Author name: The Suburban

Public urged to sign Cavendish-Hippodrome petition

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By: Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Members of Côte St. Luc council and traffic expert Rick Leckner urged the public to sign — in the thousands — a National Assembly petition asking that “before there is any further government funding to develop the Hippodrome site, that the City of Montreal respect the schedule they set out in 2022 for the Cavendish [extension] project and put it back in their Capital works budget.”

The petition, sponsored by D’Arcy McGee MNA Elisabeth Prass, is on the National Assembly website this week, accessible via the link www.assnat.qc.ca/en/exprimez-votre-opinion/petition/Petition-10931/index.html. The deadline to sign the petition is October 12.

Prass recently told The Suburban that “we’re concerned the City of Montreal is not upholding the 2017 agreement it signed when the government of Quebec handed over Blue Bonnets to Montreal— the agreement stipulates the extension has to be done to develop Blue Bonnets, and we see Montreal is bypassing that.”

A message to residents of Montreal, obtained by The Suburban, says the government of Quebec should “take its responsibilities seriously and ensure that Montreal put Cavendish back on track.

“That agreement [with Quebec] is clear. The Quebec government gave the City of Montreal a property worth more than $50 million on condition that the City of Montreal proceed with the Cavendish extension project.”

“It’s time we did something,” Leckner told the August 12 CSL council meeting. “What’s been going on with the City of Montreal is shameful….It’s time for the public to get involved. We need thousands and thousands of signatures to demand no further government funding be allocated to the Hippodrome project until the City of Montreal puts Cavendish back on the Capital Works program. This affects all of us every day.”

Councillor Dida Berku also urged thousands to sign the petition. “Council will share that petition,” she added. “I think 60 days will be enough time to get support from the citizens.” n

Public urged to sign Cavendish-Hippodrome petition Read More »

Hope & Cope founder Sheila Kussner passes away

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Sheila Kussner, who inspired and touched generations of Montrealers with her bravery and dedication to supporting people with cancer for more than 40 years, passed away last week at the age of 91.

Kussner, who lost part of a leg to cancer at the age of 14, founded Hope & Cope in 1981 at the Jewish General Hospital to improve the lives of others in the community affected by cancer — both patients and their loved ones. The Hope & Cope Wellness Centre opened in 2007, the first such stand-alone centre in Montreal. The centre, which is recognized internationally, offers support services to patients for free.

The organization’s tribute stated that, “Her contributions and unparalleled fundraising efforts over more than four decades have truly transformed the way our society cares for and supports people with cancer. Under Sheila’s leadership, Hope & Cope pioneered the concept of organized peer support for people living with cancer and their families. Working in collaboration with the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, Hope & Cope became integral to the hospital’s approach to oncology support. Sheila’s fundraising was legendary, gathering tens of millions of dollars in support of Hope & Cope.”

Suzanne O’Brien, President of the Hope & Cope Board of Directors, said that “Sheila intuitively understood that people who have had cancer themselves are uniquely qualified to support those who are newly diagnosed. We mourn a remarkable and compassionate woman who has impacted us all in so many ways. Since the day she founded Hope & Cope, Sheila’s pride in her staff and volunteers knew no limits. She was an inspiration to all who knew her. Her passion for helping cancer patients live fuller, richer lives despite their diagnosis drove her every day. On behalf of the organization she founded, we extend our deepest sympathies to Sheila’s beloved family.”

Kussner was also a recipient of numerous honours — an Officer of the Order of Canada, Officer of the Order of Quebec, and Commander of the Order of Montreal; held honorary doctorates from McGill University and the University of Montreal; and a Governor Emerita of McGill University.

She was also awarded many community service awards, including the Distinguished Service Award from the Jewish General Hospital, the Robert Fisher Fellowship Award (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City), the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award (Association of Fundraising Professionals – Québec section).

As well Kussner spearheaded the development of oncology as a separate discipline in the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University, raising $30 million to establish the Department of Oncology. She also played a lead role in securing funding for the Jewish General Hospital’s Palliative Care Unit and other Oncology-based programs. She was an early and passionate advocate for establishing a strong research core to Hope & Cope’s programs. Recognizing that research and evidence must underpin cancer support activities, she helped establish the Christine and Herschel Victor – Hope & Cope Chair in Psychosocial Oncology – the first such research chair in Quebec.

Tributes poured in following news of Kussner’s passing from friends, community notables and Hope & Cope volunteers.

Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather posted on X: “’A woman of valour who can find? For her price is far above rubies.’ This verse from Proverbs fit Sheila Kussner perfectly. Her incredible work in philanthropy, her founding of Hope & Cope. Her kindness. She is irreplaceable. May her memory be a blessing.”

Federation CJA posted to Kussner’s family, “we extend our sincere condolences for the loss of Sheila Kussner Z”L. May you and those dear to you be comforted with all the mourners of Zion and may your cherished memories bring you the strength to navigate this time of grief.”

A Hope & Cope volunteer wrote: “What an exemplary lady she was! When at a very young age, Sheila Kussner was struck with cancer, her mother told her ‘Sheila, you can make it bitter or you can make better! Sheila certain made it better!’ May you rest in peace dear lady, I cannot forget you.”

Kussner’s funeral was held August 9.

Donations can be made to Hope & Cope by calling 514-340-8251 or by visiting hopeandcope.ca. n

Hope & Cope founder Sheila Kussner passes away Read More »

Premier Legault tees off at Meadowbrook Golf Course

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By: Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Premier François Legault has golfed at the Meadowbrook Golf Course — which straddles Côte St. Luc and Lachine, on at least three occasions and as recently as Friday Aug. 2, CSL councillor Mike Cohen revealed last week.

Cohen found out the intriguing news after partaking in the  Côte Saint-Luc Golf Invitational,organized by the CSL council and the city’s Men’s Club.

“When I went to rent my electric cart, I learned that someone who is not known to show much fondness for the anglophone community has come to golf here on at least three occasions this summer, most recently the previous Friday — yes, I am talking about the Premier of Quebec, François Legault,” Cohen wrote on his blog Aug. 6.

The councillor mused as to whether Legault should “organize a golf foursome with Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, D’Arcy McGee Liberal MNA Elisabeth Prass and Mount Royal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather.

“I am shocked the Premier even knows where Côte St. Luc is, although his Repentigny MNA and Minister for Higher Education Pascale Déry lived in our community for many years before moving to Hampstead,” Cohen humorously added.

The councillor said he was told by Meadowbrook personnel that Legault was accompanied by his family and a security detail.

“At least one family member stated that the venue was chosen specifically because it was in an English area where they would not necessarily be recognized. Perhaps Meadowbrook should start asking for certificates of English eligibility to golf? All kidding aside, Mayor Brownstein was golfing with Councillor Dida Berku and former Mayor Robert Libman. They were all quite interested to hear the Premier came to CSL. Our Mayor will indeed formally invite him to come golf with him so they can discuss the Cavendish Boulevard extension and keeping Meadowbrook as green space for eternity.”

Contacted by The Suburban to confirm their willingness to golf with Legault, Brownstein replied, “for sure.”

Berku replied, “of course and we could take him to see Cavendish at the same time,” of course, relating to the long elusive extension that appears not to be a priority for Montreal.

Premier Legault tees off at Meadowbrook Golf Course Read More »

St. Laurent inundated with flooding complaints

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The borough of St. Laurent received numerous complaints about flooding during the July 10 downpour, and that topic dominated the August council meeting question period, which went on for nearly two hours, during which residents called for action.

The borough was exceptionally affected by the rain, which originated with Hurricane Beryl. Videos and photos emerged of massive flooding in the area of Thimens and Place Vertu — at the time, The Suburban spoke to the owner of a 130-unit building on Thimens whose garage was flooded and where power was lost for a time. Mayor Alan DeSousa said he saw videos and photos of the area near Autoroute 40, and compared it to the Black Sea.

One of those speaking at the council meeting was Norman Street resident Harry Babaroutsis. “I got flooded with three feet of water,” he told The Suburban. “I have to change my heating system. I cut my walls downstairs, I lost a lot of stuff. I’m a photographer and I lost some cameras. My snowblower got flooded.” Babaroutsis estimates his losses at about $55,000.

DeSousa told residents climate change has prompted more heavy rains over the years, and that solutions are being sought, in terns of what the borough and the City of Montreal can do, and what residents can do as well. He was out of town July 10, and has visited residents in recent days.

The Mayor told The Suburban that “the city was not spared July 10. There were streets that had been redone with new infrastructure, like my street, Saint-Germain 10 years ago, and I even had water in my basement.

Flooding also took place in 2005 and 2006.DeSousa said inspectors visited industries in 2007 to inspect their water retention systems, “and we found they had been disconnected. I have no clue why [that happened].”

St. Laurent inundated with flooding complaints Read More »

St. Laurent passes Montreal’s first bird protection bylaw

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

St. Laurent council passed a bylaw amendment at its recent council meeting – a first for Montreal – to help reduce the risk of birds flying into the glass surfaces of new buildings, as part of the borough’s effort to protect biodiversity.

The bylaw amendment was passed amidst a great deal of new construction that is an ongoing phenomenon in the Greater Montreal area.

The bylaw prohibits transparent glass on exterior railings. As well, “new evaluation criteria have been introduced in order to design buildings and landscaping in such a way as to protect birds in the vicinity of the borough’s natural environments.”

The borough will also soon be launching an information campaign “focusing on single-family, two-family and multiplex residential buildings, which are not covered by the bylaw amendment,” says a St. Laurent statement. “The campaign will be followed, in 2025, by a public awareness campaign. The objective will be to encourage the public to act responsibly, not only to minimize the risks of collisions for birds, but also to promote their well-being.”

“By amending zoning bylaw RCA08-08-0001, St. Laurent is aiming to reduce collision risks and ensure the protection of birds. Some types of buildings with more than 50 percent glass surfaces or windows on the exterior walls will require special treatment for new construction, extensions or exterior modifications. This is the case for multi-family dwellings, multi-family service dwellings, multi-bedroom dwellings; industrial, retail or service buildings, and buildings in a park or green space.”

The borough says that, as a result, “90 percent of the glass panes on these buildings, including greenhouses and railings, located less than 16 m from the ground or less than 4 m from the green roof level, must now be subject to the special treatment detailed in the bylaw. Such measures help reduce the reflectivity of the glass surface, and, consequently, the risk of bird collisions.”

As well, “only opaque, frosted or fritted glass or glass incorporating visual markers may now be used as railings on buildings or structures throughout St. Laurent territory.”

St. Laurent passes Montreal’s first bird protection bylaw Read More »

“Unlearn it” program to fight antisemitism launched in Quebec

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The Centre For Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), Federation CJA and the Quebec government recently unveiled a Quebec version of Unlearn It, the educational resource that “supports parents and educators in teaching youth how to identify, unlearn, and stand against antisemitism.”

The program for elementary and high school students, announced at a Gelber Centre press conference by CIJA Quebec vice-president Eta Yudin, Quebec Minister Responsible for the Fight Against Racism Christopher Skeete and Federation CJA board chair Steve Sebag, comes at a time of skyrocketing antisemitic incidents, in words and deeds, in Quebec since Oct. 7, including antisemitic smears directed at Jewish students in school classrooms and playgrounds, and on social media.

The Unlearn It program, a free, bilingual resource launched in Ontario in 2023, “offers short educational videos and discussion guides to frame constructive, courageous conversations – at home or in the classroom – centred on Canadian Grade 6-8 students’ lived experiences with antisemitism and online hate.” Animated videos, in French and based on actual antisemitic incidents, were shown at the press conference.

Yudin said that “at a time when the figures show a frightening rise in hate crimes and incidents – in Montreal, the SPVM noted a 67 percent increase in hate crimes and a 138 percent rise in hate incidents – and when we have sounded the alarm many times about the ravages of antisemitism in our society, a new, effective educational tool to combat this scourge is sincerely welcome.

“With this choice, the Quebec government is following its words with actions.”

Yair Szlak, President and CEO of Federation CJA, said that “since education is often the best weapon for destroying prejudice and confronting hatred, we’re delighted to have been able to adapt the Unlearn It program. It will also help combat hatred among fellow students. This program will help protect our community by providing a new educational weapon to combat hateful prejudice.”

Skeete said that raising awareness is “crucial in countering prejudice and preventing discrimination in its various forms.

“I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), the advocacy agency of Federation CJA. Through their collaboration with our government, they have brought to fruition a valuable and innovative tool for promoting peaceful coexistence, thereby strengthening our shared commitment to fostering a more inclusive and harmonious society.”

“Unlearn it” program to fight antisemitism launched in Quebec Read More »

Montreal over-regulates housing, affecting affordability: MEI

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Montreal more heavily regulates housing than 73 percent of Canadian cities and provinces surveyed by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, resulting in an eroding of affordability and increases in housing prices, says a new study released by the Montreal Economic institute.

“The more regulation there is, the longer it takes and the more it costs to build new units, thus making housing more expensive and harder to find,” stated Vincent Geloso, senior economist at the MEI and author of the study. “Contrary to what the Mayor (Valérie Plante) claims, the market is capable of responding to demand; the city just needs to allow it to play its role.”

Geloso adds that the study also shows that “the higher the index of regulation is, the higher the ratio between housing prices and income tends to be.

“For example, Greater Vancouver has the highest index of regulation in the country,” the study says. “A home there costs 14.18 times the income of the people who live in the area. In contrast, Greater Edmonton has the lowest index of regulation. The price of a home there is around 4.35 times the income of its residents. Montreal is in the middle of the pack in terms of regulation, and housing costs residents around 6.18 times their income. Between the 1970s and the mid-2000s, however, the price of a home was around three times the income of Montrealers.”

