The journal - Thursday, May 20th 2021

Page 1

LI NE ST W IN G

Ellerbeck & Real Estate TOGETHER SINCE 1972

TANIA ELLERBECK 450-458-5365 tania@royallepage.ca

28 rue Sunrise, Hudson. Luxury 3+2 bedroom home, 3 car garage, walkout lower level, salt water pool, renovated in 2015. Watch the sunsets at Sunrise Road! $1,999,000

RealEstate Agency Royal LePage Village

VOL. 21 NO.19

THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2021

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

PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK

A fine line

Vaudreuil-Dorion resident Jean Poirier, who lives on Rue Marquis, points to the line in front of his driveway which indicates the amount of

city-owned land that will be used to expand the roadway in order to update the street’s multifunctional bike and pedestrian path. Residents had

Inside

requested the town instead change the street to a one-way to no avail. See story on page 3.

“Once you consent to some concession, you can never cancel it and put things back the way they are.” – Howard Hughes

Large tract of Mont Rigaud preserved in perpetuity

5

Mayor Pilon defends Islamic Cultural Centre cameras

8

Local mayors’ reactions to Quebec’s Bill 96

9

HELEN HENSHAW Real Estate Broker ROYAL LEPAGE VILLAGE

514-703-8981

www.helenhenshaw.ca It’s a great time to sell! Please call me for a FREE EVALUATION.


995 Rue Valois, Vaudreuil-Dorion

Médé

450 455-4015

TRUCK TIRES “NEW DISTRIBUTOR FOR MICHELIN and BF GOODRICH TRUCK TIRES!”

XZE2, 11R22.5

XWorks 315/80R225

RIMS

Recap Traction Tires 11R225 Starting at $199/e*

at your service!

SUMMER TIRES P4 195/65R15 Starting at $92.76/e*

205/55R16 Starting at $99/e* Verde 225/65R17 Starting at $146/e*

$100

22.5” x 8.25”

From

40 YEARS

$89.95/e*

(*Details in store)

Médé

UP TO MAIL-IN REBATE* (*Plus installation, balancing and taxes.)

MECHANICS SPECIAL

SAVE 15% ON PARTS

**

BRAKES – SHOCKS – ALIGNMENT (**Valid from May 20th to June 1st inclusive.)

EMERGENCY TRUCK SERVICE AVAILABLE 24/7 The only complete tire centre in Vaudreuil-Dorion! Cars, small trucks, large trucks, ATV’s, trailers, farm tractors and tractor loaders.

SERVICE MAN WANTED with experience Contact Michel

THE BEST PRICES AND SERVICE IN TOWN. OPEN MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8 A.M. TO 5:30 P.M., SATURDAY 8 A.M. TO NOON. 2

THE JOURNAL

Thursday, May 20, 2021


Rue Marquis in Vaudreuil-Dorion will be widened despite residents’ objections John Jantak

bidirectional flow of traffic on a widened street. Parking issues For resident Gordon Hunter who lives on Marquis and can have up to four cars parked in his driveway at any given time, the expansion would mean that parking at home would become difficult because all the vehicles would not fit into the shortened driveway. Chartier disputed Hunter’s assertion saying that according to plans drawn up by the city, there would still be enough room for all his vehicles to fit properly. Chartier said the conversion of Marquis into a one-way artery isn’t a practical solution because local residents would lose an important entry and exit point out of the area and the increase in traffic which would be funnelled along Rue Larivée to Montée Cadieux would pose an additional safety concern, especially for the people and the children who use nearby Parc de la Seigneurie.

The Journal

Vaudreuil-Dorion District 4 Councillor Céline Chartier defended her decision to vote in favour of widening Rue Marquis despite objections from the five homeowners who live on the street. Instead of widening Marquis to accommodate a new multifunctional bike and pedestrian path which would conform to current standards and require the city to widen each side of the street by 19 inches, the residents feel the same goal would be accomplished if the roadway was turned into a one-way street which would allow for a proper path to be built while maintaining the current width of the street. The first six feet of property adjacent to the roadway belongs to the city and they only want to use the first 19 inches of the six feet on both sides to accomplish their goal of building a proper multifunctional path while maintaining the

Drug bust in NDIP On May 6, police officers and investigators from the Sûreté du Québec Vaudreuil-Soulanges East detachment carried out an operation to combat drug trafficking in Notre-Dame-del’Île-Perrot (NDIP), as part of the ACCES - Cannabis program (Action concertée contre l’économie souterraine), following an investigation initiated in February, 2020. As part of this operation, police arrested a man and a woman aged 19 and 18 from Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, caught red-handed during a drug transaction. They have been released and may appear in court later to face drug trafficking charges. A search carried out in the suspect’s vehicle in NDIP enabled the police to seize: • About 96 grams of cocaine; • More than 300 grams of magic mushrooms; • Nearly 1,740 grams of illicit canna-

bis, as well as several derivatives; • Nearly 50 grams of crack; • Over 1050 methamphetamine tablets and non-prescription drugs; • About 480 grams of cannabis resin; • $10,680 in Canadian money; • Two cell phones; • Equipment related to drug trafficking; • A vehicle seized as offense-related property Remember that within the framework of the ACCES Cannabis program, the Sûreté du Québec ensures daily action against contraband cannabis at all stages of supply, ranging from illegal production to neighborhood smuggling, over the entire Quebec territory. Citizens can confidentially transmit any information relating to the production or trafficking of drugs by contacting the Central Criminal Information Center at 1 800 659-4264.

PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK

Vaudreuil-Dorion District 4 Councillor Céline Chartier defends her decision to vote for the widening of Rue Marquis saying more people in her district will benefit from the modifications than those who say they will be adversely affected.

Maintaining the status quo “It’s not about not listening or not caring about how the residents on Marquis feel,” said Chartier. “It’s about getting feedback from all the residents in the area who will be affected by upcoming change. It’s an issue that will affect a major section of the district. “There would be an increase of 200 cars at least each day if they were to exit using Rue Larivée. If drivers were to go all around that street it would be dangerous for the children,” she added. “I’m sorry. It’s not against those people that I voted for the expansion, it’s for everybody in the area. I don’t have to think just about five homeowners. I have to think about hundreds of people circulating in that area every day.” Ethics complaint Chartier is also dismayed because of a complaint that has reportedly been lodged against her with the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation (MAMH) for allegedly violating the municipal code of ethics. The reason given is that because she walks her dog along the path on Marquis that she should have voted against the road expansion. Mayor Guy Pilon also weighed in on the issue at the end of the Monday evening council meeting on May 17 saying he fully supports Chartier’s stance regarding the expansion of Marquis and

her decision to vote for it. “It’s not a project of Madame Chartier. It’s a project from our technical services department and council voted unanimously for this project,” said Pilon. “What makes me very mad is they’re saying because Chartier uses the path she should have voted against the street enlargement. We’re not going back on our decision, especially now,” said Pilon. “Maybe we would have but not now because of the way Madame Chartier was attacked. There’s no way.”

NOW AVAILABLE

FREE ESTIMATE

WHY PAY MORE? Make your prearrangements today.

867

$

Plus taxes, no hidden fees.

Ask about all the different funeral options and advantageous packages that we offer.

Cremation in all simplicity:

Transportation of the deceased*, death certificate and government formalities, cremation container, cremation, transport box for ashes, remittance of the ashes to the family at our installations.

1152

$

Plus taxes, no hidden fees.

Last respect in the presence of the ashes at the place of worship:

Transportation of the deceased*, death certificate and government formalities, cremation container, cremation, transport box for ashes, funeral direction**, remittance of the ashes to the family at our installations. fees are not included ** Worship Worship tees

Dino Recine,

Director, Prearrangements

Visit our website to make your prearrangements on-line: serviceactuel.com Free consultation* at your home with NO obligation. * Free of charge within a radius of 50 km of our installations.

