André Brunette seeks another mandate in Huntingdon

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Huntingdon’s Mayor André Brunette has officially announced his bid for re-election in the upcoming municipal vote.

First elected in 1995, Brunette served as mayor until 2003, when citizens opted for Stéphane Gendron. Brunette was returned to the job following the 2013 and 2017 elections. He was elected for a third consecutive term in 2021 by acclamation.

“I wake up every morning, and I think of the past 200 years, and what has happened. My goal is to continue what we have started over this last decade,” Brunette said, noting that 12 years ago the town was facing financial difficulties and is now thriving. His platform will emphasize sustained economic progress, community development, and prudent financial management that builds on the successes of the past several years.

Brunette said he hopes to continue to develop the town and attract new residents and businesses, while acknowledging there is work to be done when it comes to the creation of a community centre, revitalizing the town centre and main section of Chateauguay Street, the continued development of housing initiatives, and the preservation of heritage buildings and structures. He explained that as new residential developments will continue to generate additional income, he expects taxes to remain stable even as the municipality invests in major projects.

Brunette emphasized the collaborative culture that exists at the town hall, noting the administration and council meet regularly “as a round-table team” to address issues and plan ahead. “It’s not just the mayor that does the work,” he maintained, noting he was pleased to learn that most, if not all members of the current council will also be running for re-election come November.

André Brunette seeks another mandate in Huntingdon Read More »

Groundwater contamination confirmed at Valley dumping sites 

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

 Research by the Leadership for the Ecozoic research network (L4E) based out of McGill University sounded an alarm this spring over the extent of illegal dumping within the Chateauguay River watershed.

A study of the evolution of the rural landscape by masters student Alex DePani and cartographer Dan Garand identified 284 potential sites of concern, including 16 documented sites, or “sacrifice zones,” where loads of construction waste have been dumped. Two of these sites, both in Franklin, are currently being monitored and reports have confirmed toxic groundwater contamination at levels above government standards.

A 2023 environmental characterization study ordered by the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte Contre les Changements Climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs of the site along Route 201 was recently obtained by the L4E group, through an access to information request. The study, which was completed by the Montreal-based engineering firm Geninovation, characterized an area of around 73,000 square metres on parts of eight lots owned by the company 4507380 Canada Inc., also known as Les Entreprises V.A.G. Distribution, and its president, Éric Jodoin.

The 530-page report estimates that just under 79,770 metric tons of contaminated soils and waste materials were dumped at the site. At least 123 soil samples were taken from 70 different test pits, as well as 30 samples of raw waste material found on site, seven samples from piles of disposed soil and waste that had not been backfilled, and four groundwater samples from different monitoring wells that were installed at the site.

The majority of the soil samples were classified at A-B contamination levels, while some were contaminated at B-C levels. Sulfur concentrations were found in the raw waste samples in the backfill, and asbestos was also found to be present. All four groundwater samples showed signs of contamination above the environment ministry’s Surface Water Resurgence (RES) criterion, which establishes a threshold to protect overall ecosystem health.

The study concludes the groundwater is being contaminated by the illegally dumped waste material, and warns the groundwater is moving beyond the immediate area. The monitoring wells sampled water between 1.3 and 2.3 metres deep, and the report points out that nearby wells are on a different aquifer layer, which reduces the risk of contamination. At the same time, the report recommends a hydrogeological study take place to determine whether these layers may be connected. 

L4E has also obtained a copy of a report completed in 2024 by the firm Solmatech on the Rang Dumas site, which found groundwater samples from three monitoring wells were contaminated with arsenic above standard drinking water thresholds.

DePani says the findings of the two studies suggest that illegal dumping can lead to groundwater contamination. He adds that the broader impacts of such contamination on regional water systems, such as the Chateauguay River watershed, and local wells remains largely unknown and should be studied.

Groundwater contamination confirmed at Valley dumping sites  Read More »

Murals on silos: MRC unveils signature rural art attraction

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Those out for a countryside drive along Franklin’s bucolic Rue de l’Artifice will no doubt have noticed a pair of towering murals painted on roadside silos at the Ferme Sylvain et Pascal Vincent Inc.

The MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent celebrated the completion of the giant murals during a brief inauguration ceremony on September 9 for the first sky-high works of art to be included in the Circuit de Fresques sur Silos Agricoles. Two more murals will be added to the unique series at Thornbrae Farms in Très-Saint-Sacrement and Framboise et Parapluies in Saint-Chrysostome before the end of the year.

“It is with immense pride and deep gratitude that I mark this milestone in the promotion of our collective agricultural heritage,” said MRC prefect Louise Lebrun. “Together, we have sown the first seeds of a unique cultural journey that will raise our region’s profile far beyond its borders,” she added, before thanking the Vincent family, the other participating farms, partners, and artists for their belief in this bold initiative.

Rooted in the rural landscape of the Haut-Saint-Laurent, each mural will tell a story about the culture, farms, and traditions that are integral to the region’s identity. “Silos are symbolic for farmers, but they tend to get lost in the background,” said Nancy Brunelle, the MRC’s cultural development coordinator. “We are used to seeing them, but now we’re using this emblem to create a giant mural that will become an open-air exhibition,” she explained.

“With 93 per cent of the MRC’s territory being agricultural land, the project pays tribute to agricultural producers, promotes the profession, and highlights the heritage built by farmers. It is truly a tribute,” added the MRC’s tourism development agent, Sébastien Guy.

The first silos were painted by the Montreal-based collective of muralists known as Arts du Commun. “Everyone was very satisfied and amazed by the result. The family is happy,” said Brunelle. “It’s a good start.”

The silo at Thornbrae Farms has been washed and primed and work is expected to begin right away on the mural. Owner Bill Anderson has been enthusiastic about the project since it was first introduced. “I think it is absolutely wonderful,” he says, noting the 70-foot-tall mural to be painted at his farm by Montreal muralist and graffiti artist Bosny will be very different from those gracing the silos in Franklin.

“We want to explore different graphic styles and techniques,” explained Brunelle. For example, Arts du Commun painted with a compressor and projected the image onto the silo while adjusting proportions to the curvature of the concrete structure. Bosny prefers to work with a grid system to scale but paints freehand using spray cans.

The silo at Framboise et Parapluie will be painted by a different graffiti art muralist known in Montreal as Peru143. A fourth mural is expected to start this year and will be completed next spring.

Both Brunelle and Guy hope the silos will create opportunities for tourists and locals to approach agriculture from a new perspective. “Agriculture often means milk, vegetables, grains, and livestock, but between the raw product and the consumer is the farmer,” Guy explained. “All of the agricultural producers together represent an extraordinary social capital, and when we talk about bringing city folk closer to agriculture, we mean finding ways for producers to talk with people from outside the region. Our farms will become a place of exchange, and that is very rare,” he added.

Murals on silos: MRC unveils signature rural art attraction Read More »

Health network staff protest nearly year-long delay in premiums

Local Journalism Initiative / / /

William Crooks
APTS members demonstrate in Sherbrooke on Sept. 24 to demand payment of premiums nearly a year overdue

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

Nearly a year after premiums promised in their collective agreement were due, health and social service professionals gathered in Sherbrooke on Sept. 24 to demand action. The protest, organized by the Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS), drew members to King Ouest Street to denounce what the union called “an unacceptable bungle.”

The premiums, negotiated in 2023, were meant to recognize difficult working conditions such as evening, night and weekend shifts, as well as assignments in long-term care centres (CHSLDs), youth protection, psychiatry, and services for clients with serious behavioural disorders. The APTS says in a release these bonuses are essential for staff retention and for maintaining the quality of care offered to Quebecers.

But close to a year after the deadline set out in the collective agreement, the union says large amounts remain unpaid. Members are dealing with application errors, missing retroactive sums, and what they call unjustified delays. “It is a sad anniversary that we are marking today. Waiting so long to receive duly negotiated sums is simply unacceptable,” said APTS President Robert Comeau in a statement released ahead of the protest. “Our members are at the end of their rope. These delays show a blatant disregard for the commitments made and for the people who keep the network alive on a daily basis.”

On the ground in Sherbrooke, frustration was clear. “We don’t want excuses anymore, we want to be paid!” a representative told the crowd, adding: “We are going to be strong, and we are going to keep fighting!”

William Crooks
Health and social service professionals rally along King Ouest Street in Sherbrooke to denounce delays in premium payments

Demonstrators were reminded to stay safe while making their discontent visible. “We are going to tell our people that we’re angry and we’re not giving up!” the representative said as participants lined both sides of King Ouest to form a corridor of protest.

The APTS argues that the slow rollout of premiums not only undermines morale but also raises practical concerns for members who are unsure whether they will ever see all the money owed. “After all this time, how will people be able to make sure that all the money owed to them has been paid? It’s a huge mess,” Comeau said. “Our members are proud to offer services to the population, and we expect their employers to treat them better than that in return.”

The union is demanding that Santé Quebec assume responsibility and ensure that institutions across the health and social services network meet their obligations. It is calling for all premiums to be paid without further delay, along with legal interest, and for what it describes as “chaotic management” to be brought to an end.

Representing more than 68,000 members across Quebec, the APTS includes professionals and technicians in diagnostics, rehabilitation, nutrition, psychosocial intervention, and clinical support. The union says its members play a vital role in keeping the health network running, but they cannot continue to do so under conditions where their negotiated compensation is left hanging.

Health network staff protest nearly year-long delay in premiums Read More »

Local MP Dandurand pushes cross-border collaboration while prioritizing housing, connectivity, and local media

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Courtesy
Representatives from Quebec and Vermont gathered on Lake Memphremagog to promote cross-border collaboration. From left to right: Heather Pelham, Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing; Marianne Dandurand, MP for Compton–Stanstead; Bernadette Jordan, Consul General to Boston and the New England States; Tayt Brooks, Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development; René Sylvestre, Quebec’s Delegate to New England; Tim Tierney, Vermont Department of Economic Development; and Marie-Elaine Beaudoin, Invest Quebec.

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

Compton–Stanstead MP Marianne Dandurand is reinforcing ties with Vermont while advancing a slate of priorities at home, ranging from affordable housing and rural infrastructure to cell phone service and support for local media.

Last week, Dandurand joined a delegation on Lake Memphremagog to promote cross-border cooperation. The group included representatives from Vermont’s Department of Tourism and Marketing, the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Quebec’s delegation to New England, Invest Quebec, and Canada’s Consulate General in Boston. The meeting followed a recent session with Vermont legislators.

“We share a border, but we share families, we share business, and we know that the current situation is not easy,” Dandurand said in a Sept. 24 interview. “Leadership, in order to maintain those links, can come from grassroots and can come from the communities.”

The MP said she wants to ensure the groundwork is in place so that “whenever it’s over, we’re going to be there and ready to start building again whatever is broken with the current administration.” She noted that discussions touch on border security, trade, and tourism, with the expectation of many more such meetings in the months ahead.

Housing and infrastructure focus

Dandurand pointed to housing as her top federal priority, particularly under the new “Build Canada Homes” initiative, which earmarks $13 billion for construction projects. She stressed the importance of tailoring programs for smaller communities rather than only major cities.

“We don’t need those hundred-unit buildings and we don’t have the resources to do that,” she explained. “It’s a new framework that we can work with to build more affordable housing.”

On infrastructure, Dandurand highlighted an additional $1 billion in federal funding intended for water and sewage systems in municipalities. She said she hopes agreements with Quebec can be signed quickly to allow construction to move forward.

Cell service bill in the works

Connectivity remains another concern for the riding. Dandurand confirmed she is preparing a private member’s bill to push for better cell phone service in rural areas, working in collaboration with federal ministers responsible for rural development and telecommunications.

“In regions where we don’t have that pressure, there’s no incentive for companies to build infrastructure because they don’t get the money out of it,” she said. With her name drawn early in the order for private members’ bills, she expects to bring forward legislation soon.

Support for local media

Dandurand also underscored the need to back local journalism. “What can we do to make sure that we have strong independent media, including outside major urban centres?” she asked. She said she is in discussions on how best to support community radio, television, and newspapers in the face of financial strain and disinformation pressures.

Though busy in Ottawa as chair of the Liberal Rural Caucus, Dandurand emphasized that she spends weekends in the riding and plans to participate in upcoming reconciliation-related events. “Most of the time I’m here I’m in the riding, on Fridays as well,” she said.

Local MP Dandurand pushes cross-border collaboration while prioritizing housing, connectivity, and local media Read More »

“Bigotry is going unchecked!”:Douglas Murray

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

A sense of resolve and no small amount of courage filled Chevra Kadisha Synagogue last week as hundreds gathered for a rare Montreal appearance by Douglas Murray, the British author and political commentator known for his piercing criticism of  Islamism and support for Israel.

The event took place against a backdrop of rising antisemitism worldwide, a climate that Holocaust survivors have warned closely resembles the dangerous rhetoric and attacks that preceded the Holocaust itself. In this atmosphere of fear, the act of gathering to speak openly was itself an act of bravery.

Among the notable attendees were Consul General Eliaz Luf of Israel, Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi, Côte Saint-Luc Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, and the Honourable Irwin Cotler, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, with his wife Ariela.

Chevra Kadisha President Aaron Bloom opened the evening with a deeply personal reflection. He spoke of listening to his daughters and their friends, all students at Concordia University, share their fears about being openly Jewish on campus. “They told me how uncomfortable and anxious they feel attending classes,” Bloom said. “I didn’t know what to tell them, and ruminated on what parents may have told their children in 1936 Germany. What keeps me grounded is remembering who I am, and drawing strength from Rabbi Jacobson, this community, and its mission to do good.”

Bloom returned to this theme throughout the evening, reminding the crowd that showing up in this climate is an act of courage. “The bravery it takes to gather here tonight cannot be overstated. We are here not just to listen but to stand together and have our presence and message acknowledged.”

Rabbi Asher Jacobson followed Bloom, emphasizing unity and the responsibility to support one another. “We are seeing hate rise and bullying intensify,” he said. “Tonight is about standing up to that hate. We must reaffirm our values and our commitment to each other.”

Douglas Murray began his address by focusing on the immediate realities facing Jewish communities in Montreal and other Western cities. “Jews are wondering if it’s safe to live here,” he said bluntly. “This is not just Israel’s problem but ours, where bigotry is going unchecked.” He warned that fear has led many to self-censor. “People are afraid to say what they know is true. We have to teach our kids to stand strong—even when it’s unpopular.”

Moderator Emily Austin then guided the conversation towards international issues. She asked Murray about Canada’s recent declaration that it will recognize a Palestinian state. “Do you think this is a victory for Hamas?” she queried.

“No,” Murray replied. “States aren’t created by outside actors to threaten their neighbours. States are earned, not announced from a distance. Right now, there is no trust in the region’s leadership.”

Austin pressed further: “There’s an assumption that statehood might solve persecution of minorities. Would things really improve?”

Murray answered firmly, “Changing lines on a map doesn’t erase generations of hatred or persecution.”

He also stressed that the war will not end while hostages remain in Hamas’s hands. “They cannot pretend they are going to release hostages if they are not going to release them.”

As the event closed, attendees lingered in conversation and reflection. Bryan Wolofsky summed up the mood: “Douglas Murray expresses things I think and feel in ways that I can’t. He is absolutely brilliant.”

In a time when Jewish Montrealers face open hostility and calls for Israel’s destruction echoes locally, organizers say gatherings like this are lifelines. “We can’t afford to retreat,” Bloom said. “Standing courageously together reaffirms who we are and what we stand for.”

“Bigotry is going unchecked!”:Douglas Murray Read More »

LBPSB stays silent over Saunders controversy

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The Lester B. Pearson School Board (LBPSB) continues to remain silent as vice-chairman Allison Saunders faces calls for accountability after sharing social media posts this summer that were widely condemned as antisemitic and anti-Israel. Despite repeated outreach from community members and The Suburban, LBPSB leadership has not addressed the situation publicly or clarified whether any disciplinary action will be taken.

