If you’re among that dominant group, here are four ways you can help fight against climate change.

Book a staycation

Planning a holiday at or close to home has multiple benefits. For one, you don’t have to break the bank with pricey airline tickets or multiple tanks of gas for an epic road trip. Cutting out those items also reduces the carbon footprint of your vacation.

Visiting nearby attractions helps you better connect with your community and keeps your hard-earned money circulating in the local economy.

If you do plan to go abroad, consider adding carbon offsets to the budget to help reduce your impact.

Apply the three Rs to your wardrobe

Globally, “fast fashion” is a major contributor to climate change and it also fills up landfills. Rather than buying cheap clothing that will fall apart after a few washings, invest in better-quality garments that will last for years to come.

Another option is to shop at thrift or consignment stores rather than buying new. You’ll save some money, and someone else’s previously loved clothing will get a new lease on life.

Finally, you can repurpose old clothing into new with some adornments or strategic snips with the scissors. Are we ready for the return of the iconic Daisy Duke jean shorts?

Eat smart

Much like a staycation, buying your food from local providers has multiple benefits, including reducing the carbon footprint required to get the food to your table and supporting nearby producers.

Wherever you source your food from, take steps to not waste it. Planning a menu ahead of time means you can use up leftovers and items you already have in the fridge or pantry before they go bad.

You can save yourself time and money by buying food in bulk and making large batches of your family’s favourite dishes. Reheat some of the leftovers for an easy meal the next day and freeze the rest in single-serve containers for healthy, homecooked lunches later on.

Conserve energy at home

Reducing energy consumption at home not only helps the planet; it also helps your wallet. One way to reduce your energy use is by using Wi-Fi enabled switches such as Square D. By pairing your switches and plugs with an energy monitoring system like Wiser Energy, you can use your phone to control light switches for intelligent home energy management.

(Source : News Canada)

L’article How you can do your part to fight climate change est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

If you have ever inadvertently come into contact with giant hogweed or wild parsnip you will not forget the encounter anytime soon. The sap from these invasive plants is toxic to the skin and can cause severe irritation.

Other invasive plants like phragmites, also known as common reed, can spread quickly and aggressively choke out native vegetation. This can be devastating for local ecosystems. While there are various options for controlling these plants, which can include mowing, flooding and compression, sometimes these steps can actually stimulate the growth of more of the invasive reeds.

Whether it’s giant hogweed, wild parsnip or phragmites, sometimes the best option for controlling them is by using an herbicide.

“Unlike other removal methods, herbicides get to the root of the problem, effectively killing the entire plant,” says Pierre Petelle, president and CEO of CropLife Canada. “All pesticides in Canada are regulated by Health Canada to ensure they can be used safely without harm to humans or the environment.”

Invasive species can have long-term impacts on natural environments from forests to wetlands and lakes. These plants compete with native vegetation for water, nutrients and space, which impacts soil and water quality, wildlife habitat, biodiversity and natural fire protection.

Invasive plants can also invade recreational areas, making them less attractive and less enjoyable for people and their families. Dense vegetation can make it difficult for people to enjoy walking trails, and popular swimming areas can become unusable due to uncontrolled aquatic plants. Unfortunately, outdoor recreation enthusiasts can inadvertently spread infestations by tracking seeds and other parts of the plants to new areas.

However, with an effective range of tools, which includes pesticides and mechanical methods to control invasive species, local land managers can keep our natural environments and urban green spaces healthy. 

(Source : News Canada)

L’article Invasive species take a toll est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

L’article 5 things you may not know that you can recycle est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

Bois de l’Équerre now has 2.65 km of trails that can be used by everyone. Thanks to these wider paths made of stone dust, people with reduced mobility can more easily visit the rich ecological environment.

That new trail is part of Greater Montreal’s green and blue network, and was made possible thanks to a financial support of $212,500 from the Montreal Metropolitan Community (MMC).

“The development of the trail, adapted to universal accessibility standards, is great news for the entire population of the Greater Montreal, who needs access to green spaces more than ever,” said by press release Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal and President of the MMC. “It will not only help prevent the degradation of natural environments by marking out traffic, but also improve the region’s resilience and quality of life of its inhabitants.”

Laval’s Mayor Stéphane Boyer also said in the press release that the trail offers users of all ages and physical conditions a way to enjoy the outdoors, by discovering the urban forest of bois de l’Équerre.

“Laval is full of exceptional natural environments, and we’re fortunate, as citizens, to be able to take advantage of them,” Boyer said. “To do it, we’re committed to highlighting them, and allowing access to them to as many people as possible.” (A.B.)

L’article New trail in the bois de l’Équerre est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

Former municipal councillor for Sainte-Rose, responsible for issues related to the environment and urban planning during the two terms of Demers’s administration, Dufour will also act as spokesperson for Laval’s region for Quebec’s Liberal Party (QLP).

During the last campaign, in the wake of the saga surrounding the Cité du Cinéma, Dufour had also pledged, should she win her place at the National Assembly, to do everything possible to amend the Act respecting elections and Referendums in Municipalities, especially Articles 546 and 553, in relation to the procedure for registering qualified voters.

Sona Lakhoyan Olivier

In addition, Sona Lakhoyan Olivier, deputy for Chomedey, was given, by the leader of the official opposition, Dominique Anglade, the function of Liberal spokesperson for the regions of Laurentides and Lanaudière, as well as for the tourism industry.

translated by Alec Brideau

L’article Virginie Dufour, Municipal Affairs Watchdog est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

Founded in 1996, the environmental organization’s mission is to improve the quality of the environment, and promote sustainable development in Laval.

