FREDERIC SERRE

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

Less than 48 hours after its grand opening, a Pointe Claire restaurant was struck by gunfire in an early morning attack that Montreal police are investigating as a potential gang initiation, which, according to one criminologist, is becoming a growing problem in the Montreal region.

Police were called to Envy Restaurant on Aug. 30 at about 2:45 a.m. after at least one bullet was fired through a window of the business on Brunswick Blvd., just west of Sources Blvd. No injuries were reported. The restaurant had just closed its doors for the night.

Described as a high-end supper club, Envy opened its doors for the first time on Aug. 28. Investigators are looking into various reasons for the attack, including a random gang initiation.

While police have not publicly declared the attack to be gang-related, the Envy incident is just one of numerous shootings that have made headlines in the past several months, along with a handful of fire-bombings at bars and restaurants.

Maria Mourani, a criminologist who has studied Montreal street gangs and written about organized crime in Quebec and around the world, says she is not surprised by the recent rise in gun violence.

“There’s a certain instability,” Mourani said, referring to the current climate among crime factions in the city. “People are trying to leave their mark, to see who’s dominant and who’s not.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

Sûreté du Québec investigators are looking into why a two-vehicle crash and several near-collisions occurred at a busy intersection along Highway 20 in Île Perrot last week under the eyes of a Transport Quebec employee assigned to supervise the flashing lights at the intersection.

The drama unfolded Aug. 27 at about 12:30 p.m. at the corner of Highway 20 and Perrot Blvd. According to the SQ, a Transport Quebec truck was parked at the intersection while an employee oversaw traffic that was backing up in both directions along Highway 20 because two sets of traffic lights were flashing. The intersection is ordinarily governed by alternating green and red lights.

The SQ was called to the scene after a major traffic jam occurred with several near-collisions were reported and angry motorists yelling at each other. At about 1 p.m., two SUVs collided in the eastbound lanes of the highway, causing extensive damage to the vehicles, but no injuries.

With traffic backed up and motorists’ patience near the cracking point, Transport Quebec returned the traffic lights to alternating green and red lights.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

A criminal court judge is praising the courage of a Vaudreuil-Soulanges child whose testimony on Aug. 22 resulted in the conviction of a former resident of Les Cèdres for assault, criminal harassment and voyeurism.

The man was sentenced to 12 months of house arrest. Among the conditions of his sentence, the man is forbidden from leaving New Brunswick, where he currently lives.

Valleyfield Court Judge Marie-Chantal Doucet applauded the child and her testimony, adding that it was important for her healing process to face her abuser in a court of law and to let him know the harm he had done to her.

A publication ban forbids the identification and age of the victim, but her aggressor was identified as Clairmont Ouellet, who lived in Les Cèdres when the offences occurred. The publication ban prohibits mention of when the crimes were committed.

At the time of the incidents, Ouellet was in a position of authority over the victim, who was a minor.

Ouellet was in court last month as the victim described years of molestation at the hands of her abuser. In addition to suffering from depression, the victim described dealing with an anxiety disorder on a daily basis.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

Nearly two weeks after being savagely attacked during a road-rage incident on the Île aux Tourtes Bridge, trucker Stephanie Ross says she is still trying to put the pieces of the story together, adding that while she is “physically OK, emotionally, not so much.”

In an interview with The 1019 Report yesterday, Ross described the moments leading up to the Aug. 21 attack, which was videotaped by a motorist. The shocking video, obtained by The 1019 Report and other media, shows Ross being punched in the head and knocked unconscious by a male trucker, who has since been arrested and charged with assault. The incident happened in the westbound lanes at the bridge at about 3:30 p.m. during heavy traffic. The video also shows two Transport Quebec employees trying to reason with Ross’s attacker, as he hovers over her as she lay unconscious on the pavement.

The incident forced the closure of the bridge in both directions for several hours as paramedics and Sûreté du Québec officers did their best to reach the scene of the incident as quickly as possible. According to the SQ, the road rage incident was sparked by a fender bender involving both trucks.

Ross, however, says there was no fender bender, and that her truck was stopped behind the suspect’s rig in heavy traffic when the driver got out of his vehicle and walked over to her vehicle.

“I thought he was coming over to tell me I had a blown tire,” Ross said while recovering at her home in Morin Heights. “Instead, he started screaming at me and making a lot of anti-women insults.” That’s when Ross stepped out of her truck to talk to the man, before she was attacked.

Ross was rushed to hospital for observation and sent home, where she is still trying to come to grips with what happened. In all her years as a professional trucker, she has driven across North America and has always believed in a truckers’ code of honour, but that was shattered in one instant.

“For him to attack a woman? I am still in shock,” she said.

Ross also denounced the lack of response by other motorists, truckers and even the two Transport Quebec workers who had initially stepped in, but then went back to work instead of calling 911.

According to Ross, it was the woman who had videotaped the attack who got out of her car and tended to her, urging the Transport Quebec workers who were several feet away to call 911.

“She was the only one who helped,” Ross said.

Bridge road rage on rise

While the SQ continues its investigation, they are also looking into another case of road rage on the bridge that left a motorist with serious head injuries. This incident occurred Aug. 27 at 10 a.m., when two motorists stuck in traffic in the westbound lane of the bridge began yelling at each other. As traffic cleared, the pair drove to a nearby industrial park in Vaudreuil-Dorion and got out of their cars to settle their differences.

According to Camille Savoie of the SQ, one driver – a man in his 30s – was walking back to his car when he was run over by the other vehicle. Savoie said the driver of that vehicle fled the scene, leaving the victim lying on the ground with serious head injuries.