24/7 | 514 367-8387 | 1 866-353-8387 |

serviceactuel.com

Thursday, May 20, 2021 LAC20-001_Pub1_10x3_ENGLISH_v2.indd 1

THE JOURNAL

3

2020-11-25 15:20


EDITOR’S CORNER

Leaves of green Kudos to the many parties from three levels of government who proved they can work together across jurisdictions, and even party lines, to make a decision that will have a positive effect on future generations (see story on page 5). Besides COVID-19, the environment has been at the forefront of people’s concerns and it continues to grow as we face dire news of unsustainable development, loss of wildlife habitat and green spaces, and threatened species being either displaced or downright extinguished in the name of property tax revenue. Thanks to help from the non-profit Nature-Action Quebec, an additional 46 hectares of Rigaud Mountain will be forever protected from residential or commercial development. Plans are also being discussed to invite the public to use the trails and learn more about the mountain – especially important at a time when, in our screen–infused lives, nature-deficit disorder is an actual thing. The West Island Town of Beaconsfield issued a communiqué this week declaring the Climate Emergency, “… to emphasize the urgency of taking action on Climate Change,” and working with residents to implement environmentally responsible practices for residential heating and greening. It’s up to everyone – residents, elected officials, and experts in their respective fields – to be willing to cross preconceived boundaries and divisions to recognize Climate Change and mitigate the ensuing damage. If we bemoan the price of positive environmental action now, it’s only going to get higher in the future.

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

THE JOURNAL SUPPORTS YOUR COMMUNITY AND IS LOCALLY PRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY YOUR NEIGHBOURS.

287 rue du Calypso, Saint-Lazare (QC) J7T 3E8

Photo of the week

PHOTO BY TINA ROSE

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. With the warmer weather come outdoor campfires, this one snapped by Coteau-du-Lac resident Tina Rose. 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 Rebuttal Dear Editor, Brendan Behan, a famous Irish poet, novelist and playwright once said, “Critics are like eunuchs in a harem; they know how it’s done, they’ve seen it done every day, but they’re unable to do it themselves.” Mother Teresa had her critics and I’m no Mother Teresa so it comes as no surprise to me that I also have my critics. Normally I take critics with a large grain of salt because I’ve discovered that some, not all, have minds so firmly closed they couldn’t be opened by a Tomahawk Cruise Missile. After reading Mr. Kauler’s letter to the editor (The Journal, May 13) challenging my assertions on the devastation brought about by the COVID virus I decided to make this a one-time exception. As an ex- accountant I discovered you can do amazing things by manipulating and distorting numbers. A failing company can suddenly appear successful and a successful company can appear to be one step away from bankruptcy. Mr. Kauler states that COVID is a predominantly mild disease for the majority of the population and that 80 to 91 per cent of cases result in mild or asymptomatic outcomes. He goes on to state a

little over nine per cent of cases have experienced a moderate outcome from which they recover at home. He failed to mention there were over 161,513,458 confirmed worldwide cases of Covid resulting in 3,352,109 deaths and that much is still unknown about COVID’s possible long term effects. Research on its long term effects is still very much ongoing. He also overlooked the fact that COVID-19 symptoms can sometimes persist for months and cause damage to the patient’s lungs, heart, and brain and that left alone, COVID variants can progressively become more deadly and faster-spreading. Mr. Kauler goes on to supply rather impressive statistics on what he refers to as a relativity mild infection fatality rate. Impressive that is unless you happen to be one of the over three million people around the world who died as a result of this virus. When you factor in the family, friends, and associates of those lost it will most likely result in well over a billion lives touched. In Canada, as of this date, there have been approximately 65 deaths for every 100,000 Canadians. Continued on page 6

Tel: (450) 510-4007

email: admin@yourlocaljournal.ca / editor@yourlocaljournal.ca www.yourlocaljournal.ca

TheJournalYLJ 4

THE JOURNAL

Thursday, May 20, 2021

TheJournal- Democratically serving the public interest


Land bought to prevent development Nick Zacharias

The Journal

A huge swath of land on Rigaud Mountain has been purchased from a private owner in order to protect it from development. Liberal Member of Parliament for Vaudreuil-Soulanges Peter Schiefke joined a press conference hosted by non-profit conservation group NatureAction Quebec to announce the acquisition on the morning of Tuesday, May 18. The purchase of 46 hectares of land from the Leduc family was made possible thanks to a large federal grant and the joint efforts and contributions of many at the municipal and provincial levels. That land, which is on the mountain in the area of Sainte Marthe near Rigaud and Très-Saint-Rédempteur, will now be conserved in perpetuity. Lofty conservation goals “This is something that’s at the heart of our community and who we are,” said Schiefke. “We recognize

PHOTO BY NICK ZACHARIAS

Rigaud Mayor Hans Gruenwald Jr. said there may be future plans to add more interpretive nature trails on the mountain.

the importance of our green spaces.” The federal government is working towards a goal of conserving 25 per cent of Canada’s land by 2025, which helps make purchases like this possible. “The government of Canada will be contributing $492,000 for the protection of 46 additional hectares of highly ecologically sensitive land,” said Schiefke. Additional because the 46 hectares will be added to 145 hectares of land that are already under permanent protection on the mountain. Said Schiefke, “The equivalent of over 140 soccer fields is now protected for future generations.” Many working together Pascal Bigras, Director General of Nature-Action Quebec, said, “They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes a region to protect a mountain.” He extended thanks to the many dedicated employees of the group who worked to make the purchase happen, as well as to Peter Schiefke, Soulanges MNA Marilyne Picard, the mayors of Rigaud, Sainte-Marthe and Très-

PHOTO BY NICK ZACHARIAS

The purchase of 46 hectares of land on Mont Rigaud was made possible thanks to a large federal grant and the joint efforts and contributions of many at the municipal and provincial levels.

Saint-Rédempteur, and to the regional county municipality (MRC) of Vaudreuil-Soulanges. “Thanks to all of you for putting the protection of Rigaud Mountain high on your long lists of priorities … this has been a project of visionaries and I’m so grateful to these visionaries who have worked so hard.” Protection for the future Said Rigaud Mayor Hans Gruenwald Jr., “The mission is to protect the mountain and practice conservation.” While there are no immediate plans to do anything with the land other than shield it from bulldozers, additional interpretive nature trails are not out of the question. “We don’t want people to stay away,” said Gruenwald, “we want them to come and to be educated on how to appreciate a well-protected mountain. That way the people who enjoy the land become its protectors.” Alexandrine Larson-Dupuis of Nature-Action Quebec affirmed the positive outlook for the area, a combina-

tion of forests and wetlands, parts of which were designated ‘special interest’ for conservation. “This is a big forested area and we’ve now protected a great portion of it … there are many species that depend on this extended natural space.” Looking to save more properties Nature-Action Quebec has served the environment since the 1980s, and will continue their efforts where town councils and landowners show a willingness to get on board. This project took the input of three municipalities as well as the regional, provincial and federal governments to be realized, but in the end they were successful. According to Bigras, more and more people are aware of the crucial need to protect the environment, and they are spreading the message. “We’ll continue to look for more priority properties to protect … we are here to do all that we can.”

PHOTO BY NICK ZACHARIAS

The preserved land is in the area of Sainte Marthe near Rigaud and Très-Saint-Rédempteur.

ESTATE SALE IN HUDSON 453 RIDGE ROAD HUDSON HEIGHTS, J0P 1J0

$659,000 430 County Road 10 Vankleek Hill. MLS# 1239036

$649,000 70 Union Street, Vankleek Hill. MLS# 1227974

COMMERCIAL/ RESIDENTIAL BUILDING!

$399,900 78-80 Main Street East Vankleek Hill. MLS# 1219536

$599,000 55 Pendleton Street Vankleek Hill. MLS# 1233456

Saturday, May 22nd 9:30am to 4:00pm

Antiques, decoratives, furniture, including an impeccable CL500 silver grey Mercedes 2001, With black interior (141,475km)

514-993-2286

Cash Only.