The controversy began when Saunders shared a translated French-language post on her personal Facebook page that used derogatory language about Jews, including terms that implied Jews are perpetrators of genocide. The post also criticized Quebec leaders for a lack of empathy, expressed “shame” over the province’s perceived hostility toward Muslims and Arabs, and ultimately blamed “the ultra-rich” as the root cause of societal issues.

After her posts came under fire, Saunders acknowledged that her actions “caused harm for members of the Jewish community” and insisted she does “not condone antisemitism or any form of hate.” Still, she maintained in an interview with The Suburban that she stands by the content of the post.

Raquel Lobaton, a teacher and parent at John Rennie High School who works with the Foundation for Genocide Education, told The Suburban how damaging Saunders’ actions were. “It’s disturbing that someone representing LBPSB would post such material,” Lobaton said. “Our community is diverse, and we have a duty to stand against hate in any form—especially when it comes from those elected to serve all families. This isn’t just about a single post. It’s about the message it sends to students, staff, and Jewish families like mine.”

Lobaton noted that Saunders eventually deleted the original post and issued what she called “an apology that is not really an apology,” but the damage had already been done. “She tried to frame her response as compassionate, but her post was anything but. Calling legitimate concerns ‘tattling’ is dismissive. This isn’t about creating division; it’s about holding our leaders to the standards they claim to uphold.”

Saunders herself referred to the apology as a “side apology” to appease the “complainers”.

To seek clarification, The Suburban emailed Judith Kelley, chair of the Council of Commissioners, directly asking whether the LBPSB stood by Saunders’ comments and what disciplinary measures had been taken. The email also questioned whether the board’s silence signalled acceptance of Saunders’ actions. Kelley did not respond.

Instead, LBPSB spokesperson Darren Becker replied, stating that Saunders had issued an apology that, according to him, had not been removed. When informed that the apology he referenced was not the same as the one initially posted and that Saunders had since taken down her original apology — no further clarification was provided.

Saunders herself, after reading the published article, told The Suburban that she had not used Google Translate and that she posted the full translation of the French post, not selectively highlighting any particular elements.

LBPSB leadership has not addressed whether Saunders’ actions conflict with the board’s stated values or if she will be held accountable. The ongoing silence from the board sends a message of its own — one that many in the community interpret as tacit acceptance, or at best indifference, toward the spread of antisemitic rhetoric by those in leadership positions. n

LBPSB stays silent over Saunders controversy Read More »

Ile-Bizard woman who killed cyclist faces lengthy sentence

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

An Île-Bizard woman could be spending nearly three and a half years behind bars after being found guilty in a collision that killed a cyclist in Pierrefonds in 2021. Christine Pryde was convicted of dangerous driving causing death, impaired driving, and criminal negligence for her role in the crash that claimed the life of Irène Dehem, a 50-year-old mother of three.

This week, the sentencing hearing unfolded at the Montreal courthouse. Prosecutor Anik Archambault called for a 42-month prison sentence and an eight-year driving ban, telling Judge Dennis Galiatsatos that Pryde’s efforts to deal with her anxiety since the crash were noted, but the gravity of her actions required a serious response. “Had these efforts not been present, a higher sentence would have been suggested,” Archambault stated. The prosecution’s position was clear: public safety and deterrence need to be at the forefront.

The events of May 18, 2021, were recounted at trial. Pryde, feeling tired and worn out at work, got behind the wheel of her Hyundai Accent around midday, opting to drive out for an iced coffee instead of sticking with what was on offer at her workplace. Her route took her down l’Anse-à-l’Orme Rd., where Dehem was out cycling. According to eyewitnesses who recounted their experiences at trial, Pryde’s vehicle was moving quickly, swerving into the opposite lane, and struck Dehem almost instantly as she rounded a corner on her bike. One witness estimated Pryde’s speed at about 80 kilometres an hour.

The aftermath of the collision, as recounted at trial, was chaotic and emotional. Christine Pryde stayed inside her car until police arrived on the scene. Montreal Police officer Sylvain Carrier testified that Pryde told him she had fallen asleep at the wheel. When Kathleen Crawford, a motorist who stopped to help, checked on Pryde just before officers arrived, she found her sitting in the car, crying, clearly in shock and repeatedly pleading, “Please help her, please help her.” Both Officer Carrier and Crawford recounted at trial that Pryde explained she was exhausted and heading to Tim Hortons for an Iced Cappuccino. Witnesses described her as disoriented and overwhelmed by what had happened.

As for Dehem, other motorists rushed to her aid, but despite efforts to revive her—including CPR performed under the guidance of a 911 operator—she died at the scene. Witness testimony recounted at trial painted a picture of a crash that happened in an instant, leaving little chance for anyone to react.

Evidence at trial revealed Pryde had taken Ativan, a prescription medication for anxiety, before getting behind the wheel that day. She’d struggled with anxiety for most of her life, and the judge ruled that she was fully aware of her condition and the risks involved in driving after taking her medication.

Pryde’s defense lawyer, Jessy Héroux, argued for a much lighter sentence, pointing out that in similar cases, sentences have varied from 90 days in jail to conditional sentences served at home. Héroux also argued that the intense media coverage of Pryde’s case, which escalated after a controversial ruling on Quebec’s new language laws, has already been a heavy burden for her. He asked the court to consider a 15-month conditional sentence with extended probation and a long driving prohibition, emphasizing Pryde’s ongoing efforts to seek treatment for her anxiety since the accident.

The case was complicated further by the province’s Bill 96, which requires court decisions to be delivered in both English and French. Judge Galiatsatos said he will only deliver his decision once both versions are available, tentatively aiming for October 6. Both sides agree that only the impaired driving conviction should stand, with the other charges to be stayed. The judge’s final decision will weigh Pryde’s responsibility for what happened against her efforts at rehabilitation, and the devastating loss suffered by Dehem’s family. n

Ile-Bizard woman who killed cyclist faces lengthy sentence Read More »

Dorval man charged with sexual assault

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Montreal police (SPVM) are seeking possible victims of Mark Pomeranz, 54, arrested on August 27 in connection with a sexual assault case. Investigators believe there may be additional victims, particularly within the Indigenous community, and are hoping to gather further information from anyone who may have witnessed or experienced similar incidents.

According to the investigation, the assault took place in Dorval on August 8, shortly after midnight. Police allege that Pomeranz approached his victim in a public space, gained their trust, and offered them a ride. Once the victim was isolated, Pomeranz reportedly used threats and intimidation to commit a sexual assault before leaving the scene.

Investigators say their findings suggest Pomeranz could be linked to other similar cases. The suspect is described as a white male, 54 years old, 5’5” (1.75 m), 180 lbs (82 kg), with brown hair and hazel eyes. He speaks English.

To assist the public, police have released a photo of the vehicle used during the last incident—a car with the license plate AMB 68M.

Anyone who may have been a victim or witnessed Pomeranz’s actions is encouraged to contact their local police station, reach out directly to the SPVM’s sexual assault section at 514-799-7225, or call 911 to file an official complaint. Support is also available through Indigenous community organizations and social workers for those who wish to be accompanied.

Information can also be shared anonymously with Info-Crime Montréal at 514-393-1133 or via infocrimemontreal.ca. n

Dorval man charged with sexual assault Read More »

Traffic chaos at schools as electric buses grounded

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

There was traffic chaos around Montreal island schools Sept. 12,15 and 16 as more than 1,200 Transco LION electric school buses were not able to transport elementary and secondary students.

Parents were first informed at around 9:30 p.m.Sept. 11. There had been an electric school bus fire Sept. 9 in the area of Jean Talon West and Victoria. No one was injured.

“As a precautionary measure, Transco has decided to temporarily remove all electric vehicles from service in order to conduct a full inspection of their fleet,” an English Montreal School Board advisory said. “As a result, no transportation will be available tomorrow for students who normally use these electric buses . We kindly ask that parents make the necessary arrangement to transport their children to and from school for this day only.”

The advisory added that non-electric diesel buses were operating as usual.

“There will likely be increased traffic around the school during drop-off and pick-up times.”

The same message was sent to parents Sunday for the Sept. 15 school day and Monday for the Sept.16 school day. For the EMSB schools, affected routes are 101, 102, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 113, 114, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 124, 126, 130, 132, 133, 134, 201, 202, 203, 204, 206, 207, 208, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 220, 222, 227, 228, 229, 230, 233, 234, 235, 236, 238, 239, 240, 242, 243, 244, 248, 249, 254, 256, 257, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 269, 271, 274, 275, 276, 277, 284, 285, 501, 508 and 511.

For the Lester B. Pearson Board, the affected routes are 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 45, 61, 62, 63, 65, 68, 69, 73, 602, 607, 105, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119 and 120.

That was indeed increased traffic Friday in the area of Roslyn School, as well as much pedestrian activity at both school entrances. The Suburban spoke to some of those who had to bring children by car.

Raphael Bouskila said he heard about the grounding of the school buses “pretty late, about 10:30 p.m. Thursday.

“We did not see an explanation, other than safety,” he added, at which point we informed him of the school bus fire earlier in the week.

“I heard about that. It was pretty scary. Fortunately, I was able to contact another parent and carpool with them. It’s all right, but it was obviously a departure from the norm. There was previously a school bus strike, where they were out for a month. I hope it doesn’t last that long.”

Parent Ahmed Farag also said the news came to him by email that the electric buses were not running came suddenly.

“I’ll have to leave my work [later] to come here,” he added.

Carole Canzer brought her grandchildren to Roslyn.

“They’re always driven to school, but I had to park far away because of the fact some of the parents couldn’t bus their kids. We knew there would be a ton of cars here. We got here earlier than usual, it really wasn’t too much of an inconvenience. My son-in-law and daughter sent me the email notification this morning, but I think they found out last night.” n

Traffic chaos at schools as electric buses grounded Read More »

Pro-Hamas protesters arrested at cycling Grand Prix

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Seven anti-Israel protesters who were at the Grand Prix Cyclistes de Montréal Sunday, at the foot of Mount Royal on Park Avenue, were arrested by the SPVM for obstructing SPVM officers and assaulting a peace officer.

The race was able to proceed without interruption through areas of the city — many streets were blocked to cars Sunday morning and afternoon, including parts of Park, parts of Côte Ste. Catherine and many others.

The protesters, who demonstrated in Quebec City as well, opposed the participation of the Israel-Premier Tech (IPT) team as part of the event. Those demonstrators were Divest for Palestine, Bikers4Palestine, and Palestinians and Jews United.

“If the cities of Montreal and Quebec do not want to remove Israel Premier Tech from the race for their support of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, Premier Tech should disassociate itself from Israel, the genocidal state,” A Facebook message from PAJU says.

There were also several incidences of graffiti, but no one was arrested in those cases.

Julien Corona of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs wrote last week that the protesting groups were “continuing their intimidation strategy.

“‘Bullies and their methods are two terms used to describe the actions of those who seek to obtain something through force or intimidation,” he added. “These terms can evoke violent processes and therefore insecurity. Two phenomena that affect Jews, particularly through anti-Semitism, and society as a whole.”

Corona also cited this past summer’s assault of a Jewish man in Park Extension, death threats against Jews in the borough of St. Laurent and violence during the Montreal Pride parade.

“The rise in insecurity and anti-Semitism are intrinsically linked,” Corona wrote. “Therefore, the fight against them must be as well. The climate of hate is here. It ‘gives the go-ahead to more and more people to act violently. The bullies are those who want to attack our shared values. The bullies are also those who behave like delinquents towards citizens who have asked for nothing. Here, the bullies attack Jews or their ‘business’ simply because they are Jewish.” n

Pro-Hamas protesters arrested at cycling Grand Prix Read More »

STM releases strike schedule

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) has released its public transit schedule in light of the decision to strike by its maintenance workers.

The essential services schedule is in effect during the strike period of Sept. 22 to Oct. 5.

The Métro is running Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., 2:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. and from 11 p.m. to closing. There will be no service otherwise.

As well, the Métro will “gradually close during the morning rush hour starting at 9:30 a.m., during the afternoon rush hour starting at 5:45 p.m. and at its usual time in the late evening. The STM will close stations as the last Métro runs.”

The regular schedule is in effect Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

As for the buses, they will run Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays until 1:15 a.m., 6:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

From 11:15 p.m., “all buses that began a departure during these times will complete their route to the terminal.” There will be no service at the hours not listed on those three days.

As with the Métro, the regular schedule for buses will be in effect Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. As well, the Paratransit service is being maintained at all times. n

STM releases strike schedule Read More »

CSL legalizes another residential synagogue

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

A long-existing synagogue in a home at 5748-5750 Parkhaven was legalized for “conditional use” during the recent Côte St. Luc council meeting.

“We’re responding to a need in a responsible way,” Mayor Mitchell Brownstein said.

Changes were proposed to the home to secure council’s approval. Four homes in four zones were identified in which surrounding residents are generally approving of the synagogues.

Council recently legalized another residential synagogue at 6501 Baily, and CSL also approved the demolition of 5727 Léger near Kildare, which will result in a new two-storey detached home that can become a synagogue.

During the approval process at the Sept. 8 CSL council meeting for the Parkhaven home, Councillor Dida Berku said the residential synagogue issue has been going on for years.

“I’m very pleased, in this mandate, that we finally adopted four areas of the city, four zones, where you have conditional use and them we agreed to the conditional use on Heywood, on Léger and then Baily, and now this brings it to a fourth on Parkhaven,” she said. “I think it’s a great achievement. I’m very, very proud of this council. We did something that we were talking about for many years before and we figured out a way. I spoke to a councillor from Outremont, who called to ask how we are managing these non-conforming uses and how we are integrating them to our zoning, to make them more secure and regularized, and legalized. We’re showing a great example.”

Berku added that the city has to be strict.

“We have four zones, four places of worship that have been approved for conditional use and the others [on other streets] are going to have to get in line, in the sense that they will have to adjust to the new reality.”

Brownstein, who said the synagogue in the Parkhaven home has been in existence for 25 years, pointed out that the front facade will generally remain the same with some planned exceptions, including two front doors that will be converted to one front door with windows and a double garage door that will be converted to a single garage door with a new exit door added.

“We’ve ensured that it’s safe, that it has sprinkler systems and there’s soundproofed walls,” the Mayor added. “It’s done in a way that will minimize the inconvenience, rather than increase something that’s been there for 25 years. The situation has improved…for the neighbours and the individuals who will be using it. There are ways to accommodate and enforce parking restrictions and for neighbours to treat a religious institution in a different way now that it’s legalized. The religious institution has to be good neighbours.”

Councillor Steven Erdelyi said he had been concerned about safety, but “I’m happy to see with this renovation, it will increase the number of emergency exits, and access and egress. If, God forbid, there is an emergency, people can escape safely.”

Councillor Mitch Kujavsky said the residential synagogue will comply with building codes.

“We should be proud of what we’ve done.”

Councillor Lior Azerad said, “we were able to get through this because lines of communication were open between residents and different institutions, as well as through the council.”

Earlier in the meeting, Azerad, in response to a resident, said the city should not be looking at the overall issue as a residential synagogue problem.

“We need to look at this from a service point of view. Are we allowing more services in our communities? There are home-based businesses that aren’t legal. We’re not going around saying ‘why is this business open in a home?’ Let’s not point it out as religious institutions because that’s targeting a specific group. We need to look at it as a non-conforming business or institution, and how do we make it conforming because that’s what our residents want.”

Councillor Andee Shuster, responding to a concern brought up by a resident earlier in the evening, said the residential synagogue will have discreet signage, “so it’s not a surprise when you move into the neighbourhood of what’s there — nice discreet classy signage that will integrate well.” n

CSL legalizes another residential synagogue Read More »

Montrealers mourn victims of Palestinian terror

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Montrealers gathered last week at Dorchester Square downtown to mourn the latest victims of Palestinian Hamas-approved terrorism — Levi Yitzhak Pash, 57, Yaakov Pinto, 25, Yisrael Matzner, 28, Rabbi Yosef David, 43, Rabbi Mordechai Steintzag, 79, and Sarah Mendelson, 60.

