PESTICIDES…It took a year, but starting April 1, 2005, St. Leonard will finally apply the megacity’s island-wide bylaw banning pesticides. The borough is launching an awareness campaign about the dangers of pesticides and gardening alternatives. "It is certain that this bylaw will have a significant impact on our numerous gardeners in St. Leonard...and this is why we are informing them," said borough chairman Frank Zampino wrote sabrina Marandola in The Suburban. Gardening is the second most popular hobby in Quebec, and Angela Gentile, owner of a gardening centre in St. Leonard, says many residents in the borough spend time gardening. Gentile was chosen to be a spokesperson for the anti-pesticide awareness campaign. Dr. Marie-Jose Cucuzza is also a spokesperson for the borough’s campaign. She says American epidemiological studies show there is a clear link between pesticides and health problems such as respiratory diseases, birth defects, miscarriages and cancer. www.pappajo.net/pesticides

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