The Laval News

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On Aug. 26 shortly after 1 am, firefighting personnel from the Laval Fire Dept. contended with a relatively minor blaze at a home on Guénette St. in Chomedey.

According to a report posted by the Association des Pompiers de Laval on social media, smoke was seen by firefighters coming out of the one-story house as soon as they arrived.

A code 10-07 was called in, meaning the firefighters’ intervention was necessary.

LFD firefighter Abelly retires after 34 years

The Association des Pompiers de Laval, which is the union representing the City of Laval’s firefighters, paid homage on their social media feed recently to a veteran fireman who recently retired.

Firefighter Jean-Philippe Abelly took his retirement on Aug. 11, having accumulated an impressive 34 years of service with the LFD.

The APL wished him a happy and restful retirement and so does The Laval News.

Trucks can now use all lanes on Papineau Bridge

Since late last week, trucks have been allowed to use all the lanes on the Papineau Bridge which links Laval to Montreal Island via Autoroute 19.

Truckers were restricted to using only some lanes in each direction on the busy bridge since last May 17 as special repairs were being carried out on the structure.

According to Transports Québec, the work done on the bridge since then has strengthened the bridge’s concrete platform with steel plates and other additions.

However, the ministry cautions that some more work will be necessary to finish the job in September, although it will require work taking place only at night.

Notre Dame/Curé Labelle re-opens after inspection for collapse

A ground collapse, rather than an issue involving broken sewer or aqueduct pipes, was the reason why the intersection of Curé Labelle and Notre Dame boulevards was closed to traffic for two days last week, according to Vasilios Karidogiannis, the Laval city councillor for the district of l’Abord-à-Plouffe.

Notre Dame/Curé Labelle is one of the most heavily-trafficked intersections in the City of Laval.

In recent years, it has undergone several major makeovers, necessitating extended closure, as the City of Laval replaced subterranean sewer infrastructure, partly in response to past flooding in the area.

On his Facebook page last week, Karidogiannis wrote:

“A slope of the road was observed on Curé-Labelle Boulevard at the intersection with Notre-Dame Boulevard. For safety reasons, traffic has been closed at this location and the engineering department has carried out an analysis of the situation early this morning.

“We can already confirm this is not a sewerage or aqueduct issue,” added Karidogiannis. He confirmed to The Laval News that the work has all been completed to the City of Laval public works department’s satisfaction.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

With electric scooters quickly becoming an ever-more common sight on Laval’s streets, officers from the Laval Police Dept. held a safety and information session in the parking lot outside the Carrefour Laval mall last Saturday in conjunction with the firms that are currently renting out e-scooters in Laval in public locations.

According to Cst. Simon Morrissette, an LPD veteran who oversees the force’s road safety and prevention unit, the LPD is taking proactive action to clarify the conditions for the safe and legal operation of e-scooters on the city’s roads and streets.

Making e-scooter use safe

“Our job right now is to promote the secure way of using them,” he said, adding that the LPD also wants to get the message out about the highway safety code rules that apply to e-scooters.

Since last year when the city first allowed and began promoting the use of rented e-scooters, the number of scooters available at rental stations in Laval has doubled, according to Morrissette.

“Because they’re a new type of mobility, which is also an active one, we know they’re going to be here to stay,” he said. “So, we want to be sure that everybody, before they start using them, are aware of the risks and the responsible ways of using them.”

$100+ tickets for violators

As it now stands, said Morrissette, e-scooters are defined within the Quebec highway safety code. That being said, those who ride them but who fail to abide by the rules risk receiving $100 tickets (plus administration fees) from the police for moving violations.

Perhaps the most important of these is failure to wear a helmet while operating an e-scooter.

Other e-scooters rules: The minimum age to operate one is 14 years; the electric motor cannot exceed 500 watts power; wheels must be at least 19 centimetres in diameter; it is forbidden for more than one person to travel aboard an e-scooter; and operating an e-scooter on sidewalks is strictly forbidden.

E-scooter sobriety test

As Morrissette pointed out, e-scooter promoters Bird and Lime have incorporated a number of technical features in their vehicles (and the apps used to lease them), which are designed to detect when someone who is impaired by alcohol or drugs is trying to take one out on the road.

E-scooters are just one of a growing range of new mobility devices which have come rapidly onto the market in recent years – often through relatively lax internet-retailing – leaving governments and road safety regulators playing a game of catch-up to adapt laws to the new technology.

But for the time being, the LPD is focusing on making e-scooter use safer for the growing number of users.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

For a second year, Fabre Member of the National Assembly Alice Abou-Khalil has donated dozens of school backpacks to children attending two primary education institutions in her riding: École Pierre-Laporte and École Fleur-de-Vie.

In all, Abou-Khalil and her constituency office staff dropped off 25 backpacks last week at each school.

“We’ve found that there are many families here that are having difficulties providing school supplies for their children for back-to-school,” she said. “As elected officials, we see it as our duty to see that our schools and the community get the support they need. This helps get the school year off to a good start for the children and the parents, many of whom often are working two jobs to provide adequately for their families.”

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In her first report as the City of Laval’s auditor-general since assuming office last January, France Lessard says the city’s management of its organic waste program could do with some improvement, taking into account discrepancies she found when comparing data produced by Laval to data from the Montreal Metropolitan Community (CMM).

Bad news, good news

In the report, which was presented to Laval city council on August 13, Lessard said she found differences in what Laval reported regarding its organic waste collection, and what was reported by the metropolitan community, although there were also more positive things.

“Some progress has been made in the residential sector, [but] supplementary efforts are necessary to improve the collection and processing of organic materials in the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors, as well as construction, renovation and demolition,” she said.

Seeks improvements

She said additional efforts would also be necessary to better inform and provide assistance to service users, most notably for the implementation of an organic waste collection at multi-unit residences. In 2022, according to Lessard’s report, 279,197 tonnes of residual materials on Laval’s territory were picked up, representing 625 kilos per resident.

In another finding, Lessard said that the city’s supply and service division is not making optimal use of agreements for group purchases.

“Opportunities to save are being missed because of a lack of supervision and proactive communication in the existing agreements,” she said. “What’s more, the absence of clear directives for the personnel and limited used of follow-up tools are contributing to an underuse of the agreements.”

Compliance improving

According to Lessard, the city’s compliance to recommendations by the auditor-general in past years rose to 86 per cent by 2019, from 67 per cent the previous year. However, she added that only 61 per cent of recommendations were fully implemented, suggesting that little has changed in the way the city administration follows up on the auditor-general’s recommendations.

For the years ahead, Lessard identified a number of issues she said she intends to focus on, including municipal taxation, mobility, cybersecurity, access to social housing and homelessness, as well as the impact of climate change on flooding and excessive heat in densely urbanized areas.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Following a fiasco like the one in 2023 when the Chomedey Neighborhood Party was suddenly cancelled after being completely rained out, the organizers got a lucky break this year.

New venue this year

Not only did the rain hold off for most of the day on Saturday August 17, but the venue for the Fête de quartier de Chomedey (as it is otherwise known) was different.

It shifted from the relatively small Parc Pie-X in central Chomedey, where it was staged in recent years, to the much larger Parc Berthiaume-du Tremblay in l’Abord-à-Plouffe, a stone’s throw from the Rivière des Prairies.

As it was, hundreds of residents of Chomedey and adjoining districts got a chance to meet their neighbors while enjoying a day of games and fun.

Something for everyone

Many moms, dads, children and grandparents enjoyed a day that was vastly better than last year for late summer weather. They enjoyed musical entertainment and there were organized events for the kids. And as is the case each year, the Fête de Quartier promoted healthy living habits.

Among the many things to see and do were drumming and dancing, as well as information booths sponsored by a variety of community organizations.

Among the groups were Espace pour la vie Montréal, Clinique dentaire communautaire pour enfants, Scama, Éducation des adultes Laval, Agape, the Maison des jeunes at the Centre communautaire Val-Martin, Maison des enfants le Dauphin, Bibliothèques de Laval and Centre du Sablon.

MP and city councillors

The elected officials who came out during the afternoon to touch base with their constituents included Vimy Member of Parliament Annie Koutrakis, as well as Laval city councillor for Saint-Martin Aline Dib and l’Abord-à-Plouffe city councillor Vasilios Karidogiannis.

“This is the opportunity that I enjoy the most – to be here and touch base with the organizations and people who do the real work on the ground,” Koutrakis said in an interview with The Laval News.

“All the organizations that participate in this Fête de quartier are either in my riding or a colleague’s riding,” she added. “And to see them actively contributing to the community is something that for me is priceless.”

First time in l’Abord

Karidogiannis was pleased that the organizers chose to stage the day at a park in his district. “It’s the first time they’re doing it in l’Abord-à-Plouffe,” he said, noting that Parc Berthiaume-du Tremblay had just recently finished undergoing an extensive refurbishment.

“The setup is amazing,” he continued. “The space is great, the vibe is new and different, the weather is holding out and we’re getting to meet all the organizations from the area which is very important. Everything’s great.”

Councillor Dib marvelled at the growing cultural diversity to be seen in Laval’s neighbourhoods. “This is an event that brings out the best in everybody,” she said.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The City of Laval and Hydro-Québec say they are working together on a project to create a biodiversity corridor on an electricity right-of-way currently used by the public power company.

As such, the city will be receiving a $593,798 subsidy from the electricity company to create a linear park where a variety of new plants and vegetation will be planted. The park will also have a multifunctional path when completed.

“This agreement with Hydro-Québec marks a decisive turning point in the implementation of the Trame verte et bleue in Laval,” said Mayor Stéphane Boyer, referring to an intermunicipal program that encourages the development of a network of biodiverse outdoor parks and spaces.

“By transforming our electrical corridors into places of biodiversity, we are beautifying not only our urban landscape, but we are also active contributing to the preservation of our ecosystem,” he said. “This is an initiative that will benefit the population of Laval as much as the local fauna and flora.”

“At Hydro-Québec we believe firmly that cooperation with municipalities is essential to improve the quality of life of citizens,” said Alain Paquette, a Hydro-Québec spokesman in charge of the dossier for the company. “We see an opportunity to allow citizens to benefit from the reliability of new electrical installations, with the implementation of this initiative, to encourage sustainable mobility as well as access to a vast, enriching and biodiverse green space.”

The area where the path is to be located is situated between Autoroute 440 and the Rivière des Prairies, east of Autoroute 13. It covers an area of roughly 50 hectares over 5.4 kilometres, subdivided into mixed, natural and recreational segments.

As an initial symbolic gesture, the City of Laval last week inaugurated a new biodiverse halt at Binet Park in the middle of the new corridor.

The city plans to plant a diverse selection of vegetation that will encourage pollination and the presence of birds.

There will also be a small wooden terrace, and some trails linking the corridor to a nearby school and the neighborhood.