The victims were shot at a Ramot Junction bus stop in Jerusalem by two terrorists, who were themselves killed by an Israeli soldier and several civilians.

The vigil, which included photos of the victims and six lit candles in their memory, took on an even more sombre atmosphere as it took place hours after the assassination of conservative personality, devout Christian and staunch Israel defender Charlie Kirk, who had been speaking at an outdoor event at a Orem, Utah university.

The Montreal event was organized by Concordia student Ashley Steinwald, a member of the pro-Israel student group StartUp Nation, and featured singer Steven Abadi’s powerful renditions of You’ll Never Walk Alone and Hatikvah.

“The purpose of this vigil is not only to mourn the loss of the victims, but to honour them, their memory and to ensure that even in the face of terror, we do not forget!” Steinwald said. “We must stand together as a community that values life, remembrance and resilience. Am Yisrael Chai!”

Rabbi Reuben Poupko of Côte St. Luc’s Beth Israel Beth Aaron Synagogue said that “we’ve lost way too many,” including more than 900 IDF soldiers who have been killed since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.

“Every one of them is sacred and a world unto themselves,” Rabbi Poupko said, emotionally referring to the IDF soldiers as “the finest generation of Jews to walk this earth.”

The rabbi added that those killed at Ramot “represented an authentic picture of that area of Jerusalem — each one has a really wonderful story, people dedicated to Jewish education, to religious Zionism, one had a famous bakery in Ramot, really wonderful people.

“Here’s what we know…there’s only one argument that matters. That’s the argument being made on the battlefield and the skies of Israel by the Israeli army and air force who have rewritten the map of the Middle East. They are the ones who are supporting us, defending us, because, remember, Ramot was a terror attack, but in the last year, hundreds of terror attacks have been stopped before they happened. That’s the argument that matters, not the encampments, recognition of phantom states, not the boycotts. None of that is going to make a difference in history. What will make a difference is what Jews in Israel do, what the Israeli army does.” n

Montrealers mourn victims of Palestinian terror Read More »

CSL, Hampstead Mayors condemn assassination of Charlie Kirk

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Côte St. Luc Mayor Mitchell Brownstein and Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi condemned the assassination of U.S. conservative activist, media personality and willing debater of anyone who disagreed with him Charlie Kirk.

Kirk was killed Sept. 10 in the midst of such a debate at a Utah university. Tyler Robinson, 22, of Utah has been arrested for the crime. Reactions to Kirk’s death have ranged from mournful and respectful from both sides of the political spectrum to celebrations of his murder, in some cases from Canadian academics and politicians. Some in Canada and the U.S. have been fired or put on leave for their posts.

Levi said, “Hampstead bows its head in grief at the loss of Charlie Kirk. The world has lost not only a champion, but a steadfast defender of truth and conviction. He stood firm where others faltered, and his voice carried strength in an age of weakness. Though his loss weighs heavily, his courage endures as a guiding light.”

Brownstein said he was deeply saddened by the killing, and expressed condolences to Kirk’s wife Erika and their two children, ages 3 and 1.

“I am concerned by what this horrific act says about our ability to debate and discuss issues,” he added. “The point of democracy is that it allows us to debate issues and decide who will lead a government without resorting to violence. Political violence and intimidation are damaging to democratic societies.”

Brownstein also pointed out that there has been a “troubling increase in violence and intimidation since 2020, including in the Montreal area.

“People who want to prevent others from holding events have been able to do so using the threat of violence and disorder. This, too, is damaging to democratic societies. I will always stand for respect, dialogue, and the peaceful exchange of ideas. Leadership at every level must help restore civility, and uphold the principles of a peaceful and just society.”

Brownstein also encouraged political leaders to “recall the words Senator Robert F. Kennedy said in an April 5, 1968, speech following the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. ‘What has violence ever accomplished? What has it ever created? No martyr’s cause has ever been stilled by his assassin’s bullet. No wrongs have ever been righted by riots and civil disorders. A sniper is only a coward, not a hero; and an uncontrolled, uncontrollable mob is only the voice of madness, not the voice of the people.’”

Statements mourning Kirk’s death also came from Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was criticized for reacting much later than many other notables; and Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather, on X.

The MP posted, “the murder of Charlie Kirk is a tragedy and I pray for his family. I hope that those on this and other platforms that repeatedly personally attack people and incite hate against them look at this and see the potential real life consequences of targeted hateful rhetoric.” n

CSL, Hampstead Mayors condemn assassination of Charlie Kirk Read More »

Court allows Jewish groups to intervene in SPHR case

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Superior Court Judge Louis Charette has ruled that Jewish groups at McGill can intervene in support of McGill University’s case against the anti-Israel group Students For Palestine’s Honour and Resistance McGill (SPHR).

The Jewish groups — Hillel Montreal, Hillel McGill, McGill Jewish Law Students Association, Chabad at McGill, Israel on Campus McGill, Students Supporting Israel at McGill and Alpha Epsilon Pi McGill — asked that they be allowed a voluntary conservatory intervention in which, according to Arbitration Matters, “a third party, who is not originally part of a lawsuit, voluntarily joins the proceedings to support or assist one of the existing parties.”

This past April, Quebec Superior Court granted McGill’s request for a provisional 10-day injunction against SPHR. The injunction had been sought just after a three-day student strike at McGill during which classes were interrupted, Jewish students intimidated and much vandalism committed. The university pointed out that the injunction was needed at this time as exams were underway.

McGill has also sought an interlocutory injunction, preventing actions before a case is resolved; and a permanent injunction “to restore a climate of security on campus,” alleging that SPHR has “repeatedly participated and encouraged acts of violence on McGill campus.” The interlocutory hearing is set for Sept. 18 and 19.

The Students’ Society of McGill University, an impleaded party in the case and intervenors the Association of McGill University Support Employees, the Association of McGill University Research Employees and the Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill (referred to as the “opposing groups”) are opposing the intervention of the Jewish groups.

The Jewish groups argue that they should be allowed to intervene, saying that members have been victims or have witnessed events that took place during the April student strike. The groups opposing the intervention request by the Jewish groups argue that they “do not possess sufficient interest to intervene.”

The judge disagreed for several reasons, amongst them “while McGill’s Application may at first glance appear as a private dispute, there can be no denying that issues of public interest are at the heart of the litigation,” including “rights protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.” The judge also pointed out that McGill did not oppose the intervention of the “opposing groups”

The judge also pointed out the mandates of the Jewish groups include “defending the interests of Jewish McGill students, including their right to openly express their opinions; and the expression of a positive image of the State of Israel and defending the right of Jewish and non-Jewish students to openly discuss their affinity with the State of Israel.”

The judge added that the sworn statements of individuals from some of the Jewish groups “raise concerns about the atmosphere of intimidation and hostility towards Jewish students at McGill.

“Although it may be true that none of the [Jewish student groups] have alleged an immediate impact on an activity or event, the fact remains that their members suffer the immediate consequences of the intimidation and hostility towards Jewish students like none of the other parties currently involved in the litigation.”

For this and other reasons, the judge allowed the Jewish groups to intervene in support of McGill University against SPHR. n

Court allows Jewish groups to intervene in SPHR case Read More »

School bus fire not due to battery

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

Several pictures of a school bus engulfed in flames were posted to social media on Tuesday, and dismissed by many as fake. But it was indeed real.

The bus was carrying five CSSDM elementary school students to school Tuesday morning. It was traveling east on Jean Talon when the bus driver smelled smoke coming from the vents. He quickly pulled over at the corner of Victoria and evacuated the children. Nobody was injured. And the children were kept safe in a nearby building, accompanied by two police officers, until a new bus could be dispatched to pick them up.

The bus was a LionC bus operated by Transco.

While the cause of the fire is as yet unknown, speculation is that it might have been components in the heating system. But Montreal Fire Department Operations Chief Martin Guilbeault assures The Suburban that, although the bus was indeed electric, the battery was not the cause of the fire. Guilbeault said that the fire department was on the scene in under five minutes, and were able to douse the flames before they got anywhere near the battery.

Had that been the case, it would have run the risk of a thermal runaway, which is what happens when fire erupts in a battery spreading from cell to cell. When that happens it’s a longer process of dousing the battery to cool it down while fighting the fire.

As it was the fire was extinguished in less than an hour.

As far as the cause is concerned, in an email to The Suburban, Loïc Philibert, spokesperson for Lion Electric, said “an analysis is being conducted to determine the circumstances of the event. There is no further comment as to what may have happened.”

A statement from Alain Perron, spokesperson for the CSSDM, said “In accordance with our contracts, the carrier’s vehicles are subject to strict mechanical inspection requirements, and they are recent. We remain in close communication with the carrier to determine the cause of the incident. Student safety is and remains our top priority.” n

School bus fire not due to battery Read More »

DDO family accuses police of racial profiling

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

A 15-year-old boy in Dollard des Ormeaux was approached by police, told to put his hands out and drop what he was holding which, at the time, was his phone, his keys, and bag of birthday cards.å

It was his birthday.

According to a spokesperson from the SPVM, the officers stopped Jadon Squires because they believed his behaviour to be suspicious.

The boy’s father, Jason Squires, had just started his car in the driveway of his home when Jadon was walking home from just down the street.

Squires had walked away from his car for a moment, and returned to see the police interacting with his son. They asked him why he appeared to be running from the car. Jason insisted he’d done nothing wrong. His father told the officers that the car – a Cadillac – was his. He says they didn’t believe him, and ran the license plate to confirm ownership. Once they ascertained that Squires was telling the truth, they left the scene.

Both Squires and Fo Niemi of the Center for Reseach-Action on Race Relations wondered whether to what extent racial profiling played a role in the police officers’ actions. Racial profiling has been cited in the courts when a police intervention that started off as simple escalates. If racial profiling was an issue here, Niemi suggested, then police need to approach the family and make amends for any breach of trust that may have occurred as a result.

In Quebec, the court system, right up to the Quebec Court of Appeal, has ruled that racial profiling is a problem in the province, something that Premier Francois Legault refuses to accept.

As far as the Squires family is concerned, the experience has left them shaken, and they may yet decide to file a complaint with the police.

The SPVM says it is looking into the matter to ascertain what happened and why. n

DDO family accuses police of racial profiling Read More »

Second fire in nearly two weeks in CDN-NDG

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

Firefighters were still on the scene of a fire that broke out the morning of Sunday, September 14. The fire was in an abandoned building on Elmhurst and Harley in the CDN-NDG borough, around the corner from the fire that displaced 16 households in a building at Westmore corner St. Jacques nearly two weeks ago.

The Montreal Fire Department was called to the scene just after 9 a.m. The fire started in an abandoned and boarded-up apartment building. Since it was abandoned, there was no electricity or gas hooked up to the building, although a truck from Energir was on the scene anyway. Police had the streets blocked off in the area. By about 11:30 there were more than 90 firefighters at the scene.

There were no injuries reported. And an adjacent building was evacuated.

Desirée McGraw, Liberal MNA for NDG, was also on the scene later in the day. She pointed out that building, which is owned by the Societe d’habitation du Québec (SHQ) has been abandoned since 2017. “For the three years, I have been working to restore three boarded-up social housing buildings, including this one.” She wrote that she has repeatedly tried to get the Quebec government to demolish the building and replace it with social housing. “The government’s inaction in this matter,” she wrote, “constitutes negligence, and this morning’s fire is the predictable consequence.”

And then she added “My thoughts also go to the neighbourhood residents, who had to endure the enormous cloud of smoke and the inconvenience caused by the work. It is clear that their fears about the risks this abandoned building poses to the neighbourhood have unfortunately been confirmed.”

The smoke from the fire could be seen rising into the sky from several points in the city. The smoke and fumes wafted into Montreal West.

Firefighters were on the scene for most of the day. n

Second fire in nearly two weeks in CDN-NDG Read More »

Attacker of Jewish father not criminally responsible

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

by Dan Laxer
The Suburban

Sergio Yanes Preciado, the man who beat up a Hasidic Jewish father in front of his three daughters, has been found not criminally responsible due a mental defect or illness.

The 23-year-old was arrested last month after video surfaced of him beating up the victim before walking away and tossing the victim’s kipah into a puddle. The victim’s three little girls, who witnessed the attack, can be heard screaming. The attack occurred in Dickie Moore Park in the Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension borough.

Friday, September 12 should have been Preciado’s bail hearing. He had been held at the Philippe Pinel institute for a 30-day psychiatric evaluation. The report was supposed to have been presented in court on Friday so the judge could decide if the man is fit to stand trial.

But after a full day of hearings, the report was not presented.

At around 4:40 p.m., Crown Prosecutor Isabelle Major and Preciado’s defense lawyer Gracinda Fernandes let the judge know that they needed more time to go over the report, and asked that the case be held over to Monday.

Major told The Suburban at the time that she had spoken with the victim to bring him up to date with the new elements in the case and, given that the Pinel report is in French, made sure that she translated the details properly and that he fully understood. The victim, Major said, is her top priority.

Sources tell The Suburban that the police had recommended to the prosecutor that the attack be treated as a hate crime, which Major did say would be brought up before the court. But she also talked about the prospect of the Preciado’s mental illness, which the preliminary criminologist’s report and Preciado’s family alleged. Should the case go to trial, Major explained, it would be up to Preciado if he would want to use that as a defense.

On Monday the judge said that the psychiatric report shows Preciado was incapable of understanding what he did due to delusion and schizophrenia.

Zev Feldman, the victim’s brother-in-law, says the family’s reaction to the ruling is mixed; it is not known when the court will make a decision, or what that decision will be. Preciado has been remanded into custody at a mental health facility until the court can be updated on his status. However, that said, he has been ordered to stay away from the victim, and from the victim’s family. If that means that he could be released soon, it’s worrying. “You have to remember,” Feldman says, “the attacker and the victim don’t live that far from one another. In fact, he was arrested literally a few blocks away from where the victim lives. So, if he is released, and the kids see him, this can undo five months of therapy.”

The victim was actually at the courthouse, but did not enter the courtroom where the hearing was taking place. Facing his attacker would have been too hard. But he had written a victim impact statement which was read into the court record.

Feldman says there was a lot of contradictory testimony as to whether Preciado was under the influence of marijuana or not, and whether he knew that what he tossed into the water was a kipah.

Rabbi Saul Emanuel, the executive director of the Jewish Community Council of Montreal, said that the ruling “is a profound miscarriage of justice.”

“It is not punishment. It is not deterrence. It is a bureaucratic evasion dressed in clinical language, and it will do nothing to reassure a community already under siege from rising antisemitic violence.”

Attacker of Jewish father not criminally responsible Read More »

Westmount council adopts redevelopment plan

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

On September 18 a special council meeting was held in Westmount to announce that council had unanimously adopted the plan to redevelop the south sector of the town.

The Special Planning Program (PPU) referred to as Imagine Westmount has drawn a lot of ire from those who believe the town’s character is at stake, but also support from the many who believe, as Smith does, that the area is in dire need of the kind of change inherent in the plan.

Opening the meeting, Mayor Christina Smith said she knew that she was “not changing any minds here in this room tonight.” She said that council knew any decision made regarding the redevelopment of the area would be divisive. She acknowledged that there were many who had hoped for more time, who had hoped the issue would be deferred to the next council to be elected on November 2.

Delay, she said, has led to nothing being done for nearly a decade, “with further decline, more vacancies, and no investment.” Crime and homelessness have become big problems in the area, she said. “Delay has not solved these problems. Delay has made them worse.”

At one point Smith made an error, referring to the south side of the Dorchester instead of the north side, before she was corrected. She assured those present that she was not pulling a sneaky move and changing the plan, “even though I think that majority of you in the room think I would.”

In the end council voted to implement that plan that Smith said was “years in the making,” adding that it cannot be delayed again.

