Pointe-Claire

Arson squad investigating 8 car fires across WI

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

In a concerning series of events, another vehicle was engulfed in flames last week in the driveway of a residential property in Pointe-Claire, marking the second suspicious fire the same week in what appears to be an escalating pattern of arson incidents in the West Island.

The latest incident brought Montreal firefighters to a home located on Pendennis Avenue near Hilary Avenue. After firefighters tamed the blaze, investigators made a troubling discovery of traces of accelerant on another vehicle parked in a nearby driveway. The first targeted vehicle was completely destroyed with significant collateral damage caused to the residence.

This event follows on the heels of another vehicle fire reported just a day earlier when flames consumed a car parked in a residential driveway on Hastings Avenue near Empress Avenue in Pointe-Claire. The proximity and timing of these incidents prompted the SPVM’s arson squad to take charge of both investigations.

The pattern mirrors similar incidents across West Island communities. In Dollard-des-Ormeaux (DDO), residents have been grappling with their own wave of vehicle fires, particularly concentrated on Louis-Riel Street. The community there witnessed three vehicles set ablaze within a 48-hour period recently with two of the incidents occurring in the evening hours around 8 p.m., followed by a third in the early morning.

Kirkland residents have not been spared from this troubling trend, with multiple arson attacks targeting three residences on the same street. These incidents have sent ripples of concern through these typically peaceful neighbourhoods, challenging the long-held perception of the West Island as one of the Greater Montreal Area’s safest regions.

As authorities delve deeper into these cases, the SPVM has heightened its presence in affected areas, deploying additional patrols to maintain public safety and gather information. While investigators work to unravel the connections between these incidents, local communities remain vigilant while their overall sense of security is tested by these troubling events. n

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Man awaits sentencing in fatal Pointe-Claire crash

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

A 21-year-old St-Lazare man is facing sentencing after pleading guilty to impaired driving causing death in a tragic accident that deeply affected the Pointe-Claire community.

On December 18, 2021, a vehicle ran off the Sources overpass while the driver was driving at high speed. This resulted in the body of a teen being ejected from the vehicle onto the ground on Donegani Avenue. The incident shocked the local community.

The tragic crash claimed the life of 16-year-old Noah-Lewis Mercier, who succumbed to his injuries three days after the tragic event while hospitalized.

In a shocking and heartfelt appeal to the court, Marie-Christine Parent, Mercier’s mother, urged leniency for the driver, Julien Ségaux, who was not only the person behind the wheel but also her son’s best friend. Despite her immense grief, Parent called for compassion and understanding within the courtroom. “We need more compassion, we need more thinking of others,” she stated, reflecting her son’s caring nature on the night of his death. Her plea underscored a desire not just for justice, but for healing and community learning from this devastating event, which added to the heavy emotional weight of her plea, as Parent had also lost another son in similar circumstances.

Parent made it clear that she did not solely blame Ségaux for the tragedy, highlighting the unfortunate decisions made by both young men on the evening of the crash that caused her son’s death. Her call for leniency was a testament to her belief in rehabilitation and the power of forgiveness, hoping that this tragedy could serve as a lesson for others. 

Prosecutor Sylvie Dulude has argued for a prison sentence, emphasizing the need for such a measure to act as a deterrent to impaired driving on a larger scale while defense lawyer Robert Israel advocated for a community-based sentence, highlighting Ségaux’s lifelong guilt and the significant challenges he faces in rebuilding his life following the accident. Israel stressed the impact of the tragedy on Ségaux, who has been unable to resume normalcy due to physical and emotional injuries.

Mercier was the step-son of CAQ MNA Marilyne Picard. The decision in the case will be rendered by Judge Jean-Jacques Gagné.

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Car fire in Pointe-Claire adds to spike across West Island

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

A vehicle was set ablaze in the driveway of a residence on Hastings Avenue, near Empress Avenue, in Pointe-Claire on the West Island early Monday morning. Montreal police (SPVM) have launched an investigation into the incident.

At approximately 2:40 a.m., multiple 911 callers reported a car engulfed in flames. Firefighters arrived at the scene and managed to control the blaze. The vehicle was declared a total loss.