Mayor Boyer shares his thoughts on Storm Debby aftermath

Earlier this week, Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer summarized the city’s efforts to conduct a massive clean up in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Debby.

“The clean up operations continue,” he said. “Saturday night we went to 290 streets cleaned, and 1517 families helped. Our employees work up to 12 hours every day. A huge task considering that all the neighborhoods of Laval have been affected by floods. There would be the equivalent of 4 years of trash to pick up…

“In person or on social media, you shared with me your concerns about this disaster,” Boyer continued.

“Certain financial impact, but also lost memories, work-related stress, uncertainty about the future. But all around the city, I’ve also seen neighbors who help each other and employees who are proud to be able to help. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but we’re not giving up as long as the work is not done!”

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After gathering up 82 per cent of the debris left behind in Laval following Tropical Storm Debby, the city is keeping cleanup crews on hand to make sure the job is done properly.

According to the city, intervention teams were going around a second time earlier this week on streets that were most impacted by flooding in order to collect any materials which may have been put out on the curb since the first pickup.

“Since August 12, our teams have accomplished a gigantic task, collecting more than 1,350 tons of debris over 82 per cent of Laval’s territory,” said Mayor Stéphane Boyer.

“We understand to what extent these times have been difficult for the people impacted, and you can rest assured that the City of Laval is at your side,” he added. “For each home affected, that is a whole year of trash which must be picked up, and we will not abandon our efforts as long as they are necessary.”

Patrick Taillefer, director of the Laval Fire Dept. who is also responsible for overseeing emergency measures, said staff has been at work on the cleanup since the beginning. Faced with the magnitude of the mess, he said the operation went into overdrive late last week.

“Our main strike force, consisting of nearly 250 personnel and around 60 vehicles, will continue to make their way through the streets of the city to help conclude this second major operation,” he said. “Our staff, some of whom have also been impacted personally, are united and are sparing no efforts. The affected citizens can count on our support.”

Summary of waste pickups

• More than 2,200 streets covered, for 82 per cent of Laval’s territory
• Nearly 7,089 addresses visited
• 3,350 tons of debris collected

Large waste items pickup

Regular waste collections of large items are taking place as scheduled. However, only items which normally are accepted will be picked up. Discarded furniture and demolition debris from water damage will be picked up during a special collection. The city is asking residents who didn’t suffer storm and water damage to hold off throwing out items until next month.

Écocentres

The City of Laval’s Écocentres can be an excellent option for those with the means to take discarded items and materials there on their own for disposal. Given the exceptional circumstances, the city has authorized staff to accept a larger than usual amount of waste from residents and additional staff are there to serve you.

Some restrictions loosened

The city says it is allowing winter car shelters to be used on a temporary basis to cover furniture and other items retrieved from flooded homes, so long as they are being used for that specific purpose.

At the same time, the city is reminding homeowners that a permit is not needed for regular maintenance and remedial repair work carried out in flooded homes to restore them to order. However, permits must be obtained for larger renovation projects from the City of Laval’s urban planning department.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In spite of a weather-related snafu that got the 2024 Symposium de Ste-Rose off to a somewhat shaky start, patrons attending the four-day artists’ gathering this year enjoyed some splendid weather – in sharp contrast to the rainstorms that impacted attendance at symposiums in the past.

From July 25 to 28, appreciators of fine sculpture and exquisite art came from all over Quebec as well as other parts of eastern Canada to enjoy the 27^th annual Symposium de Ste-Rose.

A historic setting

As has been the case for almost 30 years, the symposium took place in downtown Sainte-Rose along Sainte-Rose Blvd., next to the Old Firehall (La Vieille Caserne), near the historic Église Sainte-Rose-de-Lima.

According to Oprina-Felicia Dolea, president of the Corporation Rose-Art which organizes the event, high winds on opening day made things a little chaotic.

“We had at least one tent fly off,” she said in an interview with The Laval News, adding that although the tent was damaged beyond repair, it was covered by insurance. Nonetheless, there were clear skies and warm sunshine over the following three days.

More than 20,000 visitors spent time at the Symposium de Ste-Rose this year. The event’s honorary president was Christopher Skeete, the Member of the Quebec National Assembly for Sainte-Rose.

Home to great artists

The village of Sainte-Rose is renowned as the birthplace of internationally-acclaimed Québécois painter Marc-Aurèle Fortin. Sainte-Rose was also at one time the home of landscape painter Clarence Gagnon. Both influenced generations of artists and are honored by local street and place names.

The symposium is regarded by some as one of Canada’s most successful gatherings of visual artists and a first-rate showcase for their works. Each year, attending is seen by art connoisseurs as an opportunity to enjoy the works of a range of visual creators who express themselves in a variety of styles.

As the Symposium de Ste-Rose’s reputation has grown across Quebec and other provinces, the organizers have also received some significant recognitions. In 2019, the Laval Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented them with a Dunamis award for helping to promote tourism in Laval.

Promoting local tourism

The symposium’s organizers were also a finalist for a second Dunamis in 2020 as a “sustainable” organization or enterprise. It’s notable that tourism has been growing by leaps and bounds in Laval over the past few years, as travellers from all over Canada and the U.S. discover hidden treasures such as the Symposium de Ste-Rose.

As an added bonus this year, archeologists who’ve been working on archeological excavations on the grounds of the historic Église Sainte-Rose-de-Lima agreed to set up a display of some of the artifacts they recovered. They included antique household objects as well as religious items.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Eighteen-year-old Terry Fox of Port Coquitlam, BC never saw himself as remarkable.

Granted, he displayed an unusual determination to achieve the goals he set for himself, appealing locally to family, school, sports and friends.

But Terry’s cancer diagnosis of osteogenic sarcoma just above the knee, the subsequent amputation of his leg and experience in the cancer wards changed all that.

A reservoir of compassion, combined with a fierce determination to bring an end to the suffering cancer causes, set Terry on a path that, quite simply, changed the world.

Laval organizer needed

As the Terry Fox Foundation prepares for the 44^th edition of its run, unfortunately they have yet to find an organizer for the 2024 Laval run.

Still, Laval has played a crucial role in the Terry Fox Run for over 12 years, contributing more than $29,000 thanks to dedicated local volunteers.

According to the Terry Fox Foundation’s 2022-2023 impact report, organizers and supporters in Quebec raised $1.2 million last year through 44 community runs and 265 school runs.

For many years, the Terry Fox Foundation has carried on the legacy of Terry Fox, who inspired the world with his Marathon of Hope in 1980, despite losing a leg to cancer.

Terry’s personal experience and research led him to a simple conclusion – more money was needed for cancer research. And so, in the modest but motivated style that would prove to be his trademark, Terry started training and planning for his cross-Canada run to raise funds for cancer research.

His run was cut short

He dipped his artificial leg in the Atlantic Ocean on April 12^th, 1980 and proceeded to unite Canadians in a way never before nor since seen. The only thing that could have stopped Terry from reaching the Pacific Ocean did. Cancer returned in his lungs and he was forced to stop on September 1^st, 1980 after having run 5,373 kilometres.

Before his death on June 28, 1981, Terry had achieved his once unimaginable goal of $1 from every Canadian. More importantly, he had set in motion the framework for an event, The Terry Fox Run, that would ignite cancer research in Canada, bringing hope and health to millions of Canadians.

Each year, donors make it possible to fund programs like the Terry Fox New Frontiers Program Project Grants (PPGs). These awards from the Terry Fox Research Institute support some of the most innovative cancer research teams in Canada

Research projects funded

Projects led by Dr. Gregory Czarnota (Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre), exploring techniques that use ultrasound technology to make existing cancer therapies more effective, and Dr. Christian Steidl (BC Cancer), studying the growth and development of lymphoma to develop more accurate clinical tests, new drugs, and personalized treatments, were also renewed.

In addition, the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network (MOHCCN) is the realization of a long-standing vision of The Terry Fox Research Institute. Inspired by Terry and his Marathon of Hope, MOHCCN unites patients, researchers, clinicians, and hospital administrators from cancer centres and academic institutions across Canada to accelerate precision medicine for cancer.

Fulfilling Terry’s dream

Foundation leaders say the strength of the Terry Fox Foundation rests on its volunteer organizers in schools and communities, as well as on generous donors. The Terry Fox Foundation’s 2022-2023 impact report clearly spells out the results.

“We aim to fulfill Terry Fox’s dream: a world without cancer,” says Lyne Benoit, the Terry Fox Foundation’s director of community and school runs for Quebec, while adding that the funds raised are directly invested in cancer research.

Since the Terry Fox Foundation was started, they have managed to collect over $850 million for cancer research, thanks to school and community run organizers.

However, today, cancer affects two out of five Canadians, which is why they are currently seeking the public’s help. To volunteer or offer leadership for a planned Terry Fox Run in Laval, Lyne Benoit can be reached at 450-923-8950 or 450-923-9747 Ext 304.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

From 10 am to 6 pm on Sunday Sept. 1, the City of Laval is inviting all moms, dads and kids to come on down to the Centre de la Nature in the district of Duvernay to enjoy Laval’s biggest annual celebration of the family – the Fête de la Famille.

As always, a large number of fun activities are planned, including free stage shows. It’s all to mark the close of another summer before the beginning of autumn and the return to school for children.

“This will be a day overflowing with activities of all kinds for all ages,” says Laval city councillor for the district of Renaud Seta Topouzian, who is responsible on city council for dossiers involving children.

“Everything was carefully designed to encourage participation, laughter and the creation of unforgettable memories,” she adds. “It will be a chance for children and parents to have a great time together. All families are invited to come out and fully enjoy this major celebration.”

The Fête de la Famille site at the Centre de la Nature will be organized into three large zones, each with its own theme.

• Zone Turbulence: This area is for the more adventurous and physically-inclined, with an overhead “zip line,” simulated rock climbing and other exciting pastimes. There’ll also be sports-related activities here, including a multisport caravan, and a special booth sponsored by AHL hockey’s Rocket de Laval.
• Little Geniuses Zone: This area is for the more cerebrally-inclined children. Here they’ll find science workshops, presentations on local wildlife, and a mobile library. There will also be presentations on robotics, musical instruments and computer coding challenges. Everything will be interactive to stimulate the imagination of children.
• Games Zone: This area is almost guaranteed to be popular with the kids. Here they’ll find inflatable games, a mini-zip line, face-painting and a Jurassic Park adventure. They’ll also have an opportunity to meet with real-life firefighters and police officers from the Laval Fire Dept. and Laval Police Dept.

To ensure safety, avenue du Parc on the west side of the Centre de la Nature will be shut to car traffic on the day of the event. Parking on certain nearby streets will also be forbidden to non-area residents at the same time. People living in the area will have to show some I.D. in order to be allowed through.

Laval Fire Dept. tables its latest annual report

In their latest annual report, covering the year 2023, officials with the Laval Fire Dept. say they succeeded last year in integrating several separate divisions dealing with public security in order to improve coordination and preparations by the city for the eventuality of emergencies and crises.

