Latest news with #PierrefondsCommunityHighSchool
Montreal Gazette
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Montreal Gazette
How to celebrate Canada Day in Montreal
If you're not caught up in the moving day madness Tuesday, you might remember it's also Canada Day. Here's how you can celebrate: Canada Day in the Old Port Montreal's official Canada Day festivities will kick of at 1:30 p.m. in the Old Port at the Quai de l'Horloge on the St. Lawrence River. Celebrations begin with a 21-gun salute at 1:30 p.m., followed by a swearing in ceremony for new Canadian citizens at 2 p.m. The events will also include a display of military trucks, activities for children and a performance by percussion group Samajam. 'Canada on the Move' It's not quite a parade, but this year's events will feature the first edition of what organizers are calling a 'festive walk' to the celebrations in the Old Port. Planned in conjunction with the main event, the walk will begin at Place d'Armes and arrive at the Quai de l'Horloge in time for the 21-gun salute. Participants can arrive at Place d'Armes from 11:30 a.m., where Canada flags will be distributed. An opening ceremony is planned for 12 p.m., with the march toward the Old Port starting around 12:30 p.m. and arriving at the main Canada Day event at 1 p.m. Canada Day in Pierrefonds-Roxboro This year's edition of the West Island event will begin with a parade departing from École de l'Altitude at 10 a.m. and arriving at Pierrefonds Community High School between noon and 12:30 p.m. The route is posted on the event's webpage. A main stage event will feature local pop-rock band Simple Plan as the headliner, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Borough Hall and culminating with a fireworks display at 10 p.m. Other West Island events Several West Island municipalities are also planning Canada Day events. Pointe-Claire, Dollard-des-Ormeaux and Dorval will all host their own festivals, featuring music, fireworks and activities for children.
Montreal Gazette
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Letters: What if we assigned schools double duty?
In the late 1960s, the West Island was experiencing rapid growth, leading to a shortage of space in high schools. Before Pierrefonds Community High School opened in 1971, many students attended Villa Nova in Pointe-Claire, which operated on a double-shift system — whereby two groups of students are accommodated each day, the first from morning until midday, the second from midday to late afternoon. Both groups received around five hours of teaching per day, as mandated by the Education Act. If memory serves: from 7:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and from 1 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. This structure allows schools to efficiently utilize their facilities, including classrooms, laboratories and recreational areas, ensuring they serve a larger number of students without the need for additional infrastructure. I see no reason today why this type of teaching and learning environment cannot succeed at a time when the government is under pressure to build new schools and renovate existing ones. Chris Eustace, Pierrefonds Shine a light on spending Thank you to Catherine Fournier, the courageous mayor of Longueuil, for daring to question the incredibly high cost of infrastructure projects in Quebec. There can be no doubt that $1 million to install a traffic light is completely unreasonable and unacceptable. Something must be done because our roads are crumbling, hospitals are inadequate to meet the needs of the population, and cuts in the education system threaten catastrophe in our schools. It is time to hold our government accountable for where money is being spent. Sandra Sterling, Snowdon Heed U.S. lesson and vote I agree wholeheartedly with my fellow citizen, who challenged Americans to stop apologizing and do something in the 2026 midterm elections. The U.S. has basically ignored Canada and looked down on Mexico as a reservoir of cheap labour, failing to recognize either country as an invaluable friend and ally. It's sad that U.S. voters are often being painted with one brush, but they have only themselves to blame. We Canadians should take a hint and be sure to vote in our elections at all levels. By not voting, we are relinquishing our right to have a say in our government. If you don't feel that your priorities are being met by any of the parties, suck it up and choose the one you think will do the least damage. Get involved with a party that might be open to your values, or form your own party with like-minded citizens. Do whatever you can to protect our democracy, and don't leave it up to someone else. Iris Shestowsky, Montreal Stunning antics in the Oval Office There are many negative adjectives used to describe Donald Trump. However, having just watched Wednesday's televised Oval Office meeting between Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, no words can describe the embarrassment all Americans should feel at having this man represent them on the world stage. Michael Green, Côte-St-Luc Submitting a letter to the editor Letters should be sent by email to letters@ We prioritize letters that respond to, or are inspired by, articles published by The Gazette. If you are responding to a specific article, let us know which one. Letters should be sent uniquely to us. The shorter they are — ideally, fewer than 200 words — the greater the chance of publication. Timing, clarity, factual accuracy and tone are all important, as is whether the writer has something new to add to the conversation. We reserve the right to edit and condense all letters. Care is taken to preserve the core of the writer's argument. Our policy is not to publish anonymous letters, those with pseudonyms or 'open letters' addressed to third parties. Letters are published with the author's full name and city or neighbourhood/borough of residence. Include a phone number and address to help verify identity; these will not be published. We will not indicate to you whether your letter will be published. If it has not been published within 10 days or so, it is not likely to be.
