Martin C. Barry

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

To ensure maximum safety and the smooth running of the 12th edition of the Laval Firefighters’ Race, streets in some neighbourhoods will be closed to traffic and unavailable for parking on Sunday, June 2, from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The City therefore invites motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to collaborate and plan their trips to avoid any inconvenience.

A detailed schedule of street closures as well as a map illustrating the affected areas on Laval territory are available on the website of
the event.

Participants are recommended to get to the site using transportation such as carpooling, public transit, cycling or walking. On the day
of the Run, they will be able to use the Société de transport de Laval (STL) bus service free of charge upon presentation of their bib.

On June 2, volunteers and the police force will ensure the security and smooth running of the event. In particular, traffic surveillance will be
provided at all intersections along the route.

To learn more about the Firefighters’ Race: coursedespompiers.laval.ca

Fête nationale celebrations June 23 and 24 at Centre de la nature

The City of Laval is planning for a major blowout at the Centre de la nature in Duvernay for Quebec’s Fête nationale celebration. A big night-time stage show will be taking place on Sunday June 23, with day-time activities scheduled for Monday June 24 during the day.

The stage show on the main field at the Centre de la nature will feature a range of musicians and performers, including Qualité Motel, Zachary Richard, Ariane Moffatt, Galaxie, Laurence Jalbert, Marie-Pierre Arthur, Fanny Bloom, Safia Nolin, Kanen Lumière, Connaisseur Ticasso, Ya Cetidon and Sensei H.

The evening will come to a close with a performance by someone whose identity city officials are keeping as a surprise up to the last moment.

They have also announced that there will be no fireworks display this year (which is perhaps not surprising considering that other municipalities have cancelled their fireworks for environmental reasons, as well as fears in recent years of triggering off wildfires).

“I am pleased to be able to share this unique and innovative evening with everyone in Laval so that one and all can come together to have fun during this great and memorable annual concert,” says Mayor Stéphane Boyer.

The Centre de la nature will be accessible beginning at 6 pm and the concert starts at 8:30 pm.

Food trucks will make stops at the site for those who want to have a bite to eat before the evening starts. Free shuttle buses will take those arriving by public transit to the Centre de la nature from the Montmorency Metro every 30 minutes. The buses will make return trips at the end of the evening.

The celebrations continue at the Centre de la nature on Monday June 24, with activities for children, including face painting, music shows, inflatable games and food trucks. The city has given the Société nationale du Québec à Laval a $20,000 subsidy to coordinate this year’s local Fête nationale celebrations.

Laval expands availability of electric scooters

Already well-known and highly-appreciated by many Laval residents, self-service electric scooters are back again in Laval this summer, with up to 400 scooters being made available in various locations.

The city first signed on to allow rentable electric scooters on its territory in 2023. They are now being gradually deployed at 33 stations. There are expected to be twice as many scooters this year.

“Access to scooters this early in the season will allow the service to be tested out over the course of a complete season, and it is very possible this will lead to even more promising results,” says Laval city councillor for L’Abord-à-Plouffe Vasilios Karidogiannis, who is responsible for mobility dossiers on council.

The scooters are being furnished by Bird Canada and Lime. To use them, users need to download an app made available by either company at the App Store for iPhone and Google Play for Android devices.

Those using the scooters must follow certain rules, such as mandatory helmets, minimum age 14, and driving only on bike paths or roadways where the speed limit doesn’t exceed 50 km/h.

All the electric scooters are fitted with GPS geolocation devices, so they can be found at any time by the companies that own them, and they must be returned to any of the 33 stations on Laval’s territory in an upright position.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A man was declared dead after being struck by a truck while changing a tire on Highway 15 last week.

The incident happened on the northbound Gédéon-Ouimet Bridge, which links Laval to Boisbriand.

Quebec provincial police said the victim had stopped in the right-hand lane to fix a flat tire.

“The driver came out to change a tire,” said Elizabeth Marquis-Guy, a spokesperson with the Sûreté du Québec (SQ). “A pick-up truck hit him before leaving the scene.”

The victim, a man in his 30s, was declared dead at the scene. Officers were working to locate the driver of the truck that hit the victim.

The SQ released surveillance photos of a truck believed to be involved in the collision and have been asking anyone with information to come forward.

Accused in killing of two kids at Laval daycare stands trial next year

The man accused of murdering two children and injuring six others when an STL bus crashed into a Sainte-Rose daycare in February last year is scheduled to stand trial over five weeks beginning in April 2025.

St-Amand was arrested after a transit bus crashed into the front of a daycare in Laval on Feb. 8, 2023, killing two young children, aged five and four and injuring six others.

In February, a Quebec court judge ruled after a preliminary inquiry that there was sufficient evidence to send the case to trial. The former STL driver will stand trial on two charges of first-degree murder and seven other charges, including attempted murder and aggravated assault.

Laval youth protection centre janitor charged with pimping

A 36-year-old man who works as a janitor at a youth protection centre overseen by the CISSS de Laval is facing charges of exploiting a 14-year-old girl for sexual purposes.

The Sûreté du Québec issued a press release earlier this week announcing the arrest of Serge-André Exil-Florestal. The Laval resident was detained and was arraigned before a judge in Gatineau QC.

According to court documents obtained by Montreal’s La Presse, the accused was in contact with the girl from November 2023 until February 2024. It is alleged that during this time, he encouraged her to offer sexual services for money in Laval and in Gatineau.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A new 114-unit housing project, selected as part of the second call for projects of the Société d’habitation du Québec’s Programme d’habitation abordable Québec (PHAQ), will be built quickly in Laval’s Sainte-Rose sector, federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez, Quebec Minister Responsible for Housing France-Élaine Duranceau and Minister Responsible for the Laval Region Christopher Skeete, announced last week.

Canada-Quebec Agreement

The federal government’s contribution will come from the Canada–Quebec Agreement under the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), to which the Government has contributed $900 million.

The Government of Quebec, for its part, announced new investments of $900 million in the November 2023 economic update. The City of Laval is also a financial partner in this project and is required to make a contribution equal to at least 40 per cent of the SHQ’s base grant.

In response to the housing crisis, the governments of Canada and Quebec announced on February 16 the rapid construction of 2,574 new housing units throughout the province as part of 47 selected projects, including those just announced.

Fast-tracked projects

To ensure the projects launch quickly, their developers must sign an agreement with a contractor within 12 months of being selected to remain eligible under the Programme d’habitation abordable Québec.

“The agreement we have signed with the Government of Quebec will allow us to build more housing for Quebecers, more quickly,” federal Minister of Housing Sean Fraser said in a statement.

“The historic investments and initiatives that the Government of Quebec will use to support municipalities in increasing density and shortening construction timelines will make tens of thousands of new housing units a reality. The announcement of more than 2,500 new units marks the start of the work the Housing Accelerator Fund is doing in Quebec.”

‘Investing in well-being’

“Investing in affordable housing isn’t about pouring money into concrete,” said Rodriguez. “It’s about investing in the well-being of the people who live in our communities. This is the case for the future residents of these social and affordable units, who will have access to a safe and comfortable place to call home, where they can rest, recharge and welcome their loved ones. We are continuing to deliver for Quebecers by taking concrete actions that make a real difference.”

“Members of our community know they can count on our government to step up and tackle the housing crisis in our region,” said Skeete. “Today’s announcement is the result of successful collaborative work. I applaud the federal and provincial governments and the City of Laval for setting up the required financial levers, as well as our local partners and, of course, the Société de gestion Querbes, which believes in the value of social and affordable housing as a vector for a better quality of life in our community.”

‘Important project,’ says mayor

“This project is, seriously, one of the most important announced in Laval in the last few years,” said Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer. “It’s a wonderful achievement that will bring more housing to the Saint-Rose sector at a time when the need for housing has never been greater.

“In fact, that’s the whole reason we held Quebec’s first Sommet de l’habitation: to provide the momentum needed to see action like this being taken. This collaboration with the provincial and federal governments shows that we’re moving forward and our firm commitment as a partner city to removing barriers to getting housing built.”

Some highlights of the project:

• Some of the households that move into these units could benefit from the Société d’habitation du Québec’s (SHQ’s) Rent Supplement Program, ensuring that they spend no more than 25 per cent of their income on housing. This additional assistance is covered by the SHQ (90 per cent) and the City of Laval (10 per cent).

To keep the other units affordable, a maintenance period for this assistance will be required. This period could last up to 35 years. Assistance rates will vary based on the term of the commitment. Rents may be indexed each year based on percentages set by the Tribunal administratif du logement.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Laval city councillor for Saint-Bruno David De Cotis worked in conjunction with Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board commissioner Barbara Barrasso, along with UPS Quebec operations supervisor Enrica Uva, to organize and coordinate a major spring cleanup in Lausanne Park which took place on Saturday May 4.

Again next year

Although this was only the second time for such an undertaking at the park, De Cotis said it was far from the last, and will continue for years to come.

In all, 30 – 40 students along with parents from Terry Fox Elementary School took part. They were joined by nearly three dozen employees of UPS.

“I was very surprised to see the determination and good will on the part of these students to take part,” said De Cotis.

“They efforts today made all the difference and are a sign of a promising new generation to come, of this am sure. Congratulations to these young people for taking part in this event,” he added.

UPS’s contribution

The UPS workers who took part were from the Laval region.

“UPS is committed to seeing resources are in place for a green community,” said Uva. “Until now, we have contributed to the planting of 28 million trees. Our goal is to plant 50 million by 2030. UPS employees are happy to work together to clean up Lausanne Park.”

“Our students showed that they are capable of doing things right,” said Barrasso. “I am proud to see what they were able to do, and I feel certain that their parents are just as proud of them. One youth at a time, one activity at a time, we are building the society of tomorrow.”

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A fundraising dinner for the Giant Steps School held at the Décarie Bâton Rouge Grillhouse & Bar in Montreal on April 29 raised $132,000 for the Giant Steps Autism Centre.

The event was hosted by Senator Leo Housakos. The five-course meal was donated by Décarie Bâton Rouge Grillhouse & Bar partners Dimitra Frintzilas and Dimitrios Sotiropoulos, who noted that staff serving the meal also donated their time.

A successful fundraiser

“We owe Senator Housakos a huge debt of gratitude,” said Nick Katalifos, vice-president of the Giant Steps School board of directors, adding that Senator Housakos managed to organize the evening in around a month-and-a-half.

At the same time, he expressed huge thanks to Décarie Bâton Rouge Grillhouse & Bar partners Dimitra Frintzilas and Dimitrios Sotiropoulos for their generosity. “That means that all the funds collected tonight are going directly to the Giant Steps Autism Centre,” said Katalifos.

‘Wonderful cause,’ says senator

“This is an amazing cause,” Senator Housakos said in an interview with Newsfirst Multimedia. “Neurodiverse people deserve to be fully part of our society. They have things to contribute.

“Many years ago when I first discovered what autism was all about – and particularly the amazing work that the Giant Steps Centre does in Montreal for people with autism – I decided to support the organization,” he continued.

“I’ve taken part in many Giant Steps events and it’s always wonderful to see how the community rallies around such a wonderful cause as they are doing again tonight.”

Bâton Rouge a big supporter

Although it was not the first fundraiser for Giant Steps held at a Bâton Rouge restaurant, it was the first at the Décarie Bâton Rouge, according to Dimitrios Sotiropoulos who operates two of the restaurants.

“We have donated over $1.5 million,” he said, noting that previous fundraisers for Giant Steps they took part in were also very successful. “We really believe in this cause. It’s a good cause. We believe that Bâton Rouge should be giving something back. And what we are doing is giving back to the community.”

