Author name: Brenda O'Farrell The 1510 West

Homes across the West Island flooded

BRENDA O’FARRELL
The 1510 West

“What do I do?”

That was the single, simple question one Pierrefonds homeowner posed to a home-renovation expert Saturday morning on a popular radio phone-in show, explaining she had eight inches of water in her basement, and was at a loss as to how to deal with the disaster.

The homeowner has lived in her house for the past 38 years and never had any flooding issues. But that, of course, was before last Friday’s devastating storm, the remnants of Hurricane Debby that swept through the Montreal region dumping a record-setting amount of rain in just a few hours.

She spoke for a lot of West Islanders last weekend. Although there are no official statistics, The 1510 West interviewed several West Island mayors in the last few days, each estimating the number of homes damaged by flood and sewer water in each of their towns to be in the hundreds. Perhaps the hardest hit was Île Bizard, where borough Mayor Doug Hurley estimated about 1,200 homes in his town had been swamped.

“Streets had a foot-and-a-half, two feet, in some cases five feet (of water) in the middle of the road,” Hurley said on Monday. “Imagine what it was like in the houses.”

Navigating the streets in the north end of Ste. Anne de Bellevue was best done by kayak on Friday evening.

Some homes, Hurley said, had up to seven feet of water in their basements, extending the damage to the ground floor.

In all, according to Environment Canada, 157 millimetres of rain had fallen at Dorval airport last Friday, surpassing the previous record of 93.5 mm set in November of 1996, while a whopping 173 millimetres of rain was recorded in Ste. Anne de Bellevue, which not only set a new record, but ranked as the second-highest deluge recorded in the province during last Friday’s storm. The most intense rainfall in the province was recorded in the town of Lanoraie in the Lanaudière region, north of Montreal, where 221 mm of rain overwhelmed the tiny municipality of less than 5,000 residents.

“We used to be ready for some flooding, but this was – never did we expect this,” said Ste. Anne de Bellevue Mayor Paola Hawa in an interview Sunday.

“What’s scary about this is that we know it’s going to happen again. We don’t know when, but it’s going to happen again,” Hawa added. “This is not going to stop.”

Hawa was not spared from the hardship, explaining the basement of her home was flooded.

The north end of Ste. Anne was the most affected by the cascades of rain, she said, with some residents pulling out their kayaks to navigate the streets on Friday evening.

In Beaconsfield, few residents on Elm Street were spared damage as the flood waters rose, said Mayor Georges Bourelle.

“In 37 years, I’ve been living here, my sump pump has never gone on,” Bourelle said, explaining that his house was not spared either.

He could not say how many homes in Beaconsfield were affected, but said some suffered from sewage backup into basements, while others were inundated with runoff water. Damage was also suffered at Centennial Centre and the Beaconsfield Recreation Centre.

In Pointe Claire, homes throughout the municipality were impacted, with the areas around Westcliffe and Alstonvale particularly hard hit, said Mayor Tim Thomas.

The basement of Pointe Claire city hall took in water, with Thomas saying Monday that temporary space for the municipality’s archives and IT services will have to be found.

As the cleanup is ongoing, with homeowners removing soggy furniture, carpets and other household items, most West Island towns will be providing extra curbside garbage pickups this week and next to clear away debris and construction material.

Homes across the West Island flooded Read More »

Major development site draws attention as trees stripped from lot

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

A first step in what appears will be a major residential construction project in Pierrefonds-Roxboro has raised concerns, as more than the permitted number of trees has been felled on the lot.

A number of trees on a property co-owned by real estate development company Groupe Boda, just off Gouin Boulevard bordering Anse a l’Orme Nature Park were felled last month. Although the owners had permission to cut 32 trees, including 17 ash trees, several more were removed.

“We cannot estimate the number of exceeding felled trees as we are conducting the investigation,” said Marie-Pier Cloutier, a spokesperson for the Pierrefonds-Roxboro borough.

This has triggered concerns over the environmental impact a major construction on the site could have on the surrounding area and has sparked residents to ask questions.

According to Groupe Boda’s website, a planned residential project next to the nature park will include 666 housing units, including single-family homes, townhouses and condominiums. The project has not been given final approval, according to borough officials.

The group, however, had received permits from the borough to fell 32 trees on the property, Cloutier said, adding that the group exceeded the 32-tree limit. The borough is investigating the situation and will issue a fine to the developer.

“As of now, there is no permit given to build anything,” Cloutier told The 1510 West. “There are no projects on the table.”

Groupe Boda did not respond to a request for comment.

The company’s website does not provide a timeline for the project.

Gilles Paquin, a former resident of Pierrefonds, was visiting last month when he saw what he referred to as a “massacre” of the forested area next to the park.

Once a member of the group Sauvons l’Anse-à-l’Orme, Paquin said that residential developments on the property would most likely intrude on wetlands that are sprawled alongside the Rivière à l’Orme.

Wetlands are important for supporting high levels of biodiversity and storing carbon, but are also essential ecosystems for flood prevention, and their protection is regulated by provincial authorities.

Paquin explained that the wetlands in the park absorb surface runoff in an area that is both close to sea level and is located right next to a large body of water – the Lake of Two Mountains.

In an email to The 1510 West, Cloutier addressed the concern about wetland protection: “Wetland regulations must be respected and taken into consideration in any proposed development project, no matter the developer.”

However, Paquin said that he “didn’t feel heard at all” when he brought the issue to the borough and to the City of Montreal earlier this month.

Those concerned about the development will wait for the project to be proposed to the borough before taking serious action, Paquin explained.

“We won’t begin a petition for the moment because the town told us there is no permit to build,” he said, adding that he will organize a petition should the residential development go forward.

Major development site draws attention as trees stripped from lot Read More »

Staggering rent hikes top tenants’ issue in W.I.

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

Staggering rental increases in the West Island is emerging as the top issue facing tenants in the West Island, according to a spokesperson for a new group aimed at helping renters.

“It’s the hot topic that everybody’s calling about, that everybody’s struggling with,” said Lily Martin, a community organizer with the West Island Tenants Action Committee.

And with good reason.

Rental rates have been steadily increasing in the West Island in the last few years, according to data from the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal.

Between 2019 and 2022, the average monthly rent has seen double-digit increases in many places – form a low of nine per cent in Beaconsfield, 23 per cent in Pointe Claire to a whopping 67 per cent in Ste. Anne de Bellevue.

Putting that into real dollars, the average renter in Ste. Anne, for example, went from paying $780 a month in 2019 to $1,302 a month in 2022. Many renters have also been hit with subsequent increases in the last two years since these statistics were published.

The data also shows that the highest average rent recorded in the region was in Pointe Claire, at $1,507 a month in 2022.

Martin pointed out that around 40 per cent of renters in the West Island are living in “unaffordable housing.” This refers to having to pay rent that costs tenants 30 per cent or more of their gross household income.

To get a better picture of the issues facing tenants in the region, the West Island Tenants Action Committee, which refers to itself as CALODI, the acronym of its French name, Comité d’acion des locataires de l’Ouest de l’Île, launched a survey last month.

It is the first such survey to focus solely on tenants in the West Island, Martin said. It will serve to analyze the main issues facing the tens of thousands of renters in the area, as well as to familiarize the population with services offered by the group, which aims to provide renters with a platform to share the challenges to renting in the region. It is an initial step toward what the group aims to do – advocate for renters’ rights.

“We want to really ensure that this portrait that we’re putting together is as complete as possible,” Martin said. “We want to try and reach people who might not already be aware of our services, people who might be in more vulnerable situations.”

The results of the survey will help CALODI define its priorities, setting the stage for “broader advocacy, raising awareness for tenants’ issues and working to mobilize and organize tenants in the West Island,” she explained.

The survey asks tenants about the composition of their household, the condition of their building or unit, if they feel their rights have been respected by their landlord and their overall experience in renting.

So far, the group says about 100 respondents have completed the survey. Martin said that while this is solid progress “we’re obviously hoping to get a lot more.”

The survey takes about five to 10 minutes to complete and will run until October. It can be accessed on CALODI’s website or Facebook page.

Launched in June 2023, CALODI has worked with hundreds of tenants across the West Island. The group has been educating renters about their rights and resources at their disposal through webinars, workshops, booklets and a help line, which can be accessed by calling 514-505-0840.

Staggering rent hikes top tenants’ issue in W.I. Read More »

Number of renters in West Island increasing

As development in the suburbs shifts from construction of single-family dwellings to multi-family units, including apartments, the number of residents in the West Island who are renters is growing.

For example, in 2016, the population of Pointe Claire stood at 31,380, according to the 2016 Census. At that time there were 12,275 private residential dwellings, including 2,275 apartments, which represented 18.5 per cent of the occupied dwellings, the figures from the census show.

Five years later, Pointe Claire had 13,310 private occupied homes, including 4,405 rental units, representing 33 per cent of the households, according to the 2021 Census.

In Dorval, which had a population of 18,980, according to the 2016 Census, there were 8,390 occupied households. Of that total, 3,940 were rental units, representing about 47 per cent.

In 2021, the percentage of renters in Dorval had jumped to 48 of a slightly larger number of residential dwellings, as there were 4,190 rental units out of a total of 8,715 occupied households.

Number of renters in West Island increasing Read More »

Residents oppose 500 new trees in Pierrefonds park

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

Several Pierrefonds-Roxboro residents have been reaching out to officials at different levels to voice their opposition to the planting of hundreds of trees in a local park – land that was once enjoyed by many as a large community gathering space.

However, constant blame-shifting by municipal leaders has left these residents with little satisfaction and few answers.

In early July, more than 500 trees and 250 shrubs were planted in an open space in the west end of  Parc des-Rapides-du-Cheval-Blanc at the end of Riviera Street in Pierrefonds. This portion of the park, part of the Grand Parc de l’Ouest, had been an open green space that offered a beautiful view of Rivière des Prairies from the neighbouring apartment complexes. The space was also frequently used for gatherings and other outdoor events by local residents.

As they grow, the trees will become a small forest, blocking the view of the river and stripping locals of their much-valued social gathering space. 

The planting was done by infrastructure company NouvLR on behalf of CDPQ Infra, the firm that is building the REM train line as part of an effort to offset the environmental impacts of constructing the new light transit network across the island.

At the Aug. 5 Pierrefonds-Roxboro borough council meeting, several residents pressed borough Mayor Jim Beis on why the planting took place.

Resident Mark Eccles, who has frequented the park during the past 15 years, spoke about the environmental disruption that 500 new trees could have on the existing ecosystem. He pointed out how competition for sunlight would see existing plants and flowers wither under a new tree canopy.

Resident Olga Mora questioned why, at the very least, the community was not consulted first.

“It’s a drastic change,” Mora said. “We just felt that it was very inappropriate that we weren’t consulted, and we felt very disrespected because of that.”

Mora offered more detail in an email to The 1510 West: “It should have been a collaborative effort between the residents, the City of Pierrefonds-Roxboro and the City of Montreal to determine what works for everyone. . . that’s what a democratic society does.”

Beis responded by explaining that the borough had not been informed the trees would be planted.

He explained that in 2022, all boroughs were asked by Montreal to provide a list of areas within close proximity to the REM that could potentially receive new tree plantings.

“According to that criteria . . . that green space was one of the areas that was identified,” Beis said.

The borough never received word from the city that trees would be planted – nor was it informed how many trees would be added.

“This was sprung on us, exactly like you,” Beis explained, adding that the borough halted an additional 100 trees from being planted in the park after hearing the outcry from residents.

Over the past month, one resident of Riviera St., D.J. El-Tayar, reached out to different officials trying to track down who to hold accountable for the drastic change to her local park.

At an information session hosted by CPDQ Infra on July 22, she asked about the trees and was prompted to direct her questions to officials from the City of Montreal, El-Tayar told The 1510 West. In turn, a member of Montreal’s executive committee responsible for major parks, Laurence Lavigne Lalonde, encouraged her to take the issue up with her borough.

“Basically, everyone was pointing fingers at each other,” El-Tayar said.

A spokesperson from the CPDQ Infra also suggested that The 1510 West direct questions to Montreal, while Lavigne Lalonde did not respond to a request for comment.

Both Mora and El-Tayar want to have most of the trees removed and replanted elsewhere in Pierrefonds-Roxboro.

Beis said he would look into that option. “Certainly, we can find other areas,” he said. “We have one of the largest canopies on the island of Montreal.”

Residents oppose 500 new trees in Pierrefonds park Read More »

Charges laid in fatal shooting last February in DdO

FREDERIC SERRE

The 510 West

It took five months, but last Thursday, Montreal Police homicide investigators officially charged a teenager who they believe fatally shot a violent 42-year-old gang member outside a gym in Dollard des Ormeaux.

Facing a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the Feb. 6 killing is a 16-year-old male, who is currently incarcerated at a juvenile facility in Kitchener, Ont., where he is serving time for armed robbery. The accused cannot be named because he is a juvenile.

While police arrested the teen last month, the first-degree murder charge was introduced last Thursday during a youth court hearing in which the accused appeared by videoconference. Homicide investigators say they were able to identify the teen as the alleged shooter after reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing multiple witnesses.

The victim, Stevens Cantave, was shot and killed in the parking lot of a gym at the corner of Brunswick and Sources boulevards. Police said Cantave was shot several times. He was declared dead at the scene. Investigators determined that the gunman escaped in a waiting car, which police found the next day.

Cantave was well known to police because of his ties to the Ruffriders, a violent West Island-based gang, and the Crazy Juvenile Gang, a group closely tied street gang operating in Montreal.

Charges laid in fatal shooting last February in DdO Read More »

Probe continues into dramatic shoot-out in Dollard

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

While Quebec’s office of independent investigations (BEI) continues to investigate the dramatic shooting during a police standoff in Dollard des Ormeaux on Aug. 4 that left three people injured, a retired West Island police officer who today teaches law enforcement personnel about the judicious use of force says it’s nearly impossible to control a scene as chaotic as the one that occurred at the corner of Davignon St. and De Salaberry Blvd. when about 30 police officers exchanged gunfire with a lone gunman. The BEI is investigating whether any of the bullets fired by responding officers struck the victims.

“You’re dealing with fractions of a second,” says Stéphane Wall, who began his policing career in Pierrefonds nearly three decades ago and retired in 2020. “That’s how much time patrol officers have when faced with a dangerous suspect that they must neutralize.

“When everyone starts firing, you find yourself in a chaotic situation where bullets are whizzing by you and you’re fighting for your life and the lives of others,” Wall said. “You can never control these situations 100 per cent.”

Hitting innocent bystanders is a horrible possibility, Wall said, “especially when there are a lot of shots and a dangerous individual in movement.”