Mask mandatory

$499,900 24 Farmers Avenue Vankleek Hill. MLS# 1237844 Thursday, May 20, 2021

THE JOURNAL

5


Letters

Continued from page 4 I play Lotto Max where the odds of winning a major prize are 1 in 33,294,800 and yet knowing this I still go out to purchase my weekly lotto ticket. Compared to the Lotto odds my odds of catching or dying from COVID are much more formidable. Mr. Kauler then goes on to state that the virus which, in his opinion, has only a slightly elevated mortality rate on immunocompromised individuals resulted in an unprecedented response from a majority of governments in the form of imposition of harsh, oppressive social distancing measures linked to economic distress , psychological traumas and all measures of death and destruction. In his synopsis Mr. Kauler completely fails to consider the amazingly large number of immunocompromised people around the world whose lives are just as important as the lives of the strong and healthy and what the end results might have been if little to no action was taken by a majority of world governments. Because such action was eventually taken we are now looking at a possible return to normalcy. Experts have always been looking at a scale on which COVID was on one side and the other side was weighed down by the negative impacts of the imposed COVID restrictions. Both sides are unfortunately heavily weighed down by death and hardships. Not professing to be an expert on all matters related to COVID-19 I leave the measurement of that scale to those much more qualified than I. I leave it to the medical experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci of the CDC and the many brilliant scientists, economists, sociologists and psychologists etc. who hopefully were furnished with sufficient data to make their rather difficult life-changing decisions. The actions of some governments as well as the responsible actions by our fellow citizens and the development and administration of vaccines has lightened the COVID side of the scale hopefully raising us once again to the quality of life level many of us blindly took for granted. Mr. Kauler you are correct in saying this is not all about civil rights. It’s about our absolute right to life without the threat of uncompromising and inflexible people mindlessly putting our lives and the lives of our neighbours in jeopardy all in the name of their perceived personal freedoms. Mr. Kauler also stated that extensive

research and unbiased knowledge further states the USA reached herd immunity on December 27, 2020 during the presidency of Donald Trump. That news will come as a big surprise to the existing president as well as a majority of the American public. December 2020 and January 2021 were two of the deadliest months in the US since the coronavirus pandemic began. Based on what happened on January 6, 2021 he could make a sound argument that herd mentality existed in the United States but herd immunity, I think not. Frank Hicks Hudson Paul Kauler’s misrepresentations Dear Editor, Oh good god. Please, help me understand why you allowed Paul Kauler’s COVID-19 denial drivel to be published in a community newspaper when it belongs deep in the bowels of conspiracy theory Facebook groups. The guy’s an environmental consultant with a Bachelor of Science degree. Great, he can use google and take things out of context. His comments on suicide were particularly irresponsible - there has been no indication of rising suicide rates due to the pandemic or lockdowns. Prove me wrong: cite Kauler’s credentials and point us to his peer-reviewed scientific research. Stay safe, maintain physical distancing, and get vaccinated. Peter Hadzipetros Hudson Value of a life? Dear Editor, I would like to know if you are fact checking the information provided in the letter that you published May 13 (Another look at COVID-19 from Paul Kaulner). I think you should before advertising another opinion downplaying the COVID-19 virus. Number one; I haven’t heard anyone in the US announcing that Herd Immunity had been reached by the end of last year, much less Dr. Fauci. Number two; expressing facts with trivial percentages just underplays this pandemic even more. Instead of saying that, “… the US COVID-19 infection fatality rate from all exposures is modelled to be about 0.18 per cent,” why don’t you try, “COVID-19 has killed over 590,000 people in the US.” I would love to know exactly when the value of a life became so cheap. Catherine Wilson

Card of thanks Loving partner of the late Kenneth Baxter wishes to express her heartfelt gratitude to family and friends for their kind expression of sympathy, love and support made in memory of Ken. Your thoughtfulness and kindness will always be remembered. Please accept this as my personal thank you. Diane Hodgson 6

THE JOURNAL

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Water worries Dear Editor, Saint-Lazare administration denied there is a ‘water problem’ for at least the past eight years and they approved many developments which account for 1,100 homes. Not all those homes have been built yet so the population and water demand will increase. If Mayor Robert Grimaudo’s projections are correct, another 1,200 residential homes will be required because of the new hospital. The present population of Saint-Lazare is 21,000, with projections for 26,000 within a few years, which will make todays ‘excess water consumption’ of 9,186,000 litres the ‘new normal.’ Most of the new developments will be on town water, so add another 5,000 people to the already 18,900 on town water, which accounts for a 25 per cent increase in treated water demand, within just a few years. According to the town figures for May 16, each man, woman and child on town water is using 486 litres/day. Considering the normal is less than half of the 9,186,000 litres/day, one would suspect that something is amiss. Could this be due to high volume leaks in the piping, excess water usage by commercial establishments or something else? In all fairness municipal taxes for water should be based on the number of people in each household, as a single resident pays the same amount of water taxes as a household with five or six people. Tracking down the offending ‘excess water usage’ people by using drones to identify which residences have ‘well-watered lawns’ would be

another option, or at least identifying which reservoir/water zones are using the highest volume of water per household, would allow for a focused search for supposed offenders. The MRC allocated funds for a regional water study, but when COVID hit, the mayors unanimously voted to cancel the water study in case the funds might be required for COVID-related problems. Running out of water is a ‘COVID-related’ problem, so maybe the MRC should get the regional water study started before diminishing precipitation, a long hot summer and further restrictions are imposed. In the meantime the building boom continues. Alan Nicol Saint-Lazare Plea for peace and quiet Dear Editor, My peaceful Sunday was destroyed by the loud noise of not one but two leaf blowers at different times in the afternoon and early evening. The noise was so loud we could barely talk even in the house. Beaconsfield has banned the things for the summer. People forget that the windows are open in the house, so it makes it that much worse. Not only is it noise pollution but the dust and debris drift around the neighbourhood. For those with seasonal allergies and asthma this can elevate their discomfort. Maybe it’s time for restrictions on leaf blower use. Beth Gray Hudson

Legion News

PHOTO COURTESY ROD HODGSON

Here is what Place Vimy looked like this past week as the tulips are in full bloom.

Rod L. Hodgson

Special contributor

Founded in 1925, the Legion is Canada’s largest Veteran support and community service organization. We are a non-profit organization with a national reach across Canada as well as branches in the US and Europe. With close to 250,000 members, many of whom volunteer an extraordinary amount of time to their branches, our strength is in our numbers. We still have 13 small or medium Tshirts and eight packs of Hasty-Notes available for purchase. At this point we have no idea when we will order more.

PHOTO COURTESY ROD HODGSON

Congratulations go out to one of our very special members, Ms. Anne-Marie Fournier. She was given the honour recently of the National President Award for the Best Navy League Officer in Canada. Anne-Marie is the Commander of all the Navy League cadets in Quebec and is based in Valleyfield and has been a member of our Br. #115 for about five years now.

Let us know if you wish to purchase one or more of what we have left. Shirts are $25 and Hasty-Notes are $10 for a pack of 10. You can contact us at our e-mail; rcl115@videotron.ca Lest we forget…


Dividends

Sharing $ 4,083,839 is in our nature *

We’re proud to share these dividends with our members and community. That’s the true power of cooperation. Details and conditions at desjardins.com/dividends *The amount to be paid out as member dividends and community dividends from the 2020 year-end surplus earnings will be determined by each caisse at its annual general meeting. For all details, visit desjardins.com/dividends or contact your caisse at 450 455-7907 | 450 763-5500 | 514 453-3025.

Thursday, May 20, 2021

THE JOURNAL

7


KICK IN THE ARTS

BRIAN GALLAGHER

49 years (or so) of bad luck

PHOTO BY STEVE GERRARD

Are you superstitious? I’m not. Or I wasn’t. But now I’m thinking of changing that mindset. Going to start knocking on wood, carrying a rabbit’s foot and throwing salt over my left shoulder (or is it right shoulder? – guess I’ll try between my legs). You see, beautiful people, I think that our fat furry resident may have brought a curse upon Crooked Tree Corner (CTC). Not on purpose; his name is Calvin, not Damien. But he did something the other day that has changed the vibe in and around CTC and beyond for the bestie and I. Seriously, we are scared to leave the couch, vermouth, and

