Following up on suggestions from Montreal police, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue will be installing security cameras at Harpell Park in an effort to discourage drug deals and mischief. On Monday, town council authorized spending $15,000 for the purchase of security cameras to be installed at the park adjacent to the municipal library, community centre and an outdoor pool, just south of Highway 20. Mayor Paola Hawa said aside from the advice of police, some residents also have brought up concerns about loitering and drug transactions at Harpell Park. [continues 340 words]
Police Suggest Action Will Be Taken Soon A Beaconsfield resident pleaded with the city and police Monday night to crack down on young illicit drug users around Beaconsfield High School. A Beaconsfield Court resident, who brought to Monday's municipal council meeting discarded plastic bottles he says were used to smoke hashish, told councillors there is a drug problem on his street, which abuts the high school property and is around the corner from the Place Cartier adult education centre. "Our street is a haven for drug use," the resident said, adding his wife and 9-monthold daughter have had to inhale pot smoke on their strolls. "During the hours 12 to 1 p.m., students from BHS and Cartier use my street as a hangout. We need some sort of presence on our street, a deterrent for the kids from using it to smoke their pot. [continues 191 words]
As part of a joint effort with local school authorities to crack down on illegal drugs -- from marijuana to ecstasy -- Montreal police busted Macdonald High School students in Ste. Anne de Bellevue Monday. While five students were caught in the sting operation, which included videotaping alleged drug deals, according to Station 1 Cmdr. Michel Lecompte, only one will be formally charged in the case -- drug possession with intent to traffic. The student facing charges is a 17-year-old Grade 10 student, said Mac principal Jim Aitken. [continues 275 words]
Macdonald High School principal Jim Aitken is to be commended for his strong stance against drugs in his Ste. Anne de Bellevue school. Too often, educators are more than happy to pretend that teenagers at their school or in their school board are not abusing drugs, but most evidence we've seen says that drug use is becoming more and more pervasive. Parents, educators and administrators can no longer thrust their heads in the sand and pretend there's nothing going on. [continues 429 words]
