It was 4:54 a.m. when 911 was notified of a fire in that residential area, located almost at the western end of Saint-Martin Boulevard, on the Sainte-Dorothée’s side.

Arriving at 4:57 a.m., the first of the nine units of Laval’s Fire and Safety Department required for the intervention (34 firefighters), had no trouble figuring out the magnitude of the situation.

At that time, flames were visible on the first two of the four floors of the building, in addition to reaching the rest of the structure and igniting some of the balconies.

Maneuvers in extreme cold

While the wind factor forced work to be done in a temperature of around minus 20 degrees, firefighters first completed the evacuation of the premises.

Meanwhile, help was requested from the Service de police de Laval (SPL), Hydro-Québec, the Société de transport de Laval (STL), and the City of Laval’s public works department.

The firefighters mainly concentrated their efforts on stopping the spread of the flames to the other floors and to the roof of the building, valued at $6 million, noting that the smoke detectors of the place were functional.

It was around 6:24 a.m. that firefighters brought the fire under control, but it caused damage summarily assessed at $300,000 for the building, and $100,000 for its contents.

Eight people will have to relocate following the fire. The investigation was transferred to the SPL, the firefighters having been unable to determine its origin 100 per cent.

However, the fire would have most likely started on the first floor.

Due to freezing weather conditions, a firefighter injured his ankle while executing his duties.

translated by Alec Brideau

L’article $400,000 in Damage for a Suspicious Fire in Sainte-Dorothée est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

The evening will be embellished with musical performances, including Cynthia Baroud, finalist on the show La Voix in 2015, and Nicola Ciccone.

Between performances, many draws are planned, as well as auctions that will take place throughout the evening in order to raise more funds.

There will also be a conference by a breast cancer survivor. She will talk about her personal journey towards healing.

More than 450 people are expected at the event.

“After two pandemic years, we’re expecting people to be willing to celebrate for a good cause, and be generous,” said Ihab Zaid, general manager of CIBC banking centres in Laval and chairman of the evening’s organizing committee.

Zaid said the goal is to raise $15,000, and he remains positive it will be achieved.

CIBC has supported this cause for many years, but it’s the first time it has its annual event in Laval.

translated by Alec Brideau

L’article Important Fundraiser to Beat Breast Cancer est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

“The climate crisis is not very present in the electoral campaign and we find that a little disturbing,” underlines Amélie Therrien, president of the Syndicat des enseignantes et enseignants du cégep Montmorency (SEECM). “It’s a must to mobilize collectively in order to respond to this lack of political will.”

Some SEECM members were already in front of the CEGEP at 7 o’clock.

“For the teachers of Collège Montmorency, the climate situation isn’t technical, but political,” the SEECM said. “It depends directly on our ability to organize ourselves and collectively limit our consumption, for the sake of justice. In this sense, they’re especially calling for a complete exit from fossil fuels by 2030, as well as a massive reinvestment in public services and the social safety net.”

translated by Alec Brideau

L’article Strike for Climate Justice at Collège Montmorency est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.