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VOL. 21 NO.27

HUDSON, ST. LAZARE // VAUDREUIL-DORION, RIGAUD, PINCOURT, ÎLE-PERROT, N.D.I.P. & SAINTE-ANNE-DE-BELLEVUE

Th As o e f be Jou Aug pu rna us FR blis l n t 20 ID he ow 21 AY d w S on ill

PHOTO BY CARMEN MARIE FABIO

Station’s fate still undecided Exo Public Transit Services, which operates the Vaudreuil-Hudson commuter rail line, has reached out to

local users who want to keep the Pincourt/Terrasse-Vaudreuil station open with a proposal of three differ-

ent options which are scheduled to be presented at a public consultation later this year. See story on page 6.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” – Thomas Bertram Lance

Saint-Lazare - Centris #11021800. Large piece of commercial land with easy access to highway 40 fronting on Côte St-Charles.

Inside Saint-Lazare sheds landslide status

3

Hudson group crunches Sandy Beach numbers

6

Meet Saint-Lazare’s new Director General

7

Hudson Music Festival live once again

9

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The combined effect of two doses ensures longer-lasting and better protection against COVID-19.

Getting your 2nd dose of vaccine is a must.

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THE JOURNAL

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Two empty houses in Saint-Lazare’s Chaline Valley back on the market City hopes new LED stop sign entices drivers to stop at dangerous intersection John Jantak

The Journal

The stigma of Chaline Valley being located in a landslide zone is finally being lifted after Saint-Lazare council adopted a resolution during its monthly meeting on July 13 to put two houses on Rue Charbonneau that have sat empty for the past two years up for sale on the residential real estate market.

“These are two homes the town purchased while we were doing all the stabilization work in Chaline Valley,” Mayor Robert Grimaudo told The Journal.

“These homes were unlivable while the work was being done because the weeping field for the septic systems had to be taken out so the town had bought the houses.”

‘I’m sure they will sell’ “One of the houses hardly has a backyard but it has steps that lead down to the Quinchien River so it depends on how you look at it. Now we have to do something with these homes. We will be selling them ‘as is.’ To do that, we needed to go to tender because we couldn’t arbitrarily pick a real estate agent,” said Grimaudo.

The applicants for the bid to tender were asked to make a proposal regarding how the houses would be sold, the amount of commission they would charge for the sale and other aspects re-

lated to the real estate process. “Based on these proposals we made a decision on whom to award the contract. These houses will go up for sale and I’m sure they will sell. I have no doubt,” Grimaudo said.

Stable after 10 years The city has spent the past 10 years working on the process to have the hillside surrounding Chaline Valley stabilized. “This was the point of all the work that was done – to eliminate the potential for a landslide in this area. It will be up to the new owners to find a new septic system and install it. The town will not be responsible for any renovations or any money spent after the homes are bought,” said Grimaudo.

The mayor said he’s glad the city will be able to finally close the Chaline Valley file when the two houses are sold.

“This was my first file in 2012 and 10 years later with well over $10 million of work and endless meetings with the provincial Ministries of Transport and Public Security. This was huge. It was the largest stabilization project ever seen in Quebec,” added Grimaudo.

New stop sign Council also announced that a new illuminated stop sign will be installed on the westbound corner of Chemin St. Louis at the intersection of the stretch of road that leads to the on-ramp for Highway 40 east.

Pincourt’s Firefighters’ Day back on

PHOTO BY RICHARD MEADES

Saint-Lazare council announced the city has accepted a tender for real estate services to sell two city-owned residential properties on Rue Charbonneau that were bought two years ago prior to the landslide stabilization work that took place in Chaline Valley.

“There have been many accidents at this intersection,” said Grimaudo. “What we did last night is to pass a resolution and we finally got permission from the provincial Ministry of Transport (MTQ) to install the new stop sign. I’m hoping the sign which has LED lights will entice people to stop and resolve the issue.”

The city’s initiative was welcomed by District 1 Councillor and mayoral can-

didate Geneviève Lachance who represents the constituents in the district where the stop sign will be installed.

“I requested that the MTQ look into that intersection two years ago because of its dangerous configuration,” said Lachance. “Now we have an additional safety measure that will be put into place.”

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THE JOURNAL FILE PHOTO/JOHN JANTAK

Despite announcing on June 30 that it had no choice but to cancel the annual Firefighters’ Day due to lack of time for planning and coordination, the Town of Pincourt revisted the issue at the July 13 council meeting and has opted to reinstate the popular parade.

The yearly event which is hosted in lieu of Saint-Jean Baptiste and Canada Day celebrations features firefighters and emergency vehicles from across the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region and has been an annual celebration since 1980, with the exception of 2020 due to the pandemic.

The motion was passed unanimously and ‘with pleasure’ by council.

“The parade will take place Saturday, September 18,” said Mayor Yvan Cardinal. “I’m sure the news will also be received ‘with pleasure’ by the citizens of Pincourt.”

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THE JOURNAL

3

EDITOR’S CORNER

Train of thought The public was asked for their opinion and they gave it. Repeatedly. Users of the Exo commuter train who walk, bike, or carpool to the Pincourt/Terrasse-Vaudreuil station has said they don’t want to see its closure. In fact, a number of residents have stated the station’s accessibility is precisely why they moved to the area.

Traffic traversing the Island of Île-Perrot heading west has climbed steadily over the years and regular road users can attest to the fact that the backlog is happening ever earlier during the day as motorists try to avoid the rush.

The Minstry of Transport had earlier this year announced they would be adding another traffic light on Harwood Boulevard (across from the Sûreté du Québec east station) which will further congest the artery.

And the recent Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge debacle is still fresh enough in our minds that we don’t want to see access to public transit curtailed in any way while the bridge awaits its eventual replacement.

The track configuration at the Pincourt/ Terrasse-Vaudreuil and Île-Perrot stations is not new – commuters have been dealing with crossing the four sets of tracks, which carry freight, passenger, and commuter lines – for decades. The elected officials who actually live in the area have told the Exo officials what they and their residents need – an overpass or an underpass to safely navigate the tracks. What they haven’t asked for is an amalgamation of all the stations that will no longer be accessible by walking or cycling and – as has been pointed out by users – will only add to motor vehicle congestion on roadways already over capacity.

The Journal PUBLISHER: EDITOR: JOURNALIST: STAFF WRITER: COLUMNISTS:

EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR: CREATIVE DIRECTOR: SALES COORDINATOR: ADVERTISING CONSULTANT: CONTRIBUTORS:

MONIQUE BISSONNETTE CARMEN MARIE FABIO JOHN JANTAK NICK ZACHARIAS BRIAN GALLAGHER KELLY MIYAMOTO MATT MILLER KERI UNDERDOWN SABREENA MOHAMED KAREN SIMMONS LUCIE BRODEUR JULES-PIERRE MALARTRE CJ MAXWELL

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Thursday, July 15, 2021

Photo of the week

PHOTO BY KAREN YOUNG

Our Photo of the Week contest rolls on. We had such a high volume of participation last year and are pleased to continue the tradition.

Former Hudson resident Karen Young, who now resides in Brownsburg-Chatham, snapped this visitor to her garden hiding out amongst the hostas.

Following the same format as last year, photos will not be limited to the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region and we will be offering three prizes at the end of the year - $200 for first place, $100 for second, and $50 for third.

Interested? Send your entries to editor@yourlocaljournal.ca. We will showcase all submissions on our website at www.yourlocaljournal.ca/photo-of-the-week.

Dear Editor: editor@yourlocaljournal.ca Open letter to the Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC Considering the scientific consensus on global warming and ongoing concerns over loss of biodiversity, Mouvement d’action régional en environnement (MARE) has asked the Municipalité régionale de comté Vaudreuil-Soulanges (MRC-VS) to strengthen their efforts for an effective conservation and protection strategy with following proposals: Characterize the natural environments of the region to establish an effective conservation plan.

Establish a conservation target of 17 per cent of the territory.

Establish a reforestation plan to increase forest cover to nearly 50 per cent.

Those proposals were made on behalf of the many groups fighting for the protection of the environment in Vaudreuil-Soulanges and nearby regions.

To date, the MRC-VS has replied they are continuing to gather knowledge of their natural areas and that their territory planning tools will ensure better protection. MARE is hoping the MRC-VS will take action by adopting measures corresponding to the challenges our communities are facing and will be facing in the coming years. Considering the huge pressure applied on our natural spaces

by urban sprawl and agricultural expansion, our regional representatives must quickly adopt responsible and sustainable strategies for the planning of our territory. Bold actions must be made, now, to act for the climate and ecological crisis.