The exact cause of the fire remains unknown at this time. The SPVM has handed the case over to their arson unit to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Three similar incidents occurred in Dollard-Des-Ormeaux earlier this week, where vehicles were set on fire under suspicious circumstances. Additionally, multiple incidents of this nature have been reported in Kirkland over the summer and into the fall, highlighting a concerning pattern of arson attacks occurring in the driveways of private residences across the West Island.

This is a developing story. For full report please see The Suburban.

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Suspect caught in Pointe Claire hit and run

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

An alleged car thief in a stolen vehicle hit a police SUV on Sunday in Pointe-Claire, nearly injuring two officers on foot. This is the third incident of this nature in the West Island since the start of summer along with multiple incidents of hit and run on police officers or their vehicles by alleged car thiefs in the Greater Montreal Area (GMA) over the last several months.

At approximately 3 p.m. on Sunday, two officers in a patrol car, facing a stolen vehicle, were exiting their vehicle to proceed to the arrest of the driver. When the 18-year old driver noticed the police exiting their cruiser, he accelerated at high speed and smashed into the patrol car, before fleeing on foot.

The incident took place on Portway Avenue near Hermitage Avenue. A K9 police dog for the SPVM, named Phoenix was brought to the scene after a security perimeter was erected to aid police officers in their search. Just minutes after Phoenix arrived, the suspect was located and arrested.

The perimeter was maintained while investigators conducted a thorough examination of the scene in order to produce a detailed report of the crash.

Both officers sustained minor injuries. Neither of them were transported to the hospital.

The suspect remains in detention. n

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Man killed under tons of rolled steel in Pointe Claire

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

A man in his thirties died tragically at his workplace, a steel distribution company on Hymus Boulevard in Pointe-Claire, last Thursday. He was crushed under more than a ton of steel rollers. For reasons yet undetermined, the steel fell on the man.

When first responders arrived, his death was pronounced nearly immediately on site. Firefighters that were dispatched to the scene to recover the victim, who was initially inaccessible and trapped under the rollers weighing more than 2,000 pounds, faced a tragic reality that the man could not be saved and were tasked with recovering his body.

Montreal police investigators are also investigating the possibility of criminal negligence in this case. The early results of the investigation revealed that no criminal element was involved and that the incident appears to be an unfortunate accident.

Inspectors from the Commission for Standards, Equity, Health and Safety at Work (CNESST) arrived on site later in the afternoon on Thursday to try to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident.

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Montreal to stop fluoridating water at Pointe-Claire and Dorval plants

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By: Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Montreal announced its plans to stop fluoridating West Island water in 2025. Montreal tap water has never been fluoridated. Should the agglomeration council pass the proposal, over 140,000 people in Pointe-Claire, Beaconsfield, Kirkland, Baie-D’Urfé, Dollard-des-Ormeaux and Dorval will be affected by its decision.

The water plants in Pointe-Claire and Dorval, which treat the majority of water in the West Island, are the only plants that fluoridate their drinking water in the Greater Montreal Area (GMA).

The City claims that the safety of city employees handling what was referred to as a “corrosive chemicals”, raises questions about fluoride’s health effects. It also referred to the high maintenance cost of fluoridation as a factor in the decision. According to statements made by Lachine Mayor Maja Vodanovic, the City does not want water used for “medications or pharmaceuticals”, a popular scientific theory in Denmark and surrounding countries, widely debunked by North American health authorities. According to Health Canada, Quebec’s Health Authority and the City of Montreal websites, fluoride is not only considered safe, but is also recommended. The sanitation chemical is also subsidized by the Quebec government.

The agglomeration also stated that the cost of keeping the fluoridation program would be $19 million in order to make the necessary upgrades to the plants, plus $330,000 per year in maintenance. The agglomeration council, which must authorize expenditures, will vote on the issue on December 24. West Island municipalities will only be able to present their views at the December 24 meeting and collectively only have one vote.

Heidi Ektvedt, Mayor of Baie-D’Urfé, says the population living in the affected municipalities should have been consulted beforehand. ”The City of Montreal decided to take over the water plants. It is then their responsibility to consult with our population before making decisions that concern them,” Ektvedt told The Suburban. “Politicians should not be making announcements, pronouncing themselves as health experts. Canadian studies do not acknowledge this ‘science’. It is not a question of whether or not I am not for or against it and it is not my decision, nor Montreal’s decision, to make. It is the decision of those who live here and consume the water.” n

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Pointe Claire Councillors receive death threats

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Two city councillors in Pointe-Claire were shocked to receive handwritten death threats delivered by regular post at Pointe Claire City Hall last week.