In the wake of the two road-rage incidents on the Île aux Tourtes, and with motorists’ patience wearing thin, Transport Quebec and the SQ responded last week by issuing a reminder to motorists to remain calm and obey traffic laws while using the bridge, which is undergoing major renovations. The public bulletin contained 44 tips, including one urging drivers to be courteous with one another. “We really need a code of honour among truckers,” Ross insisted, adding that the employer of the accused trucker charged with attacking her, GT Intermodal, hasn’t even bothered to reach out to her to apologize or to see how she is doing.

Frederic Serre
The Advocate

Farms across Quebec that carry out forest management work are being urged to improve employee training and equipment in the wake of a fatal accident last December on an agricultural property in Ste. Marie de Beauce, which was investigated by the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST).

The commission issued its findings July 9 into the accident that claimed the life of a worker from Ferme Noël Maheux et fils Inc. on Dec. 8, 2023.

On the day of the accident, the worker was at the company’s maple bush, thinning and clearing the forest with a chainsaw. As he began felling an ash tree, it became entangled with the top of a maple tree as it fell. To free the ash, the worker began cutting the part of the tree that hinged at its stump. The ash tree fell on the worker, who was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The CNESST investigation identified three causes of the accident:

– The worker’s positioning near the ash exposed him to a sudden fall of the tree.

– The absence of an escape route from the ash felling area deprived the worker of any exit when the tree fell.

– Lack of precision in the execution of the directional notch, the hinge and the felling cut resulted in the ash falling in the wrong direction.

Following the accident, the CNESST required Ferme Noël Maheux to train workers in directional felling, provide them with personal protective equipment for forestry work requiring the use of a chainsaw, equip the company’s chainsaws with safety equipment, use compliant vehicles that are adapted to the work environment and equipped with adequate protection for the driver during forestry tasks.

To prevent such an accident from happening again, the CNESST said it will inform the Union des producteurs agricoles du Québec, the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association and the Producteurs et productrices acéricoles du Québec of the findings of this investigation, so that they can make their members aware of the dangers associated with forest management work.

Frederic Serre
The Advocate

The Quebec government this month released its list of 14 individuals and businesses that violated the province’s forest management and environmental regulations so far this year, detailing each offence and fines imposed.

The Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts published the names of companies and individuals who have violated the Forest Act and the Sustainable Forest Development Act by not respecting the sustainable development of forests on government land on its website earlier this month. This publication covers judgments rendered between Jan. 1, 2024 and June 30, 2024.

The list of offenders includes the names of four individuals and 10 corporations who committed 25 offences for which fines totalling $35,340 were imposed. The individuals received fines totalling $3,200, while the corporations received fines that totalled $32,140.

The province’s investigations looked at the size and distribution of cutting areas; the development of infrastructures that enable the crossing of watercourses; soil protection; and the regeneration and protection of fragile environments and wildlife habitats.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

Nearly three years after crashing his SUV into a ditch in St. Polycarpe, a Rigaud man faced a Quebec Court judge in Valleyfield on Aug. 9, where he was slapped with a $3,000 fine and forbidden from driving a vehicle for a year after admitting to being drunk behind the wheel on the evening of the accident.

Sébastien Primeau lost control of his SUV shortly before 6 p.m. on Oct. 19, 2021, and crashed into a ditch on Ste. Catherine St. He was the lone occupant of the vehicle and emerged uninjured.

Primeau immediately called 911 to say that he had fallen asleep and crashed his vehicle. However, when police arrived, he admitted to having consumed alcohol while watching a baseball game nearby. He was arrested and taken to the Sûreté du Québec detachment in Vaudreuil-Dorion, where he was given a breathalyzer test.

The court imposed a $3,000 fine, to be paid within the year, along with a 12-month driving prohibition. Primeau’s licence was confiscated, and he will have to refrain from getting behind the wheel of any motor vehicle in Canada for the next year.

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.”

FREDERIC SERRE

The 510 West

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

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

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

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

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

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

A young St. Lazare man who last Wednesday pleaded guilty to driving drunk and causing a crash in 2021 that killed his passenger – the stepson of Soulanges MNA Maryline Picard – will return to court next month to be sentenced.

Julien Ségaux, 21, appeared at the Montreal courthouse before a Quebec Court judge, where he admitted to being drunk and driving too fast in the early hours of Dec. 18, 2021, before losing control of his Honda Civic on southbound Sources Blvd. in Pointe Claire. The vehicle toppled over the overpass above Highway 20 and landed on Cardinal Ave. While the crash left Ségaux critically injured, his friend, Noah Leewis Mercier, Picard’s stepson, who was days away from turning 17, was killed.

The court was told that on the night of the crash, Picard’s stepson and Ségaux played video games and drank beers at Ségaux’s family residence in St. Lazare. In the early morning hours, the pair left the house in Ségaux’s mother’s Honda.

At 4 a.m. a motorist on his way to the airport in Dorval reported seeing a car travelling at a high rate of speed on southbound Sources Blvd. Moments later, the Honda crashed.

By the time police and firefighters reached the scene, Mercier was trapped inside the wreckage, while Ségaux was thrown from the vehicle. Both were taken to hospital, where Mercier was declared dead. Ségaux spent several days in a coma and told the court that he has no memory of the accident.  He suffered severe craniocerebral trauma, leaving him with significant and permanent cognitive after-effects.

Almost a year after the accident, Picard tragically lost another stepson, when Eliot Mercier, 19, was run over and killed by a truck in Montreal’s Sud-Ouest borough. Police said Mercier was struck by a pickup truck while lying on the road early last Nov. 1. He was rushed to hospital, but was declared dead.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

A violent physical attack of a resident of Montcalm Street in Vaudreuil-Dorion nearly two weeks ago is now being investigated by the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI) – Quebec’s police watchdog group.

The BEI is looking into the response and actions of the Sûreté du Québec officers who responded to a 911 call on July 13 at 1:35 a.m. from a person who had just been beaten by a man. The victim said the attacker had immediately fled the scene on foot.