Despite our forest and wetlands being critical for both the agricultural fabric and urban areas, we are witnessing their catastrophic destruction at an alarming rate. In order to fight against climate change, we need to preserve these environments. Not only do they help keep our communities healthy by reducing urban heat zones and offering noise reduction, these areas are carbon dioxide reservoirs capturing CO2 while producing oxygen. They also help control flooding and the adverse effects on groundwater.

The evaluation and planning of our territory need to be done as a whole and also taking into account the importance of our region for the connectivity of the ecosystems. The MRC-VS needs to recognize the risks associated with the fragmentation of natural environments and their subsequent loss from unchecked development.

To better identify the most important natural areas to protect, municipalities must evaluate the ecological value of each of them.

Continued on page 6

Erratum

In the July 8 edition of The Journal, the article titled ‘Former District 3 Councillor will run for Hudson mayor,’ page 3, it was incorrectly written that the previous District 3 Councillor was Nathalie Durand. Her name, in fact, is Nicole Durand. The Journal regrets the error.

Group says beach development a burden to Hudson’s books Nick Zacharias

ganizer of the Sandy Beach Wetland Protection Group, had a conversation with District 5 Councillor Jim Duff in late March of this year when the group had set up a booth in the Hudson IGA Plaza to discuss their concerns about the development with the public.

“I asked him,” said Gray, “if the town had done an analysis of how the development would impact the town financially, and he said, ‘No, we’re not required to.’” When pushed to know if the town had plans to look at the impact of the development on annual revenues for the town, Duff said they were not going to do that.

The independent study, conducted voluntarily by private residents with subject matter expertise, points out that the Loi sur les cités et villes states that for projects of this size a town must create a plan showing objectives, associated expenditures, and the mode of financing these expenses. In the absence of a publicly shared plan, this group decided to conduct their own.

Estimates conservative Long-time resident Benoît Blais, who

The Journal

While there is growing opposition to the proposed 214-unit development planned for the currently forested land surrounding Sandy Beach in Hudson, with objections ranging from ecological destruction to traffic safety and infrastructure burden to changing the face of the town, those in favour often site an increase in municipal tax revenue as justification or at least compensation for the project, something which would give the town more leeway to address other issues like repairing crumbling roads or adding new infrastructure. The town has not shared any study showing what the predicted impact to town revenue would be from the development, but an independent group has, and their findings show that rather than create a windfall of tax money for Hudson, the increased expenses from the proposed development would put the town in the hole by $269,000 or more per year going forward.

No financial analysis by the town Mark Gray, Hudson resident and or-

THE JOURNAL FILE PHOTO/NICK ZACHARIAS

While the town of Hudson has not shared any study into what impact the planned Sandy Beach development will have on the town’s finances, a private, volunteer study concludes that proceeding with adding roughly 600 new citizens in the dense project would create an annual deficit, costing the town well over a quarter million dollars every year even after increased tax revenue is accounted for.

THE JOURNAL FILE PHOTO/NICK ZACHARIAS

An independent group has released its own cost analysis of the contentious Sandy Beach development project that would have the first row of 94 townhouses plainly visible 20 metres from the servitude to the beach – a reality demonstrated with a mock-up (on the left) placed on the spot at the waterfront during a demonstration held in April, 2021.

contributed decades of experience to the study as a Senior Director in the banking industry, as well as having a history in financial consulting and auditing, said that if anything the financial estimates were extremely conservative.

“We looked at all the information available to us. We did not even include the likely increase in the number of town employees that would come from adding that many houses for example; if anything, our estimates on the extra cost to the town are very low.”

What the estimates show, in broad terms, is an injection of $854,480 in additional annual tax revenue. Projected annual costs, when the study’s authors looked at capital expenditures for agreed upon additions like lifeguard stations, public washrooms, road rebuilding and sewer connection, as well as incremental net operating expenses and direct uncontrollable expenses (such as increased SQ policing), were projected to be $1,123,714 – in other words predicting a net annual loss to the town of $269,234.

The study’s authors calculate that the one-time windfall gain of approximately $1.2 million from the welcome tax will be offset by the extra annual expenses in under five years, leaving the town with an ongoing deficit of over a quarter million dollars per year.

Show us we’re wrong Another of the study’s authors, Jacques Bourgeois, who has decades of experience in strategic and financial advising and joined Blais and former

Hudson Town Engineer and Director of Public Works Trail Grubert in the study, said he came into it with an open mind.

“I came in not as a member of the wetlands group but as a third party,” said Bourgeois. “I wanted to see if the revenue is really positive, as so many assume, or not. And sadly, it’s clear that it’s not. We’re very confident in these numbers.” He says if the town continues to move forward with approving the development it behooves them to address the shortfall and be transparent about how they intend to combat it, whether that’s through cutting expenses elsewhere in the budget or increasing municipal tax rates.

Blais is more blunt in his interpretation. “Put aside why you’re for or against the development, but please town, do your job. If there was at least even a financial benefit to the town that’s one thing, but we’re about to destroy this Sandy Beach wetland, and for what?” He said he’s asked the council several times if they’d done their homework with no satisfactory response. “Please, Mr. Mayor, council, if you don’t agree with our study then show us where we’re wrong.”

The study, called The Balance Report, was given to council on June 30. As of press time, Mayor Nicholls did not get back to The Journal to confirm whether or not council had analyzed it.

A brief summary, as well as the full 26-page report can be found through the Sandy Beach Wetland Protection Group’s Facebook page or through this link: tinyurl.com/h8sr4nmk

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2020-11-25 15:20

Four sets of train tracks side by side daily accommodate freight, passenger, and commuter trains.

PHOTO BY CARMEN MARIE FABIO

Fate of Pincourt/Terrasse-Vaudreuil commuter station still undecided Carmen Marie Fabio

editor@yourlocaljournal.ca

With 802 signatures on the petition against closing the Pincourt/TerrasseVaudreuil commuter train station, Pincourt Vert spokesperson Shelagh McNally is asking why only one of the group’s suggestions was addressed in the recent correspondence from Exo Director General Sylvain Yelle.

“In response to the petition calling for a solution to keep the Pincourt-Terrasse-Vaudreuil station open, I would like to provide some details on Exo’s intentions regarding the stations of Île-Perrot,” Yelle wrote to the group in a letter dated July 12. “I take note of the concerns of citizens who care about the future of their station and the quality of life in their neighbourhood and I hereby hope to be able to reassure them.”

Letters

Continued from page 4 Despite the fact that some municipalities have already characterized some of their natural zones, we observe that many of them still have a lot to do. It’s critical to know the value of our natural areas to establish an effective conservation strategy.

Apart from protecting biodiversity, these natural sites are of great value for the health and wellbeing of our communities. Some collectives are strongly attached to a natural space and that level of attachment must be taken into account when natural areas are identified for conservation. These are places where citizens visit to connect with nature and practice recreational activities.

The urgency of the challenges we face today require a transformation of what is economically justifiable when it comes to our environment.

Protection of the natural habitats is an immediate key action to fight climate 6

THE JOURNAL

Public safety The letter commends the group for demonstrating an interest in public transit but goes on to say the issue of the safety of public transport users and citizens cannot be ruled out.

Yelle says Exo, which operates the commuter rail line from Montreal to Vaudreuil/Hudson, has been concerned for years over the stations on the Island of Île-Perrot due to riders having to traverse several sets of tracks to reach the boarding platform.

He reiterates that a decision has yet to be reached but, while in the ‘exploratory phase’ of the project, proffered the following scenarios which were presented to local officials in December 2020: • A first option is to redevelop the two stations on Île-Perrot; • A second is to completely redevelop just one of the two stations, includ-

ing the construction of a footbridge or tunnel for safe crossing of the tracks, a new park-and-ride parking, and a new bus loop; • Finally, a third possibility is to build a brand new station, between the two current stations. This option includes bus feeder solutions that respond in particular to concerns related to the potential for road congestion in the sector and to facilitate access to the station by bus with the creation of a terminus.

Users want to maintain status quo McNally has pointed out that despite the petition and repeated feedback of elected officials and residents who want to keep the station open, Exo is still considering its potential closure.

“There is no way Exo can follow their mandate to transport people efficiently by making the entire popula-

change and biodiversity loss.

With only 1.4 per cent of protected areas in its territory, the MRC-VS must prioritize conservation. In order to take into account the richness of the territory’s natural environments, we ask that the precise target of 17 per cent of protected territories be added to the territory development plan currently being revised. A contribution from each of the 23 municipalities could be established to achieve this objective. Each municipality must contribute to ensure access to green spaces to all. That goal has already been fulfilled by other government levels in 2020. The MRC-VS should be able to do the same.

