as in English.

I find it amazing that millions of dollars are well invested in emergency preparedness to save lives and property unless of course you cannot speak or read French, in which case does the city of Montreal really care about you at all?

I attended this otherwise excellent tour and information meeting with Cote Saint-Luc Councillor Ruth Kovac, Public Safety Director Jordy Reichson and Chief Jerome Pontbriand. Hats off to the personnel of the centre in doing fine work to try to keep us all safe.

vCOP takes to two wheels

vCOP members Peter Kovac and Gerry Trager getting ready to patrol on electric bikes

The sun is shining, the roads are dry and members of the city’s all volunteer Citizens on Patrol program are back out patrolling on two wheels.

VCOP patrols are not limited to the four marked patrol vans that can be seen on the road 365 days a year. The fleet also includes two mountain bikes and two electric bikes, all donated, as well as four electric scooters.

Members receive extra training to ensure they are safely cycling and scooting while providing surveillance on the road and in parks.

vCOP forms an integral part of Cote Saint-Luc’s emergency preparedness plan. As this is EP week, be sure to say thanks when you see one of our volunteers scoot, cycle or drive past.

This is Emergency Preparedness Week

Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week) is an annual event that takes place each year during the first full week of May. This national event is coordinated by Public Safety Canada, in close collaboration with the provinces and territories and partners.

Creating a personal emergency plan for you and your family is a crucial first step.  All information on the Public Safety Canada website is bilingual and very informative.

Police chase ends in Cote Saint-Luc

Cote Saint-Luc residents were bewildered at the rare sight of three Montreal Police cruisers that were involved in a pursuit of a stolen black BMW.

Police intercept stolen BMW in Cote Saint-Luc. Photo: Lewis Cohen.

The excitement came to an abrupt ending on Wildwood Ave yesterday afternoon, as reported and photographed by resident Lewis Cohen.   Two suspects, a male and female, were driving in the stolen BMW until they were cornered on Wildwood, in the Kildare/Parkhaven area.  The two escaped custody after the high speed chase.

Resident Lewis Cohen witnessed the conclusion of this police chase on Wildwood Ave. Photo Lewis Cohen.

The vehicle was dumped on Wildwood Ave, just across from Cohen’s house, where the suspects fled running through Fion park.  The suspects remained at large as of yesterday afternoon.

Police retrieve stolen BMW and load onto a flatbed. Photo: Lewis Cohen.

No parking in fire lanes

The Free Press. April 23, 2013. Click to enlarge.

EMS busy responding, vCOP averts potential disaster

The Free Press. April 23, 2013. Click to enlarge.

Station 9 Police Watch

Free Press. April 23, 2013. Click to enlarge.