Late in the evening on Monday, May 4, excavation work caused a natural gas leak in a commercial sector along Saint-Martin West Boulevard.

At approximately 10:58 p.m., the excavator operator accidentally severed a three-quarter-inch gas line connected to a business, triggering a leak that quickly formed a small cloud, easily spotted by firefighters minutes later.

Evacuation Required
The Laval Fire Department deployed five units—around twenty firefighters and their officers—to the scene. They quickly called in Énergir technicians while evacuating, as a precaution, the few remaining customers from the neighboring business, Café Milano Laval.

At the same time, other firefighters established a safety perimeter with assistance from officers of the Laval Police Service, temporarily blocking traffic on Saint-Martin Boulevard just east of Chomedey Boulevard.

Quick and Effective Response
Fortunately, road traffic was nearly nonexistent at that late hour.

The Énergir team arrived within about fifteen minutes and immediately began operations to quickly seal the breach.

At 11:50 p.m., Laval firefighters confirmed the leak was fully under control after conducting standard detection tests and measuring carbon monoxide levels to ensure there was no risk to public health.

L’article Gas Leak and Business Evacuation in Chomedey est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

The results of the latest Quebec High School Students Health Survey (EQSJS) reveal a troubling picture for Laval, particularly regarding mental health.

The EQSJS asks students about their perspectives on three themes: physical health and lifestyle habits, social environment, as well as social adjustment and mental health.

Conducted every six years, this was the first edition carried out after the COVID-19 pandemic, a disruptive event that affected students’ perception of their school experience by 17.4%, their mental health by 15.9%, their physical activity habits by 21.6%, and their substance use by 4%.

The data in this article come from the EQSJS conducted by the Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ) from November 7, 2022, to May 17, 2023, involving 17 schools and 4,715 students in Laval.

“It is important to consider young people as a whole, both physically and mentally, because we know all of this is interconnected,” said Geneviève Parent, coordinator of the health promotion and prevention team in school settings at Laval’s Integrated Health and Social Services Centre (CISSS), while presenting the study’s highlights during the School Perseverance Days. “I think it will now be interesting to look at our institutions and what is already being put in place to support young people.”

Physical Health and Lifestyle Habits

Regarding eating habits, nearly one student in three starts each school day without having eaten breakfast, a proportion that has almost doubled since 2016-2017.

There has also been a significant decrease in the consumption of at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day (51.4% compared to 31.4%), an increase in daily consumption of sugary drinks, snacks or sweets (16.7% versus 24.5%), and a decrease in junk food consumption three times per week (12.8% compared to 9.9%).

Three students out of four do not meet physical activity recommendations. Even more concerning, more than half of surveyed students are little active, very little active, or sedentary.

60.4% of students say they are dissatisfied with their body shape, an increase of nearly 13% since 2010-2011. Boys are more likely to want a larger body shape, while girls tend to want to be smaller.

Unsurprisingly, the proportion of high school students spending more than four hours per day in front of a screen has increased. 24.2% are affected for school-related activities, and the figure rises to 29.4% for communication and leisure use.

Regarding sleep, more than half of respondents sleep fewer hours than the recommended duration, a percentage that is increasing. Laval scores lower than the rest of Quebec on this metric, and girls are more affected.

The region, however, obtained encouraging results regarding substance use. 30% of students reported consuming alcohol in the past year, a statistic that has declined significantly since 2010-2011. Meanwhile, 12.4% reported drug use and 11% cannabis use.

Only vaping has increased, with 10.1% of students having used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, representing a 1.5% increase compared with 2016-2017. The increase reaches 5.5% among girls.

Social Environment

The perception of receiving strong social support has declined since 2016-2017.

Students were asked here about caring and encouraging people they can rely on, who provide care, attention, interest, listening, and help within their family, friend group, or community and school environments.

The proportion of high school students with a strong sense of belonging to their school has also declined since 2010-2011. 33% reported a strong attachment, lower than the rest of the province. Girls and senior-level students are particularly affected.

Laval has recorded an increase in meaningful participation in the school environment, with 60.3% of students reporting a high or moderate level. This rate has improved since 2016-2017, while still remaining lower than Quebec overall.

School engagement was also assessed, notably because it is one of the best predictors of potential dropout. In the region, 24.5% of students reported low engagement, 57.7% moderate engagement, and 17.7% high engagement.

Social Adjustment and Mental Health

One student in three has low self-esteem, a phenomenon much more significant among teenage girls (45.6%). This proportion rose from 19.1% in 2010-2011, to 24.6% in 2016-2017, reaching 33.1% in the latest study.

The high level of psychological distress is also concerning, reported by 40.8% of students. Nearly 60% of girls are affected, while this is the case for only one boy in four, and distress increases with grade level. This statistic has risen since 2010-2011 in both Laval and Quebec.