  • The letters read: You AHole, You trou de cul, You go to hell, You foff, You drop dead, God save P.T.C.” with the names of the councillors at the top of the page.

Pointe-Claire Director General (DG) Karina Verdon was quick to take precautions after City Councillor Kelly Thorstad-Cullen received the first note earlier in the week. “She (Verdon) handed me the letter while I was present for an urban planning meeting (on Friday) and asked me to open it in front of her,” City Councillor Eric Stork explained to The Suburban. Once it was confirmed that Stork had received the same threatening letter as Thorstad-Cullen, the DG immediately contacted the local police station 5 of the Montreal Police (SPVM) to book appointments for both councillors to issue their statements to the authorities.

Stork believes that a possible reason he and Thorstad were targeted is because both sit on the housing development committee at the City of Pointe-Claire. “We received this letter right after we approved a social housing project that was met with some controversy,” Stork told The Suburban, “Both my family and I are fearful and concerned by this direct threat. This is what happens when people, especially those with influence over constituents, invite and create misinformation. Rooted in this, I believe is the divisive politics spoken by some elected officials. Regardless, I will continue to represent my citizens regardless of the actions committed by the cowardly few.”

“It was quite a shock to receive a letter with such hateful and threatening messages. These types of behaviours are disgraceful and completely unacceptable. Council members are citizens of Pointe-Claire who work hard to make a difference in our city for all of our fellow citizens. We are mothers, fathers, grandparents, teachers, nurses, firefighters and lifelong volunteers in the community. Respect and integrity must prevail over lies and hatred,” Thorstad-Cullen wrote to The Suburban.

This incident is being taken very seriously and anyone with information related to this incident is urged to contact the local police station at (514) 280-0105 or report anonymously via the Info Crime platform at www.infocrimemontreal.ca or by phone at (514) 393-1133. n

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Pointe-Claire neighbourhood bands together after floods

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The heavy rain produced by tropical storm Debbie caused flash flooding in multiple pockets of Pointe-Claire causing significant damage to homes. One of the areas particularly affected was Cragmore Street, bordered by Braebrook Avenue and Concord Crescent.

At the height of the rainfall, the entire street resembled a river overflowing the curbs onto front lawns with the bulk of the flow building up on Braebrook. The drainage capacity of the sewage system appeared to be completely overwhelmed on these streets. It took over an hour for the water levels to subside following the second wave of the storm. Water infiltrated most of the houses and caused entire basements to be flooded by 12 inches of water or more, according to residents.

Residents spent the next 24-48 hours pumping, drying, tearing out walls and floors while sifting through cherished belongings. Some homes are still without amenities such as A/C and hot water, four weeks after the flood.

The street view for two weeks following the August 9 storm showed huge piles of damaged debris that home owners had to remove to prevent mold and mildew. Depending on their economic situations, some home owners were helped by hired demolition crews while others had to do the job themselves. Many reported feeling poorly and attribute that to the humidity and mold, while others simply wore themselves out responding urgently, with a 36-hour time frame to the damages caused to their homes.

Most insurance policies usually specify or limit claims for outside water infiltration because of the low probability of such events occurring in areas outside of known flood zones. As a result, many people were under-insured for this type of claim.

Many residents have expressed thanks and appreciation to the City of Pointe-Claire’s volunteer rescue team who assisted residents in pumping out some basements overnight after the storm subsided. Residents also expressed their appreciation for the City’s prompt organization in arranging regular pickups of the debris over the last few weeks.

A group of residents living on and near Cragmore street banded together to create e-mail chains with City officials to keep themselves up to date and on the same page with the ongoing assessments as well as the future remedial work plans.

Mayor Thomas has acknowledged that Cragmore/Braebrook and Glanlynn/Terra Cotta streets were two areas in Pointe-Claire that were the worst hit . The mayor and Pointe-Claire council members have promised residents that the flooding will be assessed in the next few weeks and the findings will be disclosed . Residents are also calling for a town hall meeting where everyone affected can attend to understand firsthand the issues and the city’s plans going forward.

