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

 

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.

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.

Quick thinking vCOPs avert potential tragedy

vCOP Supervisors Lewis Cohen and Susie Schwartz

Thanks to some quick thinking vCOP crews a potential disaster was averted two weeks ago.

Volunteer supervisors Lewis Cohen and Susie Schwartz were on routine patrol when they spotted people standing at the edge of the roof on a Kingsley Road highrise apartment. A quick assessment from ground level led them to realize these weren’t workers and they immediately summoned Public Security agents who responded and went up to the roof with the building janitor. Sure enough, a group of teens had accessed the roof and were wandering around – a very dangerous situation that could have had tragic implications.

The youths were escorted off the roof and out of the building.

Thanks to CSL volunteer Citizens on Patrol and CSL Public Security agents for quick thinking and quick action.

Opinion: Volunteers make the world a better place

Beata Levine volunteers in Zimbabwe as a research photographer. The 66-year-old Côte St-Luc resident has been doing volunteer work since she was 15. Photo courtesy of Beata Levine.

BY BEATA LEVINE, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE APRIL 10, 2013

MONTREAL — I have always believed, as Saint Francis of Assisi said, that “it is in giving of oneself that one receives.”

In fact, these are words that I live by.

At 66 years young, I can say I have lived a wonderful life of privilege. I have my health and have had a supportive husband, Joe, for 45 years. I have children, grandchildren, incredible friends and good fortune. Yet there is another dimension to my life that fulfils me in a different way. And that is my life as a volunteer.

Ever since I was 15 years old, volunteerism has been a part of my life. I began as a candy striper, or someone who volunteers for non-medical tasks, at St. Mary’s Hospital. Over the years, I have volunteered in a wide variety of organizations. Volunteer work has always been about self-fulfillment and helping the broader community. The two have always gone hand-in-hand and this stands true even today, as I find myself halfway across the world volunteering yearly, deep in the African savannah.

My volunteer life grew with leadership roles in the home-and-school association at my children’s school, and as an animator for seniors’ groups. I continue to work as a vCOP, or volunteer citizen on patrol, in the city of Côte Saint-Luc. And I have travelled abroad to Israel to work on an army base through the Sar-El program.

With numerous other volunteer positions under my belt, I realize that nothing has touched me in quite the same way as my past three years of volunteer experience in Africa.

There is something unique about the hands-on experiences I have had in Africa, connecting with its people, land and magical wildlife. I feel as though I am making a remarkable difference in the projects I work on — both in Africa and here in Montreal.

At the present time, I am advocating for Basecamp Maasai Brand, which empowers disadvantaged women’s groups. Among other things, I make connections with local fair-trade retailers here in Montreal who can sell their crafts. I have also coordinated a very exciting pen-pal project between Olesere School in Kenya and at Akiva School in Westmount. I will be going to Africa again later this year to embark upon a new project, the Victoria Falls Lion Conservation Volunteer Project, at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. I can hardly wait!

Volunteering has always been a great way to meet new friends from different parts of the world and diverse paths of life. Through email and social media, we stay in touch and share our concerns. Through the connections I have made with my fellow volunteers, I have learned that dedication and passion to a cause always makes a difference.

It has been a humbling experience working with the African Impact program for the past three years. I have grown to love so much more than my own small world. Volunteering has given me back so much in return. I have purpose in my life, a great deal of pride and a sense of self-fulfillment.

My only hope is that I can impress upon others how personally enriching it is to to look beyond oneself, and try through volunteering to make this world a better place.

Beata Levine, 66, of Côte St. Luc, has been doing volunteer work since she was 15 years old. She is currently involved with volunteer projects in Africa.

© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette

In my opinion:  Beate Levine is an extraordinary Cote Saint-Lucer who has given some of her time to a project very close to my heart, vCOP.  She patrols our streets and parks regularly and now we know what she does with some of her other spare time.

