Sarah Rennie

Boy is saved from drowning in Huntingdon

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Three trained firefighters rescued a boy caught in dangerous waters on the Chateauguay River in Huntingdon on July 11.

Remnants of Hurricane Beryl, which passed over the region the day before, saw just under 40 millimetres of torrential rain cause the normally tranquil river to rise by several feet. The following afternoon, a 10-year-old boy was playing by the river with three other unaccompanied children when he was suddenly swept away by the fast-moving current shortly after 4 p.m.

Godmanchester resident and retired firefighter Jon Vine was driving past Russell Island in Huntingdon on his way to the Vallée des Travailleurs garage where he works. He says it was by coincidence that he rolled down the window just in time to hear the boy’s cries for help. The three friends met him as he pulled onto the island, gesturing frantically toward the river.

Vine immediately called Johanne Myre at the garage and asked her to send help, and to call 911. When he reached the riverbank, he found the boy desperately clinging to a thin tree branch over the water about 20 feet from shore. “The water was rushing like crazy,” he says.

Steve Myatt and Brandon Gavin soon arrived from the garage. After a quick search, the men found nothing more than a cow halter and some transport straps in the vehicle and quickly came up with a plan.

Wearing the cow halter around his chest, Myatt waded into the water, which quickly reached up to his neck, and approached the boy. Vine and Gavin used the straps to hold him against the current. Myatt eventually wrapped a strap around the boy’s arm, which allowed Vine and Gavin to quickly tow him to shore.

At this point, first responders from Hinchinbrooke and the Huntingdon Fire Department were on scene, and they helped to safely pull the boy and the three men from the water. Huntingdon fire chief Marc Voyer confirmed that the minor, who cannot be identified, was unharmed during the rescue. The Sûreté du Québec was called, and the responding officers contacted the child’s parents.

“Those guys did an amazing job,” says Voyer, of the quick thinking and action by Vine, Myatt, and Gavin. “It was very, very dangerous,” he insists, referring to the treacherous water conditions that day. “They put their lives on the line.”

While looking out over the river the following day, Vine says he still gets shivers just thinking about the rescue. “We could be talking about something else today,” he says solemnly. “All the cards were there,” he says, referring to the series of fortunate coincidences that ultimately saved the boy’s life.

Both Vine and Voyer underline the importance of respecting waterways, pointing out how quickly local water conditions can become unpredictable and dangerous after heavy rain.

Boy is saved from drowning in Huntingdon Read More »

Dundee names municipal park after founder

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

John Davidson immigrated from Dundee, Scotland to Lower Canada in 1818, where he settled on the east bank of the Salmon River. A year later he built a loading dock, and opened a storefront from his cabin which became the centre of activity in the burgeoning village he named after his birthplace. His general store was the first post office in what would become the Township of Dundee.

Now, 205 years later, the council of Dundee Township officially commemorated Davidson’s role in founding the municipality by naming the community park in his honour.

It took Mayor Linda Gagnon and the Dundee Historical Committee president, Marie Myre, a few seconds to unveil the name during a brief ceremony at the park located next to the town hall and post office on July 1. But the process to find the right name for the park took time.

“Nothing is simple. And above all, it’s very slow,” said Gagnon during a short speech before the new sign at the entrance to the park was revealed. Municipal officials began tossing around the idea of naming the municipal park soon after it was inaugurated in 2022.

The council was on board immediately, but then things grew complicated. “It took several hours of discussion,” said Gagnon, who admitted there was a lot of back-and-forth in terms of the different names under consideration. So, they brought the Dundee Historical Committee into the conversation.

Once the name was chosen and a descriptive text was produced, the committee settled on a concept for the double-sided sign that incorporates John Davidson’s actual signature into the design.

Along with the sign, the municipality has continued to add new features to the municipal park, including surfaces for different recreational activities and landscaping. A new sandbox will soon be added for younger children as well.

Gagnon said that in naming the John Davidson Park, the council and all those involved wanted to spark some additional municipal pride for residents. Immediately following the ceremony, those in attendance were invited to stay for a light lunch in celebration of the municipality’s annual Citizen’s Day.

Dundee names municipal park after founder Read More »

Crossings by migrants are on the rise in Hemmingford

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Eugenie Officer grew up along the border in Franklin. She now lives on a road adjacent to the Canada-U.S. boundary or line in Hemmingford. She says she had heard about people crossing illegally but had never seen anything until this past February, when a section of her rural road suddenly became a hot zone.

“It’s chaos,” says Officer – especially at night. “You see cars slowing down and people running!” she exclaims, noting people have been dropped off at her house while others have walked through her backyard towards the woods. With little else to do, she says she often calls the nearest RCMP detachment.

“I think only those who are experiencing this day-to-day understand the magnitude of the issue,” Officer says. “I really feel for the people being dropped off, because even though they know what they are doing is risky, I am not sure they are told how high risk it is,” she adds.

“They are being dropped off at the road. They don’t know where they are going. They don’t speak English,” Officer explains. “It’s shocking.”

She admits the last few months have taken a toll on her, both mentally and emotionally. At least once or twice a week, she comes across bags left behind. Recently, she found a diaper bag with bottled formula and toddler shoes. “Just knowing there are children going through this is heartbreaking. I understand this is not an easy issue to solve. It’s super multifaceted, and there is a lot going on,” she exclaims, “but it is out of control!”

Sergeant Charles Poirier of the RCMP agrees. He says the Valleyfield and Champlain detachments, which cover the territory along the border from Dundee to Lac Memphremagog, are especially preoccupied by the situation. “It is very rare that there is not an interception every night,” he states. On average, officers covering the Champlain sector are finding between 50 and 70 people per week. “That means at least five, six, sometimes ten calls per night,” he explains.

Officers are even busier on the American side, where the Swanton sector of the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) reports that agents are currently apprehending around 100 people per day. Poirier says the working relationship between the RCMP and the USBP has had to adapt, and the units now work closely together. “It’s a bit like cat-and-mouse, where if we arrive a few seconds or minutes too late and the passage was successful, we have to get information to the Americans quickly.” 

Poirier admits the sudden spike in southbound movement following changes to the Safe Third Country agreement in March 2023 caught the RCMP off guard. At first it was largely people of Mexican origin who were crossing, but new U.S. visa requirements have made this more difficult.

“What we are seeing now are people from India who arrive by plane in Montreal or Toronto,” says Poirier. Within hours, they are dropped off near the border, sometimes by taxi or Uber drivers, often with Ontario licence plates. RCMP investigations have determined that people are being recruited in India by networks of smugglers who charge upwards of a few thousand dollars per person.

The RCMP is now working with taxi associations and Uber, to ensure drivers are aware of the dangers associated with this work. “If there is a tragedy, the driver will have to answer some questions,” says Poirier, who suggests drivers have a moral responsibility, and depending on their level of involvement, a legal responsibility as well.

Poirier confirms the RCMP is also working to destabilize the networks, but they are especially agile, and the hot spots keep shifting. He says Canada’s legislative framework is also not helping. Customs and immigration laws allow the RCMP to detain, search bags, and question someone who enters Canada illegally, but in the case of individuals attempting to cross into the United States, there is very little that can be done.

Poirier explains that in most cases, the people they intercept in Canada have not committed an offence, even if it is very clear they intend to enter the U.S. illegally. “We have no choice but to let them go,” he says, noting this sometimes means officers will chase the same people several times in one night, because once an attempt to cross has been interrupted, the individuals will more than likely try again just down the road.

“It is not a question of capacity. We could have a thousand officers in the field, and it wouldn’t make any difference. It is really a question of the tools at our disposal,” admits Poirier.

Beyond collaborating with the USBP, Poirier says the RCMP also works closely with residents. “They are our eyes and ears,” he says. “But we also want them to feel safe and to not expect incidents will constantly take place on their property.”

Poirier asks that residents call 911 if they see anything out of the ordinary. “Don’t take it for granted that it is not an emergency,” he says, noting that while the border may seem nearby, disoriented migrants can walk up to 18 hours in circles. “There really is a need to intervene right away,” he insists.

Crossings by migrants are on the rise in Hemmingford Read More »

Parks Canada shutters historic site centre

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The traditional Canada Day celebrations at the Battle of the Chateauguay National Historic Site in Tres-Saint-Sacrement did not take place this year. The interpretation centre did not open this spring, following a decision by Parks Canada to definitively close the building.

The site, which is managed by Parks Canada, commemorates the victory of Canadian troops over the invading American army on October 26, 1813. The interpretation centre was opened in 1978 and was designed to welcome up to 18,000 visitors annually, but over the years visitor numbers dropped significantly.

Information contained in a 2018 management plan for the site estimates the interpretation centre requires over $600,000 in recapitalization investments, notably in terms of the roof and the structure of the building. Daniel Beaudin, Parks Canada manager of historic sites in western Quebec, explains that declining visitorship and the expense to renovate the centre, as well as its high operating costs were contributing factors to the government’s decision regarding the site.

Beaudin confirms that while the centre is now closed to the public, the site – which includes the picnic area along the Chateauguay River, the obelisk monument, and the groomed trail of the battlefield – will remain accessible. “We are looking at a use that is quite different and based very much on the outdoors. We haven’t decided anything yet, but this is one of the possibilities,” he explained.

In the meantime, Parks Canada is in the process of taking down the exhibits in the interpretation centre. Beaudin says that while some of the panels and artifacts will be stored by the government agency, “We have also approached [the department of] National Defence to have many of the objects, most notably those belonging to Charles-Michel de Salaberry, stored at the armoury associated with the Royal 22nd Regiment.”

As for the centre itself, Beaudin suggests Parks Canada is looking into whether there may be a regional interest in using the building. “We are in the first phase,” he says, noting discussions have been initiated with the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent and among elected officials to determine the best possible outcome for the future of the building.

Beaudin insists that Parks Canada will continue to commemorate the Battle of the Chateauguay at the site, and says they hope to make more content available online, including the information contained in the genealogical terminal located in the interpretation centre. There is also the possibility of providing remote presentations to children via Parks Canada’s networked schools program.

“This will allow us to talk about the Battle of the Chateauguay, and to make people aware of the importance of this event, but in a different way,” says Beaudin.

Parks Canada shutters historic site centre Read More »

CVR inaugurates student-designed outdoor classrooms

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

In 2021, two groups of Grade 8 students came together to design outdoor classroom spaces as a project at Chateauguay Valley Regional High School. Public health measures at the time meant students were spending up to four periods per day in the same classroom, literally dreaming of going outside. Now, four years later and post-pandemic, two outdoor classrooms have officially been inaugurated and the students who were initially involved in the project have received their diplomas.

Teacher Marie-Ève Beaulieu-Demers recalls how her students gravitated toward the idea when it was first introduced, noting how the multidisciplinary project quickly became integrated into most subject areas. She admits it has been a long road, with a few bumps along the way, but is content her students have seen the project through and are leaving a legacy behind as a reminder of student effort and resilience.

“I wanted them to shine,” says Beaulieu-Demers of her students. “I knew it was hard during COVID, but I had such great groups of students, and they wanted to do something,” she explains. “They achieved so much in that year. Everyone got involved … The students were brilliant, and I saw it at graduation. I was so proud of them.”

The project also left its mark on the students, including Maurene O’Farrell, Téa Guérin Roy, and Odin Wania – they remember dividing the different tasks involved in the project, from fundraising, which involved organizing a silent auction and the creation of a recipe book, to the research and design process, making models, and documenting the whole process. “I remember doing that project more than I remember COVID,” says O’Farrell of that difficult time.

Following Grade 8, the project was met with delays as the prices for construction materials soared and the school saw a succession of administrative changes. “It was hard to solidify its place as a project in the school,” says O’Farrell, who admits they were a little disappointed when the buildings were first constructed, as they were not quite how they had imagined them.

The classrooms are both covered wooden structures with workspaces for students. One is located in a shaded area near the football field and track, while the other sits at the foot of one of the small hills bordering the parking lot on the other side of the campus.

A handful of students began working on the project again in earnest this year. They added some picnic tables, cleaned up the spaces, and planted some trees. “Before it was more theoretical, and now we actually got to complete it, which I don’t think we actually thought would happen,” says O’Farrell, noting the fact that the structures are in place and will be used is satisfying.

“We do see people using them, and when we do, I can see that I was part of something important. I did the sketch for that,” says Guérin Roy.

CVR’s principal, Lynn Harkness, says it was a priority to inaugurate the classrooms before the students graduated, and has promised to continue with the project.

The school purchased a set of camping chairs for students to use this year, as well as rolling whiteboards for teachers, and garbage cans. “The school is funding and supporting the project in different phases. As we move forward, ideally, we would like to put some funds into permanent tables that cannot be destroyed by our friends that visit during the summers and evenings,” she explains, noting the spaces also benefit the community.

“I think there will be a celebration of what this cohort, this class of 2024, has accomplished,” says Harkness. “And although both designs did not turn out exactly the way that everybody wanted, we are happy to have these outdoor spaces, and we are very excited to build on them as we move forward.”

CVR inaugurates student-designed outdoor classrooms Read More »

Local schools get creative as heat wave washes over the final week of classes

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

“It has been a very difficult few days,” says the New Frontiers School Board director general, Mike Helm, who admits the last week of school was challenging for school staff and their students. “They managed it, but at the same time, it was not easy,” he insists, of the conditions inside Valley schools and centres as a heat wave propelled daytime temperatures into the mid-thirties.

Helm says the school board issued an advisory to staff early in the week, implementing protocols that pertain to oppressive or extreme heat conditions based on Environment Canada recommendations. The soaring temperatures, high humidity, and little respite overnight meant staff and students would be walking into overheated buildings and then working in such an environment throughout the day.

“We put these into place so that schools and centres could mobilize in terms of looking at their cool or green zones, and then have students and staff filter through these while taking on other types of activities, as well to break up the day,” he explains, noting each school has mapped out pre-defined green, yellow, and red zones depending on air flow and ventilation. Elementary teachers were also tasked with ensuring students stayed well hydrated.

The timing of the heat wave meant the impacts at the high school level were slightly less significant. Regular classes were finished, and most of the exams at Chateauguay Valley Regional had already been written. CVR also benefits from a ventilation system that keeps air flowing through the building, which helped to somewhat lower the temperature.

Adult and vocational centres were also monitoring conditions, especially in certain environments such as mechanic or welding shops and greenhouses, and teachers were encouraged to pivot to classrooms.

Helm confirms that no additional funding kicks in when schools overheat. Some administrators used discretionary funds to purchase additional fans for classrooms, but simply installing air conditioning units in each classroom is not a valid option. He says the Education Ministry is also not showing any signs it is prepared to fund the installation of cooling systems in public schools. They are, however, prioritizing this type of capacity in new builds, renovations, and expansion projects.

Looking forward to the fall, Helm says the board is considering installing ceiling fans in some rooms and is working with the material resources department to strategically help schools manage extreme heat.

Despite the heat wave, Helm says the school year has ended on a positive note. “I think our schools have done an exceptional job in terms of trying to close some of the gaps that we have had this year with the negotiations, the lost days, and in terms of our catch-up plan,” he explains. Government funding to provide catch-up initiatives to students will continue into next year, and he confirms this funding will also be used to offset costs for students needing to attend summer school.

He says this year’s graduating classes have proven their resilience. After being forced to isolate for part of their Grade 7 year, they worked through the pandemic, and are the first graduating class since 2019 to write standard ministerial exams.

