Repartee ruled the roost at city hall during a news conference to announce that city councillors will reprise last year’s friendly fundraiser, which had them pitted against local high school students on a Laval des Rapides softball diamond.
The municipal politicians donned baseball shirts and traded playful banter as they again challenged Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board (SWLSB) and Commission scolaire de Laval (CSDL) to participate.
The match’s main objective is to remind Laval youth that it’s important to remain in school.
Discourages dropouts
“Even though we’re pleased that the dropout rate has declined during the past decade, we still have a way to go,” Laval executive committee vice-chairman David De Cotis told reporters.
“Encouraging youth to persevere in their studies remains a significant challenge in Laval,” he acknowledged. “That’s why we’re working in tandem [with local school boards] to try to make a difference.”
Weather permitting, SWLSB will take to the diamond at Paul-Marcel Maheu Park at 7 p.m. tonight. The park is located at 327 Laval Avenue, corner Montmorency.
CDSL students hammered the city politicians 25-13, during a similar friendly match last Wednesday, Aug. 5.
City officials learned an important lesson, after last year’s match against SWLSB was rained out by a massive downpour: This year, they have reserved the park at the same time on each of the following Fridays, Aug. 7 and 14, to provide for a potential postponement.
Trade rumours
“It’s not important who wins—but we plan to keep our undefeated streak intact,” quipped SWLSB chair Jennifer Maccarone.
She teased St. Vincent de Paul Councillor Paolo Galati, who was also elected as a SWLSB commissioner in last year’s school board election, but has opted to play for the city council team.
Maccarone hinted that a switch to the SWLSB team might be in the offing for Galati.
“We’re still working on that,” she smiled.
“The Rubs Smokehouse truck will be on hand to serve food from 5 p.m. onward,” De Cotis added, noting that the Laval restaurant will be making a donation to the school boards’ respective charitable foundations that will be directed toward discouraging dropouts.
“We look forward to seeing a big turnout at the park,” he concluded.
SWLSB chair Jennifer Maccarone wants to get St. Vincent de Paul councilor Paolo Galati out of his Laval baseball shirt and into SWLSB colours.
(Photo © Robert Frank)