We also ask that the MRC-VS adopt a plan for the re-naturalization of its territory. At less than 27 per cent, the forest cover of the MRC-VS is below the recognized critical threshold of 30 per cent.

We ask that the MRC-VS establish a specific plan to increase the forest cover to approach 50 per cent of wooden areas (level at which species thrive).

We are including a non-exhaustive list of natural environments for which

citizen groups are fighting to protect and preserve in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region.

The MARE is committed to supporting their efforts to protect these sites.

Mouvement d’action régional en environnement (MARE)

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Thank you Dear Editor, On behalf of the Executive Committee of the Royal Oak Tennis Club (ROTC) of Hudson, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Hudson Village Theatre (HVT) and in particular its President, Kalina Skulska, for generously allowing the ROTC to host a fundraiser at the HVT on Sunday, July 11. We had the unique opportunity to watch the wildly exciting Wimbledon’s Men’s Final on the big screen and a good time was had by all. I would also like to thank our sponsors and many, many volunteers without whom none of this would have been possible.

Last but not least, I would like to offer a special thanks to Stuart LeBaron of LeBaron Catering. He offered us a truly banquet-worthy Wimbledon breakfast

PHOTO BY CARMEN MARIE FABIO

Despite petitions and feedback from residents and elected officials lobbying for its preservation, Exo Public Transit Services will be hosting public consultation sessions to determine the fate of the Pincourt/TerrasseVaudreuil commuter train station.

tion of Pincourt and Terrasse-Vaudreuil drive over to a train station whether it’s in cars or buses,” McNally told The Journal. “The people of Île-Perrot will also have further to go if the train station is put at the end of Don-Quichotte and those currently biking or walking will have to drive or take buses.Putting more buses and cars on streets already suffering from chronic congestion serves no one and certainly won’t make our communities a happy place.

Why is Exo even considering the option of closing?”

Continued on page 7 which got rave reviews from our members, and did so at a price which would not break anyone’s bank, in honour of his mother, Robin LeBaron who had been a long time member of the ROTC, as well as captain of the women’s tennis team.

In reflecting on the number of kind deeds and the selflessness involved in making this kind of event happen, the community mindedness of the different organizations, and the generational paying it forward-type generosity, it makes me so proud to be a member of the ROTC, the HVT, the Film Society, and so many other organizations that make the Town of Hudson so very special. I have lived in many cities in Canada and the US but always dreamed of moving to Hudson. I am so very glad I did so. Best decision I ever made.

Thanks again to you all for making this such a successful event and the Town of Hudson so very wonderful!

Christine Snyder Royal Oak Tennis Club Events Coordinator Hudson

Saint-Lazare’s new Director General ready to face challenges John Jantak

The Journal

Hervé Rivet, the new Director General for Saint-Lazare, took time from his busy schedule for a sit-down interview at his City Hall office with The Journal on July 13 to talk about the experience he brings into his new role and some of the challenges the municipality faces regarding future growth while maintaining town’s rural cachet and protecting its green spaces.

“I’m very happy to be here,” he said.

“There are some nice challenges. It’s a beautiful city with potential that is absolutely without boundaries. I think it’s a prototype of what a Quebec or Canadian city should be like – a mix of residential and commercial with a high priority towards the environment.”

Prior experience Rivet has a combined total of over five years of experience in the role having served as Director General for Brownsburg-Chatham for almost three years and at Rivière-Rouge for just over two years. He’s also worked as a consultant for different private companies and organizations and has federal government experience.

“Basically my style is based on two schools of thought – a result-oriented approach and lean management. I think it’s an optimal approach. It’s a combination of what’s good in the private and public sectors and putting them together,” Rivet told The Journal. Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge closure Rivet’s mettle was put to the test just days after he took on the role of Director General with the shutdown of the Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge on May

Train

Continued from page 6 Town wants safe passage As reported in The Journal in July, 2020, the Town of Terrasse-Vaudreuil is anxious to have either an overpass or underpass built at the railroad crossing in Terrasse-Vaudreuil that would allow cyclists, pedestrians and emergency vehicles unimpeded access in a safe environment. “We’re still working with the provincial and federal governments and CN, CP and Exo,” said Mayor Michel Boudreault at the time. The projected cost was estimated to be between $5 million and $8 million.

20. “It was quite special. We had communication issues and we had to work with the provincial Ministry of Transport and Exo making sure things worked out and so that our citizens wouldn’t be isolated and they could have access to the Island of Montreal,” said Rivet.

“One of the good things was that it introduced me faster to our neighbouring cities so we could put out a common message. It would have normally taken me three to four months to speak to them. Overall, it went well because our representations towards different organizations were taken into account. At least we were heard and some action was taken and the impact on our citizens was reduced,” he added.

A municipality that’s moving forward Now that the dust has settled regarding the Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge, Rivet has been settling into his new role and is learning about the different challenges facing the municipality.

“The learning curve is quite steep. I don’t have a lot of time to sit back and relax. It’s quite a challenge, it’s a lot of fun with a good team of good-hearted people,” he said.

“When the opportunity came I decided to try it and see what happens.

It’s a small town with over 20,000 people. It’s a municipality where there’s equilibrium between commercial and residential. It’s an area that’s moving forward. It’s not stagnating,” Rivet added.

“There’s a good potential for highdensity urban development. For the last 10 years the provincial governPublic consultation Prior to making a final decision, Exo plans to organize a citizen meeting following consultations with the area municipalities. “This meeting will be an opportunity to recall the current situation, to specify the Exo approach by explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each of the options considered, and to gather the opinions of citizens,” the communiqué stages. Though all details have yet to be finalized, Exo said they hope to schedule a meeting with the public before the fall.

The Towns of Pincourt and TerrasseVaudreuil each passed motions in council to keep the commuter station open.

To access the petition, go to tinyurl. com/5nn8pzs6

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PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK

Hervé Rivet, the new Director General for the Town of Saint-Lazare, spoke about his new role and responsibilities during an interview at his city hall office on July 13.

ment has been pushing this because it has a direct impact on the cost of infrastructure. They don’t want people to spread out because the more you spread out the higher the cost,” he said.

Rivet is also impressed with the social fabric of the city and the diverse population of Francophone, Anglophone and Allophone residents that gives Saint-Lazare its distinctive character. “This is a good representation of what Quebec and Canada is. This was very attractive for me. It’s not an urban area. You don’t feel crowded. There’s a spirit of freedom here that you don’t find in other small cities,” he said.

New

Potable water challenge “You have to understand the challenges and constraints on all infrastructures with water being a major one. It’s the number one challenge facing just about every city. The idea is to balance things out by making sure you progress at a rhythm that allows you to keep pace. We have some solutions for dealing with the water issue by adding three more wells,” said Rivet.

“The main issue is how we can make sure we don’t fall within the patterns of the past few years,” he added.

“It’s not an easy answer because there are some situations over which we have no power, like droughts.”

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July 12 to August 22 at the 405, Avenue Saint-Charles park Consult the schedule of activities at ville.vaudreuil-dorion.qc.ca Thursday, July 15, 2021

THE JOURNAL

7

ADVICE FROM THE HEART

ADVERTORIAL

KAREN SIMMONS

Focusing on personal wellbeing at OM Bien-être|Wellness

Welcome to our advice column featuring The Journal’s own Karen Simmons who brings a mix of life experience, common sense, and a loving heart to any situation.

Have you got a dating issue? Family problem? Unresolved friendship issues? Just ask Karen.

Send your questions confidentially and anonymously to karen@yourlocaljournal.ca ******* Dear Karen, My boyfriend (23) and I (24) have been happily together for a bit over a year. He lives with a roommate in an apartment, and I live at home with my mom. We’ve both expressed the desire to one day live together and it seems that as each day passes the desire to make that happen gets stronger. The issue is with his 69-year-old roommate who suffers from severe COPD, can’t get out of the house to do his own groceries, or even make it down the stairs to do his own laundry. He’s a night owl and we really don’t see much of him, but we do see his dirty dishes, half eaten bananas (that attract bugs) and stockpile of grape juice containers that are taking over the kitchen. I have started to not want to go over to my boyfriend’s place even though I know it has nothing to do with him. My boyfriend feels caught between a rock and a hard place because the lease is in his name, and his roommate is on a very tight budget and would have a hard time being able to find affordable housing if he had to move out. I love my boyfriend and would see him every day if I could but at this point the state of his apartment brings me more headaches than anything else. What do I do?