According to a statement by the BEI, the officers spoke with the victim and then left the residence to continue their investigation, with collaboration from the Montreal Police Department, to try to locate the suspect.

According to the BEI, a few hours later, the suspect returned to the residence and savagely attacked the victim again. The victim suffered serious injuries and was rushed to a hospital and listed in stable condition. It is not known if the victim is a man or a woman.Five BEI investigators are now probing the circumstances surrounding the SQ officers’ response. The BEI is being assisted by the Quebec City Police Service, while the attacks are also now being investigated by that force.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

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

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

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

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

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

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

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

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

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

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

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

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

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

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

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

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

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

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

Despite a massive police search in Terrasse-Vaudreuil last week, three boat thieves are still at large, although the owner of the vessel – identified as a security guard assigned to supervise the Île aux Tourtes Bridge – is relieved to be reunited with his boat.

According to the Sûreté du Québec, the drama began shortly before noon on July 2 when three men stole the boat from an undisclosed location in Montreal. The SQ received a 911 call from the boat’s owner at 11:45 a.m., as he gave chase aboard his Sea-Doo. The chase ended near the shore along 11^th Avenue in Terrasse-Vaudreuil where the suspects abandoned the craft and fled on foot.

A strong police response saw armed SQ officers as well as search dogs combing the area for several hours.

According to the SQ’s Nicolas Scholtus, officers were unable to capture the three men, although there was a report about one of them having been seen escaping on an electric scooter along one of the town’s streets. He said the investigation is continuing, as is the search for the suspects.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

The criminal case against Fabio Puglisi, charged with killing two women and injuring a third during a savage stabbing attack at a condo building in Vaudreuil-Dorion last February, returned to court June 20, when his lawyer requested a delay in proceedings so that his client can decide on a plea. Quebec Court Judge Bertrand St-Arnaud granted the request, and ordered Puglisi to return to court Aug. 22.

Puglisi, 44, who has had a history of mental illness and run-ins with the law since 2011, was charged with two counts of second-degree murder, attempted murder and aggravated assault.

The victims of the brutal Feb. 15 attack at the Vela condominium complex on Émile Bouchard Street were identified as Puglisi’s mother, Élisabetta Puglisi-Caucci, 68; and her neighbour, Manon Blanchard, a retired Canadian Armed Forces officer. The third victim, Nighat Imtiaz, a woman in her 70s who lives in the same building, was also taken to hospital with stab wounds but has since recovered. Puglisi was arrested on the scene by police.

Puglisi did not appear at the Valleyfield courthouse on June 20, as he is being held at the Philippe-Pinel psychiatric institution in Montreal, but his lawyer, Alexandre Dubé, informed Judge St-Arnaud that his client understands the charges against him. The Crown, meanwhile, presented new evidence, which St-Arnaud said would be passed on to the defence. He then ordered all parties to return to court on Aug. 22, at which time Puglisi is expected to enter a plea, Dubé said.

Last February, after Puglisi was charged, a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation concluded that he was not fit to stand trial at that time. He was then ordered to undergo psychiatric treatment.

He returned to court in April after a new evaluation, which declared that he is fit to stand trial.

Just prior to his arrest last February, Puglisi appeared in court to answer to assault charges related to a separate incident involving domestic violence. He also had several run-ins with the law, including in 2011 involving accusations of assault causing bodily harm and, in 2018, for allegations of fraud. Each time he was declared not criminally responsible for his actions.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

A Hudson teenager charged with setting a fire at the Walmart in Vaudreuil-Dorion in February that kept the store on De la Gare Blvd. closed for three months will be sentenced this fall after he appeared before a Quebec Court judge on June 17 and pleaded guilty.

Luciano Minisini Burke, 18, will return to the Valleyfield courthouse on Oct. 15, where he will learn if he will face prison time. While Burke initially pleaded not guilty to charges that he lit a fire inside the store on Feb. 20, while shoppers were inside the building, he waived his release hearing last month, and will remain in custody until the fall.

Burke was charged with two counts of wilfully causing fire damage to the Walmart and causing fire damage to property with the knowledge that individuals were in the store. In unrelated incidents, he also faced charges of causing fire damage to residences under construction in Piedmont and Terrebonne. 

Police arrested Burke the same day as the fire at Walmart, and he appeared before a Quebec Court judge in February, where he was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, which ruled that he was fit to stand trial.

The damage to the store was so extensive that it took three months to carry out repairs. The Walmart finally reopened on May 16.

At his court appearance on June 17, the accused entered guilty pleas to all counts related to the fire at Walmart, while a conditional sentence was imposed on the charges related to the fires in the other municipalities. 

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 West

A young moose on the loose that led police and wildlife officials on a wild, five-hour chase along Highway 40 in Vaudreil-Dorion late last month was eventually herded back unhurt to a forested area in the town a few kilometres away, police said.

According to the Sûreté du Québec, citizens began making 911 calls as early as 5 a.m. on June 26, saying a moose was running loose along eastbound Highway 40. After searching the area, officers with the SQ and Quebec’s wildlife protection services located the frightened animal and ordered the closure of the westbound Highway 30 exit at about 8 a.m.

According to Élizabeth Marqui-Guy of the SQ, officers came close to cornering the moose, but it managed to escape by running into the parking lot area near the Walmart store on De la Gare Blvd., trotting along the store’s main entrance area before the outlet opened. It was then seen trying to cross Highway 40. Finally, at about 10:30 a.m., officers on scene were able to lure the animal back to the forest where it is believed to have come from, while reopening the Highway 30 exit to traffic.

Valleyfield resident Jacques Rocheleau says he was driving along Highway 40 at about 5 a.m. when he first spotted the animal near the Highway 30 exit.

“He was running in between the 30 and the 40,” Rocheleau said.