The drama began at about 8 p.m. when a gunman tried to steal a car carrying at least two men – a father and his son – who were unloading their car. The gunman allegedly shot both men, prompting bystanders to call 911. According to the BEI, police officers responded immediately, with more than 40 shots fired in the gun battle with the suspect. The father, son and the alleged gunman were seriously injured and taken to hospital.

Nackeal Hickey, 26, of St. Laurent, faces a multitude of charges related to the shooting, including at least one count of attempted murder. Hickey is also charged with violating a court order prohibiting him from possessing weapons and with violating parole conditions.

While Wall praised the responding officers for neutralizing the suspect, he added that Montreal police need to improve gun training for its officers.

“Ongoing training is very deficient in Montreal,” said Wall, adding that under the current system, only nine patrolling police officers can be trained at a time. “That’s not a lot.”

In an incident like the one in Dollard, responding officers only have partial information when they arrive on scene. “You don’t always know who is the suspect and who is the victim. This incident wouldn’t have happened if an armed criminal would have fired his weapon in the first place.”

Probe continues into dramatic shoot-out in Dollard Read More »

Pointe Claire to pull lot out of building freeze

BRENDA O’FARRELL
The 1019 Report

In an unexpected move, Pointe Claire council has proposed a motion to remove a lot from the city’s ongoing development freeze with the aim to allow two 13-storey residential buildings to go up on St. Jean Blvd. north of Highway 40.

Citing the need to move quickly to address the widespread housing crisis that has seen the price of homes and rents rise rapidly across the country in the last few years, Pointe Claire councillors said it could not wait for the city’s urban development plan to be completed, effectively approving a proposal that would see 367 rental units be built at the southwest corner of Labrosse Ave. and St. Jean Blvd., north of the Fairview Pointe Claire shopping centre.

“There is a housing crisis in Canada that we have to respond to,” said councillor Kelly Thorstad-Cullen as the motion was put forward at the July 2 council meeting.

“It is not an option for us to say we are going to do no more development,” Thorstad-Cullen continued.

The move sparked harsh criticism from Pointe Claire Mayor Tim Thomas, who condemned the action before the city has had a chance to put forward its development plan following an extensive public consultation process.

“I oppose this amendment,” Thomas said, reading from a prepared statement during the council meeting. “I don’t believe we should be taking any more properties out of the (development freeze) until public consultations and the revisions of our urban plan are completed.”

“For the past eight years, our urban planning has been decided for and by developers,” Thomas continued. “Changes to our bylaws have been driven by those who have best access to city hall and have gotten what they want on a case-by-case basis.

“There has never been an overall plan that takes account of our housing needs, our infrastructure capacity or the quality of life of our entire community,” he said.

“We can all see the strains on our infrastructure ­– from the traffic on St. John’s, to the brown water and reduced water pressure in Valois, to the frequent blackouts in Cedar Park,” Thomas said. “We can also see neighbourhoods which have failed to live up to our planning programs with regards to green spaces and first-floor commercial spaces for residents. This has to change.”

In response, Thorstad-Cullen said the majority of council has listened to what citizens have said during the consultation process, claiming: “And there are many aspects in this project specifically that are responding to what we’re being asked for.”

“It is in line with what we are planning to do with our planning bylaws,” Thorstad-Cullen added. “It is checking all the boxes of what citizens have told us.”

Thomas took issue with Thorstad-Cullen’s reasoning, arguing that it is not up to council members to interpret what they have heard via the consultation process in a haphazard manner. Rather, they should wait for the consultants hired by the town to convey the results of the consultation process to the city’s urban planning professionals, who will, in turn, formulate an overarching urban planning proposal, which could then be approved by council and applied to all proposals submitted to the city.

“What we have to have is a coherent organized plan that reflects what the citizens have told us, and then use that plan in its application to subsequent projects,” Thomas said during the council meeting.

Councillor Eric Stork added his voice in support of removing the lot from the building freeze, saying all 367 units in the two buildings planned will be rental units, which will be priced at 15-per-cent below the average market rate for the area, determined by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.

The building will include 3½- and 5½-room units to accommodate families, with rents for smaller units receiving 10-per-cent rental rate reductions, while larger units receiving 20-per-cent rental subsidies, for a minimum of 16 years.

Stork added that council was merely putting forward a notice of motion to remove the lot from the development freeze, and that public consultations on the project will be held in either August or September, after council votes next month to ratify the move.

In an interview Monday, Thomas said the city’s administration brought the proposed project to council for approval with concerns about possible legal action from the developer against the city, claiming the project, which had obtained subsidies from the CMHC, had already passed a number of hurdles in the approval process when the development freeze was imposed, putting it on hold.

First imposed in February 2022, Pointe Claire’s development freeze – which is often referred to by its French name – Règlement de contrôle intérimaire, or RCI –  put a halt to building projects in several key areas of the city, including the parking lot area of the Fairview Pointe Claire shopping centre, where a massive development comprised of thee high-rise towers has been proposed; the adjacent Fairview Forest; Pointe Claire Village; Valois Village; as well as at Pointe Claire Plaza at St. Jean Blvd. and Highway 20; and various stretches of Lakeshore Rd. and Hymus Blvd.

In April  2022, a majority of council voted to exclude the Fairview parking lot from the freeze only to reverse course a month later, and re-introduce it back into the development freeze.

RCIs are a relatively new tool provided to municipalities by the Quebec government to allow them to pause development in order to recast their planning bylaws to reflect the scope and scale of development within their territories. Pointe Claire’s development freeze is slated to be lifted once council adopts its new planning bylaws, expected to be unveiled some time later this year.

Pointe Claire to pull lot out of building freeze Read More »

Doctor acquitted of murders

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

Dollard des Ormeaux doctor Brian Nadler, accused of killing four patients under his care at the Hawkesbury District General Hospital in 2021 – including Claire Brière, 80, of Rigaud – is suing the health facility for $18 million in the wake of his acquittal earlier this month by the Ontario Superior Court on all charges.

Nadler was acquitted July 2 of four counts of first-degree murder and four counts of criminal negligence at the request of the Crown as his trial was set to begin in Ottawa. Two days later, Nadler filed his lawsuit against the Hawkesbury hospital and 12 staff members, alleging that they made “false, misleading, inaccurate and/or defamatory statements” to police. In his suit, the doctor is claiming $15 million in “general and special damages,” $1 million in aggravated damages and $2 million in punitive damages.

Nadler was arrested in March 2021 and charged with purposefully overmedicating Brière and other patients – Albert Poidinger, 89; Lorraine Lalande, 79; and Judith Lungulescu, 93. All four victims were exposed to COVID-19, the defence argued, saying it had several experts ready to testify that Nadler acted appropriately.

Nadler’s lawyer, Brian Greenspan, says his client maintains his innocence, and that the four patients died from COVID-19.

Prosecutors said they asked for the acquittal of Nadler, citing several pre-trial rulings that made it impossible to continue with the case. The Crown chose this route in order to retain the right to appeal the pre-trial rulings, adding an appeal of the acquittal is still a possibility.

Meanwhile, the family of Albert Poidinger is suing Nadler for $1.75 million in damages.

Doctor acquitted of murders Read More »

Two found guilty of making fake COVID vax proof

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

A former Dollard des Ormeaux pharmacy employee and an accomplice were found guilty last month of producing fake COVID-19 vaccine papers at the height of the pandemic, with the accomplice sentenced to 10 months in jail.

On June 25, Sumaya Saïd Ugas and Robert Anand Ramdass were found guilty of the charges of forgery and sale of forgeries, following guilty pleas.

Between August 2021 and January 2022, Ugas used her access as an employee of a pharmacy in Dollard to produce false vaccine evidence, with the complicity of Ramdass.

Ramdass was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment for each count, to be served concurrently, minus 45 days served in pre-trial detention. As for Ugas, the court postponed sentencing until Nov. 1, to allow for the preparation of a pre-sentencing report.

The charges against the pair were a result of an investigation carried out by UPAC, the province’s anti-corruption unit.

Two found guilty of making fake COVID vax proof Read More »

Hydro rejects call to bury power lines in Beaconsfield

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

A letter sent by Beaconsfield Mayor Georges Bourelle calling for Hydro-Québec to implement measures to prevent power outages has been received, the Crown corporation has confirmed. But the response from the utility may not be everything the mayor had hoped for. 

Bourelle sent a letter to Hydro-Québec CEO Michael Sabia earlier this summer, proposing both short- and long-term solutions for Hydro to pursue in order to decrease the number of power outages in Beaconsfield.

In the short term, he requested the utility work with the municipality to increase the frequency of tree trimming around power lines, aimed at curbing potential outage-causing accidents.

In the long term, he suggested Hydro come up with a plan to bury its power lines – a project Bourelle has called for in the past.

While Hydro agrees with increased tree maintenance, burying the power lines would be a far-too-expensive step, Jonathan Laporte, a community relations adviser with Hydro, told The 1510 West.

The organization is taking steps to increase its vegetation control and has earmarked $130 million in its yearly budget for the West Island.

In June, the Coalition Avenir Québec government granted Hydro the right to enter private properties to clear any vegetation encroaching on power lines. This can be done without the property owners’ knowledge or consent.

Bourelle told The 1510 West that he was surprised to hear that Hydro had been given such power, saying that he disagrees with the organization’s authority to “indiscriminately fell trees” without at least working with municipalities.

Removing Beaconsfield’s tree canopy without consent is not an option, he said, adding: “We are very proud of our tree canopy. It has all kinds of advantages in terms of cooling, absorbing carbon dioxide, all the things that a tree canopy does. It makes people want to live in Beaconsfield.”

His letter to Sabia describes the canopy as a “jewel” that makes “a major contribution to reducing greenhouse gases in the global fight we must all wage to counter global warming.”

In terms of burying the power lines, Laporte explained that such a project is not something Hydro is considering, given the high price tag. He pegged the price of building and maintaining underground power lines anywhere between four to 10 times more expensive than above-ground networks.

The process for repair work on underground networks is far more complex than overhead networks, Laporte added.

Bourelle, however, has been adamant that the benefits would outweigh the cost. He said that even a piecemeal plan to bury lines done over time would be better than no plan at all.

“This choice is all the more responsible in that, in addition to guaranteeing quality of life and peace of mind for the entire population, it will limit intervention in our urban forest,” Bourelle wrote in his letter.

“We understand that the costs of such an improvement are high, but they will guarantee, in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way, the reliability of the network itself and, as a result, that of the power supply to the 7,000 properties in Beaconsfield.”

Hydro rejects call to bury power lines in Beaconsfield Read More »

DdO aims to guide future development of Marché de l’Ouest site

JOHN JANTAK
The 1510 West

Many West Islanders love the outdoor market at the Marché de l’Ouest in Dollard des Ormeaux. And its indoor specialty food shops offer a wide variety of offerings that cannot be found anywhere else. So with that in mind, city officials last month held a public information session that focused on what the future of this popular commercial site would look like as demand for more residential housing in all corners of the West Island increases pressure to redevelop established areas.

“I would rather choose our destiny than to have it imposed on us,” Dollard Mayor Alex Bottausci told The 1510 West.

The city has not received any official plans to redevelop the sprawling 128,000-square-foot strip – almost three acres – along De Salaberry Blvd., but municipal officials outlined the city’s new proposed planning guidelines for the site. If these guidelines are adopted as part of the city’s new urban plan, which is currently being drafted, they would frame future redevelopment projects in this location.

It is those planning guidelines that were outlined at the public information session held June 19.

“If we do not do this, as we are working on our master plan, the Montreal Metropolitan Community (CMM) that is controlled by the City of Montreal, is working on their master plan,” Bottausci said, adding: “Their master plan calls for certain levels of density and other things that could happen on our territory if we do not come up with our own master plan.”

As part of the plan outlined by the city, the zoning for the site would be changed from strictly commercial to a mix of commercial and residential. In this way, residential development could be added to the location while specifically requiring that all the indoor commercial outlets as well as the outdoor market be maintained.

Keeping as much control as possible over the future development is the city’s aim. And it would allow Dollard’s new master plan to supersede recommendations made by the CMM, especially when it comes to the Marché de l’Ouest, the mayor explained.

“I want to hear from the community, and especially with the Marché. We want to make sure we capture everybody’s sentiments about this plot of land,” Bottausci said.

“I think this is a positive thing,” the mayor added. “It’s an opportunity for the community to get engaged and that’s exactly what I want. If we are able to draft a plan before them, then, essentially, our plan trumps their plan and they would move forward with something that we want.” he added.

“We all need to be reasonable, voice our opinions and collectively come together, design a plan and build something that makes sense for everybody. A plan designed by DdO residents for DdO. Something that makes sense to us,” Bottausci said.

The Marché de l’Ouest is owned by BTB Real Estate Investment Trust, a Montreal-based publicly-traded company that owns and manages properties across Canada. It opened in June 1982 and expanded in 2004. It underwent extensive renovations in 2016.

BTB REIT owns a total of 53 commercial and industrial properties in Quebec, including a strip mall on Sources Blvd. in Dollard, which includes a Pharmaprix and a Bank of Montreal; a commercial plaza in St. Lazare, and industrial buildings in Dorval and Vaudreuil-Dorion.

DdO aims to guide future development of Marché de l’Ouest site Read More »

Former priest denied parole

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

A former Catholic priest who served in Dorval, Pointe Claire and Senneville before being convicted five years ago of sexually assaulting two minors has been denied early release after being charged with sexually assaulting a fellow inmate behind bars.

Brian Boucher, 62, who was serving an eight-year sentence after his 2019 conviction for assaulting two boys, ages 13 and 14, was turned down by the Parole Board of Canada. In a written decision on June 27, the board denied Boucher both day and full parole. Like most offenders serving time in a federal penitentiary, he was qualified to apply for early release after serving two-thirds of his sentence.

The board, however, rejected his request for release, citing he now faces new charges of sexual assault, voyeurism and harassment in connection to a young inmate.

On Jan. 8, 2019, the court found Boucher guilty of sexually abusing a young boy between 2008 and 2011 while he was the boy’s parish priest. After he was found guilty, Boucher pleaded guilty to additional charges of sexually assaulting a different boy between 1995 and 1999. According to the diocese, Boucher began his priesthood in 1985, working out of churches in the West Island, as well as in LaSalle and Town of Mount Royal.

Former priest denied parole Read More »

Pointe Claire looks to build Highway 40 pedestrian overpass

BRENDA O’FARRELL
The 1510 West

The city of Pointe Claire last week issued a $2.2-million contract to a Canadian engineering firm to design plans for a pedestrian and cycling overpass across Highway 40 just west of St. Jean Blvd. that could cost more than $20 million to build.