Commenting on the fire department’s report which was tabled in Laval city council on July 9, Sandra Desmeules, the Laval city councillor responsible for public safety dossiers, noted that an increase in recent years in extreme weather phenomena, accentuating the risk of emergency situations, made it necessary to take measures to protect the population of Laval.

The report also said that the fire department had created a new rapid intervention team over the past year. The intervention team’s priority mandate will be to carry out rescue operations for firefighters who find themselves in danger during emergency interventions.

Laval Fire Dept.’s year in numbers:

• 9,220 emergency calls, a 19.3 per cent increase over 2022
• 286 building fires
• 1,507 First Responder interventions, an 18.5 per cent hike
• 13,619 prevention visits to homes
• 60 investigations into the causes of certain fires
• 679 fire code infraction notices sent out

606 emergency evacuation orders, more than four times greater than 2022

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Following the record-setting rainfall that dropped 170 millimetres of water on Laval last week over a 12-hour period, the City of Laval says its teams are still hard at work, cleaning up debris and securing damaged municipal installations, while also answering calls from residents facing ongoing emergency situations.

The staggering amount of precipitation, in conjunction with numerous electric power failures, caused an as yet undetermined number of sewer system overflows and floodings at homes and businesses in Laval, says the city.

As a result, the City of Laval’s outdoor pools as well as the beach at the Berge aux Quatre-vents in Laval-Ouest are closed for the time being.

Water supply ‘stable’

On a more positive note, the city says that the quality of Laval’s drinking water remains good and is stable. In spite of the pool closings, the city’s waterparks for children are still open and accessible (although residents are invited to check on a case-by-case basis on the city website).

Laval residents who are aware of flood-related problems are invited by the city to call 3-1-1 or to otherwise get in contact with municipal officials. If the situation is serious enough, residents are asked to call the 9-1-1 emergency line.

As for residents who are still without electric power, the city is asking the population in general to be patient and to refrain from from using electric pumps, electric power generators or other types of devices which use carbon-based fuel inside residences, in order to avoid carbon monoxide-related poisonings.

Making insurance claims

At the same time, the city is asking all those dealing with flooded homes to contact their insurance company to find out the steps which should be taken to file claims. Additional information on insurance claims can be made at the City of Laval website: https://www.laval.ca/Pages/Fr/A-propos/reclamations.aspx.

Residents who must rid themselves of damaged or contaminated household items are asked to place them at a spot on the edge of their property next to the street (without obstructing the road or sidewalk). Trash pickups are taking place according to regular schedules, although some additional pickups may also be made.

Psychological help

In the meantime, the city is also offering social and psychological assistance to residents who may feel they have been emotionally impacted by the fallout from the floods. The number to call is Info-Social at 8-1-1, option 2.

As for the post-Hurricane Debby cleanup, as of last Monday Aug. 12 the city was sending around a fleet of dump trucks to gather up discarded items, as well as garbage and debris put out on the curb by residents of flooded houses.

The pick-ups are taking place on an unscheduled basis, so there is no need to call ahead for an appointment. The collections are taking place on a gradual basis, with priority being given to neighbourhoods in Laval where floods made the most extreme impact.

A visit to the ecocentre

For those wishing to get a little more directly involved in the cleanup, the City of Laval’s ecocentre at 1205 Dagenais Blvd. West is accepting many different types of waste, including discarded appliances. Additional staff are on hand to ensure the smooth flow of operations.

Proof of Laval residency is required, although contractors carrying out flood-related repairs to households will be able to drop off waste materials if accompanied by the home’s owner.

The city says that a special collection of old refrigerators and other appliances, which had been scheduled before the floods, will be proceeding as usual, although possibly on a modified schedule.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Though the days are gone when Canada Day meant an exciting parade up the middle of Chemin d’Oka in Deux-Montagnes, the country’s birthday was still celebrated on July 1 in the city’s Central Park.

There, thousands of people from all over the Deux-Montagnes MRC as well as elsewhere on the North Shore gathered for an all-day celebration of Canadian patriotism and values on the country’s 157^th birthday.

After a couple of years when the Covid pandemic forced event cancellations in Deux-Montagnes on Canada Day, and then last year when torrential rain closed things down altogether, this year’s 53^rd annual Canada Day was a long-awaited indulgence for many Deux-Montagnes residents.

A big day in Deux-Montagnes

Still, according to Canada Day organizing committee president Tom Whitton, it would have been hard to beat Canada Day 2022, when a record 10,000 people gathered in Central Park.

And yet, before noon on July 1 this year, the park was already crowded with moms, dads, kids and other family members, all eager to have a good time while celebrating their country’s birthday.

Special guests this year were Canadian figure skating partners Loucas Éthier and Kelly Ann Laurin, who served as honorary event co-presidents. Éthier, 24, and Laurin, 18, have been skating together for the past six years.

Both being from the Laurentian region, they train at École Excellence Rosemère and have been members of Canada’s figure skating team since 2022, representing the country at international figure skating events.

Fun and games for all

There was something for everyone, from inflatable games for children, to face painting and mini-train rides, as well as children’s races and an egg-toss contest.

For older residents of Deux-Montagnes keen on traditional pastimes, there were horseshoe toss championships, bean bag toss tournaments, even bingo with a lively numbers caller.

This year, the organizers decided to invite back local artisans who offered a range of their locally handcrafted wares.

The Canada Day stage hosted rock and roll performers through the day, with a closing performance in the evening by ROCKOLOGY, a band that performed classic English and French rock music from the 1970s and 1980s.

The day came to a fitting close around 10 pm with a superb display of fireworks glistening off the Lake of Two Mountains and lighting up the North Shore sky.

The Laval Police have arrested an underage fraudster who allegedly convinced victims, including several seniors, to hand over their debit cards and personal IDs (PINs), which he then allegedly used to commit fraud.

The LPD believe that up to 30 fraud incidents may all be connected to the same suspect. As part of the scheme, he would call victims at home and pretend to represent a financial institution.

He would then tell his targets that their bank card had been defrauded. According to the LPD, the suspect used a classic ruse to deceive the victims.

“He would ask them to place their cards in an envelope and write the personal identification number (PIN) on the back,” said an LPD spokesperson. “He then told them that a courier would pick up their cards at their home. Once retrieved, the cards were used to commit fraud at bank machines and businesses.”

However, in a few cases the courier called the victims back in a multi-party conference call, so that they could speak directly with a real representative of their financial institution to reactivate their card, which had been blocked on suspicion of fraud.

Three dead following horrific truck/car collision on Route 335 in Laval

Accident investigators were on the scene all afternoon just before the start of the Canada Day long weekend, following a major accident involving a large truck and several cars on Route 335 in east end Laval, in which three people died.

The southbound truck crashed head-on with a car headed in the opposite direction, followed by a second collision involving another car. One of the impacted cars collided again into the truck, after which both caught fire.

The occupants of both vehicles, three people in all, died in the ensuing blaze. According to reports, four other people, including a pregnant woman, suffered injuries, although not life-threatening.

The Laval Police announced five days after the crash that they are seeking witnesses. The investigation is still ongoing and the police are hoping to speak to anyone who was near the crash scene.

Anyone with information is asked to call the LPD’s Info Line at 450-662-INFO (4636) or 9-1-1. The file is LVL-240628-055.

Laval man jailed in Gatineau for multiple locker room thefts

A 32-year-old man from Laval will be spending a good part of a two-and-a-half-year sentence behind bars after pleading guilty to a series of thefts from gymnasium lockers in Gatineau in Quebec’s Outaouais region.

Evidence showed that since early 2022, Ahmad Mroue stole 36 smartphones, seven computer tablets and an unspecified number of key fobs and credit cards.

Among the incriminating evidence seized from him by police by the time they caught up was an Interac debit and credit card reader, which could be used to complete illegal financial transactions. Up to 15 police departments worked together on the investigation leading to Mroue’s eventual arrest.

The investigators testified that Mroue confessed to having carried out $220,000 worth of fraudulent acts in 16 different cities from January 2022 to January 2023.

Crime prevention experts warn that gymnasium locker rooms have become one of the most frequent targets for the theft of personal items, such as smartphones and wallets containing debit and credit card information, because of the vulnerability of gym lockers.

They recommend using a solid and reliable lock, or simply not storing key valuables in gym lockers because of the elevated risk of theft.

SQ seizes illegal marijuana in Laval and Saint Jérôme

Officers with the Laval Police Dept. joined colleagues with the Sûreté du Québec in the execution of warrants, during which large quantities of illegally-produced marijuana as well as other narcotic substances were seized in Laval as well as in Saint Jérôme.

Officers executed the warrants at addresses on Fortin Blvd. in Laval and on 103^rd Ave. in Saint Jérôme. The following evidence was seized:

• Nearly 1,000 plants of marijuana;
• More than 100 kilos of marijuana;
• Nearly 30 tablets of methamphetamine;
• Nearly $4,000 CDA in cash;

Equipment used for the production of marijuana.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In contrast with past years when the weather wasn’t very cooperative, Mother Nature smiled warmly for the 2024 Laval Hellenic Summer Festival.

The four-day gathering outside Holy Cross Church on Souvenir Blvd. in Chomedey brought together thousands of Montrealers and Laval residents with Hellenic roots.

Taking place on the weekend just before Canada Day, the festival was an occasion to celebrate the country’s origins and multinational diversity – although it was primarily a celebration of Hellenic culture and values.

A large turn-out

Katerina Hulis, who has been president of the Laval chapter of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal since last May, helped lead the committee which organized the festival.

“I’m grateful for the fantastic team we had to organize this year’s event,” she said. “We’re very pleased with this weekend’s turn-out.”

Among the dignitaries who dropped by on the evening of June 30 to enjoy the Hellenic ambience and a piece of Canada Day birthday cake were Chomedey city councillor Aglaia Revelakis, Saint-François city councillor Isabelle Piché, Saint-Bruno city councillor David De Cotis, HCGM Laval chapter president Katerina Hulis, HCGM president George Tsoukas, Saint-Laurent MP Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Chomedey MNA Sona Lakhoyan Olivier and Saint-Martin city councillor Aline Dib.

Great day to be Greek

“It makes us all feel very proud to be here on a day like today,” said Lambropoulos, noting that during the summer she has the opportunity to visit several Hellenic festivals organized by Greek Montrealers. “I am very happy to be here to celebrate Canada Day in the heart of my district,” said Revelakis.

Although Saint-François councillor Isabelle Piché has just a handful of Greeks in her east-end Laval district, she was enjoying the food, the music and the folk dancing steeped in ancient tradition. “It’s a wonderful event even for people like myself who are not Greek,” she said.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

While the dates may vary a little from year to year, there’s one thing about the Sainte-Rose Art Symposium you can always count on.