Among the guests were elected municipal officials from Laval, Montreal and Beaconsfield. They included Chomedey city councillor Aglaia Revelakis, Souvenir-Labelle councillor Sandra El-Helou, L’Abord-à-Plouffe councillor Vasilios Karidogiannis, Saint-Bruno councillor David De Cotis, and Montreal city councillor for Parc Extension Mary Deros.

Support from elected reps

“Any way we can show support, we’re more than happy to,” said Karidogiannis. “Nick and Leo are great guys who work hard for this cause. We’re all more than willing to help them out to reach their goal.”

Giant Steps is “a very valuable resource, not only for the people of Laval, but also all over greater Montreal,” said Revelakis, pointing out that a growing problem encountered by many families with neurodiverse children is being unable to plan for their children’s future after they reach adulthood.

“Giant Steps is providing an alternative,” she said. “Young people who have autism will be provided with an incentive to be able to contribute to society. This is also a great initiative that Senator Housakos took in organizing this event tonight for a cause that is very worthy.”

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Costs and inconveniences associated with the implementation of Quebec’s Bill 96 could “significantly impact” cross-border trade, while forcing some manufacturers to avoid Quebec altogether, an association representing manufacturers’ interests is warning.

The extended regulation of the language of commercial signs could lead to the disappearance of popular products in Quebec, according to the International Trademark Association (INTA), as well as other stakeholders doing business in the province.

The INTA is just one of several trade groups and businesses with a stake in Quebec that issued statements to their clients on the impact of Bill 96 since the beginning of its phased implementation over the past two years.

French as common language

Bill 96 was officially passed in May 2022 by the Quebec National Assembly. Officially known as “An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec,” it recognizes French as the common language of the province.

Among the various requirements set out by the legislation, businesses based outside Quebec, but operating with customers in the province, will be required to provide French translation to the same quality as any English-language content and communications.

Among the more controversial of the requirements is one that would force product manufacturers to draft inscriptions on operational buttons in French if those products are to be sold in Quebec. The legislation proposes to add French requirements for any usage instructions which are engraved, baked or inlaid into a product.

Fines to rise exponentially

Bill 96 sets out monetary penalties for non-compliance. For a first offence, for example, fines have been raised from $3,000 to $30,000 (from a previous maximum of $20,000). Further offences could lead to the penalties being doubled or even tripled.

“Bill 96 compliance could force significant rebranding, creating opportunities for counterfeiters and potentially harming consumers through confusion and price increases,” the INTA warned in an industry update published in February.

They added that large-scale packaging changes could easily cost between $20,000 to $100,000 US per product, and that “some companies may find it economically unfeasible to continue selling products in Quebec.”

In an explanatory note to its legal clients a month after the passing of Bill 96, the international law firm Dentons outlined situations that could now violate Bill 96. Whereas products sold in Quebec (as well as their packaging and instructions for use) previously had to be in French, now the French Language Charter is more specific.

Businesses plead for leniency

“For instance: Your product comes with instructions for use that are printed in English but the French version is only available online,” Dentons says. “Or perhaps the French version is harder to find online than the English version. These situations could violate the Charter.”

If some of the more controversial passages of Quebec’s Bill 96 become reality, English writing would no longer be allowed on common household items like camera battery chargers and portable radios sold in the province.

Last month, the Retail Council of Canada (RCC), the Conseil du Patronat du Québec, the Quebec Hardware and Building Supply Association, the Quebec Manufacturers and Exporters, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Quebec issued a statement in which they asked the CAQ government to take a serious second look at Bill 96’s measures.

“The government had promised a three-year deadline for the implementation of rules which, to date, have still not been adopted,” they stated.

No more ‘Play’ and ‘on/off’

They maintained that the new rules on commercial signage would force businesses to make changes that would be difficult to put in place on relatively short notice. The deadline for compliance with Quebec’s new regulations is June next year.

After then, any mention of “on/off” on an electronic or household appliance button would be banned under the provisions of Bill 96, as would be “play” on any kind of media player.

The signatories of the statement worried that if consumers in Quebec can no longer find the product they are interested in at a retailer in the province, they may turn to online stores and buy what they need at non-Quebec websites, which aren’t subject to Bill 96’s regulations.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Homeowners on Eiffel Ave. in Chomedey are among the latest to rise up in protest over plans by the City of Laval to narrow their street while widening the sidewalks during a road reconstruction set to take place over the coming summer months.

For several years now, Laval has gradually been implementing a city-wide plan through which the roadbed on streets in residential sectors is narrowed, leaving less room for the movement of cars and vehicle parking, while sidewalks are widened in order to encourage pedestrian mobility.

Laval’s car culture

In a municipality like Laval, which came into being in the mid-1960s when car culture ruled – and where the city’s vast expanses were united by a system of high-speed autoroutes – officials have found it difficult to modify the citizenry’s automotive mindset.

On Webb Ave. in Chomedey just a half-kilometre from Eiffel Ave., a group of residents reacted three years ago like those on Eiffel. When the same type of changes as on Eiffel were first introduced, the Webb homeowners tabled a petition in Laval city council, demanding that the reconfiguration be significantly reversed.

Eiffel Ave. petition tabled

During Laval city council’s most recent public meeting on Tuesday May 7, it was the Eiffel Ave. residents’ turn to table a petition of their own.

According to Yota Stamatopoulos, an Eiffel Ave. resident who helped gather the petition, residents of the street received a notice in early April that major work would be taking place throughout the summer, including the replacement of sewer pipes and water mains.

“We have very serious issues with our pipes, so it was a welcome decision that they would be changing everything,” she said, noting that most people on the street complained about the quality of their drinking water, which for years was off-color coming out of the tap.

Narrow streets, wider sidewalks

In the meantime, however, the city decided (as if often the case with this type of infrastructure project) to replace the roadbeds, pavement and sidewalks. This didn’t sit at all well with the residents, considering the changes that would impact them.

“They want to expand the sidewalks on each side,” said Stamatopoulos, adding that the sidewalks would be extended to 1.8 metres in width after being 1.4 metres for decades. “That would shrink our already small street.” In addition, she said the city wants to eliminate all parking spaces on one side of the street.

“Our street is already not wide,” she continued. “I live at a part of the street where it sort of veers on an angle. So, every time recycling or garbage trucks or delivery trucks are in the area, they have trouble turning already. By narrowing the street, it will be very difficult for anybody at all to pass.”

Parking cut in half

Regarding the parking issue, Stamatopoulos said parking was already problematic when both sides of the street had parking spaces. But with half the spaces eliminated, “we’re not going to have any more place to park,” she said.

“We have homes on our street where people have two cars, because they’re many family members under one roof,” she continued. “We have a neighbor across the street with two or three children in their twenties who have cars. Down the street we have grandparents with their daughter, a single mom, living in the home. There are a lot of big families living in the area.”

According to Stamatopoulos, the petition was signed by virtually everyone on the street. But while Mayor Stéphane Boyer pledged at the May city council meeting to at least revise the measures before implementing them, there is no guarantee it won’t go ahead in spite of the objections of the Eiffel Ave. residents.

‘It just does not work,’ says Revelakis

In an interview with The Laval News, city councillor for Chomedey Aglaia Revelakis (who sits with the Action Laval opposition) acknowledged that the city listened when similar issues were raised by residents on nearby streets like Korman and Ridgewood – although almost no corrective action was taken.

“But hopefully this time around they will come out to see what can be done, because this has to be revised because it just does not work,” she said.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On April 30, the City of Laval was presented with two awards for excellence in public transportation by the Association québécoise des transports (AQTr) during the organization’s 58^th annual congress.

The two projects were « Une rue pour tous : tout doux dans nos rues! » and « Parcs d’éducation cycliste ».

“How proud we were to see these projects of first importance for our administration receiving recognition in the larger transportation industry,” said Mayor Stéphane Boyer. He said the two projects reflected innovative approaches positively impacting the quality of life of all citizens in Laval.

The City of Laval formalized its approach to the management of its streets over the course of 2023. During this time, the city unveiled a new triennial plan with a series of actions aimed at better sharing of streets with emphasis on security.

The plan includes the extension of the bicycle path and pedestrian walkway networks, the addition of 1,200 new traffic calming measures, the implementation of new BIXI rental bicycles, and new pedestrian crosswalk lights with warning sounds for the sight-impaired.

As well, the city has decided to reduce speed limits by 10 kilometres per hour over most of its territory. The City of Laval has also been exploring the concept of special educational resources for bicyclists over a period of three years on two separate sites.

Since 2019, these welcoming spaces have allowed hundreds of youths and their families to become familiar with the traffic regulations for bicyclists. The City of Laval has set a goal of doubling the amount of active transportation being used on its territory by the year 2031.

Laval Firemen’s Festival scheduled for June 1 – 2

The 16^th annual Laval Firemen’s Festival will be taking place on the grounds of Montmorency College on June 1 and 2 from 9 am to 4 pm.

The event, one of the most awaited each year in Laval, will draw large crowds consisting largely of moms, dads and children eager to get up close to fire engines, while getting some lessons in firefighting from the firefighters themselves.

“Over the years, the Firemen’s Festival has become an event like no other for families from Laval,” says Laval city councillor Sandra Desmeules, who is responsible for public safety dossiers on the executive-committee.

“I am grateful that our city is able to count on the continuing and valuable commitment of the Laval Fire Dept. day after day, be it in prevention or in operations,” she adds.

The ever-popular parade of vintage fire trucks from all over the province, as well as from outside and sometimes from as far away as Ontario and the U.S. in some cases, will be taking place beginning at 9:45 am.

Before arriving at the Montmorency College grounds, the trucks will be making their way through neighbourhoods such as Laval-des-Rapides and Pont-Viau.

The firefighters will then spend the day giving demonstrations of their firefighting skills, such as showing how car accident victims are freed from vehicle wrecks. There will also be wandering circus performers, magic shows, musicians and entertainers.

In addition to all this, the fire department will be unveiling its new mascot. With that in mind, they are currently soliciting the help of residents to name the mascot.

Information is available on the event’s Facebook page, where clues can be found. You have until May 19 to take part in a related contest. The mascot’s name will be revealed on June 1 around 10:30 am when the first of the fire trucks are arriving.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The City of Laval managed to achieve 97 per cent of the various goals it set for itself last year, beating previous records by a wide margin, Mayor Stéphane Boyer announced at the beginning of the May 7 meeting of Laval city council.

Improved performance

According to figures contained in the city’s 2023 performance report, the latest results stand in favourable contrast to past years when Laval often managed to achieve only 40 – 50 per cent of its goals – although the mayor pointed out that the city managed to raise the bar last year to 70 – 80 per cent per cent.

While he pointed out that Laval’s latest results are in line with those of other cities in Quebec, he said “this year set a record not only as regards Laval, but Quebec as a whole.

“They’re very good results. When we talk about projects now that succeed, that’s because it wasn’t always the case, when we used to plan something and for whatever reason it didn’t work out.”

Aquatic Complex progress

Among other things, Mayor Boyer noted that he recently visited the worksite of the city’s future Aquatic Complex (next to the Cosmodôme), which is set to be completed before the end of this year or in early 2025. “The work is proceeding very nicely and in keeping with work schedules,” he said.

When completed, according to the city, the facility will be up to world-class aquatic competition standards and will be able to host events such as competitive swimming, synchronized swimming, diving and water polo.

The council meeting’s extraordinarily lengthy agenda included some $200 million in expenditures being made by the city, especially for the resurfacing of Laval’s extensive network of residential and arterial streets and boulevards, including boulevard des Mille-Îles in the Saint-François district.

Record-setting blood donor

During a segment of the meeting reserved for new issues, executive-committee vice-president Ray Khalil drew attention to the presence in the council chamber of Marcel Rolland. He recently signed the City of Laval’s Golden Book after making his 1000^th blood donation during campaigns organized by Héma-Québec. He is one of only 24 people in Quebec to have attained that record.