Chantale Laplante of Vaudreuil-Dorion said she called 911 when she saw the moose running along the highway at about 8 a.m. “I’m the one (of the residents) who called it in this morning at 8,” Laplante said. “I really hope that he is safe and sound. It’s such a good thing that we were responding in so many numbers,” she added, referring to the frantic calls posted on social media to rescue the wandering animal.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

An intense investigation by the Sûreté du Québec into child-porn activities has resulted in serious charges laid against a Pincourt man – an individual police say was known to them for similar offences prior to this investigation.

Brian McGinnis, 51, appeared before a Quebec Court judge at the Valleyfield courthouse on May 23, mere hours after being arrested at his residence by SQ officers and investigators from the service’s child exploitation unit that hunts down online child sex offenders. McGinnis faces charges of possession of child pornography and intent to distribute child pornography.

According to the SQ, McGinnis is alleged to have had, in his possession, computer files containing images of children being sexually abused. In addition, he faces a charge of breaching the terms of his probation.

During the raid on McGinnis’s residence by the SQ, his computer was seized and the contents continue to be examined by the SQ and specialists from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s child sex crimes investigation unit.

McGinnis remains in custody until his next court date, which has yet been determined.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

Nearly two weeks after the drowning of a 3-year-old toddler at a residence in Coteau du Lac, a Quebec coroner will be examining the death, while authorities are warning parents to keep a closer eye on their children and their pools, especially with the heatwave spreading across the region this week.

The tragic events of June 6 happened when the child fell into the family’s outdoor pool on Des Merles Street at about 7:30 p.m.

According to the Société de sauvetage du Québec, this was the 18^th drowning this year in the province, and the third involving a child in only the past few weeks. Last year at this time, the province had recorded 27 drownings.

“Drowning is a silent phenomenon,” sad Raynald Hawkins, the Société’s director-general. “It lasts less than 30 seconds. You must keep a close eye (on your child) when you give them a bath. Taking the time to educate your children about street safety is the same principle that applies to a backyard swimming pool.”

While the Sûreté du Québec’s major crimes unit ruled out foul play regarding the Coteau du Lac incident, a coroner will be examining the case.

The SQ did not say whether the child was a girl or a boy.

The parents of the child called 911 after finding the toddler at the bottom of their pool. Police and paramedics raced to the scene and performed CPR on the victim, who was rushed to a hospital, but was later declared dead.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

There was high drama on a quiet country road in Ste. Marthe last Friday afternoon when a car slammed into a horse, killing the animal and sending the vehicle’s two occupants to hospital with minor injuries.

The collision occurred at about 3 p.m. in front of 343 Ste. Marie Rd. According to the SQ, the horse had escaped from a nearby stall the previous evening after a violent thunder and lightning storm rolled into the area.

Unable to avoid the frightened animal, the driver of the car lost control after slamming into the horse. By the time paramedics, police and firefighters arrived on the scene, the two occupants, including the male driver, managed to get out of the wreckage, which was stuck in a deep ditch. Sadly, the horse was pronounced dead at the scene.

The force of the impact, which caused the car to crash into a ditch, destroyed the vehicle, said the Sûreté du Québec’s Valérie Beauchamp.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

While a gunman is still at large nine days after a brazen shooting on a quiet residential street in Pointe des Cascades that has left a 32-year-old man clinging to life in hospital, the incident remains shrouded in mystery as the Sûreté du Québec’s major crimes squad tries to hunt down the suspect, who reportedly fled the scene in a red Acura.

Residents of De Montigny Street immediately called 911 after gunshots were fired at a man who was walking along the sidewalk at about 10 a.m. on June 10. One witness told police he saw the whole thing unfold before his eyes, while the mayor of Pointe des Cascades, who lives nearby, said he saw the red Acura flee the scene.

According to the SQ, the gunman emerged from the car, walked over to the victim and fired at least six shots, striking his target in the chest and jaw. He then sped off in his getaway car, leaving the severely injured victim lying in a ditch. He was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries. The SQ said he is in serious condition.

Three days after the shooting, the SQ set up a command post at the scene to collect information from local residents.

The SQ is still studying the theory that the shooting may be linked to a love triangle gone awry. Other theories include a case of mistaken identity, while SQ spokesman Louis-Philippe Ruel ruled out any connections to organized crime or a settling of accounts, adding that the victim has no criminal record.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

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

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

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

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

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

An investigation is under way by the Sûreté du Québec to find out who and why someone threatened to harm federal Vaudreuil-Soulanges Liberal member of Parliament Peter Schiefke in the wake of a massive police operation last week sparked by the discovery of a suspicious package left in front of his office.

A call was made to 911 early last Wednesday morning when a suspicious package containing an electronic device was found in front of Schiefke’s riding office on St. Charles Ave. in Vaudreuil-Dorion. Schiefke was in Ottawa at the time.

While SQ officers blocked off access to the site, firefighters moved in to investigate the package. Finally, around 10:30 a.m., it was determined that the threat was unfounded, and the scene was cleared.

Schiefke took to social media to thank police and firefighters for their quick response, while deploring the act of intimidation.

“I sincerely believe that today’s events are not representative of our safe, open and welcoming community,” Schiefke wrote. “This deplorable act of intimidation has no place in Vaudreuil-Soulanges. It has no place in Canada. The safety and well-being of my team and our neighbours are paramount to me, and I will put in place all the necessary measures to ensure that they can continue to proudly serve all those who call our Vaudreuil-Soulanges community home.”

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

A winery employee on her way to work at the Vignoble de Pomone in Coteau du Lac early Monday morning is fighting for her life after the pickup truck she was driving was struck by a Toronto-bound VIA Rail train.

Katherine Sauvageau, 35, was ejected from the vehicle before it was dragged by the train for several metres. She suffered life-threatening injuries, said the Sûreté du Québec.

