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Batshaw move a win-win situation

Some of the new facilities could be shared with cities

Alycia Ambroziak
The Gazette
Thursday, April 24, 2008

There’s no reason to expect problems when Batshaw Youth and Family Services moves its correctional facilities to the West Island from the Laurentians to care for anglophone youths, according to Beaconsfield and Dorval officials.
The $30-million project will add two 12-person residential units over the next year or two to existing facilities in Dorval. As well, the project calls for the construction of a new building on Elm Ave. in Beaconsfield, which will include recreational facilities, classrooms and nine residential units housing up to 108 youths.
Construction of the Beaconsfield facility is not expected to begin for at least another four years.
“The project still has a long way to go ... and obviously residents will have their say,” Beaconsfield Mayor Bob Benedetti said. “But I think this is a rare win-win situation for the community.
“For the most part, these kids come from the West Island so they will be closer to home and family,” he said, adding that some facilities, like an indoor pool, could be shared with residents.
Dorval Mayor Edgar Rouleau said he was scheduled to meet with Batshaw officials in May.
“We don’t have a problem with Batshaw now, so I don’t see why there would be one in the future,” he said.
One organization that will be affected by the Batshaw move to Beaconsfield is the Portage drug-rehabilitation centre, which opened in January 2001 in a building on Elm Ave. on loan from Batshaw.
Portage spokeswoman Seychelle Harding said that even though Portage will have to move out in a few years when Batshaw moves in, plans are to remain in the West Island.
“Many of our residents come from the West Island and we have established a very good relationship with the Lester B. Pearson School Board, because our kids, who come to us voluntarily, continue to go school while in residence,” she said.
Patrick Donahue, a resident at the 44-unit Beaconsfield housing co-operative for seniors, which shares a property line with Portage, said the relationship with Portage is good.
“We’ve never had problems with the children at Portage. These kids are so well supervised and well-behaved, it’s unbelievable,” he said.