Batshaw expanding in West Island

BY RAFFY BOUDJIKANIAN

raffy.boudjikanian@transcontinental.ca

West Island mayors say they are happy with youth help organization Batshaw Youth and Family Centres expanding their facilities in Dorval and moving into Beaconsfield, and they are not expecting too much trouble.

"We see this as a win-win for everybody," said Beaconsfield Mayor Bob Benedetti, whose council first met with Batshaw last November to discuss plans for a new residential facility on Elm Street.

Benedetti said the city has been looking at building a new swimming pool, since the older one will require major renovations in a few years. As Batshaw is looking to have a swimming pool at their facility, the new building will be a way to kill two birds with one stone.

Batshaw executive director Michael Udy said the agency specializes in setting up residences for troubled youth who have had to move away from their parents. However, Udy said only a minority of Batshaw's residents have been charged under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The majority of them come to Batshaw with a recommendation by a youth court after the latter hears of their problems with "families that have lost control," resulting in parental abuse, for example.

"The average length of stay is actually pretty short," Udy said, with most youth staying between three to six months before returning to their homes or simply moving out, depending on the situation.

Benedetti said Beaconsfield resident feedback has been positive so far. "We've had (drug addiction program) Portage here with 70 kids for nine years, and not a single problem," he said.

Both Beaconsfield and Batshaw will consult with citizens more closely as construction dates move nearer. The project is at least four years away.

In Dorval, Batshaw will be expanding its current residential facilities on the corner of Dorval and Dawson Avenue. "They've been here for a long time," said Mayor Edgar Rouleau, adding there never had been significant problems with the organization before.

Rouleau and other Dorval officials will meet with Batshaw executives next week. Construction for the Dorval half of the project is slated to begin next year.

Udy said the organization's presence in the West Island will help cut down the tremendous amount of transportation costs they face now when moving their residents from far-off places like their current Prévost facility. He added a lot of their residents are from "the western half of the island (of Montreal)," so it would make a lot more sense for them to live closer to their homes.

Batshaw is funded by the provincial Ministry of Health and Social Services. The expansion and construction projects are expected to cost around $30 million.