But there is no commitment as of yet to actually build the infrastructure, according to city officials.

“This is just to create the plans,” said councillor Brent Cowan at the July 2 Pointe Claire council meeting as he explained why he was voting against the contract. “The actual pedestrian-cycling overpass would be up to 10 times that and more,” he added.

The city has opted to commission a design for the structure that would link the south side of the city, near Alston Avenue, to the REM commuter rail station next to the Fairview Pointe Claire shopping centre, north of the highway, with the promise of federal funding that would cover part of the cost of construction. Land on either side of the highway would have to be acquired for the project to move forward.

But Cowan said delays in getting provincial approval to allow the city to accept the federal funds has meant that it is not quite clear if Pointe Claire would be able to count on that contribution. Then, there is the unknown final cost of such a project, he added.

“In my mind, that’s too many uncertainties,” Cowan said. “So I will not be supporting this motion.”

Councillor Claude Cousineau also voted against the contract, which was finally approved by a majority of council.

“We are not ready for this,” Cousineau said. “It can wait. There are other priorities.”

Cousineau confirmed the final bill to build the structure could go as high as $20 million or more, adding there is no information on how many pedestrians or cyclists would actually use it.

In an interview earlier this week, Pointe Claire Mayor Tim Thomas said the federal government had offered the city an $8-million subsidy for the project back in 2022. But it is difficult to measure the significance of the grant, he conceded, without knowing the final cost of the plan.

Thomas said the design contract would propose options for the structure – like whether it would be covered to protect users from the elements, especially in winter. The final cost of the project would depend on the design selected.

“It’s a cool project,” Thomas said. “But it’s going to be costly. It’s going to be substantial.”

At the meeting, Cowan said this is the type of project that should be, in part, shouldered by the agglomeration. At this time, however, there is no financial commitment from the regional administrative body.

Pointe Claire looks to build Highway 40 pedestrian overpass Read More »

Local divers, swimmer head to Paris Olympics

ALEXANDRA ROBERTSON
The 1510 West

Three West Islanders will be among athletes participating in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris that open next week, where the opening ceremonies will be marked with an unprecedented parade of athletes who will travel by boat along the picturesque Seine River as they make their way across the French capital to mark the beginning of the competitions.

The West Islanders are all members of the Pointe Claire Aquatics Centre, and have trained hard to propel themselves onto the world’s biggest sporting stage.

Second Olympics for McKay

Diver Caeli McKay, who is originally from Calgary, Alberta, moved to the Montreal area in 2016 to train in Pointe Claire. The 2024 Olympics will be her second, having competed at the Games in Tokyo in 2020, where she was partnered with Montrealer Meaghan Benfeito. The duo finished fourth in the 10-metre synchro diving event.

In Paris, she will compete in two diving categories – the 10-metre platform competition and the 10-metre platform synchronized event with new partner Kate Miller, who has been training in Pointe Claire for about a year.

McKay, who soon turns 25, competed at the World Aquatics Diving World Cup in Montreal in May 2023, finishing fifth in the individual competition. She also competed in the 10-metre synchro diving event with Miller. McKay also earned the biggest individual medal of her career at the World Aquatics Championships, winning bronze in the 10-metre platform.

Pointe Claire native

Pointe Claire native Nathan Zsombor-Murray will also be heading to the Summer Games for a second time. As a diver he and McKay have more than the 10-metre platform event in common. They both have partnered with Benfeito. Zsombor-Murray and Benfeito finished fifth at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships in the mixed 10-metre synchro diving event. In 2018, he competed in his first FINA World Series event in Montreal and won gold in the mixed 10-metre synchro with Benfeito.

In Paris, Zsombor-Murray will compete in the men’s 10-metre platform diving event and the men’s 10-metre synchronized competition along with teammate Rylan Wiens.

At the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, Zsombor-Murray finished in fifth place in the synchronized diving event with partner Vincent Riendeau. The West Islander medalled in his first major international event at the World Aquatics Diving World Cup in Montreal in 2023, taking home the bronze in the10-metre event.

Making Olympic debut

Beaconsfield native Patrick Hussey will make his Olympics debut this summer.

The 23-year-old swimmer has represented Canada twice at the World Aquatics Championships, in 2022 and 2023. He is one of 29 members of the Canadian Olympic swim team.

In 2022, after his world championship debut, Hussey competed in the Commonwealth Games, where he climbed the podium to claim a bronze medal as part of the mixed 4×100-metre medley relay. He failed to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Games by one spot, placing third in the time trials in the 200-metre butterfly event.

The 2024 Olympics Games begin Friday, July 26, and will run until Sunday, Aug. 11.

Cutline:

Swimmer Patrick Hussey will make his Olympic debut in Paris.

Local divers, swimmer head to Paris Olympics Read More »

Marking 70th anniversary of tragic accident in Île Bizard

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

A horrible boating accident that claimed the lives of 12 children 70 years ago off the shores of Île Bizard was commemorated last weekend. But the event also served to call attention to how the tragic incident sparked lasting change that has improved safety protocols for all boaters in Canada ever since.

The accident occurred on July 13, 1954, when a group of 62 children – ages six to 11 – from a day camp run by Montreal’s Negro Community Centre along with counsellors travelled from Little Burgundy to Île Bizard for a picnic and outdoor fun. That was until a local man offered to take the group out for a spin around the Lake of Two Mountains on his 12-foot motorboat.

The boat made two trips with groups of children without incident. The third trip saw 17 children and a counsellor embark on the watercraft, which was designed to hold around seven adults.

While on the lake, the motor stalled. The crashing waves sent the children into a panic and the boat eventually overturned. None of the children aboard were wearing life-jackets. Twelve of the 17 children aboard drowned.

“It’s a very sorrowful event,” said Île Bizard borough Mayor Doug Hurley in an interview with The 1510 West. “Any parent would be sorry that this happened.”

But the disaster, Hurley explained, went beyond being felt by the families affected. It “changed (boating) regulations in Canadian history.”

The loss of so many young lives led to authorities looking at how to improve boating safety. And that, in turn, led to new safety regulations being put in place for recreational boating, including cracking down on overcrowding watercraft and requiring that there be a life-jacket for everyone under the age of 12 on board a boat.

As Île Bizard and Montreal are surrounded by water, Hurley said, it is paramount that boaters familiarize themselves with and follow the safety regulations. Especially given what he described as a “very limited personnel” of police boat patrols.

Now, 70 years later, it is important that people remember the story of the lives that were lost off the shores of Île Bizard, and recognize the importance of boating safety so that an event like this will not be repeated, Hurley said.

A plaque honouring the 12 young victims of the 1954 tragedy was unveiled at a memorial service last Saturday, the exact anniversary of the accident, at the Bois-de-l’Île-Bizard Nature Park.

Marking 70th anniversary of tragic accident in Île Bizard Read More »

Will there be consultation on future of Fairview Forest?

BRENDA O’FARRELL
The 1510 West

Will the residents of Pointe Claire have the opportunity to participate in a public consultation meeting on the future of the wooded area commonly known as Fairview Forest?

It is a question without an answer.

At least that is how it appears in the wake of the June council meeting in Pointe Claire – more than a year since the city launched its public consultation process following the adoption of a development freeze in key areas in the municipality to allow the public to weigh in on how development should take shape.

At the meeting on June 4, Geneviève Lussier, the spokesperson for the Save Fairview Forest group, put the question about the forest consultation directly to elected officials. The response she received was far from clear.

Mayor Tim Thomas turned to the city’s director-general for an update.

“We have to have a workshop … with the council before … for (council) to decide what the next steps for that,” said Pointe Claire director-general Karina Verdon.

Taking that information, Thomas then turned to Lussier and said: “Apparently, it’s still in the works.”

But then the mayor, who has repeatedly stated publicly he is in favour of seeing the woodland preserved from development, cast the prospect of a consultation session on the subject under a shadow of doubt: “My concern is whether it happens,” he said.

In an interview earlier this week, Lussier summed up her frustration with the lack of clarity on whether the residents of Pointe Claire will get a chance to weigh in on what she described as “the biggest issue in Pointe Claire right now.”

“I’m a little bit perplexed that this has not moved forward,” she said in an interview with The 1510 West.

“We’re flummoxed,” Lussier said, referring to her group which has been holding weekly demonstrations at the forest for the past 186 weeks, just more than three years, urging the woodland be preserved as a natural space.

She could only speculated that the acrimonious climate on council might be behind the lack of action on this question.

“There has got to be reasons,” she said. “I would like to know what those reasons are.”

In an interview earlier this week, Thomas said: “It seems to be a very cumbersome, slow-moving, almost stalled process.”

“I, too, would like to see where it’s going,” said councillor Bruno Tremblay in an interview.

Tremblay is clear he would like to see all of the remaining 43 acres of Fairview Forest preserved from development.

“I can only voice what I think should happen,” Tremblay added.

Councillor Eric Stork said the potential for a public consultation on the forest “is in the hands of urban planning  and the mayor. I have yet to see any proposal.”

“The administration is aware of the public interest in the topic,” said councillor Brent Cowan.

Given that the fate of the forest is one of the mayor’s priorities, Cowan added: “The mayor should have a significant role to play. It’s not my priority.”

So far, the city has hosted five public consultation meetings with the help of a consulting firm. Adding a session would require issuing another tender to engage a consultant to lead the process, Thomas said. There is no record of a tender being issued by the city, according to the Système Élecronique d’appel d’offres du gouvernement du Québec.

“It needs to happen since it was promised to us,” said Lussier, referring to a consultation on the forest. “It’s a matter of responsibility and ethics on the part of the council and administration.”

A session held by the consultants last October that touched on environmental issue, which included references to what homeowners could do on their lots and allowing chicken ownership, did not look at topics of development on a broader scale within the city, Lussier said.

Referring to preserving natural spaces and other issues touching on climate change, she said, “This is the issue of our times and there is very little action. Why is there such silence?”

Fairview Forest, she said, “is perfectly placed to be the Central Park of the West Island.”

This is not the first time criticism of the consultation process in Pointe Claire has surfaced. Earlier this spring, a resident asked council why key specific subjects, including the forest; the parking lot the Fairview Pointe Claire shopping centre, where Cadillac Fairview has proposed building a 20-storey seniors complex and two 25-storey apartment buildings; areas along St. Jean Boulevard; and the Pointe Claire and Valois villages have not been raised in the consultations to gauge residents’ views on these topics.

The process, said resident David Johnston in April, has not given “citizens the opportunity to talk about what everyone wants to talk about.” Nor has it touched on issues like the height of high-rises, the redevelopment of commercial zones or what would be the cost of possibly acquiring Fairview Forest, he said.

Last fall, a number of residents were outraged when they were informed at the consultation that dealt with environment issues when they were informed there would be no discussion of the forest. The topic was off limits due to what was referred to by the consultatnt as “judicial considerations,” one resident claimed to have been told at the meeting.

In the meantime, councillor Tara Stainforth in April has opted to revert to Facebook where she has posted a survey asking residents about how much money they would be willing to pay extra in taxes to see the forest purchased by the city. The initiative has sparked criticism as to methodology in gauging opinion.

Will there be consultation on future of Fairview Forest? Read More »

Closure of Highway 13 access tripling traffic in DdO

JOHN JANTAK
The 1510 West

The traffic spillover from the closure of the Pitfield bridges adjacent to Highway 13 in Pierrefonds-Roxboro almost two weeks ago has almost tripled the volume of vehicles on smaller streets in the area, and in particular on Sunnybrooke Blvd. in Dollard des Ormeaux. And there is no clear idea on how long the situation will last.

“The closure of both the northbound and southbound spans is affecting us in two ways,” said Dollard Mayor Alex Bottausci.

“Sunnybrooke is already heavily used because it’s a collector road, and we probably have between 2,500 to 3,500 cars going on it on any given day. Now, we’re looking at within the last week, there are maybe 8,000 to 10,000 vehicles going down that boulevard,” Bottausci said.

“The boulevard was built for heavier traffic, but now there’s 10-wheelers and 18-wheelers using the road. If you continue to pound the hell out of it, who’s going to pay me for that when it’s time to rebuild? These are my concerns.” he said.

The two bridges were closed by the City of Montreal on May 31 as a preventive measure after “serious cracks” were detected in an overpass that allows access to Highway 13 from Pierrefonds-Roxboro.

The structures span Betrand Creek, linking Gouin Blvd. and Henri Bourassa Blvd. on either side of Highway 13. Montreal has not said how long repairs could take. It simply said the routes have been closed “indefinitely,” according to an updated statement issued June 7.

“If it’s question of a few weeks to a couple of months, that’s one thing,” Bottausci said. “The indication we’re getting is that the solution is undetermined. We still don’t have any news on what the next plan is, what they want to do and how are we going to control this in the longer term if we have to.”

“It was just as if a bomb was dropped on us: ‘Here you go, you deal with it,’ ” he said.

The closures and detours have significantly increased the time it takes motorists to access Highway 13 north from Highway 40.

“People heading north in the morning now have to take a detour,” Bottausci said. “This changes the pattern, which puts you in more traffic rather than less, which is what they were trying to avoid in the first place.”

Closure of Highway 13 access tripling traffic in DdO Read More »

Cops sift through evidence after raids

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

Almost two weeks after a joint operation by Montreal police and the Sûreté du Québec led to raids on three residences in the West Island and Vaudreuil-Dorion, netting illegal drugs, military-styled weapons, and the arrest of three individuals, investigators are still sifting through the evidence.

The raids by heavily armed SWAT units early May 30 took place in Dollard des Ormeaux, Pointe Claire and Vaudreuil-Dorion. Seized were 11 military-style weapons and 10,000 rounds of ammunition, as well as large quantities of drugs.

Three men – ages 33, 43 and 48 – face drug trafficking and firearms charges. As the investigation continues, all could face additional charges. While two remain behind bars, one suspect was released on a promise to comply with various conditions.

Police say the three men are suspected of belonging to a criminal network. Officers confiscated about 13,000 methamphetamine pills, 2 kilos of cocaine, 380 grams of crack cocaine and other narcotics.

Cops sift through evidence after raids Read More »

It’s tough to find a home for a homeless shelter

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

At the end of last month, officials with the West Island’s only homeless shelter found themselves without a roof over their head, a situation that forced them to do the opposite of what they are supposed to do – instead of welcoming people, they were forced to send about 50 individuals out into the streets with tents and sleeping bags.