Diagnoses of mental disorders have increased in the region since 2010-2011, but have remained stable since 2016-2017, except for eating disorders. 32.1% of youth say they experience generalized anxiety, and 63.8% eco-anxiety.

Finally, the EQSJS paints an alarming picture of violence at school, online, and in romantic relationships.

Actions

In light of these results, Geneviève Parent concluded her presentation by identifying two new priorities: digital balance and the health of young adults, including those who are not in school.

The importance of strengthening existing actions in global health promotion, prevention, fighting cyberbullying, and reducing e-cigarette use was also emphasized.

Concretely, this applies in Laval schools through the Projet Épanouir framework of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSS), published in 2022. This document encourages upstream action and the promotion of positive mental health in schools.

Laval’s CISSS has created youth collaboration teams working in each school in the sector, in partnership with school staff. Together, they meet regularly to assess the situation and implement action plans based on students’ specific needs.

“Our target is to promote mental health,” said the coordinator. “Mental health is not only about ensuring there are no disorders or difficulties, but also about helping young people develop their personal and social skills. We want youth to develop the skills to face life, and to ensure that their environment—whether school, community or family—is supportive of their health and well-being.”

The EQSJS data partly guide these teams, but on-the-ground realities remain the priority according to the varied needs emerging directly from schools.

The active participation of youth and the involvement of community organizations near schools are encouraged and considered success factors.

For its part, the Laval School Service Centre (CSSL) is promoting its Hors-Piste program, deployed in collaboration with the CISSS.

“The results of this survey speak to us and confirm that the work carried out every day at the CSSL by our school teams and partners is essential,” said Yves Michel Volcy, Director General of the CSSL. “Initiatives such as the Hors-Piste workshops are part of this commitment to support adolescents and provide them with the tools needed to meet today’s challenges. Let us not forget that behind every statistic, there are students living complex realities who need a safe, caring, and stimulating school environment.”

Hors-Piste is currently implemented in 12 high schools and 40 elementary schools in Laval.

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L’article 41% of High School Students Have a High Level of Psychological Distress est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

A $10.2 million contract has been awarded for underground infrastructure upgrades and pipe expansion work in the area of Rue de Gruyères, on Rue Marc between De Tolède and Aladin, and on the final 300 metres of Rue de Tolède, in Vimont.

The goal is to reduce the risks of flooding and sewer backups that residents of this Vimont neighbourhood have been dealing with for many years.

At the last municipal meeting, the awarding of the contract to Les Constructions CJRB Inc. was particularly welcomed by the local councillor, David De Cotis. He recalled his very first public meeting following his election in November 2013, when several dozen affected residents had warned him about the recurring problems they faced during heavy rainfalls and spring snowmelt.

“…their quality of life will improve, and stress will decrease,” said the opposition councillor, who also thanked city staff for their work and, unexpectedly, Mayor Stéphane Boyer and members of the executive committee for having “pushed the file forward.”

After receiving a complaint in 2017 regarding recurring stormwater drainage issues and sewer backups on Rue de Gruyères, the City of Laval Ombudsman’s Office had since been monitoring the matter with the Engineering Department.

Storage Pipe

Lasting 16 months, the project will notably replace a 450 mm sanitary sewer pipe with a storage pipe five times larger in diameter. It will extend over a distance of 250 metres beneath Rue Marc, specifically between Rue de Tolède and Boulevard Bellerose.

The addition of this 2400 mm diameter pipe will help “store heavy rainwater in order to maintain water levels at a safe elevation and prevent basement backups,” according to a document prepared by the Procurement Department and submitted to the executive committee earlier this month.

In addition, the complete replacement of the watermain and sanitary sewer networks will take place beneath Rue de Tolède, as well as under Rue Marc between De Tolède and Milan.

Sponge Park

The contract also includes the creation of a sponge park along Rue de Tolède, the redesign of the section of Rue Marc between Boulevard Bellerose and Rue Aladin — including the installation of a bidirectional bike path — the construction of a raised intersection, tree and vegetation planting, as well as street lighting work.

This public investment is part of a program aimed at resilience measures against climate change, for which $60.8 million has been allocated in the 2026–2028 Three-Year Capital Investment Program (PTI).

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L’article $10 Million to Fight Flooding on Streets in Vimont est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

A family in Chomedey will need to temporarily relocate after an electrical charging failure involving a scooter that was plugged into the garage of their home on Tuesday, April 28.

It was 12:04 p.m. when 911 was alerted to the incident. The first of the 22 firefighters required for the call — including 6 units from the Laval Fire Safety Department and their officers — arrived on scene six minutes later.