Grappling girlfriend Dear Grappling girlfriend, Welcome to adulthood and all of the challenges it brings. This is a difficult situation for everyone involved and while it may not be your boyfriend’s ‘fault,’ it certainly seems that he is at least enabling some of the behaviours his roommate is exhibiting.

Assuming your boyfriend knows how you feel, the next step is going to have to be him sitting down with his roommate and laying it all on the table. And while it’s unfortunate that the roommate has some health issues, by no means should he be exempt from cleaning up after himself and just showing basic courtesy.

If there are starting to be bugs in the apartment as you describe, then it’s really an unhealthy environment for all of you and I don’t blame you one bit for not wanting to go over there.

I would be putting the roommate on notice and providing him with a written list of rules for living in the apartment. A contract of sorts. Make sure he understands he is on probation. It’s nice that your boyfriend is taking into consideration that this man doesn’t have a lot and that a move would be hard on him, but at the end of the day your boyfriend can’t and shouldn’t feel guilty about setting some boundaries and having expectations regarding cleanliness in his own home.

The conversation probably won’t be easy given that he’s dealing with someone who’s older and I’m sure he doesn’t want to be disrespectful but living as roommates requires mutual respect and at the moment that isn’t happening.

Over and above all of that, if you and your boyfriend truly are planning on moving in together in the future, the fair thing to do is to let the roommate know so he can prepare.

As for your role in this, try to be supportive of your boyfriend by helping him prepare for the conversation but don’t put yourself in the middle of it. It will only make any time you spend over there even more uncomfortable and potentially create problems in your relationship. This should be an exciting time in your life and I wish you nothing but the best as you move forward.

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Thursday, July 15, 2021

Jules-Pierre Malartre

Special contributor

In these trying times as the pandemic still rages on, our wellbeing is more important than ever. However, it’s hard to know what or who to turn to for help, support, and guidance. Alexandre Rivard and Jason St-Hilaire of OM Bienêtre|Wellness know how hard it is to find help in these difficult times, which is why they have become omnipresent in our areas with the opening of their third boutique in the heart of Hudson.

OM Bien-être|Wellness is very present in our area with shops in PointeClaire, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue and now Hudson. The pandemic and lockdowns were difficult for all businesses, but Alexandre and Jason know that their unique products and services are even more needed during these times. So, they endeavoured to continue to serve their growing clientele throughout the pandemic.

Working through COVID-19 “It was a big challenge,” Alexandre admits. “But our mission was to bring a positive anchor in people’s lives.”

Crystals are a key feature of OM Bienêtre|Wellness product and service offering. “Crystals have an energy,” Alexandre explains. “Obviously, people have to believe in them, or at least be open to the idea.” Everything OM Bienêtre|Wellness offers centers around wellbeing, which is something we all strive for as we face these daily challenges.

Alexandre and Jason also offer a wide range of other products and services that center on mental health and wellness, including books on personal development and their staple product— bracelets, which are made from myriad crystals. As the pandemic recedes and people start feeling more secure, Alexandre and Jason look forward to resuming hosting ateliers and special events throughout the year.

Returning to the in-store experience “We are now working on rebuilding the in-store experience and hosting workshops. Given physical distancing requirements, it’s not easy. But once people feel safer, we will have special events like before, as we reinvigorate the community spirit we built.” OM Bien-être|Wellness offers a number of services, including Tarot card readings and Reiki. “We are focusing on therapy services at that level,” Alexandre says.

While OM Bien-être|Wellness continued to offer online workshops during the pandemic, Alexandre and Jason are happy to return to in-person activities. Workshops are offered on working

PHOTO COURTESY OM BIEN-ÊTRE|WELLNESS

Having recently opened their third location of OM Bien-être|Wellness on Main Road in Hudson, owners Alexandre Rivard and Jason St-Hilaire are keen to get back meeting their customers in person and to offering in-store services and workshops geared toward customers’ wellbeing.

with crystals, Tarot cards, the phases of the moon, and on energetic cleansing, among others.

Metaphysical and spiritual Customers often come to the stores looking for gift ideas and they never leave disappointed. “We bring a metaphysical and spiritual element in people’s lives,” Alexandre adds. During the pandemic, people have had to face significant challenges. OM Bien-être|Wellness helped a growing number of customers face those demands and while the store could not be open to the public during the lockdowns, Alexandre and Jason made sure that they could still cater to their clients, old and new, thanks to online ordering and curbside pickups.

Focus on service “The crystal market is exploding right now,” Alexandre adds. New stores are popping up. “There is a lot of competition, but we are very popular because we focus on service.” Listening to the client is paramount to OM Bien-être|Wellness’ approach. The boutiques have a unique Zen atmosphere that is hard to find anywhere else. Alexandre and Jason have also put together an amazing team that is entirely devoted to providing their customers with the best possible shopping experience, so that everyone who visits the boutique goes home with the perfect product for their needs.

Alexandre and Jason also believe strongly in giving back to the community. A portion of the proceeds from each bracelet goes to a charity such as the Make-a-Wish Foundation or Nova nursing services. You can visit an OM Bienêtre|Wellness boutique in Pointe-Claire, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue or Hudson or you can also shop their entire line of products and services online.

Consult ombienetre.com for more information and store locations.

Hudson Music Festival returns with a series of celebratory concerts Blair Mackay, artistic director and co-founder of the Hudson Music Festival (HMF), has announced that the Festival once again will offer live music this summer at four very special events which will take place between July 30 and August 2.

“As we gradually emerge from our pandemic lockdown, we are absolutely thrilled to be able to bring the HMF back and provide a series of celebratory concerts,” Mackay said. “While certain COVID-19 regulations will still be in effect to ensure the safety and security of our audiences, it will still feel wonderful to be out with friends once again enjoying live music. This is the 15th anniversary of the HMF, and we’ve brought together a group of artists to acknowledge our past and look ahead to brighter days.”

Friday, July 30, 8 p.m. at the Alibi Barn (420 Main Road): An intimate night of music inside the famous heritage barn in the centre of the village by celebrated international singer Karen Young and pianist Marianne Trudel paying homage to the music of Joni Mitchell.

“Both sides now: a stunning moment, delivered with great emotion, that we would have liked to have last forever” – Normand Provencher; Le Soleil Then on Saturday, July 31, 8 p.m. at the Stephen F. Shaar Community Centre at 394 Main Road, Quebec pop legend Michel Pagliaro performs in an intimate acoustic setting with guest guitarist Corey Diabo. On Acoustic nights, ‘Pag’ revisits his musical adventure in an intimate and joyous atmosphere. His love for live performances keeps him on the stage where he shares his songs with pleasure, matching his spirit. Pag continues to touch the lives of all generations of fans!

“Music must be lived, played, felt,” says Pagliaro. “It’s not just a packet of notes, but rather a series of sounds and rhythms that give life to ideas.”

Sunday, August 1, 8 p.m. at the Ste-

PHOTO COURTESY BLAIR MACKAY

From Fire and Rain to Carolina in my Mind, to You’ve Got a Friend, an evening of James Taylor’s Music is one of the main attractions of the upcoming Hudson Music Festival.

phen F. Shaar Community Centre back by popular demand, an Evening of James Taylor Music. An avid fan himself, accomplished Montreal musician Denis Ducharme (vocals, keyboards) has assembled a group of musicians to bring the music of James Taylor to the Hudson Music Festival. Featuring John Landon (acoustic guitar), Roger Mann (electric guitar), JP Levesque (drums and percussion), and Peter Wilson (bass), this performance of James Taylor classics and other selected gems is sure to please. From Fire and Rain to Carolina in my Mind, to You’ve Got a Friend, join us for an evening in celebration of this legendary singer-songwriter’s music.

Monday, August 2, 7pm, St-Thomas Aquinas Church, located at 413 Main Road, enjoy Musica Ouest. Within the grand setting of the church in the heart of the village, in this live classical concert, Ludwig Semerjian will be sitting at the concert grand piano on the altar with a trio of string players surrounded by the natural light and acoustics of this magnificent church. Under the musical direction of Peter Purich, one of the

founding musicians of the Metropolitain Orchestra of Montreal, Musica Ouest quartet will present music by Bach, Mozart, Purich and more. Featured musicians are Ludwig Semerjian, piano; Peter Purich, violin; Leo Purich, viola; and Donald Pistolesi, cello.

THE HMF bar will be open for the concerts.

COVID-19 regulations in effect include: limited seating at all venues, facemasks, social distancing and hygiene measures.

Because of the limited seating requirement, all tickets must be purchased in advance on line.