The collision occurred at 7:45 a.m. at the level crossing near Rivière Delisle Sud Rd., according to the SQ. One side of the crossing is equipped with a gate, while the other side, where the crash occurred, is located on private land and does not have a drop-down barrier.

The passengers on the VIA Rail train 61 en route to Toronto remained on the train until 11 a.m., when it was given the green light by the SQ to continue its voyage.

In a press release, VIA Rail stated that “emergency services and local authorities were contacted and both tracks were closed during the investigation, causing delays of about three hours for Train 61 and about one hour and a half for trains 63 and 33,” adding no passengers were injured.

Sauvageau is a resident of Valleyfield and has worked at the winery for the past two years. She was on her way to work when she crossed the tracks, according to her sister-in-law Noémi Bouchard, who claimed the view of the tracks at the site is reportedly obstructed by trees.

“Luckily, she was ejected from the vehicle before it was destroyed,” Bouchard said.

Frederic Serre
The Advocate

Arbec, one of the largest wood manufacturers in Quebec, which was seriously affected by last summer’s devastating forest fires, has been awarded a whopping $35-million loan by the provincial government to help it deal with the fire aftermath.

The announcement, made April 23, is part of Quebec’s assistance package to support the province’s forestry industry, as well as provide aid to workers and communities affected by the forest fires.

The financial boost means Arbec will be able to preserve 477 full-time and 525 part-time jobs, along with about 1,000 seasonal jobs.

In business since 2014, Arbec is a leading wood manufacturer, with seven factories located in three regions of Quebec, including the Mauricie, Saguenay–Lac St. Jean and the North Shore. Four of these are sawmills, while the other three specialize in drying, planing and finger-jointing lumber.

Frederic Serre
The Advocate

The manufacturer of a rock-picking machine is being blamed for the tragic death of a 21-year-old farm worker in the Lanaudière community of St. Jacques last year, and the provincial commission examining the accident at the Ferme Sébastien Lépine is urging better training by the manufacturer as part of its 25-page report released April 18.

Jacob Tousignant was killed May 22, 2023, while using an ELHO destoner attached to a tractor to remove rocks and other debris from a field at the farm, located about 90 kilometres northeast of Montreal.

The Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) spent 11 months studying the fatality. The accident happened when Tousignant was working alone, using a stone picker, when the machine jammed, prompting the young worker to step off the tractor to manually unblock the stone picker. In doing so, Tousignant restarted the machine, which struck the victim. Tousignant was declared dead at the scene.

In its report, the CNESST points the finger at the machine’s manufacturer, saying the stop function on the machine’s control panel did not control its power source. Stopping the machine interrupted its movements, but did not stop it being powered up, thus exposing Tousignant to great danger, especially since the machine did not have a lock or hydraulic stop switch.

The CNESST will present the results of its investigation to the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) and to various associations. The report will also be distributed to all agricultural trade training establishments in the province.

Adding to the tragedy is that Tousignant had undergone a life-saving heart operation back in 2016, after being diagnosed with a serious cardiac illness as a child. He was set to celebrate his 22^nd birthday less than a week after the accident.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

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

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

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

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

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

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

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

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

Investigators say they are concerned about his safety.

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

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

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

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

Nearly three months after a devastating arson attack shut down the sprawling Walmart department store in Vaudreuil-Dorion, company officials say they are excited to welcome back employees and customers, adding that they have been working hard the past few weeks, filling shelves and getting the store ready for its May 16 reopening.

“Given the condition of the store and the extensive remediation required, we took the opportunity to move up a planned renovation,” said Walmart spokesperson Felicia Fefer. “Customers will be delighted to be welcomed back to a store with new signage, an expanded grocery department and more improvements for a better shopping experience.”

While the store on De la Gare Blvd. readies for the opening, Hudson resident Luciano Minisini-Burke is awaiting trial on charges of setting the fire that gutted a large section of the store on Feb. 20. On that morning, shortly after opening its doors, shoppers and employees were evacuated after flames broke out near the barbecue section of the Walmart. No injuries were reported, although one person was treated for smoke inhalation.

Police arrested Burke, 18, the same day. He appeared before a Quebec Court judge on Feb. 27, where he was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, which determined that he was fit to stand trial. He now faces charges of committing arson and causing damage by fire to a property knowing that individuals were in the business, and causing damage by fire.

Fefer said damage to the store was “significant,” and while the Walmart has been closed since the fire, no employees were laid off.

“We’ve been offering (employees) salary continuance or the opportunity to work in nearby stores,” she said. “Many have returned to the store to help with the grand opening.”

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

Police and firefighters are applauding a courageous St. Lazare resident who probably prevented an apartment complex from going up in flames on April 29 when he carried his burning dryer out of his second-floor apartment and tossed it into the grassy yard below.

The incident occurred before 9 p.m., as the man was doing his laundry inside his apartment on Des Violettes St. when the appliance suddenly caught fire. The quick-thinking resident instinctively grabbed the burning dryer and went to his balcony to throw the machine over the railing. He then called 911. St. Lazare firefighters were on the scene within minutes, where they quickly extinguished the fire.

Karolina Bucholc, who is the man’s neighbour, praised his actions and the quick response by firefighters for preventing what could have been a very dangerous situation.

“This act of bravery was uniquely impressive,” Bucholc said. “From this guy who carried the dryer out himself to the rapid response by firefighters, all of this could have ended up a lot more disastrous.”

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

A five-car pile-up Monday morning in the eastbound lanes of the Galipeault Bridge that links Île Perrot and Ste. Anne de Bellevue on Monday morning created a massive traffic jam that lasted hours, adding to the headaches and frustration felt by commuters, many of them using the span along Highway 20 in an effort to avoid the chronic rush-hour traffic tie-ups leading up to the Île aux Tourtes Bridge on Highway 40.

The crash, which happened at about 8 a.m., forced the closure of two of the three lanes on the Galipeault. No injuries were reported.