This popular summertime gathering of artists always guarantees four days of enjoyment of the visual arts for thousands of satisfied patrons.

The 28^th symposium

This year, the Corporation Rose-Art’s art exhibition is taking place from Thursday July 25 to Sunday July 28. Those with a discerning taste for fine sculpture and inspiring visual creation will be arriving from all over Quebec, as well as other parts of eastern Canada, for the 28^th symposium.

Many visitors will be purchasing works produced by the 70 participating artists, who express themselves in styles ranging from traditional and impressionistic to modern and abstract.

The event’s honorary president this year is Member of the National Assembly for Sainte-Rose Christopher Skeete. “Art nourishes the soul,” he said during a recent press conference at the Vieille Caserne art gallery on Sainte-Rose Blvd. where the 2024 lineup of artists was revealed.

Home to great artists

As always, the symposium will be taking place alongside the Rivière des Mille-Îles in the charming and historic Laval neighbourhood known as Vieux Sainte-Rose. The village is renowned as the birthplace of internationally-acclaimed Québécois painter Marc-Aurèle Fortin. Saint-Rose was also at one time the home of landscape painter Clarence Gagnon. Both influenced generations of artists.

After winning a range of awards for excellence over nearly three decades, the organizing committee, led by Corporation Rose-Art president Oprina-Félicia Dolea, continues to uphold the standards that have established the Sainte-Rose Art Symposium’s reputation for excellence in art circles across eastern Canada.

Archeological exhibition

As an added bonus at this year’s symposium, archeologists who’ve been working in the past few years on archeological excavations on the grounds of the historic Sainte-Rose-de-Lima Church have agreed to set up a display of some of the artifacts from past centuries which were recovered. According to sources, they include antique household objects as well as religious items.

The organizers have received some significant recognitions for their efforts. In 2019, the Laval Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented the organizers with a Dunamis award for helping to promote tourism in Laval. They were also a finalist for a second Dunamis in 2020 and 2022, as a sustainable organization or enterprise.

Guests from all over

More than 20,000 people are expected to attend. Although most are usually from the Laval and greater Montreal regions, the busy vacation season is also known to bring in visitors from Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, as well as from the U.S. states of Vermont, New York and New Hampshire.

Tourism has been growing by leaps and bounds in Laval over the past few years, as travellers from all over Canada and the U.S. begin to rediscover hidden treasures such as the Symposium de Sainte-Rose, in an upsurge of interest in travel since the end of the Covid pandemic.

Some of the best times to go

The Symposium will be taking place along a stretch of the main street in downtown Sainte-Rose, next to La Vieille Caserne (216 Ste-Rose Blvd.), a stone’s throw from Sainte-Rose-de-Lima Church, between Filion and Deslaurier-Hotte streets.

All the events are free. The hours are as follows: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm; Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. Additional information is available on the website www.roseart.ca. E-mail: roseart@videotron.ca. Phone: (450) 625-7925.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

As the Trudeau government looks to overhaul its Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program, most agri-businesses say they are in favour of multi-employer work permits as an option, enabling employers to share foreign workers, according to new research undertaken by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).

Foreign worker ‘poaching’

However, cautions the CFIB, the majority of agribusiness owners don’t support sectoral and/or regional work permits, whether it’s under the current or a new program structure, where a third party would recruit and dispatch a pool of foreign workers, as they fear such permits could facilitate employee poaching and thus hinder retention.

“While government is reviewing its TFW program, it needs to consider the practical needs of agri-businesses and the future of Canada’s food security,” said Juliette Nicolaÿ, a CFIB policy analyst.

“Farmers are already struggling with chronic staffing shortages and when they turn to foreign labour, it’s only as a last resort because they can’t find anyone locally,” she added.“That’s concerning given Canada’s ageing population and a perceived lack of interest among Canadian workers in a career in agriculture.”

TFW hiring in Quebec

CFIB research found that three in 10 Canadian agri-businesses hired foreign workers in 2023. The reliance on foreign workers was even more pronounced in certain regions, such as Quebec (51%), and in agriculture sub-sectors characterized by labor intensive tasks, such as the fruits, vegetable and horticultural specialties (64%).

According to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), among employers who hired TFWs, 92% said foreign workers helped them meet demand for their products or services, while 89% said that TFWs helped them stay in business. 

CFIB maintains that there are many misconceptions around the TFW program,for example that TFWs aren’t paid sufficient wages or they’re mistreated by their employers.

Debunking TFW myths

In fact, the federation says, most (85%) TFWs are paid the same wage as Canadianfull-time residents or citizens, and only 3.5% are paid less. They also note that the federal government conducts regular inspections to ensure health and safety of foreign workers, with 94% of employers inspected found to be compliant on 26 different criteria.

“While there may be isolated bad actors that should not be tolerated, agri-businesses highly value foreign workers, and they take time and effort to bring TFWs to Canada,”said Francesca Basta, a CFIB research analyst.

“They cover costs that go beyond wages like housing, transport and health care. It is also common for farmers to have the same TFWs come back year after year. Some also sponsor foreign workers to become permanent residents.”

CFIB’s suggestions

To improve the TFW program’s efficiency, the CFIB recommends that the federal government should consider:

• Reducing red tape associated with hiring TFWs, notably streamlining the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process;
• Allowing for the sharing or transferring foreign workers as an option (e.g., multi-employer work permit);
• Indexing the housing deduction to inflation – it is currently $30, which does not reflect real housing prices;
• Allowing employers to match the wages offered by another employer with an LMIA in the same area to strengthen retention and curtail poaching. Provisions under the Employer Compliance Regime currently limit this;
• Reimbursing the employer for the costs associated with the administration and enforcement of the compliance inspection, should the LMIA not be issued;
• And introduce a mechanism to compensate initial costs covered by the employer whose employee has been poached and streamlining access to new TFWs.

The CFIB’s full mitigating agricultural labour shortages report, Harvesting a solution: Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs),can be found on the CFIB’s website.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

For the second year in a row, the City of Laval’s communications and marketing division received a Gold Quill Award of Merit. This time it was for a campaign the city mounted last year to recruit summer employees.

The Gold Quills are awarded annually by the International Association of Business Communicators(IABC) to recognize excellence in strategic communications at the international level.

“All my congratulations to the teams for this global recognition,” said Mayor Stéphane Boyer. “Receiving this award the first time was a great honor. But getting it a second time shows without contradiction the expertise of the City of Laval’s communications and marketing service.

“Without doubt, everything is in place to get our citizens to contribute to their living space in order to turn it into an exceptional environment,” he added.

The goal of the 2023 recruiting campaign was to emphasize the attractiveness of the city’s seasonal jobs to a target audience of young people who are currently being sought by many employers, while also promoting the positions as valuable work experience on professional as well as personal levels.

“It was on this basis of a shortage of seasonal labour that the City of Laval decided to hire 500 seasonal employees,” said Nathalie Monette, the City of Laval’s chief of communications.

City reaches agreement in principle with itsrecreation workers

The City of Laval announced last week that it has reached an agreement in principle for a new collective agreement with 1,200 unionized employees working in the city’s recreation services department.

“After more than two years of negotiations, I am happy with the conclusion of this agreement which allows us to assure all citizens that they will be getting quality recreation services, all while respecting their capacity to pay,” said Mayor Stéphane Boyer.

“Our main goal was to be able to achieve gains in efficiency for the city, while also being able to offer working conditions comparable to bordering cities.”

According to the city, the agreement, which is for six years,has resulted in gains for the employer and the residents, especially as regards the simplification of salary scales, greater mobility by the employees between recreational disciplines, and improved staff planning.

Emergency sirens now installed all over Laval’s territory

The City of Laval reports that following the enactment of by-law L-12933 in the autumn of 2022, a significant number ofindustrial companies located in Laval have complied and have installed emergency sirens designed to go off to alert the public if industrial accidents happen.

Sirens in the network have been designed to go off for events such as accidental toxic fume releases or explosions at companies where hazardous materials are stored or used in manufacturing processes.

Should a major industrial accident occur, according to the city – one of that threatens to cause widespread harm beyond the actual site of the industry – the siren will go off.

Its purpose is to quickly warn the population of the need to seek shelter. Laval joins the cities of Montreal and Victoriaville in implementing this policy.

“The security of the population is a priority, but also a shared responsibility,” said Laval city councillor and executive committee member Sandra Desmeules, who is responsible for public safety dossiers.

“I salute the commitment of the industries involved here in this regard, and I invite all people in Laval to become informed on the right things to do in order to assure their security and that of those close to them in emergency situations.”

What to do if you hear the emergency siren

• Proceed to and get into the nearest building.
• Close the windows and doors and shut down the ventilation. Seal the doors and windows with caulking if possible.
• Get away from the doors and windows.
• Get information from theCity of Laval website as well as from emergency text messages.

Sirens have been installed at companies located in industrial parks around the centre of île Jésus (around the border of Chomedey and Vimont), as well as in another industrial zone in the Saint-Vincent-de-Paul district. The sirens have a distinctive sound, rising and falling in tone over a period of several minutes.

Martin C.Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A few days after the Trudeau Liberals’ humiliating by-election defeat in the “safe”Liberal stronghold of Toronto-St. Paul,Pablo Rodriguez, the Prime Minister’s lieutenant for Quebec, was talking apologetically on the phone – long before he even got around to the actual purpose of the call.

The by-election impact

“I totally get it what happened on Monday,” the Member of Parliament for the Montreal riding of Honoré-Mercier,told Newsfirst Multimedia.

“I mean, it’s been rough for us,” he said.“But then again, I mean, it’s not a general election, it’s a by-election where people pass messages. And I think we understood very clearly that people are, you know, not happy with our stuff, that they feel the pain of the increased cost of life and all of that.

Undoing the damage

“But at the same time, when they’re going to come into an election and, you know, make the final button when you change the government, that’s a different thing, right? Because a by-election, you send a message and an election you choose your government. So, these are two different things.”

While the ostensible purpose of the call was to remind us of the Liberals’ more noteworthy accomplishments, the timing – coming virtually right after the by-election fiasco – left little doubt the gears had been turning during recent Liberal caucus meetings in Ottawa,where the operative phrase undoubtedly was damage control.

Pre-election year pitch

Thus Rodriguez, who is currently Minister of Transport in the Trudeau cabinet, went on to list the Liberal government’s most significant achievements (this being, mind you, a pre-election year, with the next official election date not expected before late next year – if the government hangs on to the end with crucial NDPsupport).

Among the accomplishments: nationwide programs aimed at combating child poverty; massive investments in new and moderately-priced as well as low-income housing projects; the Canada Dental Care Plan (albeit largely at the insistence of the NDP, as a condition for their ongoing political support); and the Canadian Pharmacare Plan, initially covering medications for diabetes and contraception.

“I think we have a pretty good bilan,” said the bilingual Rodriguez, using an interchangeable Québécois term that translates roughly as balance sheet.