Geloso also stated that “the increase in the time required to obtain a building permit clearly shows the loss of flexibility resulting from regulation.

“When it takes an average of 540 days to obtain the authorization to build in the Mayor’s borough, obviously it’s the administration, not the market, that’s to blame.”

Other points in the report:

• “If prices are rising, as they currently are, it is because demand is growing faster than supply. However, this can be the result of ill- advised government policies that prevent supply from increasing. In such a case, the problem is not the market, but rather the obstacles put in place that are hindering its proper functioning.”

• Regulatory obstacles include: “density limits, parking-to-customer ratio rules for retail spaces, overly strict zoning regulations and restrictions on building characteristics (height, dimensions, materials), mandatory permits, property taxes, and rent control.”

• Such obstacles “increase housing construction costs, and maintenance costs once units are built. This reduces the incentive to build new units, thus lowering housing starts. Ultimately, this leads to a permanent increase in the cost of housing, all else being equal.” As well, “they make supply more rigid, meaning that it responds more slowly to increasing demand. Thus, when there is a demand shock, such as a rapid increase in the size of the population, normally temporary price increases last longer. Third, these regulations tend to affect certain kinds of housing more than others, such that the remaining market orients it-self to serve a different clientele. In general, what we see is a reorientation toward richer households.”

Montreal over-regulates housing, affecting affordability: MEI Read More »

CSL wins in snow dumping case

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Small Claims Court Judge Daniel Dortélus ruled recently in favour of the City of Côte St. Luc in a case involving snow having been dumped on a local lawn.

The Suburban has heard numerous complaints over the years about snow dumping at council meetings and in phone calls on residential properties within our coverage area, and several cases have ended up in court.

A resident sued CSL for $15,000, saying his lawn on Robinson Avenue was damaged as a result of snow thrown onto his property in 2021. The allegation was that on April 7 of that year, the snow dumping by employees resulted in damage to the lawn and earth in front of his apartment building.

The plaintiff argued that during the winter of 2021, “the defendant’s employees accumulated significant quantities of snow, gravel and calcium on the plaintiff’s land, despite the existence of other less damaging alternatives” and that they “destroyed the plaintiff’s land with machinery, snow and calcium [and] acted abusively and unreasonably.”

The plaintiff also said that “in 2019 following a complaint filed with the city, it replaced the lawn which was damaged by snow during snow removal work.

“I have repeatedly over the years complained by letter and verbally about the practice of the city snow removal employees to collect all the snow between CSL Road and Parkview and proceed to dump it on the façade and entrance of the building,” the plaintiff testified, according to court documents. “Because of the high concentration of calcium accumulated from repeated dumping of the salted road snow during the winter months, my grass is totally destroyed.”

CSL denied responsibility and argued that “any city or municipality has the right to spray snow on adjacent private properties, under section 69 of the Municipal Powers Act (RLRQ c. C-47.1),” that “any local municipality may throw snow covering a public road onto adjoining private lands,” and that the provision “does not specify a maximum quantity of snow that can be thrown on a property and in no way obliges a municipality to adopt alternatives to snow throwing in order to avoid a situation where an owner could receive a greater quantity of snow than its neighbours.”

CSL said it “was not negligent in its snow removal operations, that it committed no fault and that it meets the standards that can be expected in such circumstances.”

The city also “suggested that the damage caused to the lawn is the result of major work that was carried out on the property in 2018 and 2019” and that the Public Works Department “communicated directly with the Plaintiff on several occasions to explain to him that snow removal operations near his property do not differ from regular operations since it does not present any special circumstances.”

The judge ruled that the plaintiff “failed to demonstrate that the city or its nominees committed a fault” and rejected the complaint.

“The evidence presented by [the plaintiff], which essentially consists of his testimony and the photos produced in evidence, is clearly insufficient to establish that the lawn on his property was damaged or damaged by the snow and residue thrown during the snow removal operations on Robinson Avenue in 2021,” the judgment says. “The photos transmitted with the formal notice of April 7, 2021 do not support the claim with regard to the extent and nature of the damage nor when it was caused. As for the estimate produced which was prepared on the eve of the trial for work carried out a year ago by [the plaintiff’s] company, it in no way improves [the plaintiff’s] position.”

The plaintiff was ordered to pay legal costs of $317.

CSL wins in snow dumping case Read More »

Suspect arrested in shoot-out in DDO

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

A 26-year-old man is facing a host of charges in connection with last week’s shoot-out with police in Dollard-des-Ormeaux.

Nackeal Hickey,26, was arraigned in the Montreal courthouse to answer on charges including possession of a firearm, discharge of a firearm, and four counts of attempted murder. The accused will remain detained throughout the unfolding of the judicial proceedings.

Hickey was known to police. He was previously charged and awaiting trial in a case of residential breaking and entering. He also has a long criminal history, including aggravated assault, possession of a weapon and breach of conditions.

On Sunday, August 3 at approximately 8 p.m., Hickey allegedly showed up at his childhood friend’s house to settle a conflict, on Davignon Street, near de Salaberry Boulevard in DDO. During a confrontation, a shot was fired and no injuries resulted. Hickey allegedly fled on foot, and attempted to steal a vehicle in a residential parking lot where a 52-year-old man along with his 18-year-old son, were unpacking the vehicle after returning home after a camping trip. Hickey allegedly attempted to steal their vehicle at gunpoint. For reasons that are still unclear, the father and son were shot and wounded.

When officers arrived at the scene, they were blocked from reaching the victims as the suspect opened fire at the officers. A full-blown shoot-out took place between the suspect and police with some 30-40 shots fired according to witnesses. Hickley was injured by gunfire and was transported to hospital. Until the ballistics reports return, it is unclear whether the father and son victims were hit by the suspect or by police gunfire during the shoot-out. At this time, the suspect is not charged with attempted murder of the two victims caught in the crossfire but of attempted murder of police officers.

At one point during the conflict, a stray bullet hit and shattered the window of a house, where a seven-year-old child resides. The child was not injured.

The Bureau of Independent Investigation (BEI) has been tasked with the investigation of the shoot-out that took place between Hickey and the police officers. The agency was mandated almost immediately after the shootings took place at approximately 10:45 p.m. on August 4.

According to information obtained by The Suburban, the shooter opened fire on officers immediately upon their arrival.

According to an eyewitness who wishes to remain anonymous, it was impossible to tell what was going on exactly. “There was a shot fired, then police showed up and there were so many shots being fired and it was scary. I was just praying for it to be over.”

A major perimeter was erected around the neighbourhood for days while the BEI took over the investigation due to the circumstances surrounding the events. Hickey may face further charges as the investigation develops. n

Suspect arrested in shoot-out in DDO Read More »

West Islanders band together after flooding

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Thirty-six hours. That is the crucial period of time in which a clean-up following a flood in a home needs to take place.

While hundreds are on the phone trying to get hold of their insurance companies, the dire needs to clean up and dry up as quickly as possible is the priority.

In the West Island, the community is known for its sense of comradery between neighbours. Friday evening, it turned into a bee hive of activities either cleaning up their own home, the home of a neighbour or checking up on the homes of those who were away on vacation.

In Baie-D’Urfe, one family told The Suburban that the neighbours rushed over to help clean up their basement. This involved getting as much furniture and objects out of the way onto a higher floor, pumping out water and cleaning. “The following day, the Baie D’Urfé rescue team came to check on us. We are very blessed,” the family reported.

Meanwhile in Kirkland, Kevin Groleau, the owner of a local dessert shop, was running around from home to home of customers, friends and neighbours trying to assist in the clearing out and cleaning up process which varies from home to home. “I got home at 2 a.m., there was just so much to do and there is still so much to be done. I’m going to head back ‘out there’ again today,” Groleau told The Suburban on Saturday morning.

In Pierrefonds-Roxboro, city councillor Benoit Langevin made it his priority to serve the elderly, pregnant women and persons with mobility issues. He posted on his e-mail address on his social media page reaching out to those who needed help. “Some of my neighbours were my babysitters and some of them my teachers. What matters to me is that we should lead by example. As a community, we are here to help one another,” Langevin said to The Suburban. n

West Islanders band together after flooding Read More »

Police investigate drive-by shooting in Kirkland

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Several 911 calls alerted police officers to a drive-by shooting early Monday morning in the Town of Kirkland.

At approximately 1:25 a.m., several gunshots were fired in the direction of a home located on Beaubois Street near Timberlea Street. When patrol officers arrived on site, they identified several bullet holes on the garage door of the residence along with shell casings on the ground. The officers set up a security perimeter around the crime scene and forensic experts were called in to investigate.

According to authorities, there were people inside the home at the time of the shooting. No injuries were reported.

Investigators reviewed camera surveillance footage from around the neighbourhood and spoke to potential witnesses Monday morning.

A lawn was set on fire with the use of accelerants at the house directly next door three days prior to this most recent attack. A vehicle that was parked in front of a house two doors down was also subject to an arson attack just two weeks ago. When The Suburban arrived on site, the neighbours from two houses were standing outside together discussing the attacks. They refused to comment to reporters on site and returned to their respective homes upon questioning. The Suburban also noted an unusual amount of surveillance cameras surrounding the property from neighbouring homes in comparison to homes further up the road and what could generally be expected in a similar neighbourhood.   

The investigation is ongoing. Updates and more information will follow in The Suburban hard copy.

Police investigate drive-by shooting in Kirkland Read More »

Kirkland Mayor calls potential land purchase “fiscally irresponsible”

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Kirkland City Councillor Domenico Zito says that he is disappointed following the vote held at the most recent public council meeting concerning the green space on the North West corner of the Trans Canada Highway and St-Charles Boulevard.

The lot located in District 4 measuring approximately 170,500 sq ft could have been picked up by the City of Kirkland to benefit the population, according to Zito. “This is one of the few prime spots left where we could have preserved a space to benefit residents. It could have been a park, a skating rink, a pool or library,” Zito told The Suburban.

In the 4 versus 4 councillor vote, Kirkland Mayor Michel Gibson broke the tie voting not-in-favour of repurchasing the land. The expiry date on the opportunity was August 1, therefore no further discussions will take place on the possibility, but some councillors feel that it was a missed opportunity.

The Suburban reached out to the Mayor to explain his reason for voting against the proposed purchase. “It is not fiscally responsible to purchase land that will generate a loss of revenue while it has no established purpose,” Gibson said.

The land previously belonged to the city and was sold to a private company that built three industrial buildings, leaving a vacant development portion that was up for grabs. At the time of the sale, a clause was placed for repurchase at the price that it was sold. The clause was put in place as discussions for a recreation centre were taking place with consideration of five potential placements.

Council voted unanimously that it would not be the most suitable as traffic flow would have been a major issue. Four councillors however, wanted to hang onto it for potential future uses. According to Gibson, the funds would be much better used towards building the recreation centre. “We have existing land owned by us. Why spend $9 million to keep this land for a speculative future while we have two other spots that we can spend that money on in actually building the centre?”

Kirkland Mayor calls potential land purchase “fiscally irresponsible” Read More »

Dorval Mayor enacting solutions for Inuuk population

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Dorval Mayor Marc Doret is calling for an urgent round table think tank on how to resolve issues related to intoxication in the Inuuk community causing safety issues and public disorder in his municipality.

Following several months of discussions between the City of Dorval and the Ullivik Center, a centre that responds to the needs of the Inuuk population in the area, Doret estimates that 20 per cent of the Inuuk population in the area are struggling with issues related to drugs and alcohol. The evening hours are the most concerning, according to Doret, as many (of the estimated 20 per cent) are outdoors during that time and under the influence.

“It’s a problem that’s not getting better and we need to face it. It needs to come out of the closet,” Doret told The Suburban. “We need to sit down, the city, the CIUSSS, Ullivik, the SAQ, business owners selling alcohol in Dorval, AJOI, the SPVM, the STM and the Quebec government. We need to put our heads together and first have a frank discussion on this issue and determine the best course of action needed to address the issue. The safety of the Inuit population is primordial and the effects on residents must also be considered. It is our duty not to abandon them when in this situation.”

Doret says that with the Ullivik Center having reached capacity while the Inuit population continues to grow, there are more and more people living in the area without access to necessary resources to support them upon arrival. The Ullivik Center also does have the resources to accommodate persons who are intoxicated. “Aside from being over capacity, the centre does not take in people who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs and unlike other sectors, like Ottawa for example, that has separate centres nearby where people can get sober, here — they remain outdoors. We need to find a way to reach that population and address these issues. They are interacting as best as they can in a very strange world and we are trying to integrate this population by incorporating familiar entertainment, for example, at some of our outdoor events,” Doret explained. “We also need to demonstrate to the population of Dorval (as a whole) that we acknowledge the issue. We have a responsibility to help them (the Inuuk population) integrate and keep them safe.”

The roundtable is planned for August of this year. Doret hopes to find resolutions for his community as a whole and has committed efforts towards resolutions since 2022, when two Inuuk women, Jane Tulugak and Nellie Niviaxie, lost their lives in similar circumstances 24 hours apart when they were struck by vehicles as they were travelling from the Ullivik Centre to Dorval’s commercial and transport hubs. A Quebec Coroners report revealed that both of the victims were in a state of intoxication at the time of their death.

Dorval Mayor enacting solutions for Inuuk population Read More »

Vaudreuil man convicted of pornographic filming of wife and daughter

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

A 50-year old man who pled guilty and was convicted of production and possession of child pornography and voyeurism was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for secretly filming his daughter, her friends and his wife at their Vaudreuil-Dorion home.