Councillor Alexandre Warnet announced that on May 17, which is International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, officials with the city will gather outside city hall to raise the “rainbow flag” of the LGBT movement.

‘No Mow May’

At the same time, Warnet announced that Laval is among the municipalities in Quebec that are supporting the “No Mow May” movement. As such, homeowners are being encouraged to refrain from mowing their lawns during the month of May so that natural pollination processes can take place and plants and trees can grow, contributing to environmental sustainability.

Parti Laval interim-leader Claude Larochelle (who is city councillor for Fabreville) encouraged homeowners to “not make an effort and not mow your lawn during all the month of May, because we have to give a chance to our bees.

“When the flowers are all there in June is okay, the pollinators manage to get things done, but the month of May is the beginning of the season and the dandelions have to be given a chance for the bees and all other pollinators,” Larochelle added.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Laval Police say they recently arrested two suspects during an operation to find the perpetrators of a fraud scheme during which victims were robbed of more than $25,000.

On April 18, officers from the LPD executed two arrest warrants related to six cases of fraud alleged to have taken place on Laval’s territory during the autumn of 2023. The victims of the scheme were primarily senior citizens.

The LPD identified the suspects as Jean-Yves Caron, age 56, and Borris-Armel Bahouely Kraye, age 27. They both face charges of fraud over $5,000, theft of credit cards, and identify theft.

Caron was freed on bail after his initial arraignment, and he has another court date on July 26. The second suspect was still detained last week when the LPD released a statement, although he was expected to be arraigned in the following days.

If is alleged that one of the suspects would establish the initial contact by telephone with victims at their homes. He would pose as a bank employee and was known to use the name Jean-Pierre Labonté, telling the victims they had been targeted by fraud artists through their bank debit card.

After winning their confidence, the suspect would ask them to place their bank transaction cards in an envelope and write their personal identification number (PIN) on the envelope’s back.

They would then be told that an investigator would pass by to pick up the envelope. The banking cards would then be used by the suspects to commit acts of fraud at automated teller machines (ATM) and in businesses.

The Laval Police say they have reason to believe that the two suspects had several victims in the greater Montreal region. As such, they are inviting people who don’t necessarily reside in Laval to come forward and share information or file a complaint if they feel they may also be among the victims.

The LPD is warning the public that no one should consider themselves above becoming the victim of fraud artists, as they’ve found that victims come from many walks of life and backgrounds. The police also point out that bank employees don’t go to a client’s home to pick up documents or cash sums.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Lanvac Surveillance, Canada’s leading third-party wholesaler of alarm monitoring services, foresees more milestone events this year – ones that hold the promise of expanding the Montreal-based company’s imprint from that of a respected wholesaler into a more instantly recognizable brand name.

Members of the Lanvac team were on hand at their corporate booth during the Security Canada East trade show at the Laval Sheraton on April 24.

Gathering of security experts

With Security Canada conventions also taking place in western and central Canada this year, the gatherings are a time for security experts from across the country to focus on building and renewing relationships with hundreds of professionals deeply involved in Canada’s security services sector.

“Essentially there are two main things that are new this year with the Lanvac Group,” Stephanos Georgoudes, one of several members of a family deeply invested with Lanvac, said in an interview with Newsfirst Multimedia.

The Lanvac Group consists of three divisions: Lanvac Surveillance (the original unit), NBG Telecom (providing alarm dealers with the tools to compete against big telecom), and the company’s latest division, FindMyAlarm.com.

FindMyAlarm.com

While Lanvac Surveillance oversees monitoring of alarm systems across Canada, NBG Telecom sells alarm equipment to Lanvac dealers who retail it to consumer-level customers.

In the meantime, FindMyAlarm.com (the most recent addition) is tailored to the needs of end-users (consumers), so they can locate local alarm companies should they ever become disenchanted with their own provider and want to switch to another firm.

“If a random customer is not satisfied with his current alarm company or is looking for an alarm company for the first time, he can go to FindMyAlarm.com, put in his postal code, and three to four alarm companies in his area are listed,” said Georgoudes, adding that “only trusted and customer service-oriented alarm companies are listed on FindMyAlarm.com.”

Growing the Lanvac brand

As a wholesaler of alarm system monitoring services to consumer-level companies, Lanvac has had relatively few opportunities until now to become known among consumers as a brand. Although FindMyAlarm.com was designed to promote alarm companies dealing with retail customers, the web portal holds the potential to build a bridge between retail clients and the Lanvac name.

“We created FindMyAlarm.com so that they can find a company closer to them that can serve them better,” Georgoudes explained. “And, of course, those companies are connected with Lanvac.”

Lanvac Group is currently in the midst of two other significant development projects. With the first, the company is building a second central alarm monitoring station in Montreal. It is located in Montreal North. Lanvac also has monitoring stations in other regions of Canada, including Toronto.

Bosch Security partnership

In the second development, the NBG Telecom unit is now an officially authorized partner of Bosch Security and Safety Systems. “NBG Telecom can now sell any Bosch alarm systems, whether it’s for intrusion, fire or access,” added Georgoudes.

“It took us about three years to prove ourselves, but now that we have, Bosch has made us authorized Bosch partners.”

Lanvac is still working actively with Ukraine-based intrusion alarm products manufacturer Ajax Systems, which had entered the Canadian market last year. “We’re still very good partners with Ajax,” said Georgoudes. “We’re about to offer video monitoring through Ajax’s photo-verification services.”

Lanvac’s roots go back more than 40 years, during which the company developed a reputation for being dedicated to providing quality monitoring services for alarm dealers across the country and their customers.

Deep roots in Montreal

Lanvac was founded by brothers John and Bill Georgoudes. Raised in Montreal’s Park Extension district – which was at one time home for most of the city’s Greeks – they turned their initially small burglar alarm company into a big-time contender.

Lanvac’s first monitoring station was in Montreal’s Parc Extension neighbourhood, in the basement of a building at the corner of Durocher and Jean Talon. Bill got his elementary education at Barclay School on Wiseman Ave., while John attended Strathcona Academy in Outremont.

Bill received his secondary education at the former William Hingston High School, which has since become the area’s most important community centre. John attended another legendary secondary school, Baron Byng High, which was made famous by novelist Mordecai Richler.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Of all the Black entrepreneurs in Canada who live and work in Quebec, more than half are immigrants, according to some of the latest figures compiled by Statistics Canada.

Last week, the Gala de Reconnaissance pour les entrepreneurs noirs du Québec shone a spotlight on these entrepreneurs, while helping to dispel some of the myths that have sometimes created financing roadblocks and image issues for Black entrepreneurs.

Two finalists from Laval

Initiated by the Fonds Afro-Entrepreneur and staged on April 25 at the Théâtre Saint-James in Montreal, the gala was an opportunity to discover and highlight projects and important business personalities in the field.

A number of key players, including Quebec Minister of the Economy, Innovation and Energy Pierre Fitzgibbon, were present.

While the finalists came from all over Quebec, two in particular from the Laval region,Alexandre Kénol and Olivier Doleyres, were strong contenders.

• Olivier Doleyres, a young entrepreneur from an immigrant family, embodies success through hard work. Involved in the world of work from the age of 15, Olivier was approached in 2018 to take over Inter Clôtures Sentinelle. After joining the company in 2019, he gradually acquired shares until he became Chairman and CEO in 2024, owning 50 per cent of the company.
• Alexandre Kénol, founder of Gestion Événements Alexandre Kénol (GEAK) inc. in 2019, embodies excellence in event and project management. Under his leadership, GEAK creates memorable experiences in the sporting, charitable, artistic and corporate fields.

Entrepreneurial spirit

In interviews this week with The Laval News, Doleyres and Kénol revealed some of the secrets of their success.

Doleyres is leading a company that has grown exponentially since he took the reins six years ago. He grew up in a home on Guénette St. in northern Chomedey. He attended grade school and high school in Laval and Montreal. He later obtained an undergraduate degree in industrial relations from University of Montreal.

Although Inter Clôtures Sentinelle’s clients are concentrated mostly in the Greater Montreal area (including Laval, Montreal, the North Shore and Lower Laurentians), these past few years the company has won major contracts from Amazon, UPS and Banque Nationale, as well as for the Espace Montmorency project in downtown Laval by Montoni.

Inter Clôtures Sentinelle operates three divisions: residential, commercial and distribution of materials. The company is currently in the process of expanding through the acquisition of a competing fence installation business.

Revenue has risen exponentially

“In the residential, I have a structure where I have a director with five sales reps who each cover a certain area in Greater Montreal,” said Doleyres. “And then I also have the commercial division where I used to be the director when I started. There I have two sales reps and a director.”

With an estimated market valuation of $10 million, Inter Clôtures Sentinelle currently ranks as number one in the fence installation sector in Quebec. Revenue has doubled in that space of time, according to Doleyres.

Over the previous 36 years, the company, whose head office is on Dagenais Blvd. West in Laval, was doing an average $6 million worth of business annually, he said. Inter Clôtures Sentinelle now does about $12 million of business in a year, according to some of the most recent numbers.

Contact: Inter Clôtures Sentinelle Tel.: (450) 963-1210

Thriving after the pandemic

“Baptism of fire” might be the expression that best sums up how Alexandre Kénol’s company, Gestion Événements Alexandre Kénol (GEAK) inc., managed to survive and thrive – when the ventures of many other entrepreneurs fizzled.

Kénol started GEAK five years ago, just as the Covid pandemic was about to strike and create economic pandemonium around the globe. “We managed to survive,” he said, noting that businesses in general which managed to weather the storm often came out stronger.

GEAK is a one-stop-shop for those looking to organize major events and celebrations. The company’s services include, consulting, planning and designing for occasions that can range from corporate and sports celebrations to charitable fundraising gatherings.

Organizing worry-free events

“GEAK revolutionizes the management of events,” Kénol states on the company’s website. “No need to worry about finding the best idea for organizing an evening with all the constraints you might run into. The GEAK team makes sure to set down a plan based on your objectives in order to organize events that fit your needs. Whether your event is sports or charitable, the team behind GEAK will be sure to fully answer all your expectations.”

In the past five years, GEAK has organized more than 100 major happenings in Laval and Montreal. “Sometimes, when a company is trying to raise its image, they will look for a way to organize an event or activity that ties in with their marketing,” Kénol explained.

“That’s where we come in,” he added. “We do consulting, event production, coordination of the events, as well as originating the ideas behind all this, which allows our clients to attain their objectives.” Contact: info@geakevents.com. Tel.: (438) 882-4195

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Québec solidaire, which holds a dozen of the 125 seats in the Quebec National Assembly, is urging the Coalition Avenir Québec government to implement a pilot program that would fast-track potential immigration candidates into the province’s lagging construction sector.

“We will never be able to fix the housing crisis if we don’t build more houses and living units,” says the left-wing party’s official spokesperson (and de facto leader) Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.

Fast-track immigration

“The labour shortage is slowing our construction industry,” he continued. “We are proposing the creation of an express lane towards permanent immigration in order to attract more workers for the industry – persons who are already here, who speak French and who can help us to build more. It’s win-win.”

Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, the QS MNA for Montreal’s Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne riding, who is the party’s spokesperson for immigration issues, notes that similar programs have been implemented in recent years to make up for labour shortages in sectors like food production, development of artificial intelligence and nursing assistance.

“And that’s exactly what we seek to duplicate here,” he says. “Effectively, this type of program could make up for nearly a third of the 7,800 workers currently lacking in the construction industry.”

Under the QS proposal:

·         The program would grant access to a Quebec Access Certificate (CSQ), leading eventually to obtaining permanent resident status.