olive jar. You see dear readers, as we were lounging on the chesterfield watching ‘Charles in Charge’ reruns the other night, we heard a very loud and sudden crash coming from the basement quickly followed by the sound of furry paws beating it out of there like the hounds of hell were on his tail. Immediately I grabbed my martini olive skewer while the bestie grabbed the open box of baking soda (don’t ask) and we tip-toed towards the dark foreboding entrance of the basement. As we rounded the corner at the bottom of the stairs (I, standing courageously behind my wife with one hand on her shoulder and assuming the pose of ‘wax on, wax off’) we were presented with the sight of the carnage left over from the mighty battle that must have ensued. With what or whom is still a mystery but spread all over the cement basement floor shining in our Radio Shack flashlights like the stars of the milky way were the remnants of a very large stand-up mirror. I’m guessing that ‘Chubs’ might have seen his shadow and attacked it or more likely he just clumsily bumped into it on the way to his commode. But what’s done is done and my mother’s mirror from long ago was unceremoniously swept up and tossed into the bin. And our fierce warrior feline? Hiding under the bed with his back paws crossed. In the weeks that have followed the historic battle of the bulge, we have noticed slight cracks in the ether, small shifts in the universe’s paradigm that are affecting our lives and testing our sanity. Twice now, yes twice, we have ordered in from a local chicken and fries chain. The first time it took over 75 minutes for the oxen driver to muster his steed 1.2 km down the avenue to our humble abode. I should have saddled the ass (not mine) and galloped down there on my own, I guess, but our chicken dinner has never been that tardy… that was strike one. The second time our hungrily-anticipated feed of fowl arrived in a shorter time period but when the crates were opened we were astonished to find that there were no fries in the box. How could this be? Wasn’t this delicious meal coming from a ‘chicken and fries’ establishment? Grabbing the phone we immediately informed them of this heinous omission to our dinners. Sadly for us, however, we were clearly interrupting someone’s game of ‘Candy Crush’ and it took one hour, three phone calls and one carrier pigeon (not one from our dinners, mind you) to get the ‘fry’ part of our dinner. Strike two. Filling up the chariot with petrol, we were quite pleased with our initiative to fill it up in a neighbouring town where in the morning this liquid gold was two cents a litre cheaper. While we laughed and patted ourselves on the back as we drove back into Shangri-La we were stopped in our tracks with the sight of our local petrol dealer changing the price of their gasoline to one cent a litre less than what we had shelled out in another county. What an insult! What a slap in the face! Strike three. And we started to get the feeling like somehow some pall was hanging over us… Every line at the grocery store or big box store to our right or to our left invariably went faster than ours. The toilet paper we bought at Pharmaprix on sale was 50 cents cheaper at Uniprix the following week. Our clothes dryer started not just hiding one sock from us, but the full pair. Clearly, this rash of unfortunate incidents was no longer a coincidence – a full-blown curse was in full effect and had its sights honed in on the bestie and I. Do I need an exorcism? A priest? A Ouija board? A turkey wishbone? Or do I just wrap the cat up in garlic and have him walk backwards under a ladder 13 times? I don’t know how to proceed to send this tide of bad luck back out to sea. Think I’ll go get my tea leaves read and see what the future holds. Maybe go and purchase a commercial-size bag of fortune cookies and chow down until I find one message that can make the world right again. From the Tarot Card table in the middle of the pentagram outlined in chalk on the north-east lawn of Crooked Tree Corner here in Shangri-La – Sociable! 8

THE JOURNAL

Thursday, May 20, 2021

PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK

Vaudreuil-Dorion Mayor Guy Pilon said he’s tired of all the negative insinuations against the Islamic Cultural Centre on Rang Saint-Antoine at the corner of Rue Chicoine after a resident expressed concern about the amount of security cameras that have recently been installed.

Pilon fed up with comments regarding Islamic Cultural Centre John Jantak

The Journal

Vaudreuil-Dorion Mayor Guy Pilon said he’s tired of the constant negative insinuations being made by an extremely small segment of the population regarding the new Islamic Cultural Centre and wants it to stop. The latest complaint was made during the live stream of the city’s council meeting on May 17 during question period when resident Jean-François Nantel raised concerns about what could be going at the centre after saying he noticed 15 security cameras positioned in various locations around the property located on Rang Saint-Antoine at the intersection of Rue Chicoine in the former Sunny’s Restaurant building. Pilon was baffled by the question saying that everyone has the right to make their property secure and asked if Nantel feels the same way about his neighbour who also has security cameras outside their property. “Are you asking us because it’s an Islamic cultural centre? Are you trying to say these people are murderers who do bad things or are criminals?” the mayor asked rhetorically. ‘Wants to light a fire’ “It seems to me like he wants to light a fire,” Pilon told The Journal. “It’s someone who wants to create fear and I’m really, really mad about it. It better stop here because it’s becoming more and more a matter of racism. How did he know there were so many cameras? Does he watch to see what’s going on?” The mayor said just because there are cameras outside the building

doesn’t mean there are bad people or bad things going on inside the facility. He also said the concrete blocks placed at the entrance points leading to the property are to provide an additional level of security while the former restaurant and bar undergo renovations. Pilon said the cameras are there only for security reasons just as many companies, businesses, and residences have their own cameras for safety. “The city has cameras on every building in the town,” said Pilon. The mayor noted since the cultural centre is located in an isolated location, the security cameras are a necessity. “It seems to me like Nantel wants to start something and to put things into other people’s heads who aren’t very strong. For me, this is someone who wants to create fear,” Pilon. New traffic lights on Harwood The provincial Ministry of Transport will install new traffic lights at the intersection of Highway 20 and Rue Bellemare which also houses the local Sûreté du Quebec police detachment on the north side of Harwood Boulevard. While the new lights will help to regulate the flow of traffic that turns south onto Bellemare from Harwood westbound, the drawback is that the new lights will also impede the regular flow of traffic on the major artery, said Mayor Pilon. “There will be one more set of lights which will make traffic even tougher than it is right now,” he said. The Ministry of Transport installed another set of traffic lights on Harwood Boulevard at the junction of Route 342 Harwood several years earlier.


ADVICE FROM THE HEART

KAREN SIMMONS 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 PHOTO BY NICK ZACHARIAS

The bilingual welcoming sign at the entrance to the Town of Hudson features French lettering that is larger than English in accordance with Quebec law.

Vaudreuil-Soulanges mayors react to proposed new provincial French language charter changes John Jantak

The Journal

The mayors of Hudson, Pincourt, Saint-Lazare and Vaudreuil-Dorion told The Journal this week how they will respond to proposed changes introduced by the provincial government to strengthen the French language in Quebec under Bill 96. Hudson Hudson, which has official bilingual status, will continue to provide services to its residents in English and French although there is concern about how some of the changes could affect small and medium sized business owners within the municipality. “Bill 96 will not have an effect on bilingual services in Hudson,” Mayor Jamie Nicholls told The Journal. “Nevertheless we share the same concerns as Quebec’s business community does that the bill sets up challenges for small and medium businesses recovering from the pandemic just when they need assistance.” Pincourt The Town of Pincourt, which also has official bilingual status, will continue to provide its residents with bilingual services as well, said Mayor Yvan Cardinal. “First of all, we have taken note of this new draft bill and the Charter of the French Language which is behind this law. For Pincourt, the bilingual status we have will be maintained when this new bill is eventually adopted. When it is adopted perhaps, in the fall, for sure the city will pass a resolution to maintain the same level of bilingual services that we now have. It’s also to protect our heritage. We’ve been a bilingual city since 1978 and it’s an important part of our community,” said Cardinal. Saint-Lazare Unlike Hudson and Pincourt, Saint-

Lazare does not have official bilingual status and would be bound to adhere to whatever modifications are made to further strengthen the French language under Bill 96 when it is adopted. “As you know, the Quebec government will give municipalities 120 days to pass a resolution to maintain their official bilingual status,” said Mayor Robert Grimaudo. “Saint-Lazare has never had official bilingual status. Because of that, we can’t apply for it,” he said. Despite not being officially bilingual, Grimaudo said the town will continue to maintain its bilingual website and to provide information in English to residents who request it. “I don’t think it mentions anything about websites in the proposed bill unless I missed something. At this time, there is no reason to change the way Saint-Lazare is servicing its clientele. We provide a lot of English information and we will continue to do so,” he said. Vaudreuil-Dorion Mayor Guy Pilon said his city will continue to maintain its bilingual website the way it is. “We thought about it two or three years ago and realized there are many cities around Vaudreuil-Soulanges which don’t have bilingual status but they do more than they’re supposed to. I don’t have any problem with giving more services in English,” he said. “We will continue to do so and enlarge our English communications. We will continue to do the same thing unless the government tells us there is something we’re not supposed to do. We will continue to give information as much as we can in both languages for as long we can. We will do what we can to maintain things as they are.” Besides the Municipalité régionale de comté Vaudreuil-Soulanges (MRC-VS), the only other bilingual website of the 23 towns in the MRC is that of NotreDame-de-l’Île-Perrot.