A publication ban was placed on the name of the accused at the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield courthouse in order to protect the identity of the victims, with the youngest discovered on the seized footage being only nine years old at the time. The man, with no prior criminal record, was known as a respected and trusted family man and “the fun dad,” according to the testimony of one of the nine identified victims. “We could not imagine that meanwhile (appearing to be that person), you were installing cameras to see us going to the toilet, changing and taking our showers,” she stated to the court at sentencing.

The actions of the convicted man went on for six years. He filmed his wife unknowingly in their bedroom having sex and his daughter and her friends in the bathroom while appearing, according to the victims of his crimes, as a normal and even very likeable family man.

A USB stick originally discovered in the garage of the family unit by the man’s daughter and her friend last spring revealed this disturbing side of the “family man”.

The footage on the originally discovered USB stick revealed clips captured by hidden cameras in the bathrooms of the family unit between 2015 and 2021.

Quebec Provincial Police (SQ) arrested the defendant at his home shortly after the footage was discovered by the two girls. He remained detained until the trial and will serve out the remaining two years of his sentence.

The convicted man is banned from being in the presence of minors for 10 years following his release and will remain on the sex offender registry for 20 years. He is also banned from internet access or social media networks for 10 years.

Vaudreuil man convicted of pornographic filming of wife and daughter Read More »

Perspectives of Survivors: Lessons in humanity

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

With the antisemitic cries and chants of the anti-Israel and pro-Hamas gangs filling the air of Montreal, The Suburban reached out to local Holocaust survivors to gain their perspective as many Montrealers are calling this era the Canadian version of the “1930s climate”.

The survivors unanimously agreed that the smokescreens of demonstrations under the guise of pro-Palestinian sentiment are a stark reminder of Nazi ideology that plagued Europe in the years leading up to the Holocaust. The attacks on Jewish institutions terrifies them as they remember how thresholds of acceptance of hate were pushed to the point of embracing hate, leading to the death of 6 million Jews.

The conversations and the public and political response — or lack thereof — is familiar to those who remember and who have survived the horrific outcome that ensued when they last experienced this momentum in their surroundings.

“I am an old man now, I am afraid for the future,” 88-year old Andrew “Andy” Fuchs, who was taken by Nazis and saw both of his parents murdered at the age 8, said to The Suburban. “It is devastating to see how quickly everyone forgot about us and what happened to us. We are human, we are all the same family of humans, why do they hate us?” Andy said while stoically trying to hold back his tears. “On October 7, when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel and took hostages, Andy was rushed to the emergency room as his blood pressure “went through the roof” as one of his social workers described. “After all the devastation that the Holocaust has caused, why don’t they see how dangerous this is? Why is no one speaking out to defend us? To speak up, they need knowledge of history and courage. A small group of antisemites is enough to blow up and create fear in other people which allows them to do terrible things and allow terrible things to happen,” According to Andy, October 7 was a perfect example of his greatest concerns. “Leaders don’t like to speak out against how some people feel, but these people are being misled by hate. We need to stop the propaganda. Zero tolerance is the only way. Those using what they call democracy to incite hate are misusing democracy and we need to talk about that. It was not only the Nazis that killed our families, it was the indifference to antisemitism like we are seeing today.”

Ted Bolgar, who will be 100 years old this September, has spent a lifetime educating people in various institutions about the Holocaust to ensure that there would be no repeat. He retired at the age of 95, at the onset of the Covid-19 crisis. According to Ted, ignorance is at the core of antisemitism and both Ted and Andy believed that if they dedicated the rest of their lives following their liberation from the Nazis to educating others that they would help to change the world’s perspective about Jews. “It is very disappointing because I thought people learned from the Holocaust and understood that it was wrong. I am still here and I will keep trying,” Ted explained to The Suburban.

According to Andy and Ted, “Never Again” depends greatly on education and the support of leaders who apply zero tolerance policies on racism, without exceptions, towards Jews.

Perspectives of Survivors: Lessons in humanity Read More »

Future uncertain for Wilderton lot slated for social housing

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

Anybody who has looked at the redevelopment of the Wilderton shopping centre into a mixed-use residential commercial development can’t help but notice the dramatic transformation, but also the lingering empty lot on the eastern edge of the property.

Originally slated for some 20 social housing units, the developer of the property owned by First Capital dropped the plan to build and opted instead to pay $420,000 into the city’s housing fund.

At July council, Darlington councillor Stephanie Valenzuela asked what the plan was. “I would like to have a follow-up on what is happening now with the lot.” Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa steered the question to borough director Stéphane Plante, who replied that “the promoter decided to pay the sums rather than go with a lot because the financial package was too difficult. I’m telling you this with all reservations, because I have to check, but the last information we had was for this purpose.”

That entire project was approved in 2016 and was supposed to be three phases: a seniors’ residence; a commercial and residential development; and a phase of social housing. A nearby plot of land was donated to the city, but the social housing on-site was nixed. “My assumption is that they never found a proper organization to take control of the project,” says Valenzuela, adding “they were likely also counting on funds from the province which never came and opted instead to just pay into the fund.”

The borough finally did confirm that the developer made a financial contribution “as it was unable to carry out a social housing project on the site due to a lack of funding from the provincial government.” The borough did not say what the plans were for the site. First Capital did not respond to requests for comment before press time.

As of year-end 2023, there was more than $15 million in the city’s social housing fund comprised of contributions from builders who opt out of Montreal’s mixed metropolis bylaw adopted three years ago. Earlier this year the city announced that it was easing up on its vaunted 20-20-20 rule, which obliges developers to include social, affordable and family housing in their projects. The city instituted some temporary changes to the rules, including boosting compensation to developers for land transfers to the city for such purposes, and payments into the fund in lieu of building will be frozen for two years. Also, smaller projects — 20 households or less — are exempt from the contribution and affordable housing obligation. n

Future uncertain for Wilderton lot slated for social housing Read More »

NDG residents put “Bonjour-Hi” in hot demand

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

The Bonjour-Hi artwork that blanketed much of NDG last month, to the delight of many residents but the chagrin of the city and borough, is becoming a hot commodity.

As reported in The Suburban last month, west end curbs, bike and walking paths, SAQ outlets and roadways were adorned with stencilled Bonjour-Hi artwork with happy faces and dog and cat symbols, the simple bilingual expression the bane of language hawks, denounced by the National Assembly and rejected by Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante appearing prominently throughout NDG.

Within days of appearing, city crews erased them. Following a second swath with added “woofs” and “meows,” city workers were busy in the wee morning hours washing away fresh artwork a few hours following their appearance.

Despite the mayor’s and province’s distaste for the word “Hi”, people are clamouring for a version on their property. NDG resident Nancy Breitman says she heard from many asking for artwork on their walkways and driveways, some want posters. She doesn’t know the artist responsible but sent a message through a third person and was told they were agreeable.

“When I first saw one on Monkland I thought it was so neat. It seemed like it just fell out of the sky, and then I saw another one, and another one, and I found it adorable,” she told The Suburban. “It’s friendly, it makes you feel good, and I don’t get a political vibe from it. Not at all. It’s just something beautiful.”

Another resident told The Suburban, “it’s the city that’s making the political statement, by erasing it so fast. Not the artist.” Breitman was also annoyed. “Then of course your mind goes to politics. How petty! This is the best neighbourhood. I’ve lived here for 25 years, we get along. I’ve never had a single dispute on language in my life. It’s just not a thing.” For that reason, she was taken aback by the city’s swift removal, as were many on local social media. “Apart from the few ‘petty and grumpy’ I found this absolutely beautiful, and part of what I believe exists in NDG and Montreal in general. Certainly in NDG this spirit is alive and well.”

She proposed it online and got an enthusiastic response. “We should flood NDG with this beautiful message that people here feel unity and love for each other. I want to be able to walk around and see these messages everywhere. It’s not a graffiti issue, this is art. Someone took the thought and employed visual elements to create a message. Art is the greatest disruptor. Let us have this little tiny pleasure space. This is real inclusion. We are part of the mosaic of Montreal, and we will not be erased.”

Bettina Karpel is one of the dozens of residents who want one on her property, “maybe with a meow” and says there’s nothing political about it. “I really think it’s a community building exercise. I’m aware some people are upset about it but it’s a happy thing and celebrating who we are as a bilingual community that really gets along despite what politicians try to do. It’s a happy message and we really need happy right now.” She said when the city painted “weird designs” on roads last year to spruce up areas and leisure spots, she thought, “how awful, but then I realized they’re trying to make it prettier. It grows on you. It’s the same thing here.”

The Suburban spoke with the artist who only confirmed that there is an initiative but offered no other details. n

NDG residents put “Bonjour-Hi” in hot demand Read More »

CDN-NDG park fund tops $11 million

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

The borough of Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce has more than $11.4 million to park and play with in its parks and parking funds.

The borough holds two distinct reserves, for parks and playgrounds as well as parking. Contributions can be made by transfer of a plot of land or monetary contributions by developers (not exceeding 10% of the area and value, respectively), and sums must be deposited in an account provided for this purpose, and used along with the plots of land for the purposes provided. (Prior to receiving a transformation permit for a building subject to a renovation or redevelopment project, the owner must pay the borough a compensatory sum.)

Contributions to the parking fund are determined by a calculation which may vary according to the categories of units or the uses, and sums can only be used for purchase or development of buildings used for parking, as well as creation of parking areas for bicycles.

The CDN-NDG park and playground account started out 2023 with $8,999,344.99 representing all contributions received, minus all use of contributions for park development projects in the borough since December 31, 2022. Last year, the borough received 16 contributions for a total of $2,691,539.03. Approximately $4.17 million was used to finance various investment projects, notably for the chalet and water feature at Coffee Park; redevelopment and renovations of chalets in Warren-Allmand, Mackenzie-King and Van Horne parks; to repair lighting at Roméo-Charette and Paul-Doyon parks; and professional services for renovations of the Loyola chalet and Promenade Jean-Brillant. As of December 31, 2023, the account stands at $11,459,719.90.

The borough’s parking fund remains unchanged at $100,828.21. n

CDN-NDG park fund tops $11 million Read More »

Montreal’s deadliest intersections for bikes

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

A survey by a team at Transportation Research at McGill (TRAM) has identified dangerous intersections for cyclists in Montreal.

More than 1,500 cyclists recently participated, pointing out the most problematic spots. Researchers say there is a critical need for safer cycling infrastructure, to promote sustainable travel and prevent fatal collisions caused by poor road design. “Intersections are the most vulnerable areas for crashes involving cyclists, pedestrians and cars,” said Hisham Negm, a TRAM Research Assistant and PhD student at McGill’s School of Urban Planning.

Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the study includes a policy brief revealing the 10 most mentioned spots, and recommendations that include analyzing zones where bicycles come into conflict with vehicles and pedestrians to identify reasons for collisions and near-misses; collecting and studying preferred routes taken by cyclists; redesigning dangerous intersections to prioritize safety and ease of movement, proactively preventing crashes.

Ontario and Berri led the survey in mentions, with three west-end locations De Maisonneuve West and Décarie (5th), Sainte-Croix and Côte-de-Liesse (8th) and De lL Vérendrye and de l’Église (10). “The ones highlighted in this survey need to be redesigned to improve safety and comfort for everyone… Designing for cycling is not solely about adding bike lanes. To ensure safety for all road users and ease of movement for cyclists, these lanes must be well-designed and connected.”

The most dangerous intersections according to cyclists

1. Ontario & Berri

2. Parc & Mont-Royal

3. Saint-Joseph East & D’Iberville

4. Papineau & Crémazie

5. De Maisonneuve & Décarie

6. De Maisonneuve & Berri

7. Saint-Urbain & Président-Kennedy

8. Sainte-Croix & Côte-de-Liesse

9. Dickson & Notre-Dame

10. De La Vérendrye & De l’Église

Montreal’s deadliest intersections for bikes Read More »

Time to get on the list for School Board elections

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

Ready for the November election? Not that one: the one two days earlier, closer to home.

School board elections happen November 3, with nine councils of commissioners in play in the sole exclusive domain of governance for anglophone Quebecers.

To participate, you must be registered on the Elections Québec electoral list to vote in provincial, municipal and school board elections. Most simply, you get on the English list by submitting a form or enrolling a child in an English public school.

“Electors with one or more children enrolled in the English school board serving their area should already be on the list of electors for that school board,” says Elections Québec spokesperson Julie St-Arnaud-Drolet. “We recommend that they check to see if their name appears on the information card they will receive in the mail three weeks before election day.”

In 2006, the Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) pressured Quebec City to ensure that parents with children graduating from English schools after June 2007 remain on the English list. Grads from the English system and turning 18 however, are automatically placed on the French list, but get a letter from Elections Québec asking if they want to move to the English one (by submitting a form to their local school board.)

According to a QESBA statement, 15-20% of former English voters remain on the French list, and English graduates continue to be moved there. “It is important to the future of our democratically elected English public school system that these losses be recovered. You can, at any time, be placed on the English voters’ list outside the electoral period by calling your local school board or the Chief Electoral Officer of Quebec.” (If your kid is in a private school, you can get on the list. If in French public, you’re out of luck.)

The good news, says QESBA president Joe Ortona, “is once you’re on the list, you stay on.”

There’s a yearly update after new student registrations, with a final update October 15, midway through the election period, which kicks off on September 20. When that begins, Elections Québec sends lists of registered electors to respective Returning Officers, and changes must be submitted to those boards. Each Returning Officer manages the election, but Elections Québec “offers them support, on demand, and controls political financing,” says St-Arnaud-Drolet, as well as managing the permanent list’s address changes, entries, removals, etc.