The councillors present each took a few minutes to speak, taking the opportunity to reiterate their arguments either for or against implementation or further delay. Matthew Aronsons went over some of the changes made to the plan prior to the vote, including what he referred to as “incentive zoning” to give the city more bargaining power with developers moving forward, and even reducing the proposed height of the some of the buildings in the plan. After suggesting that the plan is the best possible plan for the community and can’t be improved, councillor Kathleen Kez spoke, saying “the current plan is not ready, and needs more time to mature.” She listed several elements that she felt were missing from the plan, and called for it to be carried over to the next newly elected council.

“The Special Planning program should be a source of pride, and not a division for Westmounters,” she said. “I am not prepared to take a leap of faith and adopt the current plan as it stands. It needs to mature before we commit.” She was applauded after saying that if council chose, rather, to move forward, she would have no choice but to vote against it.

Mary Gallery, who is running for mayor in the upcoming elections, saying “This is not rushed; this was clearly designed from the start.”

“Let me be clear,” she added, “this is not a blank check for developers, this is a framework to attract serious, responsible investment.” By moving the plan forward, Gallery said, the next council will have something to work with, even if they make changes. “Adopt and adapt,” added councilor Conrad Peart.

Residents had their time to question or comment on the plan, with one, Dr. Caroline Reinhold, present a petition with more than 10,000 signatures, “ten times the number who attended each of the public consultations,” Reinhold said, “and three times the number who responded to the city’s online survey,” calling for a delay.

The adopted plan will now be in the hands of a new council to be elected on November 2. Smith announced some time ago that she is not seeking re-election. n

Westmount council adopts redevelopment plan Read More »

EMSB joins QESBA in challenge to education cuts

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

The English Montreal School Board voted unanimously to join the Quebec English School Boards Association’s legal challenge to the CAQ government’s budget constraints.

From last fall to late last spring the Quebec government slashed a combined $570 million from education. Then, in July, they announced $540 million in “investments” in education. But those investments came with conditions that EMSB Chair Joe Ortona says are not only not feasible, but put education in Quebec in jeopardy.

Ortona recalled the government-imposed measure to cut $10.6 million from the 2025-26 budget, along with a measure threatening $10.4 million in penalties “if we cannot meet an unrealistic staffing cap.” He added that schools are “barred from accessing $7.8 million of our accumulated surplus, funds that could protect vital programs.”

“The resolution before us mandates our board to join the QESBA’s legal challenge, led by (law firm) Power Law, to contest the Quebec government’s 2025-2026 budgetary rules and seek a stay of their application.”

The EMSB is inviting other boards, including French school service centres, to join the litigation, “despite Bill 40 constraints.”

“This fight extends beyond our board,” Ortona said. “French school service centres face similar barriers, and through the “Ensemble, unis pour l’école” coalition, we stand united.”

When asked why the board decided to join the QESBA’s lawsuit, Ortona said there was no other choice. Without a stay of application, he said, “we would have to make harmful cuts that would have a detrimental impact on the future of the students.”

The cuts that boards could be forced to make would affect any number of services and staffing. “I think of support services for special needs students. I think of music programs, arts programs, sports concentration programs, extracurricular activities, breakfast programs. All of these things,” Ortona emphasized, “are in jeopardy all throughout the province.” Families whose children would be affected by these cuts “are outraged,” Ortona told reporters, “and they have every right to be.”

He fully expects the government to fight back, which Ortona says would be shameful. “What the government should have done is just reverse the cuts that they tried to implement before.” n

EMSB joins QESBA in challenge to education cuts Read More »

“We need to restore order!” says Martinez Ferrada

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

A little over a week after the Auditor General blamed mismanagement and poor planning for the state of Montreal’s roads, Soraya Matinez Ferrada announced her party’s plan to get city’s roads and roadwork projects in order.

The Ensemble Montréal leader, and candidate for Montreal mayor, held a news conference in Carré Chaboillez at the corner of Peel and Ste. Catherine Streets, a part of the city that has been under construction for some time. She was joined by Saint Laurent Borough Mayor Alan DeSousa, and CDN-NDG candidate Alexandre Teodoresco, all of whom battled, at times, to be heard over the excavators and front-end loaders behind them.

“Montrealers are tired,” Martinez Ferrada said. “They’re tired of finding construction the day after, waking up not even knowing that the road was going to be closed.”

DeSousa said the purpose of the day’s announcement was to eliminate the orange cone as an international symbol of Montreal.

“We need to restore order,” Martinez Ferrada told reporters. “We need to restore coordination to all construction site management in Montreal.”

The measures announced include a complete inventory of all of the city’s worksites within the first 100 days of Martinez Ferrada’s mandate, should she be elected (as she does at other news conferences, she referred to herself as “the future mayor of Montreal”).

She also pledged to prohibit excavation on the same street segment more than once in five years, except in emergencies.

She called for the use of quality materials adapted to the city’s climate to reduce the need to repeat work down the road, as it were, and for real-time updates for residents and business owners impacted by major work, with QR codes on all signage to identify contractors.

Teodoresco added that they plan to leverage university research centres and the business community to make Ville-Marie “a laboratory for innovative solutions to construction management challenges.”

“We have the greatest research centres in the world,” he added. “We have the godfather of AI, for God’s sake, Yoshua Bengio, living right here in our city. So, how come we are on that leadership position as a city, but at city hall we’re the worst in class?”

The announcement comes with several major project either slated to begin or already begun. It was the first day of school, and the first day of major repairs that will have the Décarie Expressway tied up at the Cote St. Luc Road overpass for over a year.

And it comes two weeks after the announcement of eight-year closures for the McTavish Reservoir repairs.

“How come it takes eight years,” Martinez Ferrada asked, responding to a question from The Suburban as to whether she will be able to speed up projects announced or started before the election. “We have to accelerate the work that we’re doing in Montreal. It’s not normal,” she said, “that we can build a bridge in 42 months and not a road in less than that.”

Echoing DeSousa’s words, Martinez Ferrada said “I want to turn the page of having the orange cone as a symbol of Montreal.” n

“We need to restore order!” says Martinez Ferrada Read More »

Hippodrome is a go. Cavendish is a no.

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

Hippodrome yes. Cavendish no.

The Federal government and the City of Montreal made an announcement, Monday morning, of a joint investment of $320 million for the infrastructure necessary for the development of the first phase of the Namur-Hippodrome project.

However the mayors of Cote Saint Luc, Town of Mount Royal, and the St. Laurent Borough say the plan is incomplete without a Cavendish Boulevard Extension.

The total sum combines a federal government investment of $128.3 million with $192.5 million from the City of Montreal. The Namur-Hippodrome District is an ambitious plan to develop up to 20,000 new housing units, including 50% off -market housing, a complete neighborhood with shops, services, and 14 hectares of green space, public and active transport networks, plus schools, community, sports and cultural centers, a library. and health care centers.

However, a release signed by the mayors of The City of Cote Saint Luc, Town of Mount Royal, and the St. Laurent Borough says “it is our firm belief and conviction that in order for this project to be a success, the full north-south Cavendish extension must be included in the plan to redevelop the site. Failure to include the Cavendish extension would be an omission that would undermine the integrity, safety, and viability of the entire development.”

The leader of Ensemble Montreal, mayoral candidate Soraya Martinez Ferrada agrees, saying “Cavendish isn’t just a road, it’s the backbone for housing, transit, and sustainable growth in Montreal’s went end.”

The Suburban reported last month, quoting Montreal traffic consultant Rick Leckner, that, according to his sources at City Hall, a Cavendish extension is “off the table.” This despite the fact that Monreal Mayor Valerie Plante – whose mandate ends in just weeks — had once promised “we’re doing Cavendish for sure.”

At the press conference to announce the joint investment, held on the Namur-Hippodrome site, Plante said she is “extremely proud,” adding that the investment announcement marks “the start of construction” of the project.

The long-promised Cavendish extension is nowhere to be found the announcement.

Proponents of the extension have long argued for its importance to economic development, public security, and urban planning and political commitment.

“We call on all three levels of government to work together to ensure that the Cavendish extension is completed as part of the Namur-Hippodrome redevelopment project. And we call on the Provincial government to insist that City of Montreal honour all its obligations under the 2017 agreement through which the land was ceded by Quebec to Montreal.”

Côte St. Luc councillor Dida Berku told The Suburban Monday that it is interesting that the federal and provincial governments are investing in a major project with 20,000 housing units, but that the planned “water and sewer infrastructure usually takes a road plan, because you put that infrastructure under the roads.

“The City of Montreal hasn’t finalized that plan! They have Jean Talon [to Décarie), they have Devonshire [to Paré], but they don’t have the third link, which has to go west towards Côte St. Luc. They’ve given us all kinds of options (Clanranald into Côte St. Luc from Jean Talon, Mackle in CSL to Jean Talon), but the only option that is viable is the Cavendish connection. The three Mayors are insisting that they come up with a comprehensive road plan and that it be integrated with Cavendish.” n

Hippodrome is a go. Cavendish is a no. Read More »

First sentence in 2021 TMR killing

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

Stenley Guercin was just 18 years old when he was killed at a 2021 Christmas party at a home in TMR. Two men, Léonardo Joseph and Jonathan Guerly Estimé – both 22 – were convicted in Guercin’s killing.

One of the two, Joseph, was handed a nine-year sentence at the Palais du Justice on Friday.

The two men, who were 20 when they were arrested, were convicted at trial last July. Joseph was found guilty of manslaughter, and Estimé of second-degree murder.

The sentence was handed down by Quebec Superior Court Judge Alexandre Boucher.

The trial heard that several youths were seeking out Guercin, who allegedly owed a gambling debt. There had been words exchanged online on social media. Then, at around 1:40 a.m. on December 24, 2021 the gang had tracked down Guercin at the Christmas party in question. A woman who was at the party on Trenton Avenue and recognized Guercin reached out to the group via text message.

When they got to the party and found Guercin, Joseph and Estimé grabbed him. A scuffle ensued. Estimé drew a gun and shot Guercin twice.

The crown prosecutor had recommended a sentence of 14 years. Joseph’s defense lawyer asked for no more than five. Time served awaiting the results in the case means that Joseph will end up serving five years and seven months.

Joseph’s role in the killing was secondary, the judge ruled, saying “he was not the person who shot the victim.” But he is still criminally responsible as a “co-author.” The judge said that Joseph should have known the danger the victim was facing.

Estimé’s sentencing hearing is coming up in November.

He was already serving time for another crime at the time of the arrest. In April he had been arrested for possession of a loaded weapon. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced, at the time, to 912 days.

Another suspect, Bertina Desire, who was also 20 at the time of the killing, was charged with being an accessory after the fact. She is also scheduled to return to court in November. n

First sentence in 2021 TMR killing Read More »

FILIA Association for Seniors holds annual Walk a Thon in Chomedey

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

With the searing heat of summer finally over, what could be more fitting for fitness-conscious seniors than a brisk walk around the block, when the sun is high in the sky, while enjoying the cool autumn air?

For a certain number of senior citizens from Laval who are loyal supporters of FILIA, the group’s September Walk a Thon is an outdoor event at Saint Norbert Park in eastern Chomedey never to be missed.

The 19th annual Walk a Thon on Sept. 15 drew a loyal following of FILIA members, as well as a few elected officials who have provided a significant amount help to the organization for years.

A range of services

The goal of the day was to raise awareness of the needs of senior citizens – including regular physical exercise – while also raising funds for FILIA so it can continue providing a range of crucial services to seniors, such as a meals-on-wheels program, but also interesting field trips to locations in and outside the Montreal region.

Led for around 30 years by Johanna Tsoublekas who continues to provide guidance and management, FILIA’s services include home housekeeping and supervision, volunteer training and a healthcare clinic for the feet.

“For me, this is a must annual gathering,” said Laval city councillor for Souvenir-Labelle Sandra El Helou who is responsible for senior citizen dossiers on city council. “It’s nearly eight years I’ve been following FILIA and its mission, and it is as important as ever to provide support,” she added.

Deros loves FILIA

“It’s great to see the number of people who come out here year after year to participate and support the meals-on-wheels program,” said Montreal city councillor for Parc Extension Mary Deros. (FILIA was initially based in her district, but relocated to Chomedey as Montreal’s Greek population migrated here.)

“Joahanna brings people together,” said Deros. “She provides the FILIA members with a reason for being. She keeps them active in mind and in body, which is a great accomplishment. Especially when you come to a certain age, sometimes you want to be alone or quiet. But she gets them out of that and keeps everybody active.”

Passing on the torch

Although FILIA’s mission at one time was to provide assistance to Greek women of the Parc Extension Hellenic community, then later throughout the Montreal region, the organization’s mandate now is to serve senior citizens and people from all backgrounds – with a growing emphasis on the population of Chomedey.

With advancing age, Johanna has been looking over the past two years for someone who might be willing to take over at least some of her responsibilities. In the meantime, her son, Bill, has stepped in, and he was on hand at the Walk a Thon providing assistance.

FILIA Association for Seniors holds annual Walk a Thon in Chomedey Read More »

Dryden passes away at the age of 78

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

By Mark Lidbetter
The Suburban

Montreal Canadiens’ legendary goaltender Ken Dryden born Aug. 8, 1947, died last Friday at the age of 78 following a short battle with cancer. The Hockey Hall of Fame member led the Canadiens to six Stanley Cups in the 1970s. Dryden became a lawyer while playing for Montreal and in his retirement, was an author, TV analyst, hockey executive and a member of Canada’s Parliament.

Dryden represented his country on and off the ice. He was a key member of the 1972 Summit Series team that had a historic win over the Soviet Union and in his post-playing days as a member of Parliament served his constituents for three terms. That commitment to Canada saw Dryden named as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2013. “Ken Dryden was an exceptional athlete, but he was also an exceptional man,” Montreal Canadiens president Geoff Molson said in a statement from the organization. “Behind the mask he was larger than life. We mourn today not only the loss of the cornerstone of one of hockey’s greatest dynasties, but also a family man, a thoughtful citizen, and a gentleman who deeply impacted our lives and communities across generations. He was one of the true legends that helped shape this club into what it is today.”

Following the announcement of his death, fans began to arrive at his statue outside of Place Bell and his famous The Goalie statue outside of St. Laurent’s Raymond Bourque Arena to pay their respects and to leave flowers or a memento. One such fan was Domenic Pascarella, a Toronto native and a lifelong Habs fan. The 57-year-old Pascarella was in Quebec City with his wife when he heard the news and made it a point to stop in Montreal on his way back home to pay his respects and remember how Dryden had thrilled him in his youth. “It was something not expecting him to pass, it was something that was shocking,” Dominic Pascarella said. “I was eight years old, watching them beating the Toronto Maple Leafs. watching them in the playoffs. You have to give respect to the whole team that that they had in the 70s. He did represent a lot of us in Canada. And growing up as an immigrant Italian, hockey was the number one sport in our house.”

Dryden has ties to NDG as at the start of his career he lived in the L’Scale West on Monkland. When local kids caught word of that, they’d hang out every now and then trying to catch a glimpse or an autograph. He also played tennis at the Monkland Tennis Club.

Dryden’s legacy will be forever present as the statue of his iconic pose The Goalie, created by Canadian artist Robin Bell stands in front of St. Laurent’s Raymond Bourque Arena. When it was dedicated there, Dryden liked the fact it was a nod and a wink to the Habs’ longstanding rivalry with Bourque’s Bruins. “I hadn’t even thought of that until Alan (St. Laurent Mayor DeSousa) mentioned it,” Ken Dryden said in a 2023 interview. “It’s perfect,” “I think to this day, and it was certainly during the time that it was great. The best games the most interesting, the most testing games we had were against the Bruins, and there was no team that we wanted to beat more than the Bruins and happily we did.”