No election until late 2025

Regarding the ongoing viability of the Trudeau government’s arrangement with the NDP, and whether it will last until the next scheduled election, Rodriguez said he felt confident there would be no election before October 2025.

“One of the most important things these days that Canada needs is stability,” hesaid.“Stability, because the world – not only the country, but the world – is going through a tough situation, with the economic crisis that followed the pandemic, the cost of living that has increased, the impact of climate change.

“You can feel it through the wildfires, through the droughts. So, I think we need a stable government to lead the country during this period. And this deal with the NDP is offering that kind of stability.”

Dealing with the deficit

In the Trudeau government’s 2024 budget tabled in April by Liberal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, the federal deficit was projected to be $39.8 billion in 2024-25, and $38.9 billion in 2025-26, after which it would decline to $20 billion by 2028-29.

When asked how the Liberalsplan to pay for the massive amount of debt they have accumulated while in office for nearly a decade, Rodriguez noted that the official opposition Conservatives are demanding immediate spending reductions –although without specifying what they would cut.

“So, what we’re saying is, of course, that we’re going to reduce and put an end to the deficit, but not putting at risk the people that mostly need it, not having people really suffering, because the role of the government is to be there for those that need us,” said Rodriguez.

Still on side with Trudeau

Several days prior to the interview with Rodriguez, former Ottawa-area Liberal MP Catherine McKenna became the first ex-Trudeau cabinet minister to go on record stating she felt it was time for the Liberals to seek a new leader –although she also expressed support for Justin Trudeau’s accomplishments.

Rodriguez insisted he still strongly supports Justin Trudeau, noting that the Liberal prime minister “led us to three victories in the last three elections – which is huge, right? … and he has the strength and the energy to keep fighting. So, he will decide on what he wants to do. But I will follow him.”

Finally, Rodriguez, who was first elected in 2004, confirmed that he has already made up his mind to seek a seventh term as the MP for Honoré-Mercier. (He lost once, in 2011, to the NDP, when the party surged during the so-called Orange Crush.)

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Two youths injured in Cartier Metro knife attack

Two men in their early 20s suffered serious knife injuries on June 19 when they were attacked at the Cartier Metro stop in Laval.

The Laval Police received a call around 7:15 pm regarding an altercation involving several people at the Metro station, according to LPD community relations officer Stéphanie Beshara.

The two, aged 20 and 22, sustained serious but non-life-threatening knife wounds, requiring them to be transported by Urgences-Santé to hospital.

According to the LPD, no suspects were immediately arrested, although a security perimeter was put up around the crime scene to allow police to conduct an investigation of the circumstances.

No psych test for Armand-Frappier knife attack suspect

A suspect arrested following the murder in May in the Armand Frappier Woods of a Laval woman who was a real estate broker will not be undergoing a psychiatric evaluation.

A lawyer for Konstantinos Tsagaroulis, 20, did not request a psychiatric evaluation during an arraignment last Thursday at the Palais de Justice de Laval.

Last May 29, 46-year-old Irina Draghicescu, was stabbed dozens of time in the woods in Chomedey.

According to preliminary reports, Tsagaroulis didn’t know Draghicescu who was out taking a walk. Tsagaroulis’s next court date is in September.

LPD make three arrests over Desjardins online fraud

The Laval Police announced recently that they arrested three people in connection with a major data theft and $8.9-million fraud involving Caisses Desjardins, some five years after the alleged crime.

The LPD said one of the suspects was caught with a list of personal data for 1.6 million Quebecers.

The arrests are tied to a 2019 data theft, described as the largest ever in the Canadian financial services sector, targeting more than 9.7 million Desjardins clients in Canada and internationally, including almost seven million Quebecers.

Laval Police inspector Jean-François Rousselle said the suspects were allegedly able to use the stolen personal information to get access to the clients’ accounts through Accès D, the bank’s online banking platform.

The Laval Police said the suspects used the stolen data to commit fraud between September 2018 and January 2019.

Thirty-six-year-old Ayoub Kourdal and 33-year-old Imad Jbara were scheduled to appear in court, while a court date for a third suspect had not been set.

The Laval Police said they are still searching for a fourth suspect.

The leak was initially blamed on an employee of the Desjardins marketing team who was able to access confidential information, despite not having the clearance level to do so.

Serious car accident in Saint-François

On the night of June 3, the Laval Police, the Laval Fire Dept. and Urgences-Santé were called upon to respond to a major road accident in the Laval district of Saint-François.

For reasons not fully understood by accident investigators, two vehicles travelling in opposite directions along avenue Marcel-Villeneuve collided with what is estimated to have been a considerable high-speed impact.

According to the investigators’ initial analysis, one of the vehicles deviated from its lane and struck the other that was oncoming. Firefighters from the LFD used special tools to free at least one victim in one of the vehicles who was trapped.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre got a head-start last week campaigning in Quebec for the October 2025 federal election, with a well-attended launch event at a Jewish community centre in Montreal.

Addressing a packed auditorium of ardent Tory supporters, Poilièvre said a Conservative government would prioritize the housing crisis.

And given Justin Trudeau’s drastic drop in popularity according to the most recent opinion polls, Poilièvre laced into the Liberal Prime Minister – much to the delight of the highly partisan crowd.

Alluding to hateful rhetoric and recent antisemitic incidents outside Montreal-area Jewish schools and synagogues, Poilièvre said, “It wasn’t like this before Justin Trudeau.”

Tears into Justin Trudeau

Alternating between French and English as he spoke, he said, “Justin Trudeau with an extreme and radical ideology aims to divide us over race and religion and other issues.

“He tries to divide people over their wealth, their religion and their language. And he is a prime minister who has tried to divide people for nearly a decade … And why is he trying to divide people? Because he wants you to forget the problems he caused.”

On the issue of housing, Poilièvre maintained that rents in the Montreal region have tripled over the last nine years from an average $700 per month to more than $2,000 for a one-bedroom apartment.

“Now people are lining up around the streets to go to food banks,” he continued, adding that “one in four Canadians live in poverty, and the danger on our streets is seen everywhere.

‘Everything is broken’

“Children need to have police escorts to go to a daycare. Violence targeting our Jewish community – a community that lived in peace and tranquility here literally for well over a century next to neighbors who are of totally different religious and ethnic backgrounds.”

According to Poilièvre, after nine years of Trudeau, “everything is broken” and “crime, chaos, drugs and disorder rage out of control on our streets. People can’t afford the basics of life. He promised to help the middle class, but nine years later the middle class no longer exists.”

Regarding the government’s financial management, Poilièvre promised that, if elected, he would counter the effects of the Liberals’ free-spending and deficits with a “dollar for dollar” approach which would oblige federal ministries to match every dollar of spending with equivalent savings.

Spending ‘within our means’

“Our approach will be to spend within our means,” he said, comparing the Conservative way to how responsible households are usually managed.

“Just like that, we will force them to look for waste and mismanagement to optimize each dollar to make the same deals or trade-offs that single moms, small businesses and seniors make every single day.”

Among other things, Poilièvre also took swipes at Montreal mayor Valérie Plante, blaming excessive bureaucracy at the municipal level for blocking the construction of homes and driving up prices, while calling her “incompetent.”

“When I am prime minister, we will no longer take your money and give it to incompetent mayors,” he said. He said a Conservative government would oblige municipalities to allow 15 per cent more housing units to be built as a condition for their being able to receive federal funding.

Laval-Les Îles candidate Merakos

Following last week’s rally, Newsfirst Multimedia had a chance to speak with one of the hopefuls currently vying to be nominated as the Conservative Party’s candidate in the Laval riding of Laval-Les Îles.

“Democracy is the most powerful tool that humans have ever created,” said Konstantinos Merakos, a Laval resident and staff lawyer with the Montreal-based Bergman & Associates law practice.

“When people are going through difficult moments, whether financial or over human rights, they turn out to vote,” he added.

“So, I hope that when they are having difficulties and are seeing others suffering and the nation is divided, they will use their democratic right to voice their concerns and bring about change.”

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

More than 300 free activities to explore in Laval parks

The City invites the public to brighten up their summer by taking advantage of the wide range of outdoor activities offered free of charge in some twenty Laval parks starting June 29.

Once again this year, the highly diversified programming of Dehors ce été highlights culture, sports and recreation.

“We invite citizens to take advantage of the Outdoors outdoor offer this summer with family, friends or alone to enjoy a unifying entertainment experience near their homes. Taking advantage of the beautiful summer days and evenings to move, learn and enrich yourself, what a great idea!” said Nicholas Borne, member of the Executive Committee, Laval-les-Îles City Councillor and responsible for parks and neighbourhood life.

Have fun and move

Various sports and leisure activities are offered in partnership with Laval organizations: aerobic dance (zumba), soccer, fitness, yoga, dance, and more! Young and old alike will find their place among the variety of activities for all tastes and all levels.

Open-air family shows

In order to introduce toddlers and children aged five and over to the performing arts, an original theatrical program is offered to them. Among the shows, let’s highlight the new play Payzages, which is aimed at 18 months and over, and the two creations of the Théâtre à ciel ouvert, Nico l’unforgettable and Iris en été.

A program of circus shows for the whole family will also be presented in several parks and, among thisnumber, let’s mention Chouf le ciel, a high-flying Moroccan creation from the touring program of MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE. For optimal comfort, it is recommended to bring blankets and folding chairs during activities in the parks.

Stories in books and on the big screen

Thanks to the Reading Tents, the youngest (up to 5 years old) will be able to have stories told and even borrow books in order to continue reading their favorite at home. A break between two swims will be offered to children (up to 12 years old) during the Tales in Swimsuits, in some water games and neighborhood pools.

In addition, in some parks, the Bibliomobile will offer a relaxing reading area for the whole family as well as Mobile Storytelling activities for children. Finally, it will be possible to attend nearly 20 performances of good family films on the big screen, also in some parks, during the summer.

9th edition of the Musical Zones

Colourful experiences to punctuate your summer

“Let’s take advantage of the summer to rediscover the Musical Zones! A new experience awaits you every time thanks to the diversity of musical styles and locations in the four corners of the island.

This free event, which stands out for the quality and accessibility of its shows, ranging from the most intimate to larger-scale performances, invites you to memorable experiences in enchanting places close to home. It’s a date!” said Flavia Alexandra Novac, Municipal Councillor for Sainte-Rose and responsible for cultural issues.

8 zones throughout the territory

The shows of this 9^th edition, some of which will be accompanied by dancers, will be presented in 8 zones: Vieux-Sainte-Dorothée, Vieux-Sainte-Rose, Centre de la nature, berge aux Quatre-Vents, rue de l’Église in SaintFrançois, Bernard-Landry Park, Légaré Park as well as in the Montmorency sector, in the inner courtyard of the Maison des arts and at the Place publique of Place Bell (Momo cultural station).