The moment put the Ricochet Centre into what executive director Tania Charron called “emergency mode.” That means trying to keep in regular contact with its users through its shuttle service, which offers emergency food service and survival kits, while continuing its search for a new temporary home. Last year, the centre served 171 individuals.

Over half of Ricochet’s users are over the age of 55. But no two individuals that turn to the shelter for help are alike, Charron said. Their experiences and situations that have brought them to Ricochet’s doors are all different.

“There’s as many stories as there are humans,” she said.

Amid trying to keep track of the people they have been forced to turn out to the street, Charron said her ongoing efforts to find a new temporary home are not getting any easier.

Ricochet has a permanent home, but it will only be ready in January 2025. But that is six months away, and Charron said a temporary home needs to be found soon.

Among the hurdles the shelter continues to face are bureaucratic delays and vocal opposition from local residents.

“I’m hopeful,” said Charron in an interview with The 1510 West. But she is cautious. “With all the disappointments I’ve had in the last few months, I’m hopeful, (but) I don’t allow myself to feel too confident.”

Charron has visited three spaces in the past week, but doesn’t want to get ahead of herself. Her search for a temporary space has been ongoing since 2021.

She had successfully delayed moving out of the centre’s old location in Pierrefonds-Roxboro for a few years. But that luck ran out last month, when the operators of the building, the regional health authority, needed to reclaim the space.

Charron described an adequate new location for the shelter would have at least 10,000 square feet of space equipped with bathrooms, showers, a laundry room, a kitchen and be able to accommodate at  least 48 beds.

Ricochet officials have been working with the City of Montreal to find a temporary space over the past few years. But progress has been arduous, Charron lamented.

While she believes there is goodwill among officials, the process is slowed by a lack of communication and bureaucratic structures.

“At the end of the day, it remains difficult to navigate between the different structures,” she said, “and it’s pretty tiring to hear every structure blame the other for the failure of the system.”

Pierrefonds-Roxboro borough councillor Benoît Langevin, who has been outspoken in his criticism of Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante’s administration on this file, agrees with Charron that the process needs to be expediated.

“It is the city’s responsibility to provide the location (for centres) like Ricochet,” Langevin said.

He added that Montreal must put money toward renovating vacant buildings owned by the city to house Ricochet and other non-profit organizations.

Opposition from residents

Another significant hurdle for the Ricochet Centre to overcome is finding a space in a neighbourhood while avoiding push back from local residents.

Charron explained that the social stigma around homelessness has created a phenomenon of “not-in-my-backyardism.” She said that there have been numerous instances in which Ricochet users and staff have been harassed by local residents, who voice their objections to a shelter being located in their neighbourhoods.

“Everyone wants to help, but not in their backyard,” she said. “That’s a big challenge.”

Charron added that she herself has experienced such harassment. One such instance occured in 2023 amid efforts to establish an affordable rental housing project in Ste. Anne de Bellevue – a project that was eventually scrapped due to push back from locals.

“(I was) being told: ‘Did you understand? We don’t want you there. We don’t want your people here in our neighbourhood.’”

It takes a strong will to do this work, said Charron. But she added that she’s confident in herself and her staff: “You have to be determined. Our team is really perseverant and determined.”

It’s tough to find a home for a homeless shelter Read More »

Municipal Affairs will not issue report on Pointe Claire

BRENDA O’FARRELL
The 1510 West

As Quebec Municipal Affairs wraps up this week its inquiries into how the city of Pointe Claire is being run, it will not issue a report, The 1510 West has learned.

“The process does not provide for the writing of a report,” said Sébastien Gariépy, a media spokesperson for the ministry, in a written response to inquiries from The 1510 West.

Officials in Pointe Claire have been meeting with the representative of the provincial government in a series of meetings throughout the last few weeks. The sessions were organized following a vote in April by a majority of the city’s council requesting help from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to restore order in the city.

Some, but not all, members of council have met with a Municipal Affairs official in one-on-one meetings, with some meetings scheduled for this week. At least one meeting has been held with a ministry representative and council as a whole, it has been confirmed. Meetings have also been held that brought in top administrators with the city, including the director-general, the assistant director-general and the clerk, it has been confirmed by a source.

Pointe Claire director-general Karina Verdon and city clerk Caroline Thibault have also met with a provincial official, according to one source.

But without a report on the provincial findings following the meetings, it is not clear what information will be shared with residents.

Asked what actions the ministry could take after completing its interviews with city officials in Pointe Claire, Gariépy said: “The framework provides for other possible actions, but this not currently planned.”

“The city is running well,” said Mayor Tim Thomas, when asked to comment earlier this week.

He would not share the details of the questions he was asked, but said that if anyone looks at how the city is run, they will see that services are being delivered, its finances are in order, it has a budget surplus.

During a special meeting of council in April, all elected representatives except councillor Bruno Tremblay and Thomas voted to approve a motion requesting help from the provincial ministry to restore what was characterized as order in the municipality.

Although the wording of the resolution adopted on April 16 states that deterioration of the climate at city hall cannot be attributed to “a single person, nor a group of elected officials,” councillors have since made it clear they blame Thomas for an acrimonious climate.

“The problem is our mayor, plain and simple,” said councillor Eric Stork in an interview with The 1510 West last month. “Everybody is done,” he said in frustration.

“The mayor doesn’t know how to be a mayor,” said councillor Brent Cowan in a separate interview last month. “He only knows how to be against things.”

In voicing his opposition to the resolution in April, Tremblay accused the majority on council who oppose the mayor of turning to Quebec merely as a political move to discredit the mayor, describing it as “a cannon shot to end political opposition and affect the 2025 election.”

Quebec Municipal Affairs has carried out 141 interventions in municipalities across the province similar to its engagement in Pointe Claire between April 1, 2019, and March 31 of this year, according to information obtained by The 1510 West.

This type of provincial intervention includes “support in conflict management, municipal management and intermunicipal cooperation.”

When asked for examples of the results of these interventions, Gariépy said the ministry does not keep statistics on the service.

Municipal Affairs will not issue report on Pointe Claire Read More »

Dollard man arrested in raid last month, wanted in U.S.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

Nearly a month after more than 100 police officers raided a residence on a quiet street in Dollard des Ormeaux in connection with an alleged drug-smuggling operation last month, one of the leading figures nabbed during the raid is being held by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in connection to a completely different matter.

The Mounties are working with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation to send the suspect, Dollard resident Jonathan Massouras, back to the U.S. to face charges connected to an illegal telemarketing scam that bilked seniors of an estimated $1 million.

Massouras, 33, who has been detained since the May 16 raid on a residence on Tecumseh Rd. by heavily armed officers with the RCMP and the Montreal Police Department, is wanted in the U.S. in connection with a case where he and four other men from the West Island were indicted in California in 2020 for their alleged participation in a telemarketing scam targeting seniors in the U.S., primarily in the state of California.

According to Charles Poirier of the RCMP, the raid in Dollard was connected to the sale and distribution of Ketamine and was part of a police operation that began last February when the RCMP’s C division teamed up with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. While no charges have yet been laid in the May 16 raid against seven individuals, Poirier said the police operation was part of a wider, continuing investigation involving eight residential properties – in Dorval, Laval and Brampton, Ont. – that were also searched.

While Massouras was not charged in connection with the raid, police officers discovered he was wanted by the FBI. He was arraigned a few hours after his arrest, the RCMP said in a statement issued last week.

Massourais was among five West Island men indicted in December 2020 on federal fraud charges in the U.S. The accused were alleged to have run a million-dollar telemarketing scam that deceived victims – many of them elderly southern California residents – into paying off non-existent debts they purportedly owed for magazine subscriptions.

The men were charged with conspiracy and wire fraud. Those charged were: Ahmad Eraif, 35, of Dollard; his brother Mohamed Eraif, 37, of Pierrefonds; Jonathan Massouras, 30, of Dollard; William Gampel, 29, of Dollard; and his brother, Kevin Gampel, 26, also of Dollard.

The indictment alleges that, from 2013 to September 2015, the defendants, from locations in Montreal and Toronto, contacted victims throughout the United States, claiming to be calling from companies such as “Magazine Readers,” “Global Readers” and “American Reader Services.” During these telephone calls, the defendants allegedly claimed that the victims – many of whom were elderly – owed money for magazine subscriptions.

Participants in the scheme allegedly told victims that if they paid the amount “owed” their purported debts would be satisfied and they would receive no future phone calls. However, victims’ personal information was collected and stored for the purposes of charging the victims’ financial accounts and for making repeated calls demanding payments, according to the indictment.

Dollard man arrested in raid last month, wanted in U.S. Read More »

Concerns raised over size of new seniors’ complex

JOHN JANTAK
The 1510 West

The planned construction of a new multi-unit seniors’ complex in Pointe Claire has one resident demanding the city unveil the plans before the project moves forward.

Nickie Fournier is concerned about how the multi-storey building that eventually will house 204 seniors will impact the surrounding neighbourhood, the area where she lives.

Although there is no firm timeline for construction of the planned building, she sees how close another new seniors’ complex that is currently under construction on Sources Blvd. is taking shape – a seven-storey facility that will house 192 seniors – and she is worried.

“It’s ridiculous what they’ve done, putting the building so close to the homes behind,” Fournier said, referring to the complex under construction on Sources. “It’s unacceptable.”

The height of the building, which towers over the neighbouring houses, will cast shadows on surrounding homes, Fournier said. She does not want to see the same thing in her neighbourhood. A tall structure would have a similar impact on her home and three other neighbouring houses.

“The building will be right behind the four houses on Maywood Ave.,” Fournier said.

Both new seniors’ facilities are projects put forward by the CIUSSS de l’Ouest de l’Île de Montréal, the regional health authority that will administer the care facilities. The building on Sources Blvd. is expected to open by winter 2025.

Plans for a similar facility in Pointe Claire will see the structure be built at the southeast corner St. John’s Blvd. at Hymus Blvd. The project is currently in the planning phase and the construction timeline has not been determined.

“There’s not much the city can do get the province to modify their plans,” said Pointe Claire Mayor Tim Thomas. “We can do our best to influence how the project will be developed, but they have the final say.”

“We can always try,” Thomas added. “There’s no reason we can’t appeal to reason if there’s something that doesn’t make any sense.”

Thomas said he is more concerned in how the project will increase traffic in the area.

“How people get in and get out is crucial,” he said. “Maywood is a small street, so we have to find a way not to put the bulk of the traffic onto it.”

“What’s crucial is how people get in and out of the building because that’s going to have an impact on the citizens,” Thomas added.

But that does not satisfy Fournier. She maintains residents should be able to see plans for the building before it’s too late. “Let us in on the plans. Let us know what’s going to happen,” she said.

Concerns raised over size of new seniors’ complex Read More »

Municipal Affairs setting up meetings in Pointe Claire

BRENDA O’FARRELL
The 1510 West

An official with the Quebec Municipal Affairs Department is currently scheduling meetings for later this month with members of Pointe Claire city council to discuss next steps in the wake of council’s approval of a resolution seeking help from the provincial ministry to restore order in the municipality last month.

Yet, it is still not known how long and what will result of the intervention, according to members of council.

“I don’t know where this will lead,” councillor Bruno Tremblay said last Friday.

Tremblay is the only councillor, along with Mayor Tim Thomas, who voted against the resolution at a special meeting on April 16.

On Monday, a spokesperson with the Municipal Affairs office in Montreal refused to comment when contacted by The 1510 West, while questions submitted to the ministry have gone unanswered.

However, one motivation for the resolution that has been driving seven councillors who voted in favour of the move is coming into clearer focus – their frustration with the mayor.

Although the wording of the resolution adopted last month states that deterioration of the climate at city hall cannot be attributed to “a single person, nor a group of elected officials,” councillors have since made it clear they blame Thomas.

“The problem is our mayor, plain and simple,” said councillor Eric Stork in an interview with The 1510 West. “Everybody is done,” he said in frustration.

“The mayor doesn’t know how to be a mayor,” said councillor Brent Cowan in a separate interview. “He only knows how to be against things.”

During the special meeting April 16 councillor Cynthia Homan, who also voted in favour of the resolution, pointed to a “lack of leadership” when answering a resident’s question on the need for the resolution.

Thomas, however, is pushing back.

“If I hold blame, it’s because I’ve defended what my supporters elected me to do,” Thomas said in an interview with The 1510 West on Monday, which was to slow down development to give the city time to revise its planning bylaws, a process that continues since a development freeze was imposed in 2022.

When questioned about his obligation to represent the interests of all residents, including those who did not vote for him in the last election, he added: “So you have to compromise, which I am willing to do.”

But finding compromise has been elusive.

According to Tremblay, one of the reasons for the lack of agreement is that it is not clear what the majority of council is pushing for, except undermining the mayor in the eyes of the public.

“Having lived in this environment for more than two years, I simply can’t believe this resolution’s being tabled for the sake of peace, love and understanding,” Tremblay said in explaining his opposition to the resolution at the April 16 meeting. “This is brute force given the sequence of events that I’ve witnessed and seen in the past. It’s a cannon shot to end political opposition and affect the 2025 election.”

In an interview last week he elaborated: “I was getting tired of these kind of moves – every few weeks, every few months,” he said, referring to a list of events that have punctuated public discussion, including members of council publicly rebuking former councillor Erin Tedford before she resigned in early 2023, councillors walking out of public meetings, calls for the mayor’s resignation and what he has described as “non-stop chirping on Facebook.”

“All of these things have come in a sequence,” Tremblay said. “I see this as an extension of this continuum,” he added, pointing to the call for Municipal Affairs to intervene, which he described as “a political manoeuvre hiding behind a ‘let’s be friends gesture.’”

Tremblay added that the majority of council has the votes to do what it wants on council. “They could take anything out of the RCI,” he said, referring the development freeze. “They didn’t have to vote for it.”

When questioned about the climate of political discord, he said there were a variety of options to seek dialogue other than asking the provincial government to intervene and create uncertainty. But none of his council colleagues ever reached out to him to discuss the topic.

“I see this whole thing as a political move to make sure Tim Thomas is crippled for the next election,” he said.

To the councillors who oppose the mayor he said: “They don’t stand for anything. They are too busy electioneering.”

As for Stork, he claims one of the biggest issues that needs to be addressed is how council meetings are conducted, pointing to the mayor, as chair of the meeting, allowing residents to criticize and, what he claims, “insinuate things.”

“It’s turned into a charade,” Stork said, referring to public meetings.

Stork admits he has spoken to officials with Municipal Affairs on several occasions, and claims the city’s administration is not receiving guidance from council, a function, he claims, should be handled by the mayor.

“Hopefully, this will all come out,” he said, referring to the report that he anticipates will result from Municipal Affairs’ intervention.