The 2020 elections (delayed to 2021 for the few seats not acclaimed) saw 17% voter turnout, renewing debate about whether participation equals legitimacy. “Low turnout happens in small municipalities along with acclamations all the time,” says Ortona, “but I’ve never heard the Minister of Municipal Affairs argue that municipalities should be abolished.” It’s still not okay, he says: “We want turnout to be high.”

So, will Quebec City encourage participation in this democratic exercise? “They won’t,” he says, noting the CAQ government’s continued efforts to abolish boards in favour of service centres. “They will not help, they are not interested in seeing high turnout, and are not interested in cooperating to make it easier to vote.”

The Suburban asked the Secrétariat aux relations avec les Québécois d’expression anglaise if it would promote this election impacting hundreds of thousands of Quebecers. “The SRQEA is not involved in the English-language school elections,” came a terse reply from a spokesperson for Finance Minister Éric Girard, also Minister responsible for relations with English-speaking Quebecers. Premier François Legault’s office did not respond to a similar query.

Official Opposition spokesperson Narjisse Ibnattya-Andaloussi however, told The Suburban “The Quebec Liberal Party has always supported English school boards and will continue to do so. We call on the government to allocate the necessary resources to ensure this November’s election will be successful.”

Are you on the list?

Contact Elections Québec at 1-866-225-4095, info@electionsquebec.qc.ca

For more information, contact QESBA: 514-849-5900 or qesba@qesba.qc.ca

Download the form to choose the English list: https://qesba.qc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Avis-de-choix-Anglais-1.pdf

Contact the school board on your territory.

Time to get on the list for School Board elections Read More »

McGill-led team may have identified anorexia cure

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

McGill University announced that a McGill-led research team working with a French Sorbonne-led team (CNRS, INSERM and Sorbonne university) “believes it has identified the neurological mechanism underlying anorexia nervosa as well as a possible cure.”

The team’s findings, published in Nature Communications, “have the potential to improve the lives of millions of people around the world, mostly women, who suffer from the common eating disorder, which has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disease.

“Working with mice, researchers discovered that a deficit in a neurotransmitter in an area of the brain associated with the reward system, can lead to excessive habit formation and precipitate the compulsive self-starvation seen in people who suffer from anorexia nervosa.”

McGill Psychiatry professor Dr. Salah El Mestikawy, the senior author on the paper and researcher at the Douglas Research Centre, “looked at whether using a medication known to increase the presence of the neurotransmitter in the brain could have an effect on these compulsive self-destructive behaviours.”

“We found that it fully reversed the anorexia-like behaviour in mice, and we believe that it could potentially offer the first mechanism-based treatment of anorexia nervosa. In fact, we are already seeing its effects on some patients with the disease.”

As well, “ongoing independent studies in Toronto and Montreal led by an independent psychiatrist Dr. Leora Pinhas are showing positive results for 10 patients with severe anorexia nervosa who are being treated with low doses of the drug, donepezil. Three patients are in full remission and the other seven show a marked improvement. Further double-blind clinical trials, comparing results of those taking a placebo with those taking the medication, are due to take place this year at Columbia University, Denver University, and the Hôpital Sainte-Anne in Paris.

Mestikawy says, however, that “between clinical trials and government approval, it may take several years before a new drug can be used to treat anorexic patients, and there may be possible effects on other diseases involving compulsive behaviours. The McGill researchers are working with the French team to develop a novel compound with fewer problems. “We also suspect that other compulsive pathologies such as obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) and addictions can also be improved by donepezil, so we are actively looking for collaboration with other psychiatrist around the world to explore the possibilities.”

McGill-led team may have identified anorexia cure Read More »

Hampstead Mayor granted power to appoint special constables

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Hampstead council voted unanimously, in a voice vote, to grant Mayor Jeremy Levi the power to appoint special constables in case of an emergency in the town.

The bylaw points out that Quebec’s Police Act enables a council to grant the Mayor this power.

“In case of emergency, the Mayor is authorized to appoint, in writing, for a period not exceeding seven days, special constables with authority, under the supervision of the Director of the Montreal Police Service, to prevent and suppress offences under the municipal bylaws within all or part of the territory of the Town of Hampstead.”

During question period, the Mayor further explained that now that the bylaw has been passed, “I have instructed our Director General to consult with legal counsel to develop a working framework to analyze what would merit an emergency, what qualifies as an emergency.

“A special constable is a particular status of a peace officer in Quebec with a specific type of training and certification. It’s important to note that if and when a special constable is appointed, it’s under the Director of the SPVM. It’s a work in progress.”

Levi added that “obviously, the hostile environment that we’ve witnessed over the past few months has pushed us to look for all avenues with regards to Public Security as well.

“I’m not going to get into details of what we have done, for security reasons, but we are looking at making significant changes to Public Security, in a good way, and I’ll leave it at that.” n

Hampstead Mayor granted power to appoint special constables Read More »

McGill encampment dismantled after more than two months

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The anti-Israel encampment at McGill University was taken down last week after more than two months, a period that included violent and intimidating actions by the protesters, unsanitary conditions, an attempt at negotiating by McGill and legal attempts by McGill and Spiegel Sohmer senior partner Neil Oberman to move the encampment out.

The City of Montreal recently dismantled the encampment at Victoria Square. In McGill’s case, a private security firm was hired to do the actual dismantling, while the SPVM and some SQ officers surrounded the area around the campus. The University of Ottawa encampment was dismantled the same day.

A McGill alert that day said, “as members of the McGill community are aware, the university has been subject to ongoing and escalating acts of violence and vandalism associated with the encampment, up to and including criminal acts on campus last weekend (smashed windows and assault on a guard),” a McGill alert said. “The encampment is the site of profound health and safety risks that continue to grow in scope and severity. To protect the security of the McGill community and the integrity of our property, the encampment on the lower field of the downtown campus is being dismantled.”

At the scene itself, Sherbrooke Street westward from University was blocked off by police, and anti-Israel protesters stood on Sherbrooke, calling the police fascists and Zionists terrorists, and promising Intifada, while the dismantling proceeded on the campus.

On Thursday night, protesters and police clashed physically at Phillips Square, one of many frequent anti-Israel protest sites. SPVM officers dispersed pepper spray and tear gas and projectiles were thrown at police. One 22-year-old man was arrested for obstruction of police action and assaulting an officer. The individual was released pending a court appearance.

McGill president Deep Saini stated last week why the last straw was broken.

“People linked to the camp have harassed our community members, engaged in antisemitic intimidation, damaged and destroyed McGill property, forcefully occupied a building, clashed with police, and committed acts of assault,” he stated last week. “They also hosted a ‘revolutionary youth summer program’ advertised with images of masked individuals holding assault rifles. The risks emanating from the camp have been escalating, steadily and dangerously.”

Saini further stated that other factors leading to the dismantling were that, “two drug overdoses occurred in the camp since July 6. Syringes [were] visible, and illegal narcotics have been sold there. The camp is infested with rats. There are fire risks, including a propane canister and flammable materials next to the tents.” n

McGill encampment dismantled after more than two months Read More »

The “Trainman” gets a whistle

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

He first thought it a prank, himself a fan of good-natured gags and controversy to get a message across as a local businessman, political gadfly, candidate and NDG booster.

Alex “Trainman” Montagano, an advocate for municipal finance reform and respect for minority rights, is known to many west-enders, particularly for his train-shtick, miniature modeling, Halloween street parties and regular traipses through NDG in attention-grabbing retro conductor garb.

In April he donned it to invite folks to view Guy Rex Rodgers’ celebrated documentary What We Choose to Remember about Anglophone Quebecers. “I was handing out flyers at Vendôme and a woman who said she was a CN employee asked me who I was and what I was doing,” he told The Suburban. “I told her and she left.”

Apparently he drew more than friendly morning smiles: A few days later a call from the Canadian National Railway Company’s legal department cautioning him to declare his opinions as his own and not those of CN.

On his podcast, in access-to-information court and at municipal council, Montagano’s no shrinking violet, but his response was “’Whaaaat?’ I started laughing, it was so ridiculous! This multi-billion-dollar corporation, part of Canada’s history, extension of the Grand Trunk? Is their problem me talking about minority language rights, because from what I understand CN went right along with Bill 96. I think I said, ‘Yeah sure, send me a letter’ and hung up.”

Asked for clarification, CN public affairs director Jonathan Abecassis told The Suburban CN received “a few complaints and questions from the public. We also got some comments on social media that a CN employee was handing out tracts.” Someone even sent in a photo of Montagano, he said. “We have no problem with him wearing CN branded hats or jackets, the problem arises when a member of the public confuses him as an active CN employee.”

Is there a real concern? “The fact we received a certain number of reactions from the public answers that question,” says Abecassis. “We don’t actively search for people doing this, but we received comments so we decided to reach out by conversation rather than letter.” The main priority, he says, is “clarity about who is speaking on behalf of CN.” He said they just asked Montagano to refrain from using CN’s recognizable brand to advance political opinions. As for those opinions, Abecassis says, “We’re agnostic on that. We’re not going anywhere on that.”

He agrees CN sells branded clothing to collectors — “it’s a big part of the industry — and agrees Montagano’s outfit is authentic vintage garb. (His blue get-up actually evokes more Thomas & Friends character than actual railway employee.) “But he’s also wearing a pretty large CN logo. When somebody wears a hat and talks about their political beliefs that’s one thing, but when they wear a uniform that could represent the company with visible logos, that’s a different story… But there’s no hard feelings.”

Montagano says complaints aren’t filed after his public interventions with the city and borough, running in a federal by-election and promoting the NDG Art Hop and Porchfest in the same uniform. “Is it because I’ve been talking about the English minority? And denouncing the scapegoating of the ‘other’ and Quebec Anglophones under a nationalist narrative? I actually wish they’d send me a cease-and-desist.”

Nevertheless, his love of trains and train culture remain intact, while he ponders a logo of his own, not confirming or denying that it may read: “CN is mean.” n

The “Trainman” gets a whistle Read More »

One-way Bourret by fall?

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

Some Snowdon residents can soon expect an invite to a borough information meeting about Bourret’s upcoming transformation into one-way west of Décarie, it’s just not sure when.

As reported in The Suburban, Côte des Neiges-Notre Dame de Grâce borough is making the road one-way eastbound between Clanranald and Décarie. This, a year after installing a two-way bike path and removal of all parking spaces on the north side.

While the borough maintains roadway dimensions are unchanged, maneuverability has been affected, as any resident or regular user of the road can attest. The Suburban learned that some STM employees told residents that bus drivers are frustrated when turning onto the street, which also causes many drivers to swerve towards the bike path or parked cars, or stop altogether when facing oncoming traffic. Last summer a pedestrian was killed after she was struck by a car that veered into the oncoming lane for no known reason, and then back into a parked car before hitting her as she walked in the road.

Snowdon councillor Sonny Moroz asked when the work will actually start. Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa said “it was not possible to start the work this summer,” because of other work in the area, “and making a change of direction at the same time as doing all this work, was going to require a lot of adaptation from residents.”

She said residents will be invited to an information session where they can ask questions about the new configuration before moving forward. “With the end of the work, we can aim for the fall, or end of summer. It won’t be done in the middle of July.” She added it’s important to reach citizens “and it’s never a good time in the middle of summer so we’re going to come back to them there as soon as we can move forward with the end of work in surrounding streets.” That work, notably around Dupuis and Clanranald, has been underway for more than a month, and will last all summer says Moroz, noting it was a 4-month job.

Katahwa suggested that the work may be able to move forward “as the services continue to monitor and evaluate the progress of the work. My priority is that we can move forward at a time when we can talk to the citizens, that they are informed enough in advance to come and give us their comments… I would like it to be done this fall, but it depends on all these factors.” n

One-way Bourret by fall? Read More »

One-way Bourret by fall?

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

Some Snowdon residents can soon expect an invite to a borough information meeting about Bourret’s upcoming transformation into one-way west of Décarie, it’s just not sure when.

As reported in The Suburban, Côte des Neiges-Notre Dame de Grâce borough is making the road one-way eastbound between Clanranald and Décarie. This, a year after installing a two-way bike path and removal of all parking spaces on the north side.

While the borough maintains roadway dimensions are unchanged, maneuverability has been affected, as any resident or regular user of the road can attest. The Suburban learned that some STM employees told residents that bus drivers are frustrated when turning onto the street, which also causes many drivers to swerve towards the bike path or parked cars, or stop altogether when facing oncoming traffic. Last summer a pedestrian was killed after she was struck by a car that veered into the oncoming lane for no known reason, and then back into a parked car before hitting her as she walked in the road.

Snowdon councillor Sonny Moroz asked when the work will actually start. Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa said “it was not possible to start the work this summer,” because of other work in the area, “and making a change of direction at the same time as doing all this work, was going to require a lot of adaptation from residents.”

She said residents will be invited to an information session where they can ask questions about the new configuration before moving forward. “With the end of the work, we can aim for the fall, or end of summer. It won’t be done in the middle of July.” She added it’s important to reach citizens “and it’s never a good time in the middle of summer so we’re going to come back to them there as soon as we can move forward with the end of work in surrounding streets.” That work, notably around Dupuis and Clanranald, has been underway for more than a month, and will last all summer says Moroz, noting it was a 4-month job.

