Introducing, our new Pilaros Pita! Also available in pie format It’s not a trend, it’s a tradition! www.pilaros.com Suggested presentation. barbiesgrill.com 1.888.PILAROS • 450.681.6900 Laval’s English Paper, Since 1993 Vol. 29 - 08 April 7 2021 450-978-9999 www.lavalnews.ca [email protected] 120,000 readers Laval based lab becomes first specialized in Invasion of the vaccine testing to set up in China RODENTS! Page 5 Nearly 200 new housing units vermin-infested to be built in Laval duplex in Laval Page 9 Page 8 Thinking of Selling Your Home? Call me today for a FREE evaluation with no obligation. EXCELLENT SERVICE | EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS VOULA REAL ESTATE BROKER KOTTARIDIS OF YOUR Agence immobilière FREE EVALUATION 514 993.5010 HUMANIAHUMANIA CENTRE CENTRE450.682.2121 HOME WITHNO OBLIGATION! [email protected] priority groups You can now learn about the vaccination sequence planned for your area and book your appointment online. Québec.ca/COVIDvaccine 1 877 644-4545 The vaccine. A safe way to protect ourselves. • April 7, 2021 The Laval News • 2 septième 2110, rue Drummond, 3e étage 04/03/21_16:25 production Montréal (Québec) H3G 1X1 client : MCE Nº 111167522-3 format PAP : 100 % @ 300 dpi description : Vaccination PHASE 2 trim fermé : 9,833’’ x 12,5’’ pièce : Hebdos - Pleine Page - EN trim ouvert : — version : visible : — infographiste : Nataly bleed : — nom fichier : 111167522-3_MCE_VaccinationPhase2_Hebdos_PP_EN_9,833x12,5.indd PMS PMS PMS Check Les sorties laser ne reflètent pas fidèlement les couleurs telles qu’elles paraîtront couleur CMJN 2002 2002 2002 List √ sur le produit fini. Cette épreuve est utilisée à des fins de mise en page seulement.X Agape-NPI releases new data on Laval’s English-speaking population Latest count of English is 90,975, out of more than 437,000 population largest impact on young children in the 0-5 age MARTIN C. BARRY group, specifically on their development such as [email protected] social competence or language and communi- cation skills. (A third of Laval English-speaking children 0-5 are considered vulnerable – that is More than 30 persons sharing a common inter- having lower developmental outcomes in at least est in the health and well-being of Laval took part one sphere of development); on March 31 in a webcast meeting of the Agape- • Quebec youth, and English-speaking youth Networking Partners Initiative (Agape-NPI), in particular, were shown to have higher rates during which new statistical information about of anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation the changing demographics of Laval’s English- during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic speaking population was presented. compared to French-speaking youth, according A large turnout to Dr. Melissa Généreux, affecting, as well, care- givers to older parents or loved ones who face Many of those attending were present at the more health and economic challenges as a result NPI table for the first time. They included of their caregiving roles (sometimes excessive), several Laval city councillors, some local MPs lack of access to health services in their language and MNAs and their political staffers. and having to reduce their work hours to fulfill Among those who took part were Vimy their responsibilities; MP Annie Koutrakis, staff from the office of • Lastly, Laval’s English-speaking seniors were Marc-Aurèle-Fortin MP Yves Robillard, Sainte- shown to be highly likely to live alone and to Seen here are many of the participants who took part in the Agape-NPI webcast of its Dorothée city councillor Ray Khalil, l’Abord-à- live below the low-income cut-off (a measure of March 31 meeting, which focused on the release of new data on the English-speaking Plouffe city councillor Vasilios Karidogiannis, economic vulnerability where those who spend a population in Laval. Vimont city councillor Michel Poissant, Sir greater proportion of their income on essentials Wilfrid Laurier School Board chairman and such as food, lodging and clothing would be seniors with four times more activities we had presentations virtually through the online Zoom city councillor for St-Vincent de Paul Paolo considered vulnerable). before,” he said, noting that the wellness centre video-conference platform. Galati, staff from Mille-Îles MNA Francine is currently conducting all activities and health Charbonneau’s office, and staff sent by Laval- Language barrier problem des-Rapides MNA Saul Polo. In addition, according to the findings, English- Statistical data sources speaking seniors who are older are less likely to be able to speak French adequately and this can There were also staff representatives from the have disastrous effects on their health, especially SWLSB, the CISSS de Laval, as well as other key when reduced access to health or social services April 22 community