Dryden’s path to the professional ranks started when he was selected by the Boston Bruins in the third round of the 1964 NHL Draft. Two weeks later Boston traded the 16-year-old goalie’s rights to the Canadiens, but prior to what would have been his first pro training camp, Dryden chose to attend Cornell University. As a member of the Big Red, Dryden posted a record of 76-4 with one tie and a 1.59 goals-against average in 83 games during three seasons (1966-69) for Cornell. He then had his first opportunity to represent Canada as he played in the 1969 IIHF World Championships.

Dryden made his professional debut in 1970-71 with the AHL’s Montreal Voyageurs where the lanky netminder went 16-7 with eight ties in 33 games. That effort saw Dryden called to the parent club when Rogatien Vachon was injured. After playing in six regular-season games, Dryden went on a tear between the pipes, leading his team to the Stanley Cup title. His play was so strong that Dryden won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs’ most valuable player.

The following season Dryden would earn the Calder Memorial Trophy as the League’s best rookie for 1971-72. In that rookie campaign he led the NHL with 39 wins and ranked in the top four in the league in goals-against average (2.24, fourth), save percentage (.930, third) and shutouts (eight, second). “From the moment Ken Dryden joined the Montreal Canadiens as a 23-year-old rookie in 1971, he made an immediate and lasting impact on the NHL, the Canadiens franchise and the goaltending position,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said.

In a brief eight-year career with the Canadiens Dryden led the Habs to six Stanley Cup championships. He won five Vezina Trophies as the League’s top goaltender, including four consecutive awards from 1975-76 to 1978-79. The McGill alum was named as a member of the League’s Greatest 100.

Dryden, who had earned his law degree at McGill, got to put it into practice clerking with a Toronto law firm as he sat out the 1973-74 season. He decided to retire at the age of 26 due to being unhappy with the contract offered to him by the club.

Dryden returned to the fold in the fall of 1974 looking like he hadn’t missed a beat during his brief retirement. With Dryden in nets, the Canadiens began a run of four consecutive Stanley Cup championships starting with a sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1976 Final. The 1976-77 Canadiens became the first team in NHL history to win 60 games during the regular season, then proceeded to put the broom to the Bruins in the Final. They bested Boston again in 1978 and dropped the New York Rangers in 1979 for their fourth consecutive title.

Dryden retired for good following the 1979 championship, while many felt he was still at the top of his game. His career numbers are 258-57 with 74 ties, a 2.24 GAA, .922 save percentage and 46 shutouts in 397 regular-season games (389 starts). He was 80-32 with a 2.41 GAA, .915 save percentage and 10 shutouts in 112 playoff games. Dryden was tapped five times as the Vezina Trophy recipient in his eight NHL campaigns. In 2007 his No. 29 was retired and raised to the rafters of the Bell Centre.

In 1980, Dryden got to take part in more hockey history, this time as a television analyst. Dryden was in the booth at Lake Placid’s Olympic Arena alongside Al Michaels for Team USA’s Miracle on Ice win over the Russians. Dryden served as an analyst for the 1984 and 1988 Olympic broadcasts as well.

With the release of “The Game” in 1983, Dryden became a best-selling author. The book focused on Dryden’s 1978-79 season and is considered to be one of the best books on sport, not just hockey, to be written. Dryden went on to pen several more books, including his final tome, “The Class”, published in 2023.

In 1997 Dryden was named president of the Toronto Maple Leafs. A position he held until 2004. The reason for Dryden departing was to run for a seat in Parliament as a member of the Liberal Party. Dryden won handily and was appointed as Minister of Social Development. He held onto his seat in Toronto’s York Centre riding in 2006 and again in 2008, then lost in 2011.

At request of the Dryden family, those wishing to honor his memory are encouraged to make a donation to the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, or the Concussion Legacy Foundation. n

Dryden passes away at the age of 78 Read More »

Safe exchange zones in Kirkland and DDO are vital resources

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

If you’ve ever tried to sell a laptop on Facebook Marketplace or pick up a used bike from a stranger in the West Island, you know the anxiety that comes before the meetup: What if this goes wrong? Montreal police (SPVM) reports show these worries aren’t unfounded as officers in the West Island have responded to a growing number of calls about scams, thefts, and even assaults tied to in-person marketplace transactions over the past year. What starts as a simple buy-and-sell can quickly turn into a police file if the wrong person shows up.

That’s what makes the safe-exchange zones at SPVM stations in Kirkland and Dollard-des-Ormeaux such an easy choice. Instead of rolling the dice with a parking lot or someone’s front porch, you can meet under 24-hour video surveillance, right outside the station doors. There’s no need to worry about being set up or scammed when you’ve got real security watching over the exchange.

And it’s not just buyers who are at risk. Sellers often feel pressured to hand out their home address or invite strangers onto their property — opening the door, sometimes literally, to theft or worse. Meeting at a safe-exchange zone takes that risk off the table. You don’t have to worry about who’s showing up at your house, or what they might be scoping out while they’re there.

The risks aren’t just hypothetical. One West Islander told The Suburban about a deal gone wrong in a parking lot: “He even had a fake receipt,” he recalled. “I went into my car to put the phone on the charger and as soon as the home screen opened up I could tell it was a fake, but the guy was already gone and I was out $1,200.” He didn’t even bother calling police as he knew the thief was already gone in the wind.

It’s the kind of scenario that’s a lot less likely at one of the West Island’s SPVM safe-exchange zones. If the transaction had happened at the Kirkland or DDO police station, the buyer could have walked right inside for help. With cameras rolling and officers on site, there’s a real chance the scammer would have been caught before he had a chance to disappear.

The numbers back it up. According to a 2023 Statistics Canada report, about one in five Canadians who bought or sold something online in the previous year worried about their personal safety during the exchange. And while most transactions are uneventful, the risks jump considerably when large sums of cash or high-value goods are involved. Even a quick handoff can go sideways with fake bills, no-shows, or worse.

Meeting at a safe-exchange zone isn’t just about peace of mind, either. It’s a way to send a clear signal: this deal is above board. Most people with bad intentions will back out the moment you suggest meeting at a police station. Regular folks get a safety net, and anyone trying to pull a fast one moves on.

For West Islanders, these designated SPVM zones at Kirkland and DDO stations are a resource — use them. Marketplace trades shouldn’t feel risky, and with these options, they don’t have to. n

Safe exchange zones in Kirkland and DDO are vital resources Read More »

Police ramp up road safety as schools reopen

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

As students return to classrooms across Montreal and the rest of Quebec, police forces are stepping up their presence around school zones, reminding drivers to slow down and stay alert. Both Montreal police (SPVM) and Quebec provincial police (SQ) are launching targeted operations during the back-to-school period to reinforce safe driving habits and protect children as they travel to and from school.

SPVM officers, in collaboration with neighbourhood stations, road safety teams, and motorcycle units, will be active around school zones during peak hours. The goal is to encourage drivers to obey speed limits, watch for signage, and be mindful of increased pedestrian activity. The start of the school year is particularly busy, and police say heightened vigilance is critical.

Last year, the results spoke for themselves: between August 26 and September 20, 2024, SPVM handed out 8,571 traffic tickets across Montreal, for violations in or near school zones.

Outside the city, the SQ is also increasing patrols near schools from August 25 to September 5. With students back on the roads, the number of school buses, crossing guards, cyclists, and pedestrians rises sharply. SQ is reminding all drivers to be patient, follow the rules, and help ensure a safe start to the school year.

Several key regulations are being emphasized. Speed limits in school zones are strictly enforced, and fines for speeding during school hours — typically 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, September through June — are doubled. If there’s no posted signage, these hours apply automatically. Drivers and cyclists must stop at least five metres behind any school bus or minibus with flashing red lights or an extended stop sign.

When traffic is being directed by a police officer, crossing guard, or construction flagger, their instructions take priority over all other signals and signs. At crosswalks, vehicles must stop when a pedestrian is crossing or showing intent to cross.

Both the SPVM and SQ are also urging parents to follow posted rules around schools, particularly in bus zones, no-parking areas, and designated drop-off points. Unsafe actions—like double-parking or making U-turns — can create dangerous situations for children and other road users.

These measures are part of a province-wide strategy to improve road safety through partnerships, education, and targeted enforcement.

With the new school year underway, both police forces are asking everyone behind the wheel to be patient and cautious. A few extra moments of attention can make all the difference in keeping kids safe. n

Police ramp up road safety as schools reopen Read More »

Man charged with second degree murder after CDN stabbing

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Brendon Emmanuel Wilson, 39, was arrested and has been charged with second degree murder after 48-year-old Stanley Bellot was stabbed to death at the Vegas Lounge Bar in Plaza Côte des Neiges this past Aug. 9.

The arrest was made by the SPVM’s Major Crimes Section. The killing was the 25th homicide of the year on the island of Montreal. The suspect appeared Sept. 4 at the Montreal courthouse and was also charged with assault causing bodily harm to Mike Kakha Razmadze, 36. The SPVM also searched a home in Côte St. Luc, but some reports say the suspect actually lives in the borough of St. Laurent.

The SPVM recounted that on Aug. 9, at approximately 2 a.m., “911 received reports of two people injured by a sharp object in a bar located on Côte des Neiges Road, near Barclay Avenue.

“Upon arrival at the scene, police located two victims, a 36-year-old and a 48-year-old man. The first, who suffered lower-body injuries, was taken to hospital and [his injuries are] not life-threatening. The second, who was unconscious and injured in the upper body, was also rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after.

The police are asking anyone with information to contact 911 or a local police station.

“Individuals who prefer to submit new information anonymously and confidentially can do so by contacting Info-Crime Montréal at 514 393-1133 or via the reporting form available on the website infocrimemontreal.ca.” n

Man charged with second degree murder after CDN stabbing Read More »

Laval opens new community centre in Val-Martin, while delivering 359 social housing units

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A new municipal community centre in one of Laval’s more disadvantaged neighbourhoods was officially declared open earlier this month by officials from the city as well as community activists who had urged Laval for years to move forward with the project.

The Centre communautaire Simonne-Monet-Chartrand is located on Souvenir Blvd. on the boundary that separates the city’s Chomedey and l’Abord-à-Plouffe neighbourhoods.

Designed to primarily serve residents of the nearby Val-Martin social housing district, the community centre (costing $17 million, not including the housing) was conceived to fit in snugly with a seven-storey subsidized residential building.

Old replaced with new

Completion of the project also marked the culmination of the first phase of a major overhaul of the Val-Martin neighbourhood, which was started by former Laval mayor Marc Demers and continued under Mayor Stéphane Boyer.

At one time, Val-Martin was notorious for its run-down and mould-infested subsidized housing units, many of which were condemned and demolished.

And indeed, a certain number of the old units can still be seen on nearby streets, boarded over and abandoned, as new units (paid for largely with sums from higher levels of government) are gradually built to replace them.

Phase One completed

According to a press release issued by the City of Laval, this was the conclusion of the first of several phases to revitalize Val-Martin.

It was a process that was kickstarted in 2016 by the municipal housing department (Office municipal d’habitation de Laval OMHL), in conjunction with the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ) and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp (CMHC). In all, 359 new social housing units will have been completed when all is said and done.

The centre was named after labor activist, feminist writer and pacifist Simonne Monet-Chartrand. In addition to her social activism, she was married to Quebec labor leader Michel Chartrand.

A multifunctional place

Conceived to encourage inclusion, creativity and communal living, the centre includes focused facilities for youths and families, a food bank and a community kitchen, a large communal gathering space, multifunctional rooms, as well as interior spaces for dancing and other types of artistic and cultural events.

With the task of building now accomplished, the City of Laval is seeking to have the Centre communautaire Simonne-Monet-Chartrand certified LEED Gold as an internationally-recognized, environmentally-sustainable facility. Worth noting is that the centre was designed to be easily accessible by pedestrians and by public transit.

“Taking into consideration the scarcity of affordable housing, the inauguration of the Simonne-Monet-Chartrand community centre demonstrates that Laval acts decisively to create living spaces that are accessible, sustainable and unifying,” said Mayor Stéphane Boyer.

‘Building neighbourhoods’

“This project demonstrates our willingness to go higher than the simple construction of housing,” he continued. “We are building entire neighbourhoods where apartments, services and meeting spaces are side by side. With our partners, we are setting down the bases for an exemplary revitalization that restores dignity, hope and a sense of belonging to the families of Val-Martin, and, more widely, to the entire community in Laval.”

“The centre is much more than just a building,” said the centre’s executive-director, Noémie Barolet. “Our vision is a clear one: to make Chomedey a neighbourhood where you can grow. With the Centre Simonne-Monet-Chartrand, we are laying down a cornerstone to get there, by wagering on the strength of the collective, along with citizen creativity and solidarity.”

A ‘magnificent project,’ says opposition

The project’s completion received praise not only from the mayor’s side of the Laval city council chamber (it’s located just within the boundaries of l’Abord-à-Plouffe councillor Vasilios Karidogiannis’s district), but also from Claude Larochelle, leader of the Parti Laval (the official opposition).

“It’s a magnificent project,” Larochelle said in an interview with The Laval News, while adding that the city chose to locate the centre in the best possible place where it was most needed. “This is a place where a project like this was most needed. That said, my hat’s off to a good project in the right location.”

Laval opens new community centre in Val-Martin, while delivering 359 social housing units Read More »

Martinez Ferrada says Cavendish link is “super-important”

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

A Cavendish Boulevard link between Côte St. Luc and St. Laurent is “super important”, Ensemble Montréal mayoral candidate Soraya Martinez Ferrada told The Suburban following a press conference in St. Laurent Monday.

We asked the candidate if she would commit to the link along with the Hippodrome project in CDN-NDG, as promised by Montreal when the Hippodrome was transferred to Montreal from the Quebec government. Traffic expert Rick Leckner recently told a CSL district meeting hosted by councillors Mike Cohen and Dida Berku that he has heard from Montreal sources that the extension is “off the table” as of now.

“Cavendish is super important,” Martinez Ferrada told The Suburban. ”If we want to develop all of the sector, we need to find a way to open Cavendish and that’s something I’ve said many, many times and I’m committed to looking at it and making sure that everything we do in Blue Bonnets, we have to work to open Cavendish.”

We pointed out that the current plan from the Plante administration is not to connect the Hippodrome development to Cavendish save for a proposed Jean Talon to Mackle Road link, which Berku says is impractical.

“You have a Mayor in St. Laurent (Alan DeSousa) that’s been very vocal about that, I’ve been vocal about that and I’ll be committed to looking at that for sure,” the Ensemble Montréal mayoral candidate reiterated.

During the Sept. 8 CSL council meeting, Cohen said local elected candidates need to meet with candidates from Ensemble Montréal and Projet Montréal, to get their position on the long-awaited Cavendish extension.

“What the Plante administration has done over the last number of years is just completely inappropriate, not making any movies towards it,” the District 2 councillor added. “Many of us say we may never live to see the Cavendish extension, I hope that’s not true.”

In light of Cohen’s comments and following the CSL meeting, we played our recording of Martinez Ferrada’s comments to Cohen and Berku.

“I think it’s very positive!” Berku told The Suburban. “I’m looking forward to further collaboration between the City of Côte St. Luc and Montreal after the election so we can move the Cavendish file.” n

Martinez Ferrada says Cavendish link is “super-important” Read More »

McGill will only tolerate peaceful and time limited protests:Saini

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

McGill will only tolerate peaceful protests on campus going forward, and not situations like the pro-Palestinian encampment that was on the university grounds from April 27 to July 10, McGill president Deep Saini said Aug. 28.

The encampment was cleared by a private company hired by McGill while the SPVM, as well as the SQ, surrounded the area around the campus.

Saini was interviewed at a virtual Zoom town hall by Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather, who is also the Prime Minister’s Special Advisor on Jewish Community Relations and Antisemitism. Hundreds of people listened in.

Saini said McGill’s actions during the encampment were not perfect, “but did we handle it as well as we could have under the circumstances, I think more or less, yes. The rear view mirror is always very instructive….We are working without a playbook, we’re learning from every experience, and saying ‘how do we do the next thing better?’”