Katahwa suggested that the work may be able to move forward “as the services continue to monitor and evaluate the progress of the work. My priority is that we can move forward at a time when we can talk to the citizens, that they are informed enough in advance to come and give us their comments… I would like it to be done this fall, but it depends on all these factors.” n

One-way Bourret by fall? Read More »

CDN/NDG housing inspection blitz questioned

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

Montreal’s housing inspection scheme was raised at CDN/NDG council this month, with resident Sylvia Rodriguez asking Loyola councillor and executive committee associate member responsible for housing and sanitation Despina Sourias about her announcement of an inspection blitz.

“Could you provide an update on the outcomes of this inspection blitz?” she wrote. “Specifically, what were the main issues identified and how has the city and borough addressed them so far?”

Borough Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa responded for Sourias, who was absent from the July 2 council meeting. “Generally, the city has done preventive inspections in 28 buildings and 4,900 apartments in our borough. We noted that four of the buildings that counted 550 apartments needed further inspection that we have already done, and in one of the four inspections that we did the landlord was issued a ticket on the spot.” Other landlords were issued warnings and given 30 days to do repairs.

When problems are noted by inspectors, says Katahwa, the city contacts the owner “and we work with them to make sure that they make the corrections necessary. If they don’t, we give them fines that get more expensive if we need to go back to tell them to do the work, or to do the work on schedule.”

The borough waits 30 days after an inspection to give them the time to do the work, she adds, “except if it’s really urgent matters.”

Darlington councillor Stephanie Valenzuela asked for more details about the 28 buildings. “Can you give us a rundown of the buildings that have been inspected? In which district? And what is the plan for the next buildings that will be inspected over the next few months?” Katahwa said she could not provide that information on the spot, “so we’ll get back to you with more precise information.”

Valenzuela told The Suburban, “if we have a list of really bad buildings under terrible conditions, I want to see the list of those buildings and a plan for the next few months, especially if I’m aware of properties in my district on the list.” She also questioned when inspections began. “We have 12 borough inspectors but the city’s Service de l’habitation, which is completely different, has an entire plan dedicated to the worst buildings in the city. Hopefully I get an answer before the end of summer,” she scoffed, suggesting the lack of available information “goes to a lack of transparency that impacts my district.”

The Suburban asked the borough to clarify. As part of the city’s responsible landlord initiative, inspectors do preventive inspections across the borough without regards for district, explained borough support staffer Itai Azerrad. “The methodology is to start with the bigger buildings of 100-plus apartments and then inspect smaller ones.” The 28 properties cited were in the CDN-NDG pilot phase from January to May 2024. “These inspections allowed us to see the state of the building to either give a fine right away and/or refer it for another more in-depth inspection operation (Blitz) when certain criteria are met.” The plan moving forward, he says, is to do the same with six-plus unit properties. n

CDN/NDG housing inspection blitz questioned Read More »

Bienvenue à NDG gets $500K borough funding

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By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

Bienvenue à NDG got some welcome news last week as borough council voted unanimously to give the organization $500,000 to continue its activities as a non-profit organization responsible for integration and Francization of immigrants.

The 12-year-old nonprofit is the only local organization mandated by the Ministry of Immigration, francization and integration (MIFI) for this mission, playing a key role in the first steps taken towards full integration into Quebec society by newcomers.

The $500,000 will be reserved from the borough’s available surplus to ensure financing over five years and help to help pay the rent ($100,000 annually from 2025-2029) at a new address.

Bienvenue à NDG found itself in a precarious situation since the owner of the building it occupies on Belgrave announced it would reclaim the premises for their own use, according to borough documents. That would jeopardize the organization and all its activities for new arrivals, which would have significant impact on more than 3,000 people from some 80 countries that benefit from their services.

Director Luis Miguel Cristancho told council the group was facing a turbulent times in the face of its imminent move, and “it is with immense gratitude and hope that we welcome today the financial support of $500,000 for rental costs,” thanking councillors and borough staff for their support.

The new location will be at 3830 Décarie, formerly the Caisse Desjardins de Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, a space expected to allow the NPO to improve access to services and the quality of programming.

According to the 2021 census, there is a higher percentage of recent immigrants in NDG (14%) than on the island of Montreal (8%). n

Bienvenue à NDG gets $500K borough funding Read More »

Flood story didn’t end with the rain

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg, Joel Ceausu and
Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Last week’s flood didn’t end with the rain. An owner of a 130-unit apartment building on Thimens in St. Laurent, across the street from the Raymond Bourque Arena, said her building’s garage was flooded with five feet of water. The area of the borough, including part of the Place Vertu parking lot, was flooded in scenes reminiscent of the July 14, 1987 disaster.

“We still don’t have any power back,” the owner told The Suburban Monday morning. “The water from the street emptied into our garage. There are 300 people in my building. Most of the apartments are double occupancy, [with seniors] and some families. The generators and the transformers were under water, everything was completely under water. The sewers in front of the garage were obviously blocked.”

The power finally came back Monday afternoon.

The owner has been calling the borough, and she hopes they install water retention basins in the area — a person from the arena said that has been under discussion, she said. She also says action is needed. Florida, which has intercoastal waterways and experiences many hurricanes, has water retention basins, she pointed out. She has also been calling Intact, her insurance company.

“I obviously made a claim on my insurance. Believe it or not, after calling them over and over again, they haven’t called me back. They’re extremely busy, they’re overloaded. My tenants are calling their insurance companies because their cars were flooded — we must have had 50 or 60 in the garage. Some cars were able to start and were taken out, and others were completely submerged.”

Terry Sousa was stuck at the south end of Décarie heading home after a four-day trip to the U.S. “I heard about the rain and figured I’d chance it once I crossed the border. It was a big mistake.” The Ahuntsic resident found himself with his wife and nine-year-old son “inching, I wouldn’t say inching, we were centimetering!” along as traffic was routed off Décarie north.

After 90-plus minutes he got off and tried to snake his way east towards l’Acadie to catch what he hoped would be an easier 15 north of the Met. “Another mistake. All around it was a mess. What should have taken 40 minutes max took three hours. I’m so glad I filled up on gas before I crossed the border. I felt so smart I was saving money, which I lost along with all that time. Imagine though if we were stranded bumper-to-bumper on a flooded Décarie and couldn’t move the car?” His home, an older duplex, was unaffected by the torrential rains, but his new garden “was toast. My tenant said they looked down and it was a pool of muck. That’s a big cleanup but I’m not complaining. I know some people got hit hard.”

Anna from downtown Montreal said the traffic congestion increased following the storm as main roads were blocked off intermittently until the weekend. “I just took a day off work, I used up one of my sick days because spending an extra hour on the road each way trying to get around means I have to rearrange pick up and drop off for my kid and it’s just not possible. Everyone else would be inconvenienced the same way. A lot of people have switched to working from home with the way traffic is already. The roads in Montreal are already a disaster for drivers and they say we should just bike everywhere. I am very athletic but for those of us who need to carpool with our families, we can’t just bike-pool especially while there is a pool in the middle of our road.” n

Flood story didn’t end with the rain Read More »

West Island comes together to remember “The Twelve”

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By Chelsey St-Pierre and Beryl Wajsman, Editor
The Suburban

This past weekend, the West Island Black Community Association (WIBCA) held a memorial service on Saturday afternoon followed by a church service Sunday morning at Union United Church in Little Burgundy to commemorate the twelve children from the Negro Community Centre who tragically drowned in a boating accident on July 13, 1954 off Ile Bizard. The theme was “Remember their names.” The families of the victims also shared their grief and expressed their gratitude to the West Island community.

“This year marks the 70th year since this heartbreaking event, and plans are underway to honor the memory of these young lives lost. The children took part in a summer outing organized by the Negro Community Centre in Little Burgundy and were involved in one of the deadliest boating accidents in Canadian history. This tragedy not only devastated families but also brought to light significant issues regarding water safety and systemic challenges faced by many from marginalized communities,” WIBCA president Joan Lee said.

There were over 60 children, who were part of the Negro Community Centre (NCC) that was connected to Union United Church, who looked forward to their outing on that fateful day. Lee told The Suburban prior to the event that remembering the names of the 12 was at the heart of this commemorative weekend, but that it also serves as an opportunity to discuss and bring light to issues surrounding the Black community and highlighting strengths and perseverance through difficulties faced historically and today.

Denzil Alleyne, Margo and Marilyn Fonseca, Brenda Kelly, Carol and Alan Leek, Paula Millington, Leon Nealey, Edwin and Diane Springer, Doreen Walton, and Estelle Walton were the names read out loud and memorialized on Saturday and Sunday. West Islanders and Montrealers gathered in the names of the twelve with the sorrowful sentiment of remembering the past coupled with the sense of creating a better future.

“This memorial is not just about remembering a tragic event but also about acknowledging the resilience of a community and the ongoing fight for safety and equality,” Lee stated. “It also served as a reminder and acknowledgment of the resilience of the black community and its continued fight for equality.”

Recognition was given to David Tagieff, who was 12 years old at the time, and who saved two children. Recognition was also given to those who helped families in healing, even after 70 years of silently dealing with this tradegy in their families. n

West Island comes together to remember “The Twelve” Read More »

Councillor slams ‘Save Lachine Hospital’ signs

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

At the most recent public council meeting in Lachine, City Councillor Micheline Rouleau ventured out with an independent speech, not discussed by council, concerning the Save the Lachine Hospital citizens committee’s latest efforts to raise awareness about the non-existent ICU at the hospital by placing lawn signs on private property throughout the municipality. Rather than join the fight for a fully functional hospital, Rouleau gave a speech slamming the efforts.

“You are harming the population and yourselves [by putting up the signs],” Rouleau told attendees at the public council meeting. “I am asking a favour to all those who have signs in front of their homes to take them down because you are creating an incredible stress to the hospital employees, the patients and to the foundation because we need to collect $5 million by 2026 to buy things not provided by the government.”

Rouleau is the co-president of The Lachine Hospital Foundation which raises funds for the Lachine Hospital and stated the the signs were harmful to the fundraising efforts of the Foundation. “We (the Foundation) are moving forward while others are holding back and it is unhealthy. If people hear a bad reputation of the hospital, while there is not actually, everything is going well, then we will find ourselves with a lack of staff because people will have heard that it will not work,” she stated. Rouleau goes on to say that certain donors are holding back and telling the Foundation that they “won’t make donations unless the hospital will be a fully functional hospital.”

Lachine Mayor Maja Vodanovic, a long time supporter of the Save the Lachine Hospital committee and co-chair at the Lachine Hospital Foundation, was visibly surprised by Rouleau’s comments. When questioned about her reaction by The Suburban, she responded that “What Mme. Rouleau said at the council meeting was unexpected. It was not discussed prior in caucus and it took me by surprise. Although I believe Mme. Rouleau was well intentioned, she was not speaking in the name of the whole council.”

Dr. Paul Saba, who was honoured by the City of Lachine recently at a gala for his efforts towards the Lachine Hospital, says he was also shocked by Rouleau’s comments. “This is a collective effort, supported by the population, medical professionals and elected officials. A fully functional hospital requires an ICU and we are positively advocating for something that is beneficial to the hospital and to the patients. Lawn signs raising awareness is a positive effort. Anyone who advocates against a hospital having an ICU which is the heart of the hospital is advocating to put patients’ health and lives at risk and this is unacceptable. Studies have shown that ICUs save lives. What is more ‘stressful’ — having an ICU or not having an ICU? I don’t understand the purpose of advocating against the population’s determination to have an ICU in their local community hospital.”

The Suburban reached out to Micheline Rouleau, who did not respond for comment. n

Councillor slams ‘Save Lachine Hospital’ signs Read More »

Langevin calls latest city homeless consult “a smokescreen”

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The City of Montreal in collaboration with the Montreal Regional Health Authority (CIUSSS) and the Health and Social Services Network is launching a major public consultation which will be conducted by the Public Consultation Office of Montreal (OCPM) “to gather the opinions of the population concerning the conditions for success leading to the harmonious integration of resources dedicated to people experiencing homelessness or of vulnerability in the metropolitan areas.”

At the announcement, the Plante administration acknowledged the increasing pressure on community organizations and promises that “new” solutions to respond to the urgency of the situation will emerge from the consultation process. Pierrefonds-Roxboro City Councillor and the Official Opposition spokesperson on Homelessness Benoit Langevin is calling this announcement another “smokescreen” in the midst of a humanitarian crisis.

“We are seeing that more and more residents, parents, families and business owners are concerned about the way resources are planned in their area and we must do better in anticipation of increasing needs. We have heard the population and we want to involve citizens and community organizations in the search for clear tools and guidelines to improve our practices and ensure more harmonious integration of aid resources in the territory. If we want to adequately respond to the growing needs of vulnerable people, all stakeholders must do more to better plan the opening of resources in neighborhoods and take into account the needs of the population. We must move forward with lucidity while understanding the real issues linked to cohabitation and the feeling of security so that everyone can live with dignity and security in Montreal,” Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante stated.

Dr. Mylène Drouin, regional director of public health for the Montreal region, is calling the circumstances surrounding homelessness a public health crisis. “Visible homelessness is increasing and changing in Montreal. This is a complex phenomenon that has multiple facets. It is important to propose responses adapted to these different aspects while ensuring that the voice of the population, including that of marginalized people and people experiencing homelessness, is included in this consultation effort.”