·         It is addressed specifically to non-permanent residents who are already living in Quebec, particularly asylum seekers, those with work permits for the construction industry, or persons with open work permits.

·         Participants would have to meet certain criteria:

·         Must have been employed and on salary in the residential construction sector in Quebec for at least 12 of the 24 months preceding their application (required work experience will be cumulative and not consecutive, the reason being the seasonal nature of many of the jobs in question);

·         Must have an Apprentice Competency Certificate from the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ);

·         Must make a commitment to obtain a certificate of training for a construction skill recognized by the Government of Quebec within 24 months – in other words, an Attestation of Professional Studies or a Diploma of Professional Studies;

·         Must also have a knowledge of spoken French equivalent to level 7 on the Quebec Scale of Competencies in French.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Officials with the City of Laval last week marked the 10^th anniversary of the founding of a special office for the enforcement of ethics and integrity guidelines and rules.

It was created in the aftermath of the corruption scandal that shook the municipality a decade ago, forcing the resignation of former mayor Gilles Vaillancourt.

“Each member of the staff of the city contributes to the culture of ethics and integrity,” says Laval Police director Pierre Brochet.

“After a decade of actions and projects, we are in a new era, and numerous positive developments have followed. We salute the path taken by our leadership and the reach of the BIELT in all the actions that affect our city.

“Participating in the growth and development of Laval can only take place when accompanied by an adherence to its values and the best practices as regards ethics and integrity.” The City of Laval launched the BIELT in 2014, in conjunction with the City of Terrebonne.

To underscore the value of the work accomplished by the bureau’s team, officials from the BIELT will be on hand at Laval’s interim city hall on Saint-Martin Blvd. on May 16 to sign the city’s Golden Book.

Officials from Quebec’s Unité permanente anticorruption (UPAC) and the Autorité des marchés publics (AMP) are also expected to take part.

Laval doubles up on its support for Communauto

The City of Laval says it is adding new Communauto car-sharing stations to the existing network on its territory, in addition to increasing financial assistance to be made available to new subscribers to the service.

The city says it is undertaking the measures as part of overall efforts to help reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The Quebec government is providing financial assistance.

“Our government is proud to support the City of Laval, which is implementing various concrete initiatives to support the reduction of greenhouse gases on its territory,” said Quebec Environment and Climate Change Minister Benoit Charette.

“This subsidy is not only a step in the right direction,” he continued, “but will also contribute to encouraging the recruitment of new subscribers to use this service, while also favouring the implementation of new car-sharing stations on Laval’s territory.”

“We are proud to diversify the mobility options available to the people of Laval,” added Laval city councillor for Pont-Viau Christine Poirier, who manages the city’s territorial management dossiers.

“We are offering an efficient and accessible option to reduce solo car use, while taking into account the reality in Laval regarding daily car use,” she added.

“Several new stations set up on municipal properties will be tested during a pilot project between the city and the service, of which the new stations will become permanent if the support is there,” said Poirier.

Laval chooses three partners to meet tree-planting goals

The City of Laval is partnering up with three organizations specialized in planting trees to meet its ambitious tree-planting objectives, which it hopes to meet by the year 2030 at least.

CANOPÉE, PlantAction and GRAME will be assisting the city in planting trees. One of the goals of the tree-planting program is to reduce the impact of “heat islands,” which are built-up areas of asphalt and concrete within cities that retain heat much longer.

“The advantages of planting trees are well-known,” says Mayor Stéphane Boyer. “They contribute to the greening of the landscape, to better management of rainwater and the struggle with heat islands.

“What’s more, they contribute to the maintenance of good physical and mental health. We have given ourselves the mission to do everything we can to make Laval a greener and better place to live. Our efforts today and our ambitious targets will benefit generations to come.”

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Laval Fire Dept. marked the arrival of two dozen new firefighter recruits last week, part of a hiring effort to increase the force’s firefighting strength while replacing retiring staff.

“We wish a warm welcome to our 24 new firefighters,” the Association des Pompiers de Laval (APL) said in a post on social media. “They are proud to protect and to serve all the citizens of Laval. Good luck and much success professionally while you are with us.”

At the same time, the LFD announced the promotion of several staffers.  Jonathan Dufour, Dave Langlois, Jean-François Fontaine and Jean-François Dion-Roy were promoted to Lieutenants of operations effective April 22.

Teens arrested after shooting at a residence in Laval

Two suspects appeared by videoconference at the Laval courthouse last Saturday afternoon regarding a shooting which took place at a residence on Nénuphars Street in Laval’s Sainte-Dorothée district.

The two men, Bonyad Gulam Ali and Adam Hamouchi, were arrested Friday night in Laval by the Laval Police and the Sûreté du Québec’s major crimes division shortly after the gunshots were fired.

Ali and Hamouchi, both from Laval, are 18 years old. They both face charges of discharging a firearm and have remained in custody since their appearance.

Around 12 o’clock on the night of April 13, the two suspects allegedly fired a shot at a residence on Nénuphars Street, in Laval, before fleeing in a vehicle, said an SQ spokesperson, adding that they were quickly located and arrested by officers from the LPD.

Four teen arrests for ‘threats’ include some at Sainte-Rose high-school

Over a period of several days, the Laval Police arrested four teenagers for allegedly uttering threats at two Sainte-Rose high-schools – including one where similar incidents were previously reported.

Although the LPD ended up concluding that the threats were actually hoaxes, they still required lockdowns and a large police presence.

Administrators at the schools involved – École Poly-Jeunesse on Sainte-Rose Blvd. and École secondaire Curé-Antoine-Labelle on Marc-Aurèle-Fortin Blvd. – summoned the police to deal with “threatening comments” by students on three occasions over a period of more than a week.

“In order to ensure security on the premises and to carry out multiple checks, the LPD had to confine thousands of students,” the LPD said in a statement.

The four teen suspects who were arrested could face mischief charges.

In the fall of 2023, the Laval Police said they had arrested a person under the age of 18 in connection with a stabbing that took place near École secondaire Curé-Antoine-Labelle.

As well, in November 2021, two teenagers were beaten at the high school as they were leaving classes by a group of young people who fired a gunshot during the altercation, ultimately leading to a large police deployment and the arrest of one suspect.

LPD identifies man who ‘flashed’ customers at Duvernay Tim Horton’s

The Laval Police say they have identified a suspect in connection with an indecent-exposure incident at a Tim Horton’s coffee shop at 825 Vanier Blvd. in Duvernay in March.

According to the LPD, the incident occurred on the evening of March 4. The police had previously released surveillance photos to help the force’s sexual crimes unit track him down.

“He allegedly exposed his genitals while inside the restaurant,” the LPD said in a statement explaining why investigators were seeking him.

The suspect, described as a Caucasian male, around 30 years old, was estimated to be 1m71 (5’8”) tall and 95 kg (209 lb) in weight. He had brown hair and a brown beard. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a black cap, a black hoodie, blue jeans and black construction boots.

Police raids in Laval and Montreal after gang member killed

Montreal police (SPVM) officers conducted several raids last week in Laval, Brossard and Montreal as part of an investigation into the murder of an alleged gang member.

Nearly 100 police officers from the Laval Police, the SPVM and the Longueuil Police took part in the operation. This was in response to the murder of a 28-year-old man who was shot on Feb. 17 while leaving a restaurant on Bellechasse St. in Montreal.

The victim, Brandon Jean Célestin, was the brother of alleged gang leader Jean-Philippe Célestin. The Célestin brothers were reportedly linked to Gregory Woolley, a man who was killed in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, south of Montreal in November 2023.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Mayor Stéphane Boyer was apologizing last week for the Laval Police Dept.’s $1.5 million purchase of a small fleet of new electric police vehicles – including one for the police chief costing $94,000 – while publicly reprimanding LPD director Pierre Brochet.

In all, the LPD bought 13 Ford Mustang Mach-E’s, as well as 48 charging stations. A contract for the purchase was signed by the city in July 2023.

One of the lot, which was being driven by the police chief, according to the Journal de Montréal which broke the news, is a Mustang Mach-E GT. With a 488-horsepower engine, it can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and comes with heavy-duty suspension.

We need to talk

“I had a good conversation with the chief of police so that this does not happen again,” Mayor Boyer is reported to have said during an interview with the Montreal tabloid daily. “This is not the image we want to project,” he continued, while adding, “I am not spendthrift in nature.”

According to the JDM, Brochet had been driving the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT for at least four months when the issue of its purchase blew up in the media.

What was all the more embarrassing for the mayor was that he and the City of Laval administration have been pleading with the provincial government for several years now to provide more financial support for police services because of an increase in violent and gang-related crime in Laval.

Electrification program

The other 12 Mustang Mach-E police cars cost $78,000 each, although they have yet to be placed into service. The purchase of the 13 vehicles was apparently part of a larger disbursement approved by city council, which was in turn part of an overall effort to convert Laval’s existing fleet of conventional gas-fueled and hybrid vehicles to all-electric models.

At particular issue in the deal is the apparently inflated cost. The Town of Morin Heights in the Laurentians was able to purchase base-model Mustang Mach-Es for $48,000 each, according to the JDM. Mayor Boyer explained that the higher cost for Laval was largely due to bad timing, since the city made its purchase when the effects of the Covid pandemic were still impacting supply chains and were driving up costs.

Action Laval’s reaction

Action Laval, one of two opposition parties with members on Laval city council, was quick to sniff the potential for scandal. In a statement, the party’s interim-leader, Archie Cifelli, and Saint-Bruno city councillor David De Cotis demanded the city’s auditor-general immediately launch an inquiry into the purchase of what it referred to as “luxury” vehicles.

“Our proposal is justifiable due to the fact that the mayor doesn’t answer the media’s questions,” the party said, alluding to the fact that Mayor Boyer initially declined to comment, although he later did so at length. De Cotis, for his part, noted that it was only a few months ago that he suggested city council create a new multipartisan committee to track the city’s finances and administrative issues.

Action Laval voted for it

In its statement, Action Laval maintained it was not aware of how the new police cars would be deployed when its councillors voted in favour of the executive-committee’s recommendation for the purchase.

“They trusted the Laval executive-committee,” said the party, noting that the Action Laval councillors voted while thinking primarily about the fight against crime and that the purchase of new resources was necessary for that purpose.

Cifelli suggested that the party is particularly interested in who knew what and when they knew it, and that only the city’s auditor-general can conduct the kind of investigation that could get to the bottom.

“I am asking her to be willing to look into what information was available to the executive-committee when it made its recommendation, and to report back as soon as possible to the city’s elected officials,” said Cifelli.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Every few years at the AS Laval soccer club, the launch of a new player jersey design helps propel the young players forward, while also adding to their pride, knowing they are participating in one of the world’s truly great sports.

Proud parents, supporters and friends of AS Laval gathered for a 5 to 7 get-together in the showroom of BMW Laval, one of the club’s lead sponsors, on April 4 for the unveiling of the latest uniforms.

A carefully-designed kit

The jerseys, shorts and socks, in a range of colors with a hint of silver, prominently feature a BMW Laval logo and crest at the centre of the jerseys. There’s also an AS Laval crest just below the left shoulder, as well as various sponsors’ insignias and logos elsewhere on the socks, shorts and jerseys.

It’s been around two years since AS Laval came into being, following the merger of two soccer clubs from central and eastern Laval. The new uniforms were designed by AS Laval technical staff members David Cerasuolo and Anthony Corneli. They worked with experts in sportswear design to put the uniform into production.

Something exciting and new

“It’s exciting for the kids, and even the staff members, to have something new like this new uniform design,” AS Laval’s general manager Ivana Mormina said in an interview with The Laval News. She said that just designing the new kit became an exciting process that many people took part in.

“Our colors are black, red, white and a little bit of silver,” said Corneli, who’s been with AS Laval and its predecessor associations for the past ten years.