Online Box Office is at www.eventbrite.ca For ticket information, please contact Lynda Clouette-Mackay and Blair Mackay at (450) 807-1179 No local box office due to Covid restrictions. www.hudsonmusicfestival.ca About the Hudson Music Festival The Hudson Music Festival (HMF) was established in 2007 to highlight and support the vibrant cultural en-

vironment in the village of Hudson, Quebec. The mission of the HMF is to provide performance opportunities for talented professional and amateur musicians from the region, and to bring exciting national and international artists to the Hudson community.

The music produced and presented

by HMF is not restricted to one specific genre, and is explicitly selected to encourage innovation, surprising collaborations, and the performance of new work. This focus allows artists to take risks with their work and exposes festivalgoers to music and artistic approaches they might not have the opportunity to experience anywhere else.

The HMF is committed to expanding its musical programming in the coming years and taking its place among major music festivals in Eastern Canada.

For further information, please call Lynda Clouette-Mackay or Blair Mackay at (450) 807-1179.

You may also follow us on Facebook, and visit us on the web at www. hudsonmusicfestival.ca.

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kaliakid.com Thursday, July 15, 2021

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Even once vaccinated, you still need to protect yourself.

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Thursday, July 15, 2021

Let’s work together to keep respecting health measures so we can protect each other.

Thursday, July 15, 2021

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KICK IN THE ARTS

BRIAN GALLAGHER

Speed reduction in NDIP

How to cleanse your marriage in 765 steps A few months back we had a flood. Not a flood of emotions, not a flood of memories, not even a flood of seagulls (I’m really reaching with that one, I know). The toilet tank let go in the basement and we had water all over the floor. Immediately I ran for the towels and the bestie ran for the phone to call the insurance company (we know how this works, not our first disaster). Two hours later late on a Friday night two guys pull up to CTC (Crooked Tree Corner) and pile out of their trucks PHOTO BY STEVE GERRARD carrying one rather large vacuum to mop up just about nothing since I had used every towel we owned then grabbed the neighbour’s Shop-Vac to suck up the rest of the water out of the carpet. After spending exactly 19 minutes at the house to measure the basement layout and ripping out half the baseboards, they escaped into the night leaving behind two industrial sized dehumidifiers. Never to be seen again (until we sent them a threatening letter a month later to come get their equipment).

When we saw the insurance quote for the work, well, we almost had kittens to go along with our one large lazy cat. The cleanup bill was $1900 and change. Now I’m no rocket scientist but that does look like they make $100 per MINUTE! (Not including the free warehousing of two dehumidifiers for one month). I’m a-tellin’ you beautiful people, don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys, doctors, or lawyers. Buy them an F-150, some steel-toed work boots from the local Walmart, a pair of dungarees and a tool belt. The ‘Trades’ are where it’s at!

Now it can be said that the bestie and I are definitely ‘DIY’ kind of folk. I know she is. Always has been. She has the eye, the talent and the gumption to get it done. I just tag along behind and wait for the instructions to “cut here” or “break that.” So we said to the nice young corporate man at the insurance company, “You know, we could do this ourselves; how about giving us the nice fat renovation cheque to rip up the carpet and put down new flooring?” And to our dismay he agreed and promptly sent us our winnings. Now truth be told dear readers, the urge was there to cash the cheque at the travel agent’s office and spend a few weeks in Cabo and although it did take a martini or two to calm us down and return to our senses, we did the responsible thing and took it over to the Home Depot to trade it in on flooring and tile.

Which brings me back to the 765 steps. Not steps really but specifically river rock tile. I’ve always liked it even though it is much more costly than regular tiles. But we felt cheeky with all the insurance cash burning holes in our pockets so we decided to splurge. Even with our abacus and parchment paper it was impossible to calculate how many of these odd-shaped mesh-backed stone pieces it would take to completely fill the odd diamond shape around the wood stove. By the way – we over-calculated by almost double but luckily the nice girl at the Home Depot returns counter doesn’t judge.

We tried every confounded configuration. Flip this one. Move this one over here. There’s too much of a gap on this side. This one is over the line.

Arm hairs were bristling with tension and frustration. “Why couldn’t you just like normal tile?” “I hate that Metallica T-shirt you keep wearing!” It was getting ugly down there in the depths of CTC my friends. Finally I was “shushed” out of the room. I was clearly no help at all and my Grade 10 math was just not cutting it. Finally one evening she arose from the murky basement depths and declared “Damn you Gallagher – I have to cut them one by one.” And so she did. Not only cut the stones from the mesh and arranged them perfectly along the perimeter but taped the sections together with green painters’ tape with numbers, arrows and symbols that looked eerily reminiscent of the Plains of Nazca. Erich von Däniken could have done his university doctorate thesis on the tape patterns covering our wood stove river rocks.

But of course her calculations, combinations, configurations and comminations (for my choosing these tiny evil tiles) all worked out in the end. We now have a beautiful river rock tile border around our wood stove, I am unscathed by remaining upstairs out of respect for her genius and ingenuity, and she has released 20 years of pent-up frustration by transferring all her aggression into those cute little round stones (I’m fairly positive it was them she was cursing about). I should be sitting pretty for about another 20 me thinks…unless the upstairs bathroom needs a re-do.

From the Crooked Tree Corner home renovation counter and marriage help hotline here in the red light district of Shangri-La… Sociable!

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Thursday, July 15, 2021

PHOTO BY CARMEN MARIE FABIO

The town council of Notre-Dame-del’Île-Perrot adopted a motion at the July 13 council meeting to reduce the speed limit on Saint-Joseph Boulevard south, between Don-Quichotte and Boulevard Perrot, from 80 km/hr to 70 km/hr.

“We’ve had many issues and are responding to requests from citizens to lower the speed limit,” Mayor Danie Deschênes told those assembled.

“We’ve verified with traffic experts and also with the Sûreté du Québec and

their recommendations were to reduce the speed limit by 10 km/hr.”

The road lies primarily in the agricultural section but transitions to a residential sector closer to Boulevard Perrot. In that area, the limit will stay at 50 km/hr.

“We haven’t yet addressed this portion of Saint-Joseph,” said Deschênes indicating the northbound portion of the road but added council is waiting for further recommendations from traffic studies.

Legion News Rod L. Hodgson

Special contributor

Well ‘Thirsty Thursday’ has begun but we are holding off on Happy Hour discount prices until we have a review in September due to pandemic closure and financial constraints. I hope you understand.

If all goes well we may reopen completely in late July except for Mondays when we will be closed and hopefully maybe we will have a return of Nelson’s Burger Night in August or September.

Time will tell. However we will need to form up teams once again, usually four to five on each. We are also hoping to restart Pub Quiz and Cribbage in September if all goes well and maybe our Friday night dinners too. We will keep you advised of course.

One of our members has been making COVID-19 masks this past spring and they are now available at the bar and she is offering them to our members in turn for a monetary donation to our Legion Br. #115. Please help out our Legion Branch with your donation to our cause.

If you have paid your 2021 dues your membership stickers, or cards if you are a new member, are now available at the bar. Just ask the bartender for yours. I will be at the front desk with them most days that we are open for a period of time along with day parking passes. If you have not paid your 2021 dues, now sure is the time. Your cheques/cash can be dropped off at the bar when we are open or cheques can be mailed to our branch as well.

Lest we forget…

FOR THE RECORD a collection of mishaps and misadventures found in newspapers over the years

Fall Colours

Home and Estate Feature

Carl Poirier Real Estate Broker

PHOTOS COURTESY CARL POIRIER

Saint-Lazare, 2412 Place du Rodéo. Fabulous 4+1 all-brick home ideally located on a quiet majestic crescent with easy access to Highway 40. Spacious, immaculate and bright, everything about this home is high-end: gleaming wood floors, huge gourmet kitchen, ceramic-tiled double garage, outstanding professionally designed gardens on large lot, private fenced-in yard with heated in-ground pool. A must see!

Continued on page 14

Thursday, June 3, 2021

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Home and Estate

Pizza Bianca C.J. MAXWELL

Featured home

Continued from page 13 Boasting excellent curb appeal, this special property offers an equally impressive interior: spacious grand entrance with high ceiling leading to a sunken drawing room, convenient main floor office, inviting living room with wood fireplace and an amazing view of the pool area which opens to the kitchen area. A gorgeous custombuilt, generous gourmet kitchen with granite countertops, heated floor, topof-the-line appliances, an abundance of storage/work space and lovely garden views makes meal preparation a pleasure. A separate formal dining room accessible from both the kitchen and living room make this home perfect for entertaining.