According to the Sûreté du Québec, speed and impatience are likely the cause.

“I saw it happen behind me,” said Phillipp Salazar. “The red light on the bottom of the exit lane caused a full stop (on the span), and the car behind me could only partially merge on the exit lane, so this caused a full stop in the middle lane. I heard one quick car horn, and then crash, crash, crash!”

Another motorist, Dina Guadagno of Vaudreuil-Dorion, said she witnessed the whole incident, adding that speed played a big role.

“It was horrible to see,” Guadagno said. “One vehicle was blocking the centre lane to cut into the right lane for the Ste. Anne de Bellevue exit, which created a useless blockage in the centre lane. Another vehicle tried to change lanes to go into the left lane and was solidly hit by another car that was arriving very fast. People are speeding on the bridge!”

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

Two blazes that destroyed abandoned buildings in Les Cédres and Les Coteaux on April 24 and 28 kept regional firefighters busy. While the cause of each fire is unknown, the Sûreté du Québec is looking into the possibility that at least one of them may have been criminally set.

Shortly before 4 a.m. on April 28, flames completely destroyed an empty house at 1609 du Fleuve Rd. in Les Cèdres. While the cause is unknown, arson has been ruled out. It took firefighters from eight local municipalities five hours to extinguish the blaze.

On April 24, a fire levelled the once popular Deux Frères pizzeria in Les Coteaux. Neighbours off Highway 338 called 911 around 3 a.m. as flames were ripping through the former restaurant, which had closed its doors several years ago. The building had been put up for sale.

According to Louis-Philippe Ruel of the Sûreté du Québec, the fire is still under investigation. While firefighters could not determine the cause, the SQ’s arson squad is taking a closer look.

In the end, it took more than 60 firefighters to put out the blaze, which was finally extinguished at 8:30 a.m.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

A driver is lucky to be alive after his car went careening off the road last Thursday morning in Ste. Marthe.

According to Louis-Philippe Ruel of the Sûreté du Québec, the 39-year-old driver lost control of his vehicle on St. Guillaume Road and struck a tree. The injured driver was trapped in the wreckage.

The initial call to 911 shortly after 7 a.m. mentioned that the car had caught fire, Ruel said. However, when firefighters and paramedics arrived at the scene, there were no flames. Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to extricate the driver from the wreckage. He was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

The cause of the accident is unknown, Ruel said, adding that the driver was sent to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

Three days after a devastating fire gutted Hudson’s historic St. James Anglican Church, community leaders and residents were coming to grips with the incident, gathering at the site and sharing their concerns while rallying around Sophie Rolland, the reverend of St. James, as she and Hudson Mayor Chloe Hutchison urged Hudsonites to remain positive, promising that the 182-year-old church will be rebuilt.

The sooner the investigation is completed and the insurance issues are out of the way, “the sooner we will be able to start plans to rebuild,” Hutchison told The 1019 Report yesterday, adding that the church wardens met on Monday night to discuss the future of the church.

Hutchison was on site Sunday as firefighters battled the blaze, and again on Monday afternoon to survey the damage.

“The wooden pews are covered by debris, so hopefully it can be quickly dealt with, because the longer it stays like that, the humidity will cause more damage,” she said.

While the cause of Sunday’s early morning blaze is still under investigation, it is believed to have started as a small electrical fire in the church’s kitchen, which had been undergoing renovations, according to Rolland, who sent out an email just before 9 a.m. on Sunday, saying the morning service would be cancelled due to the fire.

By the time firefighters arrived on the scene, the fire had grown, and it wasn’t until about 6 p.m. on Sunday that it was completely extinguished. Damage to the building is extensive.

“There is a supreme sense of loss and sadness,” said Hudson resident Frank Royle, whose family has a long and close association with the church.

Hutchison praised the scores of firefighters from Hudson and neighbouring towns who battled the blaze throughout the day Sunday and managed to save the building. She said the fire has struck a deep blow to the community because so many generations of Hudsonites are connected to St. James.

“It’s much more than a place to worship, it’s a place to celebrate life, unions, departures,” she said. “It’s a very important hub and heart of so many activities for so many generations. This fire is a reminder of how much we value our heritage.”

For Hutchison, the fire strikes close to home, as James Pyke, who was the first minister at the church, was her great-grandfather.

St. Lazare Mayor Geneviève Lachance also expressed her support to the residents of Hudson, saying: “This church was more than just a religious historic monument, but also a valuable gathering place for numerous community organizations and events.”

“Many people have some kind of link to the church,” Royle said, admitting that it no longer hosted as many events recently compared with “the hive of activity” it used to be, explaining that back in 1962 there were 182 children enrolled in St. James’ Sunday School.

Royle’s father, Canon Cecile Royle, was the minister at St. James from 1946 to 1977, taking up the role shortly after he returned from serving in the military during the Second World War.

Royle said firefighters who arrived at the church shortly after the fire was first detected were able to remove all the photographs, paintings and the soldiers’ memorial on display on the walls of the church, protecting them from damage.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

A Montérégie man has been fined more than $24,000 by Quebec’s Environment Ministry for illegally cutting trees on a property identified as a wetland in St. Polycarpe.

While the deforestation was carried out between September 2018 and August 2019, the Ministère de l’environnement announced the fine last week. Ste. Justine de Newton resident Ian James MacCuaig was found guilty last October.

MacCuaig was charged with violating the province’s Environment Quality Act, which was introduced in March 2018. He was fined a total of $24,029.

The province alleged that MacCuaig carried out deforestation work in a wetland, located in the municipality of St. Polycarpe, without first obtaining authorization from the ministry, thereby contravening article 22, paragraph 2, of the Environment Quality Act. It is not known how many trees were cut or the size of the tract of land involved.