Having attended several graduation ceremonies, Helm says it has been wonderful to see so many students achieve these milestones. “I think that with these students, our community is in excellent hands as they take on their next challenges.”

Local schools get creative as heat wave washes over the final week of classes Read More »

Performer ‘plays with expression,’ flourishes on TV documentary stage

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

“Telling a story in drag is very different from telling a story out of drag,” says Callan Forrester, who stars as one of five artists featured in season four of the award-winning hybrid stage workshop/documentary series, Drag Heals.

As an actor and producer working in Toronto’s musical theatre scene, Forrester was already quite comfortable on the stage, but drag is relatively new to their performance repertoire. With just over a year of dabbling in drag as Ana Spiral (a self-confessed anxiety queen), Forrester was thrilled to join the cast of the acclaimed series.

“Over the four seasons, they have had people who have been doing drag for decades, and they have had people who have never done drag once in their lives,” says Forrester, who first auditioned for the show in May 2023. “I submitted a tape the day after I had been broken up with, my car was broken into, and my identity was stolen. It was one of the worst weeks of my life.” When the casting call came a few months later, the performer admits it was a huge surprise.

The program follows each artist as they work through a series of intensive workshops to craft a one-person stage show from deeply personal stories and transformative moments. In doing so, the drag artists work and interact with host Tracey Erin Smith as well as several guest coaches, including dancers/choreographers, other drag artists, costume designers, and writers. There are no eliminations; “The goal is to celebrate queer art and to give a platform to queer artists,” says Forrester.

The fourth season culminates in a showcase performance at the Paradise Theatre in Toronto, where the cast shared their one-person shows with a live audience.

For their performance, Forrester uses a lifelong comparison to Jo March, the boldly outspoken dreamer of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel Little Women, as a lens through which to tell their story. “I focus on a lot of different things, but I also talk a lot about grief, and how grief shifts your perspective.”

In a press release issued by series producer Border2Border Entertainment, director Charlie David refers to the cast of drag artists as being “fearless in their honesty and vulnerability,” which he says makes every episode captivating. He suggests viewers can expect “inspiring resilience, and a celebration of self-discovery unlike anything we’ve showcased before.”

Forrester says there are several aspects about the series that make it unique. “It has become a really cool space where you have drag queens, drag kings, drag things, and monarchs, clowns, and all sorts of drag creatures!” they exclaim. “I think often when people think of drag, they only think of queens, or men dressing as women; whereas I was raised as a girl, but I do hyper-femme drag. That causes people to raise eyebrows, sometimes,” they admit. “For me, it is a place to play with gender, and play with expression.”

The reality series is also one of very few that offers participants final approval in the editing room. Forrester says some programs in this genre exist in a moral or ethical grey zone where people have no creative say over how they are being portrayed. “It felt like an environment where we could take risks and be honest and open and vulnerable in a lot of ways, because we knew that at the end of the day, we got to say what went and what didn’t.”

The series has been nominated for two Canadian Screen Awards including Best Lifestyle Program or Series. Forrester notes their participation has been cheered by family and friends, but also by complete strangers who have reached out.

As a burgeoning drag artist, Forrester says they hope to move into the cabaret drag scene and plans to transform the 15-minute solo performance created during the series into a one-hour routine.

As for the potential for a documentary like Drag Heals to dispel some of the beliefs that are often unfairly projected onto drag artists, Forrester says the show is open to everyone. Whether you are part of the queer community, whether you are a fierce ally, or just curious, “Drag can be for you.”

The series is currently being streamed around the world and can be viewed on Apple TV and Amazon Prime platforms.

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Appeals court rules English boards are exempt from parts of Bill 101

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

A Quebec Superior Court judgement that suspended parts of the Charter of the French Language still stands, after a Quebec appeals court judge rejected challenges to the ruling by the Quebec government on May 31. As a result, school boards may continue to communicate in English with other anglophone organizations until the courts officially rule on a legal challenge to Bill 96.

According to a report in the Montreal Gazette, Judge Geneviève Marcotte dismissed an application to appeal by Quebec’s attorney general and the Office québécoais de la langue française in a nine-page ruling. This means English boards remain exempt from six articles of Bill 101 relating to communication, contracts, and the provision of services, for the time being.

The English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is behind the challenge to Bill 96 and the request for a stay. The New Frontiers School Board (NFSB) holds intervenor status in this case, along with the Quebec English School Boards Association and the province’s six other English school boards. “The judge said there’s no urgency in the situation that can’t wait,” explains John Ryan, the chair of the council of commissioners for the NFSB. He suggests the ruling is another positive sign the courts are recognizing the English community’s right to govern and manage its education system.

The judge also ruled that the EMSB may challenge a part of the Superior Court ruling that equates English school boards to school service centres. “There is no comparison at all,” says Ryan, who points out school boards are run by a council that is democratically elected, while service centres are governed by a board with much less influence and a government-appointed director general.

Appeals court rules English boards are exempt from parts of Bill 101 Read More »

Province funds compost bins in three Haut-Saint-Laurent municipalities

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The provincial government is investing over $83,000 in the municipalities of Howick, Saint-Anicet, and Sainte-Barbe for the purchase of residential organic waste collection equipment.

The MRC des Jardins-de-Napierville and the MRC de Beauharnois-Salaberry will also benefit from significant funding through the Programme de traitement des matières organiques par biométhanisation et compostage (PTMOBC), which is part of Quebec’s Stratégie de valorisation de la matière organique (SVMO).

A section of the PTMOBC program was designed to provide financial support to municipalities, Aboriginal communities, and the private sector for the acquisition of collection equipment to recover organic matter through composting or biomethanization. To date, the government has provided financial backing for 82 projects, bringing the total contribution to nearly $13.3 million.

The municipality of Saint-Anicet received $40,403 to help provide 1,800 organic waste or compost collection bins to residents. The financing covers almost half of the projected cost of $88,494. The municipality of Howick will receive up to $17,654 to acquire 354 bins. The municipality of Sainte-Barbe will now be able to offer residential organic waste collection to 959 households throughout its territory, thanks to an investment of $25,045.

The MRC des Jardins-de-Napierville will receive $77,048 towards the acquisition of 11,366 bins, of which the total cost is estimated at $395,186. A funding request by the MRC de Beauharnois-Salaberry was approved for $575,241; this will go towards the purchase of 23,635 bins at an estimated total cost of $2,047,300.

When combined, this new equipment will allow for the collection of an estimated 13,888 tonnes of organic material or compost per year, which includes 578 tonnes between the three municipalities in the Haut-Saint-Laurent.

“Today, we know that reducing greenhouse gas emissions from landfill sites is an effective way of combatting climate change,” said Benoit Charette, minister of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks. In a press release issued by the government confirming the investment in Sainte-Barbe, the minister noted the positive impact of municipal compost programs, and the keen interest expressed by many Quebecers to be helping to find solutions to environmental issues.

Organic waste accounts for around 55 per cent of the 5.8 million tonnes of residual materials disposed of each year in Quebec. The waste sector, which produces some 4.55 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, is the fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the province. The government has set an objective of providing collection services for organic matter across the province by 2025.

“This project is another fine example of the commitment of local people to protecting the environment and playing an active part in the fight against climate change in Quebec,” said Huntingdon MNA Carole Mallette, in reference to the initiative in Sainte-Barbe.

“Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a challenge we must all take up together, for our own good and that of future generations,” she added.

Province funds compost bins in three Haut-Saint-Laurent municipalities Read More »

CISSSMO closes beds, asks the public to avoid emergency rooms

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The management of the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest (CISSSMO) has closed hospital beds and is asking the public to avoid hospital emergency rooms whenever possible over the coming weeks as it copes with severe labour shortages.

The precarious situation in the hospitals has to do with government legislation aimed at phasing out the use of private health agencies.

“As the measures set out in the Act limiting the use of personnel placement agencies and independent workers in the health and social services sector takes effect, the new agency contracts that came into force this week are more restrictive,” explained a communications representative for the CISSSMO. This led directly to a reduction in the number of agency workers available to work in CISSSMO facilities.

As a result, the CISSSMO has been forced to temporarily reorganise its service offering, particularly in hospitals, to prioritize patient care and services. At least 20 beds were closed at the Suroît hospital after activities in the temporary complex located next to the emergency department were reduced. The CISSSMO says that several intensive steps have been implemented to limit the impact on patients, and there are no imminent plans to close additional beds. However, they are monitoring the situation very closely as it evolves.

A vast campaign to hire agency employees was carried out, and nearly 100 workers have joined the public health organization, but the situation remains quite tenuous.

According to the CISSSMO, the Ministry of Health and Social Services, as well as neighbouring health and social service centres and university health and social service centres, have agreed to provide support during this transition period.

The CISSSMO has confirmed that it is redistributing the territories for ambulances, where vehicles carrying residents from certain municipalities will be directed to nearby hospitals, including the Barrie Memorial in Ormstown, to ease the pressure at the Suroît hospital and Anna Laberge Hospital in Chateauguay.

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Three municipalities join network to help victims of domestic violence

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The municipalities of Dundee, Howick and Très-Saint-Sacrement are taking a stand against domestic violence.

All three have partnered with Commerces-Secours to join the network of local businesses and organizations offering a welcoming haven where victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or abuse can go to access support.

Dundee’s mayor, Linda Gagnon, says the initiative started with a suggestion by director general Marc Michot that the municipality do something about violence against women. “We were looking for something that was already organized and structured,” she explains. Fortunately, the two soon found themselves in a meeting that included a presentation on the Commerces-Secours program. “We jumped at the chance!” she exclaims.

A Commerces-Secours sticker is now displayed in the front window of the town hall, and all municipal employees have received awareness training so they can welcome and reassure victims while directing them to a designated space in the building equipped with a telephone and appropriate resources. Those working in the post office housed in the same building have received the same training.

“It is important,” says the mayor, who notes the municipality has previously dealt with incidences related to domestic violence. “We are very isolated,” she admits, while suggesting that because the town hall, post office, and municipal park are all located in the same space, victims will be able to come without raising suspicion. “Citizens have been reacting very, very positively,” she confirms.

Sonia Viau, a support worker with Résidence-Elle du Haut-Saint-Laurent, which is a partner organization with Commerces-Secours, says their goal is to have an affiliated location in each municipality. She says strategic locations such as the town hall in Dundee, as well as those in Howick and Très-Saint-Sacrement, are very important. “If a victim goes to ask for help and is turned away, she won’t seek help again,” she explains, highlighting the importance of the awareness training provided by Commerce-Secours partner organizations.

The network now includes at least nine businesses and organizations across the Vaudreuil-Soulages region, as well as Beauharnois-Salaberry, and the Haut-Saint-Laurent. According to Viau, Commerces-Secours has seen a spike in new member organizations following the March 14 launch of its new website and branding. She says they have received around ten new requests from businesses and organizations in the Vaudreuil area, and at least five located in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.

Gagnon says she is hopeful that more municipalities in the Haut-Saint-Laurent will follow Dundee’s lead and join the network.

For more information on the Commerces-Secours network, contact Sonia Viau at rellesensibilisation@hotmail.com.

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Havelock mayor resigns over toxic work environment

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

For the second time in less than three years, the mayor of the municipality of Havelock has resigned.

Havelock’s director general, Mylène Vincent, tabled Gerald Beaudoin’s official resignation at the start of the May 6 regular council meeting, along with the resignation of councillor number six, Christopher Sherrington. Both positions were subsequently declared vacant.

Beaudoin was elected to the position of mayor during the byelection on November 20, 2022, following the sudden resignation of Stephane Gingras who had won the 2021 municipal election a year earlier.

Beaudoin had previously served as mayor between 1987 and 1992 and he was approached to run again by community members. There were rumblings of some problems at the council table, and he says he thought he could be of some help.

“Last September, I flagged a problem, and suggested several ways to solve this, and unfortunately no progress was made,” says Beaudoin. “I decided skills other than mine were required to rectify the situation,” he adds.

The former mayor admits he was reluctant to resign at this point because he knew it would trigger an election. “At my age, I don’t need to be working in a toxic environment,” he says, referring to the reported atmosphere around the council table. “I thought the sooner we get on with this, the better.”

Beaudoin says he was privileged to have worked with Vincent at the municipality, and he thanks the members of the community for their support during his time as mayor. “I hope there are better days ahead for Havelock,” he concludes.

A byelection for both the position of mayor and councillor seat number six will take place simultaneously in the coming weeks; however, an official date has not been announced. Vincent says the date will be confirmed as early as possible, either during the regular council meeting scheduled to take place on June 3 or during a special meeting later in the month.

In the meantime, the role of acting mayor has been filled by councillor number one, Hélène Lavallée, who was appointed to the position of deputy mayor by resolution during a special meeting on December 19, 2023.

Havelock mayor resigns over toxic work environment Read More »

Wind energy project pulls turbines from Hemmingford

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Over 70 people attended a public consultation on April 29 organized by Kruger Energy, the MRC des Jardins-de-Napierville, and the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke about the Les Jardins wind-energy project. The meeting was held at the Hemmingford Recreation Centre.

The 147-megawatt project will see the construction of a network of 21 wind turbines in the municipalities of Saint-Patrice-de-Sherrington, Saint-Édouard, and Saint-Michel.

Locals were surprised to learn that Kruger Energy no longer expects to build two turbines in the Township of Hemmingford, though the municipality is still involved as electricity will be transmitted via a new substation to be built there.

Jean-Robert Poulin, project development director for Kruger Energy, emphasized that the project is still in the planning phase and could evolve based on impact studies, regulatory requirements, and consultations with local stakeholders and communities.

Poulin confirmed that an environmental impact assessment – including several sound studies and models, a shadow analysis, a landscape study including a visibility analysis and visual simulations, an archaeological assessment, and biological inventories – will be finalized before the end of the year.

Initial presentations will also be submitted to the Bureau d’audiences publique sur l’environnement (BAPE) and the Commission de protection du territoire agricole (CPTAQ) by December. The ensuing approval and permitting process is expected to take up much of 2026. Construction will begin in 2027 and Kruger Energy anticipates the wind farm will be operational by December 2028.

Many concerns were voiced regarding costs, the assessment process, turbine placement, whether follow-ups would take place, and the eventual dismantling of the turbines. Several participants mentioned the meeting could have been better publicized.

The next consultation is expected to take place before the impact assessment is finalized in November, with another happening before the start of construction in April 2027.

Wind energy project pulls turbines from Hemmingford Read More »

Franklin audit recommends improving access to information  

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The final report on an audit of the municipality of Franklin, which was requested by the Commission municipale du Québec (CMQ) following an investigation, was tabled during the May 6 regular municipal council meeting.

The original investigation expressed concerns about the budgetary process undertaken by the municipality. The final version of the audit report on Franklin’s financial reporting, which focused on activities from 2021 to 2023, was published on April 23.

The audit concluded that “The municipality’s financial reporting does not provide citizens with all of the information they need to fully understand the municipality’s finances.” The audit also found that while the council had access to numerous documents during the budget preparation and adoption process, these documents did not contain all the information required to make informed decisions.

The report, which was produced by the Vice-présidence à la verification, recommended the municipality ensure all the information required for citizens to understand the municipality’s finances are produced and made available in a timely manner. The report also recommended the municipality review and improve the documents presented to the council during the preparation and adoption of the budget, including information on the status of debt and accumulated operating surpluses, and information to help the council understand the choices made and variations in budget forecasts.

