Lachine

Lachine mourns drowned mother and son

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

A wave of grief has swept through a Lachine neighbourhood following a devastating accident that claimed the lives of a 34-year-old mother and her three-year-old son last week.

Emergency crews rushed to a home near the corner of 20th Avenue and Provost Street responding to a call about two people found unresponsive in a residential pool. First responders arrived within minutes, but efforts to revive both the woman and her son were unsuccessful. Their deaths were confirmed at the scene.

Neighbours describe a sudden tragedy: the young boy, who did not know how to swim, ended up in the pool. His mother, in a desperate attempt to save her child, jumped in after him. She also could not swim. Within moments, both were submerged.

Police established a perimeter around the home while investigators tried to reconstruct the sequence of events. The incident was ruled an accident, and the file has been transferred to the Quebec coroner’s office for further review.

The Lachine neighbourhood is left reeling with the reminder of how quickly the ordinary can turn tragic.

Another recent tragedy involving a mother and child in Quebec waters occurred just days earlier, in the Mauricie region. A woman lost her life when the watercraft she was on capsized. A child who was with her was pulled from the water in critical condition.

Despite the efforts of first responders, the woman could not be saved. The child remains hospitalized in critical condition. The Quebec provincial police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Last summer, The Suburban reported on the story of Catherine Couture from Coteaux-du-Lac, whose toddler nearly drowned after slipping back into the pool during a family lunch break. In a matter of seconds, what should have been an ordinary afternoon nearly turned tragic. Fortunately, her daughter survived. Like many parents who have faced similar scares, Couture chose to share her experience publicly, hoping to remind others how quickly drowning can happen—even when adults are nearby. n

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Lachine apartment fire results in two injuries

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

A residential fire broke out in a six-storey apartment building in Lachine late Wednesday night, March 13, prompting a rapid response from the Montreal Fire Department.

The incident required the deployment of approximately 20 firefighters to the scene, according to officials.

The blaze, which started shortly after midnight in the Daly & Morin complex on Victoria Street near 19th Avenue, resulted in two individuals requiring treatment for smoke inhalation. Emergency medical services provided immediate care to the affected residents on site.

“The swift response of our firefighting teams helped prevent the fire from spreading to other units,” a Montreal Fire Department spokesperson stated. The damage to the building structure has been classified as minor, though several units sustained smoke damage.

This incident occurs amid growing concerns about fire safety in the borough. Just last month, 35 residents were evacuated from another Lachine apartment building on Ivan-Franko Street due to imminent fire risks, following weeks without proper heating and hot water service.

The Red Cross was on scene Wednesday night to assist affected residents, though most were able to return to their units once firefighters completed their intervention and ventilated the building.

Fire investigators remained on site through early Thursday morning to determine the exact cause of the blaze. Preliminary findings suggest that the fire originated in one of the upper floor units, though the specific cause remains under investigation.

The Montreal Fire Department reminds residents of the importance of maintaining functional smoke detectors and having an evacuation plan in place. Residents can request a free fire safety inspection by contacting their local fire station or calling 514-872-3800.

“We’ve seen an increase in residential fire calls this winter,” noted the department spokesperson. “It’s crucial for residents to remain vigilant and report any potential fire hazards to building management or the fire department immediately.”

Smoke inhalation remains one of the main causes of injuries resulting from residential fires, particularly in buildings that do not maintain up-to-date fire prevention devices.

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Violent domestic dispute at Duff Court in Lachine

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

A heated argument in Lachine spiraled into violence last week, leaving one person hospitalized and two others in police custody.

Montreal police responded to a disturbance at an apartment on Victoria Street in the Duff Court neighbourhood after receiving multiple 911 calls. Upon arrival, officers encountered three individuals dispersed around the complex who were involved in what appeared to be a domestic dispute.

A 65-year-old woman was transported to hospital in critical condition with injuries to the upper body, possibly with a sharp object, according to authorities. She was located at a neighbour‘s home, where she took refuge following the dispute. The identity of the senior is being withheld pending family notification. Her injuries were the result of a physical altercation, with no weapons reported at the scene.

Two suspects, a man and a woman both in their mid-thirties, were arrested at the complex. The man was located in the apartment where the altercation took place and the woman was located within the complex. Police have not yet disclosed the nature of their relationship to the victim or to each other.

The man was transported to the hospital following his arrest for treatment of non-critical injuries and remains detained.

SPVM’s criminal investigations division has taken charge of the case. A police perimeter was established around the area while forensics teams gathered evidence.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the SPVM’s info-crime line at 514-393-1133. n

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Red Cross evacuates tenants from Lachine building

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Thirty residents of a four-storey apartment building on Ivan-Franko Street in Lachine were evacuated Thursday night after fire safety inspectors discovered multiple hazards in the deteriorating structure. The evacuation marks the latest chapter in an ongoing saga of tenant neglect at the property, which was built in 1968.