I congratulate Bea for her sharing her incredible experiences with us and hope that she inspires many more to give of their time.  What a tremendous difference Bea makes in the lives of people near and far.  You can too.

vCOP Bea O’Levine gets into the St. Paddy’s spirit

A command performance at vCOP meeting

Glenn J. Nashen with Police Commander Sylvain Bissonnette

Montreal Police Station 9 Commander Sylvain Bissonnette was the special guest speaker at last week’s bi-monthly patrol meeting of Cote Saint-Luc’s volunteer Citizens on Patrol (vCOP).

The local police chief is also a historian and volunteer commander of the St. John’s Ambulance.  He spoke to the membership about the history, philosophy and guiding principles of policing in the western world.

Modern policing systems are derived from French and British legal systems, Bissonnette explained.  Sir Robert Peel, 19th century British Prime Minister, was a driving force in creating the Metropolitan Police Force in 1829, based at Scotland Yard, while he served as  Home Secretary. The 1,000 constables employed were affectionately nicknamed ‘Bobbies’ (a term still used today).

“Modern police forces are by the people, for the people,” Bissonnette told the volunteers.  ”They are there to serve and protect based upon the rules of law and good order, and not at the whim of whomever is in charge of the state, as is the case in dictatorships around the world.”

“The scrutiny over police is extensive,” the commander explained, indicating that there are numerous oversight bodies, both official and unofficial  including the media as well as the average citizen armed with a smartphone video camera. Such was the case with the now famous story about Constable 728 who was videotaped aggressively pepper-spraying student protesters and others.  The video was uploaded to Youtube, covered by national and international media and the officer was disciplined by the force.

The commander concluded saying that the police force is a dynamic and evolving organization, showing off the new vehicles and uniforms that will take effect beginning next month.

Many thanks to Commander Bissonnette for continuing to inspire the members of CSL vCOP.  His collaborative style and optimistic outlook is refreshing.  His tireless efforts have ensured that Cote Saint-Luc remains the safest community in the Montreal Agglomeration.

For more information on CSL volunteer Citizens on Patrol or to join please visit the vCOP website.

Too much snow on his windshield?

Cote Saint-Luc Volunteer Citizens on Patrol senior supervisor Lewis Cohen came across this bizarre car crash at the Cote Saint-Luc Shopping Centre near the IGA, last night at about 18:15.

While on patrol he and his partner came across this accident which had probably taken place just a short time earlier. Police and STM supervisors were just pulling up on scene as vCOP arrived.  vCOP notified CSL Emergency Communications who sent Public Security.

The car, pictured below, did not hit the bus shelter or the bench, but did take out the bus stop sign. An elderly man was driving. Luckily no one was injured.

Car crashes into the 103 bus stop on Cote Saint-Luc Road – Photo L. Cohen

Happy Holidays to CSL Citizens on Patrol

Happy patrollers: (L-R) Harvey and Susie Schwartz, Mitchell Herf, Lewis Cohen, Glenn J. Nashen, Ruth Kovac, Dr. Gerry Trager, Peter Kovac

On Tuesday night the Cote Saint-Luc volunteer Citizens on Patrol turned out in large numbers to City Hall.  This was not an emergency civil preparedness drill.  To the contrary, this was a festive gathering to thank our dedicated volunteers for their deep commitment in helping to keep our city safe.

Volunteer supervisor Susie Schwartz organized a lovely buffet dinner for the 80 vCOP members who patrol Cote Saint-Luc streets, parks and facilities at all hours of day and night.

Several members were recognized for going above and beyond the call of duty in terms of hundreds of hours of service during the year as well as for giving extra time to serve as team leaders and supervisors, handling administrative tasks, training of new members, continuing education of existing members, scheduling, vehicle maintenance and much more.

Also in attendance were CSL Public Safety Director Jordy Reichson and Manager Jerome Pontbriand along with Police Commander Sylvain Bissonnette and his right hand man Lt. J.P. Theoret.

Bissonnette and Theoret have been staunch supporters of the vCOP program and through close collaboration between vCOP, police and CSL Public Security, Bissonnette reaffirmed that Cote Saint-Luc continues to be the safest community on the Island of Montreal.

