LAUNCH OF 50TH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVITIES DECEMBER 31 Page 17 WINTER 2014-2015 Ville de Laval’s municipal news bulletin Laval Newsbriefs Notice to Residents Bene!ting from Compostable Materials Collection Municipal Agenda The municipal services holiday schedule may be found Starting in December, the collection will be carried out on the City’s Internet site. every two weeks. Check the annual schedule in your area at www.laval.ca, under Citizens / Environment, Recycling and Laval’s 50th – Launch of festivities Collections / Collections / Compostable Materials and get December 31 at the Centropolis full information on the collection of organic materials by Christmas tree collection consulting the Info 3 voies (3-Stream Collection) bulletin at January 5-16 this same address. Household waste and recycling collections Simple, green and efficient! Household waste and recycling collections scheduled for holiday Thursdays, December 25 and January 1, Habitation Louise-Beauchamp: are postponed to the following Saturdays, December 27 and January 3. A New Living Environment for Seniors Laval en blanc The construction carried out Sainte-Rose: January 31 – February 1 under the Office municipal Des Prairies park: February 8 d’habitation de Laval has now Centre de la nature: February 14 been completed. A number Centropolis: February 21 of semi-independent tenants Objectif Zénith over the age of 65 will soon Deadline for buying your ($2) tickets (at participating © Habitation© Louise-Beauchamp take possession of their brand organizations) for the drawing: February 1 new apartment within a high- quality, safe and friendly living environment. The building, Hosia Awards Deadline for nominating an outstanding volunteer: located in Chomedey, features many common areas: lounges February 27 on the residents’ floor, a terrace and a dining room. Some non-subsidized apartments are still available for rent. Relevé 24 (day camp tax slips The Relevés 24 tax slips issued by Ville de Laval www.habitationlouisebeauchamp.ca Stéphanie Laurence, 450 688-0184, ext. 105 will be mailed out in late February. School break week March 2-6 Aréna Laval-Ouest Change smoke alarm batteries Renamed Hartland-Monahan Sunday, March 8 First instalment of municipal taxes Aréna Laval-Ouest has now Thursday, March 19 been named after Hartland Monahan, the first hockey player born in Laval-Ouest About Your Taxes... to have been a member of the National Hockey League We wish to remind you that the municipal tax bill will be (NHL). This Laval hockey player sent out at the end of February. You may pay your bill: began his career in the NHL tby mail back in 1971, when he was selected in the Entry Draft by the California Golden Seals (now called the San Jose Sharks). tby going to the tax counter at 1333 boulevard During his seven seasons in the NHL (334 games), this forward Chomedey (behind City Hall), 8:15 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., played on a number of teams, including the New York Rangers, Monday to Friday the Washington Capitals, the Los Angeles Kings and the tat a financial institution or on the Internet (inquire St. Louis Blues. He scored 61 goals and 80 assists, for a total from your financial institution) of 141 points until he retired in 1981. www.laval.ca — 311 Smoke-Free Entrances Last July, Ville de Laval adopted a new bylaw to protect Laval residents’ health and well-being: From now on, it is prohibited to smoke within a radius of 9 metres from the door of a municipal public place: arenas, community centres, libraries, etc. In this way, Laval residents will be able to enjoy taking part in their favourite activities without being inconvenienced by second-hand smoke. 2 Vivre à Laval — winter 2014-2015 INDEX Municipal News section .............................................. 3 Laval’s 50th ................................................................................... 4 Animal Management ................................................... 6 Place Bell .......................................................................................... 7 Residents’ Participation .......................................... 8 Family Life ...................................................................................... 9 The Mayor’s Message Living Safely in Laval .............................................. 10 Green Scene ............................................................................ 12 Dear Residents: Snow Removal .................................................................... 14 The New Year is almost here and with 2015 come the celebrations of Laval’s 50th anniversary. In the months Big Hearts ................................................................................... 