Beaconsfield

Beaconsfield’s Bourelle asks Hydro to clarify tree cutting activity

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Hydro-Québec is currently trimming and felling trees in Beaconsfield with the aim of protecting its equipment. The work being carried out will continue until 2025. The agency is actively removing tree branches or whole trees that are incompatible with the electrical network or that pose a risk during severe weather.

Provincial laws override Beaconsfield’s requirement for permits and tree replacement. In order to protect the canopy, Beaconsfield Mayor George Bourelle has asked Hydro to report its activities taking place within the Beaconsfield city lines. In the interim, affected residents are asked to replace the trees that are removed. “They are not required to plant the new tree in the same location on their property. Beaconsfield is providing a free service via its tree planting program (Ensemble on verdit),” Bourelle explained to The Suburban.

The tree planting program provided by the City of Beaconsfield is available each spring until the end of September.

Beaconsfield is also offering a collection service for debris, such as trunks and large-diameter branches, left on residents’ properties as a result of the Hydro-Québec operations. In accordance with current provincial regulations, the agency can access any tree that may affect its equipment, cut or fell trees and leave the debris near the site of the operation.

“While this may cause inconvenience for some citizens, several options are available for recovering or reusing the wood. For example, you can organize a collection in partnership with a community organization or a wood-selling company. It is also possible to offer it to local artisans or interested citizens,” the City of Beaconsfield wrote in a public memo.

“Beaconsfield has a major tree canopy and we don’t want to destroy that canopy. We can replant in a nearby spot on the same property and our Urban Planning Department can help residents choose the right tree. We understand the work that needs to be carried out, but we asked them (Hydro-Québec) to communicate with us regarding their operations, to update us and make us aware of their plans, so we can work with residents to replace their trees and preserve Beaconsfield’s tree canopy,” Bourelle told The Suburban. n

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Car thief jumps into lake in Pointe-Claire

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Some Beaconsfield and Pointe-Claire residents were rudely awakened by police sirens at 6:30 a.m. last Saturday morning. Quebec Provincial Police (SQ) officers attempted to intercept two vehicles stolen from Ontario that were travelling on Highway 20 East near the Woodland exit in Beaconsfield. Officers managed to seize one of the two vehicles on Murray Garden in Pointe-Claire however the driver ran away on foot.

Police officers succeeded in apprehending the suspect who fled south to the Saint-Louis Lakefront at Villeneuve Terrace and Lakeshore Boulevard. The suspect jumped in Lake Saint-Louis as he was being chased by police officers. With the assistance of the Montreal Fire Department, police officers apprehended the man who was then arrested and is now facing charges of reckless driving, obstruction of justice and possession of stolen property.

Pointe-Claire residents living nearby watched as police officers pulled the suspect out of the water, arrested him and placed him in their vehicle. One resident snapped some photos and sent it to The Suburban. “It is concerning to see how the West Island has changed so significantly over the years with the rise in crime,” Another resident said to The Suburban. “This used to be a quiet place to live. Now we wake up on a Saturday morning to this kind of stuff and then we open the newspaper and read about more news like this happening nearby. It was never like this before.”

Recently, just a few blocks East on Lakeshore, a six-story building was evacuated as police searched for another car thief that abandoned a vehicle in a residential parking lot after a police chase following a hit and run on a police officer who was on foot in Lachine.

The second suspect managed to evade being captured in the initial police vehicle chase. A K-9 unit was deployed and SPVM officers were mobilized in collaboration with the SQ to search for the second suspect, who has not been caught to date. The SQ investigation is ongoing. “We are committed to catching crime suspects,” SQ spokesperson Nicolas Scholtus said to The Suburban. n

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Free facials for cancer survivors in Beaconsfield

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Women from the West Island Cancer Wellness Centre received free oncology facials at Gordon Robertson Beauty Academy in Beaconsfield last week.

The hour-long experience included safe facial treatments and carefully calibrated soft-touch hand and shoulder treatments. Clients laid on their backs with eyes closed listening to meditative music and gentle whispers between students and their teacher supervising each station attentively. Waves of light aroma therapeutic scents filled the dimly lit room.   

Esthetics teacher Tina Mercuri told The Suburban that the facials are designed to help build, strengthen and repair skin, thereby helping to make a difference in the quality of life of individuals whose lives have been affected by cancer. “Over the years, my curiosity and love of learning have led me to continue studying the many facets of skincare and elements that can affect and improve our skin. In pursuing this deeper knowledge, I eventually continued to become an oncology-trained esthetician, propelled by a desire to better help clients affected by cancer. Cancer, and its treatments, can significantly affect skin, causing it to struggle to build a strong, healthy shield to provide comfort and well-being. Providing these facials is one of the many ways we can make a small difference in their lives.”

The patients expressed their gratitude as they were greeted and escorted to their treatment stations and were met with a mirroring sentiment of gratitude from students. Student Fernanda Casteñeda told The Suburban that the experience is rewarding for both the clients and students. “Often people with health conditions are ejected from activities that they enjoy. This is a way for us to be inclusive and help them feel good about themselves by renewing some good energy. My father had cancer and for me this is a way for me to feel helpful and the clients really enjoy it.” 

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