The commission has asked the municipality to create an action plan to address the recommendations within three months and will follow up on the recommendations after three years.

In a response included with the final report, the municipality stated that several changes have already been made and that the necessary measures to communicate the municipality’s financial information adequately and effectively will be put in place.

Franklin audit recommends improving access to information   Read More »

MAPAQ asks dairy producers to watch for avian flu symptoms in cattle

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

A rare spillover infection of the highly pathogenic avian influenza to a cow has resulted in an outbreak of the disease on dairy farms in nine U.S. states. In response, Quebec has developed a strategy to prevent, monitor, and protect against the spread of the disease.

The United States Department of Agriculture informed the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that a case of pathogenic avian influenza had been confirmed in dairy cattle on March 25. As of May 12, at least 42 cases were confirmed in the United States. Currently, no cases have been detected in Canada.

According to Dr. Luc Bergeron, the head veterinarian at the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation (MAPAQ), avian flu does not cause mortality in cattle, but it can produce negative economic impacts on a farm. There is a possibility that transmission could occur between dairy and poultry farms, where the consequences are much more catastrophic. He cautions there is also a concern the virus could mutate and become more virulent, or more easily transmissible to humans.

The disease impacts older dairy cows and those that have been in milk for over 150 days. In all cases milk production will drop in an infected cow. The milk will also be thicker in consistency, becoming like colostrum. The animal will also have a decreased appetite. Morbidity is around 10 per cent, and clinical signs usually last from 10 to 14 days.

Bergeron said biosecurity measures should now be implemented on farms and the introduction of new cattle should be limited. Any symptoms should be reported to the CFIA and the MAPAQ, which will conduct an epidemiological investigation. Bergeron confirmed that in the event a positive case is identified, the farm will be required to self-quarantine.

MAPAQ asks dairy producers to watch for avian flu symptoms in cattle Read More »

CISSSMO is now screening for deafness in infants

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Recently, the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest (CISSSMO) introduced an early hearing detection program to screen newborn babies for hearing issues.

The service was introduced at the Hôpital du Suroît’s Centre mère-enfant birthing centre in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield on March 18, and the hospital had already screened 80 babies as of April 19.

PHOTO CISSSMO
Only hours old, newborn Jackie James Fenlon was the first baby to benefit from the new early hearing detection program at the Hôpital du Suroît’s Centre mère-enfant birthing centre in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.

“Nursing assistants are specially trained to detect early deafness from the very first days of life. In this way, early interventions can be undertaken to reduce the impact of deafness on the child’s development,” shares Catherine Brousseau, a communications representative for the CISSSMO.

Babies born at the Hôpital du Suroît can now be screened free of charge before being discharged. However, in the event a new family is not seen before being discharged, they are welcome to make an appointment for their infant as an outpatient and return for the screening.

The CISSSMO says that four in 1000 babies are born with some degree of hearing loss. These tests are a quick way to see if a baby may be affected. Participation in the program is offered to all parents for their infants; however, it is voluntary, and a consent form must be signed in order to participate.

The service will also be available starting this spring at the Hôpital Anna-Laberge birth pavilion in Chateauguay. The process is a simple one, and Brousseau assures parents that “The screening test is rapid, painless, and harmless for the baby. The tests can be carried out on a newborn as early as 24 hours old to the age of one month old.”

CISSSMO is now screening for deafness in infants Read More »

The Complices Alimentaires adds more fruit and vegetable freezers to its network

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The Complices Alimentaires inaugurated the latest addition to its network of fruit and vegetable freezers at the Huntingdon Medical Centre on April 18.

The “smart” or self-serve freezer is now stocked with low-cost frozen fruits and vegetables from local farms that was processed and packaged as part of an employability program at Huntingdon’s École Arthur-Pigeon high school. The affordable products are now available for purchase through a social pricing system, where clients pay what they can afford.

New freezers were also recently installed in Mercier and Chateauguay, bringing the total number of service points to ten locations, including the Hemmingford post office, the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent, the town hall in Dundee, and La Bouffe Additionnelle. The organization, which reduces food waste by recuperating locally harvested fruits and vegetables that would otherwise go bad, also has plans to install a freezer in the library at the Valleyfield CEGEP.

PHOTO Sarah Rennie
Nathalie Collin of the Complices Alimentaires inaugurated the new ‘smart’ freezer at the Huntingdon Medical Centre on April 18 with Dr. Fabienne Djandij, who co-owns the building.

Project manager Nathalie Collin says the collective is now receiving requests from different organizations to install more freezers. She says the challenge for this year will be its employability program, which now includes 15 employees. “We believe that if we are going to improve the lives of those working for us, we need to pay them,” she explains, noting there are no volunteers.

“We have been able to help numerous young people gain access to the job market,” says Collin, but, she admits, this involves an investment in time and energy to ensure the employees are well supported. This is the first year since the project started that the Complices have maintained their employees throughout the year.

The “smart” freezer in the Huntingdon Medical Centre was installed thanks to funding from the Table de concertation en sécurité alimentaire du Haut-Saint-Laurent. “When they approached us, we jumped at the opportunity,” says Marie-Josée Fournier, who co-owns the medical centre with Dr. Fabienne Djandji. “We are very happy with the freezer and with what it brings to the population. Everyone can eat, and it doesn’t cost very much.”

The Complices Alimentaires adds more fruit and vegetable freezers to its network Read More »

Huntingdon BMO closes its doors

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Clients of the Bank of Montreal (BMO) in Huntingdon will now have to do their banking at the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield location or switch their accounts to one of the two remaining banking institutions in the town.

The Huntingdon BMO was closed on April 26. Shortly before 5 p.m. security professionals in a Garda truck pulled up to the Chateauguay Street location to empty the ATM. White coverings were installed over the Bank of Montreal signs, and the doors were locked.

All bank accounts, loans, and investments with the Huntingdon branch have automatically been transferred to the location on rue Nicholson in Valleyfield.

PHOTO Sarah Rennie
The Bank of Montreal in Huntingdon was permanently closed on April 26. All accounts have been transferred to the nearest branch in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.

The decision to close the Huntingdon branch was made public last September when signs announcing the change and thanking customers for their loyalty were posted inside the bank. A public meeting took place on November 21, where clients were told the decision to close was final and the full-service ATM would be removed.

“The transition is going well,” said Jeff Roman, the director of Enterprise Media Relations with BMO. In an email, he confirmed that the “BMO team at our Valleyfield branch is welcoming customers from Huntingdon.”

According to Roman, the four employees from the Huntingdon branch have transitioned to the Valleyfield location or to other opportunities within the BMO network. He did not comment on the future of the now-empty building in Huntingdon, though it was previously revealed it would be put up for sale.

Huntingdon BMO closes its doors Read More »

Historic O’Connor Building gets a second life

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Work has begun to restore the historic O’Connor Building in Huntingdon.

The century-old structure, which was listed as a heritage building by the town of Huntingdon in 2009, had been abandoned for several years before a fire last April resulted in significant damage.

Built in 1915, the building included a restaurant, a post office, movie theatre, and several other businesses and organizations over the years. Now, owner Howard Greenspoon of the Montreal-based holding company Greenvest Enterprises, Inc. plans to restore the building for residential purposes.

PHOTO Sarah Rennie
The historic O’Connor Building is being restored in Huntingdon.

Work began months ago to stabilize the structure from the inside. The annex at the rear of the building where the fire originated was recently demolished and is currently being rebuilt. According to Huntingdon mayor André Brunette, an engineer reported that most of the damage caused by fire was limited to the annex; however, the front section was badly affected by smoke and water damage. Water had also been infiltrating the building from holes in the roof for years.

“We had no choice but to demolish the interior of the building, including the entire roof and upper floor,” says Greenspoon, who admits the structure was in jeopardy of collapsing following the fire. He says the town agreed to issue a building permit, provided the original façade was maintained along with the look or character of the building.

“What was important for the town was to preserve the building,” says Huntingdon director general Johanne Hébert, who confirms the town has been working closely with Greenspoon on the project.

During the April 2 regular meeting of the municipal council, the town introduced a revitalization program for the restoration of historic buildings in the downtown area.

The main objectives of the program will be to provide support to the owners of buildings of particular interest for restorative work, to rehabilitate the built environment, and to preserve historic buildings within the town. As part of the program, financial assistance for a maximum period of ten years, including in the form of a tax credit, can be offered to property owners.

Brunette confirms the project to restore the O’Connor Building corresponds with the criteria set out in the program. “It is a $2.5 million investment,” he says, of the work being done by Greenspoon, while pointing out that to benefit from the program, the exterior structure of the building, including the façade and the lettering, must remain the same.

“We are doing our best to try to salvage this important heritage property which will hopefully be enjoyed once again by the people of Huntingdon,” says Greenspoon.

The town is also working on a zoning bylaw that will convert the commercial space to residential and allow for the creation of 20 apartments in the building. Parking for the residents will be underground. Brunette says there is already some interest in the apartments.

Historic O’Connor Building gets a second life Read More »

Judge stays parts of Bill 96 to allow the use of English in school board communications

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

A ruling issued by a Quebec Superior Court judge on April 10 has suspended certain provisions of the province’s language charter that required English school board written communications be issued exclusively in French.

In a 38-page decision, Justice Suzanne Courchesne stayed six articles of Bill 96 relating to communication, contracts, and the provision of services. These provisions required, among other things, that English School Boards communicate only in French when interacting with English-speaking groups and community organizations, including the Quebec English School Boards Association and the English Parents’ Committee Association of Quebec.

The English Montreal School Board, which requested the stay of proceedings last November, is also behind a legal challenge to the constitutionality of Bill 96. The board argued that the suspension of several provisions would prevent the organization from undergoing irreparable harm while the court weighs the legal challenge to the language legislation.

Courchesne states in her decision that, “Clearly, the prohibition on English school boards using English in their written communications, contracts, and services with partners from the minority language community, in the majority of situations, causes them serious and irreparable harm.”

The ruling does include an exception for situations where the partner or co-contractor of the school board requires the use of the official French language.

The stay extends to all English school boards and will remain in place until a judgement is issued by the court on Bill 96.

John Ryan, the chair of the New Frontiers School Board Council of Commissioners, says those involved with the constitutionality lawsuit expect the legal battle may drag on. The NFSB was granted intervenor status in the EMSB’s request for the stay, along with the Quebec English School Boards Association and six other English school boards.

“It appears to be a common-sense judgement,” says Ryan, who suggests the ruling is “another piece that supports the arguments we have been putting forward all along” regarding the constitutionality of the law.

“Had this stay not come through it would have certainly made things more challenging,” Ryan acknowledges. He says there is little doubt that requiring school boards to divert resources to accommodate unnecessary rules would have resulted in negative consequences.

“We don’t restrict ourselves to English when French is required,” Ryan maintains. He points out that school boards like the NFSB have traditionally operated bilingually. “We communicate in French in many instances,” he says, suggesting this is something they have been doing all along.

Ryan says he recognizes the stay represents good news for the English-speaking community. “There is a little hope,” he admits, while hesitating to suggest whether this ruling might be a precursor to something bigger.

“Bill 96 is a serious case and a fundamental case, so we will just have to wait.”

Judge stays parts of Bill 96 to allow the use of English in school board communications Read More »

Volunteers make a very big difference for CHSLD residents

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Everyone who knows Huntingdon resident Shirley Stark knows not to organize anything with her on Tuesday afternoons.

For the past 35 years, Stark has been volunteering every Tuesday afternoon at the Huntingdon Residential and Long-term Care Centre (CHSLD), where she leads a team of volunteers in organizing small concerts by local musicians as part of the Tender Loving Care program. She first learned of the musical therapy program while visiting her father when he was a resident of the care centre. She began volunteering right away and has never looked back.

At 91 years old, Stark says her work with the residents over the years has played a very important part in her life. “When you see their smiles and how they are enjoying themselves, you enjoy coming,” she says, while adding that her volunteer experience has been very rewarding.

Along with Stark, the team of volunteers behind the Tender Loving Care program includes Dawn Fleming, Mary Shewchuk, Denise Brown, Diane Hayvren, Mary Savage, Muguette Quenneville, and Vicky Krajcar. “We have all stuck together and developed friendships out of it all,” says Stark, who is careful to include the musicians as volunteers as well.

“We are so fortunate the musicians all like to come. They give us a lovely afternoon of music,” says Stark, of the different bands and groups who happily play free of charge for the residents each week.

Around 85 per cent of the 60 residents at the CHSLD take part regularly in the TLC afternoons. Many have limited mobility and are living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, but this does not matter to the TLC team. Stark says they work to create a festive atmosphere, where the volunteers dance and interact with residents. “They know we are going to look after them for the afternoon,” says Stark of the trusting bond the volunteers develop with the residents.

Stark says she is often struck by the way music reaches the residents. When the bands play certain songs, they can sing along to every word. There are often requests for specific songs as well. She remembers one woman who was always agitated during the musical afternoons. When the volunteers discovered she was a former music teacher, they wheeled her up to the piano. “When she put her hands on it, she just played beautifully,” recalls Stark. “We remember them all fondly,” she says, with a smile.

PHOTO Sarah Rennie
Volunteers with the CISSSMO were able to enjoy a recent performance by Elvis tribute artist Sylvain Leduc. Events such as this would not be possible without these dedicated volunteers. 

The staff are also very aware of the importance of these afternoons, as are the families of residents, who sometimes join in on the fun. Véronique Blais, a communications and public affairs representative with the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest (CISSSMO), says volunteers make a significant contribution to improving and maintaining the quality of life of residents and their families. Their work complements that of the healthcare teams and provides a more human care experience for residents, she explains.

There are 52 active volunteers with the Huntingdon CHSLD, which is significant considering there has been a significant decrease in the number of people donating their time throughout the CISSSMO since the start of the pandemic. “We currently estimate that there are 300 volunteers across all our facilities,” says Blais, who notes there were upwards of 600 volunteers prior to 2020. She says the CISSSMO is now recruiting new volunteers in the hope of matching their pre-COVID numbers by 2025.

Stark says the pandemic stopped the TLC Tuesdays for a while, and there have been a couple of afternoons where the activity has been cancelled due to an outbreak of illness or COVID in the building. Her group of dedicated volunteers doesn’t hesitate to get back to work once visitors are allowed to return. “We have to rock the boat and keep going,” she says of their devotion to the residents and the program.

“Shirley is a role model,” says Lisa de Repentigny, who works as a leisure technician at the CHSLD. “She likes music, she likes people, and it is very easy for her to come,” she explains, while highlighting how important the work of volunteers like Stark and her TLC crew are to the residents.

“We see a big change in our residents,” de Repentigny says. “[The volunteers] bring a little bit of normalcy,” she adds. “We are very lucky to have them.”

Volunteers make a very big difference for CHSLD residents Read More »

Cuts to Canada Summer Jobs program will impact employers, young people

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The budget allocated to the Canada Summer Jobs program for the Salaberry-Suroît region has once again been cut by the federal government.

“It was with great disappointment that I noted another three-per-cent cut in funding for the program compared with 2023,” wrote local MP Claude DeBellefeuille, in a communication to area employers who had applied for funding to hire young workers over the summer.

