Latest news with #WestIsland
CBC
2 days ago
- General
- CBC
Dozens picking up pieces after major fire in Pierrefonds-Roxboro
The fire broke out overnight on May 28 in a co-op housing complex in Montreal's West Island. More than 40 people are being housed by the Red Cross, but they'll soon have to find other arrangements.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Authorities say delays expected during 6-week REM closure; additional bus service announced
A Réseau express métropolitain (REM) train makes its way towards downtown in Montreal, Thursday, November 14, 2024. (Graham Hughes / The Canadian Press) Public transit users can expect some delays getting around the Montreal region this summer as the REM will be completely shut down for six weeks. The light-rail line will be closed from July 5 to Aug. 17 as testing is done on the network ahead of the commissioning of new branches to the West Island (Anse-à-l'Orme station) and to the North Shore (Deux-Montagnes station). The Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) said it is launching mitigation measures, including additional bus and exo train service, to keep people moving, in collaboration with the Réseau de transport de Longueuil (RTL) and the Société de transport de Montréal (STM). 'Users may also consider traveling outside of rush hour or working remotely when possible,' the transit agency said. Here is a breakdown of the enhanced bus service during the shutdown. Lines Directions Frequency 721 (STM) Brossard ↔ Du Quartier ↔ terminus Centre-ville 2 to 4 minutes at peak times 722 (RTL) Panama ↔ terminus Centre-ville 2 to 4 minutes at peak times 568 (STM) Île-des-Sœurs ↔ 800 rue de la Gauchetière 20 minutes 176 (STM) Île-des-Sœurs ↔ 800 rue de la Gauchetière 20 minutes Taxi collectif T72 (RTL) Panama ↔ Île-des-Sœurs 30 minutes Free transit options added The ARTM also says that shuttle buses 721, 722, 568, 176, and the T72 shared taxi will be free to use during the months of July and August. The REM will also be free for users from July 1 to 4 and from Aug. 18 to 31. Access to all other public transit services will require a valid transit pass. 'It is important to remember that no bus service can replace the frequency or capacity of the REM. Consequently, certain peak periods could result in high ridership and significant wait times,' the transit agency stated. Changes to regular bus lines were also announced. Lines Changes Secteur Île-des-Sœurs – STM 176: extension of the line Secteur Le Richelain-Roussillon – exo 550, 551 and 555: addition of 6 departures 556: addition of 4 departures Secteur Chambly-Richelieu-Carignan – exo 681: addition of 2 departures Secteur Vallée-du-Richelieu – exo 200 and 201: addition of 16 departures Secteur Sainte-Julie – exo 325, 330 and 350: addition of 12 departures 'We know that the summer closure of the REM will complicate travel this summer, and we thank users in advance for their patience,' said ARTM General Manager Benoit Gendron in a news release. 'We invite you to consult the tools we have made available to help you plan your journeys. This closure is a necessary step to allow the commissioning of the next REM branches, which will transform mobility in the metropolis. The ARTM, with all its partners, remains fully mobilized to coordinate efforts and monitor the situation as it evolves.' Sylvain Yelle, CEO of exo, added: 'It is essential to work hand in hand with our partners to maintain a reliable and efficient service for the citizens of the crowns during this temporary closure. That's why exo is adapting its summer offer by keeping more than forty trips, normally suspended in summer, to facilitate access to the Longueuil and Angrignon metro stations.' Authorities said they would provide details on the REM service schedule before it resumes on Aug. 18.
CTV News
17-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Experts say planning and support key to help first-time buyers navigate tough housing market
A real estate sign is posted outside a home in Pointe-Claire, a city in Montreal's West Island, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (Christinne Muschi / The Canadian Press) (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)
CTV News
13-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Montreal two-year-old in need of a living kidney donor
A West Island couple is looking for a living kidney donor that could radically change their two-year-old daughter's life.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Montreal family searches for live donor for their toddler with rare kidney disease
A family from Montreal's West Island is sharing the story of their toddler's illness to raise awareness about kidney diseases and the importance of organ donation in saving lives. CBC agreed to not give the family's last name because they're receiving unsolicited messages online. By all accounts, Carmella is a happy, radiant, almost two-year old, despite the daily challenges that come with living with a severe and chronic kidney condition. She was diagnosed with congenital nephrotic syndrome as a newborn, after being rushed to the ER of the Montreal Children's Hospital. Dr. Indra Gupta, a pediatric nephrologist and Carmella's doctor, said it's a very rare kidney defect that allows proteins to flow through the kidneys and be lost in the urine. "We need protein to grow, we need protein in our muscles, we need protein to fight infection," Gupta said. "These are all basic bodily functions that are a huge challenge for Carmella, for her to succeed in." As a result, she remains small for her age, and isn't able to walk father, Justin, said the diagnosis first came as a shock. "It was hard to digest," he said, explaining that, at the time, the family wasn't sure of the severity of the disease nor the outcome. "Everybody has this dream where you come home from the hospital with your newborn and everything is like a fairytale and wonderful and that's not the case for everybody," he said. The first months of Carmella's life were marked by long hospital stays, surgeries, and complications. "One of the biggest takeaways that we got from this experience is you really need to seize the day, you really need to live every day and try to make the best of it," Justin said. He believes adopting a positive outlook has helped carry the family this far into Carmella's journey. Now, as the search for a live donor begins, Justin hopes the family finds the right match so his daughter can have a more normal childhood Becoming an organ donor "Carmella is one of the many children we have who is in dire need of finding a new kidney," Gupta said, adding it isn't easy to find donors. When it comes to kidney transplants, donations can be from living donors or those who are deceased. In both cases, there is screening to ensure compatibility in blood type and antibodies, explained the doctor. Gupta said the advantage of receiving a kidney from a living person is that the projected lifespan of the transplanted kidney is longer than that of a deceased person. In the case of a deceased donor, the kidney can last 10 to 15 years compared to 15 to 20 years for a living donor. To become a donor after death, Quebecers can just sign the back of their medicare card or let their family know their wishes. According to Gupta, the process is more complicated for living donors, who have to test for compatibility and undergo an "evaluation from head-to-toe to make sure we're not creating, if you will, a second patient." "You can live with one single kidney as long as that kidney is in top shape," she said. You should also expect a recovery period of about six weeks. Most often, Gupta said, living donors are family members or close friends, but they can also be altruistic donors. Parents often want to give, but aren't necessarily a match and they're also already doing a lot, pointed out Gupta. In Carmella's case, even with a team of dedicated medical specialists at the hospital, it falls on her parents to deliver all the medical care at home. "It's a full-time job giving her care, trying to maintain her in optimal health," Gupta said, adding that responsibilities like that often come with hidden economic costs for families. Gupta said those who have chosen to be living donors say it's the most rewarding thing they have ever done, but she warned it isn't for everyone and no one should feel guilty or compelled to be a donor. "You need to feel in your heart of hearts this is the right decision for you," she said. The family has started a Facebook group called Carmella's Kidney Champions to help in their search, but also to encourage organ donation. "If somebody listens to this, signs their medicare card, and helps somebody years from now, that's a huge impact for us," Justin said.