Langevin told The Suburban that this announcement is a delaying tactic and that persons experiencing homelessness in this city take no immediate or short term benefit from these “talks”. Langevin says he even doubts the long-term benefits as he has seen no concrete action that leads him to trust the new proposed process. “I am seriously asking, why do we need a consultation to know ‘how to consult’? This is prolonging a process. After six years of opening and closing shelters — why does Montreal now need a public consultation to produce a report? Did they not state numerous times that they consulted with the organizations?” n

Langevin calls latest city homeless consult “a smokescreen” Read More »

DDO doctor innocent of all charges

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

“You are innocent of these charges. You are free to go,” Ontario Superior Court Justice Kevin Phillips told Dr. Brian Nadler of Dollard-des-Ormeaux last week as he was acquitted of four first-degree murder charges and four counts of criminal negligence causing death.

This high-profile murder case was about to start when the Crown declined to call any witnesses to testify on behalf of the prosecution or provide evidence. Nadler’s defense lawyer Brian Greenspan, who notably represented many high profile clients including Mike DaSilva, Justin Bieber and Naomi Campbell, told The Suburban that the primary expert witness in the case was not in fact an expert. “Without that witness, the Crown had no reasonable prospect of conviction,” he explained. Crown attorney Robin Flumerfelt told the court Tuesday that the prosecution was left with no reasonable prospect of a conviction following the decision to exclude its main witness. “For all practical purposes, these rulings have decided the case against the Crown,” Flumerfelt stated to the Court.

Nadler consistently maintained his innocence from the day of his arrest by Hawkesbury OPP officers at the Hawkesbury General Hospital in Ontario on March 25, 2021. Nadler was removed from his place of work and has spent the last three years facing severe criminal charges.

Nadler is a McGill University graduate who was licensed to practice medicine in Quebec, but never had. Post graduation, Dr. Nadler practiced medicine in Alberta, Saskatchewan and the United States before he became licensed to practice in Ontario in February 2020.

Nadler had pleaded not guilty to all charges at his arraignment. The Crown has not made a decision on an appeal. The Crown can only appeal following an acquittal, not when charges are withdrawn or stayed. “Whether they appeal or not, 30 days will tell us,” Greenspan told The Suburban. “Their appeal would have to rely on the expert witness that was ruled to be inadmissible. “ Greenspan says that he is prepared to make the arguments necessary in the face of any appeal and has nine expert witnesses lined up. “We have five pathologists that are government employees, not retained by us including the Ontario chief pathologist, all who have ruled the cause of death to be due to COVID-19 in each case. We have two toxicologists that are prepared to testify that the drugs administered by Dr. Nadler were not the cause of death. We have two palliative care physicians who are prepared to testify that the drugs administered were within the appropriate range for palliative care patients. The Crown prosecutor had a hematologist that does not agree, but his opinion was ruled inadmissible.”

Greenspan says that since the publication ban was lifted on Tuesday that it is important for the families of the four deceased patients to know that the postmortem exams determined that they died of COVID-19 or had pre-existing conditions prior to catching the virus, a fact that was always maintained by Nadler as he professed his innocence. Following his acquittal, Nadler has launched civil action against the hospital.

“Each of the four deaths was the tragic result of the outbreak of the virulent Delta strain of Covid-19 at the Hawkesbury General Hospital in March 2021. It is also tragic that Dr. Nadler’s life and reputation have been clouded by the innuendo of suspicion surrounding these deaths for the past three years,” Greenspan said. n

DDO doctor innocent of all charges Read More »

A rainbow of joy at West Island Blues Fest

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The West Island Blues Festival took place in Dollard-des-Ormeaux last Saturday with its first free outdoor event for 2024. Tone 11 kicked off the festivities while the BBQ’s were fired up at 3 p.m. Attendees “trickled in”, the term WIBF co-founder DDO Councillor Errol Johnson used to describe the first hours of the event to The Suburban. “I just love this part, watching everyone come in as we greet them at the entrance.” With a smile on throughout the entire day, side by side with WIBF co-founder Pierrefonds-Roxboro Mayor Jim Beis, each attendee was given a warm welcome. “We are excited to be back here again this year where it all started,” Beis told The Suburban. DDO park was the first location at the launch of the WIBF 21 years ago. “When we started, we did not even have a stage, but we had fun and it just keeps getting better and better,” Johnson explained.

Local talent, Rachel Dara performed several songs in between band set-ups. Fans were drawn in by her guitar and vocal solo performance. Later in the afternoon, Salah & Family Steel Pan Band rocked the dance floor while the smell of jerk chicken and Caribbean spices breezed through the park. “This is a family affair. My father figured, ‘how do you keep six kids busy?’, so we started a band,” Rachel Wilson, the eldest sibling and member of the band told The Suburban. In total, twenty-two family members belonging to four generations have joined the band intermittently over the years.

Inus Aso Raggae Band kept the party going strong with upbeat, downbeat and side-beat tunes through the suppertime hours. A rainbow came across the sky for the last thirty minutes of their performance creating a picturesque scene that generated a sense of awe for attendees.The Mike Goudreau Band took over the early evening performance slot at sundown followed by Jack De Keyzer.

The 2024 beneficiary representatives came on stage and included Denise Hupé for ABOVAS, Jacquie McGowan for the West Island Woman’s shelter, Joan Lee for the West Island Community Black Association, Leslie Carr for Literacy Unlimited and Christian Dubé for Centre Bienvenue. “It is such a privilege to be counted for the first time this year as one for the beneficiaries for this awesome festival,” Hupé told The Suburban. n

A rainbow of joy at West Island Blues Fest Read More »

Two cars torched in Dorval parking lot

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Two vehicles parked in a residential lot in Dorval were a total loss following a fire last week that Montreal Police (SPVM) are investigating as arson.

Firefighters quickly put out the flames spitting from an SUV and a van parked side by side in the parking lot on the property of a private residence on Joubert Avenue, near Lakeshore Road. Both vehicles were engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. The immediate priority was to avoid the spread of the flames to the residence and neighbouring residences, which was done successfully.

Firefighters summoned police to investigate. No accelerants were found at the scene. Police officers taped off the driveway and investigators from the SPVM arson unit examined the site and the vehicles were towed to undergo further examination in order to better determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

No arrests in connection with this incident have been made to date. n

Two cars torched in Dorval parking lot Read More »

Ricochet opens new location for West Island’s homeless

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Ricochet, the West Island’s only homeless shelter, reopened at a new location this past Monday following the abrupt closure that took place at the end of May.The shelter was waiting for its new permanent location set for January, when it was ordered to vacate the premises at its previous temporary location which caused 48 shelter users to be back out on the street.

Tania Charron, the executive director of Ricochet, was devastated for her clients and pulled in the resources to provide them with backpacks, bus tickets and as many supplies as possible that she could gather with a two-week notice. Ricochet staff remained in contact to the best of their ability with shelter users while Charron worked tirelessly to find a new temporary location. After weeks of meetings with public and private landlords, city officials and real estate professionals, Charron was able to pull it off. “This is a huge relief, I can finally sleep better knowing that we can accomplish our mission. For me it was a tragedy, so knowing that we can open a 24/7 program that will have an impact on the lives of people is so important,” Charron told The Suburban.

The Montreal Ignatian Spirituality Centre agreed to rent their building to Ricochet for a year, as the previous tenants, a successful YMCA program for Ukrainian refugees in transition, has recently vacated the premises.

The new temporary Ricochet Centre will be located at 9451 Boulevard Gouin West in Pierrefonds. The beautiful grounds surrounding the building, that was originally designed for a Jesuit monastery, will give shelter users additional comfort during their stay. “Our new temporary location will be a true haven, allowing Ricochet beneficiaries to rest and recharge,” Charron said. “The large wooded area by the water, combined with better-adapted facilities, including a kitchen, cafeteria, and more showers, will perfectly meet our needs.”

Ricochet’s 24/7 shelter service will allow beneficiaries to rest, eat, shower, wash their clothes, and be redirected to other specialized services as needed. They will also receive support and guidance from psychosocial workers, a practice that is at the heart of the organization. With 48 permanent beds at the Ricochet Centre, the shelter not only provides a roof but also helps vulnerable people and veterans reintegrate into society by offering a stable environment, psychosocial support, and guidance towards housing stability.

Shuttle and social mediation services remain in place to facilitate access to Ricochet’s services and promote harmonious relationships in the community.

“We knew that the Ricochet Centre wouldn’t be closed for long because our organization is known for achieving the impossible,” Charron said. n

Ricochet opens new location for West Island’s homeless Read More »

“Come clean my street” demand CDN/NDG residents

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

It’s an enduring issue across the borough. Whether it’s parks with inadequate garbage cans, city streets not cleaned, sewers blocked, or garbage overflowing sidewalks, CDN-NDG’s cleanliness problem is exacerbated come summer, especially around moving season.

West Hill resident Rhiannon Colley told council last week that it is frustrating her and her neighbours between Sherbrooke and De Maisonneuve. “I’ve had to stop one of the businesses (on Sherbrooke) from power-washing their oil hoods into the alley that comes down West Hill, so we have grease coming down the street. They also put out garbage, not in bins, so with the winds on the corner it’s coming down the street, and we’ve got that to deal with.”

It’s not only businesses, says Colley, because Mother Nature also contributes her share. “We have beautiful mature trees, but they shed a lot of branches, leaves and what-not. This spring the cleaning wasn’t done properly and so all our sewers are clogged with gunk from these trees, plus garbage from the businesses.”

She says she’s called the city repeatedly: “I’ve asked, I’ve done, I’ve used the app a few times too, and it keeps saying my service request has been processed and it has been rectified, but I haven’t seen any change.” She told The Suburban: “It seems to fall on deaf ears.”

“I’m just asking if it’s possible,” she asked council, “to come clean our street? Please?”

Borough Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa told her “we’re going to see what’s going on,” and recalled the borough’s recently launched cleanliness awareness campaign, adding, “It’s for each and everyone of us to take our responsibility regarding cleanliness, yes individuals, but also merchants.” She said the borough’s economic commissioners work with merchants on commercial streets to advise them of their responsibilities.

The campaign with catchy graphics and slogan was subject of another question about cost, and what concrete measures are in place to improve not only commercial and arterial streets but residential, especially given the number of overflowing garbage cans during the last two long weekends.

Katahwa said the $50,000 campaign is a tool, but added in recent weeks, “there is a lot more litter and so on because people move. We apply a kind of tolerance and then we also deploy more collections to go and clean certain sectors which are perhaps a little more difficult… Obviously it is our responsibility in the borough to ensure that trash is collected and that the district will remain clean, however it is important, and there are several asking us, to raise awareness among their fellow citizens about cleanliness.”

She says initiatives like hiring park wardens and exploring ways with building owners and residents to keep areas clean are part of the overall plan. Borough employees will go door-to-door in the coming months to discuss the issue, “although in certain neighbourhoods it’s more difficult to speak directly with citizens if they have questions on managing their waste,” adding that organizations like SOCENV help citizens better manage waste issues. n

“Come clean my street” demand CDN/NDG residents Read More »

Scarce resources force major NDG Food Depot cutback

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

At the crossroads of inflation, food deserts, soaring rents, unemployment, housing shortages and other poverty factors, lies a single plate of food that may — or may not – be served to someone who is hungry.

Those realities made a hard decision harder, as NDG’s Depot cut back its four-day Resto Marché meal program by a full day, meaning 300 fewer meals will likely be served each week in the west end.

The announcement shocked many but was no surprise to those paying attention. “We saw it coming,” executive director Tasha Lackman told The Suburban. “It was a hard decision and we’re afraid there’s going to be more hard announcements coming.”

The 10-year-old meal program is one of a dozen programs at the Depot, founded in a church basement in 1986 to meet emergency needs. The scale of demand, effectively tripling in two years, and scarcity of resources created a perfect storm. “A year ago, 200 people was considered a really busy day.” Now, 300 per day is normal. Normal maybe, but not tenable.

“We’re working by trial and error to ensure we serve the community with dignity and respect,” says Lackman. “If we had unlimited resources we could hire more people,” noting 25-30 volunteers help out daily. Despite shaving off a little more time on two of the three remaining days to lighten the load for volunteers and staff, they still serve about 900 meals weekly.

The team is “working to the bone, doing unpaid overtime, and drained,” with relentless pressure to turn over tables and serve more. “You’re not able to connect, rushing through the space waiting on tables, asking people to leave. People get impatient and it creates conflict.”

Depot fundraising efforts grew their budget (from $2.5 million to $4 million over a few years) with indexed provincial funding comprising some 3.5%. Local groups are pushing Quebec to boost funding for food security organizations, as food costs outpaced inflation while demand tripled. “If they could boost it 50%, it could take the pressure off.” Last fiscal year contributions from all governments amounted to slightly more than 17% of their budget, the balance from Centraide, private and public foundations, corporate and some 2,000 individual donors.

It’s a major, but necessary hustle. Last year the Depot received some $450,000 worth of food from Moisson Montréal and had to purchase $920,000 more across all its programs. “We spend a tremendous amount of time and effort fundraising, not on our core mission.” Sadly, says Lackman, philanthropy will never resolve food insecurity. “The call to action is to the government. With 25% of Canadians food insecure, every group working in food security recognizes these organizations are underfunded, and we’re all making these painful decisions.”

In January, the Depot stopped accepting new families for food baskets, receiving 100-150 applications every month with a waiting list of 500 families. They “whittled it down” with temporary extended hours and extra shifts to some 150 waiting families.

“Corrie,” 42, gets one weekly meal here, another two downtown. “There are people who will have to scramble,” she told The Suburban. “There are resources around Montreal if you’re hungry, but it takes lots of energy to get them and keep hoping life gets better.”