In addition, two exclusive concerts by the Orchestre symphonique de Laval under the direction of guest conductor Mélanie Léonard will be held at Bernard-Landry Park.

On August 13, a family concert created especially for young and old will recall the heroes and heroines of popular cinema, while on August 14, a second major concert will take the audience on a journey into the world of classic works inspired by heroism over time. Several amenities and facilities will be available on site.

In addition, on some sites, a food and bar offer will be offered and pre-show entertainment will be presented. This will be the perfect opportunity to enjoy the beautiful season, arriving early to picnic and bask in the sun or to go for a bike ride. Discover all the programming online at zonesmusicales.laval.ca

Six awards for « Tout doux dans nos rues » campaign

Recently, the City of Laval’s Communications and Marketing Department team, won a total of six industry awards highlighting the quality and creativity of the “Tout doux dans nos rues” campaign.

It was at the Plumes d’excellence of the Association des communicateurs municipaux du Québec (ACMQ), then at the Idéa competition propelled by the Association of Creative Communication Agencies (A2C) in collaboration with the Société des designers graphiques du Québec (SDGQ).

This unique campaign first won the Plume d’Or in the Behavioural Campaign/Awareness category at the Plumes d’excellence gala, presented on June 6. This ACMQ award recognizes the professionalism of municipal communications specialists and highlights the most remarkable achievements.

At the awards ceremony of the Idéa competition on June 13, which celebrates the best of creative communication in Quebec every year, “Tout doux dans nos rues” won a Gold Award in the Music category. The campaign also won four other awards, including Silver Awards for Achievement – Branded Video Content, Integrated Campaign under $250,000 and Branded Video Content – Public Service, as well as a Bronze Award for Branded Audio Content.

Laval Mayor Stéphane Boyer, was very happy of the awarded campaign. “These awards are a clear testament to the effectiveness and creativity deployed in the “Tout doux dans nos rues” campaign by the Communications and Marketing team,” he said.

“This exceptional campaign was able to mobilize the Laval community and strengthen the sense of solidarity in the neighbourhoods, of which we are extremely proud. I would also like to express my gratitude to the various departments that contributed to the success of this initiative through their valuable collaboration.”

The campaign focused on reduced speed limits and other measures to improve safety and road sharing in Laval. With “Tout doux dans nos rues”, Laval has reinvented road safety awareness by relying on a disruptive approach and popular culture to improve the daily life of the community. It should be noted that this campaign included, among other things, an original song by Claude Bégin, a video and awareness posters that the population was invited to put up on residential lots.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In the lingering aftermath of a shooting incident in November 2022 at Collège Montmorency which led to a day-long lockdown at the CEGEP, the City of Laval last week unveiled a new multi-faceted strategy for ensuring security and well-being in Laval – with a significant focus on young adults and youths.

Laval’s Plan stratégique Sécurité et bien-être collectif (Strategic security and well-being plan) will act as a framework to be gradually implemented over the next 10 years.

A preventive action plan

Based on the premise that social, economic, domestic and personal experiences often play a key role in determining whether a young person turns violent or becomes delinquent, the strategy places emphasis on persons from 12 to 35 years of age.

Although it was probably the most troubling crime-related incident in Laval in recent years, the Collège Montmorency shooting was not by any means an isolated happening.

Since at least early 2020 when the Covid pandemic first set in, the number of shootings and firearms-related incidents in Laval – involving younger people for the most part – skyrocketed.

Rising crime levels

According to statistics furnished by the city last week during a technical briefing held at the de l’Avenir Blvd. college campus, from 2019 to 2021 Laval saw an increase in juvenile criminality and violent acts, two-thirds of which involved suspects between the ages of 17 and 21.

Some shorter-term strategies the city implemented in response, with financial help from the Quebec government, appear to have brought the situation under control – at least for the time being. What the city is aiming for now is a much longer-term fix for the problem. This latest strategy will serve as a framework for a range of smaller programs, according to the city.

80 groups involved

In a revitalized effort to keep violent acts and gun-related crimes under control, the city has enlisted the active support of some 80 local community organizations that share a stake in the outcome. They are involved in education, mental and physical health, substance abuse rehabilitation, as well as ethnic and multicultural integration.

Although specifics for the plan appear to be far from finalized at this point, the city says that more than a dozen meetings between officials in City of Laval departments have already taken place, as well as a half-dozen meetings between members of a steering committee made up of leaders from 16 partner groups.

As for who is going to pay for it all, the Quebec Ministry of Public Security has agreed to pony up with $4.6 million, a significant amount of which will be originating from the federal government’s Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF).

Quebec’s financial support

Quebec’s front-and-centre role in providing financial support was emphasized by the fact that CAQ MNA for Vimont Valérie Schmaltz was cued to deliver remarks first during the city’s press conference, before Mayor Stéphane Boyer or Laval Police Dept. chief Pierre Brochet spoke.

“Today we are ramping up our efforts in order to respond directly to the needs of young people in Laval 12 to 35 years of age, and to invest in the long term in resources in all the neighbourhoods to be able to maintain a city that is secure for everyone,” said Boyer.

“With the valuable cooperation of more than 80 partners, we are bringing together all our strengths to follow and influence the trajectories of youths who are at-risk for social breakdown or for becoming involved in delinquent behaviours,” he continued. “This historic partnership in Laval that we are building together will lead to a city that is stronger, more secure and more agreeable.”

A concerted effort

“The coming into being of this strategic plan demonstrates the power of the collaborative work done with our partners for the security and well-being of the population,” said Brochet.

“All the players who are involved have expertise and an approach that complements one another. Our police service is treating urban violence as an organizational priority, and we are stating once again out commitment to making all possible efforts to contribute to maintaining a sense of peace among all our citizens, while offering Laval’s youths avenues to be able to turn their backs on crime.”

Braking crime in Chomedey

Chomedey Liberal MNA Sona Lakhoyan Olivier, who has expressed deep concerns about rising crime levels in her riding, told The Laval News she was pleased with the city’s efforts, although “we should have done this a couple of years ago,” she added.

“I’m worried about Chomedey. We have beautiful spaces, but crime’s really coming up, and this is something important that’s finally being done. I just hope Chomedey isn’t left out because Laval is big. Hopefully we are not left out.”

Action Laval, one of the city’s two opposition parties, also had a mixed reaction. While a spokesperson said the party membership was pleased that something was finally being done, he suggested it was overdue and they were waiting for further developments.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Two 80-plus seniors found dead in Sainte-Dorothée

The Laval Police have opened an investigation file after a man and a woman, both in their 80s, were found dead in their Sainte-Dorothée home last week.

The LPD responded to the home on Maisonneuve St. after an acquaintance expressed concern about not hearing from them.

The LPD’s crimes against the person unit found the two and concluded they were lifeless. The police were unable to immediately state whether the deaths were related to criminal activity.

LPD seek help identifying armed theft suspect

Investigators with the Laval Police are looking for help from members of the public in order to help identify a suspect in an armed robbery at a Laval retail store.

Last Feb. 14, the male suspect entered a big box hardware store in Chomedey where he attempted to steal an item.

When leaving the store, he sprayed an employee with pepper spray after the employee tried to stop the suspect. Although the suspect fled, he left behind the item he meant to steal.

Description of the suspect :

• Black male, mid-20s in age;
• Height: 5’8’’;
• Was wearing a black coat, a blue hoodie, dark pants, blue shoes with white soles, and a Nike backpack.

Anyone who thinks they may have useful information is asked to call the LPD’s Info-Police line at 450-662-INFO (4636), or 9-1-1. The file number is LVL-240214-084.

Suspect to be charged following death of real estate agent in Armand Frappier Woods

A 20-year-old male suspect is being charged with first-degree murder after a 46-year-old woman who was a real estate agent was attacked in the Armand Frapppier Woods in eastern Chomedey on the night of Wednesday May 29.

The victim, identified as Irina Draghicescu Iankulov, was an agent with Groupe Sutton Excellence for the past 15 years, according to news sources.

On Wednesday evening last week, a caller to 9-1-1 reported reported the presence of a seriously injured woman in the woods, which are popular among walkers and hikers.

LPD officers who found the victim attempted to revive her, but she was declared dead at the scene.

Police located and ended up arresting the suspect, said to be a resident of Laval, while he was reportedly attempting to break into an apartment not far from there.

LPD arrest alleged sexual offender, search on for other victims

The Laval Police say that a man they recently arrested for sexual assault may have had other victims.

They are urging anyone who believes they might also have been victimized to file a criminal complaint.

The suspect, Jayden Distexhe, age 27, was arrested in relation to the alleged sexual assault of a man in Chomedey on May 8.

According to an LPD press release, Distexhe is homeless, but was known to regularly frequent certain places in Chomedey.

“Investigators have reason to believe that he may have had other victims, and we would like to make contact with them,” stated the release.

Distexhe is facing one charge of sexual assault and remains in custody. He is due back in court on June 18.

Anyone with information is asked to call the LPD’s confidential info-crime phone line at 450-662-4636.

Laval’s Palais de Justice among Quebec courthouses to get security upgrades

The Palais de Justice on Saint-Martin Blvd. in Laval is one of several courthouses across the province that will see their security systems upgraded thanks to a $31 million investment the Quebec government has announced.

According to details disclosed by Quebec Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette and Public Security Minister François Bonnardel, $23.4 million will be spent to train and hire more special constables, while $7.6 million will go towards modernizing security equipment.

Apart from the Palais de Justice in Laval, courthouses in Longueuil, Saint-Jérôme, Quebec City, Joliette, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Chicoutimi, Sherbrooke and Gatineau will also received security improvements.

The action is being taken after a knife attack in January that seriously injured an interpreter at the Longueuil courthouse, as well as an assault incident involving a youth protection worker at the Sherbrooke courthouse.

The deployment of the new equipment, which includes courthouse entrance security arches, is scheduled to take place beginning this month until September 2025.

All eyes were on Denis Coderre in Laval last week – despite low poll results

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

With former Montreal mayor Denis Coderre soon to announce whether he’ll be running for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party, some prominent PLQers were tight-lipped during a social gathering in Laval last week, when they were asked which way they’re leaning at this early stage of the leadership race.

The cocktail fundraiser at the Château Royal in Chomedey, held for the PLQ’s six riding associations in the Laval region, drew 130 supporters.

PLQ last two Laval seats

The Quebec Liberals, who at one time held all six of Laval’s Quebec National Assembly seats, were decimated in the 2022 election by the Coalition Avenir Québec.

Only Virginie Dufour and Sona Lakhoyan Olivier managed to hold onto the ridings of Mille-Îles and Chomedey respectively for the Liberals. However, in spite of their record-low showings in recent political opinion polls, the Quebec Liberals are still the official opposition in the provincial parliament.

