Public Security

Communication system for firefighters is up and running

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

A new radio communication system for area firefighters went live on August 11, following a decade-long effort by members of the Regroupement d’Entraide Mutuelle de Feu du Sud-Ouest du Québec (AEMSOQ) to improve the reliability of their network.

Since 2013, the 11 fire services that make up the South-Western Quebec Fire Mutual Aid Association, including the Franklin, Godmanchester, Hinchinbrooke, Howick, Huntingdon, Ormstown, Saint-Anicet, Sainte-Barbe, Saint-Etienne-de-Beauharnois, Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, and Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka departments, have reported “dead zones” within their radio communication network.

Until recently, a single antenna served the entire territory, leaving several patches without adequate coverage. In a statement, AEMSOQ president Joël Trudeau explained that communications between the emergency dispatch centre and teams in the field was impossible in some areas. “These dead zones posed a major challenge to the safety of responders and the population,” he said.

The board of directors launched a project in 2019 to resolve the issue, which included the installation of a new tower. This required the completion of radio wave propagation studies, a search for suitable land, the purchasing of new equipment, and much more.

The project was continued in 2022, when a new board took over and was faced with financing the initiative. Still in the planning stages, the board presented a budget to the member municipalities, which unanimously approved of the project. A public consultation process was launched the following year to address any concerns over the installation of a tower at a location on Ridge Road.

The partner municipalities contributed $120,000 to the project, which included the construction of a 30-metre tower in compliance with Health Canada and Transport Canada standards, fencing along the perimeter of the site, and the equipment needed to transition the old analog system to digital technology.

Finally, at noon on August 11, the new system was switched on, with four sites now in operation in Franklin, Covey Hill, Sainte-Barbe, and the new Ridge location in Godmanchester.

In his statement, Trudeau highlighted the significance of this collective achievement as essential to public safety, while recognizing the municipalities for their support, collaboration and trust in the project.

Hampstead Mayor asks for special constable powers

Local Journalism Initiative / The Suburban / June 26, 2024 / Hampstead, Jeremy Levi, Michael Goldwax, Public Security

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi is asking the town council to give him the power to appoint special constables in case of an emergency.

Levy introduced a notice of motion June 3, as is the procedure, and the bylaw will be voted on at either a special meeting in June or at the next regular meeting in July. The notice of motion was given by Councillor Michael Goldwax and, from comments overheard by The Suburban, is likely to be approved unanimously.

The resolution notes that Section 108 of Quebec’s Police Act authorizes a town council to grant the Mayor such a power. The resolution says that the Mayor can authorize, “for a period not exceeding seven days, special constables with authority, under the supervision of the Director of the Montreal Police Service (SPVM), to prevent and suppress offences under the municipal bylaws within all or part of the territory of the Town of Hampstead.”

Levi told The Suburban that the bylaw, which has been adopted in other municipalities over the years, is being passed as a precaution in light of recent attacks against Jewish institutions, including the Belz School last week in CDN-NDG and other attacks on institutions in Toronto and Vancouver in recent days.

“The rampant wave of violent antisemitic attacks on Jewish institutions witnessed last week demands immediate action,” Levi posted on X. “I will not hesitate to invoke this power at the earliest opportunity through an emergency decree, ensuring the safety and security of all Jewish institutions in Hampstead. Enough is enough.”

The Mayor told The Suburban that the motion is “much broader than just armed constables.

“We can have unarmed special constables. We were talking about different tiers, special constables that can carry taser guns, that would have the certification to give traffic violations, if we were having a major event and we thought we needed to ensure safety on the road. There’s different scenarios on what would constitute an emergency. This gives us the ability to navigate through that.”

Levi added that the motion “gives Hampstead Public Security an additional tool to deal with [emergency] situations.”

The Mayor said there is no specific threat to Hampstead.

“This is just a precautionary measure. We’d rather be proactive. We received a comprehensive legal opinion on this, we did a deep dive. We’re looking at all kinds of measures to offer a next level of security for our community.” n

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