The drop in funding amounts to nearly $24,000 less in wage subsidies compared to last year. This, when added to considerable cuts made in 2023, represents about 40 per cent of the 2022 budget for the riding. In 2022, the region benefitted from $1,262,598 in funding. The 2023 budget was cut back to $830,771, and the 2024 budget is currently $806,791.

In 2023, the program financed at least 219 employment opportunities, while the same program provided funding for over 365 jobs in 2022.

“It is the region’s young people who will suffer, as they will be deprived of many job opportunities,” said DeBellefeuille, while noting many employers who applied to the program for this summer will receive no funding or an amount that will fall short of their needs.

The MP said she disagrees with the decision to restrict funding, and she is currently working to ensure that the Ministry of Women, Gender Equality, and Youth, and Minister Marci Ien, are aware of the impact these cuts will have on the community.

DeBellefeuille noted she would be keeping a close eye on any developments with the program.

Cuts to Canada Summer Jobs program will impact employers, young people Read More »

Farmers stage protest, demand government support

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

A convoy of more than 105 tractors left Saint-Clet for Vaudreuil on April 10, as part of a demonstration staged by more than 250 frustrated producers over the looming crisis in agriculture and government inaction.

Several Valley producers made the trek, most by car or pickup, to add their voices to what became a resounding cry for the government to put a stop to the pressure mounting on farmers.

Protesting producers called on the government for better support, regulatory relief, a reduction in red tape and bureaucracy, a review of agricultural financing, and the introduction of fair environmental, health, and economic standards that will allow farmers to remain competitive in international markets.

PHOTO Sarah Rennie

Jérémie Letellier, the president of the Fédération de l’Union des Producteurs Agricoles (UPA) de la Montérégie, admitted to the crowd that he was taken aback by the number of tractors, while suggesting he had underestimated the level of frustration farmers were experiencing and their support for the growing protest movement.

“Our current governments take us for granted,” said Letellier. “If agriculture were important to our governments, there would be no foreign products on our shelves at a fraction of the cost of production for our producers. There would be true reciprocity of standards. If agriculture were important to our governments, there wouldn’t be a mountain of red tape and bureaucracy, there would be regulatory relief!” he exclaimed, to rousing applause and cheers from the crowd.

Letellier was joined by the presidents from local UPA syndicates, including Beauharnois-Salaberry, the Haut-Saint-Laurent, the Jardins-de-Napierville, Roussillon, and Vaudreuil-Soulanges. He was also flanked by Martin Caron, the general president of the UPA, as well as representatives from the Association de la relève agricole de la Montérégie, and several producers who spoke on behalf of their respective agricultural sectors.

The protest in Vaudreuil was the second in a trio of demonstrations that took place last week. A convoy of over 220 tractors rolled through the streets of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu on April 5, where over 400 producers gathered in front of the office Louis Lemieux, the MNA for Saint-Jean. Another 160 tractors made their way through the city of Saint-Hyacinthe on April 12, passing by the office of Chantal Soucy, the MNA for Saint-Hyacinthe, before joining a rally staged by over 300 producers and young farmers.

“It is the local unions who are building this movement,” said Éric Leboeuf, the president of the Haut-Saint-Laurent UPA syndicate. “The important thing is to have more recognition from the government. It’s not normal for people to eat three times a day but less than one percent of the budget is allocated to agriculture,” he pointed out.

“We are being asked to be more and more accountable. The administrative tasks are heavy, and they take up a lot of our time and resources when we already know how to feed people,” he said. “We do it well. We take care of the environment. We have ways of doing things that are getting better and better. We are the solution!” he exclaimed, insisting it is not the government putting action into place. 

Leboeuf’s words were echoed by Ange-Marie Delforge, the president of the Vaudreuil-Soulanges UPA syndicate, who said she was moved but concerned to see so many producers gathered in protest. “We are professionals in agriculture, but the government does not recognize us as such!” she exclaimed, lamenting, “We are far from a priority.”

Hinchinbrooke-based dairy producer Noel Erskine was among the crowd waving a rally sign demanding more support for young farmers. Having taken over his family’s farm two years ago, he said things are going well, but it’s hard work balancing increased expenses with productivity.

“We are a dairy farm, and as a collective we’ve decided that consumers want us to go in a certain direction in terms of animal welfare and how their food is produced. That doesn’t come without a cost. It requires investment, and with investment comes interest rates,” he sighed. “We are just looking for the government to make sure they have our back, because it feels like they haven’t been helping as much as they should,” Erskine added.

Also waving a sign was Josée Lajeunesse, an outspoken advocate for mental health services for farmers and co-owner of the Domaine du Paysan nursery and garden centre in Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka. “We’ve come to the point where we spend more time in the office than in the field or greenhouses,” she said. “At some point, well, it’s exhausting!” she exclaimed. “And if the farmer is not doing well, their mental health takes a mean hit. And that’s what needs saving too. We must save our farmers,” she added.

Farmers stage protest, demand government support Read More »

Pet therapy benefits NFSB students and staff

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Chateauguay Valley Regional High School’s vice-principal, Sandra Grant, first began working with pet therapist Chantal Pion during the pandemic.

“We were noticing anxiety levels were rising, and we were worried about the students coming back,” says Grant, who was working at Howard S. Billings high school in Chateauguay at the time. “When I came to CVR as vice-principal, I said there was no way I was coming without my dogs!” she exclaims, referring to Pion and her team of professionally trained therapy animals.

Grant had previously worked at CVR, but shortly after returning last fall, she says she noticed a change. “There was a different kind of stress including past anxieties from COVID that needed to be dealt with,” she explains. “I wanted to do something and having had such great success with pet therapy at Billings, I knew it really worked.”

PHOTOS Sarah Rennie
A Grade 8 student bonds with Monsieur Emile during a recent pet therapy session at CVR.

Grant turned to Megan L’Heureux, a community development agent with the New Frontiers School Board, who was tasked with finding a way to fund the project. L’Heureux reached out to the Montérégie West Community Network, a long-time partner with the NFSB, which was able to finance the pet therapy visits with a grant received through the Youth and mental health initiative offered by the Community Health and Social Services Network.

Once the funding was secured, Grant says they began to look at which students might benefit the most from this service. Results from a school survey indicated girls in Grade 8 were suffering from higher levels of anxiety, so the administration decided to focus their efforts on a core group of around 12 students from this grade level. “It is the end of a cycle. They are just on the cusp of senior school, when anxiety levels can rise even higher,” explains Grant.

The program, which started officially on March 14, includes 30-minute visits with the animals every two weeks, for a total of eight weeks. Pion has now been to CVR twice with her animal companions, including Happy the turtle dove, bunnies Choupette and Luna, dogs Beatrice, Rosalie, and Monsieur Emile, as well as a fluffy guinea pig. The students enter the room one-at-a-time and Pion observes them as they naturally gravitate toward one of the animals. Pion is provided with some background details on each student, and she works closely with Donna Roberts of CVR’s Mediation Station, who follows up with the girls after each session.

Pion says she has already noticed a difference in the participants from the first to second session. “We work on the students’ emotions,” she explains. “For some kids it is hard just to come into the school, and now they have a good reason,” she says. “We are not here to try to fix the problem, but to help them to live with this problem,” she adds. Spending time with the animals is calming, and bonding activities help to improve self-esteem and boost confidence.

“There are so many benefits. As a dog owner, I know,” says CVR principal Lynn Harkness, who admits they wish the program could be extended to the entire school. She says they are hoping to develop the program for next year. “We are very blessed to have this opportunity,” she continues, noting the animals are beneficial for her staff as well.

NFSB community development agent Megan L’Heureux worked with CVR vice-principal Sandra Grant and staff member Donna Roberts, as well as Joanne Basilières of the MWCN, to bring pet therapist Chantal Pion and her team of therapy animals to CVR.

HAECC students get in some pets

Pion also visited students at HAECC with her animals on March 18. The visit was organized by NFSB community learning technician Mckenzie Hooker in partnership with the MWCN. All six groups within the school, including the social integration classes, horticulture, and landscaping students, and those in the academic program, spent some time with the animal companions. Staff members were also able to enjoy some time with the animals before the end of the day.

“I wanted to bring a bit of happy into the school,” says Hooker, who admits the purpose of Pion’s visit was not the same as her work at CVR. “The students just melted toward the animals,” she says, confirming the initiative was a success.

Pet therapy benefits NFSB students and staff Read More »

NFSB welcomes new education dashboard

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Quebec government has launched a new education dashboard to publicly track and transparently report information about the sector.

The platform provides access to relevant and reliable information on nine indicators, including graduation rates at different levels, the results of ministerial examinations at the secondary level, job vacancies, and air quality in schools. Some of the statistics are available at the provincial level, while others are searchable and provide data on specific school boards or service centres.

“Having access to data is essential to making informed decisions and providing better support for our students,” said Education minister Bernard Drainville, in a post to social media.

The New Frontiers School Board is on the same page. “Our feeling is that it is good. The more information we have, the better,” says John Ryan, who chairs the NFSB’s Council of Commissioners. He admits however, that the way the new tool was announced by the Education Ministry was perhaps less appreciated. “It caught everyone off guard,” he says, suggesting there was absolutely no advance warning given to school boards or service centres that this information would be made so public.

For example, the dashboard shows general statistics such as the total number of students registered with the NFSB, but also detailed information on success rates for each ministerial exam. According to the platform, there were 3,164 jobs available within the public education sector as of last January, including two teaching and three support staff positions at the NFSB, and 21 positions within the Centre de services scolaire de la Vallée-des-Tisserands. It is also possible to compare between service centres or school boards.

Some within the sector have criticized the dashboard because it could pit boards or service centres against one another. Ryan says concerns over competition are real but may not be the best way to approach the dashboard and its usage. “There is such variety in schools from one region or community to another, including their social portraits,” he says, suggesting the tool works well to provide a more complete picture of what is going on within each board or service centre. 

“Having access to more data and more tools that we can work with is an immediate plus,” he says.

NFSB welcomes new education dashboard Read More »

Gault Institute creates opportunities while managing overcrowding

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Gault Institute principal Anick Leclerc started the school year in a scramble to find enough desks and furniture, after enough children to fill a separate classroom were registered at the last minute. Leclerc says the fact the school population is booming is a good thing, but it has meant thinking creatively and reaching out to new partners.

“Space is an issue,” says Leclerc, noting they were forced to close the cafeteria to create two additional teaching spaces. The school serves 180 hot lunches per day, and while some students are eating in classrooms, others are now dining on the stage in the gym. “It is not ideal,” she admits, acknowledging she has put plans to launch a breakfast program at the school on hold because of space constraints.

PHOTO Sarah Rennie
The front yard at Gault Institute in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield now includes several elements that make up the Kinder Garden, including an outdoor teaching space, a gazebo, and plenty of opportunities for creative learning.

The growing number of students has motivated Leclerc to reconsider almost everything, from class sizes, to creating outdoor teaching spaces, and adding additional recess periods to reduce the number of students on the playground and consequently the number of incidents and accidents.

“We really need to think,” Leclerc says. The school is currently renting the basement of a neighbouring church to use as a gym. “They are beautiful partners,” she exclaims, noting the school rents out its gym facilities to the church on Saturdays in return. “We share many things,” she says, including the playground.

The school has built what is referred to as a ‘Kinder Garden’ in the front yard, which includes a teaching space with tree stump seating, a play area, gazebo, and garden. The project cost $26,000 to put in place and included $10,000 in additional equipment. The idea behind the space is to inspire loose parts play, where students can learn from using natural or everyday objects in an unstructured environment.

Leclerc says she is focused on making the school feel safer and more homelike for her students and for the staff. She admits there is work to be done, and the space constraints make it tough at times. “We have never had this high of numbers at Gault,” she says, while pointing out the need for space is nothing new. The school has undergone three expansions since opening its doors in 1895. The latest addition, on the south side facing Dufferin Street, was completed in 2002. Now the New Frontiers School Board (NFSB) is hoping to expand again by adding a second floor to a section of the school to ease crowding.

“It is not easy on the staff, and we appreciate the effort they are making,” says John Ryan, the chair of the NFSB Council of Commissioners. He notes the board is also managing ballooning populations at the four Chateauguay elementary schools (Centennial Park, Harmony, Mary Gardner, and St. Willibrord) and at the Chateauguay Valley Career Education Centre (CVCEC) in Ormstown.

Ryan says resolutions to apply for expansion have been approved and sent on to the Education Ministry. The board is hoping to hear back as early as this June as to whether the government will fund feasibility studies, which constitute the next stage in the expansion process.

Gault Institute creates opportunities while managing overcrowding Read More »

La Bouffe Additionnelle needs support for cooler wheels

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The La Bouffe Additionelle food pantry in Huntingdon recently received just under $48,500 from the provincial government to purchase new freezers and automotive equipment. Essentially, the organization is looking to invest in a refrigerated truck, and soon.

The funding is part of the Quebec Food Banks Infrastructure program to fight food insecurity by strengthening the province’s aid network, reducing food waste, and improving storage capacity.

The Moisson Sud-Ouest food bank, which serves over 80 organizations in the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent, MRC de Beauharnois-Salaberry, and MRC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges, also received $500,000 in funding through this initiative for the expansion of its new warehouse in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. La Bouffe Additionnelle, which is one of the organizations served by Moisson Sud-Ouest, learned about the call for projects through the regional food bank.

A refrigerated truck would allow La Bouffe Additionnelle to travel greater distances to collect donated food products from local grocery stores. With the current vehicle, the organization is restricted to the Huntingdon area, and drivers are not able to go even as far as Ormstown to collect goods because the truck is unable to keep products cold. The situation becomes even more pressing come May when budgetary restrictions will force Moisson Sud-Ouest to stop deliveries to the area.

Sylvie Racette, the director of La Bouffe Additionnelle, says a new truck is essential, but the organization is still short more than half of the funds necessary to purchase the vehicle. She has applied to the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent’s second call for vitalisation projects, but she is looking for private donations as well to help cover the costs.

Racette says that along with being able to collect more goods, the organization is hoping to use the truck to help those facing food insecurity in more remote areas of the Haut-Saint-Laurent who may not be able to travel to Huntingdon. They also hope to be able to loan the truck out to other community organizations working to fight food insecurity in the region.

Need continues to grow

Racette says the need in the area for food support is significant. “It is growing. I have seen an increase since I started last June,” she notes, while acknowledging the clientele is changing. She says the organization has gone from helping seven or eight clients per day to as many as 20. “The paradigm has changed,” she says, noting they are in the process of adjusting their rules around who is eligible for help. With inflation, some who own their own home and have jobs are still struggling to make ends meet, she explains.

This past December the organization distributed 450 food baskets. Racette says that while the demand has increased, so too has the number of volunteers. At least 20 people volunteered to help with the Christmas basket distribution, and she has six volunteers who regularly come to help. She notes that the community is also becoming more involved. For example, the Darragh Trucking Company loaned the organization a truck to keep food from spoiling when supplies surpassed their freezer capacity last December. Maison Russet also helped to store frozen goods. “The yesses came quickly,” she says.

Racette notes that after undergoing a period of transition, the food pantry is on solid footing with a supportive board of directors and new projects on the horizon.

“We dream about being able to provide Easter food baskets,” she says, suggesting they could also provide baskets at the start of the school year to help young families, or during other more difficult times of the year. “We simply don’t realize the extent of the need within the community,” she admits.