“We brought back red after not having red in our colors for about ten years,” he continued. “But in general, we went back to a simple kit which is very subtle and clean. It’s going to look very sharp on the field.”

An Italian-inspired design

According to Corneli, the latest design was inspired in part by an Italian soccer club. Having grown up loving not only the sport of soccer, but also soccer fashion, whenever a redesign of AS Laval’s kits is called for, he is one of the first people on the AS Laval staff who is consulted.

AS Laval, whose history dates back at least 50 years under the two previous soccer clubs, has a total current membership of around 3,000 young soccer enthusiasts in U4 to U13+, as well as a semi-pro (L1QC) division. They are mostly from Laval, but also from Montreal.

Commitment to the community

Nick Loffreda, who leads the sales team at BMW Laval, said they felt it was important to give back to the community through the dealership’s support for AS Laval.

“It’s 50 years that we’ve been established and in business in Laval,” he said, noting that the soccer club and BMW Laval have been in a mutually-rewarding partnership for several years.

“We want that partnership to continue. And we want to see the kids dressed in nice uniforms at the same time.”

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Laval city council adopted a new by-law at its April sitting which will hopefully improve traffic flow along streets where construction projects, maintenance, renovations or demolitions are taking place.

“With the adoption of this new by-law, our priority is to promote respectful and exemplary conduct towards everyone who uses the roads,” Mayor Stéphane Boyer said in a statement.

As things now stand, according to the mayor, obstructions without permits in Laval are not only creating risks for the security of the public, but are also generating substantial costs for the city. “Better control will allow us to reduce how long disruptions on our roads are taking place,” he said.

The new by-law makes it mandatory for construction contractors to file a declaration with the city regarding how long they intend to occupy the sidewalk, bike path or street with stored construction materials and to obtain a permit.

A new schedule of permit fees comes into effect beginning on May 1. The rate charged will depend on factors such as the size of the obstruction, the amount of time it will be place and the type of street that stands to be impacted.

BIXI begins a new season in Laval

One of the sure signs of spring in Laval each year can be seen when self-serve BIXI rental bikes become available in Laval.

Last year, 295 BIXI units were deployed in various neighbourhoods of Laval and the same number is expected again this year. Two-hundred and fifteen of them will be regular pedal bikes, while 80 more will be electrically-assisted bikes available at 26 BIXI stations.

“Strengthened by its 2023 standings for active mobility, the City of Laval is increasing its offer to residents with an initiative aimed at encouraging active transit, in order to contribute to the reduction in greenhouse gases attributed to transportation,” Mayor Boyer said.

“Through concrete actions, we are reaffirming our commitment to promoting active, sustainable and environmentally-conscious mobility,” he added.

The city says that it in order to encourage active mobility among Laval residents, it will be offering 1,500 people from Laval a financial incentive ranging from $45 to $70 applicable to BIXI bike sharing services.

The offer is available to Laval residents 14 years of age and older. To qualify, applicants cannot have been subscribers to a bike sharing service since Jan. 1, 2019.

In addition to offering BIXI bike sharing, the City of Laval has been developing its network of bicycle paths. Nearly 15 kilometres of new bike paths are expected to be implemented this year. The city expects there will be 450 kilometres of bicycle paths by 2031.

City’s negotiations with blue collar workers ongoing

City of Laval officials issued a statement last week on negotiations with its unionized blue-collar workers regarding a new collective agreement.

A summary of the situation as it stands now:

• The last contract expired on December 31, 2021;
• The city asked for a mediator on October 26, 2023;
• A mediator was appointed on November 8, 2023;
• 20 mediation sessions were held on the following dates:
  • 8, 16, 22 and 29 November 2023;
  • 6, 18, 19, 21 and 22 December 2023;
  • 16, 17, 23, 24 and 30 January 2024;
  • 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 27 February 2024.

According to the city, mediation was supposed to last no longer than 60 days, but could be repeated twice, the last session having ended this past March.

“Should we fail to agree on a new work contract, the City and the blue-collar union have chosen to pursue mediation outside the legal framework, this effort having resulted in some progress,” said the city. “At the same time, the employer now wishes to go a little faster and accelerate negotiations,”

Although the parties haven’t yet reached an agreement, “discussions during the mediation period progressed on certain articles, although there is still a lot of work to be done, notably on the monetary aspect,” added the city.

As such, the city says its negotiating team is ready and available to engage in a “negotiations blitz conducive to the implementation of satisfactory solutions for both sides.”

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Mayor Stéphane Boyer opened the monthly city council meeting on April 9 with a reminder to all that the April is Autism Awareness Month.

He said the City of Laval has gone to great lengths over the years to improve the lives of individuals and families who are impacted by autism spectrum disorders.

“This is a cause that’s very close to my heart, having worked with young people with autism for several years of my life,” he said.

Long meeting agenda

The meeting agenda was especially long and complicated as the council was awarding a large number of service and work contracts (including road surface painting, sidewalk and street repairs) to be fulfilled over the coming summer months.

Chomedey city councillor Aglaia Revelakis read out a statement in which she noted that Armenians are observing the anniversary of the tumultuous and traumatic flight of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians from their traditional homelands a century ago.

Armenian Genocide

City councillor for the district of Renaud Seta Topouzian echoed Revelakis’s sentiments regarding the Armenian community’s commemoration of the Genocide. Noting that April 24 is International Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day, she said “we are called upon to remember the victims.

“Remembering the Armenian Genocide contributes to the creation of a future where there is more justice, peace and respect for human rights,” she said. “We are too often witnesses to conflicts that impact civilians unfairly.

“It is of utmost importance to underscore the importance of remembering and commemorating the dark events, including the Armenian Genocide,” Topouzian added. “Today, while remembering all the victims of the Armenian Genocide, I wish to express my solidarity and my concern for oppressed peoples.”

April Autism Month

Just as Mayor Boyer had done, Councillor Revelakis drew attention to Autism Awareness Month. “In 2024, it’s important to remember that families of persons who are affected by autism spectrum problems are subjected to discrimination,” she said.

“They still face prejudices that are insensitive and not understandable,” she added. “We can do more to help people who are living with this condition. We must raise awareness among the population by all means possible.”

And finally, Councillor Revelakis tabled a notice of motion for a resolution she said will make it possible for senior citizens 65 years of age and older to be allowed to pay their property taxes in three installments, rather than two as currently permitted.

Petitions from Cifelli and Piché

Val-des-Arbres city councillor Achille Cifelli and Saint-François city councillor Isabelle Piché each tabled petitions from their constituents.

The petition tabled by Cifelli was signed by up to 1,000 residents asking for the bicycle path on Samson Blvd. in west-end Laval to be removed. In March, he tabled a petition signed by 500 residents asking for the same thing.

The petition tabled by Councillor Piché was signed by 500 people living around des Mille-Îles Blvd. in her district near Autoroute 25 and Levasseur St., where road repaving is badly needed, she said.

Safety and comfort

“It’s a question of safety, but also comfort,” she said, noting that Mille-Îles Blvd. is in a lamentable and dangerous state for all who use it.

Piché tabled a second petition. This one was signed by residents near Marcel Villeneuve Ave., asking that the speed limit between de l’Harmonie and Montée du Moulin be reduced to 50 km/h as it had been before being increased to 70 km/h.

During the public question period, Christina Gaston, who has a home near Parc Pie-X on the edge of Chomedey, said that she and several hundred other residents had been waiting for months to hear back from city officials regarding a petition contesting a major refurbishment project at the park.

Residents from Pie-X Park

Mayor Boyer said city officials had met in recent weeks with a delegation of residents affected by the project. “I know that at the moment the city manager has both hands working on the dossier,” he said.

“This is just to reassure you that we are aware there are concerns out there over what was initially proposed. But we are very open to changing the plans. “We are not here to expropriate anyone, nor are we here to harm the quality of life of anyone. Our goal is simply to improve the park. It’s a neighbourhood where there are lots of needs.”

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

More than a year after the bus crash at a Sainte-Rose daycare in which two children were killed and a half-dozen others were seriously injured, the driver at the wheel has been ordered by a judge to undergo a trial.

Former Société de transport de Laval driver Pierre Ny St-Amand, who has undergone extensive psychiatric evaluation while in custody since the Feb. 8 2023 incident, is the key suspect. He faces multiple murder and aggravated assault charges.

The decision by Quebec Court judge François Landry on Thursday March 28 came after four days of testimony and legal arguments presented during a preliminary enquiry. St-Amand faces two charges of pre-meditated murder and a half-dozen more charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault.

The preliminary proceedings for the 52-year-old were taking place in Saint-Jérôme north of Laval because of a lack of courtroom space currently at the Palais de Justice de Laval.

The Montreal daily Le Devoir reported that a request by St-Amand’s lawyers that he be allowed to sit in court without handcuffs so he could write down notes was opposed by the head of security at the Saint-Jérôme courthouse, who said Saint-Amand’s behavior was known to be unpredictable.

Man leads LPD on wild chase through Laval driving backhoe

A man who allegedly stole a construction backhoe and led the Laval Police and the Sûreté du Québec on a chase through the City of Laval’s industrial sector was finally arrested after driving into a ravine in the district of Vimont.

At one point during the mid-afternoon incident recently, up to ten police cars could be seen pursuing the work vehicle, although quite slowly given the typically low road speed of backhoes.

The police were first alerted by a report that a backhoe driver was ignoring orders to stop while travelling along Route 335 south of Bois-des-Filion. The driver then reportedly collided with another vehicle, and was spotted some time after this by the SQ on the service road of Autoroute 440.

Still refusing to stop, the backhoe driver made his way along Industriel Blvd. and on Dagenais Blvd. Ouest, all the while going through red lights and stop signs without even slowing.

After driving into the rear yard of an industrial business on Dagenais, he tried driving into an adjacent wooded area, but stalled in a waterlogged ravine where he got out and fled on foot.

The LPD eventually caught up to the 42-year-old suspect, who was reportedly known to police. However, they had to stun him with a jolt from a Taser before he could be detained.

Although he was transported by ambulance to hospital as a precautionary measure, he was arraigned at the Palais de Justice de Laval on Saint-Martin Blvd. to face charges of dangerous driving, evading police, interfering with police, possession of stolen property and breaking court-imposed conditions.

As a footnote, the backhoe itself had first been reported stolen in Ottawa. There was no immediate explanation from police as to how it ended up in Laval.

Photo: A backhoe similar to the one involved in the chase and which came to a halt in a ravine in Vimont.

Recent raid in Laval nets major haul of meth, says RCMP

As part of an investigation that led to the seizure in Montreal of more than two million suspected methamphetamine tablets in late February, police from the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) executed a search warrant at a Laval residence in mid-March, resulting in the discovery of an estimated 1,750,000 additional tablets of suspected methamphetamine.

According to a statement issued by the RCMP, the tablets were located in an unoccupied house in Laval suspected of having been used for the sole purpose of storing drugs.

The Laval raid followed a police operation which was executed in late February at a clandestine laboratory in the Borough of Saint-Laurent in Montreal, where more than two million suspected methamphetamine tablets were seized in a commercial space described by the RCMP as “likely used for synthetic drug production.”

Significant quantities of chemicals used in the production of illicit tablets, two pill presses and sophisticated equipment for large-scale production were also seized, said the force. An investigation, which began in December 2023, led to the arrest of five individuals.

They were interviewed by RCMP investigators and released pending further proceedings. They face charges under the federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, including production and possession of controlled substances for the purpose of trafficking.

According to the RCMP, clandestine laboratories can be found in a variety of locations, such as homes, garages and warehouses.

The force notes that clandestine labs pose a great danger not only to those who operate them, but also to neighbors and first responders because of the toxic and potentially volatile nature of the chemicals and substances found there.