According to Pointe-Claire City Councillor Eric Stork there is also a possibility that the Cragmore/Braebrook intersection itself may have some underlying stability issues.

At this time, many think that because the water took so long to subside, the capacity of the older sewers in this area may be inadequate. Other streets around the area, some of which had infrastructure updates, did not suffer the same degree of flooding. The City’s assessment due near the end of September should clarify the issues that need addressing .

“I am very anxious to review the City’s assessment and the proposed repair plan and schedule. I certainly hope that they are allocating the highest priority to this disaster . This can occur again . Climate change is evolving the weather patterns. We need to see some action before round two,” one resident said to The Suburban. n

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Car thief jumps into lake in Pointe-Claire

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Some Beaconsfield and Pointe-Claire residents were rudely awakened by police sirens at 6:30 a.m. last Saturday morning. Quebec Provincial Police (SQ) officers attempted to intercept two vehicles stolen from Ontario that were travelling on Highway 20 East near the Woodland exit in Beaconsfield. Officers managed to seize one of the two vehicles on Murray Garden in Pointe-Claire however the driver ran away on foot.

Police officers succeeded in apprehending the suspect who fled south to the Saint-Louis Lakefront at Villeneuve Terrace and Lakeshore Boulevard. The suspect jumped in Lake Saint-Louis as he was being chased by police officers. With the assistance of the Montreal Fire Department, police officers apprehended the man who was then arrested and is now facing charges of reckless driving, obstruction of justice and possession of stolen property.

Pointe-Claire residents living nearby watched as police officers pulled the suspect out of the water, arrested him and placed him in their vehicle. One resident snapped some photos and sent it to The Suburban. “It is concerning to see how the West Island has changed so significantly over the years with the rise in crime,” Another resident said to The Suburban. “This used to be a quiet place to live. Now we wake up on a Saturday morning to this kind of stuff and then we open the newspaper and read about more news like this happening nearby. It was never like this before.”

Recently, just a few blocks East on Lakeshore, a six-story building was evacuated as police searched for another car thief that abandoned a vehicle in a residential parking lot after a police chase following a hit and run on a police officer who was on foot in Lachine.

The second suspect managed to evade being captured in the initial police vehicle chase. A K-9 unit was deployed and SPVM officers were mobilized in collaboration with the SQ to search for the second suspect, who has not been caught to date. The SQ investigation is ongoing. “We are committed to catching crime suspects,” SQ spokesperson Nicolas Scholtus said to The Suburban. n

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Mayor and resident disagree on danger of tree

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Pointe-Claire resident John Kilpatrick has a tree on his front lawn that he believes is dangerous to his neighbours, the public and his home. He says that the city of Pointe-Claire is ignoring his concerns by refusing to let him cut down the tree. According to Kilpatrick’s understanding of the city’s by-laws, he claims that he meets the city’s requirements to cut down the tree in his front yard and presented his findings at the April 2 public meeting.

“The mayor refuses to listen and let me explain. I am a responsible person and I would not cut down a tree without a valid reason.” Kilpatrick told The Suburban. Mayor Tim Thomas says that according to his understanding, the trained professionals both from the city as well as a third party company have conducted their evaluations and have decided that the tree does not need to be cut down. “In an environmental crisis, the best thing we can do for our fellow human beings is to not cut down trees that do not need to be cut down,” Thomas said to The Suburban.

Pointe-Claire arboriculturalist Gisele Merineau made the recommendation that the resident have his tree assessed by an independent company following his disappointment with her assessment stating that his tree was healthy and provided him with a list of approved companies in an e-mail. Kilpatrick agreed to provide a report from one of the six companies approved by the city. According to the report, the tree should be cabled and requires 40% pruning to make it safe. The report does not state that the tree should be felled.

According to Pointe-Claire’s by-law (PC-2775), it is prohibited to fell a tree other than if the tree is a danger to people or property due to the risk of falling branches and pruning or guying would not make the tree safe but Kilpatrick says that the city will only allow him to prune 20% of the tree and pointed out that the by-law does not account for tree cabling.

“What it boils down to is that the city inspector said the tree is safe but the independent arborist says the tree requires cabling and significant pruning to become safe,” District 8 councillor for the city of Pointe-Claire Brent Cowan told The Suburban. “The by-law is outdated and was created for aesthetic reasons, not environmental reasons. One tree on private property is not an environmental issue.”