La Bouffe Additionnelle needs support for cooler wheels Read More »

Creating a safety net for victims of domestic violence

Local Journalism Initiative / / /

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Commerces-Secours, a regional initiative to provide a haven for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or abuse in collaboration with local businesses, unveiled its distinctive new website and branding on March 14.

Representatives from several community organizations dedicated to supporting victims of domestic or sexual violence in Vaudreuil-Soulanges, Beauharnois-Salaberry, and the Haut-Saint-Laurent gathered at the Musée de sociéte des Deux-Rives (MUSO) in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield for the launch. They were joined by Pierre-Olivier Gagnon, the chief prosecutor for the western Quebec office of the Directeur de poursuites criminelles et pénales, several officers from the Sûreté du Québec and regional police forces, as well as Salaberry-Suroît MP Claude DeBellefeuille and representatives for provincial MNAs Carole Mallette, Claude Reid, Marie-Claude Nichols, and Marilyn Picard.

PHOTO Sarah Rennie
Members of the committee behind the Commerces-Secours initiative unveiled the new website and branding affiliated with the organization on March 14 in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.

The drive behind the innovative project stems from Maryse Filion, a domestic abuse survivor who wanted to help other victims find help. Commerces-Secours brings together a network of local businesses offering a safe and discreet environment where victims of domestic violence can go to access support.

Participating businesses are identified by a Commerces-Secours sticker in the front window. Employees are provided with awareness training so they can welcome and reassure victims while directing them to a safe space within the building where they will find appropriate resources.

“We’re looking to provide a safe place for victims of domestic violence, but we’re also aiming to build a strong social safety net throughout the region, demonstrating that this issue is a priority for our community,” said Filion.

The initiative was originally launched as a pilot project in 2021 by the Vaudreuil-Soulanges and Suroît domestic and sexual violence committees. The 13-person committee behind the project now includes representatives from the Haut-Saint-Laurent as well.

There are currently six organizations participating in the program, including the IGA Extra Famille Vincent in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, the IGA Extra Famille Viau in Vaudreuil-Dorion, the Familiprix pharmacy in Saint-Polycarpe, the Jean-Coutu in Île-Perrot, as well the Municipality of Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, and the City of Beauharnois.

The new website, which was also unveiled as part of the launch, is designed to allow victims to find participating businesses quickly and easily. The site also provides a centralized location for information on different support organizations and resources within the region.

The website includes a simple form that businesses interested in participating in the initiative can submit online. A representative from Commerces-Secours will respond quickly to complete the registration process.

Creating a safety net for victims of domestic violence Read More »

Local officials emphasize vigilance during measles outbreak

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

As of March 19, the Quebec government confirmed 21 cases of measles have been reported since the start of 2024, exposing several thousand individual to the highly contagious disease in Montreal, Laval, the Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec, as well as the Laurentides regions.

The Centre integré de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest (CISSSMO) confirms there have been no cases reported in the Montérégie region to date. The regional health authority is however reminding the public to be on the lookout for possible symptoms, and to follow public health recommendations.

Each measles case reported in Quebec triggers a public health investigation to determine the source of the infection and to identify those who may have been exposed to the virus. According to the Direction de santé publique de la Montérégie (DSPM), only two of the 19 cases identified originated outside of Quebec, which suggests the disease is being transmitted within the province. The DSPM confirms that many of those considered to have been in contact with the potentially serious disease reside in the Montérégie, and an operation is underway to reach out to those who may be at risk.

The government is also maintaining a list of places and dates where people may have been exposed to a confirmed case of measles as of February 21, including locations such as the Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, Montreal metro lines, as well as the Montreal Children’s Hospital, Ste-Justine Hospital, several daycares, different pharmacies, and businesses. The list is updated daily, and because the measles outbreak is a matter of public security, the information is available in English on the Quebec.ca website.

Vaccination is key

The CISSSMO is reporting an increase in the number of requests for measles vaccinations at local points of service. Those born before 1970, those with a medical certificate confirming they had measles before January 1, 1996, and those who have been vaccinated against the virus are considered adequately protected. The Quebec government is strongly encouraging those who are not protected to get the vaccine.

Information about measles was recently sent directly to parents of school-age children by local school boards and service centres following a directive from the Ministry of Health and Social Services. A representative for the CISSMO also confirms that “Teams are making telephone calls and are preparing written communications to reach the parents of children whose vaccination status is incomplete.”

The measles vaccine is available as part of the provincial immunization program at vaccination clinics for children aged 12 to 24 months at CLSCs in the Haut-Saint-Laurent. It is also available free of charge by appointment to older children and adults who are considered unprotected at local points of service in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Mercier, Les Côteaux, Chateauguay, Vaudreuil-Dorion, and Lacolle. Appointments can be scheduled via the clicsante.ca website, or by calling 1-877-817-5279.

Local officials emphasize vigilance during measles outbreak Read More »

Godmanchester council passes non-confidence motion against mayor

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Godmanchester mayor Pierre Poirier has lost the support of his municipal council.

During the regular council meeting on February 5, the six members of the municipality’s council formally requested a confidence vote take place against the mayor.

The motion was brought forward by councillor Jean-Maurice Daoust, citing several reasons for which the council has lost confidence in their elected leader. The members passed the motion unanimously after expressing concerns over transparency and the mayor’s handling of municipal affairs.

The motion states that the council lost confidence in the mayor’s ability to ensure the faithful application of municipal bylaws and resolutions, and in his capacity to ensure that municipal revenues are collected and spent as intended. It also notes that councillors are no longer confident in Poirier’s ability to exercise his powers of supervision, investigation, and control over the administration and work carried out by municipal employees. Finally, the motion asserts that councillors have serious doubts as to whether all pertinent information or recommendations are being communicated to the council by the mayor.

As an expression of opinion on the part of the council, the motion is symbolic but does not remove the mayor from office as Quebec law does not provide a framework for non-confidence votes at the municipal level. According to sources, a formal request for the mayor to step down has not been issued.

Poirier had previously announced that he does not intend to run again in the 2025 municipal election. He has served as the mayor of Godmanchester since 1999.

Godmanchester council passes non-confidence motion against mayor Read More »

School’s out for NFSB students during total eclipse

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Valley students will be able to watch the total solar eclipse from their own backyards on April 8. The New Frontiers School Board (NFSB) has announced that all elementary and secondary schools will be closed that day as a preventive measure.

A solar eclipse is a rare astronomical phenomenon, and looking at the eclipse during the different phases without proper eye protection can result in permanent eye damage or “solar retinopathy,” where the retina is burned by the brightness of the sun. The moon is expected to cross paths with the sun between 2:14 and 4:36 p.m. on April 8, which coincides directly with the period during which most students will be dismissed from school.

NFSB director general Michael Helm confirmed the decision to make April 8 a pedagogical day in a communication sent to all parents on March 12. Helm explains that the decision was made because the board “cannot ensure close supervision during student dismissal, and because we are concerned for the safety of our students who may be tempted to watch the solar eclipse without proper eye protection.”

Helm says the board worked through several scenarios to keep the schools open, but the timing of the eclipse made this too difficult. “We feel that this is the right decision based on all the information,” said Helm, noting the Ministry of Education was supportive of any decision so long as it maximized school days. “We had one more pedagogical day available, so this meant we could make the move,” he explains. As a result, a conditional ped day scheduled for May 10 will now become a regular school day.

School daycare services at all NFSB elementary schools will remain open throughout the day.

The Huntingdon Adult Education and Community Centre in Huntingdon, as well as the Chateauguay Valley Career Education Centre in Ormstown and the NOVA Career Centre in Chateauguay will all remain open on April 8. Helm says the centres will be able to adjust schedules so students can avoid driving during the eclipse.

The announcement, which was posted to social media, generated over 185 comments, and was shared over 195 times by parents who were either frustrated over the decision or pleased with the board’s concern for their children’s safety.

Citing similar safety concerns, the Lester B. Pearson, Sir Wilfred Laurier, English Montreal, and Riverside school boards have all cancelled scheduled classes on April 8, as well as many French school centres across the province.

As of press time, the Centre de services scolaires de la Vallée-des-Tisserands (CSSVT) had not issued an official announcement concerning the cancelation of classes on April 8. A statement from the school centre notes that certain elements of the action plan concerning the eclipse have yet to be confirmed. The CSSVT will be in communication with parents, adult students, and staff very soon with more detail concerning its decision whether to maintain classes or not.

All NFSB schools will be providing students with certified solar eclipse glasses prior to April 8 so students can experience the astronomical event safely from home.

School’s out for NFSB students during total eclipse Read More »

ArtistsInspire offers students new opportunities in arts education

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Parents picking up their children after school at Heritage Elementary in Huntingdon are invited to meet them in the ‘mini gym,’ which happens to be right beside the school’s N.E.S.T. room and a stunning new mural painted by Grade 5, 5-6, and 6 students, with special help from those in kindergarten and Grades 1 and 2.

On one afternoon last week, a young girl pushed past some parents to align her hand with one painted as a leaf on the mural. “That’s my hand,” she announced proudly. Mackenzie Hooker, a community development agent with the New Frontiers School board, says that sense of pride is exactly the kind of reaction they were hoping to generate with the project.

Education technicians Megan Vézina and Ashley Jewer, who work in the N.E.S.T. room, had approached Hooker with a project in mind, and she reached out to artist Adele Reeves who specializes in collective murals inspired by scenes of nature. Reeves, who is associated with the English Language Arts Network’s (ELAN) ArtistsInspire program, had previously worked with Franklin Elementary to complete their spectacular Alphabet on a Barn project.

ArtistsInspire is a micro-grant program that offers English schools in Quebec the opportunity to bring artists into the classroom through ELAN, with support from the federal Department of Canadian Heritage. Hooker says the students first worked on drawings of the different animals native to Quebec with art teacher Marguerite Bromley. Reeves used these images as inspiration.

PHOTO Sarah Rennie
Students in Grade 3 at Heritage Elementary School took part in a dance and paint workshop on March 1 with artists Adele Reeves and Kerwin Barrington.

The project took over two days to complete, with students doing the bulk of the painting while Reeves added small details and cleaned up some edges. The older students painted sections in small groups before returning to their classes. Reeves says working with just four students at a time is quite special. “I can really connect, and so the whole group feels they have had my attention,” she explains, noting children who might not normally participate in such an activity tend to really respond to this format. 

Reeves was back at Heritage on March 1 with friend and fellow artist Kerwin Barrington for an eclectic dance and paint workshop with students in Grades 3, 3-4, 4 and the Learning Centre. Focused again on themes found in nature, Reeves and Barrington structured their workshop around water and the elements. The students danced together and then incorporated some of the moves they had learned into creating mixed media portraits of themselves.

Barrington says she especially enjoys how humbling it can be to work with kids. “I love teaching them about what their body feels like and what it can do, and dance and paint is a really cool abstraction of that,” she explains. “It is about being yourself, but while being a part of something bigger in a group.”

For Heritage principal James Furey, the program brings a lot more than an artist into the school. “It takes the industrial feel out of the space and makes it more welcoming,” he says, of the new mural gracing the N.E.S.T. wall. He especially appreciates the fact students were active participants in the school improvement project from start to end. He says the results, both on the wall and in terms of student pride, are impressive.

ArtistsInspire offers students new opportunities in arts education Read More »

Saint-Anicet mayor addresses senate as the head of a multinational initiative

Local Journalism Initiative / / /

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The municipality of Saint-Anicet is at the forefront of freshwater management in Canada.

On February 27, Mayor Gino Moretti testified in Ottawa on behalf of his municipality and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSLCI) before the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications, as part of a meeting to study the impacts of climate change on critical infrastructure in the transportation and communications sectors.

Moretti currently sits as chair of the GLSLCI, a multi-national coalition of over 240 mayors and local officials working with federal, state, and provincial governments to advance the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin.

The local mayor’s presentation focused on critical challenges to marine strategy and the blue economy, including Canada’s commitment to policies and strategies to facilitate the movement of people and goods across freshwater systems. He raised concerns around transportation infrastructure and funding requirements necessary for developing or maintaining these resources, while also addressing the pressing impacts of climate change on the waterway.

PHOTO Municipality of Saint-Anicet
Saint-Anicet mayor Gino Moretti addressed the senate bout freshwater management on February 27.

“Reduced ice coverage in the basin presents environmental challenges, with winter storms causing substantial damage. Erosion, damaged retaining walls, and extreme weather events with high repair bills surpass the capacity of local governments,” Moretti testified. He then suggested Canada explore opportunities for investing in climate-resilient infrastructure as an adaptation strategy, while noting current government programs and policies, as well as funding, need to be adjusted to allow local governments to better respond to these challenges.

Bringing together local governments

The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative was founded 21 years ago by the mayors of Chicago and Toronto, and it has since grown to include 240 mayors from Quebec, Ontario, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and leaders of several Indigenous communities.

The coalition is emerging as a strong, united voice defending coastal resilience, the equitable access to water and resources, the economic benefits from local freshwater resources, and the protection and restoration of the basin, which includes 10,000 kms of vulnerable shoreline.

Moretti was approached about joining the GLSLCI in 2019 by Régis Labeaume, the mayor of Quebec City at the time. There was no rural municipality involved in the initiative from the mouth of the St. Lawrence Seaway in Quebec. Moretti submitted his name, and he has been heavily involved ever since. He is also a member of the Union des municipalités du Québec’s comité maritime, and co-chairs the Table de concertation régionale Haut-Saint-Laurent – Grand Montréal, which is focused on water and aquatic ecosystems in the areas downstream of the St-Lawrence River, with Repentigny mayor Nicolas Dufour.

Moretti says these associations are about advocacy, education, and collaboration between the different mayors, where each municipalityhas an equal voice no matter their size. For example, each province and state have a different way of protecting their shorelines, he explains, noting how the mayors can share their best practices and learn from each other’s experiences.

“Mayors are looking for the best ways to support their cities or municipalities,” says Moretti. “We never lose sight of our citizens,” he adds, noting that accountability also plays a very strong role in their work.

“There are a lot of issues, and we try to prioritize them,” Moretti says, noting funding is a major hurdle for most municipalities.  “The only time there is funding is when there is a disaster,” he says, admitting this is a significant concern in terms of climate change and adaptation. He feels that responsible management of the freshwater basin will require stable, predictable, and long-term funding, “as the cost of inaction and repairs will be much higher than climate adaptation.”

He says they are already seeing signs of climate change. “This winter will have an impact,” says Moretti of the potential consequences of the unseasonably mild weather over the past several months. “There will be more surface erosion into the water,” he adds matter of factly. There was next to no ice cover on Lake Saint-François this year, which resulted in a higher flow of water that could cause problems for different dams along the Seaway.

Moretti says one goal for the GLSLCI is to change the perception of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway from an industrial heartland to that of a green corridor. “We are not environmental activists,” he insists, saying the mayors just want to be sure there is water for future generations and that economies can continue to be developed along the waterway in a sustainable way that is adapted to climate realities.

Saint-Anicet mayor addresses senate as the head of a multinational initiative Read More »

Huntingdon paramedics hope funding could end shift work

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The government’s recently announced action plan to improve the province’s prehospital emergency system provided a glimmer of hope for Huntingdon paramedics, who are alone in the Montérégie working on-call shift hours.

The province announced it will spend nearly $630 million over the next five years on ambulance services, including at least $1.3 million that will be directed to the Montérégie-Centre region to convert shift schedules or add hours of service. All ambulance services in the Montérégie are directed through the Centre integré de services de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-Centre (CISSSMC), including those based in Huntingdon.