According to the act, deforestation in wetlands disrupts hydrological functions and impacts soil, vegetation and wildlife, representing a significant threat to the environment.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

What began several weeks ago as a chance discovery by several students at Westwood High School’s junior campus of their art on sale on their teacher’s website has turned into a legal battle involving parents and the Lester B. Pearson School Board, and has put the St. Lazare school on the international map, thanks to widespread media coverage spreading as far as Australia and China.

Parents representing 10 students late last month filed a $1.5-million lawsuit against Westwood art teacher Mario Perron and the school board, claiming the students’ artwork was allegedly listed for sale on a website by Perron without their permission, thus violating copyright laws. The suit demands that Perron be disciplined with a possible dismissal, and requests an official apology by Perron and the school board, as well as the removal of the students’ artwork from the website, which is the only condition that has been met so far.

While Perron has refused to publicly comment on the controversy, parent Joel De Bellefeuille has taken the lead in denouncing what he describes as “an outrage.”

“Imagine your 13-year-old son coming home from school today with a story that his art teacher is selling students’ artwork online at $94 per drawing without their prior knowledge,” De Bellefeuille said. “That is completely insane. I’m sure I’m not the only parent who wants answers.”

De Bellefeuille decided to take matters into his own hands by hiring his brother, lawyer Martin De Bellefeuille, to represent the parents of the students, some of whom are as young as 12 years old.

The controversy began in February when students surfing the Internet stumbled upon their drawings on various items listed for sale on Perron’s website. They included T-shirts, coffee mugs and iPhone cases.

While officials with the school board have remained mum about specifics of the lawsuit, the board issued a statement to Westwood parents last month, saying it was “aware of the situation and is taking these allegations very seriously.” It also said an internal investigation has been launched.

“Rest assured, every concern raised will receive the attention it deserves, and we will take appropriate action whenever deemed necessary,” the statement said, adding that so far, their investigation has revealed that “no picture or print of student work of art was sold as the purchasing feature was disabled. Considering that our investigation is ongoing, it would be premature to come to any conclusion.” 

In a statement to The 1019 Report, school board spokesman Darren Becker earlier this week said: “The school board does not comment on internal investigations or human resources issues, and the matter is now before the courts, so we do not have any comment.”

The case has attracted immediate and widespread media attention, with stories appearing in newspapers in the United States, England, Australia and China.

“A Canadian teacher is under fire for allegedly using his personal website to sell nearly 100 pieces of art created by students, prompting disbelief and anger from parents,” the U.K.-based Guardian newspaper reported recently.

“Teacher Secretly Sold His Students’ Art on Mugs and Shirts, Lawsuit Says” was the headline in the New York Times last week, while the Washington Post reported: “Teacher sued over accusations he tried to sell junior high students’ art.”

The Australian, Australia’s only national newspaper reported: “Teacher accused of selling students’ artwork for his own gain.”

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

He was dubbed the “King of Cloverdale,” a neighbourhood in Pierrefonds, because of his community involvement and acts of kindness. He retired as a constable with the Montreal Police Department in 1998 after 30 years of service. On Jan. 30, St. Lazare resident Frank Taylor died at home at the age of 80.

Friends, neighbours and colleagues spent the entire week paying tribute to Taylor on social media, praising him for his generosity, kindness, sense of humour and for helping countless troubled youth during his years as a police officer patrolling the West Island’s north shore communities.

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

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

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

Survived by Heidi Luther, his wife of 60 years, his daughters Patricia and Jennifer, and his precious pooch, Henry. A visitation will take place tomorrow at the Rideau Funeral Home in Dollard des Ormeaux, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., and from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

“There will be an opportunity at the funeral home for people to give their eulogies,” said daughter Patricia, who said the location was appropriate, given that Montreal police Station 4 – where her father worked – is next door. Taylor spent a total of 30 years as a police officer, most of those at Station 4 and the former Station 12 in Pierrefonds.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

The municipalities of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Pincourt, L’Île Perrot and Terrasse-Vaudreuil have joined the Sûreté du Québec in warning residents not to be duped by phoney door-to-door solicitors after residents in those towns called police to complain about various fraudsters posing as mailmen or even town employees.

In one of the schemes, suspects dressed as Canada Post employees are asking for money in exchange for the delivery of registered mail. In one case, a Vaudreuil-Dorion woman was fleeced of $8,000, the SQ said, adding that an investigation is under way into that incident that occurred Jan. 10.

SQ spokesperson Marythé Bolduc said the investigation into the Vaudreuil-Dorion case is still in its early stages, and investigators are looking into whether the suspects in that case are connected to other attempted frauds in the region.

According to police, the Canada Post fraud sees suspects wearing full Canada Post uniforms, knocking at residences, and claiming to have registered mail that requires payment for delivery. In the Vaudreuil-Dorion case, the fraudsters were equipped with a portable debit machine and told the occupant that she needed to pay $2 to accept a registered letter destined for her daughter. After swiping her card and making the payment, the suspect replaced the woman’s card with what appeared to be a perfect replica displaying the logo of the woman’s financial institution.

According to the SQ, the woman never noticed that the suspects had stolen $8,000 from her until she visited her bank the next day and was told that her account was empty.

In the wake of that incident, complaints were made by residents in at least 10 municipalities in the province in which fraudsters were knocking at doors, attempting to solicit money through various schemes.

The Town of L’Île Perrot issued a warning on its Facebook page last week urging citizens to be watchful for fraudsters posing as town employees.

“We have received reports from citizens about unidentified, unlicensed door-to-door solicitors claiming to be municipal employees,” the notice stated. “A permit is required for door-to-door solicitation.”

Frederic Serre
The Advocate

The strong arm of the law has come down hard on 75 men and women throughout Quebec’s Montérégie and Lanaudière territory, each found guilty of poaching charges in the wake of a four-year investigation that saw fines totalling $314,430 levied against members of what investigators say belonged to a well-organized network.

The Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs in November released the details of its lengthy investigation. Dubbed Operation 57, more than 100 provincial wildlife investigators swooped in on various locations in the region four years ago, on Nov. 27, 2019, making the arrests after acting on tips received from local residents regarding various offences related to poaching. The arrests resulted in the dismantling of a well-organized poaching network, investigators said.

In a recent statement issued Nov. 20, 2023, the provincial authorities provided a detailed list of individuals, including their addresses, charges and fines.

The investigation focused on various activities, including the sale, purchase, illegal possession and exceeding of limits of fish and game, as well as the illegal fishing of yellow perch, walleye, sturgeon and striped bass. Some individuals were also charged with using live fish bait, a practice that is prohibited in Quebec, while others were charged with picking, possessing and selling wild garlic.

According to the ministry, the majority of individuals charged pleaded guilty.

The person facing the biggest fine is Francis Laroche of Beauharnois, slapped with a $67,925 penalty for a total of seven violations – illegal sale of fish, exceeding limits and illegal possession of fish, use of live bait, illegal purchase of large game, non-compliance with fish size limits, use of prohibited fishing gear, and fishing during prohibited times. Laroche also has had his hunting and fishing permits suspended for two years. He is also prohibited from fishing or possessing fishing gear within 100 meters of any body of water for a period of two years (from April 8, 2022).

The second most heavily fined individual is Marcel Champagne of Ste. Barbe. He was fined $54,350 in connection with the illegal purchase and selling of fish, the illegal purchase of large game and the sale and purchase of wild garlic.

Also listed among those facing the heaviest fines were Paul-Emile Richer of Godmanchester, who was fined $20,975; and Jessy Maurice of Beauharnois, who was hit with $11,175 in penalties.

Fifteen residents of Salaberry de Valleyfield were charged. They include Jean-Michel Leboeuf ($6,705), David Breton ($6,375), Jocelyn Faubert ($5,475), Réal Moyen ($5,475), Michel Forget ($5,000), Martine Durocher ($3,650), Patrick Deschambault ($3,650), Carl Delaunière ($3,000), Réal Dufour ($3,000), Gaétan Patry ($3,000), Yolande Laporte ($2,500), Gaétanne Charrette-Giroux ($2,500), Linda Pilon ($2,500), Michèle Schryer ($2,500), François Lafrenière ($2,500).

Richard Clément ($6,650) and Denis Poirier ($3,000), both of Ste. Barbe, as well as Gérald Galipeault of St. Louis de Gonzague ($5,475) and Etienne Nuckle of Terrebonne ($4,600) were among those listed.

Meanwhile, Roger Archambault of St. Zotique, pleaded guilty to illegal fishing and was fined $2,500, while Richmond Monette of Coteau du Lac also pleading guilty to illegal fishing, and fined $2,000. Luce Laberge of St. Zotique was fined $1,825 for the illegal purchase of fish, and Robert Latreille of St. Zotique, was fined $1,825 for the same offence.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

A Presbyterian minister who lives in Pointe des Cascades will spend the next eight months in jail after admitting to repeatedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl who was a member of his congregation in Montreal West.

Montreal West Presbyterian pastor Samson Afoakwah was sentenced last Friday at the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield courthouse. He was charged in 2022 of sexual assault against a minor and pleaded guilty to all charges.

It was the victim’s father who reported the crimes to police after noticing that his daughter’s behaviour had changed, prompting him to speak with her, at which time she revealed that Afoakwah had molested her on a regular basis in his car and in the basement of his residence.

Through a plea bargain, the prosecution and the defence agreed on an eight-month jail term. Upon his release, Afoakwah will be on probation for two years, and he will be listed on the sex offenders’ registry for 10 years.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

A two-month investigation by police led to a raid last Wednesday on a Vaudreuil-Dorion convenience store on Valois Street and an apartment upstairs from the business, resulting in the seizure of nearly $200,000 worth of contraband cigarettes and tobacco products.

The raid was led by the Sûreté du Québec’s anti-contraband unit, and involved officers from the SQ detachment in Vaudreuil-Dorion, as well as members of the RCMP from the Valleyfield detachment.

According to the SQ, the investigation began last November when officers from the Vaudreuil-Soulanges detachment received a tip that the convenience store, located at 360 Valois Street, was involved in illegal contraband tobacco sales and distribution.

Last Wednesday afternoon, officers moved in and seized more than 1,000 contraband cigarettes, 5,400 electronic cigarettes and more than 11,000 vaping cartridges, as well as an assortment of tobacco products.

“We’re waiting for the investigators to get back to us, but we’re talking about contraband tobacco and the sale of vaporizers, possibly to minors,” said SQ spokesperson Valérie Beauchamp. She said two individuals have been arrested and will face a litany of charges.

Frederic Serre
The 1019 Report

Snow and slippery road conditions are being blamed for a head-on collision in Coteau du Lac last weekend that sent five people to hospital.

According to Stéphane Tremblay of the Sûreté du Québec, the accident happened last Saturday afteroon on Highway 201 near Ruisseau Nord Road when a Subaru and a Hyundai collided head on. It is estimated that both vehicles were travelling about 70 kilometres per hour, Tremblay said, adding that blowing snow and icy patches probably led to the crash.

All five occupants of both cars were sent to hospital with minor injuries, although one person suffered a fractured thigh bone. Highway 201 was closed for several hours.

FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

A St. Zotique residence was gutted by flames last Thursday afternoon, and while no injuries were reported, the house has been declared a total loss.

Firefighters from St. Zotique, Coteau du Lac, Rivière Beaudette, St. Polycarpe, Salaberry de Valleyfield, Pincourt and St. Clet responded to a 911 call at about 3:30 p.m. for a blaze at a residence on 15^th Avenue. The fire was already raging by the time firefighters arrived.

The cause of the blaze remains unknown at this time.