Now that the Quebec government has permitted public pools to reopen, it is important to note that a great many safety standards must be met.

Our Mayor has already announced that Parkhaven Pool will reopen with many new rules.  As for those pools in condos and apartment buildings, it is by no means a slam dunk. Many have already indicated to me  they do not wish to take the risk of a COVID-19 spread. Others simply do not feel they can properly comply with the measures necessary.

I have personally gone on record that pools should not reopen this summer. It is not the water I am concerned about; rather the ability for people (especially kids) to social distance in the water; common touching of railings and chairs; the use of bathrooms; and more.

As for pools in condos and apartments, I am still seeking clarification as to whether they are included in Premier Legault's reference to "privately owned pools" in this article.

There will have to be fewer people in the pool under new guidelines.

The Institut National de la Santé Publique du Québec (“INSPQ”) has published a document for condominium associations and apartment building owners to prepare for the eventual reopening of their swimming pools. These preventive measures must be implemented before owners and tenants can use the pools in order to respect the government measures on physical distancing and hand hygiene. The preventive measures notably include:

• Measures should be put in place in order to respect physical distancing of at least two (2) meters at all times, inside or outside the pools, such as:

• Limiting the number of pool users at one time;

• Distributing tickets to users for a specific period of time to use the pool;

• Have a guard at the entrance of the pool at all times during opening hours to control the number of users who enter;

• Ensure that all chairs are placed at a minimal distance of two (2) meters;

• Installation of marks of the ground in strategic areas to enforce physical distancing measures;

• Promote hand washing inside the facility, such as installing hand sanitizer dispensers or hand washing stations inside and outside the entrance of the pools;

• Ensure users shower with soap for at least one minute before entering the pool;

• Prevent access for users who have contracted the COVID-19 virus or show symptoms of the virus;

• Ensure proper ventilation for indoor pools in order to control the concentration of contaminants in the air and therefore, update ventilation systems as per industry standards, if necessary;

• Close all areas where physical distancing of two (2) meters is not possible or where there is poor ventilation by establishing physical barriers such barricades or tape;

• Locker rooms should only be used to go to the toilet and allow for only a limited number of people to use the locker rooms at the same time;

• Distribute a triage questionnaire to all pool users to detect COVID-19 related symptoms and explain to users the risks of using the pool;

• Have a guard at the entrance of the pool at all times during opening hours to remind users of these measures;

• Installation of signage indicating these measures;

• The usual measures to ensure the quality of the water must be rigorously applied as per the Regulation respecting water quality in swimming pools and other artificial pools; and

• The usual measures for cleaning and disinfecting must be rigorously applied for all surfaces including but not limited to locker rooms, showers, washrooms, water fountains, doorknobs, pool ladders, diving boards, etc. The hiring of additional staff/personnel may be required to ensure proper cleaning.

In order to respect the abovementioned measures, condominium associations and owners of apartment buildings may have to purchase the necessary equipment or incur certain expenses, such as but not limited to:

• Hand sanitizer dispenser or hand washing stations;
• Pictograms to be placed on the ground such as arrows and lines;
• Printing of signage indicating the abovementioned measures;
• Printing of triage questionnaires and information flyers;
• Upgrade in ventilation systems; and
• Hiring of additional staff/personnel to survey and ensure the abovementioned measures are respected;

The City urges condominium associations and owners of apartment buildings to follow these guidelines and asks that serious and responsible personnel be appointed to implement these procedures. If these procedures can’t be realistically met, the shared swimming pools should remain closed.  

Furthermore, please note that a pool operation permit is still required and the present letter will be included in any permit that is issued by the Urban Development department. The following clause will also be added to any permit that is issued:

“The condominium association or owner of the apartment building confirms that he has read the attached letter and will abide by the terms and conditions provided therein.”

Finally, the City will be actively encouraging the DSP to enforce the abovementioned measures through the guide of their top senior bureaucrats.

Should condo and apartment buildings managers have any questions, we ask that they contact the DSP by email [email protected] or by phone at 514-842-7226. If you do not receive an answer within a reasonable delay you may contact  your city councillor.

A huge thanks to Assistant City Clerk Jason Prevost for  all of his work on this  file!

I have some terrific news to report. After a lengthy search, our Human Resources Department has finally engaged the services of a full-time crossing guard for the crucial corner of Cavendish and Kildare.

Danilo Aaragao will start work on Monday, September 30, working with Lt. Anthony Tsakon  and  Jean-Marc Dubois from our Public Safety Department.  He will succeed Norman Klein, who left the post for a security post at a local condo. Of course the legend there was the late Archie Kwiatt worked  that corner for many years.

Norman Klein previously patrolled the corner.

This our busiest cross-section. There are many students from JPPS-Bialik and pedestrians from nearby streets who frequent the corner and we need someone responsible to make sure they abide by the  signals. And yes we have to watch out for the motorists as well. Decades ago there was a fatal accident involving a Bialik student. I still get chills recalling that moment.

