Laval QC ☕ The morning chat
Good morning,
On this Thanksgiving Monday, here’s a look at what’s happening close to home: vaccination rolling out in Laval, and a nod to young voters in Chomedey. We also check in on the Montreal Marathon, which had the region buzzing, plus a few stories touching Quebec and Canada.
Need to know this morning
- Respiratory virus vaccination campaign kicks off in Laval on October 20: Eligible people can book appointments starting Tuesday, online or by phone.
- Chomedey kids may have elected a solidarity candidate: Geru Schneider took 28.92% of the vote in the Électeurs en herbe initiative, ahead of Liberal Madeleine Féquière.
- Kenya’s Geoffrey Birgen retains his Montreal Marathon title: He covered the 42.2 km in 2:16:29, ahead of more than 6,000 other marathoners.
- Montreal couple finishes marathon to raise ALS awareness: Spencer Levine pushed his wife Amanda Tam, who has the disease, in a special wheelchair, finishing in 3:47.
Around town
- RAD program is ‘gold’ for youth at Laval rehabilitation centre: The initiative lets young people who have committed offences discover hobbies and trades.
- Éconofitness reopens renovated gym in Chomedey: After several weeks of work, the Curé-Labelle Boulevard location reopened October 3 with new equipment and a Platinum zone.
Across Canada
- Computer glitch wrongly closes 746 immigration files in Quebec: The immigration ministry confirmed erroneous notices were sent and asks applicants to ignore them.
- UK prime minister says Russia interfered in Brexit referendum: Andy Burnham called it ‘clear’—the first public acknowledgment by a head of government.
- Turkey gravy sold in Canada recalled for undeclared mustard: Kevin’s Natural Foods product is being pulled from shelves in several provinces.
Main story
Respiratory virus vaccination gets underway in Laval on October 20
Santé Québec Laval is launching its annual respiratory virus vaccination campaign. The vaccination period starts Tuesday, October 20, with appointments available from Tuesday, October 13.
Kahina Slimani, director of access to front-line services, notes that certain chronic conditions—even well-managed ones—can raise the risk of complications. She cites asthma, diabetes, and morbid obesity as examples.
“We invite eligible people to book an appointment to protect themselves before the winter season. Vaccination remains the best defence against viruses,” she says.
Shots are available at local service points and participating pharmacies. The campaign mainly targets adults 65 and older, pregnant people, those who are immunocompromised or living with certain chronic illnesses, and household members of people at risk.
For flu, vaccination is also offered to those around infants under six months. The RSV vaccine is free for adults 75 and older, as well as eligible newborns and infants.
Bookings can be made online at clicsante.ca or by calling 1 877 644-4545, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In detail
Chomedey youth may have picked a solidarity candidate
The Électeurs en herbe initiative, run by Élections Québec, let 321,314 young people vote across the province. In Chomedey, solidarity candidate Geru Schneider took 258 votes (28.92%), ahead of Liberal Madeleine Féquière (239 votes) and Conservative Leon Der Stepanian (137 votes).
Five schools in the riding took part. The result is all the more interesting since the Quebec Liberal Party has gone unbeaten in Chomedey for 46 years. In the first two editions, the youth pick matched the official results.
In Laval’s other ridings, young voters mostly mirrored the official vote, with Liberal wins in Fabre, Laval-des-Rapides, Mille-Îles, and Vimont-Auteuil. The tightest race was in Laval-des-Rapides, where Caroline De Guire edged Sabrina Di Matteo by just 20 votes.
Montreal couple finishes marathon to raise ALS awareness
Spencer Levine and Amanda Tam crossed the Montreal Marathon finish line together on Sunday. Levine pushed his wife, who has ALS, in a special wheelchair, covering the 42.2 km in 3:47… beating their four-hour goal.
“We wanted to do it in four hours, and we finished in 3:47. We blew past our target, and we had so much fun along the way,” Levine said.
For Tam, it was also a way to show that life goes on with the disease. “I want to show people that even if you have a death sentence with ALS, it doesn’t mean you have to stop living,” she said.
The couple raised $15,000 for ALS Québec. They were among 21,500 runners in Sunday’s events, with about 35,000 people taking part in races over the weekend.
Coup de Cœur
The story of Spencer Levine and Amanda Tam is a reminder that determination can turn a challenge into a message of hope. By pushing his wife for 42 kilometres, Levine showed that love and solidarity can move mountains—or at least cross a finish line.
Wrapping up
Wishing you a full Thanksgiving Monday, whether you spend it with family, friends, or just taking a breather. Enjoy this moment of calm before the week picks up again. See you tomorrow, dear Laval readers. ☕