Housefather then asked if there will be enhanced security at McGill this semester, and what will the university do to ensure people feel safer and not have to hear antisemitic chants and have incidents like an effigy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hanging from the Roddick gates or the occupation of a university building and terrorizing its occupants, as took place.

Saini replied that if there is a peaceful protest on campus “that is not also engaging in targeted hate against a particular community or individual, and it’s an expression of your political opinion, by all means, do that.

“But a protest has a time limit on it. You can’t say ‘I’m going to set up an encampment and that’s my form of protest,’ or ‘I’m going to take over a building.’ Time limited, specified subject in a specified place, you express your views and you move on and you have a debate.”

Housefather said, “and not carrying symbols of terrorist organizations, not chanting things that a terrorist organization would chant.”

Saini replied that “once you cross the line, then we have multiple levels of security now — I don’t want to go into the details of it — but what we have put in place is that depending on the nature of an offence, we will deploy security. We have our own security, we have access to additional help from outside and we have a better understanding with the Montreal police — of what the Montreal police can and cannot do.”

Saini said he feels “we have all the right steps in place that give us the best, at this moment, tools to deal with a disruption.”

Housefather also asked about alleged “abuse of podium” situations in which professor expresses his or her view of the Israel-Hamas war in a class where the subject is not relevant, or where students feel uncomfortable if they take a position contrary to that of the educator.

Saini replied that this past Aug, 22, a note was sent to all faculty and staff “laying out the rules of engagement going forward.

“They include a clear message to our faculty of what is permissible under academic freedom and freedom of speech, and what constitutes abuse of podium, particularly when you’re in a position of power. Nobody would be allowed to abuse their position or podium to make a statement projecting their own beliefs to the people.” n

McGill will only tolerate peaceful and time limited protests:Saini Read More »

Federation CJA’s campaign launch a roaring success

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Federation CJA’s Annual Campaign Launch at Hampstead Park featuring highly acclaimed Israeli singer Ishay Ribo and a spectacular drone show, was a roaring success as over five thousand people attended the event.

Last year’s March for Jerusalem, part of Federation CJA’s 2024-2025 campaign launch, attracted 25,000 people and also took place at Hampstead Park.

This year’s campaign has the theme “It’s Up To Us.” The event, billed as a celebration of culture, music and community, also featured, in a large tent, an authentic and atmospheric Israeli-style “shuk” market with a multitude of mouth watering goodies, including cake, fruits, meat, jewellery and many other items. The tent was also packed with enthusiastic shoppers and browsers.

We saw, amongst many others, Côte St. Luc councillor Dida Berku, former CSL councillor Allan Levine, English Montreal School Board chairman Joe Ortona; and Raquel and Alain Look, parents of former Côte St. Luc resident Alexandre Look, who died while defending others during the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.

Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi enthusiastically posted videos on social media, writing “just a regular Tuesday night in Hampstead Park featuring Ishay Ribo! Am Yisrael Chai!”

D’Arcy McGee MNA Elisabeth Prass was also on hand.

“It was truly inspiring to come together and celebrate the strength and vibrancy of our community,” she posted afterwards.

“This night is our moment to stand up and say — It’s Up to Us,” stated Federation CJA president and CEO Yair Szlak. “It’s where our community comes together to take action.When you give to Federation CJA, you’re helping feed families, support the vulnerable, strengthen Jewish identity and fight antisemitism. You’re joining thousands who care deeply about making a real and lasting difference and shaping the Jewish future in this city and province.”

General Campaign chair Heather Adelson said that a successful campaign “is not only measured by dollars raised, but by the unity it fosters and the lives it touches. The launch of our 2025 campaign marks a renewed commitment to building a stronger, more connected community and what better place for us to come together than in the middle of the tradition and culture an Israeli shuk.” n

Federation CJA’s campaign launch a roaring success Read More »

De La Savane cemetery security concerns resolved

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Many readers may have heard that the Baron de Hirsch Cemetery on De La Savane in Côte des Neiges-NDG was closed to the public for several hours on Sunday Aug. 31, for security reasons.

There were rumours that there were Arabs nearby screaming about Israel, but that turned out to be not the case. The Suburban was told by sources that people trying to enter the cemetery that day were told to stay away, and the cemetery office confirmed to The Suburban it was closed to the public, as late as 2:30 p.m. The cemetery was open again on Monday Sept. 1 Labour Day, just not to vehicles as per Sunday rules.

We called the SPVM Aug. 31 to determine what prompted the cemetery shutdown. Spokesperson Jeanne Drouin told us that on that Sunday morning, a man at the corner of De La Savane and Victoria was heard yelling.

Police checked the situation out, but determined that the man was known to police and not dangerous, and that his shouting was not related to Israel or the Jewish community. n

De La Savane cemetery security concerns resolved Read More »

Sixteen NDG households displaced by 5-alarm fire

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

A five-alarm fire has displaced families from a 16-unit apartment building in NDG.

The fire broke out around 9 a.m. last Friday morning on Westmore near St. Jacques, near the Montreal West train station. One hundred and fifty firefighters battled to get the fire under control, many working from the roof of the four-storey building.

CDN-NDG Borough Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa was at the scene, and said that the Red Cross would be helping the displaced residents. Katahwa also confirmed that there were no serious injuries. One firefighter had been transported to hospital after suffering heatstroke.

Katahwa indicated to The Suburban that the borough, along with the Office Municipal d’Habitation de Montréal (OMHM) and the NDG Community Council would be helping the residents.

The cause of the fire is as yet unknown. It may have started in a dumpster in the back of the building, spreading quickly. But that had not been confirmed by deadline.

Damage is estimated to be several hundred thousand dollars.

NDG-Westmount MP Anna Gainey posted to her social media later in the day “My thoughts are with the 16 families affected by today’s fire at Saint-Jacques and Westmore in NDG. I want to thank the firefighters who acted quickly to contain the blaze and protect lives, as well as the community workers and neighbours who are already stepping up to support those displaced.”

“In moments like these,” she added, “the strength of our community shines through. My office will continue to follow the situation closely and offer help wherever possible.”

The firefighters union did not wax as positive. The Association des Pompiers de Montréal, said that though the situation at 2012 Westmore could have been a lot worse, it also could have been a lot better. Highlighting the Auditor General’s recent report on the inefficiencies plaguing the SIM, including problems with inventory tracking, lack of working gear, it said that normally firefighters would have been at the scene in 3.5 minutes. “But not today. The firetruck at Station 77 was parked out of service in the garage, with four firefighters waiting because they lacked certified and compliant PPE (personal protective gear) to respond.”

Station 77 is located on Westminster Avenue in Montreal West, between Nelson and Brock, slightly more than a kilometre away from the fire.

Montreal fire chief Richard Liebman said after the release of the Auditor General’s report that the SIM was aware of the problem, and that the city had already invested more than $6 million for more PPE and other equipment.

But the union pointed out that, as of Friday night, “25 fire trucks are out of service across the island of Montreal, 19 of them due to a lack of compliant PPE.” n

Sixteen NDG households displaced by 5-alarm fire Read More »

Montreal expands hate crime definition

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

Montreal City Council has agreed to revise its new DEI and antiracism policy to include hate crimes, antisemitism, and Islamophobia.

Initially the policy had left them out, a glaring omission that echoed a similar exclusion of antisemitism from the city’s anti-racism report last year.

The Centre for Research-Actin on Race Relations (CRARR) had originally held a news conference last weekend to denounce the omission, and to call on the City of Montreal to revise the policy. CRARR was joined by four other organizations representing racialized communities: The Black Community Resource Center, the Chinese Association of Montreal, the Canadian Council of Muslim Women – Montreal Chapter, and the Filipino Family Service of Montreal.

CRARR Executive Director Fo Niemi underlined that hate crimes and extremism have become “major threats to community safety and public security in Montreal,” saying it needs to be acknowledged in the policy. Leaving it out would send “a deplorable message of disrespect and dismissiveness to individuals, families, and communities in Montreal who have been badly hurt by hate.”

The original policy was adopted on August 14 by the Executive Committee, and was supposed to have been ratified – as is – the following week by Montreal City Council. In its original form, Niemi says, the policy listed just about every form of discrimination except antisemitism and Islamophobia, which Niemi says was “rather shocking.” Niemi could only speculate that it may well have been an oversight, or a deliberate omission to avoid controversy. Either way, CRARR and the other groups were calling on the city to “be explicit about these challenges.”

Then, at last Monday’s council meeting, opposition councillor Sonny Moroz (Snowdon District, CDN-NDG Borough) tabled a motion to include antisemitism, Islamophobia, hate crimes, and hate incidents in the policy.

Council voted in favour. It’s a major development, Niemi says, because “in the past there has always been some sort of pushback on the issue of antisemitism,” likely because of the difficulty, Niemi suggests, in defining it.

The currently-accepted definition of antisemitism is the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition. The federal and provincial governments have both adopted the definition, as has the CDN-NDG borough. The City of Montreal has not.

Moroz is on the Commission sur le développement social et la diversité. He says that every time they looked at the policy as it was taking shape, he noticed the “lack of a plan to deal with the rise of hate crimes and hate incidents,” a lack that had not been amended by the time it got to the Executive Committee. So, in council he suggested what he says are very simple amendments: Islamophobia, antisemitism, and all forms of discrimination based on religion. The amendments also include hate crimes and hate incidents.

“I was very pleased that when it came to the negotiation table at City Hall, that the person responsible for racism and discrimination, the mayor of Côtes des Neiges-NDG (Gracia Kasoki Katahwa), for the first time saw it in her benefit to include antisemitism in her plan.”

“We get to build on that,” Moroz says. “And we get to say that the City Council of Montreal unanimously agreed to this, which is something that I think is fantastic.”

Niemi agrees, saying “people have to understand the magnitude of the inclusion and the explicit recognition of these things that were finally integrated in the policy. Now,” he says, “no one can deny that these things exist. No one can trivialize them.”

CRARR has since written to Maty Diop, the City of Montreal’s new Commissioner for Fighting Racism and Systemic Discrimination. He would like to arrange a meeting with several groups present, including the Jewish community, “to talk about the need to have a united approach to tackle hate,” particularly for English-speaking communities. At the time of this writing, CRARR had not yet received a reply. n

Montreal expands hate crime definition Read More »

DocTocToc: Montreal’s new mobile pediatric clinic

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

It took some time to get DocTocToc rolling. But since July the mobile pediatric clinic has been providing low-income families who have children up to five years old with primary pediatric care.

The name is a play on words with the French expression “toc toc toc,” which is, of course, “knock knock knock” in English, and calls to mind the days when doctors made house calls. It may also remind younger parents of the TV show Toc Toc Toc, which ran on Radio Canada and Télé-Québec.

The clinic is a bus-turned-clinic with an examination room, an office, a bathroom, and a seating area. It travels throughout three – soon-to-be-four – boroughs seeing patients of up to five years old who are not being served by health and social services.

The project started to take shape in 2017, the brainchild of Montreal Children’s Hospital pediatrician Dr. Rislaine Benkelfat and Jean-Philippe Couture, a financial analyst specialized in public funding for nonprofit organizations.

The bus was inaugurated last March, started operations with the first test clinics in April, and then the official launch of the clinics on a regular basis ramping up in July.

Benkelfat is a tertiary care pediatrician, which is specialized care, meaning she sees patients with more complex issues. But she and her colleagues would also see primary care patients who would show up at the emergency room because they didn’t know where else to go, or because they couldn’t get access to a healthcare professional.

She would often treat kids “who presented late for issues that could have been dealt with way earlier and with probably better outcomes had they been known ahead.”

The idea behind DocTocToc is to democratize healthcare for young children, to break down the barriers to healthcare.

Benkelfat explains that DocTocToc meets families in the community to answer their basic needs, and then refers them to the healthcare professionals who can best meet their needs.

There are no doctors onboard the DocTocToc bus. There are nurses who do clinical assessments on a walk-in basis for both medical and psycho-social issues, and then help orient families to the appropriate resources in the community. They then help them navigate the system, even giving them the tools they need, and empowering them to seek health services on their own down the road.

At some point they will even start to offer vaccinations.

And DocTocToc comes to the patients. For the time being they’ve been rolling into Montreal-Nord, St. Laurent, and Ahuntsic, and soon they’ll include Cartierville. They find the patients rather than the patients having to seek them out, relying on their partners in community organizations who work with families who are newcomers, for example. They may also participate in community events and activities to let communities know that they are there. And potential patients know that the DocTocToc bus will be at a specific spot on a specific day.

Benkelfat says they may branch out into other boroughs, like CDN-NDG, one day. “Right now, we’re concentrating on consolidating what we’re doing in the northern part of Montreal,” she says, adding that at some point DocTocToc may branch out, or even inspire others to follow in the footsteps. Or their tire tracks.

Benkelfat says that the government has generally been supportive of DocTocToc as the model evolved. But that support, she says, has not been financial. n

DocTocToc: Montreal’s new mobile pediatric clinic Read More »

F.A.C.E. school’s new building lacks critical facilities

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

The students of F.A.C.E. Elementary School, English and French sectors, started the year off in a new building at 4835 Christophe Colombe, with the French sector, overseen by the CSSDM, starting last week, and the English sector, overseen by the EMSB, this week.

In the spring the Quebec government decided that badly-needed renovations to the building that used to house the school — the old Montreal High School building on University Street — would prove too costly. The education ministry opted, instead, to separate the students, moving them to two different buildings (the high school students will actually stay in the building on University for the next few years until they move into the old Sun Youth/Baron Byng School building on St. Urbain).

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at about 9 a.m.

Parents of new students were excited to start the year. Some did have concerns about the tight one-way streets and the challenge of the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. For still others the morning and afternoon commute is longer and more difficult. But those whose children know the old building are somewhat disappointed, saying they’ll miss how the younger kids mixed with and learned from the older kids, and how well English and French blended in the old school. And there were kids who were excited to start school in the new building, but there were also those who expressed that they would miss the old building.

English Montreal School Board Chair Joe Ortona, who was on hand when the French sector started its year in the new building last week, spoke positively about the start to the year, but said he hopes the old building on University still has a future. In April Ortona and EMSB commissioner Maria Corsi had tabled a motion to save the school, calling on the CAQ government to honour its original commitment to the renovations.

At the time, Geneviève Gueritaud, a mom of F.A.C.E. students, told The Suburban that the new locations are inappropriate to the school’s arts-core education. They don’t have the facilities required, or the space, to accommodate its curriculum.

The new building also has no actual library. Instead, there are bookshelves in the corridor. There is also no cafeteria; students will be eating their lunch in the gym.

Proponents of the movement to save the old building on University say the movement is as strong as ever. They say it’s not just about saving the building, which has the facilities the school’s arts core curriculum requires, it’s also about preserving a community. n

F.A.C.E. school’s new building lacks critical facilities Read More »

Canada Post gets go-ahead to end door-to-door home mail delivery

Local Journalism Initiative / /

by Timothy Edward, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

The federal government has given Canada Post the go-ahead to end regular home mail delivery in order to ensure the survival of the crown corporation. Non-urgent mail can shift to ground rather than air transportation, increasing delivery time from 3 to 4 days to 3 to 7 days, and the four million addresses across Canada that still receive home delivery can be converted to community mailboxes. Approximately three quarters of Canadians already receive mail by community mailbox.

Today’s move towards modernization was made amid stalled contract negotiations, with Canada Post on track to lose $1.5-billion this year.

Joël Lightbound, the minister responsible for Canada Post, said that the corporation is effectively unsustainable. “Canada Post is effectively insolvent, and repeated bailouts are not a long-term solution,” he said.

Canada Post gets go-ahead to end door-to-door home mail delivery Read More »

Low mayor candidate wants to build ‘covenant’ of values

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , ,

By Trevor Greenway

If Patrick Beaudry has his way, he will freeze taxes in Low and do a “deep dive” into the municipality’s finances to ensure every dollar spent is worth it for residents. 