******* Dear Karen, My 13-year-old dog has been my constant companion since I adopted her at the age of eight. She was used as a breeder in a puppy mill and has since been enjoying her retirement years with me. She has an advanced heart murmur and has recently developed bad arthritis in her hip. She’s being treated but I know she won’t be with me for much longer. The thing is, after being at my side for so long, I can’t imagine life without her and tear up just thinking about her passing. How can I prepare myself to let her go and to move forward? Already grieving Dear Already grieving, I’m so sorry to hear that you’re going through this. It’s such an unfortunate part of pet ownership that in most cases our pets will predecease us. For many of us the pandemic has meant that we are spending much more time with our pets. I have a little cat that I adore and many days she is the only ‘company’ that I have to keep me sane. I too find myself thinking about the time when she will no longer be with me so I can honestly say I know exactly how you feel. It sounds to me like you are doing everything that you can to keep your little friend happy and comfortable during her golden years. She’s a very lucky girl. So many pets don’t have the luxury of going through their senior years with the same level of caring and compassion that your pet is experiencing. As for preparing for her passing, I would encourage you to focus on what you can do for her now and on what you can control. Keep taking her for walks, take her in the car with you if she enjoys that. Cuddle her as much as you can and take lots of pictures. Give her extra treats. After all, you don’t really know how much time she has left with you and you don’t want to waste it on the ‘what ifs.’ When the time comes to let her go you will know it, and you’ll let her go with dignity because you love her so much. And she will have had a much better life than she might otherwise have had because she had you in it! Karen ******* Dear Karen, With the nicer weather, the neighbourhood kids are outside a lot more. They like to play in the street, so I slow down to 20km to pass them safely. If the parents are out too, I get death stares from them as if I’m ripping by at 100km! My kids had to deal with cars going much faster when they were little. What’s the deal? Dear What’s the deal? Most of the time when I reply to questions, I play ‘Devil’s Advocate.’ Apparently I do it all the time and some people (my daughter) find it annoying. In this case though I’m going to offer two suggestions and you can decide for yourself which ‘road’ you take: 1) Acknowledge the parents by waving politely and keep going or 2) stop and ask if there’s a problem with the way you’re driving. I guarantee that if you stop and speak to them they will tell you there’s no problem and the next time you drive by it will be them who are waving politely to you. Karen

Thursday, May 20, 2021

THE JOURNAL

9


Even once vaccinated, you still need to protect yourself.

10

THE JOURNAL

Thursday, May 20, 2021


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

Thursday, May 20, 2021

THE JOURNAL

11


MOVIE REVIEW MATT MILLER

Movies You Might Have Missed 52 week challenge edition Title: Sorry to Bother You (2018) Directed by: Boots Riley Genre: Comedy/Fantasy/Horror Available on: Netflix, YouTube (rent) Weekly Challenge #18 – A ‘Rich vs. Poor’ Film Brief Synopsis: Telemarketer Cassius Green discovers that using his ‘white voice’ moves him up the corporate ladder, only to realize his success is not without cost. Scores: 93% Rotten Tomatoes, 6.9 IMDb Review: Cassius ‘Cash’ Green has heart, vision, and lofty goals, and feels that all he needs is a break. Played by (future Oscar winner, you heard it here first) LaKeith Stanfield, Cash lives in his uncle’s garage with his girlfriend, Detroit, and is desperate for a job. After securing a menial telemarketer’s position for RegalView (a subsidiary for the megacorporation WorryFree), Cash initially struggles to make sales until he is turned on to an industry secret to harness his ‘White Voice.’ A roaring success, Cash is soon targeted for a promotion to ‘Power Caller,’ a near mythical position that is shielded from office workers’ eyes by a golden elevator. Apparently, the adage ‘all that glitters is not gold’ is something that never occurs to Cash as he quickly breaks rank with his coworkers (in the middle of their push to unionize) for the ‘Power Caller’ job where he begins to peddle increasingly unethical products and ideas. Written and directed by Boots Riley (his first film!), Sorry to Bother You had a long road to development as Riley spent almost a decade on the script. It shows, as each moment and scene feels fully realized, popping with character development, foreshadowing, set design, and symbolism. Sorry to Bother You is a mind-bending, surreal story that demands multiple viewings, and combines comedy with horror, sci-fi, political commentary, and fantasy elements, and deserves a much longer breakdown and discussion than the space allotted here. While StBY touches on many themes, including racism, identity, class division, labour organizing, and corporatization, the theme of ‘Rich vs. Poor’ (this week’s challenge) was the most prevalent. At its heart, StBY is about as strong of a condemnation of wealth that you will find in mainstream film. Yes, it is popular to find movie villains who are rich and powerful but those instances vilify the individual and not the notion of wealth itself. While most films have us follow a plucky hero, it is hard to consider Cash that. Cash continually chooses individual profit over his relationships, identity, and self-respect, making him not so much a ‘hero’ as an ‘everyman.’ The difference is that while many of us will support good causes and talk a big game, many will, like Cash, sell out when we have the opportunity to enrich ourselves. StBY vilifies this unheroic practice, showing that the ‘pulling yourself up by your bootstraps’ narrative is not only a façade but a parasitic mentality that cannibalizes off others in order to benefit yourself. When Cash finally realizes the error of his ways and is determined to expose the secrets of WorryFree, he is shocked to find out that no one really cares. In fact, WorryFree’s stock rises in response to the news of their ethnical violations! And really, are we that surprised? Facebook and Amazon have had their wealth balloon in the past decade, despite numerous ‘bombshell’ revelations. No, instead of taking the easy way out with moralistic messaging, StBY doubles down, saying that simply exposing the truth is not enough. In one of the best lines of the film, one of Cash’s coworkers claims that people “… get shown a problem, but have no idea how to control it, then just decide to get used to the problem,” highlighting the biggest drawback to humanity’s incredible ability to adapt and survive: we will do it, even if it is to our disadvantage. While some may argue that Cash could have changed the system from within, or that he was justified in his attempts to get ahead, director Boots Riley disagrees and wants to make something crystal clear: While the old adage may be, ‘The road to hell is paved with good intentions,’ in reality, Riley implies that we should feel foolish for thinking the road would be paved at all. A WTF-inducing film, Sorry to Bother You employs fantastical, over-the-top imagery to highlight the inequalities in our society, and is one of the most essential viewings of the past few years. Enjoyed the surreal, alternate reality of StBY? Then join us next week as we hit fast-forward on that idea with the challenge of ‘A film set in the distant future,’ where we watch 1997’s Starship Troopers. Feel free to watch ahead on Netflix. Happy streaming! Want even more Movies You Might Have Missed? Check out the BRAND-NEW website www.mmmovies.ca, which has access to loads of reviews, suggestions and op-eds. Want to reach me personally for questions, suggestions, or feedback? Try our new PHOTO COURTESY IMDB.COM email: LocalMYMHM@gmail.com 12

THE JOURNAL

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Up for adoption Zofie, a one-year-old female Shepherd mix, was pregnant when she arrived from Kuujjuarapik. She has now taken care of her five pups and taught them what they need to know (including Zsa Zsa who has already gone to her forever home.) Zofie loves long walks and doesn’t pull on the leash, but she does need training and socialization as everything is new to her. Despite her youth, she enjoys relaxing and cuddling after her walks. As with many Northern dogs, she is good with other dogs but not with cats. If you can promise to love and cher-

PHOTO COURTESY ANIMATCH

ish her for all of her days, fill out the form and ask for Zofie. For more information on Zofie or any of the other dogs available for adoption, go to www.animatch.ca

Saint-Lazare veterinary clinic credits staff for continued excellence Jules-Pierre Malartre

Special contributor

It’s not common knowledge but veterinarian hospitals are also on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. At Hôpital vétérinaire Saint-Lazare, veterinarians, technicians and support staff – brave souls all – face COVID-19 every day to make sure our pets also get the help they need during this difficult time. Unlike their human medicine counterparts, veterinarian personnel did not qualify for early vaccination. Yet, day after day, those unsung heroes of the pandemic – the steadfast support personnel, the dedicated vet techs, and the caring veterinarians at Hopital vétérinaire St-Lazare – accept the risks to make sure pets receive the same level of care as human beings. But the pandemic has taken its toll on even those hardy health specialists. “One vet out of four is suffering from psychological trauma,” says Alexandra Murray, Practice Manager of Hôpitaux vétérinaires Saint-Lazare et des TroisLacs, quoting a study conducted in an Ontario college. Therefore, Hôpital Vétérinaire Saint-Lazare focuses its energy not only on its furry charges but also on their amazing personnel.