Danilo Aragao

Philip Chateauvert

“We are very excited to have Philip Chateauvert as our new Director of Public Safety,” said Councillor Oren Sebag, who is the council members responsible for public safety issues. “It’s an important role that requires professionalism, knowledge of our town and residents needs. The skills Philip has developed over the years as division chief will serve our residents well. I look forward to working with him.”

Director Chateauvert replaces Jordy Reichson, who headed the department from 2009 to 2019 and did an outstanding job. He has now moved on to new duties with the City of  Montreal.

The  team at Police Station 9 are always there for our community, notably socio-community officers Vincent Di Angelis and Marie Christine Nobert. I appreciate the fact they are always there when I need to share or obtain some information.

Earlier this week Office  Di Angelis set up an information kiosk in the lobby of Kildare Towers on Honore-de-Balzac. It is something Police Station does in certain large buildings during the year, giving residents a chance to pick up some important literature and ask questions. I stopped by to join Officer Di Angelis and  converse with tenants. Having been the councillor for  District 2 for more than 13 years, I know many of them already. The building is owned by Howard Szalavetz and managed by Pat Meisels.

Officer Di Angelis and myself greet some residents.

There was some excellent literature warning people not to get trapped by con artists, such as credit/debit card theft, jewellery theft and contractor and grandson fraud. Another piece of information showed how to  file a police report online. There was also a magnetized card with important phone numbers on the front.

Tenants in particular always feel comfortable when the police set up such visits. It is reassuring to say the least.

It was a pleasure to sit down with newly installed Montreal Police Station 9 Commander Luis Oliveira at his office on Westminster Avenue.

Police Station 9 serves Côte Saint-Luc, Hampstead and Montreal West. Unlike his predecessor Jean  O’Malley, now the head of public security in Hampstead, Commander Oliviera does not have to split his time between Stations 9 and 11 (NDG).

                                                                                            Meeting with Commander Oliveira.

Commander Oliveira has a truly interesting back story, one that goes back before he joined the police force 28 and a half years ago.Raised in the Petite Patrie/Rosemount area. His parents spoke French at home, but sent him to English schools: Francesca Cabrini Elementary School (now Pierre Elliott Trudeau) in Rosemount, John F. Kennedy High School in St. Michel, Dawson College (Health Sciences) and then McGill University (Physical Education). While at McGill he played football for the Redmen as an offensive guard who wore number 54. His greatest memory: being part of the national champion Vanier Cup winning team in 1987. In 1984 he even earned a tryout with the CFL’s Montreal Concordes (a previous incarnation of the Alouettes coached by Joe Galat).

Commander Oliveira did not head directly to the police after graduation. First he actually served as a player-coach in a professional football league in France (Cannes). He then went on to become a physical education/geography/history teacher at Lindsay Place and Hudson High Schools on the West Island. At the age of 28 he switched gears and enrolled in CEGEP Maisonneuve for their Police Technology Program. His career as a cop began at the former Station 15 in NDG following that up with a stint downtown. Soon after he was  promoted to Sergeant and with that came a special opportunity: to travel to the civil war in Bosnia to represent the United Nations as a liaison to chase down  war criminals.

“It gave me a different perspective on life,’ said the Commander, who spent a year overseas and landed at Station 4 in Dollard des Ormeaux upon his return. But soon after he was off for another mission, this time to Jordan to teach and train new Iraqi police officers.

Seeking more of a 9 to 5 shift in order to spend quality time with his three children, Commander Oliveira landed an assignment at general police headquarters to coordinate the kind of missions he went on himself. “Over 10 years in that post I arranged for about 250 of our officers to serve overseas,” he explained.

Since arriving at Station 9 two months ago, the Commander has hit the ground running. When I was there he was working with Officer Marie-Christine Nobert, who does such a wonderful job in the area of outreach, and hosting representatives from different community organizations.

“I am thrilled to be here,” he said. “When I started, the tragic shooting occurred at the synagogue in Pittsburgh. This gave me an immediate opportunity to get to know the local community synagogue leadership as met with them and provided reassurance.

Commander Oliveira has also established a good relationship with his counterpart at Station 11, Anouk St. Onge.

Commander Oliveira has already  made it a point to attend the start of our monthly council meetings. We look forward to working with him!

The Commander meets with community representatives.

On September  6, most Côte Saint-Luc residents lost power when workers repairing the underground aqueduct on Kildare Rd. near Cavendish struck a natural gas pipe, causing a gas leak. Power was cut to the area as a safety precaution.  

Let me begin by commending our Public Safety  and Public Affaiirs Departments,  senior management and Mayor Mitchell Brownstein for the leadership role they played. Many people were searching for answers and it was those fully plugged in to our social media platforms who benefitted  the most.

Please, if you have access to the Internet like our main Facebook  page and  CSL Ideas; go directly to our website, which had constant updates throughout the day;  and sign up for alerts by phone and to receive our e-newsletter.

Diagrams like this, showing exit routes from the city, were posted on our website.