16 NEWS MUNICIPAL ahead, you will be encouraged to take part in lots of different activities. I invite you to join in these celebrations 50th Anniversary Program ................................. 17 and I look forward to a large turnout among you all. In the centre-fold of this issue, you will find a leaflet presenting Culture and Leisure section ............................. 21 the official program. Keep it handy! Among the events not to be missed this winter is the big Your City Council ................................................................. 34 get-together at the Centropolis on December 31. That special day will be an opportunity to bring your family and Handy Phone Numbers ............................................. 35 friends to celebrate the end of the year and the launch of the 2015 festivities. In the evening, the magnificent fireworks display is bound to impress you! Come join me there! Among the other major celebrations planned, we are pleased to announce that Sainte-Rose en Blanc is being renamed Laval en Blanc. This wonderful Laval winter tradition will be held this year over a four-week period, at four different locations: Sainte-Rose, Des Prairies park, the Centre de la nature and the Centropolis. Don’t miss the fun! Laval.ca On the following pages, you will learn more about the services and activities that are being offered to you this winter, during the holiday season and during school break Everything on week in March. You will also find information about the major projects my mobile taking shape in our City, including the construction of Place Bell. I hope you were as enthusiastic as I am about the announcement of the start of work on this project! In closing, I would like to convey my best wishes to you for the New Year and I urge you to be careful during the holidays. If you find that you are too tired or feeling the effects of one drink too many, use the services of Nez rouge, public transit or a taxi to go home. Your safety—and others’—depend on your good judgement. I hope to find you well in 2015 to celebrate Laval’s 50th anniversary in high style. Make it a date! Marc Demers Mayor of Laval Vivre à Laval — Municipal News 3 Laval’s 50th IN 2015, LAVAL WILL CELEBRATE ITS 50TH! Established on August 6, 1965, following the merger of the 14 municipalities on its territory at the time, Laval is a city whose heritage is filled with memories, outstanding achievements and fascinating little stories of everyday life. The slogan for the festivities—Laval, l’autre histoire (Laval, the other story)—fully calls to mind that same spirit. Because Laval is the story of an island, of villages that have developed into its neighbourhoods; the story of its business people, its artists, small victories and big successes. A story to tell, to hear, to live. Laval is your story! Tell it with pride! Laval Over the Years © SHGIJ, Collection Société d’histoire et de généalogie de l’île Jésus (la ferme), © SHGIJ, Fonds Jacquelin Ouimet-Fournier (young girls and boulevard Labelle) Archeological digs in the 20th century have revealed that île Jésus, where the present-today city of Laval is almost completely located, was already inhabited by American Indians approximately 4,000 years ago. Much later, in 1636, “île de Montmagny”, as it was called at the time, became a seigneury, granted to the Jesuits by the King of France. It was one of the first public institutions created by the Compagnie des Cent-Associés in the Hochelaga region. In 1638, it was officially taken over, four years before the founding of Montréal. During the following centuries, many farmers settled here, attracted by the fertile land on the island, and then activities diversified here as well. However, the development of the island didn’t really get under way until the 18th century. The territory was then organized into four parishes: Saint-François-de-Sales, Sainte-Rose-de-Lima, Saint-Vincent-de-Paul and Saint-Martin. In 1855, after the municipal system was set up in Lower Canada, these parishes were established as municipalities. Over the years, they were split up, totalling 17 municipalities in all in 1953—some farming, others urban or vacation resort municipalities. In 1965, 14 cities and towns merged to create the City of Laval. As soon as it was created, Laval became the largest city in the province, after Montréal, given its population of 170,000. Today, with a population of nearly 410,000 people, it is the third largest city in Québec and the 15th in all of Canada. “It’s My Story, Too” When I was asked to be the spokesman for Laval’s 50th anniversary celebrations, I didn’t hesitate a minute! As you know, I was born in Laval and enjoyed a wonderful childhood here. But what I remember the most, are all the very first things... My first friends (some of whom I still have today), my first loves (those didn’t last,