“My job is to ensure the wellbeing of our staff,” she adds. Alexandra wants to send a positive message, not only to raise public awareness of the hardships her veterinarian staff faces day after day, but also to thank the hospital’s extraordinary personnel who go above and beyond every day. “We want to spotlight our special team, people who are often forgotten in the world of essential services, but who are facing the same challenges and dangers on a day-to-day basis. We stayed strong during this entire pandemic. We remained open the whole time. Most of us are moms who had to juggle work and home life during the pandemic. It was an almost impossible situation, but what drove us was our passion. Day after day, the team holds on tight to one ideal: to save as many animals as possible.” The hospital staff had to surmount impossible odds, including shortages of supplies, food and medication brought on by plant shutdowns. Yet, the team endured, driven by their unwavering dedication to saving our furry companions. It’s reassuring and heartwarming that, in such difficult times when animals are often left out to suffer in silence, such great people are there to take care of their wellbeing.


Fall Colours For top results list your home with a top selling agent

nroy@viacapitale.com for a complete list of homes SOLD in YOUR area!

SEE YOUR HOME IN 3D when listed with Normand Roy

Home and Estate Feature

Tina Dolce Real Estate Broker

PHOTO COURTESY TINA DOLCE

Welcome to this magnificent waterfront domain – total oasis of tranquility included. Five acres of lush land surrounding this absolutely stunning jewel with waterfront views that are to die for. Included you have a serene canal at the back of the property for those lazy days of summer. Kayak or water sports are ideal for this property. A vacation home indeed! Nestled in the Pointe-Fortune region, part of the land is encroached on Rigaud soil. Located on a cul-de- sac with no rear neighbours. This picturesque setting is only 40 minutes away from Vaudreuil-Dorion and one hour away from downtown Montreal, 10 minutes away from the Ontario border, five minutes from Pointe-Fortune Village, and 10 minutes from Rigaud Village. me, rental property , business opportunity, or resort. Opportunity is knocking! Summer is coming fast and so kids will be off soon with not much to do. Here you would have loads of activities possible. A paradise for any outdoor enthusiast! Quick occupancy for your summer holidays 2021! Can be a country home, lake house hoFurniture can be included. The beautiful Canadiana with wrap-around porch has two floors with four bedrooms, a detached garage with a sugar shack, and lots of wooded land for hikes or other activities. Continued on page 14

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

Christina Gabriele

Lyndon Gallagher

Carol LaRonde

Laura Pittaro

Carl Poirier

Youri Rodrigue

Lucie Thifault

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Lee Thompson THE JOURNAL

13


Home and Estate

Featured home

Continued from page 13

• 14 rue Albert,

Pointe-Fortune, QC

• $599,900 • Centris #15407830 • Tina Dolce Real Estate Broker

BLVD Real Estate Agency

514-941-TINA (8462) PHOTO COURTESY TINA DOLCE

Interior views are stunning from the living room or kitchen . Entrance has a mud room with a beautiful viewing of the grounds. Very spacious kitchen for those family dinners. Vintage fireplace that gives off the charm of this beautiful Canadiana-style home for those fresh and chilly evenings. Master bedroom is on the main floor for more privacy. Laundry room is on the main level for easier access. Living room is very spacious with lots of windows. Included is another

fireplace in the living room for interesting evenings as a family or with friends. Upper level is a very large space which can be rearranged differently. The wraparound porch has lots of sitting space for family or friends. This amazing small domain can be yours at a very small price. Make your dream come true! Call today for a viewing of this paradise, Tina Dolce -514-941-TINA (8462) tinadolce@hotmail.com, tinadolce.com

DIANE VACHON BRAY BROKER - Quebec & Ontario

450-601-5452

Agence Immobilière Vachon-Bray Inc.

Treed lot 1.9 acres Bainsville, Ontario. ML #1235366. $425,000

Bungalow 2019, open concept, 2 bedrooms with possibility of a 3rd bedroom in the basement. Finished basement with a family room, 2nd bathroom and walk-in closet. Close to the Quebec border and Highway 401.

Hudson Services At your service for all things yard and garden Jules-Pierre Malartre

Special contributor

Despite COVID-19, we can all hope for a measure of normalcy this summer – at least at home, which has become our haven of peace and safety during this difficult time. Maintaining an attractive yard where we can relax, recuperate, and weather the pandemic has therefore become even more important. This is why it’s great we can rely on Hudson Services to make our yard and garden the Zen places we need them to be. Landscaping is an art form as much as it is a technique. It requires a special touch, a fair amount of experience and a great deal of foresight to bring to fruition your plans for the perfect yard. And who has time and the energy at this point to create an inspiring home garden? Bringing to life your vision of an idyllic oasis is better left to the professionals and Sean Upton of Hudson Services is your onestop solution for all your home garden and yard needs. Sean and his partner Sally have been in the business for decades. Their skills and experience complement each other, allowing them to service all your yard and garden needs.

PHOTO COURTESY SHUTTERSTCOK

“We can do all types of outdoor, landscaping, and maintenance work,” Sean says. “We can’t do asphalt, but we do just about everything else.” If you need your hedges trimmed, Sean can definitely help you, but it doesn’t end there – pruning, tree and stump removal, and chipping are some of the more heavyduty services Sean provides, but there’s more. Sally and her team of gardeners also provide extensive landscaping services. They have the experience and the skills to maintain your garden and also to design new, beautiful landscapes for your home. Sean prizes his customers above all else. In all his years of service, he’s never had an unsatisfied customer, which is the best reference you could ever ask for. Continued on page 15

514.457.8020

www.generatek.com Elite Authorized Consultation Sales and Service

• • • • • •

Hedge and Tree Trimming Tree Removal and Pruning Stump Grinding Yard and Forest Clean-Up General Outdoor Maintenance Gutter Clean-Up

Asphalt Paving Paving Stones Driveways • Patios Walks • Walls Serving Hudson, Saint-Lazare, Vaudreuil-Soulanges, and the West Island Residential • Industrial • Municipal Quality and reliability guaranteed Celebrating

(514) 991-9674 • SEAN UPTON 14

THE JOURNAL

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Years

For a free estimate call: (514) 323-7738

www.pavagepascal.com


Home and Estate

HERE’S MY CARD

CLEANING SERVICE

COMPUTERS

GREAT-HOUSE MINN CLEANING COMPANY

HANDYMAN SERVICES

LANDSCAPING

DO YOU NEED HELP AROUND THE HOUSE?

Services: • Residential • Commercial • Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly • Eco-friendly products CLEANING SERVICE • Spring/fall window cleaning Quality Handyman Service • 450-458-5623 HudsonHomeRepairsMaintenance@gmail.com

WWW.GREAT-HOUSEMINN.CA 514-865-1973 • greathousemin@gmail.com

MANAGEMENT SERVICES

MOVING

TREE SERVICE

PAINTING

FREE 24/7 FULLY ESTIMATES EMERGENCY INSURED

514-802-2824

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

There is room for your card Call us (450) 510-4007

Hudson Services Continued from page 14

Sean had extensive experience before he went into business for himself over a decade ago. Since then, he’s helped a great number of happy customers who still rely on him year after year. Reliability is key in this field where

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

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

TREE SERVICE

VENTILATION

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

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

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

TALK TO THE EXPERTS!

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

Also Carpet, Window & High-Pressure Cleaning and Water Damage Clean-Up

111 Grande-Île, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield QC

www.aspirateursvalleyfield.com

Fax: (450) 424-1055 Tel:(450) 458-3022

(514) 991-9674 • SEAN UPTON

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

info@jsmaintenance.net www.jsmaintenance.net

companies come and go. Over a decade later, Sean is still there, and that is a powerful testimony of his dependability and the quality of his work. “We never cut corners, and we pay attention to details,” Sean explains. “We always do the best we can. We leave the place cleaner than when we arrived,” he adds, which is amazing given that we all have horror stories of contractors leaving a mess in our homes. Sean will also of-

fer unique solutions instead of the usual ‘go-to’ jobs that other services provide. In one instance, while pruning a beautiful tree, instead of removing healthy lower branches, he lightened them up, which had the desired effect – and this is the kind of initiative you need when entrusting your cherished yard to the care of real professionals.