If you suspect illegal drug activity in your community, including clandestine labs, drug purchasing or toxic waste dumping, contact your local police service or Crime Stoppers (toll-free) at 1-800-711-1800.

Police seize $1 million in illegal drugs after raids in Laval, Montreal, Brossard

Warrants executed by police in Laval, Montreal and Brossard recently resulted in the arrest of three suspects and the seizure of close to $1 million worth of illegal narcotics.

Two men, aged 49 and 23 and a 45-year-old woman were arrested during the execution of search and seizure warrants at the suspects’ homes, in their vehicles and at a warehouse they allegedly rented.

Police said they seized 21 kilos of cocaine with a street value of around $525,000. As well, around 45,000 tablets of opioid were seized.

According to police, the pills contained metonitazene, a narcotic substance said to be 20 times more powerful than fentanyl and more conducive to poisonings and overdoses as a result.

The raids also resulted in the seizure of 36,000 benzodiazepine (tranquilizer) tablets, as well as amphetamine pills, methamphetamines and steroids, along with $175,000 in cash.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Nearly a quarter of small businesses in Canada have been forced to take on new debt to refinance their Canadian Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loans in order to retain access to the forgivable portion, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says in new revelations surrounding the ongoing CEBA repayment debacle.

In addition, says the CFIB, there were over 50,000 small firms (6 per cent) that were recently pursuing a special extension for those in the process of refinancing.

“Many of those businesses that had to borrow to repay their CEBA loans are facing high interest rates and will be challenged to meet their payment obligations,” said Dan Kelly, CFIB president.

Debt didn’t go away

“We need to remember while government got a lot of CEBA balances repaid, the debt for many businesses didn’t suddenly go away – it just shifted from a low interest government-backed loan to a higher interest bank loan,” Kelly continued.

“This should sound the alarm for policymakers, particularly given the business insolvencies are surging,” he said. The business environment in Canada is far from being back to normal, according to the CFIB.

CFIB data shows that the financial situation of their business is the primary concern for one in five small business owners. Business insolvencies are soaring, having jumped by 129.3 per cent in January 2024 compared to January 2023, while the latest data available shows more businesses were closing than opening in December 2023.

CFIB recommendations

As the government is winding down its CEBA program, CFIB is calling on Ottawa to:

• Implement a review process for CEBA loan holders deemed ineligible and introduce a three-year repayment plan.
• Ensure the maximum flexibility is used for those who attempted to take out a refinancing loan to use the special extension to March 28. CFIB urges banks to accept any form of communication requesting refinancing as sufficient proof for the extension.
• Look at new ways to lighten the debt load for those who were unable to meet the January 18 deadline.

‘Many feel abandoned’

“Small business owners face massive debt loads and cost increases,” said Corinne Pohlmann, executive vice-president of advocacy at CFIB. “And many feel abandoned by the government and the way it handled the repayment of the CEBA program.

“Ottawa should do more to help them deal with the high cost of doing business and provide concrete financial relief measures in the upcoming federal budget, such as lowering the Employment Insurance premiums for small employers and returning the $2.5 billion in carbon tax revenue owed to small businesses,” adds Pohlmann.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Rising optimism over the Hellenic Republic’s rejuvenated economy, as well as signs of increased cooperation and trade between Canada and Greece, lifted spirits among many of the 400 guests who attended a gala dinner on the evening of Saturday March 23 at the Château Royal in Chomedey to celebrate Greece’s annual Independence Day.

A new start for Greece

This year’s celebrations marked the 203^rd anniversary of Greece’s independence. For Greeks around the world, March 25 in the year 1821 was the beginning of the revolutionary fight that ended 400 years of Ottoman rule.

Following a protracted war in which Greek patriots received support from Russia, Britain and France, Greece finally received recognition from the world as an independent nation in 1832.

For Greeks every year, the commemoration date also has deeply religious significance as it falls on the feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary in Christian Orthodox tradition.

Long list of dignitaries

Among the dignitaries were Greek Ambassador to Canada Aikaterini Dimakis, Greek Consul General in Montreal Katerina Varvarigou, Supreme Court of Canada Judge Andromache Karakatsanis, Archbishop Sotirios of Canada, several members of the current Greek government cabinet, Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal president Dr. George Tsoukas, Saint-Laurent Liberal MP Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Laval city councillors Aglaia Revelakis, Vasilios Karidogiannis, Sandra El-Helou and Aline Dib, Montreal city councillors Mary Deros, Effie Giannou and Despina Sourias, Chomedey MNA Sona Lakhoyan-Olivier, Laval-des-Rapides MNA Alice Haytayan and, Laval-Les Îles Liberal MP Fayçal El-Khoury.

Greece ‘a model,’ says MP

Vimy Liberal MP Annie Koutrakis, a proud member of the Montreal-area Greek community, was feeling especially proud of her Hellenic heritage when she spoke with Newsfirst Multimedia during a reception for officials prior to the main event.

“Greece has become a model – not only because it succeeded in winning its independence more than 200 years ago, but even in modern history,” she said, referring to the decade-long debt crisis faced by Greece, which seems to be resolved now at least for the time being.

‘Stronger and better’

“When I look around the world now and there are so many areas where things aren’t going very well and there is lawlessness, I have to tell you that Greece is a shining example of a country that came back stronger and better,” said Koutrakis.

According to a note to investors posted in February by France-based multinational financial services provider BNP Paribas, a spur of economic growth is expected to continue in Greece in 2024, in spite of a decline in activity in the second half of 2023.

“The sharp drop in the unemployment rate (which is now below 10%), the drastic improvement in public finances and the decline in public and private debt testify to Greece’s solid recovery,” BNP Paribas economic analysts wrote.

Strong post-Covid economy

According to the bank, a “rebound in post-COVID activity has enabled the Greek government to combine economic growth and fiscal consolidation.” Koutrakis noted that while assessing fiscal years 2022 and 2023, several analysts rated Greece among the world’s fastest-growing economies.

“They went through a really terrible time that involved a lot of sacrifice – 11 million people sacrificed a lot,” she said, referring to the austerity measures which were implemented in Greece. “And if you look at the current government that’s in place right now in Greece, they are on the right side of history – they’re doing the right things for Greece at this time,” she added.

What it means to be Greek

For others who were on hand at the Château Royal, the weekend of activities (which included a parade in Montreal’s Parc Extension neighbourhood) was an opportunity to be reminded once again of the values defended by the Greeks of yesteryear, which continue to be upheld by their descendants.

“It reminds us that after 400 years of being under the Ottoman Empire, finally we got our freedom,” said Montreal city councillor for Parc Extension Mary Deros. Another proud Greek, Laval city councillor for l’Abord-à-Plouffe Vasilios Karidogiannis, shared her sentiments.

“It’s a busy but good weekend going around celebrating Hellenic pride,” he said. “Even though I am not Greek, I am so happy to be able to join with the Greeks to celebrate their Independence Day,” said Chomedey MNA Sona Lakhoyan-Olivier, whose family has Armenian and Lebanese roots.

Action Laval city councillor for Chomedey Aglaia Revelakis, whose parents both came to Canada from Greece, emphasized the importance of remembering history. “We have to always remember the heroes of 1821 who gave use the freedom to be here,” she said. “Because of them, we’re free today.”

Hellene of the Year

The 2024 Hellene of the Year, following a nomination process held by the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal, was Dr. Andreas K. Athienitis, a professor of building engineering at Concordia University. He was presented with a plaque by HCGM vice-president Dr. Michael Tsoukas.

Dr. Athienitis is a Greek Cypriot born in Cyprus in a town called Athienou (his surname comes from this) which is now in the neutral zone between the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus and the area controlled by the government of Cyprus, where the great majority of Greek Cypriots live.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Elected officials from three levels of government gathered at the Veterans’ Cenotaph near Laval city hall on the morning of Saturday March 23 to pay respects alongside residents of Hellenic origin to Greek veterans and soldiers on the occasion of the 203^rd anniversary of Greece’s independence.

A three-day celebration

This year’s commemorations, including the Greek Independence Day parade in Parc Extension, were spread out as usual over three days in Laval and in Montreal.

On March 25 in the year 1821 in what was then Ottoman-dominated Greece, Bishop Germanos of the metropolis of Patras blessed a Greek flag and proclaimed an uprising by the Greeks against the occupying Ottomans.

Prayer and contemplation

To honour those who gave their lives so that Greece would be free, Greeks from Laval and from all over the Montreal region go each year to the Cenotaph in Laval to deposit commemorative wreaths and to spend a few moments in prayer and silent contemplation.

In the Montreal region, Laval has the highest concentration of residents of Greek heritage.

Among those depositing commemorative wreaths this year were a representative from the Consulate General for Greece in Montreal, local and Montreal-area Liberal MPs, Laval-area MNAs, and city councillors from Laval and the City of Montreal.

As well, wreaths were left by representatives from the Hellenic Community of Quebec, the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal and Greek Canadian armed forces veterans.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After several months and countless hours of preparation by an organizing committee assisted by a team of dedicated volunteers, more than 100 parents and professionals with an interest in autism had the opportunity recently to explore a wide range of autism-related topics during the Autism in the Early Years symposium.

Across the province

The province-wide online event on March 21-22 featured keynote presentations, a panel on autism service navigation across Quebec, and sessions on communication support at home, as well as on parent training, empowerment and other issues.

Co-hosted by the Laval-based Youth and Parents Agape Association with the Giant Steps School in Montreal, with financial support from the Community Health & Social Services Network (CHSSN) and the Public Health Agency of Canada, the symposium drew caregivers, speakers, presenters, panelists and artists who contributed information, opinions and ideas.

A complex condition

Autism [or autism spectrum disorder (ASD)] is a complex neurological condition that affects individuals in various ways, impacting their social interactions, communication skills and behaviors. It is a spectrum disorder, meaning that no two individuals with autism are exactly alike. Each person brings their own unique strengths, challenges and perspectives.

For many of those attending, autism was not just a topic to be discussed. It is also very much a part of their daily lives. Whether as parents, caregivers, educators or as professionals working in the field, they feel the importance of raising awareness, promoting understanding and providing support for individuals with autism and their families.

Autism community united

Throughout the symposium, they were offered the opportunity to explore a wide range of topics related to autism. But perhaps most importantly, they came together as a community – united in commitment to advocate for acceptance, inclusion and the empowerment of individuals with autism.

In opening remarks on day one, Agape executive-director Kevin McLeod said it was important to keep in mind the words of Temple Grandin, a renowned autism advocate and educator: “The world needs all kinds of minds.”

“By embracing diversity and celebrating the unique talents and perspectives of individuals with autism, we can create a more inclusive and compassionate society for all,” McLeod said, adding that the symposium’s exploration of autism should be approached “with open hearts and open minds.”

Symposium Day One

Day one began with a keynote presentation by Maureen Bennie, who founded the Autism Awareness Centre in 2003 in Calgary, to address what she saw as a gap in support, information, resources and advocacy for those struggling with autism spectrum disorders.

Steven Atme, who was diagnosed with autism at age four, closed the evening with a musical performance. A remarkable journey through music and advocacy has garnered him many accolades. His story was one of resilience, creativity and a commitment to encouraging others, with or without disabilities, to embrace their unique identities and pursue their dreams.

Day Two of symposium

On day two, Kelly Bron Johnson (an autistic and hearing-impaired self-advocate) spoke about some of the strengths of parenting through the lens of being autistic. It is an approach she believes anyone can learn, leading to parenting with acceptance and love and happier families.

Before a noon-time break, a panel of experts from the health, daycare, education and social services sectors discussed the autism services offered across the provinces. The session was moderated by Giant Steps director of innovation and special projects Seiun Thomas Henderson. The panelists were Dr. Emmett Francoeur, Dr. Lucyna Lach, Nick Katalifos and Sylvia Benkh.

