Great Start for our Municipal Boat Wash Station!

On May 15, our team was ready for the official opening of the municipal boat wash station. Despite the gloomy weather, the team welcomed its first visitors with a smile. We are so pleased by the positive feedback we have received during the first few days of operation.  The dealers appreciate the efficiency of our new procedures and residents value the municipal initiative and see that this new requirement can be both simple and effective to protect our lakes! 

We have produced a brand new pamphlet containing a substantial amount of nautical information for the season, À l’eau les bateaux…The following topics are covered; the decal, the wash station, the boat launch, restrictions concerning water sports, and everything you need to know for safe navigation.  It is now available on the French site and soon an English version will be available.  You can also get it at the reception desk of the town hall and at the municipal boat wash station. 

For the schedule of the hours of operation of the boat wash station, please visit: 

 https://www.ivry-sur-le-lac.qc.ca/en/lac-manitou-and-other-bodies-of-water-environment/

The Beaver beyond being a symbol of Canada

Today, the increase of human activity in the domain occupied by our furry friends have resulted in increasing conflicts due to more frequent encounters between humans and rodents.

An emblematic species

This clumsy animal on land is particularly agile underwater, where its movements can reach speeds of up to 7 km/h.  Blessed with a transparent membrane that covers its eyes which protects them, its nostrils and ears close when it is underwater! Protected by dark enamel, its sharp incisors grow throughout its life. Beavers are active in all seasons, especially at night. The young are born in spring in groups of 3 or 4 and stay with their parents for two years and contribute to the daily routine.  Beavers can live up to 12 years in their natural habitat.

 Successful cohabitation! 

It is important to remember that the beaver is at home, just as much as we are.  Therefore, we should not intervene unless it is an issue of safety of people and property. The big challenge is to learn how to share the territory. 

The Beaver is harmless 

The animal does not destroy structures or attack humans.

Possible Preventatives Interventions 

If you have problems during the summer season, you can preventively place grating around shoreline trees to prevent beavers from targeting them. The beaver’s favourite species is Trembling Aspen, although it also likes Birch, Willow, Mountain Ash, Cherry and Maple trees. So you might want to target these species if you wish to prioritize trees on your property. 

Whose responsibility is it?           

The Municipality must intervene in the following situations;

• A dam is erected and could cause flooding to shoreline properties, or
• The actions of the beaver pose a problem on a public road.

In the situation that a beaver has erected a damn near or in your boathouse, it is not the responsibility of the Municipality.  You can contact a trapper  and he will explain the options available to you, of course, the cheapest and most respectful solution for the animal is to wait until the fall since only the fall catch can be recovered for their meat and fur, if it is outside the trapping dates, the animal is simply thrown away unfortunately.

Ragweed – Let’s rip it out together!

The Quebec Lung Association indicates that one person in eight is allergic to ragweed pollen.  Ragweed allergy represents an annual burden of nearly $240 million for the province’s health care system. The importance of reducing pollen in the air is critical. 

How can ragweed be effectively controlled? 

Removing ragweed and replacing it with a competitive ground cover such as clover or grass is the most effective way to control ragweed. 

Also, for owners of land where ragweed is free to grow, the mowing of ragweed for the summer season is required in order to reduce pollen in the air.  Remember the dates are mid-July and mid-August.

Support Economic Development!

On May 20, the Laurentian Economic Development Cooperation announced the creation of a new program entitled Soutien au développement de la commercialisation, whose objective is to support entrepreneurs in the MRC des Laurentides who, in the context of COVID-19, wish to adapt to the new reality with respect to the commercialization of their products and services.  This program will make it possible to offer financial assistance of up to $5,000 each. 

Program description 

In the context that has led to the closure of businesses and the introduction of physical distancing measures, this programme aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the area for marketing projects such as: 

• Setting up or improving a transactional site;
• Use of professional assistance to maximize existing tools;
• Implementation of measures to facilitate the flow of products to customers;
• Pooling of local initiatives involving more than three partners; and
• Any other innovative projects that will allow for continued commercialization activities during and after the pandemic. 

Eligible companies must have their head office in the territory of the MRC des Laurentides and have been operating in Quebec for at least year. They must also be currently maintaining, consolidating or relaunching their activities and have demonstrated a causal link between their financial or operational issues and the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, please visit: http://www.cdemrclaurentides.org/

Result of the decrease in the frequency of waste collection

We have just received the results regarding the frequency of collecting waste every four weeks during the winter season. Indeed, the percentage of diversion of organic material from landfill has increased. Thus, in the absence of garbage collections, citizens are using their brown bins more to dispose of organic materials.

Congratulations to the citizens, your new habits have paid off!

Temporary Stop of the Collection of Dangerous Residual Waste 

The ecocenters of the MRC des Laurentides have been required to suspend the service of collecting household dangerous residual waste temporarily.  The ecocenters have been overwhelmed with residual materials brought in by citizens, including dangerous residual waste.  These dangerous substances require a safe storage, both for the health of individuals and the environment.  The traffic in recent weeks at the ecocentres is such that the containers for dangerous waste have reached their maximum capacity.  The MRC des Laurentides is asking citizens to keep their dangerous residual waste at home, for the time being, until the collection service empties the storage containers, which will take a few weeks.

The following substances are considered dangerous residual waste.  It is possible to recognize them by the pictograms appearing on the containers (corrosive, explosive, flammable, toxic).

City Hall Now Accessible to Citizens

We are pleased to announce that our offices are now accessible to citizens. In order to protect you and our staff, access to our administrative office is restricted. We accept only one person at a time at the reception desk in order to respect physical distancing.  We kindly ask that you wait outside if someone is already inside the building. Phone and e-mail communication must be prioritized.

Prevention Tips for Online Shopping

The Sûreté du Québec would like to remind citizens who may be attracted by online offers of some prevention tips;

• Offers of masks or protective equipment offered free of charge during this pandemic period;
• Products or services obtained through prepaid cards or crypto currency; and
• The donation or sale of animals or animal accessories at low prices.

These offers are only meant to get money from you and in almost all cases; you will never receive the product you requested.  Here are some tips to follow:

• Use secure websites starting with https:// for your online purchases, and look for the padlock in the closed position or a key that appears on the edge of your browser’s address bar;
• Find out about the seller before proceeding with a transaction; and
• Never give out your personal information when buying online (social insurance number, date of birth…).

If you want to sell certain items online, here are some tips to follow:

• Make your exchange in a public and safe place;
• Be suspicious of a buyer asking you to pay you an amount above the asking price, or offering to send you; for example, a certified cheque, so that you can reimburse the difference; and
• You should also check the validity of the payment before handing the item over.

To report fraud, contact

• Your banking institution;
• Your payment card issuer (credit card);
• Your service provider (internet, mobile phone);
• National credit reporting agencies (Equifax Canada 1-800-465-7166 and TransUnion Canada 1-877-713-3393); and
• The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and access the Online Reporting System at

https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/report-signalez-fra-htm

The Sûreté du Québec invites you to be vigilant and reminds you that any information on criminal activities can be communicated at any time, in a confidential manner, to the Central Criminal Information Bureau at 1 800 659-4264.

Other subjects of interest

Should you havy any other topics you would like us to address in a future Newsletter, just let us know and it will be our pleasure to address them.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask!  The municipal team is there for you!

Once again, I thank you for the confidence you have shown in me.  It’s a real pleasure representing you!

Mayor,

Daniel Charette
Municipalité d’Ivry-sur-le-Lac
Tél. (819) 321-2332
info@ivry-sur-le-lac.qc.ca