According to the Ministry of Health, these funds will be allocated in addition to funding released in 2022 that allowed for the conversion of 46 shift schedules to set hourly schedules, including those worked by paramedics in Hemmingford. On-call shift work has now been abolished in all areas of the Montérégie except for Huntingdon, where Paraxion provides prehospital services to the town as well as the western territory of the Haut-Saint-Laurent including Godmanchester, Hinchinbrooke, Elgin, Sainte-Barbe, Saint-Anicet, and Dundee.

PHOTO Sarah Rennie
Huntingdon paramedics with Paraxion are the only ones in the Montérégie still working on-call shift hours.

“Huntingdon is in a particular situation,” says Mathieu Lacombe, a spokesperson for the Syndicat des paramédics et du préhospitalier de la Montérégie (SPPM-CSN). On-call paramedics are on duty 24 hours a day for seven consecutive days at home and must first get to their ambulance before leaving to respond to an emergency, while those working set hours are already at a station or in their ambulance waiting for calls, he explains.

“Right now, we have good service in Huntingdon,” says Lacombe. The closure of the Larocque Bridge linking Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka with Salaberry-de-Valleyfield in January created a temporary situation in which shift work for Huntingdon paramedics was converted to an hourly schedule. Presently, there are two regular ambulances available during the day as well as one ambulance overnight, he explains. This exception is set to end on April 7, when paramedics will return to shift work.

Lacombe says the situation is unfortunate, both for the paramedics and for the local population. He reports that on February 5, paramedics were called to an emergency in Huntingdon involving a 61-year-old patient. The 9-1-1 call was received at 11:32 a.m. and because paramedics were already in place, they arrived on scene at 11:40 a.m. The team worked quickly, and the patient was resuscitated by 11:43 a.m.

According to Lacombe it was the second ambulance that intervened, as the first was responding to another call. He says there is no doubt the paramedics were able to respond as quickly as they did because they were working regular hours and were not at home when the emergency call was received.

According to The Last Ambulance Project, which tracks the average response times for ambulances for the most critical emergencies, the average wait time for a priority 0 call in Huntingdon is 18.03 minutes, 19.67 minutes in Godmanchester, 22.5 minutes in Hinchinbrooke, 24.12 minutes in Saint-Anicet, and 38.5 minutes in Dundee. Times in Ormstown, where there is a station, average 15.62 minutes, and similarly, those in nearby Haut-Saint-Laurent municipalities served by Ormstown, including Franklin, Havelock, Howick, Saint-Chrysostome, and Très-Saint-Sacrement, are lower averaging 16.7 minutes.

“Shift work can be effective in very rural areas, but the population is growing, and this no longer applies to Huntingdon,” says Lacombe, noting the delays in shift work create added stress on paramedics, who are all too aware of how every second can count when responding to an emergency.

The Huntingdon paramedics are also important to the regional network, which he says is currently overloaded. “Each zone is backed up by another,” he explains, suggesting Huntingdon could be called to Ormstown or Valleyfield, or vice-versa, depending on where there is a need.

He adds that there has been no indication whether the funds announced by the government to convert shift schedules will apply to Huntingdon. The SPPM-CSN has asked for an urgent meeting with Huntingdon MNA Carole Mallette to discuss the situation. The town of Huntingdon and some neighbouring municipalities have also passed resolutions in support of the local paramedics.

“We hope to receive good news,” says Lacombe.

Huntingdon paramedics hope funding could end shift work Read More »

Paramedics are concerned over government plan to improve ambulance services

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé followed through on a promise to provide an action plan to improve ambulance services, after pronouncing earlier last month that the current wait times were simply “unacceptable.”

Dubé announced on February 29 that investments totalling nearly $630 million would be provided over five years to improve the province’s prehospital emergency system. The plan includes several concrete actions to address the situation, such as increasing the number of automated external defibrillators accessible to the public and extending first responder services to more areas. There are also up to $5.9 million to improve ambulance services in the Laurentides, Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec, Montérégie-Centre, and Chaudière-Appalaches regions.

In a statement, Dubé noted that in the context of an aging population and growing health needs the government is reviewing its front-line services. The plan aims to modernize pre-hospital emergency services while bringing about a change in culture to optimize the role of paramedics and improve such services in the regions.

For example, a total of $7.65 million over five years will be dedicated to reducing the time spent by paramedics in hospitals. According to the Ministry of Health, paramedics spend on average 100 minutes during a pre-hospital intervention, of which 50 minutes are spent in hospital. The ministry has set a target of 45 minutes by 2026 and says this could recover the equivalent of 50,000 hours of ambulance availability.

The government has also announced the creation of four helipads, which will be located at the Centre hospitalier régional de Lanaudière in Joliette, the Hôpital de Roberval, the McGill University Health Centre, and the Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur in Montreal.

No new ambulances 

Montérégie paramedics, while welcoming the additional funding and resources, are sounding an alarm over the lack of financing in the action plan for any new ambulances.

The territory served by the Coopérative des techniciens ambulanciers de la Montérégie (CETAM), which covers Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Vaudreuil-Dorion, Chateauguay, and municipalities along the South Shore, is among the most overloaded in the province according to the provincial classification of workloads by ambulance zone. Between April 2022 and April 2023, over 93,000 calls were assigned, and paramedics worked over 4,221 overtime hours, mostly at the end of their shifts. The Syndicat des paramédics et du préhospitalier de la Montérégie (SPPM-CSN) says they have been calling for years for an additional seven vehicles to adequately respond to the growing number of calls.

Instead of seeing their fleet grow, however, the SPPM is currently waiting to learn whether cuts to the number of ambulances will take place this spring within the territory served by the CETAM.

Since 2021, the Centre integré de services de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-Centre (CISSSMC), which coordinates the ambulance services for the entirety of the Montérégie region, has authorized the temporary addition of four ambulances to help cover the territory. The organization evaluates whether to keep the additional vehicles each year at the end of March. Last year, the CISSSMC announced it did not have the finances to maintain the ambulances, though the organization reversed its decision soon after.

“The deadline is fast approaching, and despite this, the CISSS and the ministry are still unable to confirm that the temporary additions to the fleet will be continued,” said Gaétan Dutil, the president of the SPPM-CSN. “Year after year, we’re asked to add vehicles, and year after year, we’re offered temporary and inadequate half-measures,” he added.

“This situation is putting enormous pressure on our paramedics, and does not bode well for services to the population in areas where access to an ambulance within a reasonable time is already difficult,” he added.

“It would be catastrophic if we lost an ambulance,” said Mathieu Lacombe, a spokesperson for the SPPM-CSN. The fact there has been no indication of where the government funds will be invested in the Montérégie is a concern, he added.

“We have no idea,” he said. “It is really uncertain right now – for paramedics, but for the population as well.”

Paramedics are concerned over government plan to improve ambulance services Read More »

Local UPA elects new president

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Haut-Saint-Laurent syndicate of the Union des Producteurs Agricoles has selected a new president, following the retirement of long-time president and director Michel Hébert. Hinchinbrooke producer Éric Leboeuf will step into this role after he was formally elected during a gathering for the semi-annual general assembly on February 15 at Le Mangeoir in Saint-Anicet.

All the producers on the 20-member board of directors up for election retained their roles, while Guillaume Asselin, the co-owner of Le Mangeoir, was elected to replace incoming president Éric Leboeuf as the administrator representing direct-to-market farms. The election was presided over by Jérémie Letellier, the president of the UPA federation for the Montérégie, who later spoke about the many issues facing agricultural producers across the region.

At the conclusion of the election period, Hébert received a standing ovation for his dedication to the union which has spanned over 45 years. Vice-president Josiane Carrière spoke about his impact on local agriculture through the local union as well as his work at the provincial level. She also noted the achievements of the local syndicate under his presidency, which has been recognized for its bilingual status, as well as the number of women who sit on the board of directors, and numerous innovative initiatives that have taken place since the Saint-Anicet, Ormstown, and Chateauguay Valley syndicates officially merged in 2012.

Over 40 producers participated in the general assembly, which saw several resolutions pass on subjects relating to the Commission de protection du territoire Agricole du Québec (CPTAQ), the Financière Agricole du Québec and its programs for young farmers and successors, and the amount of administration and paperwork imposed on farmers by the Ministry of Agriculture (MAPAQ). Discussions also took place about fragmentation or dismantling of agricultural land, and the availability of mental health resources for anglophone farmers.

Producers were also informed of the work being done by the local syndicate. Following a resolution passed last February regarding the increase in backfill operations in the Haut-Saint-Laurent, the local UPA’s agri-environment committee has been very active on this file. Correspondences were sent to producers to clarify permitted practices, meetings took place with the regional council of mayors to request better supervision of backfill work at the municipal level, and directors consulted on an MRC interim control bylaw to ensure compatibility between regional land use planning and the regional wetland and water management plan.

Local directors have also consulted on several other key issues. For example, the regional federation recently worked with the union before transmitting its opinion to the CPTAQ about the installation of an asphalt factory on Covey Hill in Havelock. Members also consulted with Huntingdon MNA Carole Mallette on the drafting of a white paper about farming in the Haut-Saint-Laurent and the financial situation facing agricultural producers. Finally, the union demanded the MRC hold more regular meetings of the waterways and agricultural advisory committees to better address issues specific to agricultural businesses.

Along with Letellier, the keynote speaker for the gathering was Ian Ward, who represents other plant producers and sits on the agri-environment committee. He spoke about a zero-carbon farming future and adapting agricultural practices to climate change. UPA president Martin Caron then spoke about union priorities at the provincial level before answering questions from producers in attendance.

Local UPA elects new president Read More »

Switch error caused Godmanchester train derailment

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has concluded its investigation into the 2022 derailment of a Canadian National Railway Company train, just outside Huntingdon in the municipality of Godmanchester. A report on the investigation, which was released on February 8, attributes the accident to an incorrectly positioned switch.

The conclusion is the result of an in-depth analysis of the incident which took place just after 7 p.m. on December 11, 2022, when two head-end locomotives and six intermodal platforms left the track while travelling over a “switch point derail” linked to a radio-controlled switch system.

The train was being operated by a CSX crew in the Carr siding of the CSX Transportation Montreal Subdivision when it left the track. There were no injuries, and no cars carrying dangerous goods were involved in the incident; however, around 400 litres of diesel fuel were spilled from the locomotives. There was some damage to part of the siding and the main track at the derailment point.

A statement issued by the TSB clarifies that a “derail” switch prevents unauthorized movements or movements of unattended rolling stock from entering the main track. Once in position, the device is designed to derail any equipment that rolls over it.

The investigation determined that the locomotive engineer was distracted when he entered the code for the radio-controlled switch. As a result, the power-operated derail was not set in the correct position to allow the train to enter the main track.

The report alleges that the crew then misinterpreted visual and radio signals confirming the switch position, stating: “The train crew concluded that the auditory and visual confirmations issued by the power-assisted switch system corresponded to the required route for the train to leave the siding.”

The report notes that “Most radio-controlled, power-assisted derail switches linked to railway signals in Canada are equipped with a separate position indicator light and a reflectorized sign,” before pointing out the Carr siding was not equipped with either of these. The report also alleges the crew was unable to visually confirm the switch’s position due to the time of day and their distance from its position.

Data recorded by locomotive voice and video recorders (LVVRs) suggests the train was travelling at 22 miles per hour and accelerating before it left the track. There was no recorded effort on the part of the locomotive engineer to engage the emergency brakes. Train-initiated emergency brakes were engaged after the lead locomotive derailed.

In this case, the investigation discovered that data recorded by the lead locomotives voice and video recorders (LVVRs) did not include any voice recording from inside the cab, making it impossible to determine the verbal communications between the train crew members before the accident.

The lack of audio was related to the georeferencing system, which deactivates cab voice recording while the train is operating in the United States in compliance with U.S. regulations. The accident occurred so close to the Canada-U.S. border that the system prevented the activation of the cab’s microphones.

Patrick Sirois, a senior regional investigator with the TSB Rail/Pipeline Investigations Branch, was responsible for the investigation into the incident, which included work in the field to examine the derailment site and the wreckage, as well as interviews with witnesses.

The TSB does not assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability; the objective of the report is to advance transportation safety. As a result of the investigation, the TSB sent a letter to Transport Canada suggesting the functionality of voice and video recorders used by railway companies be verified to ensure they meet regulatory requirements.

The Gleaner reached out to CSX for a comment on the investigation findings but did not receive a response by press time.  According to the report, CSX confirmed to the TSB that as a result of the 2022 incident, the precise location of derail switches have been added to its Montreal Subdivision timetable, while also specifying the normal position of each one. 

Switch error caused Godmanchester train derailment Read More »

Education professionals, blue-collar and healthcare workers approve contracts

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Quebecers should soon learn whether public sector workers have accepted the Front commun-negotiated agreement in principle made with the provincial government that was announced last December. Final results are expected to be out later this week, after a five-week voting period by CSN, CSQ, APTS and FTQ-affiliated union members came to an end on February 19.  

The intersectoral agreement provides for a 17.4 per cent wage increase over five years for all workers in all sectors. The tentative deal also includes improvements to the collective agreement in terms of vacation leave, retirement, group insurance, parental rights, and other issues. 

As previously reported, the Chateauguay Valley Teachers Association and the support staff members of Syndicat des employées et employés professionnels et de bureau (SEPB 576) endorsed the agreement in principle.  

New Frontiers School Board blue-collar workers, who are members of the Service Union Employees local 800 which is affiliated with the FTQ, voted 64 per cent in favour of the contract. A total of 25 employees participated in the vote, which took place on January 27. Overall, 57 per cent of the blue-collar workers within Quebec’s English school board system have approved of the agreement. 

According to Daniel Wormeli, the president of the New Frontiers Association of Professionals (NFAP) and unit delegate for the Syndicat des professionnelles et professionnels de l’Ouest de Québec Anglophone which is affiliated with the CSQ, the NFAP voted 92 per cent in favour of the agreement. The overall result for the SPPOQA, which represents English-speaking education professionals in western Quebec, was 89.8 per cent in agreement with the contract offer.  

In the health sector, workers with the Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS) employed by the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-ouest voted 75.3 per cent in favour of the agreement in principle. The results were compiled following six special general assemblies, including two held in person on January 25 in Saint-Hyacinthe and February 1 in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, and four virtual meetings on January 17 and February 15.  

Education professionals, blue-collar and healthcare workers approve contracts Read More »

A new voice emerges in defense of the environment

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Organizations and citizens in the Haut-Saint-Laurent have come together to form a new round table focused specifically on protecting and prioritizing the environment.

“There was a need,” says Rémi Pelletier, the director general of the Corporation de développement Communautaire (CDC) du Haut-Saint-Laurent, which is one of the organizations spearheading the creation of the Table de concertation pour l’environnement dans le Haut-Saint-Laurent (TCEHSL). A first meeting took place last June in Huntingdon, and regular meetings have followed.

The organizations around the table include the CDC du Haut-Saint-Laurent, the conservation group Ambioterra, the Mouvement d’action régionale en environnement (MARE), the 1st Ormstown Scouts, the Ormstown Butterflyway Project, the Haut-Saint-Laurent syndicate of the Union des producteurs agricoles, the Société de conservation et d’aménagement des bassins versants de la zone Châteauguay (SCABRIC), the Association pour la défense des droits sociaux (AADS) de Huntingdon, the Comité Zip Haut-Saint-Laurent, the ecological group Crivert, the Genie in a Bottle project, the Comité de rehabilitation de la Rivière Châteauguay, as well as citizens Don Rosenbaum and Lorelei Muller. The Amis de la Réserve nationale de faune du Lac-Saint-François and the Nature Conservancy of Canada are also associated with the initiative.