World Health Organization

Also during the March 22 sessions, Dr. Mayada Elsabbagh spoke about the World Health Organization Caregiver Skills Training program in Canada, which aims to increase access to intervention for Canadian families, while simultaneously generating high quality evidence relevant for decision and policy makers.

Dr. Mariska Burger spoke on developing communication skills in autistic children. Dr. Keiko Shikako-Thomas discussed the Jooay App, a free mobile app made to help families, youth and professionals find adaptive and inclusive leisure activities.

And Anna Katalifos, a sibling and caregiver to an autistic young adult who is also a researcher, shared personal experiences and research-based insights into the sibling journey of caring for autistic youths and children.

Videos available online

Symposium organizers report they have received many requests for video links from people who want to watch or rewatch the presentations. At last word, the organizers were waiting for the videos from the production company and expected they would be available by April 15 at the latest (although hopefully earlier).

It would be important to mention that the recorded presentations will be accessible through the new virtual libraries at Agape Association in Laval and Giant Steps in Montreal. Should you have any other questions or concerns, you can contact Barbara Klein, administrative assistant and project coordinator at the Youth and Parents AGAPE Association Inc.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Springtime street cleaning starts early in Laval this year

Given the unseasonably high temperatures in Laval and Montreal this spring, the City of Laval has announced that it is beginning its annual cleanup of streets early.

With that said, the city wants residents to know that until April 30, seasonal parking regulations will be in effect to allow street sweepers to do their work cleaning up all the dirt and grit left over from the winter.

“The early spring is allowing us to get started somewhat early this year, which will in turn allow all our citizens to be able to get into their favourite outdoor activities securely,” said Laval city councillor Ray Khalil who is responsible for public works on the executive-committee.

“We are, of course, asking for the cooperation of everyone so that the maintenance operations can’t be kept as straightforward as possible,” he added. He is inviting the people of Laval to download the city’s parking app (stationnement.laval.ca) to receive alerts on special operations, whether by e-mail or cell phone texts.

Something to remember: when the lighted panel signs on the street say “Lors d’opérations d’entretien” [during maintenance operations], alternate parking on the other side of the street is mandatory, although it is optional at all other times. But the instruction on the signs must be respected in order to avoid being ticketed or towed away.

At the same time, the City of Laval wishes to inform its residents that crews are at work in all districts carrying out pothole repairs following the winter. It should be noted that potholes in the street can grow worse in the weeks immediately following spring thaw.

Residents who wish to report especially troublesome potholes that may damage vehicles can call 3-1-1 to speak to a city employee. In addition to these activities by city workers, Laval is also carrying out maintenance and repairs on its sewers and waterworks, as well as pruning of tree branches.

‘Petits bonheurs’ festival, for kids 0 to 6 years

The city’s Festival Petits bonheurs, organized especially for children up to 6 years old and their families, is back again this year from May 3 – 13.

During this 14^th season, the festival organizers will be offering a range of activities, including shows, workshops and multidisciplinary events. The events will also include theatre, marionettes, music, dance, exhibitions, story-telling, visual arts workshops, circus arts and more.

“It is a great pleasure to offer to young children and their families from all backgrounds a privileged access to this marvelous festival,” says Laval city councillor for Renaud Seta Topouzian, who is responsible for dossiers pertaining to children.

“Thanks to an accessible entrance fee structure, everyone will be struck with wonder while discovering the many quality activities offered to daycares, kindergartens, in community centres and in other venues in several sectors of our beautiful city.” Tickets for events go on sale beginning at 6 am on April 6, and for certain shows and workshops space will be limited.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Adding to the City of Laval’s reputation for endorsing measures that mitigate the impacts of climate change, Mayor Stéphane Boyer revealed last week that he has agreed to serve as the national spokesperson for Earth Day Canada’s 2024 campaign.

Montreal-based Earth Day Canada is an environmental organization that helps individuals, municipalities and organizations reduce their impact on the environment by taking concrete action on Earth Day and every other day of the year.

Earth Day is on April 22

In addition to its large-scale awareness campaign for Earth Day, which is on April 22, Earth Day Canada rolls out environmental programs and projects in areas such as waste management, food waste and sustainable mobility.

Earth Day Canada’s 2024 campaign spotlights active and public transport. The campaign, which runs until Earth Day, features an animated character promoting an active lifestyle, inspiring Canadians to opt for active and public transport solutions beyond Earth Day.

For the fourth consecutive year, Earth Day Canada’s Committed Municipalities project strengthens partnerships with municipalities across Canada. Launched in 2020, the initiative has rallied over 150 municipalities committed to enhancing environmental conservation and sustainable transportation.

Active and public transit

“Active and public transportation are the linchpins for the sustainable evolution of our urban and rural communities,” Mayor Boyer said during an online launch event. “Embracing these eco-friendly transportation modes transcends environmental responsibility, fostering a move towards more cohesive and healthier societies.

“The commitment to public transit, as well as cycling and pedestrian transit options, represents a vital investment in enhancing the well-being of our present and future generations,” he continued.

“The Committed Municipalities project has showcased the concrete benefits of local initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable mobility. Championing these efforts within our towns and cities marks a significant stride towards cultivating a society that prioritizes health and respects our planet.”

Laval’s Earth Day events

To celebrate the campaign’s kickoff, a special event was scheduled in Laval, led by Mayor Boyer. The city’s campaign is set to feature an extensive array of activities and events, all designed to enlighten and motivate Canadians and Quebecers towards adopting environmentally beneficial behaviors.

For comprehensive information on this diverse and engaging lineup, the Earth Day website will serve as the go-to resource, ensuring participants have access to all they need to get involved and make a positive impact on the planet. Earth Day Canada hopes that employers and municipalities will help facilitate and endorse active and public transportation, advocating for a sustainable shift not just on Earth Day, but all year round.

Canadians for sustainability

A recent survey by Ipsos, commissioned by Earth Day Canada, revealed that while many Canadians are behind the wheel for their daily commute, a considerable number are open to more sustainable alternatives:

● While 54% of employed Canadians drive to work, there’s a strong inclination towards eco-friendlier commuting methods;

● 76% of employed Canadians express a preference for walking or biking;

● More than half (66 %) would like to use a greener way to commute;

● 67% of employed respondents are willing to engage in employer organized carpooling initiatives on Earth Day, with 49% open to participating in these programs if they were available year-round.

Employers doing their bit

The findings suggest a potential role for employers in addressing climate change through the promotion of sustainable commuting practices. Strategies for employers could include offering subsidies for monthly transit passes or bicycle maintenance, and encouraging carpooling, particularly in rural areas where access to active and public transportation may be restricted.

Many of these strategies are already being deployed by organizations such as EY (Ernst & Young) Canada. “We believe that every organization has an obligation to foster environmental stewardship,” said Laura Schlee, corporate responsibility leader at the professional management services company.

A new way to commute

“Transform your commute into an opportunity to cultivate healthy habits and embrace sustainable lifestyle,” said Valérie Mallamo, Executive Director of Earth Day Canada.

“If you find the infrastructure in your area less than ideal, fear not—there’s a wealth of alternatives at your disposal,” she added. “From leveraging public transport to joining a carpool, every choice you make contributes to a healthier planet. Remember, celebrating Earth Day isn’t just a once-a-year commitment; it’s a daily dedication to our planet’s well-being.”

Until April 22, many Canadians are embracing sustainable transportation methods such as biking, walking, running, using public transit, or carpooling are invited to register at https://earthday.ca/legday for a chance to win exciting prizes. Participants can also choose to engage through the Strava app by opting into the Earth Day challenge, further amplifying the campaign’s reach.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Avanti Le SPA, a women’s beauty spa with locations in Laval’s Pont-Viau district as well as in Montreal, was sprayed with bullets overnight from March 15-16, shortly after a car dealership was also attacked by gunfire in Montreal.

Around 1 am, the Laval Police received a call about an alarm that was triggered at the spa on Saint-Martin Blvd. in Chomedey near McNamara St. Upon arrival, they could see bullet impact marks on the front window.

There were no reports of injuries, but an LPD spokesperson said it was the first time they had to deal with this type of incident at the spa. LPD investigators are analyzing security camera images for leads to suspects.

Around a half-hour after this incident, a car dealership in Town of Mount Royal in Montreal was also shot at, although it isn’t known whether the two incidents were related.

Teens arrested in Laval after two-hour car chase

Two male teenagers took several police services, including the Laval Police, on a two-hour chase in a stolen vehicle over a large area of the Montreal region early last Saturday morning, ending with their arrests in Laval.

Blainville police first noticed the teens in a late-model Toyota Highlander just before 4 a.m. Saturday and alerted the Sûreté du Québec. Suspicions were aroused, the police said, because the occupants were young.

The two then led police on a chase along autoroutes 15, 640, 40, 13 and 20, getting off at 55^th Ave. in west end Montreal. The SQ lost sight of the car, but then the LPD spotted two teens matching the descriptions walking along Pie IX Blvd. in Laval and moved in to arrest them.

The car was found two streets away, although it had not yet been reported stolen by its owner in Mirabel.

According to reports, both teens were known to the police, who said they had a history of run-ins with the law. At the time, they had several conditions imposed by court order, including not to be in contact with each other.

The driver faces a possible charge of dangerous driving, as well as possession of a stolen vehicle, along with breach of conditions, including curfew. He remained in custody and was expected to appear in court via videoconference last weekend.

Electric malfunction blamed for Fleetwood St. fire

Some initial investigating by Laval Fire Dept. experts suggests that a blaze that caused significant damage to a three-storey multi-unit residence on Fleetwood St. in Chomedey on March 14 was caused by an electrical system malfunction.

Damages to the building itself are estimated at $225,000, while damages to the interior furnishings are estimated at $50,000.

Up to 20 people who were residing in the building’s six units, as well as in an adjacent building next door, were evacuated and have been forced to seek shelter elsewhere, largely because of extensive smoke damage.

A call about a fire at the building in eastern Chomedey south of Saint-Martin Blvd. came in to the Laval Fire Dept. around 2:30 am. Nine units from the LFD, including 34 firefighters, were deployed.

Recent Laval Fire Dept. calls

Mar 16: Building fire on Pacifique Ave. Called in to the Laval Fire Dept. from the Laval-des-Rapides sector.

Two-storey residential structure. Smoke apparent upon arrival of firefighters, with a Code 10-07, meaning intervention necessary.

Firefighters advised motorists and neighbours to avoid nearby Montmorency and D’Argenteuil streets until the end of operations.

Fire damages house in Sainte-Rose

March 15: Around 3:30 am, a house on Roseval St. in the City of Laval’s Sainte-Rose sector was significantly damaged by fire.

According to an incident report filed by the LFD after the firefighters’ arrival, flames could be seen shooting from the basement.

They called in a Code 10-09, meaning a full rescue operation, with aggravating factors possible.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Ligue Hockey Laurentides-Lanaudière’s 2023-2024 season has been a fruitful one for Hockey Laval Riverains M15-AA coach Tony Polito, as well as for the young players he oversees, and everybody else who provides support.

To speak only of this season, when the team clinched the 2023-2024 championship in their division, would be to overlook the fact that the last few years have been extraordinary under coach Tony’s leadership, as well as with his brother Manny’s contributions in the past year.

Action and results

It’s been eight years since Tony Polito joined Hockey Laval as a coach. In the last three years alone, the Riverains M15-AA team of promising 15-year-old players has succeeded in clinching as many as six championships.

In keeping with his action-based and results-oriented formula for bringing out the best in players, Tony is a man of relatively few words while describing how he feels about the team’s latest success.