Poll favours Marc Tanguay

According to a Léger-TVA-Journal de Montréal poll that was released a few days after the Laval gathering, the frontrunner for the PLQ leadership is interim-leader Marc Tanguay – who has previously stated he doesn’t want the job.

Ironically, Coderre, who was basking discreetly in the limelight for much of the evening, owing to his prominent profile as a former federal Liberal cabinet minister, suffered a precipitous drop in the poll. Coderre received just 12 per cent support, a staggering 18 points behind Tanguay.

Will announce on June 21

In spite of his usually gregarious nature, Coderre has managed to remain coy over whether he will actually run for the PLQ’s top position. Although Coderre told reporters recently that he has made up his mind, he will only reveal his decision after returning from a trip to Europe. He wasn’t any more forthcoming during the event in Laval, saying only that he’d be making a major statement on June 21.

“This is a good start,” Chomedey Liberal MNA Sona Lakhoyan Olivier said in an interview with The Laval News, while maintaining the gathering was a sign of a resurgence in the PLQ’s fortunes. “I feel there’s this energy. We’re working very hard at the National Assembly and it’s showing results.” She predicted a Liberal win in the 2026 Quebec provincial elections.

Spotlight’s on Coderre

Regarding Coderre, she acknowledged he “does grab attention” because “he has no many years in politics,” so, “of course it’s only natural he would be interested” in the Quebec Liberal leadership. But other than that, she wasn’t taking any position, noting there’s a long time to go before the formal leadership selection process begins.

Virginie Dufour said she too had almost nothing to say, at least for the time being, on potential PLQ leadership candidates. She said she wanted to see “the whole menu” before speaking. “Officially, nobody has announced their candidacy – not even Denis Coderre,” she said.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Just as the CEO of Quebec’s largest home-grown telecommunications and media company has come to be known by the three initials of his name, the City of Laval’s Grande Fête des pompiers now stands abbreviated in many Laval residents’ minds simply as GFPL.

Exciting fire trucks

After being staged for many years at the Centropolis mall, the annual Firemen’s Festival took place for the second time on June 1-2 on the outdoor grounds at Collège Montmorency in Laval’s downtown sector.

The ever-popular parade of fire trucks, with sirens and warning signals screaming, took place Saturday morning. Starting around 9:30 am, they made their way from Laval’s industrial park, towards the rendez-vous point at the Centropolis by around 10:30.

A learning experience

Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 am to 4 pm, the festival site was filled with a range of activities, including educational kiosks on fire prevention and safety, a car accident simulation, firefighter museum artefacts, fire truck displays and more.

There were even demonstrations of cooking by some of the more kitchen-savvy firefighters, whose sense of haute-cuisine has become well-developed from years of preparing hearty meals in the firehouse kitchen while waiting for emergency calls to come in.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In a rare instance of unity, House of Commons MPs as well as National Assembly MNAs were outraged last week by comments by Alfred-Pellan backbench Liberal MP Angelo Iacono that Quebec would have a lot to gain from becoming officially bilingual, rather than having only French as an official language as is now the case.

Iacono made the comments during a meeting of the Commons’ Permanent Committee on Official Languages.

“I believe that Quebec, and I believe that Canada, should be a bilingual country, to be stronger and not just be a unilingual French-speaking province,” Iacono said.

Undoing some damage

This happened as the Liberals were trying to repair earlier damage after eastern Ontario Liberal MP Francis Drouin got into an ugly exchange in the same committee in early May with other MPs over official language status.

Among other things, Iacono related that he began his grade school education in English because, he contended, native French-speaking Quebecers felt threatened by Italians.

As well, he said that after studying political science at McGill University, he chose to study law at one of Quebec’s most identifiably French universities, Université du Québec à Montréal, where he succeeded in being integrated into Quebec’s francophone culture.

Liberals on language issues

Among those who reacted during question period in the House of Commons were Bloc MP for Manicouagan Marilène Gill. She, as well as other MPs, suggested there’s a problem within the Liberal Party when it comes to language issues.

Other MPs who also weighed in were Conservative Luc Berthold of Mégantic-L’Érable, and Marie-France Lalonde of Orléans who is a Liberal. She defended her party’s bilingualism policies in comparison to those espoused by the Conservatives.

Libman weighed in

In Montreal, Robert Libman, founder of the defunct provincial Equality Party, who writes a well-read weekly political column in The Gazette, was among the few wags to take sides with Iacono, calling a unanimous National Assembly move to censure Iacono “appalling and predictable.”

“Bilingualism can be a dirty word, only in Quebec,” he said, adding that “it is politically incorrect to dare suggest Quebec society could benefit from being anything other than an officially unilingual French society.”

Challenging the orthodoxy

As Libman noted, a motion tabled by Quebec’s French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge was supported by all party members in the assembly. They unanimously voted to “vigorously reject statements that Quebec would be stronger if it were an officially bilingual state.”

Libman contended that “it is dynamite in Quebec to challenge the political orthodoxy the province must be French only. Quebec intellectuals will argue personal bilingualism may be an asset, but when it comes to the state, French must be the only official language as a means to preserve and protect it against the tentacles of English.”

To be politically incorrect

“Putting aside the substance of that argument, it is the circling of the wagons by all parties in the National Assembly — the outrage, the demonizing of those who question the orthodoxy — that I often find troubling,” he continued, while noting that Iacono was expressing “a personal, but politically incorrect opinion.”

Libman pointed out that St-Laurent Liberal MP Emmanuella Lambropoulos “was similarly pilloried recently, even from within her own party, when she — very carefully and timidly — phrased a question seeking proof of the decline of French in Quebec.”

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Although Canadians aren’t expected to head to the polls until October next year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave a preview in Laval recently of some of the rhetoric that might be expected before then.

He was at the Château Royal in Chomedey on May 29 as the featured speaker of a Liberal Party of Canada fundraiser organized by Laval-Les Îles MP Fayçal El-Khoury.

According to a CTV News Ottawa bureau report in January, the Liberals were starting off the year well behind the Conservative Party of Canada in terms of fundraising.

Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives had a record-setting fundraising year in 2023 – raising $35.2 million, according to the network – while the Liberals raised $15.6 million in donations during the same period.

Political style consistent

While Trudeau’s popularity with Quebecers and Canadians has dropped considerably since 2015 when he first became prime minister, his campaigning style has changed surprisingly little since then.

As always, he projects a generally unflustered disposition that manages to deflect even the harshest criticism, while continuing to bask in a somewhat diminished aura of stardom on the country’s central political stage.

Trudeau’s longstanding penchant for being photographed with admirers was again on display.

Those attending the Château Royal event were invited after he had spoken to mount the stage in order to have their picture taken with the PM by a professional photographer. Cell phone selfies were specifically ruled out.

Parity and diversity

Introducing the prime minister to a predominantly male audience dressed in business suits, El-Khoury, who has won three elections in Laval-Les Îles since 2015 with very comfortable results, described Trudeau as a leader who supports gender parity and cultural diversity.

“We care about every single Canadian,” he said, referring to the Liberals. “We don’t care about the colour of his skin, or the country he comes from, or the faith he believes.”

Trudeau reacted to Conservative leader Poilièvre’s assertions that the Liberals have overspent

He described Trudeau as a leader who embraces the view that “a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian” and as someone who seeks to “make Canada the best place in the world, the best place to live.”

Brushes off Poilièvre remarks

Trudeau reacted directly to Conservative leader Poilièvre’s frequent assertions that the Liberal government has overspent during the nine years it has been in office and that the Conservatives would implement more austerity.

“We have the lowest deficit in the G7,” he maintained, while noting that Canada is rated by international bankers as having one of the strongest-performing economies in the world.

He alluded to reactionary regimes in various countries, “where people are quick to amplify, to increase divisions and frustration, to highlight differences in the hopes of getting a little more political advantage.”

Social media dangers

Trudeau called this kind of situation “particularly dangerous in a country like Canada where our differences have always been a source of strength.”

Commenting on the negative effects of social media, he suggested that people have stopped listening to each other and learning from each other largely because of social media’s impact.

“And that’s something that’s dangerous, not just for Canada and for this extraordinary diverse and rich society we’ve built, but it’s dangerous for democracy,” said Trudeau.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In the face of the major crisis facing the Quebec media, the City of Laval is proud to announce one-time financial assistance for local Laval media. The objective of this support is to ensure the sustainability of the service offer of these players, who are essential to the influence of our community and the health of our democracy.

Laval Mayor Stéphane Boyer mentioned that “Laval’s media are essential vectors of the cultural, democratic and economic vitality of our community. Their fundamental presence and influence ensure a richness and diversity of opinions that promote varied and accessible points of view that represent the reality of our region with professionalism. We are confident that our support, a response to the needs that have been expressed to us, will help them face the important challenges affecting their industry and pursue their mission to inform the community on issues that concern them.”

Concerted one-off aid

This one-time support for Laval’s local media proposes concrete actions and mitigation measures to maintain a dynamic presence of local media headquartered in Laval. Among others the beneficiaries will be the Courrier Laval, and The Laval News. Financial assistance is divided into three areas of intervention: dissemination and distribution, financing, and promotion of content.

The City is committed to supporting projects to transform or digitally improve these media through a maximum of $50,000 in non-repayable financial assistance. This assistance, conditional on compliance with several terms and conditions, will be administered by Laval Économique. This one-off bonus will be allocated according to the circulation of the media and its periodicity.

Also, starting in the fall, the City will increase its advertising placements in the previously identified media by 37%. Finally, the support also aims to set up accessible drop-off points for these media in certain municipal buildings so that they can distribute their printed copies. Thus, displays will be gradually deployed within the City’s facilities, which will increase the reach of the targeted media, without increasing the inherent and operational costs.

The Arts and the City Awards

The City of Laval wins the Culture and Development Award for Zoom Art

Zoom Art For its project Zoom Art – When contemporary art takes the place of advertising, the City of Laval was awarded the Culture and Development Award at the Les Arts et la Ville Awards ceremony held on June 5 in Repentigny. This significant recognition is accompanied by the handing over of outdoor cultural display furniture, graciously offered by Artpublix.

A signature event produced by the City of Laval since 2020, the winning Zoom Art project invites the discovery of contemporary art through the insertion of images of works in advertising spaces along the streets, in bus shelters and on large-format billboards. The secret recipe of the project lies in the selection of images of impactful works, in the diversion of strategies used in advertising marketing and by the accompaniment of catchy texts.

“This project is a testament to the City’s desire to take the visual arts to another level. These artistic oases lead citizens to reflect, escape and feel different emotions in their daily journeys on foot, by bike, by bus or by car. It is an essential tool for the democratization of art; An aspect that was also highlighted by the jury,” said Flavia Alexandra Novac, City Councillor responsible for Culture.