Cowan echoed the complaints levelled at the mayor, saying the city lacks what he called “senior high-level decision-making,” and said question period during public council meetings “has turned into a complete cockup.”

“It’s not supposed to be a debate,” he added.

Municipal Affairs setting up meetings in Pointe Claire Read More »

Dollard greenlights 1 of biggest mosques in Quebec

JOHN JANTAK
The 1019 Report

After almost a decade of starts, stops and legal wranglings, construction of what is being described as one of the largest Islamic centres in Quebec is now set to move forward in Dollard des Ormeaux.

The Islamic Centre West Island, a mosque that will serve as a Muslin prayer centre and community event space, received the green light last month from Dollard municipal council, which voted to suspend its legal proceeding against the non-profit centre after reaching an agreement with the organization.

The organization has launched a $2.5-million fundraising campaign to help finance the project.

The project is moving forward after Dollard des Ormeaux council adopted a motion April 9 to suspend the city’s legal proceedings against the organization after an agreement was signed between both parties.

The issue goes back more than 10 years when the Islamic centre signed a contract with the city in 2013 regarding the transfer of a vacant lot for the project.

The city then issued a construction permit for the mosque in June 2015. But three years later, in June 2018, the project had yet to be completed.

In fact, construction of the building had stalled. According to the minutes of the April 9 Dollard council meeting, the site had been left for an extensive period with just an open foundation. The project had been stopped due financial reason, the town claimed.

The municipality at that time launched legal proceedings, citing that the Islamic Centre West Island had failed to construct the building within the delays outlined in the deed of exchange that provided for the transfer of title to the lot.

Both the town and the organization subsequently entered into negotiations to resolve their dispute and to allow the Islamic centre to complete the mosque.

This led to an agreement in 2019 to suspend proceedings, according to which the organization would be allowed to complete the construction of the proposed building subject to a number of conditions. But that timeline was interrupted by delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In July 2023, the town issued the organization another permit to allow completion of the exterior of the building. Officials with the Islamic centre are expected to submit an application for subsequent permits to then proceed with the third and final phase of the building with the aim of completing it later this year.

Officials at the centre could not be reached for comment.

The mosque is being built on a 50,000-square-foot lot in an industrial sector of the municipality, on Montrose Street north of Brunswick Blvd. The main floor will include 10,000 square feet of space, with an additional 5,000-square-foot community hall in the basement.

Dollard greenlights 1 of biggest mosques in Quebec Read More »

Beaconsfield secures $3.1 million in grants for new cultural centre

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

Beaconsfield has taken several important steps toward the long-awaited creation of a multi-purpose cultural centre in Centennial Park this past month. As architectural contest finalists draft potential designs for the centre, a recent announcement ensures that the project will receive additional financial support from both the federal and Quebec governments.

In a joint announcement on April 29, federal and provincial officials unveiled a plan to invest a combined $3.1 million into the project, whose total cost is estimated to be around $20 million.

The facility will ensure that “culture is at the forefront and preserved for years to come,” said Lac-Saint-Louis MP Francis Scarpaleggia, who was on hand for the announcement.

Meanwhile, the municipality’s architectural design challenge is in full swing as four finalists are currently drafting blueprints and budgets for the new centre.

The four architecture groups competing for the project are: Chevalier Moralès, In Situ + DMA; Lemay, Bouthillette Parizeau, Elema; and Saunders Architecture, Bourgeois Lechasseur architectes, Option Aménagement, Stantec.

The contest, which is currently in its second phase, will see the finalists submit their plans to a panel of judges by Tuesday, June 11. The designs will then be presented to the public for open consultations on Tuesday, July 2.

The new centre will include a library, study and meeting rooms, spaces for community activities, courses and leisure, and a café-bistro. The construction will also offer a view of Lake St. Louis.

The centre will be made to “unite” the park with the Centennial Marina, according to a press release issued on behalf of Beaconsfield Mayor Georges Bourelle.

“Ultimately, the park will retain all its splendour and offer a greater area for visitors and activities, extending right down to the water’s edge,” according to the statement.

The municipality’s “Imagine Centennial” project held its first citizens forum to pitch ideas on how to utilize the park space back in 2015.

It is expected that the new centre will be opened in 2027, according to the city.

Beaconsfield secures $3.1 million in grants for new cultural centre Read More »

First of two new public seniors homes taking shape

JOHN JANTAK
The 1019 Report

Construction is progressing on a new long-term seniors care home in Dollard des Ormeaux at the site of the former Adonis supermarket on Sources Blvd., the first of two such facilities operated by the regional health authority planned for the West Island.

The seven-storey CHSLD in Pierrefonds/Roxboro – Dollard-des-Ormeauxis expected to be completed by the winter of 2025-26, when the first of 192 residents are scheduled to move in.

Thesecond facility, which will be built on St. Jean Blvd. near Hymus Blvd. in Pointe Claire, is still in the planning stage. There is no firm date as to when construction will begin. When completed, however, it will house 204 residents.

Both new CHSLDs will accommodate residents who currently live in outdated facilities as well as welcome new residents, according to Alexandre Cadieux, a spokesman for CIUSSS de l’Ouest de l’Île de Montréal, the regional health authority that administers the care facilities.

In the case of the new facility on Sources, it will become the new home for residents who will be relocated from the Centre d’hébergement Denis-Benjamin-Viger facility in Île Bizard.

Both facilities will cater to individuals living with what is considered a significant loss of autonomy, 80 per cent of whom also have significant neurocognitive disorders, according to information obtained from CIUSSS de l’Ouest de l’Île de Montréal.

The new buildings are part of a major transformation of Quebec’s residential and long-term care facilities for seniors, which aims to create residential settings to benefit both the residents and their loved ones.

They will provide services to a growing senior population in the region. Currently, there are 270 people in the West Island who are on a waiting list for a spot in a CHSLD.

According to the last national census in 2021, there were 10,275 residents ages 65 and over in Dollard. That is up almost 10.5 per cent from the figure of 9,300 in 2016.

The number of seniors in Pointe Claire in 2021 was 9,310, according to the last census, up almost 25 per cent from the 7,475 reported five years earlier.

The CIUSSS de l’Ouest de l’Île de Montréal projects that this upward trend in the number of elderly residents in the region will see a marked increase in the next decade.

First of two new public seniors homes taking shape Read More »

Completion of Île Bizard bridge pushed back again

JOHN JANTAK
The 1510 West

The completion of the new $85-million Jacques Bizard Bridge has been pushed back again – to 2025.

The main reason for the latest delay is complications in setting a pillar of the new span on solid ground, said Île Bizard-Ste. Geneviève Borough Mayor Doug Hurley.

“The second reason, as we knew in the past, was because of previous dynamiting in the area,” Hurley told The 1510 West. “They found the plans didn’t correspond to what they expected, so that added another delay of four months.”

Construction of the new four-lane span next to the current bridge began in 2022 and was expected to be completed by fall 2023, but various snags have pushed back the completion date. Last August, it was predicted the construction would be completed by this spring.

An estimated 30,000 vehicles use the bridge, which spans Rivière des Prairies providing the only route off the island to Pierrefonds-Roxboro. The work along with repairs on nearby Jacques-Bizard Blvd. have also caused traffic headaches and huge delays for residents of the island.

“Between 7 o’clock and 10 o’clock, driving 750 metres to leave the island takes 50 to 60 minutes, wrote retired resident Claude Boyer in a letter to Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante last year, expressing his grievances about the traffic.

The prolonged bridge repairs are expected to have an impact on traffic on the island later this year, when the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Île Bizard hosts the prestigious President’s Cup golf tournament from Sept. 24 to 29. The event is expected to attract thousands of spectators.

“That’s going to be one of my challenges – to try and be ready for that one,” Hurley said.

“All of us are going to have to get together, look at how we’re going to handle the influx of traffic, have a great event and not disturb the daily lives of the citizens who are living there,” he said. “There’s going to be a little bit of juggling with more traffic control and security,” he added.

Built in 1966, the existing bridge is expected to reach the end of its useful life in 2026, according to city of Montreal officials.

The new bridge will have four traffic lanes, one more than the three lanes on the existing bridge. It will also feature a two-way bike path, a lookout, public art and a sidewalk that is double the width of the walkway on the old span.

Completion of Île Bizard bridge pushed back again Read More »

Investigators still attempting to determine cause of fatal motorcycle crash on 40

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

The Sûreté du Québec is continuing its investigation into a crash on Highway 40 in Baie d’Urfé last Friday that left a young motorcyclist dead.

The aim of the investigation is to determine whether a slow-moving loader travelling in a construction zone, excessive speed by the victim – or both – were factors in the accident.

Witnesses told the SQ that the motorcycle slammed into the rear of the loader shortly after 7 a.m. in the eastbound lane of the highway near Morgan Road. Officers were told that the loader was moving at a very slow speed in the eastbound lane in the middle of a construction zone.

Police, firefighters and paramedics raced to the scene, where the victim, described as a man in his early 20s, was declared dead. Police have not released the name of the motorcyclist.

The driver of the John Deere loader was not injured, but according to Ève Brochu-Joubert of the SQ, investigators were expected to meet with him to get his version of events.

The SQ closed two of the three lanes to traffic last Friday morning as investigators studied the scene, which caused a massive traffic jam until noon.

Investigators still attempting to determine cause of fatal motorcycle crash on 40 Read More »

Missing man last seen in Pointe Claire: cops

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

A 39-year-old West Island man who disappeared after leaving an undisclosed medical facility in Pointe Claire last Saturday is still being sought by his family and police.

Investigators say they are concerned about his safety.

François Séguin, 39, was last seen last Saturday at about 2:30 p.m. at the medical facility. His family alerted the Montreal Police Department, which immediately issued a missing persons bulletin to all media outlets in the Montreal region. The police believes Séguin may still be in the region.

Séguin is 5 feet and 5 inches tall, weighs 130 pounds and speaks French only. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing camouflage pants a short-sleeved shirt and a bandana.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call 911 or contact a local police precinct.

Missing man last seen in Pointe Claire: cops Read More »

Pierrefonds group offers help to repair household items

ALEXANDRA ROBERTSON
The 1510 West

A growing movement to repair household items rather than tossing them in landfills is gaining traction in the West Island. The idea is to avoid having to throw away goods that can simply be fixed.

A new branch of a franchise that provides this service has opened up in Pierrefonds. It’s called the Repair Café, and it’s already a hit.

“We are not only fixing things, we are developing a rapport with the people as well,” said René Lévesque, one of four people who founded the Repair Café.

Lévesque started with the Montreal branch before the pandemic, and that one is going strong.

“We have help from the (borough) of Pierrefonds, but the effort really comes from the community,” he said.

As a service to the community and those who seek their help, Lévesque explained the café buys the tools used to fix items, but the emphasis is on demonstrating how to fix the appliance so that the owners can do it themselves in the future.

“It’s showing people that you can really make an environmental difference and help save the planet,” he explained.

The Pierrefonds chapter holds events once a month, and Lévesque admitted there’s a strong turnout every time.

“Last time, more than 80 people showed up,” he said. “We were sort of overwhelmed. There were too many people for what we could support.”

Many of the things they are asked to repair are every-day household items.

“We get a lot of lamps and items related to sewing. We have three people working at our events who have sewing machines, and they are very busy.”

There are a variety of items they can fix. However, for safety reasons, some will be turned away.

“One thing we do not fix is microwave ovens,” Lévesque said. “They can be pretty dangerous to fix. Because of that, we also don’t want people thinking that it’s safe to fix them up at home either.”

The movement has expanded so much that The Repair Café has been given a budget under the supervision of VertCité, which has been responsible for the Éco-quartier program in Pierrefonds-Roxboro since 2015. Under the Éco-quartier banner, it focuses on community environmental action and education.

“They collect tools and do advertising for us. It really helped with the structure around us,” Lévesque added.

“We will be happy to pick up a screwdriver, or whatever you have around the house, and show you how to fix it yourself.”

The organizer says that there are very few group events around where strangers come together and within an hour, become fast friends.

“Sometimes, people come to get their items fixed, and they end up becoming volunteers at our shop. They realize that they have skills they can use with us.”

The Pierrefonds branch of The Repair Café will be holding its next event on Saturday, June 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Pierrefonds Library, 13555 Pierrefonds Blvd. They will be offering a bike-repair clinic at this time as well. The following month, the event will be held at Centre Communautaire Gerry Robertson, 9665 Gouin Blvd., in the east end of Pierrefonds-Roxboro, on July 6.

Pierrefonds group offers help to repair household items Read More »

Pointe Claire consultations side-stepping key issues: resident

After more than a year since the city of Pointe Claire launched its public consultation process following the adoption of a development freeze in key areas in the municipality to allow the public to weigh in on how and how much development should be allowed, one question is emerging: Why hasn’t the consultation process focused public discussion on these specific areas.

These areas include the woods known as Fairview Forest; the Fairview Pointe Claire shopping centre parking lot, where Cadillac Fairview has proposed building a 20-storey seniors complex and two 25-storey apartment buildings; areas along St. Jean Boulevard; and the Pointe Claire and Valois villages.

“Almost one-and-a-half years later, we haven’t had a city discussion on any of these areas,” said resident David Johnston, who has attended three of the five consultation sessions that have been held so far.

The process to date has not given “citizens the opportunity to talk about what everyone wants to talk about,” Johnston said.

The five session held so far have dealt with general topics that include mobility and transportation; strategies that involved renovating homes, the transformation of underused commercial and industrial properties and the acquisition of vacant lots for redevelopment.

None of it has touched on issues like the height of high-rises, the redevelopment of commercial zones or what would be the cost of possibly acquiring Fairview Forest, Johnston said in an interview.

Last week, Johnston put his questions to council at the April 2 meeting.

“I think we need polling assisted by information that teases out the degrees of public opinion,” Johnston told council, explaining that it is clear that residents are divided, but it is still not known to what degree there is support for issues like a complete ban of development in Fairview Forest, partial development of the wooded area, development on the parking lot at Fairview mall in exchange of preservation of some or all of the neighbouring forest, and the potential of development across from Fairview at the Maxi shopping plaza.

And there are other questions, he says, including the eventual fate of the Pointe Claire Plaza property and other areas of the city that have been included as part of the building freeze.

Pointe Claire Mayor Tim Thomas pushed back. He disagreed with Johnston’s assessment.

“A lot of these consultations have been very positive and well conducted and the citizens have come away satisfied, which is, in the end, the objective,” Thomas said.

In an interview earlier this week, however, Thomas admitted that he is disappointed with what he called “the lack of specificity” of the consultations.