The basement is fully finished and the bright ceramic-tiled garage with

• 2412 Place Du Rodéo Saint-Lazare, QC

• $1,190,000 • Centris #22415783 • Carl Poirier Real Estate Broker RE/MAX ROYAL (JORDAN) INC.

514-895-4607 tub sink and access to the rear garden will make caring for your property a breeze. The 21,925 sq. ft. professionally landscaped lot is absolutely stunning and a vast, entirely fenced private yard with heated in-ground pool and lovely poolside terrace will be sure to charm your guests. Don’t miss out on this dream home. Call for an appointment today!

Special Contributor

You might not associate pizza with warm summer weather – apart from moving day – but pizza is an any-timeof-year food. And if you’re getting tired of the old tomato-sauce, mushroom, onion, pepperoni and mozzarella combo, think of your pizza crust as a blank canvas for any fixings you have in the house.

Ingredients • 1 pizza crust, either premade or fresh • White sauce – diehard foodies can make their own roux but a premixed package of Béchamel or a commercial jar of Alfredo sauce will work just as well.

• 2 cloves crushed garlic. This is optional but really enhances the flavour when added to the white sauce.

• Grated parmesan cheese • 2/3 cup seafood of your choice – we used crab in this recipe • Thinly sliced vegetables of your choice – we used onion, mushroom, and red pepper.

• Grated mozzarella Feel free to substitute any cheese of your choice.

Directions • Preheat the oven to 375 ° F

PHOTO BY C.J. MAXWELL

Think outside the pizza box – a pizza doesn’t need to have all the traditional ingredients to be a perfectly delicious summer meal.

• Cover crust with enough sauce to make an even coat right to the edges.

• Sprinkle with a generous helping of freshly grated parmesan cheese.

• Spread the seafood and vegetables evenly over the surface.

• Cover with grated mozzarella.

• Cook until cheese is golden brown and bubbling, and serve with your choice of side veggies and beverage.

Enjoy!

Pleasant school tax bill surprise Homeowners in the Montérégie were in for a pleasant surprise upon the reception of their recent school tax bill – it’s lower.

Following the 2020-2021 budget released by the CAQ government in which it reduced the tax burden of property owners by a combined $355 million, the new rate is set at $0.1054 per $100 of standardized property assessment.

Minister of Finance Éric Girard said in a media release, “This acceleration in the reduction of the school tax rate is an effective way to afford Quebecers financial flexibility when they need it the most. We are fulfilling our commit-

ment to eliminate injustice between the regions by standardizing the school tax rate to the lowest rate in Québec. Lastly, it should be noted that the reduction of the school tax rate has no impact on funding for the education network.”

A home in the Montérégie region evaluated at $275,000 in 2018 was taxed at a rate of $0.17832 resulting in a bill of $446. With the adjusted rate, the new bill is $264, representing a savings of $182. The single school tax rate corresponds to the lowest effective taxation rate in Québec in 2018-2019, that is, the rate in the Laurentides region.

Royal (Jordan) Inc. Real Estate Agency

2673 Côte St-Charles #200 (next to the new Tim Horton’s)

450.458.7051 www.royaljordan.com

Raul Capela 14

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Christina Gabriele

Lyndon Gallagher

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Carol LaRonde

Laura Pittaro

Carl Poirier

Youri Rodrigue

Lucie Thifault

Lee Thompson

Home and Estate No AC? How to keep cool this summer

(NC) Unusual heat can pose serious health risks, such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Knowing how to stay cool is a must – especially if you don’t have air conditioning. Here are a few tips to help you keep your cool.

Stay hydrated To decrease your risk of dehydration, drink plenty of cool liquids – especially water – before you feel thirsty. Drink up before you feel thirsty – when you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated.

Dress for the weather Check forecasts regularly so you know when to take action. On hot days wear loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing made of breathable fabric.

Because sunburned skin is less efficient at sweating – and sweating is how your body naturally cools off – be sure to wear sunscreen that is at least SPF 30 and a wide-brimmed hat for protection.

Keep your home cool Create meals such as a bean sal-

ad or cold noodle bowl that don’t need to be cooked in an oven.

Block the sun by opening awnings and closing curtains or blinds during the day. And, if it’s safe to do so, open your windows at night to let cooler air into your home while the sun is down.

Beat the heat If your home is extremely warm, try taking a cool shower or bath until you feel refreshed, and try to spend a few hours in a cool place. It could be a tree-shaded area, swimming facility or an air-conditioned spot like a shopping mall or public library. Just remember to follow the public health advisories that are in place in your area.

Watch for symptoms of heat illness, including dizziness or fainting, nausea or vomiting, headache, or rapid breathing and heartbeat. If you have any of these symptoms during extreme heat, move to a cool place and drink liquids right away. Water is best.

PHOTO COURTESY NEWS CANADA (NC)

Le 405

514.457.8020

www.generatek.com The Town of Vaudreuil-Dorion is making the most of its beautiful shoreline along Valois Bay and is officially inaugurating ‘Le 405’ at the park at 405 Saint-Charles Avenue on July 15, an urban greenspace where relaxation and discoveries come together.

Until August 22, residents can rent equipment and games, book La Grande Tablée to gather with friends or family (maximum of 16 people, rules and sanitary measures in place) and get access to a five-foot BBQ to cook your meals. You can also get some local food delivered to you in the park, from participating area res-

Elite Authorized Consultation Sales and Service

taurants.

Discover new local products at our bar and take part in a ton of sport, cultural or artistic activities.

You are permitted to bring your own alcohol to the park, provided you also consume food. It’s recommended you bring your own chair.

The park’s parking lot is closed but parking is available on the Cité-desJeunes Campus.

For more info, consult www.ville. vaudreuil-dorion.qc.ca/en.

To confirm outdoor activities when weather conditions are uncertain, call (450) 455-3371, option 4.

Asphalt Paving Paving Stones Driveways • Patios Walks • Walls Serving Hudson, Saint-Lazare, Vaudreuil-Soulanges, and the West Island

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Residential • Industrial • Municipal Quality and reliability guaranteed Celebrating

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www.pavagepascal.com

Thursday, June 3, 2021

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Superman's hairstyle, but not 10. Annoyance rts Clark's) 11. Isr. neighbor ggest Little 12. Salmon (archaic) 37. Dollars and cents 38. Reese and Herman 14. Utter fool 41. Descriptor of a swished 16. It appears on most of basketball shot Laverne DeFazio's blouses

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SUDOKU

Solutions on page 18

See details on page 4

Up for adoption Spyke, a four-year-old male Jack Russell, is back. It simply wasn’t the right match. His next adoption will be his third home and must be his last.

His new family must have the patience and commitment to allow him to adjust to life inside. It seems that in his original home, he spent most of his time outside or in the garage. That being said, he has had some training and walks well on leash. He’s extremely energetic and requires a lot of exercise. He also needs a home where he’s the only pet. If you’re picturing yourself at the dog park chatting with other humans while he runs with the pack,

MOVIE REVIEW MATT MILLER

Movies You Might Have Missed 52 week challenge edition PHOTO COURTESY ANIMATCH

he isn’t the dog for you. But if you’re an active family who’s looking for a buddy like him to accompany you on your adventures, fill out the form and ask for Spyke.

For more information on Spyke or any of the other dogs available for adoption, go to www.animatch.ca.

Up for adoption This is Alex, a very sweet and affectionate tabby cat. He was abandoned by his family, leaving him to fend for himself for two years. When we found him, he was in a terrible condition.

Deep scratches everywhere, a chunk from his tail was missing. Despite all that, he’s still one of the most affectionate cats we’ve ever met. He loves to play with his toys and gets along very well with the other cat in his foster home. Alex was born August 6, 2017.

For more info please write to mysharonna@me.com

PHOTO COURTESY CASCA

ScrunchieS & Accessories Made in Montreal by @alishia_naz

• Handmade Scrunchies • Resin keychains • Apparel & more

alishianaz.etsy.com

www.byalishia.com

Title: Melancholia (2011) Directed by: Lars von Trier Genre: Drama Available on: Streaming on Sundance Now, Rental on Apple TV & Cineplex Weekly Challenge #26 – A ‘Movie that Features an Illness.’

Brief Synopsis: Two very different sisters struggle to reconcile with the upcoming

apocalypse.

Scores: 80% Rotten Tomatoes, 7.2 IMDb Review: To put it mildly, the world is… well, the world is not doing too hot at the moment (except, of course, for the climate, so at least we have that going for us). Civil unrest, miscarriages of justice, years of problematic policies crumbling the very structure of our society – for many people, this sense of doom has been a long time coming.