Kilpatrick says that assuming the costs associated with cabling and pruning rather than felling the tree is punitive and that assuming that expense with no guarantee that the tree will even last another 10 years before it potentially starts to degrade is unfair. “The city is requiring him to take the more expensive option. If a rule is applied for the ‘public good’ then the individual should not have to absorb the expense,” Cowan explained to The Suburban. n

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Month long closure at Sources overpass starts this weekend

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

A month long closure of the Sources overpass from Highway 20 Eastbound to boulevard des Sources north in Pointe-Claire is slated to take place starting April 8 through to May 4 in order for the Ministry of Transport (MTQ) to carry out repair work on the ramp.

Repair work on the ramps leading from Boulevard des Sources to Highway 20 in each directions as well as the pedestrian bridge which crosses Highway 20 is expected to continue until the end of the year.

Detour routes will be marked with temporary signage. The MTQ stated that episodes of congestion is to be expected and alternative routes should be considered where possible.

The dates may vary depending on weather conditions.

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West Island Y holds drive-thru food drive

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The annual spring drive-thru food drive outside the Olive-Urquhart center in Pointe-Claire, hosted by the YMCA, kicked off the post-holiday season collection of non-perishable food items to help stock up food banks serving all areas of the West Island.

Dozens of vehicles stocked up with food donations were unloaded by volunteers as West Islanders drove up to the drop off point located front and centre of the lot’s roundabout and the items were sorted on a table with marked sections directly at the sports centre’s front entrance.

“Everything counts, even one tub of peanut butter or pack of pasta. We appreciate all donations,” YMCA St-Laurent representative Corey Oliver said to The Suburban. “People tend to think of food drives during the winter holidays, but spring is another time when food banks need to replenish,” West Island Y site manager Nadia Garofalo told The Suburban.

On Rock community services representative Kayla Reid explained to The Suburban that spring drive stock-ups are critical for students who rely on school-based food programs to curb hunger. “During the year, we have many programs that run to get food into the hands of kids, but when they go home for the summer, they don’t have those same resources.”

“Without the in-school food program, once the school year ends, families need more food security support at home,” TQSOI Community network project coordinator, food security Eve Lemaire St-Gelais said.

“Hunger does not take a vacation. Now is a good time to stock up and the reality on the ground is that we need to stock up all year round,” West Island Mission executive director Suzanne Scarrow told The Suburban. 

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Poilievre addresses housing crisis in Pointe Claire visit

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By Chelsey St-Pierre

Federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre held a news conference in the Fairview Pointe-Claire shopping centre’s parking lot as part of a series of stops where he shed light on hyper-local issues causing delays in housing projects affecting the overall Canadian housing crisis.

Tens of thousands of housing units have been stalled in the Greater Montreal Area, which caught the attention of the Federal Conservative leader. In January, he declared Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante to be “incompetent”, as she continues to stall development.

Poilievre criticized the City of Pointe-Claire for blocking the Cadillac Fairview development plan for part of the mall’s parking lot. “Local bureaucracy is blocking that construction that would allow seniors and students to live next to a massive transit station.”

Pointe-Claire Mayor Tim Thomas disagreed, stating that he was elected for the purpose of slowing down development. “Too many housing units have been built without much thought given to the best way to design the urban fabric. This is sensible, responsible urban planning in a community where developers have been given too many red carpets, and not enough red tape,” Thomas wrote in response to Poilievre’s visit.

One thing Poilievre and Thomas agreed on is that the green space for Fairview Forest should remain untouched in the development plan. Cadillac Fairview’s proposal includes two 25-storey residential towers as part of a first phase and single family units in lieu of the green space as part of the second phase. Both phases of the proposed development project were stalled by an interim control bylaw issued in the spring of 2022.

Poilievre said the City of Pointe-Claire could have managed the development better. He stated that under the Conservative government, all new transit projects would be required to include a housing component. “Trudeau has caused this problem by funding local bureaucracies that block homebuilding,” Poilievre told reporters. “Building homes is a 911 emergency and I have a good-sense plan to get it done.”

Poilievre’s plan includes proposed incentives for municipalities who reach development goals and penalties for municipalities that score below the calculated rate of target development. The calculation would include consideration for the size of the municipality while considering the effect and contribution to the overall economy. n

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