“It’s not the obligations of community organizations and philanthropy to solve food insecurity,” says Lackman. “It’s about income, about not having enough money to buy food.” n

Scarce resources force major NDG Food Depot cutback Read More »

“Beyond the shadows” tackles Quebec racism

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

Call it a tutorial, rallying cry, guidebook or roadmap, but it’s certainly an eye-opener. It’s also necessary, says Joel DeBellefeuille, executive director of the Red Coalition anti-racism lobby group, and one of Quebec’s leading voices in the fight against racial discrimination.

Beyond the Shadows: Confronting systemic racism in Quebec, is a 55-page e-book (available on Amazon) penned by DeBellefeuille to highlight what has long been in the shadows: the causes, impacts, enablers, and obstacles to the eradication of systemic racism.

DeBellefeuille takes pains to highlight important factors, such as the provincial government’s denial of the very existence of systemic racism in Quebec; blocking permanent residents from becoming police officers; lack of specificity in public union collective agreements when dealing with racial discrimination complaints; and finally, the inability of the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse (CDPDJ) to hear complaints from unionized employees.

These all contribute to a climate where change is sclerotic at best, he told The Suburban. “Descriptive actions for collective agreements and the CDPDJ accepting unionized complaints; these two things alone will change the face of racism and discrimination in the province.”

He says the timing is important for disseminating this information, to give people a broader understanding of these issues “that many people inside Quebec and most outside Quebec are not aware of. We need to bring this to the attention of everybody and highlight these issues.”

Quebec has a particular challenge since the government’s position “creates a domino effect on everything going on in the province and lets it persist,” he says, adding that’s exacerbated by language issues and laws like Bill 96 which contribute to the general problem. “The Premier, and the current party don’t have anti-racism legislation in place to address these issues” he says, rather they simply rely on ad hoc policy announcements.

The book includes sections on what other jurisdictions are doing; the role of the CDPDJ, the groundbreaking Yergeau — Luamba decision, recommendations for reform, Quebec hot zones, police accountability and DeBellefeuille’s own historic cases.

Beyond the Shadows is an easy read, and a $7 investment in civic awareness, a useful tool as multiple jurisdictions move closer towards elections and people seek information on these important issues. n

“Beyond the shadows” tackles Quebec racism Read More »

SPVM breaks up major shisha tobacco smuggling ring, 69 arrested

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The SPVM announced last Thursday that it has broken up a shisha tobacco smuggling network, seizing 9,300 kg of the contraband material worth $4.2 million.

The operation was the result of several months of investigation by the SPVM, which concluded June 26. Previous seizures last year were of much smaller amounts, and had taken place in St. Laurent and other locales.

“The investigation, led by the SPVM’s ACCES Tabac unit, in close collaboration with neighbourhood stations and the Laval Police Department, also led to the seizure of 3,650 cartons of contraband cigarettes, 35 vehicles and $158,000 in cash,” an SPVM statement says. “In total, 85 searches were carried out, the majority of them inside businesses, residences and vehicles in the boroughs of St. Laurent, Ahuntsic–Cartierville, Côte-des-Neiges–Notre- Dame-de-Grâce and Montréal North, as well as in the Laval territory. Warehouses located in the Toronto area were also targeted by investigators.”

The SPVM arrested 69 suspects between the ages of 19 and 79, “under the Tobacco Tax Act. The file from this investigation, which began in the fall of 2023, was submitted to Revenue Quebec prosecutors so that charges could be filed.

The SPVM pointed out that the ACCES program “is funded by the government of Quebec and coordinated by the Ministry of Public Security. The SPVM’s ACCES Tabac unit is dedicated to the fight against tobacco smuggling and aims, among other things, to ensure healthy competition for legitimate commerce.”

The police explained that the investigation started “following a series of crimes targeting businesses selling illicit shisha.

“The SPVM continues to monitor the situation closely. Anyone with information can contact 911 or their local station. It is also possible to communicate anonymously and confidentially with Info-Crime Montréal at 514 393-1133 or via the reporting form available on the infocrimemontreal.ca website.”

SPVM breaks up major shisha tobacco smuggling ring, 69 arrested Read More »

Week of antisemitic incidents includes posters and cemetery vandalism

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

A dozen posters with swastikas seen in Outremont saying the federal Conservatives and Liberals, and provincial CAQ, and Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather, are aligned with Nazis because of their support of Israel, have been roundly condemned.

The posters related to Housefather, taped up at several corners in Outremont and the Mile End, says the MP declared “we helped build this country” and features an Israeli flag with a swastika instead of the Star of David. The poster also features a Nazi flag attributing the building of the Autobahn and “much more” to the Third Reich. Housefather is then equated to a neo-Nazi, and encourages him to “get out of Canada.”

The MP posted a response last week, saying on X “my family has been here since the 19th century and we have indeed helped build this country. I am not going anywhere. Sorry antisemites. You may not like what I have to say but I will keep saying it and I will keep being a proud Jew and a Zionist.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted, “Anthony, I’m angry that this happened to you. It’s antisemitic, and it’s disgusting. Jewish Canadians indeed helped build this country and will always have a home here. We stand with you, and the entire community, against this hate.”

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs stated on social media, “thank you Anthony Housefather for always wearing your Jewish and Canadian identities proudly. Antisemitism and hate directed towards public officials (or anyone) has no place in Canada.”

Deborah Lyons, Canada’s Special Envoy For Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism, wrote, “this sign is not only targeting Anthony Housefather, “but all Jewish Canadians, 90 percent of whom could be defined as Zionists. Our country has gained so much from the contributions of our Jewish community; it is past time for the rest of us to come together and say ‘no more.’ It is our duty to stand in front of them to protect them, behind them to support them, and beside them in true friendship.”

Late last week, Trudeau named Housefather his Special Advisor on Jewish Community Relations and Antisemitism. Housefather’s role will be to “advise the Prime Minister and ministers on the development and co-ordination of the Government of Canada’s work to combat antisemitism.”

On Canada Day, the stones on top of several gravestones at the Kehal Israel cemetery in DDO were rearranged in the shape of a swastika.

Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi commented that, “it is absolutely abhorrent and revolting to defile the dead with swastikas. This desecration at the Kehal Israel cemetery in Montreal is beyond contempt. Justin Trudeau, step aside and get out of the way so we can reclaim our country.”

Federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre retweeted Levi’s post and wrote, “we cannot close our eyes to the disgusting acts of antisemitism that are happening in our country every day. The Prime Minister must finally act to stop these displays of antisemitism. If he won’t, a common sense Conservative government will.”

CIJA posted, “should we therefore ask ourselves whether the vision of Valérie Plante is that of a metropolis where antisemitism can flourish freely, to the detriment of the tranquility and success of its citizens and its entrepreneurs? Is it that of a city where one can calmly and without consequence come and defile a Jewish grave with a filthy swastika?”

B’nai Brith Canada stated that, sadly “this is not an isolated incident, but part of a disturbing pattern of unchecked and unmitigated antisemitism plaguing the city. Such acts of hatred cannot be tolerated. The Jewish community in Montreal deserves safety and respect. Not enough is being done! Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante must do more than offer words of condemnation. We demand immediate and concrete action to combat antisemitism in the City of Montreal. The time for passive responses is over.”

The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre also reacted, posting “this incident is another reminder of what Canadian Jews are up against. What will it take for Plante and all leaders to take concrete action to confront this hatred that’s invading our communities?” n

Week of antisemitic incidents includes posters and cemetery vandalism Read More »

United Against Hate group officially launches

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The nation-wide United Against Hate group founded by former Snowdon councillor and former B’nai Brith Canada League For Human Rights director Marvin Rotrand, active since January, has officially launched.

Rotrand, the Director General of the organization, told a Zoom press conference that the group is now registered as a non-profit and that June 19 the official launch date is also the birth anniversary of Dr. José Rizal, a national hero of the Philippines, “someone who stood for racial equality and brotherhood, and good relations between nations,” and fought against antisemitism.

Rotrand said United Against Hate will now accelerate its activities, and said the organization was created to “fill a void.

“We wanted to promote cross-cultural dialogue and highlight the contributions of Canada’s diverse population to the country’s success,” he said. “We felt that no other group was doing what we wished to do. We are non-governmental, non-partisan, multicultural, multi-racial and devoted to combating hate by building bridges. We leverage the strength of communities to aid each other.”

The group’s mission includes “promoting cross cultural communication with a focus on dialogue between different religious and racial minorities; combating the unprecedented upsurge in antisemitism witnessed in Canada over the past months; promoting dialogue between Jews and Muslims in Canada and highlighting the contributions of the many diverse communities to Canada’s well being and success including promoting the heritage months of racial and religious minorities.”

United Against Hate’s board members are: Perry Balendra – Former President, Tamil Association of Canada; Will Barclay – Academic, former Research and Data Analyst at B’nai Brith Canada; Frank Baylis – former Member of Parliament for Pierrefonds – Dollard; Alton Brooks – former Board member Jamaica Canadian Association of Ontario; Bashir Hussein – President, Council of South Asian Communities; Ellie Israel – School Commissioner at the English Montreal School Board; Dougald Lamont, former MLA and outgoing leader Manitoba Liberal Party, Norberto Mandin – Founder, CPRM Community Radio, Luzviminda Mazzone – President, Federation of Filipino Canadian Associations and Gemma Raeburn Baynes – President, Playmas Caribbean Cultural Association.

Rotrand said his group has already called for a second national summit to combat antisemitism, issued an open letter signed by 200 prominent Canadians “demanding that the Government of Canada act in light of an unprecedented wave of hate aimed at Jews seen over the last months,” has been “asked to speak at Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day by Tamil organizations, collaborated with Bangladeshi groups to urge Canada to continue to provide support for Rohingya refugees and is fostering links with the Cypriot community in advance of the 50th anniversary of the invasion and continued occupation of that country by the Republic of Türkiye,” and working with provinces to promote better Holocaust education, working with the Iranian diaspora to support a Canadian ban om the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” amongst other accomplishments.

(As the Zoom call was proceeding, news broke on CBC that Canada was about to proclaim the IRGC a terrorist organization according to the Criminal Code. Rotrand told The Suburban he was “thrilled. We support the same position as many other Jewish and Iranian groups do.)

Baylis told the Zoom call that the work of United Against Hate is extremely important.

He added that while Canadians generally live in peace, we now see “ugly signs of discrimination, of hate bubbling up, and unless we stand up and speak to it, it’s like we accept it. The rise in antisemitism is unacceptable.”

Mazzone said United Against Hate is a “much needed tool to build dialogue and collaboration amongst our country’s diverse communities.”

United Against Hate group officially launches Read More »

New provisions of Bill 96 demands more French on signs

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The Quebec government has announced that new sign law provisions of Bill 96 will take effect next June 1, and it focuses on the size and prominence of French on outdoor commercial signs, including in relation to store names trademarked only in English.

On the other hand, the aspect of Bill 96 requiring more French content on engraved markings on appliances has been delayed.

“In Quebec, when Quebecers and tourists stroll through the streets, it must be clear, Quebec is a French-speaking nation,” French language minister Jean-Francois Roberge said last week.

The legislation says French on signs must have a greater impact “in the visual field” than English, and take up two-thirds of the space on the sign.

More specifically, the law says, “where texts both in French and in another language appear on the same sign or poster, the text in French is deemed to have a much greater visual impact if the following conditions are met —the space allotted to the text in French is at least twice as large as the space allotted to the text in the other language; the characters used in the text in French are at least twice as large as those used in the text in the other language; and “the other characteristics of the sign or poster do not have the effect of reducing the visual impact of the text in French.”

The new regulations also tighten up the pre-Bill 96 requirement that a French descriptor accompany a trademark that is only registered in English, such as Best Buy, Winners and Subway, amongst many others. The Quebec government has complained that not all businesses with English trademarked names are respecting the existing regulations. Bill 96 is now requiring that the French aspects of these signs have a greater visual impact, rather than just a “sufficient presence” under the current rules.

Currently, many descriptors, such as “Électroniques” for Best Buy” and “Mode” for Winners, are less prominent than the English-language business name. For instance, the Best Buy descriptor is smaller in font size and is white, while the Best Buy logo is more prominent — not only larger in size but in more visible colours, yellow and black. The “Mode” descriptor is much smaller than the trademark name “Winners” and is below the store name.

Now, the French presence on such signs has to be twice that of the English. A graphic provided by the Quebec government provides two ways the law applies — one is that the descriptor of the store, such as “clothing”, is twice as large as the store name; and the other is that there is more French content, not only a general descriptor, but further descriptions of what the store sells, such as “shoes” and “fashion for everyone.” These do not have to be larger than the English-trademarked name.

Michel Rochette of the Retail Council of Canada has contended that the sign changes will cost businesses between $20 million and $25 million to comply with the law 11 months from now, as opposed to the Quebec government’s estimate of $7 million to $15 million.The Retail Council had called for the law to take effect three years after its publication, as originally promised, and the organization is also calling for financial aid for its members. n

New provisions of Bill 96 demands more French on signs Read More »

Lawyers’ protest attacks Plante on homeless hypocrisy

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Hundreds of people attended a downtown rally last week to call out Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante on what speakers said is her hypocrisy regarding the ongoing anti-Israel encampments and the situation of the homeless in Montreal.

There was a heavy police presence amongst the anti-Israel crowd at Victoria Square, and at one point, police took away an anti-Israel activist who tried to approach the counter-protest. The Victoria Square encampment, where the Victoria statue was vandalized, has been in place since June 22 and the McGill encampment has been in place since April 27.

Lawyer Peter Villani told the crowd that he wants everybody, including the anti-Israel protesters, to use the downtown park this summer.