For the first time in generations, many people are feeling that the world is inarguably getting worse, and it is through this lens that the overlooked 2011 film Melancholia hits harder and feels more poignant a decade later.

Melancholia is about as feel-good as its title suggests. The film centres on two vastly different sisters – the wealthy, composed and respected Claire (played by Charlotte Gainsbourg) and the depressed, reckless family pariah Justine (a career best turn for Kirsten Dunst) – while they deal with the upcoming apocalypse, caused by the rogue planet ‘Melancholia’ colliding with Earth. This is not a spoiler, as the final scene of the movie is played first, and while this definitively seals the fate of our characters, it does not take away from the suspense of the movie. In actuality, it accentuates their decisions, putting all their choices into the interesting perspective of futility. How can petty squabbles and social miscues matter when the literal end of the world casts a shadow over everything? Beyond this, it also allows us to be more sympathetic towards the bipolar Justine whose actions would normally be shown on screen as character flaws. Justine flees her own wedding, commits infidelity, and often goes into catatonic states, which causes many of her family and friends to grow more frustrated, even abandoning her at her most vulnerable. However, the audience knows about the upcoming doom, and can’t really pass too much judgment on Justine’s choices, as they seem trivial from our perspective. It is through this framing device that Melancholia achieves what many films that deal with mental health fail to do: portray the mentally ill in not just a sympathetic light, but squarely from their perspective. Justine has always been ready for the worst and now it is here. In a weird way, she is more prepared than anyone else. A beautifully shot film buoyed by incredible performances, Melancholia may not be a pick-me-up, feel good movie, but it is not nihilistic and empty either. Left behind in the wreckage is a sense of catharsis, and an appreciation for the life we do have. Earth is nothing more than a blue dot being hurled through space by all-powerful cosmic forces.

We are simultaneously an insignificant cluster of particles and an irreplicable miracle. A film that leaves us with more questions than answers, Melancholia shows us that confronting our worst fears can sometimes be just the trick to get over them.

Did you appreciate the female representation in Melancholia?

Then join us next week for our challenge of ‘A Movie with a Strong Female Lead’, where we will hope to score a winner with Bend it Like Beckham. Feel free to watch ahead on Disney+.

Want even more MYMHM content?

Check out our website www.mmmovies. ca, email me at LocalMYMHM@gmail. com, and keep an ear out for our podcast, ‘Reelin’ in the Years’, where we rerank previous Oscar Winners, available on our website, as well as Spotify and Google Podcasts.

PHOTO COURTESY IMDB.COM

Thursday, July 15, 2021

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CLASSIFIEDS SECTIONS 100- For Sale 125- For Rent 150- Services

175- Wanted 200- Careers/Employment 225- Financial Services

View, submit & pay your ad before 4 p.m. on Tuesday, online at www.yourlocaljournal.ca or e-mail: admin@yourlocaljournal.ca

250- Real Estate Sale 275- Garage/Moving Sale 300- Miscellaneous

100 – FOR SALE

100 – FOR SALE

CCM full suspension bike for sale $297.

Needs tuning. Disc brakes. Rear brake needs adjustment and so does front derailer. Call Greg 514-827-9484

Elliptical 625s Tempo Fitness brand exercise machine. $100. Pick up in NDIP. See photo in www.yourlocaljournal.ca/visual-classifieds. Call 514-425-5965 and leave a message.

Gently used ResMed S9 Elite CPAP (Continuous positive airway pressure) machine including accessories and carrying case. $1200 (paid $2000). Call 514-231-3234 and leave a message.

115 - FOR FREE Crockpot and stand apple peeler, the two items for FREE. Contactless pickup. See photo in www.yourlocaljournal.ca/visual-classifieds Please call 514-715-6854

125 - FOR RENT OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT. Six spacious offices, reception area, kitchenette and powder room.

Offices are on the second floor of the Hudson Shopping Centre.

Available immediately • $2,000/month.

Call Marcel Leduc (514)602-4313

100% mahogany dining set; 4cushioned chairs and 2 cushioned captain’s chairs; glass covered table measure 48”x 72”; can also serve as a conference table; must see and make reasonable offer.

Call 514-453-5718(210812)

I provide pressure washing cleaning services. Homes, decks, and driveways Call Jesse 514-588-5336 (210812)

It’s Puzzling solutions

HIDDEN WORD: Washington

Collection of bound National Geographic magazines from 1906 to 1976.

1906 to 1964, bound bi/annually without adverts. 1965 to 1976 bound with adverts and front covers. Minor to moderate smoke damage and old book musty smell.

Approximately 12 volumes from the 20s and 30s have slight water damage. $100 for the lot with curbside pickup only, in Stanstead, QC. Email ric0072021@outlook. com

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Plastering and painting, drywall repairs, finishing basements. 40 years of experience. Licensed RBQ. Reasonable rates. Guaranteed work. Insured. Bilingual.

Contact Dominic 514-804-5273

APPLE MAC SUPPORT since 1983 Variable Rates Initial Hour Free ** Preventive Maintenance ** Upgrades Troubleshooting System Analysis & Advice A Local Review: cloudbyteconsulting.com/review.html Resume: www.cloudbyteconsulting.com terry@cloudbyteconsulting.com 450-853-0534

Garage door repairs. Reliable, experienced, prompt garage door repairs and motor replacements. Free estimates. 10% senior discount. Located in West Island. Open 7 days/ week. Call Scott or Philippe for true quality workmanship, reasonable price at 514-9667287. (210715) ASPIRATEURS HUDSON VACUUM. Canister and Central Vacuum Cleaners. Sales and repair all brands. SEBO Vacuum Cleaner, 10 year warranty $398. (Electrolux, Filter Queen, Kenmore and uprights; other brands available, $75 and up). New Central Vac with bag, hose, accessories $579 and up. Repair and service central vacuum systems. Parts and bags (all makes). Biodegradable cleaning supplies. Toilet paper 500 sheets per roll, $37.95/48 rolls per case. Sharpening scissors, knives and gardening tools. 67 McNaughten, Hudson, Quebec 450-458-7488

Registered Gun Smith. We buy new and used guns, restricted and non-restricted. 514-453-5018 Handyman. Maintenance, repairs and minor renovations, indoor or outdoor. 30 years of experience. Donald 514-913-2881 (210715)

SINGING LESSONS. Private or SemiPrivate. In my home (St-Lazare). Sing the songs you love! Call Morgan. 514-6071308 References available.

Classifieds continued on page 19

Got a gently used item that you’re willing to donate to a new home? The Journal now offers you a FREE CLASSIFIED both in the paper and online. Your free item will remain online until it’s claimed by a new owner. Help your community, help save the planet.

Send us a photo and a small write-up (40 words or less) and we’ll do the rest.

Email your ad request and photo to admin@yourlocaljournal.ca Ads will be updated online every Thursday.

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Piano Lanco - Experienced local piano technicians offering quality tunings and skillful repairs. Improve the sound and touch of your piano with hammer voicing and action regulation. info@pianolanco.com 514-7707438

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PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY KARAVOLAS BOILY & TRIMARCHI CPA INC.

DENTISTS Dr. Don Littner, Dr. Morty Baker & Dr. Natalie Liu

Taxes and Accounting 438 Main Road, Hudson Tel : 450-458-0406

New patients welcome 472 Main Rd., Suite I, Hudson 450.458.5334

ARCHITECT

HOME CARE NURSING

ACCOUNTANTS

Chloe Hutchison

Nova Hudson

Architect, PA LEED™

chutchison@live.ca • 514-806-8952 BOOKKEEPING

Bryan Todd, B. Comm (Acct.)

Nursing care, palliative care, cancer care, foot care, family support, volunteer services and adult day centre.

465 Main Rd, Hudson, Suite 202 (450) 458-5727

Business and Personal Accounting Services, Tax Preparations & Filings Ph. (514) 730-5966

IMMIGRATION

Brazolot Migration Group 450 Rue Main, Hudson, QC (450) 458-2186 info@brazolotgroup.com

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THE JOURNAL

Thursday, July 15, 2021

INVESTMENT ADVISOR

ORTHODONTISTS

Mark Quenneville

Dr. Amy Archambault Dr. Paul Morton

Associate Investment Advisor Quenneville Walsh Private Wealth Management / Raymond James Ltd. 450-202-0999 mark.quenneville@raymondjames.ca

LIFE COACH

Caroline Courey Life Coach

caroline.courey@gmail.com 450-853-0616 www.courey.com International Coach Federation ICF

Your Local Specialists in Orthodontics 3206, boul. de la Gare, Suite 160 Vaudreuil-Dorion (450 )218-1892

PSYCHOLOGIST

Sylvi Lafontaine

Psychologist 450.458.0944 sylvilafontaine@gmail.com Bilingual Services • Cdn & US trained

JOIN THE PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

Contact us today 450-510-4007 • admin@yourlocaljournal.ca

HERE’S MY CARD

CLASSIFIEDS 150 - SERVICES

175 - WANTED

¿Moving? All jobs. Reliable, reasonable, fully equipped. Local and Ontario, Maritimes, USA. 35 yrs experience. Call Bill or Ryan 514-457-2063.