The Red Cross has temporarily housed the displaced residents in local hotels while the Montreal Municipal Housing Office works to secure permanent accommodations. The emergency evacuation came after city inspectors and the Montreal Fire Department identified serious fire risks in the recently vandalized building.

Living conditions in the 47-unit building, which is now nearly half vacant, had become increasingly dire over the winter months. Residents endured seven weeks without heating or hot water during Quebec’s harsh winter season. Many were forced to rely on portable space heaters, driving up their electricity costs significantly. The building also suffered from extensive mold problems and garbage accumulation in common areas.

Recent attempts to address the heating issues reveal a pattern of escalating problems. The borough took exceptional measures by contracting specialized plumbers to restart the hot water heating system before the coldest weather hit. However, a pipe burst in one of the apartments on Sunday night, requiring firefighters to shut down the system. Shortly after repairs were completed, vandals intentionally cut one of the system’s pipes, causing significant water damage and forcing another shutdown. The borough has committed to emergency repairs given the continuing cold temperatures.

Lachine Mayor Maja Vodanovic detailed the borough’s frustrated attempts to address the situation. Municipal authorities dispatched plumbers three times to restore basic services, but their efforts were hampered by their limited ability to intervene without the property owner’s involvement. The owner, Thi Lan Nguyen, has been unreachable for months, ignoring multiple compliance notices and a formal legal notice from the borough.

Fire safety inspectors found numerous violations during their assessment, including non-functioning elevators and missing smoke detectors in several units. The property’s troubled history is well-documented, with 174 cases filed with the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) since 2013.

The borough is actively working to reach all affected residents, with Mayor Vodanovic urging them to contact her office directly. Officials are particularly focused on helping tenants navigate the TAL process to withhold rent payments and seek compensation for their ordeal. The mayor emphasized the importance of gathering contact information for all residents to ensure they receive necessary support and updates.

To protect taxpayers, the borough has confirmed that all municipal expenses for emergency repairs will be secured through a legal mortgage on the building, ensuring public funds will be recovered. The Montreal Housing Department will provide additional support to help manage the ongoing crisis, though specific details of its involvement have not yet been announced.

The Suburban contacted residents affected by the evacuation for comment but did not receive a response by press time. This is a developing story. Updates to follow. n

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Police arrest suspect in string of Lachine home break-ins

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

A months-long series of home burglaries in Lachine has come to an end with the arrest of a 59-year-old suspect, Montreal police (SPVM) announced.

The suspect, who targeted empty homes during evening hours, allegedly carried out multiple break-ins across the borough since September. Police officers apprehended the suspect following an investigation by the SPVM’s West Island Investigation Section.

During the arrest, officers executed a search warrant that yielded evidence linking the suspect to the crimes. The man made his first court appearance yesterday at the Montreal courthouse, where he faced charges of breaking and entering and possession of stolen property. The suspect remains in custody pending further legal proceedings.

The arrest marks a significant breakthrough for local residents, who have been coping with heightened concerns about residential property crime in recent months. While this case appears to be resolved, police stress that community vigilance remains crucial in preventing and solving crimes. According to authorities, public cooperation plays a vital role in investigative work.

Residents detaining information concerning this series of events or other cases of break-ins are encouraged to contact police at 911 or reach out to their local police station. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Info-Crime Montréal at 514 393-1133 or through their website at infocrimemontreal.ca.

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Second suspect caught in Dorval hit and run

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The second suspect who had escaped after the hit and run that left a Montreal police officer injured on April 22 has been arrested. The 25-year-old suspect who is alleged to have deliberately drove into an unmarked vehicle in order to flee a police interception near the intersection of 55th Avenue and Guthrie Avenue in Dorval had managed to escape after the car was parked at a residential building in Pointe-Claire.

The suspect is facing multiple charges, including vehicle theft, trafficking in property obtained by crime, dangerous driving causing bodily harm and armed assault against a peace officer. The suspect is also believed to be involved in another attempted vehicle theft that occurred on the same day in Kirkland.

The suspect’s alleged accomplice was arrested moments after police officers located the stolen vehicle in Pointe-Claire and is facing charges of vehicle theft and receiving stolen property.

On April 22, patrol officers noticed two suspects attempting to steal a vehicle, at half past noon, near 55th Avenue in Lachine. A suspect was apprehended while the second suspect managed to flee from officers on foot towards another alleged stolen vehicle parked nearby with an accomplice already in the driver’s seat. The duo fled at high speed smashing into a police vehicle that hit a police officer nearby who was on foot before fleeing via Highway 20 at which point police lost sight of their whereabouts.

The West Island community was shocked to discover that a police officer was injured while on duty, particularly in relation to an alleged petty car theft. Montreal Police reassured the community that it is taking the incident very seriously and that it intends to send a strong message. “The SPVM takes this opportunity to remind the population that attacking police officers is simply unacceptable. Such acts will not be tolerated in our society. People who commit them will be arrested and held accountable for their actions,” the SPVM stated. n

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Start announced on 94 social housing units in Lachine

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante announced the start of 94 housing units comprised of one to three bedrooms across the street from a 500-condo unit project in Lachine. The project is one of the first to adhere to the city’s 20-20-20 by-law that stipulates that 20 per cent of housing projects must be composed of social housing units.