Mayor Anthony Housefather was on hand to personally thank each vCOP on behalf of Cote Saint-Luc residents.  The mayor has shown continuous support and much enthusiasm for the vCOP program since its inception six-and-a-half years ago.

I saluted the time, effort and passion that our vCOP members contribute to the community.  Our volunteers are unlike any group in Quebec.

Similarly, I had the pleasure of thanking our EMS volunteers at their holiday dinner just a few nights earlier.  EMS troops dedicate hundreds of hours, 24/7, responding to some 3000 emergency medical calls each year.  With enough volunteers at the ready, EMS has even responded to four simultaneous emergencies on several occasions this year.

At the vCOP celebration I also introduced Councillor Ruth Kovac as my partner in crime prevention.  Ruth and I have been actively involved in emergency preparedness for over 30 years.  Her husband, Peter, joined vCOP last year.  Ruth prepared a poetic tribute to the vCOP members as well as to their spouses who give them the time to serve their city.

ODE TO A VCOP (by Ruth Kovac)

Twenty four hours in every day

Where do you go to give some away?

Time is such a precious gift

And yet you come here and do a shift!

Whether it’s Allan, Gerry, Peter or Paul

It’s a rewarding experience for one and for all

Driving a scooter, a van or a bike

It’s your eyes and ears

And your voice

Over the mike

From dispatch you might hear

“A child is lost”

So you summon all the troops

And all this at no extra cost

At Special events your presence

Is so needed

So once again

The request has been heeded

You don your gear

So proud in orange and black

Your heads are held high

There is no turning a back.

You might stand for hours

Watching over the crowd

Our Cote Saint Luc Residents

Can surely feel proud.

It might be boring

Bur never a complaining word

Just “doing the job”

For our wonderful suburb

Friendships have been strengthened while

Being on shift

You have also learned CPR

And radio protocols, all a personal development lift.

You often take photos

Of things that you see

And send them to Glenn…….

And then he sends them on to me

We talk about the those questions

And discuss at great length

How you all make Cote Saint Luc better

As we go from strength to strength

Perhaps you have seen

An opened garage door

Come upon a car accident

Or seen water gushing into a ground floor

The shifts might be many

Or perhaps just a few

But each one is precious

A donated gift from you

And no matter how your time is spent

Cote Saint Luc knows each of you is heaven sent!

So from Glenn and myself

And Council too

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah

Volunteers…THANK YOU!!!

vCOP to assist Montreal Fire Department in smoke detector blitz

Members of Cote Saint-Luc volunteer Citizens on Patrol will have the chance to work side by side with the Montreal Fire Department this weekend in a blitz to get all residents to change their smoke detector batteries coinciding with the change to Daylight Savings Time.

vCOP will go door to door speaking to as many residents as possible to remind every one of the importance of keeping their detectors functional year round.

vCOP has assisted CSL Public Security and Montreal Police during its 6 1/2 years of service but this is the first time that it will have the opportunity to directly assist the Fire Department.

While our EMS volunteers used to work closely with our CSL Fire Department that all ended 10 years ago with the forced mergers and the transfer of fire services from CSL to Montreal.

I’m very proud that the services offered by vCOP continues to expand helping to make Cote Saint-Luc the safest community in the region.

When I launched the concept in 2006 I had a goal to recruit 100 volunteers and acquire several vehicles and bicycles to allow these patrollers to circulate at anytime of day or night.  I am so pleased that we have been able to expand our offering in the areas of emergency preparedness, searching for missing persons, distribution of water during service interruption, protecting residents from downed power lines, cables, trees and branches and now with fire safety and prevention.

Hats off to our nearly 100 volunteers and to our team leaders and supervisors.  Their efforts are making a difference in the lives of Cote Saint-Lucers on a daily basis.

If you’ve had any experiences with vCOP and would like to thank them too please click on ‘Leave a Comment’.

Spooky but safe in CSL

Halloween is a fun and exciting time for children. Health Canada reminds all Canadians of some important safety tips they can use to ensure that Halloween remains an enjoyable experience for everyone.