“It’s humbling, I guess you could say,” he said in an interview with The Laval News late last week just before the team stepped out onto the ice for a practice at the Hartland Monahan Arena in Laval-Ouest. For the last two seasons in a row, the team finished first in the league, making it all the way this year as champions in the playoffs.

‘All for the kids’

But at the end of the day, says Tony, everything that takes place in junior-level hockey is volunteer-based. “It’s all for the kids,” he adds, while noting that the big payoff is the deep satisfaction that he and other supporters feel after guiding the players through successive winning seasons.

“I do it for the kids. I do it for the smiles on their faces. It’s all for them.”

With the LHLL season over, the Hockey Laval Riverains M15-AA players are now playing in regionals. Whoever prevails in the best-of-five series will go onto provincials to represent Laval against junior hockey teams from all over Quebec. The prize at the end of it all is the Chevrolet Cup.

All signs point to success

Tony describes the guys on his team as having been especially “pumped” for winning over the past season, while “handling pressure very nicely and they’re ready for it this year,” which bodes well for more success on the ice.

“This year it was a special group,” he said. “Their dedication, their will to just be better. They come to the arena and it’s just a joy to be with them each time. And I enjoy every second of it. I’m just enjoying the time spent with these kids, which feels really good.”

A collective effort

The players’ parents also get top marks from coach Tony. “They’re a very close group, very supporting,” he said. “They support us and make sure to be behind us every step of the way. You know, it takes a village. We’re all very grateful for what they do for us.”

With the success of the Riverains under his belt, Tony acknowledges that he recently caught the attention of the Montreal Knights Hockey Academy, for whom he has agreed to coach a U16 “travel” team. “I got approached with a different opportunity,” he said, while adding, “that’s what I’m going to be doing next year.”

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Action Laval city councillor for Val-des-Arbres Archie Cifelli, who is interim-leader of the opposition party, tabled a petition during the March 12 city council meeting, with the signatures of nearly 500 western Laval residents who are asking the city to close the bicycle path along Samson Blvd.

Action Laval claims it doesn’t oppose the city’s implementation of bike paths, and even supports the creation of new bike paths as part of its platform.

However, the party’s members feel there are security and environmental issues the Boyer administration hasn’t addressed with bike paths, and that there hasn’t been enough public consultation.

Notorious bike path

The party maintains that the Samson Blvd. bike path has turned into one of the more flagrant examples of bad planning by the city. A stretch of the path where it passes past Autoroute 13, interfering with the flow of traffic while endangering cyclists, is probably familiar to many western Laval residents.

“As soon as we said ‘cycling path,’ I didn’t have to convince people to sign this petition,” said Cifelli, adding that “it was they who were explaining to me why they felt it was necessary to sign. The population is especially angered because they were not consulted.”

According to Action Laval, the city administration tabled an overall plan that the mayor’s team voted for without question.

Deemed a ‘dangerous’ path

“The plan is based on ‘norms’ which are blind and which don’t take into consideration the reality of the terrain,” the party said in a statement, while adding that one major Montreal media said in July 2023 that the Samson Blvd. bike path is on a list of the 10 most dangerous bike paths in the province.

“It’s dangerous, it’s badly positioned, it has a negative impact on the environment, so why does the mayor persist in implementing a plan that was badly developed?” continued Cifelli. “Why doesn’t he consult his population?

“The mayor has simply not understood that his role is to contest the decisions of the administration in order to bring them forward into better decisions. If he contents himself to follow the recommendations of the administration, he fails in his most important task.”

Consultations denied

As well, Action Laval maintains that if the population had been consulted, the Samson Blvd. bicycle path would never have been put into place. They also claim to have suggested in July 2022 that the city hold public consultations, although Mayor Boyer opposed this.

“Safer and more efficient alternatives to encourage active mobility are possible,” says the party, suggesting that in the situation of the Samson Blvd. bike path, a route along Bord-de-l’Eau Rd. (where there already is a bike path) would have been better.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Reacting to the provincial government’s 2024-2025 budget which was released last week, Mayor Stéphane Boyer could scarcely conceal his disappointment, but insisted the city will continue to pursue its priorities.

“The current financial situation is a difficult one, we are conscious of that, and Quebec had to make choices,” he said in a statement. “Despite the clear absence of sums identified for our priorities, we intend to continue to push our major axes forward with the government to the benefit of all Laval residents.”

Laval is currently pursuing four priorities: transport and mobility (including the extension of the Metro’s orange line into western Laval); economic innovation and development (which includes a major component to expand Laval’s biotechnology industrial park); housing and social development; and finally additional financial support from Quebec for local media, which includes community newspapers.

Laval donates $25,000 in humanitarian aid to Gaza

As a gesture of solidarity with the people of Gaza, the City of Laval has donated $25,000 to the Canadian Red Cross’s Middle East Humanitarian Crisis Fund in order to support international rescue efforts.

“That which is happening in the Middle East is deeply troubling to me,” Mayor Stéphane Boyer said in a statement. “With this gift, we hope to demonstrate our willingness to help out. Millions of people are impacted by this crisis and it is important to show our support beyond mere words.

“All the assistance will help to alleviate suffering while providing humanitarian assistance to the most people who are in need,” the mayor added. “This testimony to our solidarity is part of a series of recent humanitarian actions, including some sent to Haiti, Ukraine, Lebanon, Turkey, Syria and Morocco.”

Laval Firemen’s Race set for Sunday June 2

Although the big weekend is months away, City of Laval officials are already preparing for the 12^th annual Firemen’s Race, an event that never fails to stir up enthusiasm among people from far and near at the beginning of each summer.

Taking place on Sunday June 2, it promises to be a day of excitement for thousands of runners who will be taking part. During the day, ultramarathoner Manuel Cabral, who is an ambassador for the race, will be making good on a pledge to run 100 kilometres before crossing the finish line.

It’s all to raise funds for the Fondation des pompiers du Québec pour les grands brûlés (FPQGB), an organization which provides support to burn victims.

“Year after year, the Firemen’s Race has generated significant and inspiring anecdotes about exceptional people who came together to raise funds for the burn victims,” says Laval city councillor for Concorde–Bois-de-Boulogne Sandra Desmeules, who is responsible for culture, sports and leisure dossiers on the executive-committee.

“The enthusiasm this race for beginners or seasoned veterans generates reaches far beyond Laval,” she adds. “I congratulate the participants in the race who will be running together on June 2 in support of this worthy cause.”

Those wishing to participate will be able to choose from 1, 2, 5, 10, 21 and 42.2-kilometre trajectories, leading through various scenic areas of Laval.

All participants will be receiving an identifying number patch to be worn on their backs, free warmup exercises, an official T-shirt (for 5-km. and higher participants), a participation medallion, access to the results platform, a snack, and access to a celebration event afterwards.

The finish line will be at the Firemen’s Festival, taking place on the same weekend on the Collège Montmorency outdoor grounds.

Council votes unanimously in favour of Piché CPR motion

Laval city council recently voted unanimously in favour of a slightly amended motion tabled by Action Laval city councillor for Saint-François Isabelle Piché calling for organizations offering services to senior citizens to receive free training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

A few years ago, Laval city council approved a motion that allowed automated heart defibrillators to be installed at all of the city’s arenas and community centres.

This latest development will allow seniors to acquire knowledge and practical experience in order to be able to intervene in emergency situations involving heart problems.

“I feel certain that this measure will be beneficial to the vast majority of our population,” said Piché. “This is basic training that should be available to everyone.”

Councillor Piché said the idea of facilitating CPR training came to her while contemplating that the population of most cities in Quebec, including Laval, is steadily aging. More than 80,000 residents of Laval (pop. around 445,000) are currently 65 years of age or older. “This proposal was something that was obvious to support our organizations in the context of their activities with the population,” she added. “The unanimous support for my proposal underscores the underlying correctness of it.”

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

During last week’s Laval city council meeting, elected officials had no apologies for a group of residents from an area near Pie-X Park in west-end Laval, where there is growing consternation over a plan by the city to expand access to the park through the purchase or appropriation of nearby private properties.

Petition raises questions

Up to 400 nearby residents have signed a petition opposing a significant part of the city’s $24 million plan to carry out a long overdue refurbishing of the park. They want the city to at least postpone the project, currently scheduled to begin as early as this year, so that some of the impact can be reconsidered.

Christian Veilleux, who has lived on Olivar-Asselin St. for more than 30 years, is one of 16 residents who received legal notices last summer from the city, advising them to vacate 12-foot spaces on their property next to several fenced pedestrian walkways leading from the street into Pie-X Park.

City claims encroachment

“While planning the work, we became aware that your installations encroach on the City of Laval’s property and infringe the rights that the City holds on the lot,” states the notice from the city. The residents were given up to Sept. 1 last year to sign and return a consent form stating that they agreed to the conditions.

In early November last year, additional notices were sent to the affected residents, informing them that land survey posts were going to be installed to establish the exact property limits. Fences and hedges belonging to property owners which the city claims are on municipal property will be demolished, according to the notices.

For the greater good, says city

Four walkways that lead into Pie-X Park are located adjacent to the following streets: Marguerite-Bourgeoys, Olivar-Asselin, Cardinal, Bernard and Brien. A fifth laneway between Adolphe-Chapleau and Coursol is apparently not included in the project.

The city claims it needs to enlarge the walkways in order to make them more secure and accessible for the population in general, including those who may be physically-challenged or who suffer from limited mobility.

In so doing, the city expects to enlarge the walkways (which currently vary in width from 6 to 10 feet) to 30 feet, while enhancing the grounds with additional lawn and trees.

In addition to these claims, the city also served notice last summer that it was placing a “reserve” status on four houses located near the north and south entrances to Pie-X Park as an option to eventually purchase in order to add space in the park. This was done under a revised provincial law (“Right of pre-emption”) for municipalities.

No consultation, residents say

Among other things, the residents complain they were never consulted by the city. In response, Mayor Stéphane Boyer maintained during the February city council meeting (he wasn’t present during the March meeting due to illness) that the city has various ways of consulting its constituents, and that a form of consultation had indeed taken place.

Although he praised the park renewal project overall, Parti Laval councillor for Fabreville Claude Larochelle said during last week’s council meeting that he was surprised the city was using the Right of pre-emption clause for single-family homes. He maintained the law is being improperly used by the city, since its intended purpose was to secure properties which had fallen into disrepair and were dangerous because of owner neglect.

Adding to housing shortage

For their part, the residents who would stand to eventually lose their homes claim the city will be doing more harm than good, because of the current housing shortage.

Stating Action Laval’s view of the issue, St-Vincent-de-Paul city councillor Paolo Galati said his party objects to the stance taken by the city. “This is a good project,” he said, although he added that the mayor “really missed the mark and failed in his duty as regards consultation.”

Sainte-Dorothée councillor Ray Khalil (who is vice-president of the executive-committee) maintained that among the various legal tools available in cases like these to the city (including expropriation, property reserve and servitude) the Right of pre-emption “is the mildest,” he said.

However, he offered no apologies to the home owners who stand to be impacted. Laval-les-Îles city councillor Nicholas Borne who is handling the dossier maintained the city has every right to use the Right of pre-emption as it sees fit. But again, no apology to those directly affected.

Residents still uncertain

In a note last week before our deadline to The Laval News, Christian Veilleux said a recent closed-door meeting between the residents and their city councillor Sandra El-Helou seemed to end optimistically. “But there was no firm commitment for the future, except that Mrs El-Helou will do her best to improve things and come back to us,” said Veilleux.

“The meeting was supposed to last 30 minutes, but lasted 70 minutes,” he continued, “which we considered positively, even if we have not had sufficient time to explore thoroughly all issues. Overall, we exited the building with mixed feelings: happy of the discussions, but uncertain about the outcome.”