CLEANING SERVICE

Looking for a 1920s typewriter restorer.

I’m hoping to get it back to its original beauty and working condition. If you are the person for the job, please email me at: gregormitchell@gmail.com

GREAT-HOUSE MINN CLEANING COMPANY

175 - WANTED A Military Collector looking for medals, flags, swords, uniforms, documents, helmets, hats, all related war memorabilia WWI, WWII, Canadian/German or others.

Antiques, collectibles, aviation, nautical, coins, badges, maps, signs. Please contact Patrick 514-705-2760, patrick148@ca.inter. net, 2760A Côte St-Charles, St-Lazare, Reni Decors (211125)

200 – CAREERS/EMPLOYMENT

COMPUTERS

Looking for an antique candlestick telephone in working condition. Please email gregormitchell@gmail.com

Services: • Residential • Commercial • Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly • Eco-friendly products CLEANING SERVICE • Spring/fall window cleaning

$ Buy car for scrap. Running or not, 24/7. www.scrapvehicule.com Call 514-715-7845

514-865-1973 • greathousemin@gmail.com

200 – CAREERS/EMPLOYMENT *BOOKKEEPER WANTED* Small busy accounting firm seeking dynamic, bilingual individual to join its team. Part-time position available in September. Must be proficient with QuickBooks; experience with corporate/ personal tax an asset. Interested candidates send CV to tax@hunterlabrosse.ca. (210722) Great house Minn cleaning services, a well-established cleaning company in Pincourt is seeking a part-time cleaner for 10 hours per week. Please contact Deneise at (514)865-1973.

325 – CARS FOR SALE Yaris - 2008 Hatchback, manual transmission, two doors, red, 275,000km good condition. Used for commuting, good running condition, needs some work on brakes and muffler, minor rust. Includes summer tires on mags, winters installed, Upgraded radio. Asking $1,800.00. Jim 450-458-2414. (210916) MGB 1978 Excellent condition, Color is brown and gold, Low mileage 61,000 km, asking $14,500. Must be seen. 450-217-4340

WWW.GREAT-HOUSEMINN.CA

HANDYMAN SERVICES

LANDSCAPING

DO YOU NEED HELP AROUND THE HOUSE?

Quality Handyman Service • 450-458-5623 HudsonHomeRepairsMaintenance@gmail.com

MANAGEMENT SERVICES

MOVING

• PROPERTY MANAGEMENT • ESTATE SETTLEMENTS • ELDERCARE ASSISTANCE • BUSINESS MEETING MANAGEMENT

(211014)

200 – CAREERS/EMPLOYMENT Well established (over 25 years)

Salon

in Hudson is looking to hire a team of 2 or 3 hairstylists with an existing clientele.

Many any opportunities available to suit your needs: • Rental of chair (up to 3 months free) • Possibility of including hair products • On commission - up to 70% OR guaranteed salary by week OR by the hour, with salon benefits.

• Flexible hours If you are loyal, enjoy working in a clean environment, are team oriented and care for your clients well being,

you’re who we’re looking for!

To schedule an interview please call:

514-501-0847

736 Main Road, Hudson, QC J0P 1H0 Tel: (450) 458-7316 Fax: (450) 458-4763 e-mail: froyle@frank-royle.com www.frank-royle.com

PAINTING

TREE SERVICE

514-802-2824

FREE 24/7 FULLY ESTIMATES EMERGENCY INSURED

TREE REMOVAL • TRIMMING CHIPPING • STUMP GRINDING 82 FT. BUCKET LIFT • FIREWOOD

TREE SERVICE

WWW.TREESANDBEYOND.CA PATRICK CREYF | 514 894-7020 | INFO@TREESANDBEYOND.CA

VACUUM CLEANERS

Aspirateurs Valleyfield

• Hedge and Tree Trimming • Tree Removal and Pruning • Stump Grinding

• Yard and Forest Clean-Up • General Outdoor Maintenance • Gutter Clean-Up

(514) 991-9674 • SEAN UPTON

Marco Lapierre - Owner Sales • Service • Repairs • Bags • Filters

111 Grande-Île, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield QC

www.aspirateursvalleyfield.com

450-377-0577 • 1-877-377-0577 (Toll Free)

VENTILATION

J.S. Maintenance Is your ventilation system in need of cleaning?

Follow us on

TALK TO THE EXPERTS! Also Carpet, Window & High-Pressure Cleaning and Water Damage Clean-Up

@thejournalnewspaper

Fax: (450) 424-1055 Tel:(450) 458-3022 info@jsmaintenance.net www.jsmaintenance.net

There is room for your card Call us (450) 510-4007 Thursday, July 15, 2021

THE JOURNAL

19

Recognizing those who help the community PHOTO BY SUSAN BEDNARSKI

Volunteer Leonard Monaco is all smiles under his mask as he stops for a photo with (L-R) Auxilliary Nurse Mélissa Desgagné, Personal Care Attendant Françoise MacQuarez and Nurse Charlène Poulin at the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Palliative Care Residence in Hudson.

Leonard Monaco – driven to help others Nick Zacharias

it’s hard to even pin him down for an interview. “I have two shuttles now and people waiting,” said Monaco over the phone. “You Caisse Desjardins de Vaudreuil-Soulanges don’t want to refuse them.” Once he’d taken recognizes the importance of volunteerism care of business he had more time to talk in our community and they are dedicated about why volunteering is so important. to shining a light on the hard work that vol“I think we need to see more volunteering. unteers do to make our community a better It’s not an easy task they have. The patients place every day. One such volunteer is Leon- know what’s happening, it’s when the family ard Monaco, who’s been a (literal) driving comes,” he said, describing how hard they force with the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Palliative work at the palliative care residence to make Care Residence (VSPCR) in Hudson for the things as tranquil and comfortable as possible past five years. for everyone. “I just want to “Len is one of those I just want to do what do what I can; I don’t think I unsung heroes, espehave the right not to do it.”

I can; I don’t think I have cially through COVID,” Monaco is always ready said Susan Bednarski, the right not to do it. to help, and he takes on the Director of Operations task with a smile. “I joke -Len Monaco and Volunteer Resources with my wife that the ladies at the VSPCR. “He drives working at the residence a shuttle van for us and he takes all our pa- are all my mistresses, and whenever they ask, tients’ samples and tests and drives them to I’m there.” At heart his actions are all about the CLSC or Valleyfield Hospital at the drop of helping others but even on that front he has a dime. He lives close by, and whenever we perspective. need him he’s always there right away.”

“Us retired guys are sitting around anyway, So busy is he with driving for the residence, The Journal

SUMMER’S IN THE AIR

OPENING OUR DOORS

and you feel good about yourself when you can help someone, it makes you happy. So really I’m just a selfish guy” he joked.

Before he retired, he travelled to many less fortunate parts of the world and spent three years in the 1990s setting up a Canadian medical clinic in Moscow after the fall of the Iron Curtain. “It was in a place and time when they wouldn’t send an ambulance pickup for anyone over 65. We’re so fortunate here and you recognize that when you see other places, when you see what happens to people left aside in a society.”

Monaco doesn’t seem to have it in him to stop helping anytime soon. “I like the simplicity of it, and there’s a social aspect too, I’m friends with the staff at the residence and the hospital.” He’s always willing to lend a hand, even to the point of making a detour after one of his runs to give a lift home to an older woman he saw struggling along the road when she’d taken on a hillier walk than she could handle. “You see someone in need and you help,” said Monaco. “In the end, it really is the little things that make the difference.”

SERVICE CENTRE SCHEDULES Harwood (Vaudreuil-Dorion), Saint-Lazare and Saint-Zotique OPENING HOURS Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday : 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Thursday : 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Friday : 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Coteau-du-Lac, L’Île-Perrot, Rigaud and Saint-Charles (Vaudreuil-Dorion) OPENING HOURS 450-455-7907 | 450-763-5500 | 514-453-3025 caissevaudreuilsoulanges.com | 20

THE JOURNAL

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday : 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday : 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Friday : 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.