“I would have liked it to be more specific on height, greenspaces, the waterfront,” he said, adding the size of homes, specifically new homes being built, is another issue.

The city has promised to host an additional session that will focus on Fairview Forest. A date has not yet been set.

However, Johnston raised concerns about the possible scope of that session.

“We can’t consult on it in isolation,” Johnston told council last week, referring to the woodland. “Any consultation on the Fairview Forest has to be in conjunction with the mall property because I see them as two parts of a whole of one development project that has been presented by Cadillac Fairview.”

Johnston continued: “At the same time, I think it’s important that a number of other dimensions be brought to the debate. It would be nice if the consultation on Fairview Forest and (the neighbouring mall property) had with it a component that summarized where we are in the courts.”

In an interview, Johnston highlighted a number of other issues he said citizens should be informed on, including the significance of the permit issued by Environment Quebec to Cadillac Fairview to build in Fairview Forest and the cost of possibly saving the forest from development given that it is right next to the REM commuter rail station.

Although the consultations can be criticized for the lack of specificity, Thomas said, people are expressing themselves.

“They’ve been effective,” Thomas said, referring to the consultation sessions and online survey that have been conducted. “People have come out and spoken.”

Pointe Claire consultations side-stepping key issues: resident Read More »

DdO planning to increase residential development

JOHN JANTAK
The 1510 West

With residential construction projects already in the works on Sources Blvd. in Dollard des Ormeaux, the city last week signalled it is seeking to see its population grow in the coming years as it plans for several residential projects along other major arteries.

Among plans highlighted in public information sessions were two residential projects currently under construction at the intersection of Brunswick Blvd. and Davignon St., next to Promenades Sources – a 12-storey complex and a 14-storey high-rise.

Work on another eight-storey residential building recently broke ground at the intersection of Sources Blvd. and Hyman St. which is next to the Faubourg Dollard des Ormeaux.

Several projects are also being considered along St. Jean Blvd., including around the Blue Haven and Shakespeare commercial plazas.

“We’re looking at our boulevards that are in industrial and commercial zones and saying, ‘How can we retool these to meet the needs and demands of our future residents by bringing in a residential element,’ ” Dollard Mayor Alex Bottausci said.

“The urban plan has not been touched since 1982,” Bottausci added. “Some 40 years later, we don’t have a harmonious urban plan.”

Part of the city’s strategy as it revises its urban plan, officials said, is to encourage commercial space on the ground floor of new residential buildings.

This would help to support local commercial activities and “offer a wider range of housing types to meet needs of a greater number of citizens,” said Kerri-Lynn Strotmann, section chief with the city’s department of urban planning and territorial management.

Among the areas that would see the addition of residential units in what are now exclusively commercial zones is the Marché de l’Ouest mall on De Salaberry Blvd. The city is proposing to allow nine-storey residential buildings on the property while maintaining the existing indoor and outdoor retail space, including conserving the popular outdoor farmers’ market.

“There are certain elements we are bringing in,” Bottausci said. “And what residents have asked for is not only the residential component being added in for mixed use, but also how these buildings will be built, the materials that will be used and their proximity to transportation.”

The city also aims to introduce what it terms sustainable mobility strategies into its new urban plan to encourage active transportation corridors to the REM commuter rail stations at St. Jean and Sources boulevards by optimizing the bus network and expanding its bicycle paths.

The city’s strategy is “to create stimulating living environments on a human scale, while addressing housing issues,” Strotmann said.

The goal of the two public information sessions held last Thursday and Saturday at the civic centre was to present the urban plan to its residents “to validate its acceptability with the population,” Strotmann added.

The aim of the public consultation process is to continue getting feedback from residents regarding the city’s proposed urban development plans.

“Not everything will happen within the next year, just as not all sectors with transformation potential will be developed within the next year,” Strotmann said. “The planning horizon is part of a long-term perspective of 10 to 15 years.”

DdO planning to increase residential development Read More »

‘Only solution’ to frequent power outages – bury hydro lines: mayor

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

The heavy snowstorm last week that caused widespread power outages was just the latest example that emphasizes the need for Hydro-Québec to put a plan together to gradually bury power lines, said Beaconsfield Mayor Georges Bourelle.

Last Thursday’s outage left more than 200,000 Hydro customers without power, including about 12,000 dwellings in the West Island in the cold, according to the utility. By that evening, 1,600 West Island households were still in the dark. By the next morning, more than 1,000 homes in the area were still without power, several hundred of which were located in Beaconsfield.

Beaconsfield residents are no strangers to power outages, Bourelle explained. He has experienced six outages in his home in the past year alone.

“I’ve received a number of emails from frustrated residents saying, ‘What are you going to do about it?’” Bourelle told The 1510 West. “And there’s not very much we can do as a municipality other than put pressure on Hydro-Québec.”

Hydro blamed the power outages on “strong gusts of wind or the weight of broken tree branches” damaging numerous above-ground power lines.

This is a reoccurring issue that will not disappear without action, Bourelle said, adding that the only viable solution is for Hydro to launch a province-wide plan to bury the power lines.

The crown corporation currently aims to offset damage to existing above-ground power lines by keeping them clear of vegetation, including by pruning branches and clearing weakened trees. According to Hydro-Québec’s website, this vegetation control must be carried out along 17,000 kilometres of power lines annually.

“In Beaconsfield, we have probably the biggest tree canopy on the island, and if not, maybe in Quebec,” Bourelle said, adding: “There’s no doubt that, with climate change, there are violent storms, snow that comes down very heavily. There are chances that trees or branches will fall.”

The mayor argued that these power lines should not be prioritized over tree canopies. These canopies, he explained, serve to reduce urban heat and air pollution, generate oxygen and increase property value.

Premier François Legault had previously said that such a project would be unrealistic, estimating the total cost would be about $100 billion. Bourelle, however, suggested that this number is exaggerated, adding that the cost must be weigh against the financial and economic impacts of regular power outages.

In terms of implementation, Hydro-Québec should prioritize working with municipalities to identify areas where above-ground power lines are the most vulnerable to outages, Bourelle said. “And then have a plan to gradually bury the lines at every opportunity.”

Last week’s widespread power outage comes almost exactly one year after a powerful ice storm caused a massive outage, knocking out power for an estimated 1.3 million Quebecers.

‘Only solution’ to frequent power outages – bury hydro lines: mayor Read More »

Ste. Anne’s only grocery store fails to make financial go of it

ALEXANDRA ROBERTSON
The 1510 West

The only grocery store in Ste. Anne de Bellevue is set to close – again.

On April 21, the small town will have to say goodbye to Marché Richelieu for good.

“It’s been a rollercoaster, but now we are truly at the end of the ride,” said Mayor Poala Hawa, referring to the store that has struggled to say afloat since it reopened last spring after the former owner filed for bankruptcy in January 2023.

Hawa added that although the city tried everything it could to keep the doors open, there is nothing more that can be done.

“Whatever we were able to do to help, we did,” she said. “We sat down with Metro. We tried to find other ways to bring in new business and help them advertise it.”

She noted that the promotion was set to begin this summer.

Hawa mentioned that there was a spark of hope about a week and a half ago, when another grocery chain was going to step in and take over. But, in the end, those hopes were dashed.

“It’s legally very, very complicated,” she continued. “It’s a long-term lease that Metro had and they couldn’t transfer it over to the other grocery chain because they would basically be giving it over to their competitor.”

Claude McSween, the current owner of the store, had been keeping the place going for about a year. Growing up in the neighbouring town of Île Perrot, he had managed and worked in other small markets and a butcher shop, bringing a lot of experience to the table.

The expenses were becoming too high, and Hawa said that they were basically working at a loss from month to month.

“God bless them, they threw everything at it,” Hawa said. “They tried their best. They tried every avenue and number crunched as much as they possibly could.”

Everyone is heartbroken, Hawa said.

The mayor understands that this little shop was vital for the small community of Ste. Anne.

“The village is very different from the rest of the West Island,” Hawa explained. “It’s very car-centric everywhere else, you can just get in your car to go to Costco or wherever.”

But Ste. Anne village is different. The car does not reign supreme in this area, which is characterized by narrow streets and residential dwellings that are tightly fitted one next to the other, where many seniors and students live.

“People walk to do their groceries,” Hawa said.

“It’s a basic service that we’re losing,” she continued. “Most people don’t have a car, and because we don’t have a very good public transit system that people can rely on, they’re really stuck.”

The nearest grocery stores are Provigo in Baie d’Urfé or Maxi in Pincourt.

McSween and his family became a part of the Ste. Anne neighborhood, according to the mayor.

“It’s not just a grocery store; it’s a community centre,” Hawa said. “You go get a carton of milk and all of a sudden you run into your next door neighbour who you haven’t seen in three weeks. Then you stay to chit chat. You always run into someone.”

Marché Richelieu has served Ste. Anne for 85 years. It closed for a short while in January 2023 after the Coopérative de solidarité de Bellevue announced it had filed for bankruptcy. McSween and his wife reopened the outlet on May 25 with a new, fresh layout, new products and ready-made meals. The store is operating under normal hours until April 21.

Ste. Anne’s only grocery store fails to make financial go of it Read More »

Couple safe, but frustrated after car hit by debris

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

A West Island man says he’s been left in the dark by the Sûreté du Québec and Transport Québec in the wake of a serious road incident last Thursday in which a piece of concrete from a Highway 13 overpass came crashing down on his car’s windshield as he and his wife were driving along Highway 40 east. The couple miraculously escaped without injury, thanks, they said, to the strength of the windshield which somehow did not collapse.

“We have not had any follow up,” Dan Chelowa told The 1510 West on Monday.

The SQ and Transport Quebec have remained mum since the incident, saying only that the case is under investigation, adding that the pothole on Highway 13 that is believed to have been the source of the concrete that caused the accident has since been repaired. Officials with both agencies could not be reached for comment yesterday, although the SQ told Chelowa that at least 12 similar incidents were reported to 911 prior to his incident.

Chelowa, meanwhile, says that with so many similar cases having been reported to authorities even before his post about the incident went viral on social media, the matter should be taken more seriously.

“The police said they had over a dozen similar reports. They told me to file an insurance claim and have a nice day,” he said. “There’s zero accountability for any of this and I think that’s the most frustrating part of it.”

“We didn’t get hurt, that’s all that matters in the end,” he said.

Chelowa continued driving and even attended the gala, only reporting the incident to a downtown Montreal police station, where he was told to report it to the SQ the next day because Highway 40 is an SQ jurisdiction.

“I don’t think it has really sunk in yet, but the extent of what happened and how it happened is very scary,” said Chelowa.

Couple safe, but frustrated after car hit by debris Read More »

Agglo OKs plan that omits major W.I. boulevards as essential transit routes

Three West Island mayors voted against the Montreal agglomeration’s proposed land use plan last month, after the city of Montreal failed to include the region’s three main north-south arteries among the thoroughfares listed as essential for public transit.

The omission, according to Dollard des Ormeaux Mayor Alex Bottausci, is particularly egregious given the fact these roadways – Sources, St. Jean and St. Charles Boulevards – serve as direct access routes to the REM light rail stations, which are expected to be in operation later this year.

“I do not understand how a city can achieve densification on its territory without integrating public transit,” said Bottausci in a statement. “It’s a contradictory statement.”

The land use plan, which must be approved by the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal, the regional authority that includes 82 municipalities on and around the island of Montreal, provides the framework for development across its vast territory, setting residential densification targets that will force cities and towns to increase construction to accommodate larger population bases.

To denounce what Bottausci described the omission as an “unacceptable situation,” he and the mayors of Kirkland and Pointe Claire voted against approving the draft. The motion, however, passed by majority vote.

At the same meeting, all 15 mayors who represent the demerged municipalities on the island continued to voice their opposition to a series of spending moves presented by the city of Montreal.

The suburban mayors voted against a total of $152 million in spending they deemed unfairly forces residents of demerged municipalities to pay for projects or work that does not in any way benefit them. Among the projects they opposed was a new bicycle network and roadwork on the Jean-Talon corridor between Pie-IX and Cavendish Boulevards.

Next week the suburban mayors plan to continue to oppose the unjustified spending imposed on their taxpayers. To date this year, the representatives of the demerged municipalities have objected to a total of $357 million in spending. The agglomeration council, however, has approved all the expenditures, as elected members from the city of Montreal hold a majority.

Agglo OKs plan that omits major W.I. boulevards as essential transit routes Read More »

West Island director presents award-winning play described as interesting, complex

ALEXANDRA ROBERSTON
The 1510 West

Shame and suppression, with a little bit of joy and comedy mixed in are just a few themes in Dancing at Lughnasa, the play now at Hudson Village Theatre.

West Island director Donna Byrne said all of the characters are multi-dimensional and the audience will fall in love with them immediately.

“I think they are so well developed, and any family can relate to what’s going on here,” Byrne said.

This award-winning piece was written by Brian Friel, who loosely based the story on his own life. It takes place in 1936 in County Donegal in Northern Ireland, in a fictional town called Ballybeg. It tells the story of the five Mundy sisters who are struggling with poverty in the Industrial Age, while raising their nephew, Michael.

Byrne, who’s both a director and actor and a member of Playwrights Guild of Canada, noted that this piece is different from other performances she has directed because it’s a memory play. It is told from the perspective of seven-year-old Michael, who narrates, as he tells the story of a summer in his aunts’ cottage.

“We have the adult Michael on stage, answering as the child, but in the adult voice. The others who are on stage do not see him. It’s all in his memory,” Byrne explained.

Since this character has the perception of a young kid, he sets the tone for the whole story.

“It’s very interesting and complex,” she said. “But I’ve directed it so that it’s very easy to get. It’s no messy.”

Believe it or not, there are some similarities between this troupe and people today, and the challenges we have to face.

As Bryne explained: “One of the sisters, Kate Mundy, says, ‘Now that the Marconi radio is here, nobody talks to anyone any more!’ And it’s the same as when cellphones came around.”

Local actors are featured in the production, including Susan Corbett, who plays Kate Mundy; Dawn Hartigan and Susan Walsh, who take on the roles of Chris and Maggie Mundy; Bill Jackson plays Father Jack; and Steve Walters is featured as Michael Evans.

Bryne admitted that she couldn’t have asked for a better group to work with.

“I am so proud of them,” she said. “They are all big roles, and they are doing an incredible job.”

Byrne has now directed more than 60 plays, including Lost in Yonkers for the Lakeshore Players Dorval. And she is already thinking about what she will be doing next.

“With Lakeshore Players, we’ve had a few groups that we’ve formed,” she said. “We have the Moonlighters who would go around performing in seniors’ homes. That was pre-pandemic. We are thinking about picking that back up again.”

