FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report
Friends and family are turning to social media to pay tribute to Codey Daly, a well-loved local bar owner who was involved in the launch of Belle et la Boeuf restaurant in Vaudreuil-Dorion and worked as a manager at Château du Lac in Hudson, who died tragically last Friday when he was crushed by a boat trailer against the garage door of a residence in Les Cèdres. The 29-year-old man driving the truck – a close friend and business associate of Daly – was arrested and now faces a charge of drunk-driving causing death.
Daly, 29, was standing behind the trailer, directing his friend as he was backing up into the driveway on Du Ruisseau St. when, at about 8:15 p.m., the truck crushed Daly. He was transported to hospital by paramedics, but succumbed to his injuries.
“The driver involved in this incident was met by police officers and was released on a promise to appear,” said Nicolas Scholtus of the Sûreté du Québec. “He could face charges of impaired driving causing death.”
Daly was a popular local entrepreneur who, in addition to being involved in the launch of several key restaurants, including the Belle et la Boeuf, Burger Bar and Les Rotisseries au Coq, was director of food operations at Foodtastic, Maitre D at Hotel William Gray and food and beverage manager at Nav Centre in Cornwall. He was also the founder of the popular Tommy Café chain.
“Today is a sad day, hearing about the loss of a fantastic human being, friend and colleague,” said Karl Bastien, who worked at the Château du Lac in Hudson with Daly. “Codey Daly was a great man who always took the time to listen, help and consider others. An awesome positive force of nature. I am deeply saddened about you leaving us so soon, buddy. I would like to wish my most deepest sympathies to the Daly family and all friends and industry coworkers who knew him!”
“You were my best friend, my partner, and someone who I never thought I would live without. You were my everything,” wrote Noa Almaleh on her Facebook page. “I never thought that one day I would be sitting here writing this. Thank you for six years of friendship, four years of us, and three years of loving you. You told me you would be with me forever, but I did not think forever was so soon. Your last words to me were “I love you,” and I will cherish those words through my forever.”
While loved ones were using Facebook to express their sense of loss, scammers were also busy, creating fake accounts and a Gofundme campaign supposedly organized by the Daly family. “We appreciate everyone’s kind words, but we have not started any fundraisers in his name and we have not announced any arrangements,” Almaleh said. “Please refrain from clicking any links that do not come from the family’s direct pages. We know many of you would like to pay their respects and when arrangements are made we will make public announcements only from family accounts.”