groups, including some from Laval’s in English is taken into consideration. Summit on Francophone community. The Agape-NPI says it will soon publish a The data presented was mostly cited from bilingual document with this evidence base to We Look the last available federal census figures from provide to partners, such as political or health ethnocultural Forward 2016, with tables which were compiled from representatives, to help them to better consider to Seeing Community Health and Social Service research Laval English-speakers in future policy and diversity and you There! consultant Joanne Pocock. Also cited were program planning. research data, such as l’enquête québecoise This event will sur le développement des enfants à la mater- Axion and English services inclusion be held in French. nelle (EQDEM) from l’Institut du statistique During an exchange of comments and ideas, du Québec (ISQ), and from renowned public Councillor Karidogiannis suggested that the health doctor Melissa Généreux. Axion 50 Plus seniors’ centre on Curé Labelle Some of the findings Blvd. in Chomedey, which is attended mostly by French-speaking seniors, might begin to provide Here are some of the most notable findings: more services in English if more English-speakers • Laval’s English-speaking population has were to go to the centre. continued to grow (by approximately 40 per Agape executive-director Kevin McLeod said cent) since the 2001 (53,390) census until the last that before deciding to open the Agape Senior census in 2016 (90,975), using the First official Wellness Centre in 2018, he paid a visit to Axion Language Spoken definition; 50 Plus on several occasions, but found the avail- • Laval’s latest count of English-speakers is ability of services in English there to be seriously 90,975; lacking. • The greatest concentrations of English- “English speakers, especially seniors, have been speakers are in and around the Chomedey sector so used to being a minority that they want things as well as Vimont and Auteuil; in English,” he said. • When age groups were broken down, such “If I was to work with Axion 50 – and believe areas as Ste-Rose-Fabreville showed a greater me, we’ve tried – would they start putting English proportion of English-speakers among younger signage up for English-speaking senior citizens? cohorts such as in the 6-14 and 15-24 age groups; No, Vasilios, I know they won’t, right? So, it’s • Socio-economic vulnerability was demon- simple: We want an organization where things strated within the English-speaking community, are going to be in English, everything is going namely in parts of Pont-Viau and Chomedey to be available.” April 7, 2021 • districts. • Some research based on social determin- Wellness Centre expanding ants of health demonstrated lower educational McLeod also announced that, as a result of outcomes as well as a greater proportion of increased demand, the Agape Senior Wellness The Laval News socio-economically disadvantaged members of Centre will be expanding at its current location Laval’s English-speaking population which, when at 3860 Notre Dame Blvd. to the second floor faced with restricted access to health and social where they will have four times the amount of calendar.laval.ca services in English, prove to have worst health space they now have on the third storey. outcomes over time; “We’re hopeful that by the end of the summer, • • Evidence suggests that this is having the the beginning of the fall, we can reopen for 3 Opinion 120,000 S READER & 3860, boul. Notre-Dame, # 304, Laval, QC H7V 1S1 Editorial Tel: 450-978-9999•Fax: 450-687-6330 E-mail: [email protected] www.lavalnews.ca THAT’S WHAT Distributed in Chomedey, Ste-Dorothée, Fabreville, Laval-sur-le-Lac & Val des Brises I’M THINKING H7W•H7T•H7V•H7S•H7X H7Y•H7P•H7R•H7E Robert Vairo Publishers: George Bakoyannis George S. Guzmas First Generation Vaccines. Only the Beginning. General Director: It’s a full-on race between vaccines and Covid virus variants. Every and this IS a war, but strangely and shockingly, there is no sense of George Bakoyannis wave of this virus is worse than the previous. We are into the third with urgency to reign in and direct. VP Sales & Marketing: some provinces registering more infections in a day than ever before. This is a world emergency. Our lives are at stake, and we can not George S. Guzmas Isn’t it mind boggling that we can not get a handle on this enemy? allow pharmaceuticals to do as they please for the sake of profit, [email protected] Because vaccines have simply not been into the arms of the world fast today and tomorrow. Did you watch Pfizer CFO Frank D’Amelio tell enough, virus variants are given more time to develop and multiply. shareholders, there is “significant opportunity” to raise the price of Graphic Design: It’s happening in Canada where only 7% of the population has been vaccines.