“But they’re telling me, and this is the message I want you to take home, that I have no right over there!” he said. “Imagine that! A beautiful city park that the city spent a lot of money updating. Many of my colleagues spend their lunch hours there. And they’re telling me I can’t go there?! Really, in Montreal, it’s a no-go zone for us?! C’mon!”

Villani also told the crowd the rally is about democracy “and telling our Mayor that this has to stop, that we’ve had enough of the insults to people, enough of the defacing of public and private property!

“Things need to change in the city, because the way we’re going, it’s a very slippery slope away from the rule of law. What’s happening in the city is a loss of the sense of democracy and the rule of law! This is what, as lawyers, we need to make sure that we signal whatever happens on our streets, in our neighbourhoods, to our children, that’s there’s no way any group should have to suffer what we’re suffering right now. This makes no freaking sense!”

Villani said Plante is faster to act on homeless encampments than the anti-Israel variety.

“The homeless are the most vulnerable in our society! Why is she doing that and not taking the [anti-Israel] encampment down? This is not about what’s happening in the Middle East, it’s about what’s happening here in our city of Montreal!”

Villani said his parents escaped from fascist Italy “so they wouldn’t have to put up with all of that.

“And what’s happening here? What’s happening to our liberties?!”

Lawyer Alyssa Yufe, a community volunteer, spoke about values and the law.

“It’s time to call attention to the stark difference between the way that our laws apply to camps for the unhoused and the way our laws are being applied to hateful camps in downtown Montreal that are operating under the guise of freedom of expression”

Yufe added that the unhoused population in Montreal has increased by 33 percent during the time Valérie Plante has been Mayor.

“Last year alone, 426 homeless camps were dismantled. Do you know who dismantled them?! The police, under the orders of Valérie Plante! At the same time, Plante, by her actions or inactions, is encouraging residents and non-residents of Quebec to take over public and private greenspaces in Montreal and appropriate them for hateful and even illegal agendas!”

Yufe said that in Montreal, one can be fined for sleeping on a park bench, with a fine of up to $1,000 for a second offence.

“A law like this is unfair, even when it’s consistently applied to all. It’s only poor people with no choice who have to resort to sleeping on park benches. So fining the unhoused is bad. Do you know what’s worse? That the law is not even being applied consistently! The encampments here before us and at McGill are being allowed to stay!”

The event was organized by members of the Montreal legal community and attended by Federation CJA CEO Yair Szlak and Rabbi Reuben Poupko, amongst others. n

Lawyers’ protest attacks Plante on homeless hypocrisy Read More »

“City of Montreal is largest slumlord’: MEI

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The Montreal Economic Institute says that the Plante administration is Montreal’s largest slumlord, and should stay out of the housing market.

The latest MEI study says that Montreal’s social housing stock has worsened in the last five years, but Plante insists on building more such housing.

“Those who require housing assistance are being forced to live in deplorable conditions,” says Gabriel Giguère, senior public policy analyst at the MEI and author of the study. “Before purchasing and building more units, City Hall needs to address the fact that it has become Montreal’s largest slumlord.”

The study points out that “as part of its 2050 Land Use and Mobility Plan, the Plante administration aims to see 20 per cent of Montreal’s projected housing stock removed from the market. This would require building or purchasing 161,000 units at taxpayer expense by 2050.”

The MEI says the Office municipal d’habitation de Montréal (OMHM) manages 20,818 low-rent housing units, and that, of these “79.2 per cent were considered to be in either poor or very poor condition in April 2023. This is up from 47.6 per cent in 2019. The share of housing in very poor condition has increased even more significantly over this period, from 10.2 per cent to 48.5 per cent.” The organization also cited a quote from Plante to La Presse that the city can “no longer rely on the market in terms of creating new social housing.”

The MEI study argues that the solution to the unaffordability of housing is reducing the administration’s role in housing development.

“It’s a bit rich for Mayor Plante to claim that the market has not worked, given the number of hurdles her administration has added to housing development,” Giguère says. “Whether it’s through taxes on new homes, or longer permit delays, or even the outright obstruction of newbuild housing, her administration has made life more difficult for developers trying to build.”

The researcher adds that Montreal’s 20-20-20 bylaw, requiring that 20 percent of a new residential construction must be social housing, “amounts to a tax of up to $10,500 per new housing unit built for projects of six units or more.”

As well, “the average time it takes to obtain a residential construction permit has increased from 204 days to 326 days between 2019 and 2023. In the borough of Ville-Marie, it took an average of 540 days to get a residential building permit in 2023.

A previous MEI study says that “since coming into office, the Plante administration has obstructed the construction of projects totalling 23,760 units.” As well, “the city’s 2050 Land Use and Mobility Plan aims to add fewer units to the city’s housing stock than what would be built if the average pace of the past five years was simply maintained.

“Developers want to build in Montreal, but this administration does everything it can to stand in their way,” Giguère says. “Instead of trying to build fewer homes with more taxpayer money, the city should stop preventing the market from filling the need for housing.” n

“City of Montreal is largest slumlord’: MEI Read More »

Anti-Hate coalition says McGill should BDS Hamas, Iran links

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The United Against Hate Canada coalition wrote to McGill president Deep Saini in reaction to the university’s recent announcement that it was proposing to negotiate some of the demands of those involved with the more than two-month long anti-Israel encampment on the campus grounds.

The pro-Palestinian activists referred to McGill’s proposals as “laughable.” McGill stopped negotiating in mid-June.

Marvin Rotrand of United Against Hate Canada told The Suburban his group is questioning “McGill’s weak kneed response to anti-Israel protests and its supine attitude in the face of increasingly maximalist demands from a relative small, masked and totally unrepresentative group of protesters, many of whom are likely not McGill students.

“Rather than considering acceding to protesters’ shameful demands and offering amnesties, we are calling on the university to do the following — boycott, divest and sanction all nations, businesses and institutions that fund Hamas as well as cutting ties with all industries and academic institutions that have links with the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and other terrorist entities,” Rotrand added. n

Anti-Hate coalition says McGill should BDS Hamas, Iran links Read More »

CaPQ calls for federal referendum before a Quebec one

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The Canadian Party of Quebec is calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and all federal party leaders, if any of them are PM at the time, to hold a federal referendum prior to a third Quebec independence referendum that the PQ says it will hold if elected in 2026.

A letter to the federal leaders, written by CaPQ party leaders Colin Standish and Myrtis Fossey, says a federal referendum question could be, “as a member of the Canadian people in Quebec, do you consent that the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada separate Canadians and your local territory from Canada in the event of a Yes vote in any Quebec referendum on independence or provincial secession?”

“Now is the time for Canada’s federal institutions to prepare for any referendum or potential secession contingencies,” Standish and Fossey wrote. “In the lead-up to Referendum 3, in no way hypothetical given the threats and realities of two traumatic precedents, Canada and Canadians must be fully prepared.”

The CaPQ co-leaders cite a 1997 letter from then-Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion to his Quebec counterpart Jacques Brassard that said, in relation to the Swiss canton of Jara being created from part of the existing canton of Bern, “our governments too, like Switzerland, could be obliged to find arrangements that would not impose secession on populations that do not want it. If you had won the last referendum, we would have been forced to deal with this issue when no one was prepared.”

Standish and Fossey added that, even with the Clarity Act setting the rules of a Quebec referendum, it does not state “how the provincial boundaries of Quebec might be changed in the event of a successful referendum on Quebec independence.

“In other words, Canadians are no closer to ‘arrangements that would not impose secession on populations that do not want it’ than we were in 1997. As loyal Canadians residing in Quebec, subject to traumatic and repeated threats to our citizenship, we find such a situation both intolerable and negligent in the extreme.”

The CaPQ co-leaders also cited an indigenous peoples referendum held before the 1995 Quebec referendum, which indicated an “overwhelming desire to remain in Canada, whatever the results of the provincial exercise.”

“Moreover, it could not have escaped the Canadian government’s attention that after 1995, dozens of municipalities within Quebec adopted ‘staying Canadian’ resolutions, some even having discussed the possibility of following the Swiss canton of Jura model. The question is simple and pertinent. If the Indigenous people of Quebec were able to conduct referenda to express their desire to remain Canadian, before Referendum 2, why can’t the people of Canada, residing in Quebec, be accorded the same right before a possible third referendum?”

Standish and Fossey wrote that “if such a peaceful, democratic mechanism was good enough for Switzerland less than 50 years ago, why would it not be good enough for Canada today?” n

CaPQ calls for federal referendum before a Quebec one Read More »

Lack of specificity in SPVM crime stats: MoWest councillor

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The SPVM’s crime statistics are not specific enough, in that the numbers are for a station’s entire coverage area rather than individual municipalities, Montreal West Councillor Lauren Small-Pennefather says.

Station 9’s coverage area includes Montreal West, Côte St. Luc, Hampstead and, a few years ago, was expanded to include NDG. Small-Pennefather has brought up the specificity issue on previous occasions as well.

“It’s always very difficult for us to be able to distill exactly what is specific to Montreal West,” she said last week.

The councillor told The Suburban after the council meeting that the lack of specific numbers for cities is “problematic.

“This comes from the top, saying they won’t do it anymore. They say it’s not cost-effective or efficient for them to have to distill those numbers.”

At the June 25 meeting, the councillor cited the SPVM’s annual report, saying that for Station 9’s entire coverage area, property crimes were up 24.5 percent for 2023, “versus the previous five years, and there was an increase of car thefts of over 100 percent.

“Crimes against persons are also up 29.4 percent, and in the same five-year period, there was a slight decrease in homicides,” she added. “Of course, our biggest issue in Montreal West is with regards to stolen vehicles, and if you’ve been watching the news, you probably have seen that there are a number of very sophisticated theft rings that were [the subject of] significant arrests by the police.”

Small-Pennefather also said she is hopeful about legislation to reduce car thefts, such as harsher penalties for perpetrators; as well as measures by car manufacturers to decrease theft.

The councillor told The Suburban that the town does know, based on information from Montreal West Public Security and the police, that “our numbers are smaller, but we’re just a few streets, and if someone gets a car stolen and then another car is stolen [in another area of the town],” the word gets around and much concern is expressed by residents.

Small-Pennefather revealed that her own vehicle was stolen from her driveway, just before the COVID pandemic began.

“You feel violated if something is stolen from you, but as I said, a lot of this has to do with federal jurisdiction improving the laws, and they have now cracked down on a number of rings.” n

Lack of specificity in SPVM crime stats: MoWest councillor Read More »

Police shut down West End motel on drug and pimping charges

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The Motel Saint-Jacques in NDG was shut down by police in a major raid aimed to take down a prostitution, firearm and drug trafficking network that has allegedly been running through the motel for years. The owner and one employee were arrested and are facing charges of pimping and drug trafficking.

Police received a rare warrant to place the motel under a blocking order to conduct a full investigation while ensuring all operations are stopped throughout the process. All tenants occupying the 31-room motel were evicted. At the onset of the raid, the Tactical Intervention Group discovered four unconscious persons that were intoxicated in an apartment. Ten women were taken into the care of social workers belonging to the local health network. Community outreach officers from The Assistance Center for Victims of Crime (CAVAC) of the SPVM are meeting with victims in collaboration with the Health Authority (CIUSSS).

Several tenants including at least one elderly woman who live at the motel full-time received a two week notice to evacuate their motel apartments. Police officers remain on site, supervising the motel and the remaining tenants were given information on resources to help them re-house themselves elsewhere.

With the blocking order in place, the owner is prevented access to the building and cannot sell the property while the legal proceedings are in effect. This prevents a potential sale of illegal business operations, a continuation of operations under new management or any takeovers.

This operation required careful planning and consideration of the victims in order to be carried out effectively. It is rare for police to obtain a warrant for a blocking order and place a property under constant supervision. Sixty police officers from various SPVM squads, including the newly established ACCESS and Proceeds of Crime section, were deployed to shut down the motel and the alleged illegal operations that it is connected to and to maintain constant supervision.

This property has been on police radar for many years with many reports of overdoses, multiple links to underage prostitution and prostitution, pimping as well as other facets of criminal activity related to firearms and violence. n

Police shut down West End motel on drug and pimping charges Read More »

Pierrefonds car thief leaves baby on sidewalk

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Montreal Police are searching for a suspect who is assumed by authorities to have accidentally made off with a baby when he stole a vehicle in a commercial parking lot in Pierrefonds.

The vehicle was left running with the keys in the ignition in a daycare parking lot on Alexander Street. The mother had left the infant in the car with the key in the ignition in order to allow for the air conditioning to run, while she brought her other child into the daycare.

When the thief discovered the seven-month old baby snuggled in the backseat, shortly after he took off with the car, he stopped and left the infant on the sidewalk in its car seat on the corner of Alexander Street and Gouin Boulevard and then sped off again in the stolen vehicle.

A 911 call was made at 8:15 a.m. reporting the incident. The infant was quickly reunited with its mother, who was in a state of shock, according to police.

At 8:40 p.m., the same vehicle crashed into a cement roadblock in Montreal’s Villeray district on the corner of St-Urbain and Crémazie. The suspect fled the scene of the collision on foot and has not been located by police to date.

The mother of the baby is not facing charges despite the fact it is illegal to leave a child under the age of seven unattended in a car. “Unlike a criminal act that leaves no margin, in the road safety code it is to the discretion of the police officers to issue a ticket or not. In this case, the officers determined that the mother had suffered enough hardship,” SPVM spokesperson Veronique Dubuc told The Suburban. n

Pierrefonds car thief leaves baby on sidewalk Read More »

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