With the publication of a series of memoirs, the organization of dozens of events, and the deployment of many projects, the dynamic team can say the mission is accomplished.

“Everything I’ve done, I’ve done it for the young people,” said Guy Garand, founder and former CEO (1996-2021) of the CRE. “Today, the ball is in your court. Think about the future, because the environment is the way out of climate change.”

Notable Achievements

The CRE of Laval is one of the most important players in the environmental landscape of the third largest city in the province.

Since 1998, the CRE has been responsible for the inventory of Laval wetlands, an inventory that has made it possible to recognize the importance of preserving those natural environments at the regional and national level.

“The City hasn’t always been an example to follow in terms of the environment, but I think it’s changing,” said Stéphane Boyer, mayor of Laval. “In recent years, the percentage of protected territories has increased from three per cent to more than 12 per cent.”

To mark its anniversary, the CRE has created a historical collection of all its milestones on its website.

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L’article The CRE of Laval Celebrates its 26th Anniversary est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

“No one will have full rights to build a gas station anymore,” said Mayor of Laval Stéphane Boyer at the last municipal assembly. “We think there are already enough like that on our territory, and anyway, we are going in another direction.”

That intervention, during an exchange with a citizen during the question period preceding the adoption of the Urban Planning Code (UPC), was greeted by a round of applause in the council chamber.

Adopted on July 12, the UPC would only become effective in the fall, that is, until the Ministry of Municipal Affairs sanctions it.

Meanwhile, projects and permit applications submitted to the City will continue to be analyzed in the light of the rules provided for in Regulation L-2000, Boyer’s office informed.

Improvement

In its preliminary version submitted for public consultation in the spring of 2021, the UPC limited the establishment of all new gas  stations to “commercial areas” grouping together several buildings, often large areas with large parking lots. However, the new version of the UPC further tightens the restrictions surrounding this type of trade.

Thus, in the future, the only place that could possibly accommodate a gas station and a charging station is along the expressways. Yet, even there, the authorization to build there, along highways, will remain conditional on a favorable recommendation from the Urban Planning Advisory Committee, and the approval of Laval’s Executive Committee.

translated by Alec Brideau

L’article Laval will Prohibit Any New Gas Station est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

More than 85 local exhibitors, including 40 Quebec microbreweries will take part in this sixth edition of the festival.

“In addition to being a discovery and tasting event, the mission of Laval’s Festival des bières is to educate attendees about the world of brewing, while promoting discussions with brewers from everywhere in Quebec,” we can read in the press release of the event.

A lot of Choices

Again this year, family and variety are put forward at the festival. Spokesperson since the first edition, Alexandre Goyette recalls the variety of products and different activities available during the event.

“There are also tastings,” the well-known comedian said. “We’ve got to that point with beer. It’s also about tasting products and discovering new things. Some brewers are also making wonderful non-alcoholic products. I remember a year when I had done six months without alcohol, and that happened to be at the same time as the festival. I had managed it very well during the event with all the varieties of products offered.”

Family Touch

Goyette adds that children can also have fun at the festival. Among other things, music shows, animations and inflatable games will be available for the youngest.

“There’s a family aspect to it, since after all, the event isn’t a big drinking party,” Goyette said. “I’m there with my children every year. We’re taking advantage of the playground for them, and it’s really nice. It’s as if they succeed to combine the two worlds together, and it works really well.”

This year, the festival will have compost bins on its site for the first time. Although Marilène Barale, instigator of the festival, has always worked on sustainable development, she was looking to present an even more ecological event in 2022.

“Anything plastic, which means water bottles or glasses, won’t be distributed,” Barale explained. “It was one of the waste we had the most. We’ve already been offering an official reusable cup, but some people weren’t buying it. Now, they’ll have to buy it, or bring one from home.”

Taking the metro will once again be free on the entire STL network, upon presentation of a festival ticket. Evening shuttle services on Friday and Saturday will also be offered. Those shuttles will directly go to the Montmorency station after the festival.

There are more than 30,000 people expected at the Festival des bières. La Festivaloise will be the official beer of the sixth edition of the festival, which comes from a collaboration between Pit Caribou and Laval residents from Les Insulaires Microbrasseurs, located on Boulevard de la Concorde.

L’article 17 New Microbreweries at the Festival des bières est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

The Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change sold the 5,400 square meters to the City for $1,108.73.

Approved by the executive committee on April 27, the transaction was made public on May 3.

“The berge des Goélands is a privileged place to take advantage of the gorgeous landscapes offered by the Rivière des Mille Îles,” said Yannick Langlois, local councilor, in a press release. “The protection and enhancement of this unique bank are among the main reasons that motivated my political involvement.”

On his Facebook page, the elected politician of L’Orée-des-Bois reminds us that in 2016, when he was a member of the Laval-Ouest Citizens’ Committee, they were already fighting for the development of this land on the bank. “It’s a big win for people in Laval-Ouest,” Langlois wrote. “I’m filled with joy.”

This new acquisition thus consolidates a public bank, as the City was owning a land of just over 7,500 square meters on that site since 2017. Demineralization work related to the removal of a parking lot and the foundations of an old building have been carried out there for the past two years.

La berge des Goélands sera embellie et renaturalisée au cours des prochaines années afin de la rendre accessible et agréable aux citoyens, précise-t-on.

It is specified that the Berge des Goélands will be embellished and renaturalized over the next few years to make it accessible and enjoyable to citizens.

translated by Alec Brideau

L’article The Tip of the berge des Goélands Acquired for a Thousand Dollars est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.