On September 6 the city sent two telephone call outs  (10:37am and 3:06pm) to share the information we had. Anyone who signed up to received the SMS and/or email emergency alerts received those, too. In addition, the city posted approximately 12 updates on Facebook and CoteSaintLuc.org during the day, and several tweets. The timing of the incident was not ideal as staff were on their way to work when the traffic into the city (as well as out) slowed down. 

"That said, we are always looking for ways to improve," stated Mayor Brownstein. "I would like to congratulate Public Security Director Jordy Reichson  and his team on a job well done.  We are lucky that there was no explosion and no one was hurt.  Our emergency response was excellent. 

A Côte Saint-Luc District 2 Town Hall meeting will take place on Monday, June 4 (7:30 p.m.) at City Hall (5801 Cavendish Boulevard).  

I created the District meeting concept when I was first elected in the fall of 2005 as a way to maintain closer relations with constituents and talk mainly about issues related to the surrounding neighbourhood. Since then other councillors have followed suit.

The special guest speaker will be Police Station 9 Socio-Community Officer Marie-Christine Nobert, who will update everyone on important safety and security measures and provide timely tips for the summer season. David Goldsmith, a District 2 resident and VCOP (Volunteer Citizens on Patrol) supervisor,  will join Officer Nobert at the podium to provide his perspective.

A representative from the Equinoxe Apartment Condos, of which Phase One will be ready for occupancy this summer, will be on hand to respond to questions and provide a construction timeline.

Also to be discussed that evening will be new traffic safety measures, the now completed City Hall/Library parking lot and other items of interest.

For more information, call (514) 485-6945 or email [email protected].

District 2 encompasses Merrimac, Rembrandt., Kildare  (between Marc Chagall and Honoré Balzac), Sir Walter Scott,  Ilan Ramon, Marc Chagall, Mackle  (between Cavendish and Brandeis),  Quartier Cavendish Mall, Cavendish (Manoir Montefiore, Manoir Camelia, L’Excelsior, new Town Houses),  Jubilee, Park Place, Honoré-de-Balzac.

Police Station 9,  now located in the shopping plaza at the corner of Westminster and Côte Saint-Luc Road, held an Open House May 14. The target audience was seniors. I was happy to attend along with Councillors  Ruth Kovac, Oren Sebag, David Tordjman and Dida Berku as well as City Manager Tanya Abramovitch,  Executive Assistant Tammy McEwen, Public Safety Director Jordy Reichson and Lt. Anthony Tzakon.

Councillor Kovac is recognized.

 Officers Marie-Christine Nobert  and Andrew Iacovella, as well as Lt. Fred Jennings and other police personnel warmly invited us. Montreal West Councillors Colleen Feeney and Elizabeth Ulin were on hand as well.  There were tours of the facility and brief ceremony in which Councillor Kovac was honoured for her contributions to public safety over the years. Mary Tofts from Montreal West was also recognized for her community volunteerism where police programming is involved.

Station 9 serves Côte Saint-Luc, Montreal West and Hampstead. Commander Jean O'Malley has retired and become the new head of Public Safety in Hampstead. For two years he served as the chief for both Station 9 and Station 11 in NDG. But we have now got confirmation that a new commander will be appointed soon to work exclusively at Station 9. That is very good news! 

For almost 20 years, Police Station 9 was located in District 2 at the corner of Cavendish Boulevard and Kildare  Road. A few months ago the station which serves Cöte Saint-Luc, Hampstead and Montreal West, relocated to the Olymbec owned strip shopping centre on Westminster Avenue best known for formerly housing The Famous Delly Boys and a Scotiabank.

While I was naturally disappointed to see them leave my district, we were all relieved  that the station remained in Côte Saint-Luc and did not simply merge with Station 11 in NDG.

Commander Jean O'Malley has retired and will soon begin a new job as director of public security for the Town of Hampstead. His successor will be named soon. Lieutenant Fred Jennings remains in place.

With Officers Iacovella and Nobert.

I was invited to drop by the new station by Community Officer Marie-Christine Nobert. She has been with Station 9 for 21 years, primarily in this position in which she has developed close links with municipality officials, community groups and organizations, schools and seniors. Her partner Vincent Di Angelis is on leave for the moment. Until he returns Officer Andrew Iacovella is filling the void.

"Crime prevention is our goal," Officer Nobert told me. "We want to protect the citizens."

Officers Nobert and Iacovella (and of course Di Angelis)  have spent a lot of time in schools, talking about cyber bullying and cybers safety. This summer they will visit every day camp in the territory and hold what they call Police Academy Days. Always a focus is the need to properly wear bike helmets. They will also be working with Liane Fransblow of the Trauma Department of the Montreal Children's Hospital on some programming.

Seniors, says  Officer Nobert, are always on their radar screen. "We want to look after the vulnerable and watch out for any incidents of elder abuse," she said. "We are working with the local hospitals and the CLSC to ensure no seniors fall through the cracks."

The Police Station 9 headquarters is open from 9 am to 7 pm seven days a week. Cars patrol 24/7.