The farmer, carpenter, butcher, general store owner, husband and father of four is promising to bring a “sober second look” to Low’s finances if elected as mayor in the upcoming November election.

“On a strategic or operational level, I would freeze the budget – no increases for next year – and I would do a deep dive into every regulation and every expense,” said Beaudry. “Are we getting more value for each dollar spent? Taxes have increased exponentially in the last 10 years. The cost of living is out of control. People need a break.”

Before delving into the municipality’s finances, Beaudry said if elected he will launch a municipal-wide consultation to establish a “community covenant,” which he explained would recognize Low’s rich Irish-Catholic heritage and the values of the families who live in the region, and that would build trust between the community and those who make decisions at town council. He said there seems to be a “trust crisis” in Canada among constituents and government leaders. 

“It’s a charter of values and principles that people identify with. The heritage of the community is so strong, and I would put it in a living document that becomes sort of the template against which all the decisions would be taken,” he explained. 

The next mayor of Low will be dealing with some significant files that could change the face of the municipality. These changes include: the constant threat to close the town’s only CLSC, the fight brewing against mining companies looking to extract precious metals and minerals from the ground and the never-ending battle against the CAQ over French and English services. 

Low saw a 12 per cent increase in English speakers and a seven per cent increase in French speakers from 2016 to 2021, according to the latest Census data from 2021. Of the 1,020 respondents, 575 said English was their first language, while 430 said French was their first language. The remaining respondents identified themselves as fully bilingual. 

Low has official bilingual status, meaning it is permitted to offer services in both official languages. However it’s a constant battle for anglophones in the province to get served in English. Many have to prove that they are a “historic anglophone” by showing they or their parents went to high school in English in Canada. 

Beaudry, who is a francophone, said he will fight for English rights. 

“I am French and I’m speaking to you in English. I do not like the idea of giving the state control of my tongue,” said Beaudry, “especially when you have people … who are unilingual English. It is a disservice. It creates chaos and it is unnecessary.”

Beaudry said he will fight against mining companies – including the claim on his own property – and added that he isn’t so sure it’s worth it to get cozy with mining companies, despite the benefits that municipalities could glean from mining claims, namely revenue sources.

“The only benefit that I could see is that for small municipalities with a small tax base, it becomes a potential additional source of revenue,” said Beaudry. “But in Low’s case, you’re destroying the very foundation upon which the community was built, which is homesteading, farming, cattle, forestry, logging. It destroys everything.”

Beaudry will be up against incumbent Carol Robert, who has been at the helm of Low since 2017. Quebecers head to the polls Nov. 2.

Low mayor candidate wants to build ‘covenant’ of values Read More »

Psst! Black Sheep quietly re-opens

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , ,

By Trevor Greenway

The Black Sheep Inn was bursting with a feeling of nostalgia Saturday night as the Wakefield music venue opened its doors for the first time in over five years for a raucous afterparty featuring a roster of DJs. 

No, we’re serious, it really did open and the Low Down has the photos to prove it. 

And when those big black double doors swung open, it didn’t take long before a full dance party was in swing – Black Sheep style – with patrons smiling ear to ear, many of them in disbelief that they were actually dancing in the place that holds so many sonic memories. 

“It was very emotional,” said a jovial Christina Stobert, the new self-styled commander-in-chief of the Black Sheep Inn. She said the soft opening Sept. 20 was a bit of a dry run to “work off the cobwebs” after the venue had been closed for so many years. 

The Black Sheep Inn shuttered its doors in March of 2020 due to COVID-19. While other establishments re-opened, the Sheep remained closed, as co-owners Paul Symes and Jennifer Nesbitt slowly worked out a purchase agreement to re-open the Sheep under new management.

“From turning on the stereo for the first time and being in the room, it kind of hit me in the face that this is not just a bar/restaurant/hotel – it’s a music venue,” she said about the dry-run. “Hearing the music cranked up was amazing and just [seeing] how happy everyone was – and the comments from the crowd were that it was warm and welcoming.”

Warm and welcoming, yes. This reporter was in the room and Stobert’s read of the vibe was spot on, as you couldn’t find a frown in the establishment. And the music was certainly cranked. The Sheep was the official venue for the Fête de la Musique afterparty, the charity event for mental health awareness that featured DJs on the Wakefield covered bridge and bands at the Fairbairn House all day Sept. 20. For the afterparty, DJ Francis Delage opened up the night with some warm beats, before Ottawa’s DJ Plush turned it up to 11 and got the dance floor going. Local DJs Disko Dave (David Lajeunesse), Kor (Dustin Good) and this reporter (BeatScience) kept the party going well past midnight. 

And anyone inside the building would have felt the local soul drifting throughout the recognizable room, with a host of familiar faces ensuring the evening went smoothly. From Moses Hausler working the door to Luther Wright manning the bar, it was like an old Sheep night with all the local players. 

And when things got busy, others stopped dancing to help, like Becky Bunch and Rob Clarke, who jumped behind the bar, cleared empties from tables and kept the good vibes flowing. 

“I love that Luther helped me, and Rob jumped behind the bar because we were so busy and missing equipment,” said Stobert. “We had to wash glasses by hand but it was so nice to have help. It was like a real family affair.”

And while it may not have been a typical Sheep night with a rockin’ local band starting things off, it didn’t seem to matter. Locals, like Phil Jenkins, were seen on the dance floor, just happy to be cutting up the checkered linoleum beneath their feet, reawakening old memories while making new ones. 

“I love dancing,” quipped Jenkins. “It was really special to be back in the place where I have so many memories.”

Rock bands return, new events added

The Black Sheep Inn’s re-opening may seem like it happened overnight but it was a long road to getting those doors to swing back open.

The Low Down reported back in December of 2024 that the Sheep was ready to open with a Robbie Burns night in January of that year, but the agreement hadn’t been completed yet and the owners were back at the negotiating table for months. 

That agreement was made official earlier this summer, but the building needed a host of repairs and renovations before it could open. Symes is now officially retired and Nesbitt is the owner, with Stobert the commander-in-chief. 

And while Stobert is committed to bringing back that old Sheep vibe with local bands, emerging artists and established groups, she said she is adding some new flair: DJ nights, comedy shows, private booking opportunities, a full-service kitchen and more. Expect the return of Sunday matinee shows, community town halls, election debates and everything in between. Stobert already has a small roster of bands booked to start playing regular shows, beginning with Johnny Mac and Table Talk on Oct. 11. And she’s in the process of booking Ottawa singer-songwriter and Sheep favourite Jim Bryson for the late fall, Ontario indie-folk group Great Lake Swimmers and Ottawa blues sensations MonkeyJunk. In the meantime, stay tuned for a number of pop-up shows over the next few weeks, including an open mic night. 

Stay tuned for more information about upcoming shows. The Sheep will soon launch a refreshed website and social media accounts.

Psst! Black Sheep quietly re-opens Read More »

Laval declares its efficiency improvements a success

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Nearly a year after the initial implementation of a municipal efficiency plan, officials with the City of Laval say they have achieved some real improvements in services offered to the city’s population.

“By setting clear objectives, transparent management and a structured accountability, the administration is modernizing its practices in order to offer its citizens an experience that’s smoother, more efficient and better adapted to the population’s needs,” the city states in a press release issued last week.

“We were looking for some in-depth change and the results are there,” said Mayor Stéphane Boyer. “The services are faster, more accessible, more efficient and simpler.

“This is the result of some hard work, of a clear vision and commitment from everyone in the organization,” he continued. “Modernizing our administration means we are fully taking up our responsibility towards all citizens, which is to offer quality services, at a fair cost while meeting expectations.”

The city reports that during the first months this year, the average waiting time for callers to its 311 centralized info service fell to 63 seconds, representing an 87 per cent improvement over 496 seconds in 2021.

During the same period, 81 per cent of requests were dealt with within that time frame, for a 10 per cent improvement compared to 2024. The city says this was in spite of an 11 per cent increase in the number of calls received.

The improvements were achieved, according to the city, through the use of a digital platform, the Mon Dossier web portal, which was developed internally. More than 85 per cent of requests received for things such as permits, subsidies or declarations are processed via this platform now.

“By going for digital solutions like the Mon Dossier portal, we are simplifying access to services, while also making the internal process lighter,” said Tania Fonrose, director of the city’s citizen experience department.

“This reorganization of work allows not only an improvement in citizen experience, but also for better use of resources. The 311 service, for example, was able to absorb a significant increase in requests with additional staff, thanks to the efficiency gains generated.”

Beginning this winter, permit applications and certificates from the urban planning department can be obtained online through the Mon Dossier portal. The City of Laval has won a number of awards for its work on resolving these issues, including some from the Institut d’administration publique du Québec (IAPQ), the Réseau de l’informatique municipale du Québec (RIMQ) and the Project Management Institute of Montreal.

A new concert hall and events venue opens in Saint-François

Residents from all over Laval will be able to enjoy a range of shows and entertainments at the latest concert hall and events venue to be completed and opened by the city.

Located in the Espace citoyen des Confluents (ECC) in the district of Saint-François, the multipurpose hall hosted its first show on September 20, although there will be more to come, according to the city.

“As the first professional quality concert hall in eastern Laval, it offers 180 seats in a modern and quality building,” says Laval city councillor for Sainte-Rose Flavia Alexandra Novac, who is responsible for cultural dossiers on city council.

“With the opening of this new hall, the ECC will be a gathering place that’s even more outstanding for the community of Laval, especially those from the east end of the island,” added Novac.

Some of the events and shows on the schedule at the hall over the coming months:

  • Liberté Big Band: A jazz and classical ensemble made up of seasoned and professional musicians.
  • Guided tour: On the city’s Journées de la culture, learn more about the workings of a professional concert hall, including acoustics.
  • Boubacar Ndiaye: A spoken word event combining art and music.
  • Salsalazar: Music from Québec, Cuba, Peru Colombia and Chile.
  • Kutsi Merki: Folklore from Bulgaria with dance.

Dead Gong: Jazz with Turkish and Ethiopian influences.

Laval declares its efficiency improvements a success Read More »

Annual VEQ Fall Fest a celebration of community

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Annual Fall Fest a celebration of community

Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

editor@qctonline.com

As many as 1,000 people poured into the gym of Quebec High School (QHS) on Sept. 21 during Fall Fest, the annual community fair organized for the English-speaking community of Quebec City and the South Shore by Voice of English-speaking Québec.

On the stage set up in the school parking lot, the Local Vocals multilingual choir, the Shannon Irish Dancers and the 78th Fraser Highlanders performed before Flavia Nascimento’s Brazilian- inspired fanfare brought the drums and whistles of a South American carnival inside the gym. Later in the afternoon, James Allan, a square dance caller from Kinnear’s Mills and the founder of the Kinnear’s Mills Celtic Festival, got people dancing.

While their parents and siblings watched the show, younger kids enjoyed the bouncy castle, jungle gym and arts and crafts activities, or helped themselves to affordable hot dogs served by QHS students and staff.

Inside, dozens of English-language or bilingual churches, community groups and educational institutions had stands set up, alongside small businesses; CBC Québec and the QCT were also on hand to meet listeners and readers.

Joanne Arsenault is the vice-principal of Quebec High School, which has hosted the event for the past two years, ever since the previous host school – St. Vincent School in Sainte-Foy – closed. “We talk to parents, to former students, to people who want to organize visits to the school – I just talked to someone who wanted to see if we could find her old yearbook. In past years, we’ve had people apply for jobs. It’s a great community event.”

Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, Baptist, United Church and evangelical congregations shared space in the gym with apparent ecumenical good humour. At the St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church booth – where a subtle sign announced that the congregation rejected religious nationalism and believed in the separation of church and state – Rev. Katherine Burgess and volunteer Gina Farnell pointed out that churches are often the first stop for English speakers who are new in town, whether they are new immigrants, international students or new arrivals from other parts of Canada.

“Fall Fest is a great op- portunity to take up space and connect with other churches in the community, because we have a lot that we fundamentally agree on,” said Rev. Jeff Metcalfe, canon theologian of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, who greeted passersby at the church’s stand alongside Bishop Bruce Myers and parish volunteers.

City councillors and council candidates – including Transition Québec Leader Jackie Smith and Coun. David Weiser, member of the executive committee responsible for relations with cultural communities – milled around listening to voters’ questions, which mainly centred around transit. Québec d’Abord Leader Claude Villeneuve attended with the party’s candidate for Montcalm– Saint-Sacrement, Félix Bouffard. “Since I moved to the city five years ago, I haven’t had much of a chance to get to know the English-speaking community and listen to their concerns,” said Bouffard, who is from the South Shore. “This is a great opportunity.”

In the relative peace and quiet of the QHS library, representatives from the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale were running a bilingual job fair for the second straight year. “This is the best place to look for candidates who are bilingual and who have a good enough level of English to work in our English-language designated institutions,” said Marleen Cameron, head of recruitment services at the CIUSSS, referring to Jeffery Hale Hospital and Saint Brigid’s Home. Kerry Ann King and Christy Ruggiero of the Jeffery Hale-Saint Brigid’s Users’ Committee were also on hand, taking names of people who were interested in volunteering to organize enrichment programs with seniors. “We want [volunteering] to be an entry point for people to know how to get involved in the community,” Ruggiero said. “Fall Fest is good for that.”

Annual VEQ Fall Fest a celebration of community Read More »

And they’re off! City Hall campaign begins with feud between Hamad and Villeneuve

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , , , , ,

And they’re off! City Hall campaign begins with feud between Hamad and Villeneuve

Peter Black, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

peterblack@qctonline.com

The signs are going up, candidates are filing their papers and voters are being asked to reflect and choose who they want to run their towns and cities.

Quebec City, along with some 1,100 other municipalities in the province, is now engaged in an election campaign that will culminate with the election of new civic representatives on Nov. 2.

So far six candidates have declared themselves in the running for mayor: incumbent Bruno Marchand of Québec Forte et Fière; Claude Villeneuve, leader of Québec d’Abord and councillor for Maizerets-Lairet; Jackie Smith, leader of Transition Québec and councillor for Limoilou; Sam Hamad, leader of Leadership Quebec and a former provincial Liberal cabinet minister and MNA for Louis-Hébert; Stéphane Lachance, entrepreneur and leader of Respect Citoyens; and Anne Guérette, an architect, former city councillor and past mayoral candidate, who is running as an independent although she has registered a party name, Parti du monde.

Even before the 45-day campaign began officially on Sept. 19, two candidates were engaged in a skirmish of personal attacks. Villeneuve accused Hamad of intimidation for allegedly saying to him at an event in April, “Be careful with your criticism of me, because you have two beautiful little girls.”

Villeneuve said Hamad repeated the comment at another event. There were no witnesses at either occasion to corroborate Villeneuve’s claim. Hamad asked Villeneuve to withdraw the accusation, which he said amounted to defamation.

It was not the only accusation of intimidation aimed at Hamad last week. Karine Gagnon, the veteran Journal de Québec reporter and municipal affairs columnist, wrote a piece in which she said Hamad “has taken the liberty, during and outside of his press briefings, of attacking my integrity and my reputation, as well as those of the Journal de Québec.”

In another incident in a rocky start to his campaign, Hamad’s candidate in the Saint-Roch–Saint-Sauveur district, restaurant owner Napoléon Woo, went on a rant against the problem of home- lessness in the district.

“Homelessness should be a period of transition, not a culture where you eat for free, you get free housing, you get free clothes … No one died of cold or hunger,” Woo said, as Hamad listened uneasily and then intervened. (Editors’ note: Napoléon Woo is no longer the party’s candidate in Saint-Roch-Saint-Sauveur. On the afternoon of Sept. 22, as this newspaper went to press, Hamad announced that the party had “put an end to” his candidacy.)

On a more positive note for Leadership Québec, the party now has city council candidates in 20 of the 21 districts. A last-minute change saw Patrick Paquet, most recently the non-elected leader of the now-defunct Équipe Priorité Québec (EPQ) party, become the party’s candidate in the Les Saules- Les-Méandres district after Lydie Pincemin withdrew for health reasons. As of this writing, the party has a full slate of candidates, except for Woo’s recently vacated district of Saint-Roch-Saint-Sauveur.