“It shows that our bylaw for a mixed metropolis is yielding results,” Plante stated at a press conference last week. “Everyone agrees that we need to build more and faster, but we also need to protect the mixed housing aspect and for that to work, I need everyone to be part of it, including builders.”

“We’ve been working on this for six years. We are very happy because in the whole Lachine east eco- district we wanted a mix, a complete community and not leave anyone behind with just luxury condos. 94 units is a start,” Lachine Mayor Maja Vadonovic told The Suburban. Vodanovic says that Lachine used up the last of its resources from the abolished Acces Logis program that it had retained to put towards a viable project. “The Government of Quebec decided not to fund social housing and the city does not have billions from income tax and goods and services taxes that pay for schools, hospitals and social housing. The only thing we can do is put in a by law so that developers are obliged to include social housing. There is a new program with the federal government giving money directly to cities, but of course in Quebec, it runs through the provincial government.”

According to Vodanovic, for more projects like this to be made possible, the provincial government will need to step up its game and provide funding to give the city the ability to work with its developers to incentivize mixed or complete social housing projects to resolve the housing crisis. She says that this project, although a promising example of the city’s by-law, was only made possible because Lachine carried over remnants of the Acces Logis program to help support the developer in bringing the project to life. “Without Quebec’s support, we cannot resolve the crisis and we cannot even consider taxing our residents more than we are for something that Quebec is responsible for, especially while inflation is at an all time high.” n

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Man shot and killed at Duff Court

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

A 27-year old man was shot and killed at the basketball court in Duff Court in Lachine last Wednesday evening. The man was transported to the hospital in critical condition shortly after 7 p.m. and was pronounced dead in the hospital later that evening.

Montreal police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the man’s death. According to early reports and eyewitness accounts, a suspect allegedly showed up at the basketball court, shot the victim and fled on foot.

The victim was accompanied by a group of friends at the time of the shooting who were questioned by investigators along with other witnesses that were present at the time of the shooting in the busy Lachine neighbourhood. Investigators are reviewing footage in the area and the basketball court has been taped off while the crime scene is analyzed.

This is the 17th homicide in Montreal this year. n

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Pointe Claire building evacuated after hit-and-run chase

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Montreal police (SPVM) evacuated a residential building on Lakeshore in Pointe-Claire in search of two suspects linked to a hit and run on a police vehicle Monday. At approximately 12:30 Monday afternoon, patrol officers noticed two suspects attempting to steal a vehicle near 55th Avenue in Lachine. A suspect was apprehended while the second suspect managed to flee from officers on foot towards another alleged stolen vehicle parked nearby with an accomplice already in the drivers seat. The duo fled at high speed smashing into a police vehicle that hit a police officer nearby who was on foot before going onto highway 20 at which point police lost sight of their whereabouts.

The Quebec provincial police assisted in the operation closing a section of Highway 20 while the search for the suspects was underway. Minutes later, the vehicle in which the suspects fled was located at the far end of the parking lot of a residential building between Sources and St-Jean boulevards on Lakeshore road.

Residents witnessed police searching the vehicle moments before they were asked to evacuate the building. Police officers conducted a building-wide search. “It was scary, I heard the police knocking on doors and I looked outside and saw them with their guns out and I could hear their K9 dogs barking. I am just glad it is over,” Meagan, one of the buildings tenants, said to The Suburban. “I saw the police break the windshield of the car because they thought the guy was hiding inside. When they did not find him in the car, they came into the building,” The building manager, Gracel Dorado said to The Suburban. “We waited outside for about 30 minutes.”

After securing the building and reviewing footage from the security cameras, investigators were able to determine that at least one suspect fled on foot heading Eastbound. The SPVM’s K9 unit was deployed to help narrow the search.By 3:30 p.m., one 19-year old male suspect was arrested.The police officer who was hit at the early stages of the chase sustained non-life threatening injuries. n

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Lachine man charged with murder

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Ahmed Achour, 28, has been charged with murder and attempted murder following his arrest in connection with a fatal stabbing that occurred in a building near the intersection of 1st Avenue and Provost in Lachine last Friday.

The first victim, 40-year-old Francis Hébert, was stabbed last Thursday night and was transported to the hospital where he died early Friday morning. A second victim in connection to the attacks that took place last Thursday was identified accounting for the charge of attempted murder.

Achour was charged and detained until Tuesday with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. On Tuesday, prosecutor Anne-Andrée Charette informed Quebec Court Judge Tristan Desjardins that the initial charge would be withdrawn and replaced with murder and attempted murder. The case will be transferred to the Superior Court and Achour remains detained until the next steps of the proceedings against him are slated to take place in June.

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