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!)..

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

 

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.

Public Security agents enforcing local bylaws

Cote Saint-Luc Public Security officer Jean-Noel Champagne

While I’m often asked about the issuance of tickets in Cote Saint-Luc it can be said that many of thee are a voluntary tax.  If motorists respect the bylaws that are in place for the safety and security of all there would hardly be a need to issue a ticket in the first place.

That said, the CSL Public Security department issues hundreds of tickets each month for vehicles parked in handicap spots without the required permit, parking in emergency lanes (the area marked as no parking in reserve for fire trucks and other emergency responders in front of buildings), parking in bus stops or otherwise blocking traffic.

CSL PS routinely patrols school zones (in fact they’re at a different local school every morning) along with the Montreal Police Department. Day in and out there are parents illegally parked in front of schools making it more dangerous for all the kids going to and coming from school.  The schools as well as parents and local residents regularly ask for increased patrols and enforcement in these important spots.

CSL PS only issues tickets for non-moving violations and other municipal bylaws.  The police are uniquely mandated to enforce moving violations under the Quebec Highway Safety Act.

For more information on municipal bylaws including parking, traffic and public safety, click here.  Obey the signs and rules of the road and save yourself the cost of an unnecessary ticket.

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.

Break keeps crews busy in knee deep water

Crews work to shut of valve to the water pipe on Kildare Road

A watermain break this afternoon on Kildare Road near Shalom Ave has kept crews from Fire, Police, Public Security, Public Works and Engineering departments along with water management firm Dessau busy on site.

The Fire Department quickly setup pumps to minimize any flooding at neighbouring homes.

Crews also must deal with cutting through the frozen ground to access the water shut off valves.  No easy task in such cold weather.

Some temporary water shutdowns in the neighbourhood may be necessary and traffic has been reduced to one lane westbound on Kildare.

Emergency crews respond to assist at watermain break

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

Hampstead honours two public security officers

The Council of the Town of Hampstead honoured two of its Public Security officers on Monday, December 3 for their dedication to volunteerism and their ongoing support of youth, military veterans and veterans’ families. Public Security Lieutenant Michael Fitzgerald and Public Security officer Andy Baddeley received special commemorative certificates from the Town at the beginning of the December Council Meeting, presented by Mayor William Steinberg and Councillor Leon Elfassy, responsible for the public security portfolio.

Congratulations to our Public Security neighbours in Hampstead.  While we take pride in the accomplishments and efforts of our Cote Saint-Luc Public Security personnel we also join in congratulating their colleagues next door.

Read more on Mayor Bill Steinberg’s Facebook page.

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.

CSL’s little known bylaws

by Joel Goldenberg, The Suburban

October 17, 2012

Some of Côte St. Luc’s strict bylaws are very well known to residents, such as its law requiring cyclists to wear bicycle helmets, its laws banning smoking in various public places and its overnight parking prohibitions.

Some aspects of Côte St. Luc’s noise bylaw are also well-known, particularly times when contractors can operate their machinery to do garden work. Work can begin 7 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends and statutory holidays, and must end 9 p.m. weekends, weekdays and statutory holidays.

Less known is that “you cannot make loud noises such as excessively honking your horn, blaring loud music or using any other sound reproduction device to do so,” according to the city’s website. Loud music emanating from cars, especially bass-heavy rap music, is a common aural experience on streets like Ste. Catherine West.

Most parking bylaws are obvious, such as prohibitions against parking near fire hydrants, during designated hours as indicated on signs and in designated handicap spots.

But less known to the general public is that “you cannot park a trailer or truck anywhere in Côte St. Luc except for loading or unloading purposes,” says the website.

As mentioned above, the city’s helmet law for cyclists is well known, but it also applies to all ages, and also for those using in-line skates and roller blades “on any street, sidewalk, lane or any public place in Côte St. Luc.”

A couple of years ago, there was a big debate regarding Dollard des Ormeaux’s restrictions on the playing of street hockey. In Côte St. Luc, permission must be sought from the city before sports items such as basketball and hockey nets are placed in public areas such as streets and sidewalks.

Côte St. Luc also has bylaws that ensure private properties remain clean and safe. “The owner of land, whether built or not, may not allow branches, bushes and long weeds to grow thereon, or to leave scrap iron, rubbish, refuse, paper or empty bottles or materials or any objects that might be a hazard to health and safety,” says the website.

“You cannot tolerate on your land, shallow areas gathering stagnant water, open ditches, large boulders, mounds of earth or any conditions that may cause directly or indirectly bodily harm to any person or persons.”

A few years ago, The Suburban published a story in which some residents objected to a law against feeding wild animals within the city limits. It remains prohibited to feed pigeons, squirrels and other non-domesticated animals.

Not only that, residents can’t keep wild farm animals or poultry on their land as possible pets.

And while Montreal is rethinking its law banning, for the most part, street vendors selling food, in Côte St. Luc, “all street vendors require a license from the municipality prior to carrying out their tasks.