 

Costume Safety

 

Halloween can be a magical time of year for children as they dress up in wonderful and outrageous costumes and gather bags full of treats. However, coming up with a creative disguise doesn’t mean that safety should be forgotten, so here are some Halloween safety tips to keep in mind:

 

Make sure that costumes are loose enough to be worn over warm clothing, but not so baggy or long that children can trip over their costumes. Children should also wear sturdy walking shoes.

Choose brightly-coloured costumes that will be clearly visible to motorists. For greater visibility, add or incorporate reflective tape into the costume.

Make-up and face paint are better than wearing masks, which can restrict breathing and/or vision. If you choose to use a mask, make sure it is one that allows the child to see and breathe easily.

Look for costumes, beards and wigs labelled “Flame-Resistant” — nylon or heavyweight polyester costumes are best. “Flame-Resistant” does not mean ‘fire proof’. Avoid costumes with baggy sleeves or flowing skirts to minimize the risk of contact with candles and other fire sources. Costumes made of flimsy materials have been found to burn more quickly when exposed to fire sources.

The Goodies

 

Parents or caregivers are encouraged to remind children not to accept – and especially not to eat – homemade candy or baked goods (provided by individuals they don’t know). Also, an adult should inspect all the treats before children start snacking. A few tips to keep in mind:

 

Discard homemade candy or baked goods provided by people you don’t know.

Throw out any treats that are not commercially wrapped, those in torn or loose packages, or any that have small holes in the wrappers.

Remove choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies or small toys when young children are involved.

Wash fresh fruit thoroughly, inspect for holes, including small punctures and cuts, and if found, do not let children or adults eat the fruit.

Avoid treats that may contain ingredients like peanuts, milk and egg that can cause severe adverse reactions in individuals who have allergies or sensitivities. Parents or caregivers of children with food allergies should read labels carefully and avoid candies that do not have an ingredient list.

Trick-or-Treating

 

When trick-or-treating, parents should accompany their children each year until the children are old enough to go by themselves. Safety-minded parents can follow along at a distance to keep an eye on the children. A few other tips to keep in mind:

 

Tell your children not to eat any goodies until you see them. Make sure that your child eats dinner before they set out, so they’ll be less tempted to eat their goodies along the way.

Children should stay in well-lit areas and should only visit homes that have their outside lights turned on. Children should never go inside homes or cars.

Children should walk, not run, from house to house and stay on the sidewalk or at the side of the road facing traffic, cross the road at the corner and look both ways before crossing the road.

 

Cote Saint-Luc Public Security agents and members of the volunteer Citizens on Patrol will be out in force with the Montreal Police Department (Neighbourhood Station 9)  to keep an eye on the kids on Halloween.  If you spot any problems, or kids need help, wave down any of these public safety officials who are in marked cars and in uniform.  Our goal is for kids to have fun in a secure environment.

 

Don’t forget about the annual Cote Saint-Luc Halloween Skating Party on Sunday, Oct. 28.

Côte Saint-Luc looking for more volunteer patrollers

The Côte Saint-Luc volunteer Citizens on Patrol are recruiting new members for the largest municipally based public safety program in Quebec.

Residents interested in joining vCOP should come to an information session on Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 7 pm at Côte Saint-Luc City Hall (5801 Cavendish Blvd.). They should bring identification and a completed copy of the application form available at http://www.CoteSaintLuc.org/en/vcop.

“Côte Saint-Luc was the first city in Quebec to implement this neighbourhood-watch-on-wheels program,” Mayor Anthony Housefather said.

CSL launches eco-friendly COP Scooter Patrol

“Members work in teams patrolling city streets, parks, playgrounds and buildings at any hour of day and night,” said Councillor Glenn J. Nashen, the council member responsible for Public Safety. “They are also present at community events and available to assist at major emergencies.”

Since the program was launched in July 2006, volunteers have patrolled 170,000 kilometres—which is half the distance between Earth and the moon, and logged more than 30,000 hours. The volunteer force now number 83 people. Volunteers are given training to spot potential problems and to notify Côte Saint-Luc Public Security or the police.

