Recycling is a big issue is St. Laurent. The number of people recycling increased significantly over the last five years and people are wondering if they should change the size of the bins.
(Photo: Archives)
The year in review
2007 is soon coming to an end, so it’s time to take a look back at what happened in the last 12 months in St. Laurent. This year saw the birth of numerous projects, many strong debates, incredible performances by local athletes and artists; inspiring initiatives taken by members of the community, change in schools, the progressing rise of the economic development and much more.
January
Acadie MNA Yvan Bordeleau decides he won’t be back for a fifth mandate. After 18 years of political life, he calls it a day leaving behind many great accomplishments such as the acknowledgment of the Armenian genocide and his involvement in the creation of St. Laurent’s Technoparc.
The community is in shock after a Muslim school is vandalised. Around 20 windows are broken and a bus is damaged. Principal of the elementary section of the school Nahiba El-Wafai thinks those acts targeted the Muslim community.
February
Schools merge and unmerge in St. Laurent. The idea of making Morand Nantel and Saint-Louis two separate and independent schools puzzles more than 450 students. Many scenarios are discussed during an assembly and the overpopulation of Cardinal Léger School appears to be the main issue.
March
Recycling is more popular than ever in the borough. A study shows that 33% more waste was recycled since the instalment of the new action plan three years before as 38,400 households are now part of the program. However, the number of collecting days and bin sizes are still causing headaches.
The provincial election campaign is in full effect.
A new urban security patrol comes in to help out local police. St. Laurent’s streets are now being watched 24 hours a day and seven days a week all year long. This new security assistance is similar to what has been done in other boroughs.
April
The results of the provincial election are in: Jacques P. Dupuis easily wins for a third straight time with 16,523 more votes than his closest opponent. Liberal candidate and former Radio-Canada journalist Christine St-Pierre is victorious is the l’Acadie riding with more than 60% of votes.
Less than 58% of Laurentians expressed their right to vote which is well below provincial average.
Our friend and colleague Gilles Gaudet tragically passes away.
May
St.Laurent is the most popular place on the island of Montreal. A study shows that between 2001 and 2006, the number of Laurentians increased by 9.6% More than 7,500 people moved to the borough in the last five years.
$900,000 is awarded for the construction of a second library.
Revitalization works begin on Décarie Boulevard.
The public transport strike causes troubles for users for almost a week.
St. Laurent’s most successful businesses are honoured during the Alpha gala held by the Chamber of commerce and industry.
June
The Cavendish Boulevard opening is made official. On hold for the past 20 years, the executive committee finally awards $12.7 millions $ to start off the project. However, this announcement receives mixed feeling from the population.
The borough’s service department is hard at work keeping the public pool water crystal-clear. In order to avoid last year’s dirty water scandal, the water quality is analyzed a few times per week and the standards are set higher than the provincial norms.
The Allégo committee and the Demeures Sainte-Croix respectively win the municipal merit award in the municipal employee and in the non-lucrative organisations categories. The ceremony took place at the National assembly.
July
The St. Laurent Summer Celebrations are in effect. Shows, movies and a ton of activities are scheduled for the months of July and August.
Public information meetings are held to discuss recycling, waste management and the future of the blue recycling bins.
Public consultations also take place to survey the population’s opinion towards public parks.
August
Citizens from the Toupin Boulevard area mobilize to protest against the Cavendish Boulevard opening. A few residents put up poster in their house’s windows to show their discontentment.
Sept-Îles is hosting the Quebec Games. Many local athletes like Gaby Balit in golf, Hugo Lemay and Anne-Sophie Pinard in cycling excel and bring home medals.
The Cirque du Soleil approved Cirka circus troupe are in town and children and parents alike love it.
The borough welcomes guests from its twin-city, Lethbridge, for a week.
September
Unsual crimes are being committed in St. Laurent. Screwdriver, nails, hammer, butcher knife are some of the weapons used by the desperate thieves.
The road works on Décarie Boulevard are almost completed. Business owners are divided regarding their satisfaction of the final result. Most decide to wait and see before passing judgment. Mayor Alan DeSousa announces the enforcement of a signage regulation.
The Vanier College AAA football team, the Cheetahs, begins its season with four straight wins.
Residents living around Toupin Boulevard mobilize in a bloc and block automobile traffic for more than an hour. Other than to protest against the proposed extension of Cavendish Boulevard north, their goal is to simulate the traffic congestion that would result if the extension goes through.
Former Quebec premier Bernard Landry and renown management specialist Henry Mintzberg are in St. Laurent for the 48th edition of the Quebec’s economic development professionals association congress.
Father Basile Moreau’s memory is honored with the unveiling of a new monument at the angle of Moreau and Decelles streets. The founder of the Congregation of Ste. Croix was also beatified earlier in September.
The Enfants du Monde School opens its doors. It’s the first new elementary school in 11 years in the province. The 225 students registered were born in 33 different countries.
The collective appeal against ADM by the Citoyens pour une qualité de vie group is refused by the Court of Appeal of Quebec.
The borough presents and adopts its budget for 2008. The balanced budget includes new money for parks, cycling paths, the construction of a second library and transports.
The schools election’s results are in and Diane Lamarche-Venne is still president of the Marguerite-Bourgeoys school board.
November
The best ringette players in the world go head-to-head at Raymond-Bourque arena. In an exhibition match before the World championships, Finland beats the pink-wearing Canadian team. The jerseys are later sold on eBay to help fight breast cancer.
Public consultations about transports are held at the Centre des loisirs. This is the first step in the elaboration of a new local transport plan.
Décarie Boulevard business owners start a merchant association. They plan on being involved with the future development of the area now that the road works are over.
The Vanier Cheetahs complete their perfect season with a win in the Bol d’Or championship game.
December
The configuration for Cavendish and Toupin boulevards will be permanent. The forced left and right turns will come into effect. Once again, some citizens are not entirely satisfied.
Montreal police Stations 6 and 7 merge to form one unique station.
The Leonardo-Da Vinci professional training center opens. The brand new state-of-the-art building will allow students to receive up-to-date training.
Winter hasn’t officially begun, but St. Laurent and the rest of the province is hit hard by a major snowstorm causing all sorts of problems for everybody.
(Translated by Pascal LeBlanc)
(Photo: Archives)
(Photo: Martin Alarie)
by Sylvain Sarrazin 
Steven Guilbeault - Environment Column
Richard Cléroux - National Columnist
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