At that time, smoke was visible around the garage door of the single-family home located on Chevillon Street, just south of Saint-Martin West Boulevard.

After quickly confirming that everyone had evacuated safely and ensuring that a smoke alarm was present and functioning, firefighters entered the home and promptly conducted an inspection of the premises, which were completely filled with smoke.

The crew then had to force open the garage door before working to contain the flames inside, which they successfully managed.

After inspecting the rest of the house, firefighters were able to declare the fire under control at 12:46 p.m., as it had not spread to the main structure of the residence.

Damage is nevertheless estimated at approximately $100,000 to the building and $25,000 to its contents.

L’article An Electric Scooter Fire Causes $125 000 in Damage in Laval est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

L’article A Second Criminal Fire in Two Days in Laval est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

Côme Street in Fabreville had a hectic early evening when a fire broke out in the basement of a single-family home while its occupants were out enjoying the nice weather.

Upon returning from their walk, the two residents unfortunately inhaled a concerning amount of smoke, as their smoke alarm—although present—was barely audible.

It was 6:50 p.m. when 911 was alerted to the incident. Laval’s fire department dispatched seven units, including 26 firefighters and their officers, to the scene.

When the first crews arrived at 6:56 p.m., flames were clearly visible in the basement of the home, located just west of Marc-Aurèle-Fortin Park.

Two injured

While administering first aid to the three occupants and simultaneously requesting assistance from Urgences-santé paramedics to take charge of them and quickly transport them to the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), firefighters rapidly deployed their hoses to attack the blaze and quickly limit its spread.

With this approach, firefighters successfully prevented the flames from spreading and contained the fire to the basement of the residence, bringing it fully under control by 7:32 p.m.

Heavy damage

Nevertheless, the fire—whose cause remains unknown, with several possibilities still under consideration—resulted in estimated damages of approximately $200,000 to the structure and $25,000 to its contents.

The two residents, who were accompanied by their son at the time of the incident, will unfortunately need to find temporary housing.

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L’article A fire of undetermined cause sends two people to the hospital est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

L’article Upcoming alert siren tests in Laval est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

Around 11:40 a.m., a fire raging in a wooded area of Saint-François is believed to have been deliberately set, prompting the closure of Avenue Marcel-Villeneuve in both directions.

Firefighters from the Laval Fire Safety Service (SSIL) are still working to bring the situation under control.

Due to the spread of the fire to a nearby field, Avenue Marcel-Villeneuve is closed between Avenue Roger-Lortie and Rue de l’Harmonie, as well as Montée Masson between Avenue Marcel-Villeneuve and Rue Léopold-Hamelin.

The SSIL will forward the case to the Laval Police Service to investigate the exact causes and circumstances.

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L’article Suspicious brush fire and road closures in eastern Laval est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

L’article A fire breaks out in the garage of a home in Chomedey est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

The Laval Pétroliers have reached the finals of the Ligue nord-américaine de hockey (LNAH) playoffs thanks to a 3–1 victory over the Jonquière Marquis.

This win allowed the Laval team to take the series 4–2.

In this sixth matchup, both teams were tied until midway through the third period. It was Anthony DeLuca, the Pétroliers’ leading scorer in the regular season, who put his team ahead with just under 12 minutes left in the game.

Carmine-Anthony Pagliarulo then stood strong in net, stopping 21 of the 22 shots he faced throughout the game. Defenseman Yann Sauvé sealed the victory with an empty-net goal.

A highly anticipated final

The Pétroliers will now face the Saint-Hyacinthe Bataillon in the championship series. The South Shore team defeated the Thetford Assurancia in five games in the other semifinal.

This is the expected final in the LNAH, as both teams finished at the top of the regular-season standings. Laval posted a 25-11-0 record, while Saint-Hyacinthe recorded a 19-12-5 mark.

Pierre Pelletier’s squad also went 4-1-0 against their upcoming rivals during the regular season.

For now, the full finals schedule has not yet been released. However, the Laval organization has announced that the first home game will take place on Saturday, April 25 at 6:00 p.m. at the Colisée de Laval.

Regrettable incidents

Meanwhile, LNAH officials issued a statement following incidents that occurred during Game 5 of the series between the Pétroliers and the Marquis at the Colisée de Laval.

During that game, a fan notably threw beers toward Jonquière players and displayed inappropriate behavior.

“The LNAH wishes to be clear: it does not in any way condone the actions that took place during this game,” the league wrote. “[…] The safety of players, coaches, officials, and spectators remains an absolute priority for the league.”

It was stated that “immediate measures” were taken following these events, including “strict disciplinary actions agreed upon in collaboration with the Laval Pétroliers organization to strengthen security protocols and prevent any similar situation in the future.”

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L’article The Pétroliers reach the LNAH final est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.