Supervisor Susie Schwartz with husband/patroller Harvey

The vCOP fleet includes four minivans, four electric scooters, two electric bicycles, and two regular bicycles.

Volunteers are required to make a minimum commitment of six hours per month although many patrol much more. While vCOP members are 18 years of age and over there is a cadet program for 16 and 17 year olds. There is a one-time membership fee of $75 to defray the costs of uniforms and accessories. Training in patrol techniques, radio communications, first-aid, CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator are provided.

For more information or to join the vCOP program, please call 514-485-6800, send an e-mail to vcop@CoteSaintLuc.org, or visit http://www.CoteSaintLuc.org/en/vcop.

Bike rodeo visits Fletcher Park

The annual CSL bike rodeo was recently held in Fletcher Park on Baily Road and attracted more than 100 people.  They had a chance to get up close and see police cars, a Harley Davidson police motorcycle, Public Security vehicles and a CSL ambulance. The volunteer Citizens on Patrol were on hand with their vans and scooters. Kids also learned about the importance of wearing a helmet when cycling and about following the rules of the road.

CSL celebrates volunteers with a splash

In Côte Saint-Luc we can never say thank you enough for all of the magnificent efforts of our hundreds of dedicated and energetic volunteers.  So, yesterday we threw a Brunch Celebration at our fantastic Aquatic and Community Centre (ACC) as a small thanks.

The party room was decorated with the Olympic flag as well as those of many of the countries which have hosted the games. Our City Council hosted the event to fete our volunteers from many different community areas.

Councillor Steven Erdelyi’s family along with City Manager Tanya Abramovitch and Councillor Glenn J. Nashen and his son Jeremy celebrating with CSL volunteers

Our volunteers are active in many facets of Parks and Recreation (individual sports, seniors, the CSL Dramatic Society), the Library, Public Safety (Emergency Medical Services and volunteer Citizens on Patrol) and even the CSL Cats Committee.

Sidney Margles (in blue) receives the Volunteer of the Year Award from Mayor Anthony Housefather (in yellow) along with Councillors Ruth Kovac, Mike Cohen and Glenn J. Nashen

The Edward J. Kirwin Award for the Volunteer of the Year went to Sidney Margles, the devoted president of the CSL Senior Men’s Club. A former Town of Mount Royal councillor, broadcaster and radio executive, Sid and his wife Merle chose to settle in CSL  for their retirement years. “Retirement” is a funny word because Sid is more active than some people who work full time. He has brought the Men’s Club to a level we have never seen before and worked alongside council and staff as the ACC took shape.

Mayor Housefather spoke glowingly about the ACC. He listed the competitive swim team as just one example of what we should be proud of, making a bold prediction that when we reach the 2020’s there will be CSL swimmers in the Olympics.

The brunch was followed by an “Open Pool” as many of us headed down for fun in the ACC.  The recreation pool is not only a kids water paradise, many seniors can be seen aqua-cizing in the shallow, warm water.

The competition pool was the place for my first time on the “Wibit”, a very large, inflatable water toy challenging swimmers to race across the “obstacle course” without falling in.  The pictures below will indicate I had some difficulties staying afloat.

 

Bravo to everyone involved with the Volunteer Brunch. That includes our Public Works Department for providing the centrepieces at each table. Thanks to Director David Taveroff and his staff as well as to Councillor Kovac who chaired the event.

Most of all, thank you to our volunteers of every age and category.  I’m especially proud of the men and women who give their time so freely at the CSL Emergency Medical Services and volunteer Citizens on Patrol.  The EMS crews are on duty 24/7 ensuring rapid, skilled and compassionate care to residents of and visitors to our city.  We are the only city on the Island of Montreal to be so fortunate to have this incredible life-saving service.

And an enormous Thank You to the 80 members of vCOP who patrol our streets, parks, playgrounds and municipal buildings at all hours of the day and night to help us feel a little more secure.

You are all Olympians to me and to so many of our residents who greatly appreciate all you do to make Cote Saint-Luc the very best city in Quebec.

(Mike Cohen contributed to this post).