Competition in the field can be fierce so Sean is very responsive to his clients’ needs and budget. He’ll go above and beyond to make sure his clients get the service they need at a price they can afford. Sean and Sally are happy to welcome new customers. You can reach Sean at (514) 991-9674 or Sally at (514) 8049674.

Up for adoption Let me introduce you to a bonded brother and sister duo named Edgar and Elsie who were born October 18, 2020. We have had the privilege for the last two months to foster these guys and nurse them back to health from a terrible situation. Scared and extremely nervous around humans they came to us with very bad ‘cat colds’ which sadly ended up infecting their eyes leaving them both permanently slightly blind, but besides that they now have a clean bill of health. They’ve never hissed, bitten, or shown any signs of aggression even at all their vet visits being handled by strangers . They have come such a long way, you can hear them purr from the other end of the house and nothing will stop them when they hear that bag of freeze dried shrimps open up. They are calmer than normal kittens at just six months old and Edgar now loves to be around the chaos of our home. Elsie enjoys a bit of quiet time on her own but shows her sweet face multiple times during the day and especially at meal time. They have made great friends with our own two cats and our dogs, with no issues

VACUUM CLEANERS

yo Su ur bm ph it ot o

Pets of Vaudreuil-Soulanges PHOTO BY CARMEN MARIE FABIO

PHOTO COURTESY CASCA

at all. They still don’t love being picked up or cuddling but I have a feeling with more time and patience that will be in their near future. Both kittens will arrive fully vetted, microchipped, and sterilized and must be adopted together. Elsie’s left eye is almost completely blind and both Edgars’ eyes have a blue film over them leaving him partially blind, but this does not stop them from playing with their toys and carrying my kid’s stuffed animals around the house in their mouths (it’s the cutest thing). If you think you can be the perfect home for these two please contact me and we can talk more. They are looking for that special someone/family. For more information, please write to mysharonna@me.com

Welcome to our feature showcasing and celebrating the many companion animals we have in our region. Meet Amira, a nine-year-old mixed breed who was recently rescued from Thailand through Soi Dog Foundation. Pictured here with her Vaudreuil-Dorion mom Lara Pleasence, Amira was born with deformed front legs and lived most of her life on the street, having litter after litter until someone shot her in the head. Taken in by Soi Dog, she was treated though the injury left her blind in one eye. Despite everything she’s been through, her tail has never stopped wagging. She’s enjoying her well-earned retirement in Canada and is finally learning to enjoy life as a dog. To see more photos and videos, check out her Instagram page @amira. amiracle. To see the video that convinced Lara to adopt her (despite her husband threatening to leave if she got one more dog) see youtu.be/lI2BmP6fNyw. We dare you not to cry. If you’d like us to feature your pet in our weekly section – dog, cat, rabbit, horse, lizard, possum (possum?) etc., send us a photo of you and your pet together, along with a short description, to editor@yourlocaljournal.ca. Thursday, May 20, 2021

THE JOURNAL

15


It’s Puzzling SUDOKU

"A Policeman's Lot" by Steve Zisser

Across

1

1. King or queen 5. Tough trek 9. Russian autocrat 13. "Typee" sequel 14. Propelled a boat 16. Boo-boo 17. CHiPs vehicle 19. It means nothing to Juan 20. Eggs on 21. Teeter-______ 23. Calmer than Venus' sister? 24. Get drunk 25. Tattletale 26. Singer Mitchell 27. Laura Petrie's Mr. 30. Closes a parka, for example 33. Bid number 34. Hawaiian strings, familiarly 35. Gilbert & Sullivan princess 36. Smokey's wheels 38. Short smoke 39. Alternative to "com" or "gov" 40. Do a spit-take, perhaps 41. ______ out a living 42. Corn unit 43. Water whirl 44. Basis point, in financial lingo 46. Brewer's kilns 48. Puts on new shingles 52. Book banned in 1955 54. New York city known for its springs 55. They are traced by slow pitches 56. Keystone Cops' vehicle 58. Burger and fries, perhaps 59. One way to get spam 60. _____ Floyd 61. Be yawn-inducing 62. Goes downhill fast 63. "____ real nowhere man..."

2

3

4

5

13

6

7

8

14

17

15

21

25

27

28

29

50

51

22

31

26

32

33

35

36

39

40

42

43 46

34

37

38 41 44

47

53

49

54

55

56

58

59

61

57 60 62

Down

1. Doesn't charge for 2. Love, Italian style 3. Helicopter spinner 4. Lets, in tennis 5. _____ wrench 6. Cake segment 7. Tolkien baddies 8. Type of pen or pack 9. Role for Jay Silverheels or Johnny Depp 10. Howard Hunter's armored vehicle on "Hill Street Blues" 11. Man Friday, e.g. 12. Tush 15. Easing of hostilities 18. Writer Barrett or Jaffe 22. Wicker willow 24. Give a leg up 26. Like good gossip 28. Dust Bowl refugee 29. Performs a dog's trick

63

30. Short fan publication 31. Inventive concept 32. Adam-12, e.g. 33. Campus areas 36. Hilltop 37. Bureaucratic complications 41. "And away we go," for the late Jackie Gleason 44. Colored gemstones 45. "____ Her Standing There" (Lennon/McCartney) 47. "Clean up in _____ three" 48. Diameter halves 49. Stray calf 50. "Ghostbusters" Dr.Spengler and his namesakes 51. Decaf choice 52. Baby ewe 53. Hydrox copycat 54. Mt. Rushmore's home 57. Some radio settings

Kalia Kid is a way to make life easier and to encourage efficient and sensible online shopping as well as giving back to our community.

VISIT US ONLINE

kaliakid.com

Solutions on page 19

Our Photo of the Week contest culminates every December with our ‘Photo of the Year’ winner chosen by one of our sponsors. This year, there are more chances to win! The top prize will be $200, second place will be $100 and third place $50 for photos taken by our readers. Send your entries to editor@yourlocaljournal.ca.

BUY affordable kids clothing!

Thursday, May 20, 2021

45

48

Reducing our carbon footprint, one tiny footprint at a time.

THE JOURNAL

12

24

More chances to win!

16

11

19

23

52

10

16

18

20

30

9


Each vaccination brings us closer to this moment.

Follow the vaccination sequence planned for your area, and book an appointment online at

Québec.ca/COVIDvaccine

Thursday, May 20, 2021

THE JOURNAL

17


Crossword and Sudoku CLASSIFIEDS

EW

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

N

450 510-4007

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

$24.95 until it sells (max. 3 months)

350- Legal

100 – FOR SALE

150 - SERVICES

150 - SERVICES

Google Nest Hub, brand new, never opened. View and control connected devices from a single dashboard. Simply use your voice to watch YouTube and play songs from YouTube Music. $50. Text 438491-0133. See www.yourlocaljournal.ca/ visual-classifieds.

Handyman. Maintenance, repairs and minor renovations, indoor or outdoor. 30 years of experience. Donald 514-913-2881

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

Five large beveled mirrors. Two measuring 19.5” by 40” and three measuring 21” by 45”. $100 for everything. Pick up. Text 514-3463234. Four 2-ply MotoMaster steel radial tires (215/45R17)- all seasonal for 17 in. rims$100 for the set. Call Richard: 450-458-1905 (210520)

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 November 1, 2020. $2,000/month. Call Marcel Leduc (514)602-4313 Room for rent in Rigaud with adjoining powder room (no shower). Heating electric and Wi-Fi included. Call Brenda 514-9103615 (210527)

150 - SERVICES Competent garage door repairs/ Réparations des portes de garage. Experienced, prompt, reliable technician for repairs, motor replacements. Free estimates, senior discounts. Located in West island. Scott or Philippe 514 966 7287 (210603) SINGING LESSONS. Private or SemiPrivate. In my home (St-Lazare). Sing the songs you love! Call Morgan. 514-6071308 References available. 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

(210603)

APPLE MAC SUPPORT since 1983 Variable Rates Initial Hour Free ** Preventive Maintenance ** Upgrades Troubleshooting System Analysis & Advice A Local Review: cloudbyteconsulting.com/review.html terry@cloudbyteconsulting.com 450-853-0534 House Painting, power washing, deck cleaning, staining, and painting available. Driveway repair, sealing, and yard cleanup. Senior and single parent discounts. Call Stefan 514-972-1435 (210603) 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

1 week $15 2 weeks $20 3 weeks $25

325- Autos for Sale

175 - WANTED $ Buy car for scrap. Running or not, 24/7. www.scrapvehicule.com Call 514-715-7845 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 450-458-4319, patrick148@ca.inter. net, 2760A Côte St-Charles, St-Lazare, Reni Decors (210617)

“MAN WITH A VAN” MOVING. Whole house. Small moves, too! Quebec/Local/ Ontario. Experienced/Equipped. Please leave a message 514-605-3868 MIKE THE MOVING MAN.