To date, Laval residents have had the chance to discover, thanks to Zoom Art, more than fifty contemporary artists from Laval, Quebec and the rest of Canada. Each year, the curated approach by theme has created an effect of distinction and cohesion: Laval Artists (2020), Magic Realism (2021), Being Together (2022), Secret Nature (2023) and Stardust (2024). Zoom Art allows you to develop, outside the walls of institutions, a curiosity and interest in contemporary art among a wide audience. Note that the next edition will be held from September 22 to October 13, 2024.

The City of Laval, host city of the Les Arts et la Ville forum in May 2025

Motivated by its desire to position itself in the network of hosting major national and international cultural events, the City of Laval is pleased to have been selected to act as the host city of the36th annual forum of the national network Les Arts et la Ville in 2025.

The event, organized each year in a different municipality, will offer an extensive program including conferences, panels and workshops, a program highlighting Laval’s cultural vitality and the Arts and the City Awards evening.

In addition to the economic spinoffs generated by the 300 or so delegates from across Quebec and the Canadian Francophonie, this is an opportunity for Laval to shine as a major cultural city on the national level, in parallel with the festivities of Laval’s 60th anniversary. The host city will also be able to strengthen its leadership and its role in influencing Quebec municipalities in recognizing the transversal nature of culture, as well as the social, economic and ecological dimensions.

In addition, hosting the Les Arts et la Ville forum will allow Laval to discuss the essential issues that affect the sustainable development of living environments and the territory, while highlighting the investments and efforts that have been made in culture in recent years. About the Arts and The City Awards The Arts and the City Awards aim to encourage the cultural vitality of communities and promote good practices in this area.

They express recognition of the commitment of the driving forces of the communities to make culture a vector of sustainable development. They contribute to the realization of cultural projects that play an active role in the continuous improvement of the quality of life of citizens. It is an initiative of Les Arts et La Ville, the network for arts and culture in our communities.

Drowning prevention

Laval will offer free swimming lessons to young people in its territory

Following a unanimous vote at the City Council meeting, the City of Laval will offer free swimming lessons to Laval youth as part of the summer aquatic activity program. The objective of this new measure is to promote the safety of everyone around bodies of water.

“We all know that prevention remains the best way to avoid drowning. The data speaks for itself: in Quebec, during the summer months, every day, a child is in the emergency room in connection with a drowning. The City is therefore taking the initiative to offer these free courses to young people in the territory to do its part to reverse this situation,” said Stéphane Boyer, Mayor of Laval.

“I invite parents not to hesitate to enroll their child in these free classes. Our teams are ready to welcome them to municipal swimming pools. I would also like to take this opportunity to remind the older ones that the lifeguard and swimming instructor certification courses are also free of charge! See you on June 12, at noon,” said Nicolas Borne, municipal councillor of Laval-les-Îles andresponsible for sports and recreation.

Specifically, it will be through a pilot project that the Lifesaving Society’s introductory swimming courses (Preschool 1 and Swimmer 1) will be free for children aged 3 to 12 this summer. The program will be offered over a period of 4 weeks in outdoor municipal pools and over a period of 8 weeks in an indoor pool, free of charge.

Citizens will be able to register for these courses in the summer program starting June 12, at noon, at piscines.laval.ca, under the heading Aquatic Activity Registration. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Note that advanced training leading to the lifeguard and swimming instructor certificate is also free. A complete range of affordable aquatic activities including swimming, lifesaving initiation and fitness lessons will also be offered to Laval residents in municipal pools this summer.

The Laval Firefighters’ Race

Record participation and major donation at the 2024 edition

For its 12th edition, the Laval Firefighters’ Race recorded a record number of registrations as more than 9,100 runners of all ages and levels participated in the event. This is an increase of 2,500 people compared to last year.

The participants of the race raised more than $61,000 for the Quebec Firefighters Foundation for Burn Victims (FPQGB), a significant amount to which the profits of the event will be added in the coming days. All the races culminated in the finish line located in the heart of the Grande Fête des pompiers de Laval, where a festive and educational experience awaited young and old alike throughout the weekend.

In the marathon, Shazan Lefebvre won first place in the men’s race with an impressive time of 2:44:15. Florence Thibodeau was the first woman to cross the finish line after running the distance in just 3:10:56. In the half-marathon, Nicolas Riopel and Joëlle White climbed to the top step of the podium. The event also included 10K, 5K, 2K, and 1K races. To view all the results, go to the Firefighters’ Race website in the Results section.

Mission accomplished for the 100km and the Relais des pompiers

On this fiery day, Laval ultra-marathoner Manuel Cabral, one of the Race’s ambassadors, completed a 100 km run. Her titanic effort has raised more than $5,500 in donations for the Quebec Firefighters Foundation for Burn Victims (FPQGB).

As for the team of 60 firefighters from across Quebec to participate in a 300 km relay between Quebec City and Laval, they met their challenge by running the distance in just over 60 hours despite the weekend’s high temperatures.

Participants completed an individual 5 km course in their full combat gear (weighing up to more than 50 lbs) to raise more than $71,000 for the FPQGB. Alexis Dufour, a firefighter with the Laval Fire Department (SSIL) and world record holder for the fastest half-marathon in a full firefighter’s suit achieved in 2023.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Three years after leaving municipal politics, former Laval mayor Marc Demers was back in the spotlight earlier this month when the Laval chapter of the Société nationale du Québec presented him with the Médaille du Patriote in recognition of his promotion of the language, culture, heritage and history of Québec

The presentation took place on the front steps of Église Sainte-Rose-de-Lima in Laval’s historic Sainte-Rose district on May 20, the Journée nationale des Patriotes (National Patriots’ Day).

Uprising of ‘Patriotes’

Once a distinct village with its own municipal status before the 1965 mergers that created the City of Laval, Sainte-Rose was one of the places in early 19^th century Lower Canada (nearby Sainte-Eustache being another) where the Lower Canada Rebellion received significant support from “patriotes” who decided to rise against the British colonial-era government.

While some visitors to Sainte-Rose occasionally mistake some of Sainte-Rose’s distinctive street names (such as boulevard Je-Me-Souviens and Rue des Patriotes) as evidence of active Quebec political nationalism in the area, they are in fact an homage to Sainte-Rose’s historic role in the Lower Canada Rebellion – which remains a source of great pride for many of the local residents.

Sabotage in Sainte-Rose

According to an account of the role played by rebel sympathizers in Sainte-Rose around the beginning of the uprising in November 1837, they didn’t take up arms. Rather, they did their bit by sabotaging a bridge (the Pont Porteous) between Sainte-Rose and the North Shore, to slow the advance of British soldiers who were on their way to quell the armed insurrection that was underway in Saint Eustache.

In addition to the medallion presented to Demers (a former longtime Laval Police Dept. investigator), a plaque was presented to Annie Desrochers, host of the Radio-Canada’s afternoon FM broadcast, Le 15-18, which airs Monday to Friday from 3 to 6 pm, in recognition of her valuable contributions to the community. She recounted how she grew up in Sainte-Rose, taking part in local events and attending École Latour in the heart of Sainte-Rose.

Tri-color Patriots’ banner

Past recipients of medallions and other honours awarded by the Laval chapter of the Société nationale du Québec have included Jean-François Payette (2019), Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral (2021), Claude Tousignant (2022), Maud Debien (and Léon Debien posthumously) (2023), and Alberto Georgian Mihut (2023).

During the ceremony, it was pointed out that the tri-color flag of the Rebellion, which was also used by the Parti patriote (also called Parti canadien), contains bars of green (for the Irish), white (the French) and red (signifying English and Scottish support).

The Parti patriote was founded by expatriate American James Stuart and Louis-Joseph Papineau, a leading figure in the Patriote movement before the Lower Canada Rebellion.

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A provincially-constituted commission with a mandate to uphold Quebecers’ human rights concludes in a memorandum that Bill 56, now before the National Assembly, will not provide adequate protection to women and children involved in common law relationships – although they say it is a step in the right direction.

Common law recognition

In the memo, tabled during recent public hearings for Bill 56 in Quebec City, the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse said the legislation to reform the province’s family law system “represents a first step towards the recognition of the implications of domestic partnership in family law.”

“However, the Commission notes that the parental union regime would be offering insufficient protections to attenuate the economic impacts of separation for common law mothers, to the detriment of their rights and those of their children,” the commission says in a statement.

Moms and kids at risk

“Common law mothers are significantly more at risk of impoverishment following a separation and this has an impact on the respect of the rights of children,” said Myrlande Pierre, the commission’s vice-president for Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms issues.

“It is necessary to ensure that that the separations of common law parents do not amplify inequalities between men and women, while harming the capacity of mothers to give their children the protection, security and attention to which they have a right,” she added.

A major sticking point

According to the commission, one of the problems they take issue with in Bill 56 is the fact the proposed family law reform will only take into account couples whose children were born or adopted after June 29, 2025.

“An important portion of the mothers and children in Quebec would never benefit from the new regime,” the commission continues in its statement, while adding that for more than 20 or so years, the majority of births in Quebec have involved mothers in common law relationships. In 2021, they maintain, 59 per cent of babies were born in common law, 34 per cent to married mothers, and 7 per cent to mothers without a partner.

Children first, they say

Again, according to the commission, new elements brought into Bill 56 should apply to all common law couples who have at least one child. “The well-being of children should be the primary consideration in all decisions that concern them, including the elaboration of the legislation,” added Suzanne Arpin, vice-president at the commission for youth issues.

The commission points out that the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms states clearly that all children have a right to “protection, security and the attention that their parents or persons acting on their behalf may give them.” Hence, according to the commission, the exercise of this right should not be affected by the conjugal status of parents.

Parental status sought

The commission is therefore recommending that parental union status should be granted equivalence to the status provided for married persons as well as those in civil union. They are also recommending that a provision for payment of nutritional support between former parental partners be included in Bill 56 for common law status, just as it is currently for civil unions and marriages.

The memorandum on Bill 56 tabled by the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse with the Quebec National Assembly’s Commission on Institutions, pertaining to reform of family law and parental responsibilities, is available online at: cdpdj.qc.ca/fr/publications/PL56-droit-famille

A multi-faceted mission

The Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse is independent from the Quebec governement. According to a statement on the commission’s website, it fulfills its mission “for the sole benefit of citizens and in the public interest.” The Commission’s mission also includes the following responsibilities:

• Inform the public about rights recognized by the Charter, the Youth Protection Act and Youth Criminal Justice Act;
• Carry out investigations in cases of discrimination and exploitation (under the Charter) and in cases of violations of children and youth rights (under the YPA or the YCJA);
• Make recommendations to the Quebec government regarding conformity of laws with the Charter and regarding any issue related to rights and freedoms and youth protection;
• Undertake and promote research and publications on fundamental rights and freedoms and on children right;
• Offer an advisory service on reasonable accommodation to employers and decision-makers;
• Monitors the application of equal access to employment programs;
• Cooperate with any organization, dedicated to the promotion of human rights and freedoms, in or outside Québec.