SPRING IS FINALLY HERE... REGISTER NOW ENJOY IT LONGER! www.pilaros.com 3,/$526450.681.6900 Laval’s English Paper, Since 1993 Vol. 25 • No. 06 • March 22, 2017 • Tel.: 450-978-9999 • www.lavalnews.ca • e-mail: [email protected] • 34, 200 copies UPS driver, George Typaldos, from Laval, among hundreds in classclass action over snow storm ffiascoiasco See page 3 Our best wishes to all Greeks for their National Holiday, March 25th 1821! RAYNALD VASILIOS ALINE RAY ADAMS KARIDOGIANNIS DIB KHALIL MARC DEMERS RENAUD L’ABORD-À-PLOUFFE SAINT-MARTIN SAINTE-DOROTHÉE Mayor of Laval YOUR CITY COUNCILLORS OF THE MOUVEMENT LAVALLOIS ÉQUIPE MARC DEMERS Cancer Society launches Laval/Lanaudière Daffodil Month Officials from Laval and North Shore helping lead 2017 campaign MARTIN C. BARRY who are presently living with this disease.” With the month of April nearly here – Show your support traditionally the Canadian Cancer Society’s The Cancer Society says there are a number Daffodil Month – public officials from Laval of things members of the public can do to and the North Shore regions gathered at Cité show their support: buying daffodils between de la Santé hospital in Laval last week for March 30 and April 2 (they are 3 for $5 or the official of this year’s Daffodil Campaign. 10 for $10); proudly wearing the Cancer Daffodils for sale Society’s daffodil pin throughout April In the Laval and Lanaudière regions, (they are sold in the same places where the flowers are available or at the Cancer Society’s hundreds of fresh-cut daffodils will be going regional offices). on sale through a network of 1,000 volunteers “People afflicted by cancer want support stationed at 100 points of sale in banks, food and want to be heard,” Vimont MNA Jean stores, senior citizens’ centres and at some Rousselle, who is supporting the campaign businesses. Across the province, nearly two but was unable personally to attend the million daffodils will be sold by 20,000 volun- launch, said in a statement. “Every day, 370 teers at a total of 1,800 locations. Quebecers turn to the CCS for support, infor- For the fourth year, Quebec radio and TV mation and for means to prevent cancer,” hostess Josée Boudreault will be the official spokesperson for the Daffodil Campaign added Rousselle, who has taken part in the in this province. “My mother died from local Daffodil Campaign for five years. “Last From the left, Deux-Montagnes MNA Benoit Charette, political attaché Anabela Monteiro year, 49,500 Quebecers were told they had representing Vimont MNA Jean Rousselle, Patricia Labelle of the Canadian Cancer Soci- lung cancer three years ago a few months cancer.” ety, and Bois-des-Filion mayor Paul Larocque. before the birth of my daughter, Flavie,” says Boudreault. Support on the North Shore to show support and to buy daffodils from president in his region. “I would like to note “I am hopeful that one day those we love On the North Shore in the Deux- March 30 to April 2 so that the CCS can be that I consider this daffodil campaign to be won’t die from lung cancer as my mother did. Montagnes area, local MNA Benoit Charette there for those and those around them,” he very important for getting our citizens to take Support those who are afflicted by cancer. has taken on the task of being honorary chair- said. concrete actions, whether it’s having fresh Buy flowers or offer them. That’s a good way man of the regional Daffodil Campaign. “I Also from the North Shore, Bois-des-Filion flowers at city hall, or wearing the daffodil to support research against cancer, to support encourage all the population of the MRC mayor Paul Larocque is supporting this year’s pin,” he said, while pointing out that he will prevention efforts, while giving hope to those Daffodil Campaign and is serving as honorary be serving as a volunteer selling daffodils at a kiosk. “I hope that we are more numerous in 2017 to demonstrate our support for this big cause.” Rising cancer survival rates Based on statistics alone, it’s evident that the money raised from the annual Daffodil Campaign is saving lives. Today, according to the CCS, 63 per cent of people who have been told “you have cancer” are alive five years later. As well, for some forms of cancer survival is even better. The survival rate for infant cancers is 82 per cent, breast cancer 88 per cent, prostate cancer 96 per cent and testicular cancer 97 per cent. Comparatively, during the 1940s the over- all survival rate for cancer was 25 per cent. And the CCS points out that a good deal of work remains to be done. Today, every 26 minutes a Quebecer dies of cancer, 50,000 Quebecers learn they have cancer each year, and cancer remains responsible for 30 per cent of all deaths in Quebec. BROCHURES 4 colour process, 2 sides, 100lb, Folded roll, half, Z or double parallel Bundled in 100s 5000: $517 • March 22, 2017 Place your order today! The Laval News Taxes extra. Prices are for PDF files. Format based on specifications. 