175 - WANTED Looking for rental house in Hudson, Rigaud, St-Lazare, Vaudreuil area for two mature people and a small (10 pound) well trained dog. Can be furnished or not....immediate occupancy ( by June 15th, latest ). Please call 514 894 2263. (210520) Housekeeper wanted. 4 days/week, 5 hours per day. Physical work, includes household chores, laundry, etc. Please contact Sue for more info. 514-771-0798 (Hudson, Qc) (210527)

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 WANTED English speaking retired lady for mutually acceptable schedule. Light vacuuming, reading- writing correspondence, mail pickup etc. Kindly call 450-451-4518 (210520)

Classifieds Cont. on page 19

It’s Puzzling solutions 1

2

C A

13

3

Praseodymium

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

HIDDEN WORD:

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

4

O M O O

17

18

6

7

8

L O G

O A

P

R O V O K

E

S

E

R

30

Z

35

31

I

R E N

E

R A

T

25

32

P

I

D A

N

E

T

E A

R

39 42

52

53

46

S

C

47

O A

A

R C

S

M

E A

L

61

26

R E A C

T

E D D T A 56

S 57

Y 54

48

B

R E

S A

R

R E

27

E 28

R 29

R O B

34

U K

E

C

I

G

E K

E

S

38 41

45

I

P

S

I

R A

49

D

50

E

51

S

T O G A

P A D D

Y W A G O N

E M A

I

L

S K

I

S

59

62

B O R E

44

T

S O T E

E

I

12

N A D A

22

Q U O T

11

S A

19

T O T

B E

10

O W

I

R U

T

21

24

S

S

E

T

16

J O N

33

43

I

58

37

S

L

I

40

L O L

55

36

9 15

R E D

Y C

23

Experienced well qualified caregiver. Full Time availability with one family 40+ hours weekly. Experienced with special needs children, seniors, and Palliative care. Exceptional references. On CLSC list current first aid. Please contact nursingcareinhudson@ gmail.com or 514-247-3404 (210527)

S

14

M O T O R C

20

Registered Gun Smith. We buy new and used guns, restricted and non-restricted. 514-453-5018

5

R D

60

P

I

N K

H

E

S A

63

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

18

THE JOURNAL

Thursday, May 20, 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


CLASSIFIEDS

In Memoriam

View, submit & pay your ad online at www.yourlocaljournal.ca or e-mail: admin@yourlocaljournal.ca • 450 510-4007 200 – CAREERS/EMPLOYMENT 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.

The Journal 200 – CAREERS/EMPLOYMENT TAXI SAINT-LAZARE/HUDSON. Chauffeur demandé h. ou f. / Driver requested m. or f. avec ou sans expérience / with or without experience. La personne doit demeurer aux alentours/The person must live local. Appelez Claire: 450-802-6222, entre/between 9h00 – 17h00. (210520)

We are looking for: Warehouse – Shipper/Receivers/Laborer’s • Full-time Day or Afternoon Shifts Avail • Previous warehouse/forklift experience preferred • Competitive starting wage, benefits program, health & wellness allowance + other great perks!

Apply in Person at: 1952 Croiss. Joseph-Armand-Bombardier, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield and ask for Patrick or Marc

Or Email résume to: hr@oktire.com

Canada Summer Job Program- Students:

Donald James Hollington 1949 - 2021

Donald James Hollington, age 71, passed away peacefully on May 6th, 2021, surrounded by family at his home on Dog Lake, in Battersea, Ontario after a short yet courageous battle with lung cancer. Don was born on May 18th, 1949, in Exeter, Ontario to Margaret Rita (Mabel) Paul and Raymond Claude Hollington. Born into a military family, he spent much of his childhood in Ottawa, Ontario. Don earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from St. Thomas University (Fredericton, New Brunswick) and his Officer’s Commission while completing ROTP (Regular Officer Training Plan) with The Canadian Armed Forces in 1970.

Are you looking for a summer job? Do you have painting skills?

Don began his career as a pilot with The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 1966. After an exciting tenure with the RCAF, he turned to commercial aviation joining Air Canada in 1980 while living in Hudson, Quebec. Don moved his family to Kingston, Ontario where he retired as Captain in 2006.

The Vaudreuil-Soulanges Palliative Care Residence is hiring!

Never one to sit still, upon retirement, Don opened a seafood restaurant in Kingston aptly titled “The Captain’s Plate”. His next project became the dream renovation of his idyllic lake house on Dog Lake nestled in Battersea, Ontario.

Job tasks include paint touch ups and a refresh for some of our common areas and offices. If you’re interested in helping this community-based organization, send your CV to Susan Bednarski at: info@mspvs.org

Don is survived by his wife Catherine (née Westcott) and their children Shawnna (Josh), Adrianne, Katelyn, and Maxwell, along with his children Jason (James), Chad (Tracy) and Kyra (Phil), from a previous marriage. He is also survived by his cherished grandchildren Sarah, Madison, Aidan, Willow, and Knowlan, and by his brother Kenneth (Linda), as well as his brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews. Through his wisdom, determination and strong work ethic, Don will live on in the hearts and spirits of his children and grandchildren.

Have an opinion on a current event or situation? Go to our website, click on Letters to the Editor and tell the community!

Fly high Captain, rest easy. For those who wish, In Memoriam donations may be made to Interval House Kingston, Ontario kingstonintervalhouse.com in Don’s name. Online condolences may be made at www.jamesreidfuneralhome.com

200 – CAREERS/EMPLOYMENT

MANUFACTURING ROPE SINCE 1976

- Machine Operators

- Splicing Technicians - Coating Technicians

- Materials Handler - Purchasing & Inventory Coordinator

Email us: careers@atlanticbraids.com

Multiple Shifts Available - DAY SHIFT - EVENING SHIFT - OVERNIGHT SHIFT

atlanticbraids.com careers@atlanticbraids.com

Located at EXIT 1 on HWY 40 West – 20 mins from Vaudreuil Thursday, May 20, 2021

THE JOURNAL

19


W NE 341 Ganivet, Rigaud

$599,900

Centris #20866363

AN OASIS FOR NATURE LOVERS! The property is perched on the apex of the mountain and is extremely private as it is set far back from the street & neighbours. The bungalow on this property is spacious, 4+2 bedrooms, a great floor plan & huge basement. The backyard is equipped with a big in-ground swimming pool (48’x25’), driveway easily accommodates at least 16 cars. Many renovations done +/- $140,000. This home have all space you need for your family…A must on your list!

Another Happy Customer ! ACCEPTED OFFER 25 Jean-E.-Bouvy, Rigaud

WELL MAINTAINED – Well-built semi-detached home, private landscaped yard, nestled on a quiet road near park. 3+1 BDR, 1 BTH, 2 powder rooms, heat-pump + many renovations & updates. Book your appointment now!

Centris #15444162

20

THE JOURNAL

It is our immense pleasure to recommend Normand Roy to anyone looking for a dedicated and knowledgeable agent. We are overjoyed with our experience! He is professional, and goes above and beyond for his clients. Normand listened to our needs, was in constant communication with us, and found us our new home within our budget. We are forever grateful to Normand and his amazing team! He exceeded all of our expectations, and we sincerely recommend him for anyone that is buying or selling a home. In our opinion, he is the best in the business, and he will be our first choice if we need to move again.

$269,900

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Alana & Tristan

910-914 Bl. St-Jean-Baptiste, Mercier

PERFECT FOR INVESTORS – Prime location commercial building. 10 years lease contract by dentist center with 5 years option for renewal, allowing a safe revenue for years to come. Sound building built with steel & concrete +++

Centris #11253091

$1,200,000


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.