Pelletier says that while the TCEHSL already brings together a significant number of local groups and associations, there is always room around the table for organizations or citizens interested in joining the growing movement.

The impetus to organize a formal round table was sparked during last year’s Earth Day Forum in Ormstown. Organizer Lorelei Muller says she had often wondered whether such a table existed in the region. When she began to ask questions, it became obvious others had been thinking along the same lines. Pelletier collected names and contact info during the Forum last April and later called a first meeting. Alain Gaulin, who represents the MARE at the table, has volunteered to chair the new group.

The members of the TCEHSL hope that a unified voice in defense of the environment will resonate more strongly with political players so they begin to integrate environmental protection more broadly into their priorities. The group’s objectives will focus on serving as a watchdog for laws that are not being applied or that need to be developed, while collaborating with different levels of government to amend or pass regulations and bills aimed at improving environmental protection. The round table also aims to set priorities in terms of responding to threats to water quality, habitat loss, deforestation, etc.

Muller suggests that while different organizations had been collaborating on certain initiatives, the round table has helped to tear down some of these silos and has strengthened partnerships between members. She now chairs the events sub-committee, which is responsible for organizing the area’s Earth Day activities including a one-day forum set to take place this year on April 20 at Chateauguay Valley Regional High School.

She says momentum has continued to build from last year’s successful event which brought together over 20 regional environmental groups and social organizations. She confirms that most organizations that have been approached about participating in this year’s event have shown interest and registrations are starting to come in. 

Along with kiosks promoting the activities of the different organizations, the forum will once again feature a series of guest speakers including Hemmingford-based architect and passive house specialist Evelyne Bouchard, who will address the role of buildings in climate change. Stephanie Leduc of Nature Conservancy Canada, who is a member of the TCEHSL, will also be presenting on local conservation efforts with a focus on agricultural land. The presentations will conclude with a screening of the documentary film Humus, which focuses on regenerative farming practices in use at the Ferme les Bontés de la Vallée market garden in Havelock.

A new voice emerges in defense of the environment Read More »

Keen tappers see early start to the maple season

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Sugar shacks were spouting steam and evaporators were boiling across the Valley on February 10, as producers who were already tapped and ready to go took advantage of a significant sap run.

“It is the earliest we have ever started here,” said Céline Ouimet, who runs the Cabane à Sucre L’Hermine sugar shack in Havelock with her sister Chantal and brother-in-law François Benny. “The conditions were ideal,” she said, referring not only to the above-average temperatures for early February, but also to the sparse snow cover that made tapping and preparing for the season a little easier.

At L’Hermine, the sap ran for over three days without stopping overnight. Normally, the seasoned sugar-makers average one to two barrels of finished syrup during the first boil. As of last Monday, they had already filled over 11. When asked whether the early start to the season is cause for concern, Benny shrugged. “Not really. It can change fast. If it freezes now, it will start to run again when it warms up. But it is possible that the season will be shorter.”

Last year, the boiler at L’Hermine was brought to life on February 18, which seemed early at the time. The owners noted that despite being a full week earlier, this year’s sugar content was surprisingly high from the start. Benny said the region’s producers should now be prepared for a first run around Valentine’s Day, and Ouimet agreed, suggesting the variation in winter temperatures is forcing producers to adapt their practices.

According to the Plan d’adaptation de l’agriculture de la Montérégie aux changements climatiques, winter temperatures will continue to rise, leading to a shortened season with alternating episodes of rain and snow. This could mean less snow cover, leaving soils more vulnerable come spring. “We can’t complain about making syrup in February when the quality is there,” said Ouimet, noting the risk is greater for producers further north, who are facing shortened seasons as temperatures rise more rapidly and over longer periods.

New uses for syrup

Down the road in Rockburn, Denis Rousseau was feeding his boiler every 15 minutes to keep his evaporator rolling. He explained that while his older setup involves more work cutting wood and a has longer boil time, the syrup he produces has a creamier texture. As the owner of Ferme Black Creek, Rousseau is especially interested in the taste, texture, and colour of the syrup he uses to concoct his artisanal acers, or alcoholic beverages made from the fermentation of concentrated maple water or diluted syrup. “I want to have more of a toffee flavour,” he noted, suggesting this involves starting with a darker syrup.

Rousseau tapped early this year, after having missed the first run during the past two seasons. “It’s a nice start,” he said, adding that by the end of this first run, he will already have processed around 10 per cent of his average annual yield. “Now everything has to be emptied and cleaned, and we’ll start from scratch in ten days,” he laughed.

Rousseau is one of around 25 producers who came together late last year to form the Association des producteurs d’acers du Quebec. “When people taste my products, they are always surprised,” he said, while pointing out how customers tend to expect something sweet and are often taken aback by how dry his products can taste.

Reason to celebrate

Alcoholic beverages made from sap or syrup were featured when the Quebec Maple Syrup Producers (QMSP) officially toasted the start of the 2024 syrup season, during an event at the National Assembly in Quebec on February 7. The QMSP were also celebrating the allocation of seven million new taps designated for start-up and expansion projects across the province. These additional taps could see Quebec’s annual production of maple syrup increase by 21 million pounds.

“Maple production is the driving force of Quebec agriculture. We’re really proud to be behind the increase in the number of farms,” said QMSP president Luc Goulet following the January 24 lottery. “We are taking steps to produce more syrup. Together, we’re striving to achieve our goals of replenishing the reserve within five years, while continuing to meet the demand for maple syrup here at home and in more than 70 countries around the world,” he declared.

Over one million of those new taps were awarded in the Montérégie, which will eventually bring the total number of taps in the region to 4.8 million by 2026. These numbers include 108 successful applications from the Montérégie-Ouest region, which will see 32 new syrup businesses and 76 existing producers share a total of 280,691 new taps.

Keen tappers see early start to the maple season Read More »

Valley teachers and support staff vote in favour of proposed contracts

Local Journalism Initiative / / /

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Although voting on the agreements in principle negotiated with the provincial government last December by the various unions of the CSQ, CSN, APTS, and FTQ will continue until February 21, results are starting to come in.

A recent report by La Presse suggests that since voting began on January 15, the unions under the umbrella of the Front commun, which represents around 420,000 public sector workers, have been veering towards an overall acceptance of the proposed contracts.

Valley workers in the education sector have held true to this trend.

More than 230 members of the Chateauguay Valley Teachers Association (CVTA) participated in a special assembly on January 24. Members voted 56 per cent in favour of the sectoral agreement negotiated by the Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers (QPAT), which represents the CVTA. Members also voted 72 per cent in favour of the intersectoral agreement in principle, which was negotiated by the common front at the central table.

“I was very happy with the turnout,” says CVTA president Nick Ross, who notes there were more teachers in attendance at this meeting than the one held last year to ratify the strike mandate. Ross admits it is not easy to please everyone when it comes to collective negotiations. He insists, however, that “Negotiators were able to make many gains within the contract while conceding very little.”

To date, the CVTA results are very consistent with those reported by other QPAT unions. Ross confirms that with only one local union left to vote, “The QPAT as a whole has accepted both deals.”

Support staff employed by the New Frontiers School Board who are members of the Syndicat des employées et employés professionnels et de bureau (SEPB 576) local union voted 66 per cent in favour of the agreement in principle, during a special assembly held in Howick on January 31.

SEPB 576 local president Bonnie Gilmour, who served as a negotiator with the FTQ at the sectoral table, says the fact the results are low should send a message to the government.

“Members remain frustrated, and are looking for better working conditions to support our students and workloads continue to increase,” she explains. “Many felt there was no choice but to accept, and others felt that we should continue to fight during this historic time in Quebec.”

Gilmour admits to being frustrated by the negotiations. “Many of our important demands were not even discussed at the table. I feel we negotiated the best possible agreement in principle possible with a government who is not willing to invest in our public services,” she says, noting they managed to refuse some government demands that would have impacted members financially, or taken away rights that have been held for many years.

The New Frontiers Association of Professionals, which is a unit of the Syndicat des professionnelles et professionnels de l’Ouest de Québec anglophone, will hold a collective vote on February 6 to determine whether the proposed contracts will be accepted.

The Salaberry section of the Syndicat de Champlain, which is affiliated with the FSE and represents area teachers employed by the Centre de services scolaire de la Vallée-des-Tisserands (CSSVT), voted 72.5 per cent in favour of the sectorial agreement and 83 per cent in favour of the Front commun-negotiated intersectoral agreement on January 22.

The Syndicat de Champlain reported a participation rate of 57 per cent for this vote, which set a record for the number of members participating in a general assembly.

Support staff represented by the Syndicat du Champlain who are members of the Vallée-du-Suroît soutien section voted 88 per cent in favour of the agreements, with a participation rate of 45 per cent.

Valley teachers and support staff vote in favour of proposed contracts Read More »

Midwifery services are now a reality in the region

Local Journalism Initiative / / /

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Expectant mothers across the Valley can now rely on the support of a midwife to carry them throughout their pregnancy, whether they decide to give birth at home or in a hospital environment.

The Centre intégré de santé et services sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest (CISSSMO) ceremoniously launched its Services de sage-femme de la Vallée midwifery program in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield on February 2.

CISSSMO president and CEO Philippe Gribeauval pointed out that the service meets a need within the area: a survey conducted in 2022 showed that 70 per cent of respondents were interested in improving the availability of midwives in the region. Prior to Friday’s announcement, Richelieu and Pointe Claire were the two closest cities offering these services.

A team of midwives is already supporting a dozen area women, with a first delivery expected early this spring. The service will expand gradually, taking on up to four new clients per month. The CISSSMO anticipates that within a year, midwives will be monitoring over 130 pregnancies and will assist with around 85 deliveries, either at home or in hospital.

Gribeauval explained that there was a certain coherence between the project and the Centre Mère-Enfant birthing centre at the Hôpital du Suroît in Valleyfield, before confirming the CISSSMO is hoping to open a separate birthing house that could support up to 400 pregnancies within the next few years. He acknowledged it could take between a year and 18 months for this type of infrastructure to be established, while admitting there were many elements beyond his control.

In the meantime, Gribeauval insisted on describing the current location on Victoria Street for the Services de sage-femme de la Vallée as temporary. He estimates the new program alone will cost just over a million dollars to fully implement.

Complete and accessible services

Services are offered in French and English and include complete pregnancy follow-up with all the associated tests and analyses, preparation for childbirth and parenting, clinical responsibility for deliveries, breastfeeding support, and post-natal follow-up for up to six weeks for both mother and baby.

Beauharnois MNA Claude Reid, who spoke during the inauguration on behalf of Health Minister Christian Dubé, highlighted the importance of improving access to such essential services. “It is excellent news for our community!” he exclaimed, while pointing out that women will be able to enjoy a more intimate and personalized approach within a reassuring framework of high-quality care.

Reid saluted the work of the CISSSMO and the team of midwives led by Cynthia Perreault, who have worked over the past four years on this initiative. A parent committee has also been involved with the project throughout its development.

Perreault was intrigued by the profession after becoming a mother herself at the age of 18. A year later, she enrolled at university, where she graduated as part of the first cohort of licensed midwives in Quebec in 2003. She has been working in the profession ever since.

She explained that midwifery offers a more holistic and compassionate approach that is focused on the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of both mother and baby. “Most who come looking for this service are interested in the opportunity to deliver at home,” she said, while confirming the program is available to all women.

Perreault currently works with a team of two midwives and an administrative assistant at the Valleyfield location. Three additional midwives as well as four birth assistants are expected to join the Services de sage-femme de la Vallée this year.

Midwifery services are now a reality in the region Read More »

Hydro Quebec green-lights wind energy project

Local Journalism Initiative / / /

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Hydro Quebec has approved the Kruger Energy-backed Les Jardins wind energy project, developed in partnership with the MRC des Jardins-de-Napierville and the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK). The project, which has a capacity to generate 147 megawatts, will see the construction of wind turbines in the municipalities of Saint-Patrice-de-Sherrington, Saint-Édouard, Saint-Michel, and the Township of Hemmingford.

The project was one of eight bids accepted by the public utility following a call for tenders issued last March. It will include 21 seven MW wind turbines, of which at least two will be in Hemmingford township. The turbines will stand around 130 metres tall, with a 160- to 170-metre rotor diameter. They will eventually connect with the grid via an existing transmission corridor that bridges with the Hemmingford substation. The contract for the wind farm extends over 30 years.

In a statement, Jean Roy, the senior vice president and CEO of Kruger Energy, pointed out the wind farm will generate significant economic spinoffs for local communities. Representatives for the company have said the project will create around 250 jobs during the construction phase, which is scheduled to end in December 2028, when Kruger Energy anticipates the completed wind farm will be commissioned.

Before construction can begin, the project will undergo several more consultations with regional partners and host communities, as well as numerous studies and processes, including an environmental impact assessment with the Bureau d’audiences publique sur l’environnement (BAPE) planned for 2024-2025, as well as requests for approval from the Commission de protection du territoire agricole (CPTAQ).

“The current energy transition is a vast undertaking, and all players in society must be involved in its success,” says Roy, who describes the partnership with the MRC des Jardins-de-Napierville and the MCK as an excellent model of sustainable and socially responsible development. 

Kruger Energy previously partnered with the MCK on the Des Cultures Wind Farm, a 24 MW project including six turbines in the municipalities of Saint-Rémi and Saint-Michel that was completed in 2022.

“Throughout our previous projects, Kruger has demonstrated unwavering support and a deep understanding of our community’s needs, and this new partnership will allow us to foster a crucial partnership with the MRC that benefits not only our community but the broader region as well,” said Alex Beaupre, the MCK’s executive revenue officer.

Yves Boyer, the prefect of the MRC des Jardins-de-Napierville, added that the project will allow for the generation of collective wealth while contributing to sustainable development and environmental protection for the benefit of citizens and future generations.

Hydro Quebec green-lights wind energy project Read More »

NFSB will launch tutoring services to help students catch up

Local Journalism Initiative / / /

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

“We are getting our plans in place,” says New Frontiers School Board general director Michael Helm, of a board-wide initiative to ensure students can catch up following teaching days lost to strike action late last year.

The board decided to rely heavily on the results of an interactive survey launched on the ThoughtExchange online platform to determine how best to provide support services and additional tutoring to students who need it. Over 500 people participated in the polling process, which revealed a preference for tutoring services to be offered immediately following the school day. “It was very powerful,” says Helm of the response to the survey. “It was clear what staff, parents, and the community preferred. Having those voices really helped us,” he revealed.

Helm says the response from teachers and support staff regarding after-school tutoring has been very positive. “Over 140 in the board said they would volunteer to put in this extra time to support these plans,” says Helm. “They want to see their students succeed and work through the time that was lost,” he explains, while noting that additional resources may be offered during the school day to students who need extra support.

“The goal is to put this into action for term three,” Helm confirms, pointing out that 60 per cent of final grades are determined during the final stretch. “This is really where the push needs to be,” he explained.

