Families and friends were invited to gather at the Carrefour Laval to come and enjoy a variety of entertainment, music and activites.

The event was ending with a countdown, leading to the lighting of the large Christmas tree, located in the garden near entrances 3 and 4.

It all started around 5:30 p.m., with already several people on site to enjoy choirs and activities.

Disappointment

However, many people have shared, on social media, their frustration and/or disappointment concerning the tree’s illumination time.

The event’s announcement was made rather late, according to many Laval residents. Also, some of those people are mentioning it’s only once there that they learned, thanks to the security deployed, that the lighting of the tree wasn’t scheduled until around 7:30 p.m., which they’re considering too late for young children.

Others are also claiming it was very difficult to hear the choir due to the mall’s ambient noise.

L’article Illumination of Carrefour Laval’s Christmas Tree est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

The organization is calling for the generosity and solidarity of the Laval business community, as well as the the population during this holiday season, which promises to be difficult for many.

Having experienced a record increase in requests for food aid over the past year, the CBML has no choice, but to increase its number of Christmas baskets. Thus, the organization will distribute 200 more baskets than in previous years, bringing the number to 2,500.

“Since the beginning of October, in addition to the daily requests for food aid, people have been contacting us to make sure they’re having their Christmas basket,” said by press release José Haeck, head of the emergency food aid counter at Moisson Laval. “The requests are exploding, and the phone keeps ringing.”

“The general increase in the cost of living has caused an unprecedented increase in our requests for food aid,” added in the same press release Jean Gagnon, general manager of the CBML. “Facing this societal issue, we have decided to help as many Laval residents as possible, and distribute 200 additional Christmas baskets.”

This year, in addition to the 2,500 Christmas baskets to fill with food, the organization has set itself the goal of raising $350,000 in monetary donations. That expected amount of money will help the organization in its operations surrounding their annual campaign.

Until the end of December, the population, businesses and all public institutions in Laval are invited to take part in this major food drive, which will be used to feed 2,500 families. The distribution of Christmas baskets will take place from Dec. 18–20, at the CBML, assisted by 250 volunteers. (A.B.)

L’article The CBML Launches its Christmas Basket Campaign est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

The medical staff could visually monitor the beneficiaries, and listen to what’s happening in their room, if necessary.

AQDR

President of the Association québécoise de défense des droits des personnes retraitées for Laval and the Laurentides (AQDR), Pierre Lynch, doesn’t say he’s against that measure, which could represent an invasion of privacy. Yet, he remains cautious about how that will be put into practice.

“My opinion is divided,” he said. “First, we know that there is a labour shortage, and at some point, some actions will have to be automated to make things more efficient. In that way, installing cameras in bedrooms isn’t a bad thing. On the other hand, the user must have given his authorization to put it into operation, and that he/she himself is able to decide whether to put it into operation or not.

Clarification needed

As for the management of this tool the government wants to put in place, Lynch raises a few points, which, in his opinion, should be regulated to avoid possible abuses.

“The use of cameras is a matter of personal and individual needs,” Lynch said. “It shouldn’t be treated as a collective gesture, but as an individual one. For people with a loss of autonomy, or more vulnerable, it would be important that the option isn’t only discussed with the patient, but also with family members.”

Privacy

When it comes to installing cameras in a place as private as a bedroom, the question of privacy is undoubtedly raised.

“The living environment in which the individual lives is HIS/HER living environment,” insisted Lynch. “In CHSLDs, the cameras inside the patient’s rooms are for prevention, We know the falls are on the rise. Now, we can install equipment for surveillance, but the use of the equipment must be authorized by the occupant of the room, and the members of the family.”

Possible abuses

“If an establishment transgresses the will of one of its patients, it will have to answer for its actions and put itself in a position to be prosecuted,” specified Lynch.

As for the CISSS de Laval, it’s approving those new measures, and would like to ensure those practices will be well supervised.

“The CISSS of Laval is in favor of installing cameras in the rooms of residents in CHSLDs and in elderly’s homes,” said Marie-Ève Despatie-Gagnon, spokesperson for the CISSS of Laval. “The installation of cameras in the rooms represents a solution through technology that supports the medical team, and allows better interventions with residents.”

Despatie-Gagnon also specifies that legal consent must be provided to the CISSS of Laval by residents or their families, if they’re unable to do so. Also, the project will be offered to the beneficiaries, who will have the choice to accept it or not.

The CISSS of Laval says it won’t sell the images or the data collected by the cameras.

translated by Alec Brideau

L’article Cameras to Watch the Elderly 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.