The West Islander says she falls in love with every project she is a part of.

“Once it opens, I like to go to every show. I like to just sit and watch the performance and the story. I get a lot of joy out of the fruits of my labour.”

Dancing at Lughnasa is produced by the Hudson Players Club and runs until April 14. For tickets, go to the Hudson Players’ Club website.

West Island director presents award-winning play described as interesting, complex Read More »

Car thefts on rise in W.I.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

Of all the West Island municipalities, it is in Pointe Claire and Dorval that car owners stand a greater chance of seeing their vehicles stolen, according to statistics released by the Montreal Police Department that show that car thefts skyrocketed in these two municipalities between 2022 and the first six months of 2023.

Indeed, the numbers for the period between January and September 2023 paint a disturbing picture for car owners living in the district served by Station 5, which saw a whopping 126-per-cent increase in reported car thefts in the first three months of 2023 alone, compared with the period in 2022, while there was a 120-per-cent jump between April and June 2023, compared to the previous year.

During the first six months of 2023, a total of 654 vehicles were reported stolen in Pointe Claire and Dorval. In all of 2022, there were 545 vehicles stolen on that territory.

The statistics for vehicle thefts in the West Island compiled by the Montreal police service come in the wake of the national summit on combatting car theft hosted by the federal government last week in Ottawa. The summit drew representatives from government, municipalities and law enforcement agencies. According to law enforcement consultant and former Canadian Police Association CEO Scott Newark, auto theft in Canada is out of control.

“There are several other developments, but given the priority these issues have finally received, I think car theft is an issue we should discuss because it’s not going away and it’s highly relevant to all Canadians,” he told The 1510 West, adding that auto theft spills into other areas, such as drug and weapons smuggling and organized crime.

“I’ve had involvement in auto theft and marine port export smuggling matters repeatedly since the late ’90s, when the Chrétien government inexplicably privatized Canada’s port authorities, abolished the Canada Ports Police and then allowed the China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) full docking privileges and control of their facilities at the Port of Vancouver, which resulted in a huge increase in illegal importation of drugs, guns and people.” 

Meanwhile, in police District 1, which covers Baie d’Urfé, Beaconsfield, Kirkland, Ste. Anne de Bellevue and Senneville, car thefts increased by 95 per cent during the first three months of 2023, compared with the same period in 2022.

Île Bizard, Pierrefonds-Roxboro and Ste. Geneviève saw a 74-per-cent increase in auto thefts between April and June of 2023 and a 14-per-cent decrease between July and September. Car thefts in Dollard des Ormeaux increased by 46.4 per cent during the first six months of 2023.

Car thefts on rise in W.I. Read More »

W.I. couple who exposed another CAQ ‘pay-for-play’ undeterred

A West Island couple’s attempt to advocate for a cause they have been supporting for years that got swept up last week in the growing pay-to-play scandal engulfing the CAQ government say they want to keep the focus on their mission – persuading provincial authorities to impose stricter drunk-driving regulations.

But Roxboro resident Elizabeth Rivera acknowledges the revelation she made during a hearing last Thursday before a National Assembly hearing examining Bill 48 that aims to amend Quebec’s Highway Safety Code has attracted more attention than all of their lobbying efforts to date. Yet, she refuses to be distracted, pointing out that she has still not received a reason why Quebec Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault refuses to lower the drunk-driving threshold, leaving Quebec as the only province in Canada that has not dropped the limit to 0.05 for administrative regulations that would permit a driver’s licence to be suspended or have a vehicle impounded.

“They never gave us a clear reason why,” Rivera said in an interview with The 1510 West on Sunday. “We ask the question: Tell us why. Why are we the last province? They don’t want to change it. And we don’t understand why.”

Although the federal Criminal Code makes it a criminal offence to drive with a blood-alcohol concentration of 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, a measurement that is referred to as 0.08, all provinces except Quebec impose administrative regulations that permit a motorist’s driver’s permit to be suspended or their vehicle to be temporarily impounded if they are found to have a blood-alcohol level of 0.05.

Rivera, who is the president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving Montreal, said she and her husband, Antoine Bittar, have been pushing for Quebec to strengthen its administrative sanctions so that drivers testing at 0.05 or above have their cars seized for up to seven days and their driver’s permits suspended for seven days. These measures would not affect the 0.08 threshold that would trigger criminal sanctions.

Rivera argues that stricter administrative regulations that would come with non-criminal sanctions like in the other provinces would have a preventative effect.

If a driver has their licence suspended for seven days, “the next time the person drinks, they will think,” Rivera said.

“Why aren’t we doing prevention?” she asked, pointing out that the statistics from other provinces that have made the move have seen a drop in alcohol-related deaths.

In British Columbia, she said, alcohol-related deaths on the roads have dropped by 52 per cent since the province dropped the limit to 0.05. In Saskatchewan, the limit has been dropped to 0.04.

Rivera urges everyone to sign the electronic petition that is registered with the National Assembly in support of MADD’s demand.

Sponsored by West Island MNA Monsef Derraji, the petition can be found on the legislature’s website: assnat.qc.ca.

To find the petition, look for the tab in the centre of the page that is part of the blue heading that says “Exprimez votre opinion!” Click on Petitions: “Signer un petition électronique.” Scroll down the list of petitions until you see the one sponsored by Derraji entitled: “Ajout de mesures visant à prévenir la conduit avec les facultés affaiblies par l’alcool.”

W.I. couple who exposed another CAQ ‘pay-for-play’ undeterred Read More »

Roxboro couple did not intended to re-ignite CAQ ‘pay-to-play’ scandal

A grieving West Island couple who unveiled the latest incident in the widening “pay-to-play” scandal that has engulfed Premier François Legault’s CAQ government had no intention to embarrass the minister they were appearing before last week when they presented a brief at the National Assembly in Quebec City. But they have no regrets, either.

“I answered a question,” said Elizabeth Rivera in an interview Sunday with The 1510 West. “At no time did I want to explode a bomb.”

Rivera and her husband, Antoine Bittar, appeared during a commission hearing before Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault to discuss Bill 48, legislation put forward last fall that seeks to amend the provincial Highway Safety Code.

The Roxboro couple have become actively involved in advocating for stricter drunk-driving regulations following the death of their 26-year-old daughter in a car accident on Highway 20 on March 20, 2017. The driver of the car their daughter and two others were in lost control of the vehicle, crashing on an exit ramp. The driver had been drinking and was found to have a blood-alcohol level of 1.25, Rivera said, more than three times the legal limit of 0.08.

After presenting their brief demanding that Quebec follow the lead of all other provinces and drop the blood-alcohol limit to 0.05 for administrative regulations to kick in, allowing police to suspend a motorist’s driver’s permit for seven days and impound their vehicle for seven days, Rivera and Bittar were asked by Nelligan MNA Monsef Derraji, a Liberal member of the commission, to explain the steps they had taken since their daughter’s death to push for these tighter measures.

In answering the question, Rivera described that after initially starting a petition that had been rejected by the National Assembly, the couple approached Soulanges MNA Marilyne Picard after hearing that her step-son had died in an accident. They felt Picard would be sympathetic to their cause and help them push for stricter regulations.

After Bittar had an initial conversation with Picard in the spring of 2023, the couple said they were disappointed with the inaction. They made several attempts to get Picard to respond to their inquiries about presenting Guilbault with the documents they had supplied – proof of how lowering the regulations in other provinces showed a drop in the number of deaths. But their requests went unanswered, so they gave up in frustration, they said.

Then, months later, in October 2023, an aide to Picard called them to say that if they paid $100 each to attend a fundraising cocktail, they would each be given two minutes with Guilbault.

The couple decided to pay and attend the event, as it was two days after the minister had announced publicly that the government would not be reducing the drunk-driving threshold. The couple were hoping to get an answer as to why, Rivera said on Sunday.

The revelation comes as the National Assembly’s commissioner for ethics and professional conduct launched two investigations earlier this month into two MNAs following news reports that they had invited mayors and voters to fundraising events to meet ministers in the Legault government.

Guilbault defended herself after the hearing last Thursday, saying no one has to pay to meet with her.

Questions about the government’s ethical practices has prompted Legault to announce the CAQ will no longer accept donations from individuals, despite having proposed last summer to raise the contribution limit to $200.

Legault has also reimbursed Rivera and Bittar for the contributions received last October. The couple will donate the funds to MADD.

Roxboro couple did not intended to re-ignite CAQ ‘pay-to-play’ scandal Read More »

Not allowing cars on new boulevard‘incredible’

JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

The plan to build a long demanded new north-south boulevard in the West Island but restricting regular vehicle traffic from using it has left some West Island mayors shaking their heads.

In fact, as traffic snarls the lanes of St. Jean and St. Charles boulevards well beyond traditional rush-hour periods, one mayor claims the recent announcement by the city of Montreal for the new artery defies the “West Island reality.”

The new boulevard is set to run from Antoine-Faucon Street in Pierrefonds-Roxboro, west of St. Charles Boulevard, to Ste. Marie Road in Kirkland where a REM station is under construction. The new 1.5-kilometre route will be open to public transit, pedestrians, cyclists and emergency vehicles only. The roadway is expected to cost about $60 million and is projected to be completed by 2027.

“It’s incredible to me,” responded an exasperated Jim Beis, the borough mayor of Pierrefonds-Roxboro.

See NEW ROAD, Page 2.

NEW ROAD: Restricting its use defies ‘W.I. reality’

From Page 1

“To spend $60 million when we know that the city is struggling financially, when we have other priorities, and you’re imposing something in my community that’s not wanted, it’s incredible to me,” Beis told The 1510 West.

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante has said that this new initiative would encourage West Island residents to opt for public transit, a more environmentally friendly option to taking their cars. Montreal city council approved a $20-million loan bylaw in January to allow construction to proceed.

Beis has been vocal with his objections to the project. He says restricting regular vehicle traffic from using the new road is illogical in a highly residential area where public transit is not as accessible as in the city.

He pointed out the fact that Antoine-Faucon is “a dead-end street. A quiet area. And now all of a sudden, you’re proposing to have a transit link that would take you to the train station. And not allow for any vehicles.”

Ste. Anne de Bellevue Mayor Paola Hawa agrees that denying regular motorists access to this new traffic corridor does not reflect the “West Island reality.”

Hawa explained that most neighbourhoods in the West Island were not developed to match the reality of the densely populated areas in Montreal’s downtown.

“The way the West Island developed over time means that it’s very car-centric,” Hawa said, adding that regular day-to-day commutes without the use of a car is not realistic for most area residents.

However, their views on the new project are not unanimous among West Island mayors.

Kirkland Mayor Michel Gibson says the plan for the new artery is “on the right track” given the local infrastructure.

“I have nothing against what’s going on right now,” he told The 1510 West. “We need the proper infrastructure to basically accept cars. And eventually we’ll have cars. But for now, the infrastructure doesn’t permit it.

“For now, the realistic thing to do is to be patient,” he added.

Both Beis and Hawa say they are in favour of climate-conscious measures, like promoting public transit. But both take issue with the City of Montreal and the Société de transport de Montréal making unilateral decisions affecting West Island communities without consulting local elected officials.

“This case is a perfect example of them imposing their will on a community where we haven’t even been brought to the table to discuss and negotiate, or even explain the necessity of having something like this occupy that space,” said Beis. According to Hawa, no West Island mayors to date has been invited to discuss new bus routes with the transit authority. If the buses are not strategically routed to facilitate access for suburban residents looking to get to the REM, Hawa added, “most probably (people) will say ‘to hell with it, I’m taking my car.’ ”

Not allowing cars on new boulevard‘incredible’ Read More »

Suburban mayors take first swing in their David-Goliath battle with agglo

Suburban mayors threatened to fight the Montreal agglomeration in 2024, and last month they took their first official swing. The punch landed, but it didn’t even leave a bruise.

And that is how their David-and-Goliath matchup is going to continue until something changes.

That something, according to Ste. Anne de Bellevue Mayor Paola Hawa, is the structure of the agglomeration system of government and, more specifically, expanding the pool of voters who elect the mayor of Montreal.

“That would change a lot of things,” Hawa said, explaining that taxpayers in all the demerged cities should have a say in who is elected mayor of Montreal.

Hawa was commenting after the mayors of the 15 demerged cities, including eight in the West Island, last month voted against nine resolutions at the first monthly agglomeration meeting of the year. Despite the opposition, all nine resolution passed without even a raised eyebrow of concern because the mayors of the demerged municipalities only control 17 per cent of the vote on the council.

“Even if we didn’t show up and not vote, it wouldn’t make a difference,” Hawa conceded, explaining that the big part of the problem is not just the unfair costs being imposed on the demerged cities, but the wholly undemocratic structure of the agglomeration council that effectively disenfranchises taxpayers in the suburbs.

“They can give us a bill – any bill – there is no way for us to contest it,” Hawa said in an interview with The 1510 West.

“It’s not just a question of money,” Hawa continued. “It’s a question of the system we are working under. This is not democratic.”

Voted against $63 million in costs

The resolutions proposed by the agglomeration council on Jan. 25 that were opposed by the suburban mayors totalled about $63 million. They included expenditures for everything from infrastructure work like sidewalk repairs on St. Paul Street in Old Montreal to cycling paths in districts of Montreal and work related to the extension of the metro system’s Blue Line to the east-end Anjou district of Montreal, yet the cost of the work is being imposed, in part, on the demerged municipalities.

“From now on, (the mayors of demerged municipalities) will systematically oppose any expenditure or financial measure proposed by the agglomeration, unless a direct, tangible and equitable benefit is clearly established for one, several or all of the demerged municipalities,” the Association of Suburban Municipalities explained in a statement released following the agglomeration meeting.

The strategy, the mayors say, will continue in an effort “to defend the interest of their fellow citizens and to promote fair financial management within the agglomeration.”

Something has got to give

“The status quo is no longer an option,” said Beny Masalla, president of the suburban mayors’ association and mayor of Montreal West.

The campaign to highlight the inequities at the regional level began late last year, when the suburban mayors voted against approving the agglomeration’s budget for 2024 that imposed 38 per cent of the annual increase in costs on the shoulders of the demerged cities, which only represent 12 per cent of the population on the island of Montreal.

In addition, according to the suburban mayors, the demerged cities pay an average of 65 per cent more for services than citizens living in the city of Montreal while receiving fewer of these services, like policing and public transit.

But Hawa insists the issues with the agglomeration are not simply about money.

“It’s taxation without representation,” Hawa said, pointing to the fact that if the approximately 400,000 residents of the demerged cities had a say in who is elected the mayor of Montreal, the suburbs would not simply be viewed as a cash cow.