As the new support services will start in the third term, the board has decided to maintain the original schedule for term two report cards. The upcoming parent/teacher interviews will also not be affected by any of the plans being put in place.

There will also be no change to the schedules at the vocational level, where teachers have said they will be able to adjust within the remaining timeframe without affecting students’ ability to complete the various programs.

Helm says the board has also decided to make every effort to ensure March break is not impacted. There is some discussion around the possibility of offering online services at the secondary school level during this time. “We are looking at pros and cons,” he admits, saying there are no concrete plans in place yet.

The additional support being offered to students will be funded by the provincial education ministry, which announced a $300 million catch-up plan in early January. Ministerial exams that had been scheduled for early January were postponed to the end of the month and the beginning of February. End-of-year exams will also be delayed by a few days and will not be weighted as heavily.

Helm says the NFSB’s primary focus is setting up the tutoring services, so students will be supported through the third term and prepared for final exams come June.

NFSB will launch tutoring services to help students catch up Read More »

Kindergarten registration is open, but is your child eligible?

Local Journalism Initiative / / /

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Parents who are planning to register their youngsters in a kindergarten class starting next fall have a lot on their minds as they contemplate the next stage in their child’s development, including everything from new lunchboxes and indoor shoes to pencil cases and eligibility certificates.

Some parents may not realize the registration period for both the bilingual K4 and K5 programs at New Frontiers School Board (NFSB) elementary institutions is already open. It’s a fairly common occurrence, says NFSB director general Michael Helm. “At some point before the end of the year, people realize they have to register their child,” he says, suggesting some families leave this important step to the very last minute.

Helm says the schools will do everything they can to accommodate late registrations, but he cautions that obtaining proof from the provincial government that a child is eligible to be educated in English can take time. “Kids can’t be in school unless we have this document,” he confirms, noting that even parents who are on the fence about registering their child in English public education might consider securing their eligibility certificate – just so they are not caught out.

Helm says it is important that parents start thinking now about decisions down the road and consider the possibility a child may want to attend an English institution at a later time. Currently, English-speaking students attending school in French must apply for their eligibility certificate before graduating from high school.

Under the French Language Charter, children living in Quebec qualify for English eligibility if they or a sibling completed the majority of their elementary or secondary school studies in English in Canada. The children of a Canadian parent who did most of their elementary education in English will also qualify, as will children of parents residing in Quebec on a temporary basis. And, while subject to government approval, children with serious learning disabilities may also attend an English institution. Families that are unsure of their status can contact the school board for more information.

Helm says once the question of eligibility is settled, the NFSB offers an especially welcoming bilingual environment for its youngest students with a curriculum based entirely on play. He says learning through play and exposure to social interactions are key components of the program, and they help prepare students mentally and emotionally for more academically challenging content through progressive grade levels.

Kindergarten is also beneficial for students who may have special needs, says Helm. “We can start to identify, support, and work with some of these difficulties or special needs right away,” he explains, suggesting this can be very helpful to the school, as well as the students and their families.

Children must turn four-years-old before September 30 to be enrolled for the 2024-2025 school year. More information is available on the NFSB website, including links to help parents find their school and the corresponding contact information. Helm encourages parents with questions to contact their school to set up a meeting.

Kindergarten registration is open, but is your child eligible? Read More »

Havelock to contest asphalt factory before the CPTAQ

Local Journalism Initiative / / /

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The municipal council in Havelock is regrouping after a public audience, requested by the municipality before the Commission de Protection du Territoire Agricole (CPTAQ), was cancelled.

The municipality had been preparing to plead its case against the operation of an asphalt factory already installed in the Carrières Ducharme quarry on Covey Hill before the commission on February 7. Over 20 other organizations, groups, and individuals were also planning on presenting, either in person or by submitting a memoire or brief in opposition to the plant owned by Groupe Chenail Inc.

As of press time, a new date was yet to be confirmed by the commission.

Testimonials were expected from the municipality and its ad-hoc committee that has been studying the potential impacts of the factory over the past several months, as well as local conservation group Ambioterra and the UPA, among others. It is anticipated that they will dispute the CPTAQ’s favourable assessment of the proposed project, issued last September, which concluded that an asphalt factory in its current location would not impact soil resources, the production of nearby maple operations and orchards, or the overall homogeneity of the area.

The CPTAQ assessment, which does not represent a final decision, suggested Groupe Chenail Inc. be allowed to operate the plant for five years while respecting certain conditions. After this period, the file would be reassessed.

Havelock, which has already waged a lengthy court battle against the factory, maintains such a project is inconsistent with the agricultural and forestry vocation of the community.

“The municipality is not letting this go,” says Mayor Gerald Beaudoin adamantly. “We want to make our case heard, and we are hoping that they will judge us favourably,” he adds.

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African nurses further their careers at regional hospitals

Local Journalism Initiative / / /

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Last February, during a snowstorm, a group of 17 nursing students arrived in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield from various African countries. They were about to begin refresher courses as part of a pilot project between the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration, the Cégep de Valleyfield, and the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest (CISSSMO).

In December, this first cohort completed their attestation d’études collégiales (AEC) in the nursing program at the Cégep. As of January 29, the students officially began working as candidates to the nursing profession with the CISSSMO, while they prepare to obtain their nursing licences by passing the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ) exam.

Two of the graduates were awarded bursaries for their academic performance and perseverance from the Cégep de Valleyfield and the Hôpital du Suroît Foundations.

Diane Songwa, who received one of the bursaries, says this past year has been one of adaptation. From her first introduction to winter weather to the stark differences between the expectations of nurses in Quebec compared to her home country of Cameroon, she has been learning how to manage the culture shock.

The 32-year-old admits that when she first came across an advertisement for the program, she didn’t think it was real. She was studying in Belgium at the time, and decided there was no harm in sending an application since there was no requirement to pay anything up front. She laughs, saying she only began to believe in the program when she started receiving communications about language proficiency tests and immigration documents.

Songwa lived in the dormitory at the Cégep for several months after her arrival and worked three days a week as an orderly at the Suroît hospital while attending classes to familiarize herself with the Quebec healthcare system and hospital environment. She says she received a warm reception from officials at the Cégep and the CISSSMO, who were eager to help with everything from grocery shopping to finding more permanent housing.

Now living within walking distance to the hospital where she works full time, Songwa says she appreciated the classes and felt well prepared while transitioning from classroom simulations to real-life hospital situations.

She says the importance of caring for patients doesn’t change between countries, but the technology and the materials available to Quebec practitioners “is a big plus we don’t have [in Cameroon]. “The nurses are more autonomous and have more responsibility than in my country,” she notes, suggesting nurses here are responsible for much more than administering medications. “The profession is a bit more restrained back home,” she adds, explaining that in Cameroon, the role of a nurse is to support the doctor.

Songwa says she is looking forward to remaining in Quebec and following this next step in her career, though she admits Quebec’s infamous nursing exam has her feeling more than a little stressed. “It is a new challenge, and I am excited!” she exclaims.

African nurses further their careers at regional hospitals Read More »

MRC consults citizens on waste management

Local Journalism Initiative / / /

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent is talking trash, and it wants your help.

It will be holding a public consultation on its draft residual materials management plan (PGMR) for the region on March 12. The document, which is focused on managing and reducing all types of waste generated within the 13 municipalities of the Haut-Saint-Laurent, was adopted by the regional council of mayors on January 17 for a period extending to 2031.

Émilie Escafit, the MRC’s waste management coordinator, began revising the regional government’s plan last spring. The PGMR provides a regional portrait of waste management, determines the orientations and objectives pursued by the MRC, and establishes the means and actions to be implemented to achieve them. The plan is bound by the provincial Environment Quality Act, as well as by the objectives of the Quebec Residual Materials Management Policy, its 2019-2024 Action Plan, and the government’s plan to recover organic waste.

“Despite these government targets, the PGMR allows for the consideration of regional realities in achieving government objectives,” says Escafit, noting the deadlines for reaching certain targets have been adjusted to take elements particular to the MRC into account. These include budgetary restrictions, relatively low residual materials output, vast distances for collection, and limited human resources.

The document includes an inventory of residual materials generated within the MRC at the residential, institutional, commercial, and industrial levels, as well as construction, renovation, and demolition waste. It also features a territorial diagnosis based on the inventory and previous PGMR, clear objectives, and an action plan. Escafit confirms the action plan was drawn up in collaboration with the MRC’s waste management committee, following multiple consultations with the municipalities.

A series of regional objectives were established. Some highlights include measures to reduce the quantity of disposed materials to 525 kg per capita by 2031, by encouraging actions to reduce waste generation at the source. The MRC aims to provide access to organic waste management services in the residential and institutional, commercial, and industrial sector across 20 per cent of the territory by 2027, with the long-term goal of recycling 60 per cent of organic waste by 2031. The MRC also aims to recycle 70 per cent of waste generated through construction, renovation, and demolition. In all, the updated PGMR presents 34 measures within the action plan spread over the next seven years.

The document is accessible online on the MRC website, while paper versions can be read at the MRC office in Huntingdon and at any of the municipal town halls across the region.

The public is invited to comment on any section of the document during the public consultation evening on March 12. Citizens are welcome to present suggestions on improving composting services, access to ecocentres or drop-off sites, or curbing waste generation in all sectors. Citizens, groups, and organizations may also submit briefs to the MRC before March 4 by mail, or by email to emilie.escafit@mrchsl.com.

Escafit says all comments will be considered, and the document can be modified accordingly before it is finalized. The meeting will take place in the council room of the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent in Huntingdon, starting at 8 p.m.

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NFSB to produce a catch-up plan for its students

Local Journalism Initiative / / /

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The New Frontiers School Board is reacting positively to a $300 million catch-up plan recently announced by the provincial government.

Education Minister Bernard Drainville has confirmed that the government will not cancel March break, and the school year will not be extended to make up for time lost during public sector strikes last November and December.

Instead, Drainville outlined plans to help balance things between those who missed 23 days of school, those who lost nine days, and students in the private system who did not miss any classes. The plans include voluntary tutoring during school hours, support outside of school hours, free summer school, funds for community groups that provide homework programs or literacy aids, and help during spring break.

The plan also resorts to several measures that were put in place during the pandemic to limit the impact of absenteeism on final grades. End-of-year exams will be delayed by a few days and the weight of these assessments will be diminished. Students, especially those in secondary four and five, will only be tested on essential learnings in each subject.

There is also an option for school service centres and boards to delay the preparation of March report cards to the end of the month.

“We need to do everything that we can, to help the students to catch up and overcome the delays in the teaching and learning that they have suffered due to the strike,” said Drainville, who suggested there are ways to “make it almost a normal year.”

Drainville added he was very confident that there will be a “great mobilization” within the school networks between administration, teachers, support staff, and parents to work together to help their students.

NFSB looks ahead

“We are pleased that the government will be providing us with funding to support a plan,” said NFSB director general Michael Helm, who noted he is especially content that the ministry is allowing school boards and service centres the flexibility to develop plans to suit the needs of their students.

“This is indeed an unfortunate situation we all find ourselves in – especially for our students,” said Helm. He added that the government’s modifications to the weighting of final exams, the focus of final evaluations, and the possibility to extend the second term will be helpful.

The NFSB has met with the directorate to begin the planning process. Helm explained the goal is to quickly establish a rough draft that will then be used to consult with different stakeholders and partners, before finalizing the approach to the remainder of the school year.

The board has since launched an interactive ThoughtExchange survey to allow parents and members of the community to provide input regarding additional instructional support for children who may be struggling due to the lost school days. The questions touch specifically on the timing of tutorial sessions, and whether these should be done virtually or in person. At least 419 individuals have participated in some way in this survey, with over 321 thoughts having been shared. The survey will close at midnight on January 25.

Still some uncertainty

As the NFSB and the Centre de services scolaire de la Vallée-des-Tisserands work to find ways to help students, the different public sector unions representing teachers, support staff, and educational professionals will be meeting over the next three weeks to vote on contract agreements negotiated with the government in late December.

Nick Ross, the president of the Chateauguay Valley Teachers Association, has confirmed that its members, for whom information sessions were given on January 17 and 18, will gather for a special general meeting on January 24 to vote on the proposals.

Support staff members of the Syndicat des employées et employés professionnels et de bureau (SEPB 576) will meet on January 31 in Howick to decide whether to approve the agreement in principle reached with the government.

Teachers working for the Centre de services scolaire de la Vallée-des-Tisserands who are members of the Syndicat de Champlain met virtually on January 22 to vote on the agreements, while support staff will meet on January 29.

NFSB to produce a catch-up plan for its students Read More »

NFSB publishes its new Commitment to Success Plan

Local Journalism Initiative / / /

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The New Frontiers School Board has published its renewed Commitment to Success Plan, which sets out the orientations and priorities for the institution to follow over the next four years.

“It is about each student and what each student’s needs are,” says NFSB director general Michael Helm. He notes that this philosophy plays a significant role in the Commitment to Success Plan, which was developed following a series of extensive public consultations that took place between November 2022 and September 2023.

The revised plan was adopted during the regular meeting of the Council of Commissioners in October and was submitted to the Ministry of Education for approval. The Ministry accepted the plan officially on October 26, and Helm says they are now working with the document to develop objectives that will eventually become an action plan.

A roadmap for the way forward

This was the first time the NFSB has consulted on the wording of its vision, which now centres on fostering success for each student. The board’s mission revolves around engaging students, staff, parents, and the community as educational partners, while the values of the NFSB include community, adaptability, responsibility, and equality/inclusion.

“We are very pleased with the outcome,” says Helm, who suggests that as a school board, “We are going to see some significant gains for our students.”

To better encourage student success, the NFSB will be looking at increasing access to specialized programs while also considering the learning environment and the importance of listening to students. The Plan outlines a series of Ministry of Education orientations and the NFSB’s commitments to achieve these objectives, which include making student success a top priority for Quebec society, making vocational education truly attractive, and making schools and centres welcoming spaces. The board does not shy away from admitting there will be challenges in meeting these targets over the next few years.

For example, the NFSB acknowledges it has seen a three- to six-per cent increase in employee turnover, especially in terms of teachers. High absenteeism rates and the level of student engagement are also areas of concern. To help, the board will be providing increased support to new teachers as well as mentoring and coaching initiatives for all employees. Students will see an increased focus on extracurricular activities and specialty programs.

The success rate of students with special needs is well above the provincial average, as is the proportion of students scoring between 70 and 100 per cent on the grade 6 compulsory mathematics exam; however, graduation rates and success rates for boys are currently below the provincial average. The participation rate in special educational projects by secondary students is also below the average across Quebec. The NFSB has committed to improving these areas, with the goal of achieving results above current provincial averages by 2027.

When it comes to adult learners and vocational programs, the graduation rate among NFSB students is slightly below the Quebec average. Here, the board has committed to being as flexible as possible to accommodate adult learners in their work/life balance. The board is hoping to attain permanent authorization for the Health Assistance and Nursing program, while looking to offer new programs that support the needs of the community.

In tandem with the ministerial orientations, the NFSB has developed its own orientations in consultation with students, staff, families, and the community. These objectives revolve around strengthening employee engagement, leveraging the power of data to make informed decisions, and fostering relationships and partnerships that will lead to collaborative and inclusive educational environments.

The NFSB has just launched its registration period for its kindergarten programs. Interested parents can access the Commitment to Success Plan to learn more about the Board’s engagements, as well as its bilingual programs, online at nfsb.qc.ca.

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