450-978-9999 Graphic design not included but very affordable. • Minimum order $100. Delivery charges may apply. [email protected] 2 Stranded on the 13 UPS driver among hundreds in class action over snow storm fiasco MARTIN C. BARRY No help in sight A UPS delivery driver who was one of an “I think it was around midnight or 1 am, an estimated 500 people who spent more than 12 SQ guy came around to check on us,” he said. hours stranded on Autoroute 13 during last “And I told him ‘I’ll give you some money and week’s epic snow storm says he will be signing you can pick up some donuts or order some on as a claimant in a class action lawsuit seeking pizza, because people down here are hungry. $2,000 compensation from Quebec and the City We need water and we’ll distribute it among of Montreal for each victim. everybody who’s down here.’ The guy told us George Typaldos, a Sainte-Dorothée resident he was on duty and he just walked away from who has been delivering packages to Chomedey us. He told us he would get back to us, but he for nearly 12 years from UPS’s Lachine “hub,” never showed up again.” told The Laval News he had just finished his Apart from the SQ officer’s brief intervention, route during the early evening of March 14 Typaldos said he was aware of just one or two trucks that were returning to the hub at the UPS on the hook for overtime and was returning his vehicle to the UPS depot, isolated instances when public safety personnel same time as Typaldos were sitting in the traffic As well, UPS had no choice but to pay each when he got caught up in the massive traffic jam bothered to become involved in the unfolding behind him. on the A-13 southbound. drama. According to Typaldos, at one point an driver more than 12 hours of overtime wages at ambulance crew member went walking from Was running out of gas time-and-a-half. “The company is taking care of A-13 blocked by trucks vehicle to vehicle searching for a woman who It was an important break for Typaldos whose us for sure,” Typaldos said, while adding that his had called 9-1-1 to report she was in need of As stated in numerous media reports on how vehicle was gradually running out of fuel as the employer lost money. “The company is losing the traffic jam started, two 10-wheel tractor emergency medical help. night wore on. “My truck was running out of almost $50,000 paying all these drivers who trailers had spun out of control and were block- propane, and some of the guys behind were ing most of the southbound roadway. According Couldn’t abandon his truck were on the road.” to the reports, the drivers of the vehicles refused While some motorists on the A-13 roadway getting into each other’s trucks because they While Typaldos was still at loose ends to allow tow trucks to move them. abandoned their vehicles and walked away to had run out of propane too,” he said. “But some earlier this week, recounting the ordeal to a In the days that followed, police arrested seek assistance or went home on foot if they guys had diesel.” The diesel trucks were able to journalist, he was resolved to join the class- one of the drivers after discovering that he stay running all night, he added. could, Typaldos said he had no choice but to action suit, while encouraging the hundreds was wanted on an outstanding warrant. For By the time his vehicle finally got towed wait patiently inside his UPS truck since the of other affected drivers to do the same. Typaldos, the upshot was that he ended up company was specific in what its drivers should around 7:30 the following morning and he stranded in his truck on the A-13 a short “Whatever amount we end up getting will be do in situations like this. returned to the UPS hub, officials with the distance from the A-520 exit from 6:30 pm on good obviously,” he said. “But it doesn’t cover “I called our centre at midnight and I told company welcomed their stranded drivers back March 14 to 7:30 am March 15.