A democratic principle is at stake as well, she argues.

The city of Montreal has no incentive to address this, she argues. In fact, it would be up to the provincial government to change the structure. But first, the average taxpayer has to understand that fact.

Suburban mayors take first swing in their David-Goliath battle with agglo Read More »

Quick-thinking city worker thwarts Mercedes theft in Pointe Claire

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

A quick-thinking Pointe Claire public works employee tag-teamed with police officers to nab a pair of car thieves as they were in the act of stealing a luxury Mercedes SUV recently.

The drama unfolded on Jan. 27 at about 10 a.m. at the corner of St. Jean Boulevard and the Highway 40 service road.

“I followed them in my city truck,” said Vaudreuil-Dorion resident Thomas Schiess, 56, adding that he had a bad feeling when his eyes caught sight of a tow truck with no logo or lettering awkwardly towing the SUV.

“The two guys were wearing orange construction vests, and the tow truck was being followed by a pickup truck and they both went into the back loading dock area of the IGA on St. Jean,” Schiess explained.

The city worker kept on driving, but the situation was gnawing at him.

“So I told the guys, ‘Hang on, I’ve got to go back’ (to the scene),” he said.

“By the time I got back, they were just pulling out of the IGA to go north on St. Jean, then east on the service road, with the Mercedes now being towed by the rear wheels, but the front wheels were turned so the Mercedes had pivoted out and was pretty much on a 45-degree angle as they went down the service road, and that’s when I called 911.”

Schiess says he credits the rapid response by police constables from Station 5, as they immediately chased down the tow truck and the accompanying vehicle and placed two men under arrest as Schiess arrived on the scene. Schiess then drove to Station 5 in Pointe Claire to write his statement for police.

An hour later, while filling potholes with his crew on St. Jean Blvd., Schiess says a Station 5 cruiser pulled alongside Schiess’s truck. Inside were the two constables who had made the arrest of the alleged car thieves. They had recognized Schiess and his truck and thanked him for his help.

“I was in the right place at the right time,” said Schiess, who has been working for Pointe Claire for eight years.

Quick-thinking city worker thwarts Mercedes theft in Pointe Claire Read More »

Community says farewell to veteran cop, ‘King of Cloverdale’

Friends, colleagues and West Islanders from all walks of life packed the Rideau Funeral Home in Dollard des Ormeaux last Thursday to say farewell to Frank Taylor, a decorated 30-year police constable who spent most of his career patrolling the streets of the West Island. Taylor died at his home in St. Lazare on Jan. 30 at the age of 80.

Long known as the “king of Cloverdale,” Taylor was remembered as a dedicated police officer, family man and role model for West Island youth. He patrolled the region’s north shore municipalities for three decades, before retiring in 1998. Taylor served out of the former station 12 in Pierrefonds and station 4, but began his policing career with the town of Hampstead.

“I want to express my deepest gratitude for your presence at my father’s funeral,” his daughter Patricia Taylor told mourners. “Your support during this difficult time has meant the world to our family.”

Friends, neighbours and colleagues also paid tribute to Taylor on social media, praising him for his generosity, kindness, sense of humour and for giving hope to young people.

“Frank Taylor was a great man and an amazing cop,” said Shawn Fitzgerald, whose father patrolled with Taylor. “He and my dad always laughed it up together. The Taylors’ loss is my loss, having known him over 40 years. His laughter will be missed by me.”

“A true legend, Mr. 12-4, Frank Taylor has left us,” wrote Sûreté du Québec dispatcher Stéphane Brunet, adding: “Frank marked the lives of so many for so many years. Through his great generosity and his good cheer, he was a friend to everyone. Today, my sadness is immense, but I promise that when I think of you, Frank, I will smile – but just not today.”

In 1997, Taylor was honoured with a Canadian Police Association Top Cop Award and a Montreal police order of merit for having risked his life trying to save a suicidal Boston man who had driven his car into Rivière des Prairies in Ste. Geneviève in 1996. Taylor rushed out of his cruiser and used an old rowboat that had a hole in it (which he plugged up with a shirt) to attempt to reach the victim, pulling him back to shore. Sadly, the man did not survive.

Last Thursday as the family received condolence, Patricia Taylor particularly praised members of the Low Vision Self-Help Association, who travelled from various destinations to pay their respects. Taylor himself faced the challenges of macular degeneration in recent years.

“Among peers who intimately understood the struggles he endured, he discovered a sense of camaraderie and gained practical advice that went beyond the confines of medical consultations,” Patricia Taylor said. “The impact of this group on his emotional well-being was immeasurable.”

Taylor is survived by Heidi Luther, his wife of 60 years, his daughters Patricia and Jennifer, and his precious pooch, Henry.

Community says farewell to veteran cop, ‘King of Cloverdale’ Read More »

Suburbs push back on rising agglo costs

BRENDA O’FARRELL
The 1510 West

As West Island demerged cities enter into a new year on the heels of approving their annual budgets for the coming 12 months, the growing burden of the cost of shared services controlled by the Montreal agglomeration is put in sharper focus. But this year, the accelerating pace of those costs and the seeming trend to shift a greater weight of the financial burden on to the suburbs is hitting a breaking point.

“Enough is enough,” is the message being levelled by the Association of Suburban Municipalities, a coalition that represents the 15 demerged cities on the island of Montreal, including eight West Island municipalities.

“This injustice is a true abuse of power, and in the name of fairness and respect for all taxpayers, it must absolutely stop,” said Beny Masella, president of the association and mayor of Montreal West, in a recent statement. “We call for an urgent and genuinely effective response from the city of Montreal to address this blatant fiscal injustice for our citizens.”

According to the association, residents of demerged cities now pay about 65 per cent more per capita for services managed by the agglomeration than citizens of the city of Montreal. And in many cases, they receive what is described as “significantly fewer” of those services, including police presence and public transportation.

In the West Island, this has translated into taxpayers in almost all demerged cities forking over about 46 to 62 cents of every tax dollar they will pay in 2024 to the Montreal agglomeration.

See COSTS, Page 2.

Also see Editorial, Page 6.

COSTS: Kirkland mayor calling for end to agglo

From Page 1

And in every demerged city – from Senneville to Dorval – the amount being charged to taxpayers has increased this year.

In Dorval, the city will be paying $84.3 million for agglomeration services this year. That is $4 million more than the municipality was billed in 2023.

In Pointe Claire, the agglomeration charges will reach $85 million – about $5 million more than last year.

In Kirkland, the agglomeration bill this year has hit $38 million. It now represents more than half – 52 per cent – of the municipality’s annual budget.

While the cost of services are going up across the island, the proportion of the growing burden is shifting, the Association of Suburban Municipalities says. This means the rate of increase assessed taxpayers in the suburbs is increasing more compared with taxpayers who live in the city of Montreal.

More specifically, the association claims that between 2019 and 2023, the inequity continued to grow, with demerged towns seeing a 28.2-per-cent increase in costs, while Montreal saw its burden rise only 19.3 per cent.

The situation has pushed Kirkland Mayor Michel Gibson to call for the abolition of the agglomeration.

“The agglomeration is something that should be eliminated completely and we should look at a more democratic way of being able to share expenses,” Gibson said in an interview with The 1510 West.

In Beaconsfield, municipal officials continues to pursue a court action initiated against the agglomeration in 2019.

Beaconsfield Mayor Georges Bourelle has called the agglomeration “a joke.” And does not hide his disdain for its practices of shifting the cost burden onto the suburbs.

This year, more than half of Beaconsfield’s $59.9-million budget – $30.6 million – will be handed over to the agglo.

In a report by the Association of Suburban Municipalities submitted to Commission on Finances and Administration of the City of Montreal in December, the demerged cities claim that despite efforts to address the growing disparity in the assessment of costs, substantial “disagreement persists” between affiliated municipalities and the city of Montreal regarding the fair sharing of agglomeration expenses.

The association even goes as far as to accuse the city of Montreal of making “no concrete effort to resolve this situation and evidently prefers to continue benefiting financially from these fiscal inequalities.”

“This is socially and morally unacceptable,” Masella stated. “We cannot accept that there are two classes of citizens on the Island of Montreal.”

Suburbs push back on rising agglo costs Read More »

Suburban mayors demand betterfrom Montreal agglomeration

Here are a few points from the report from the Association of Suburban Municipalities to the Commission on Finance and Administration of the City of Montreal delivered last month.

“The City of Montreal, through the president of its executive committee, officially recognized during the Agglomeration Council meeting of Nov. 29, 2022, that the existing system of assessed contributions for the Agglomeration de Montréal had reached its limit. Unfortunately, this legitimate recognition has yet to be translated into concrete action and results.

“For more than 16 years, the (Association of Suburban Municipalities has) been lobbying the City of Montreal to achieve true tax fairness for their taxpayers, and to date, without any real response or success. We insist and remind all concerned that there is a flagrant tax injustice for the citizens of our linked metropolitan cities in the agglomeration of Montreal, and that this problem must ultimately and effectively be resolved. Such an agreement will be the cornerstone of a true agglomeration partnership.

“Now that all our cities, including Montreal, have recognized the obvious fact that the current quota system for the agglomeration of Montreal has reached its limits, productive discussions should be relaunched as soon as possible to identify and implement a new management framework for sharing agglomeration expenses.”

Suburban mayors demand betterfrom Montreal agglomeration Read More »

Cops probe after canal building gutted by fire

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

Ste. Anne de Bellevue residents wishing to take a stroll along the canal in the town’s west end will have to wait as Parks Canada and police investigate a suspicious fire last week that gutted a visitors’ cabin on the grounds of the historic site. For now, the area has been cordoned off, said Ste. Anne de Bellevue spokesperson Rita Latif.

“We know as much about this fire and its cause as what Parks Canada has told us,” Latif added.

Parks Canada issued a public notice Jan. 10, alerting residents that a fire had broken out inside the building, causing extensive damage.

“Please note that the Ste. Anne de Bellevue Canal National Historic Site is currently closed indefinitely due to a fire in the lock’s log cabin. We ask you to respect the signage in place,” the notice stated.

The town also posted a public notice on its website and Facebook page, repeating Parks Canada’s warning to stay away from the locks while the investigation continues.

Parks Canada officials could not be reached for comment.

Local resident Natacha Filion, who regularly strolls along the canal, said she hopes the cordoned off area will reopen to the public soon.

“One thing for sure is that I miss my jetty walks,” Filion said. “The crossing is blocked from access.”

Another local resident, photographer Dan Bouger, visited the site this week and posted a photo of the gutted structure, suggesting that perhaps some good can come from the unfortunate incident.

“Here’s wishing that Parks Canada takes the occasion of this fire to rebuild and beautify the current site,” Bouger said, “with more open space and lots of windows rather than a cabin with disgusting toilets for employees who deserve better.”

Cops probe after canal building gutted by fire Read More »

Still no parking at Pointe Claire REM station

BRENDA O’FARRELL
The 1510 West

With just months before the Reseau express métropolitain light rail commuter train line is pushed into service in the West Island, there is still no provisions for parking at the Pointe Claire station next to the Fairview shopping centre.

According to a spokesperson for CDPQ Infra, the consortium building the $6.9-billion rail project, no plan to provide commuters with a parking area has been secured for the Pointe Claire station, nor has any parking for the general public been devised for the Kirkland station.

The town of Kirkland has struck a deal with a developer to provide 200 spots near the station, but this area will be reserved for Kirkland residents only.

“CDPQ Infra seeks to maximize access to REM stations by focusing on different modes of transport, including active and collective transport, as well as access by personal car,” said Michelle Lamarche, director of media relations for the consortium developing the rail service, in an email to The 1510 West last week.

“We are always working with local partners to develop access proposal best suited to the sector,” Lamarche added. But so far, no space for vehicle parking has been identified.

When plans for the REM in the West Island were unveiled in 2016, CDPQ Infra had promised 4,500 parking spots at the four West Island stations along the 14-kilometre route. That number has since been cut to 700, including 500 spaces at the Des Sources station and 200 at the Anse à l’Orme station in Ste. Anne de Bellevue.

It is expected that 4,300 riders will use the West Island train on a daily basis by 2031, according to CDPQ Infra. On its website, it only lists space for 50 bicycle parking spots at the Pointe Claire station – 30 under a roofed stand.

Almost two years ago – in the spring of 2022 – a CDPQ Infra spokesperson admitted that the lack of parking at the Pointe Claire and Kirkland stations was a concern that kept being brought to the consortium’s attention. At that time, the spokesperson said CDPQ Infra was looking to negotiate a deal to allow commuters using the Pointe Claire station to use existing parking lot space at the Fairview mall. Cadillac Fairview, the owners of the mall, have not been willing to agree to any such offer.

Still no parking at Pointe Claire REM station Read More »

Community involvement propelledHurley into mayor’s post in Île Bizard

JOHN JANTAK
The 1510 West

Nearly three decades of community involvement through volunteerism inspired Doug Hurley to run for mayor of the borough of Île-Bizard–Ste. Geneviève under the Ensemble Montréal banner last fall, winning the by-election Dec. 17.

Hurley, a former police officer and currently a teacher at John Abbott College, won the support of residents with 78.42 per cent of the votes. He replaces former borough mayor Stéphane Côté, who resigned in August because of health problems. Hurley beat opponent Ghassan Baroudi of Valérie Plante’s Projet Montréal party.

“I’m a local boy,” Hurley told The 1510 West. “I’ve been here for 37 years and I’m literally humbled by the amount of people who voted for me.”

Hurley said he ran for mayor because it’s an extension of what he already does in the community as a volunteer.

“I’ve been the president of the local Optimist Club for the past seven of the 10 years I’ve been with them,” said Hurley. He has also coached hockey, baseball and softball in the community for 27 years.

“This probably explains why when I was doing my door-to-door election campaign, I was surprised at how many people I knew,” he said.

Overseeing the construction of the new Jacques-Bizard Bridge, improving public security and keeping the green aspect of Île Bizard are his priorities.

“That’s the one thing we’re famous for,” he said. “We have the land mass necessary for parks and green spaces. I’d compare it to living in Hudson. We want to keep that orientation.”

The city will also prepare for the influx of traffic expected into Île Bizard during the President’s Cup golf tournament at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Île Bizard in late September.

“This is going to be another one of our challenges, especially with the bridge under construction,” Hurley said, as thousands of spectators are expected to attend the event.

“That’s where my background with 32-and-a-half years as a police commander is going to come into play, plus my 28-plus years training police officers at John Abbott College as a teacher,” he added.

Community involvement propelledHurley into mayor’s post in Île Bizard Read More »

Scroll to Top