The only other established party not to have a full slate is Villeneuve’s Québec d’Abord, which, as of this writing, was still short six candidates.

Respect Citoyens, meanwhile, has a full slate for its first run at City Hall, including Eric Ralph Mercier, former ÉPQ councillor, former Liberal MNA for Charlesbourg and son of longtime Charlesbourg mayor Ralph Mercier. He’s running in the Des Monts district.

Another notable recruit for the party is Anne-Laurence Harvey in the Loretteville– Les-Châtels district. Harvey is the daughter of Luc Harvey, the former Conservative MP for Louis-Hébert. She has a claim to fame in being the first girl to score a touchdown as a quarterback when she played for the St. Patrick’s High School Fighting Irish football team.

With the election campaign just underway, a poll in Le Soleil had some good and some worrisome news for Marchand and his bid for a second term. The survey by the SOM firm found 51 per cent of respondents were satisfied with his work as mayor, the highest level in two years and a major uptick since a low of 36 per cent two years ago.

However, in a somewhat counterintuitive finding, 50 per cent of those polled felt it was time for a change at City Hall. The poll also found Marchand’s approval rating is less positive in the suburbs, particularly in Charlesbourg, Beauport and La Haute-Saint-Charles.

In the 2021 election, QFF won four of its six seats in downtown districts.

It was not by coincidence, then, that Marchand officially launched his campaign Sept. 19 at a historic site in Charlesbourg.

“We’ve achieved a lot in four years, and there’s still a lot to do. There’s momentum in Quebec City, and we want it to continue. We’re not going to take anything for granted,” Marchand said.

In 2021, Marchand beat Marie-Josée Savard, the inheritor of former mayor Régis Labeaume’s party which later became Québec d’Abord, by 834 votes.

With files from QCT staff

And they’re off! City Hall campaign begins with feud between Hamad and Villeneuve Read More »

TRAM TRACKER: Laurier contract bargain, Hamad wants work pause

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , , ,

TRAM TRACKER: Laurier contract bargain, Hamad wants work pause

Peter Black, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

While mayoral candidate Sam Hamad is calling for work on the tramway to be halted during the municipal election, the city has awarded the second largest contract of the project – which came in well below the estimated cost.

On Sept. 17, the city executive committee approved a contract of $63.2 million, taxes included, to Charles-Auguste Fortier Inc. for, as it’s described in the call for tenders, “the redevelopment of Boul. Laurier, for the transitional state before the installation of the tramway.”

It is the second largest contract awarded so far for the TramCité project, the largest by far being the $1.3- billion deal with transportation giant Alstom for supply and maintenance of the system’s rolling stock. The 34 all- electric “trainsets” would be manufactured at Alstom’s plant in La Pocatière. The maintenance contract is for a 30-year period.

Four companies were bidding for the Laurier project, with the highest being $91.7 million, a figure still lower than the $95 million (before taxes) the city had projected.

The winning bid is more than 40 per cent below that target. Charles-Auguste Fortier Inc. has been in business for more than 50 years, and among the company’s notable endeavours is the excavation for the Vidéotron Centre.

The city is responsible for the majority of the preparatory work for the tramway system. The rest is handled by the Caisse de dépôt et placement Infra division (CDPQ Infra), which the Coalition Avenir Québec government tasked with over- seeing the $7.6-billion first phase of the tramway project.

Boul. Laurier has been undergoing major construction work for the past four years; partly for the tramway and partly for a huge project to rearrange the approaches to the Quebec and Pierre Laporte bridges. The new contract would extend the work on the street for about another four years.

Meanwhile, tramway opponent and mayoral candidate Hamad is asking that work on the project be frozen during the municipal election campaign that officially started Sept. 19.

Hamad, founder of Leadership Québec and a former provincial Liberal cabinet minister, said in a media encounter outside City Hall before the Sept. 16 council meeting, “I’m asking [Mayor] Bruno Marchand to stop all current or future work until the election on Nov. 2.”

Hamad quickly clarified his comment, saying work currently in progress should continue, since stopping would “involve penalties and problems.” He said the city should “stop adding to [the work], because we must let the citizens decide.”

When reporters reminded Hamad that the Quebec government is committed to the tramway project, he said, “It doesn’t matter. The mayor of Quebec City will decide what’s best for Quebec City. The mayor of Quebec City will be elected on November 2. It will be the will of the citizens of Quebec.”

Marchand quickly rejected Hamad’s suggestion. He told reporters, “We won’t stop the tramway. We have an agreement with the ministry of transportation. We have a partner called CDPQ Infra that is doing the work. We have an agreement to do preparatory work ourselves. We will face penalties if we don’t do it on time.”

Newly named Transport Minister Jonatan Julien echoed the mayor’s comments. He told a media scrum before a Sept. 17 cabinet meeting that it was “out of the question” to pause tramway work, warning there would be penalties.

“The tramway, we committed to doing it. Right now, we are doing it with CDPQ Infra, and it is moving forward.”

Hamad is proposing an upgraded bus system as an alternative to the tramway.

TRAM TRACKER: Laurier contract bargain, Hamad wants work pause Read More »

BRIEF: Second phase of Rue St-Olivier redo underway

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BRIEF: Second phase of Rue St-Olivier redo underway

Peter Black, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

peterblack@qctonline.com

A narrow street in the Saint-Jean-Baptiste neighbour- hood has been ripped up for major roadwork, as part of a two-phase project to make it more passable.

Rue Saint-Oliver between Rues Sutherland and Philippe- Dorval is undergoing an intense makeover to provide better access for residents, cyclists and buses.

The first phase of the transformation, completed last year, was between Ave. de Salaberry and Rue Philippe-Dorval.

The project, with the objective of providing a “barrier-free zone,” involves adding trees, moving utility poles and maintaining street parking for residents.

The work began in May and is expected to be completed next summer.

BRIEF: Second phase of Rue St-Olivier redo underway Read More »

CHSSN celebrates quarter-century of working toward health access

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CHSSN celebrates quarter-century of working toward health access

Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

editor@qctonline.com

Representatives of Community Health and Social Services Network (CHSSN) member organizations raised a glass to 25 years of working to improve access to health and social services in English in Quebec, at a rousing anniversary celebration on Sept. 16 at the Morrin Centre.

Former CBC host turned language-rights activist Royal Orr hosted the event, opening the evening with a nod to the “many English-speaking First Nations communities that have influenced our work” and to the appropriateness of holding the celebrations in a “former British redoubt” that is now “at the centre of English-speaking life in Quebec City.” He then passed the mic to CHSSN executive director Jennifer Johnson, who took attendees on a trip through the network’s history.

What would become CHSSN was founded during a chance meeting in 2000 in Quebec City by community members who had been active in building the Holland Centre – later Jeffery Hale Community Partners – into a thriving multi-service centre for English-speaking families. “That spontaneous gathering turned into something extraordinary,” Johnson recalled. “We were challenged to take the knowledge and expertise that we developed around what’s been successful in Quebec [City] and create a provincial organization that would support English-speaking communities across Quebec. It’s a powerful reminder that it takes a diverse group of passionate, visionary people to build something that lasts. CHSSN has thrived based on the belief that communities can be part of the solution – that with the right support, they can create better access to services.”

Acting on the belief that many anglophones around the province were unable to access the services they were entitled to, the founders worked with local community members and Canadian Heritage to help establish the Megantic Community Development Corporation (MCDC), which is now a community centre and service access hub for anglophones in Thetford Mines and Lévis. Johnson estimated that 10 regions that lacked a community service hub for anglophones in 2000 now have one, thanks in large part to CHSSN.

Now made up of more than 30 organizations serving nearly every region of the province, CHSSN administers programs, compiles and publishes health data and acts as a knowledge-sharing network for health and social services organizations. They also coordinate the patient navigator program, which supports patients from anglophone communities in Eastern Quebec who need to travel to Quebec City, Lévis, Rimouski or Gaspé for health care. In New Carlisle in the Gaspé, the network helped the Coalition for Anglophone Social Action (CASA) get funding for a day program for anglophone seniors that became a network of day centres. Johnson has also spoken up in the media to explain the impacts of various regulatory changes on access to English services.

“We started on the belief that when communities are organized, they can influence if not change the systems that affect their lives,” James Carter, a CHSSN cofounder, told attendees in a mini- documentary broadcast at the gala. “So we built CHSSN with a single purpose, of improving access to services.”

“We said, don’t think of what you think is going to happen, think of what you want to happen,” said fellow cofounder Richard Walling in the same film. “Instead of being observers of your own decline, become participants in your future and help define that future.”

John McMahon, head of the Secretariat for relations with English-speaking Quebecers, pledged the agency’s continued support for the network. After an open-mic story-sharing session, Carter and MCDC co- founder Peter Whitcomb were honoured with community builder awards.

“You inspired us to look to the future and we were smart enough to listen,” said Whitcomb, the former principal of A.S. Johnson High School in Thetford Mines, who accepted the award from his former student, MCDC director Brian Gignac. “I once believed the school was the heart of the community, but now I believe organizations like MCDC are the heart of their communities, and the heart beats strong in Thetford Mines. For the next 25 years, I wish [CHSSN] the support and love they brought to us when we needed it so badly.”

On that note, at Johnson’s invitation, attendees raised their glasses to the network’s next 25 years.

CHSSN celebrates quarter-century of working toward health access Read More »

Philanthropists raise $4 million for city initiative to help get people off the street

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Philanthropists raise $4 million for city initiative to help get people off the street

Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

editor@qctonline.com

A philanthropic initiative spearheaded by the Ville de Québec and the Choquette family has raised nearly $4 million in four months to help people experiencing homelessness get off the street, Mayor Bruno Marchand announced on Sept. 17.

The funds raised through the Un toit avant tout (“A roof comes first”) project will be shared among several organizations helping struggling people in the city, including Lauberivière, YWCA-Québec, L’Archipel d’Entraide, Café-Rencontre Centre-Ville and Projet Intervention Prostitution Québec, to support the Porte-clés (“keychain”) initiative which gives housing-insecure people access to affordable housing and other support services.

First launched in 2015, the initiative has helped over 400 people find housing, and 85 per cent of recipients have managed to stay off the streets, according to the Ville de Québec. “Thanks to the funds raised by the campaign, a second dedicated team will be deployed, doubling the response capacity. This will allow more than 200 additional people to be supported towards residential and social stability over the next four years,” city officials said in a statement.

Marchand thanked the Choquette family – businesspeople Claude Choquette and Hélène de Grandmont and their three sons, Pierre-Thomas, Marc-Olivier and Charles-Antoine Choquette – for “having the boldness to support a cause that isn’t sexy, and for which [people] may have prejudices.” Twenty-six families or family foundations made contributions of over $100,000, which will be used for a range of services from rent subsidies to moving van rental.

“We work together, with heart and with results to … get people off the street, and once we have managed to support them in housing, they obtain residential stability,” Marchand said. “They come out of this environment where it’s hard to regain control of your life, where there’s violence, where it’s hard to regain your dignity. Porte-Clés and others work with you to ensure that we can find a way forward, so that you can rest, take care of yourself and contribute to the community according to your abilities, as a worker, a potential worker, a volunteer or a citizen … because we need you, we want to have you in this community.” For Benoit Coté, director general of PECH, which works with homeless and housing- insecure people with mental health issues in Saint-Roch, access to housing is “the spinal column” of any effort to get people off the street, and the three levels of government, the community sector and the private sector all have some responsibility. He cited a La Presse report based on data from the Quebec coroner’s office which found that over 100 homeless people died on the province’s streets last year. “This is a public health problem that goes beyond one level of government.” He called on the provincial government to create a transpartisan commission to address the situation, adding that the presence of privately funded projects “doesn’t mean [public] institutions should diminish their involvement.”

Stéphanie Lampron, executive director of YWCA- Québec, said the funding boost for the Porte-Clés program would allow organizations like hers to better co-ordinate to help people in need. “We all have different expertise, and we’re putting it together at the service of the common good. We provide beds for women waiting for housing, but if they need help with money management, I can send them to Lauberivière, and if they need mental health support, I can send them to PECH. We’ve been working together for 10 years, but this allows us to take it to another level.”

To learn more or to make a donation, visit fdg.ca/pages/un-toit-avant-tout.

Philanthropists raise $4 million for city initiative to help get people off the street Read More »

Église Saint-Roch to host immersive light and sound show

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Église Saint-Roch to host immersive light and sound show

Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

editor@qctonline.com

Montreal-based light-and- sound-show specialists Moment Factory have announced plans to bring an immersive show to Église Saint- Roch just in time for the holidays.

The company has created immersive light-and-sound shows at the Cathédrale Marie- Reine-du-Monde in Montreal, at Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, and at landmarks in Paris, New York, Singapore, San Francisco and Las Vegas, in addition to immersive museum exhibits, light and sound for global pop stars such as Billie Eilish, and – much closer to home – the Onwha’ Lumina light and sound walk in Wendake. This is its first foray into downtown Quebec City.

Église Saint-Roch still holds regular masses, and hosts a seasonal day centre/cold-weather night shelter for people experiencing homelessness, as well as offices and meeting rooms used by several community groups, in its enormous basement. It has at various times served as a concert venue and a gallery for local artists and designers. Its sprawling forecourt, known as le parvis, arguably the social centre of the neighbourhood, has hosted outdoor jazz concerts and magic shows, farmers’ markets, a food fridge and pantry and a communal piano. However, this is the first time the church has been home to a tourist attraction.

In an announcement issued on Sept. 16, the show is described as “a grandiose immersive experience highlighting its venue. The 45-minute show will transform the church into a living tableau celebrating the harmony between humans and nature. “As night falls, visitors are first invited to (re)discover the history and architecture of this iconic Quebec City landmark through an interactive web application. The space is then transformed by breathtaking projections, enveloping light displays, and an orchestral musical composition. Every detail of this odyssey encourages us to slow down, look up, and be immersed in a larger-than-life beauty,” the announcement says.

“I am very proud that Église Saint-Roch has been selected to host the AURA immersive experience, which represents an exceptional opportunity for downtown Quebec City. The city has chosen to support this initiative, which will help attract visitors to the neighbour- hood. We need more traffic to stimulate economic vitality. This experience is part of a three-year action plan that includes significant investments for the area over the coming years. AURA will mark the beginning of an era of change, dynamism, and renewal for Saint-Roch,” Mayor Bruno Marchand said in a statement. In addition to the city, the provincial government, Destination Québec cité, Desjardins and the SDC Centre- ville business owners’ group are among the show’s founding sponsors.

The company will pay an undisclosed sum in rent to the Marie-de-l’Incarnation parish, which oversees the church, insulating it at least somewhat from the financial and architectural struggles of other large churches in the city. To accommodate Moment Factory’s specifications, the church will make a few changes, including moving the altar. For Rev. Julien Guillot, moderator of the Unité missionnaire Basse-Ville– Limoilou–Vanier, it’s worth the effort. “Since 2017, we have been hoping that a project like this could see the light of day,” he said. “It’s a joy for the parish to contribute to the project alongside other partners.”

For restaurateur Marc- Antoine Beauchesne, president of the SDC Saint-Roch business owners’ association, the project represents a “big vote of confidence” and a chance to bring people to the neighbourhood who would not usually visit it. “Our job is to make sure Saint- Roch is shown in its best light,” he told the QCT. He emphasized that for the SDC, that didn’t necessarily mean “hiding” the district’s much-discussed struggles with poverty, homelessness and drug use. “The problems are there with or without Moment Factory … but we don’t want to hide problems, we want to solve problems or [reduce] problems. It kind of gives us a little elbow in the ribs to find solutions.”

Tickets are expected to go on sale in October, with opening night scheduled for Dec. 5.

Église Saint-Roch to host immersive light and sound show Read More »

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