Published January 23, 2025

Martin C. Barry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

As part of The Laval News’s ongoing look back at news and events that took place in our area in 2024, we continue with a summary of September and October last year.

September

Vimy Liberal MP Annie Koutrakis’ summer BBQ

More than 800 guests – most of them constituents in Vimy MP Annie Koutrakis’s riding – chowed down on hot dogs, salad and other outdoor BBQ delights on the afternoon of Sunday Sept. 1 in Laval-des-Rapides’ Bernard Landry Park.

Although it was Koutrakis’s first annual BBQ since first being elected in 2019, she pledged it would be far from the last. “We plan to have this event every year,” she said in an interview with The Laval News.

Burglars snatch high-end clothing at kidswear store

The Laval Police were trying to identify several suspects who took part in a brazen early morning burglary at a designer children’s wear boutique near the Carrefour Laval mall.

According to initial reports, the perpetrators were able to get into the outlet through a commercial address next to the Kid Biz store.

They apparently broke through a wall between the two businesses, through which they managed to get into the high-end children’s clothing retailer around 1:40 am. The store is known for selling designer kids’ apparel and accessories, retailing in some cases for more than $1,000.

Quebec backs Laval’s bid for Carré Laval mixed use project

With a little seed money from Quebec Premier François Legault’s government, the City of Laval was set to transform another expanse of its vast but still largely underused downtown core into a new and sustainably-planned neighborhood, where residential, commercial and light industry are expected to flourish.

Flanked by Sainte-Rose MNA Christopher Skeete (right) and Carré Laval project head Élizabeth Muir Lepage, Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer points at a graphic of the planned Carré Laval project during an official announcement. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)

The Carré Laval project will be taking place over a span of 20 years on a more than 40-hectare site that is probably familiar to many if not most Laval residents – the large mostly vacant square of land at the southwest-side intersection of Autoroute 15 and Saint-Martin Blvd.

“The vision for the development of Carré Laval prioritizes quality of life, innovation and sustainability,” Mayor Boyer said during an official launch. He said “Carré Laval will become the nerve centre that establishes the identity of Laval residents and that attracts people from everywhere.”

FILIA Association for Seniors holds Walk a Thon in Chomedey

Smart-looking caps and t-shirts bearing the distinctive ‘FILIA’ logo breathed an air of hope and renewal into last year’s FILIA Walk a Thon, an increasingly popular autumn ritual and tradition in Laval’s Chomedey neighborhood.

The 18th annual Walk a Thon on Sept. 16 drew a loyal following of FILIA supporters, as well as local elected officials who have provided help to the organization over the years.

October

Trudeau on Russia/Ukraine ‘unthinking’ and ‘dangerous,’ said Mulcair

Former Chomedey MNA Tom Mulcair told a gathering of lawyers and law students at Concordia University that Justin Trudeau’s suggestion to world leaders – that they arm Ukraine with missiles to penetrate deep into Russia – was “as unthinking as it is dangerous.”

“I don’t take it seriously when Mr. Trudeau says he doesn’t see any problem with Ukraine using NATO weapons to fire deep into Russia. I just find it so incredibly irresponsible,” said Mulcair, also a former leader of the New Democratic Party.

Indo-Canadians celebrated their country’s 78th year of independence

As reported in the Laval News’s October 9 issue, a good number of Laval and Montreal residents of Indian-Canadian heritage were joined by elected officials from the City of Montreal for a celebration in Laval of the 78th anniversary of the Republic of India’s independence.

The gathering, sponsored by the India-Canada Association of Montreal (ICAM), was a mostly apolitical salute to India’s cultural strength.

A trio of elected officials from the City of Montreal (Park Extension city councillor Mary Deros, St. Laurent Borough Mayor Alan DeSousa and St. Laurent councillor Aref Salem, who is interim-leader of the Montreal city council opposition Ensemble Montréal party) were among the evening’s guests.

Pink in the City’s ‘Magic of Hope’ raised $325,000 for breast cancer

How do you keep hope alive? For 600 supporters of the Pink in the City breast cancer foundation, last year’s Magic of Hope gala was all about creating and maintaining hope – even in the face of cancer.

Nearly 600 guests turned out at the Château Royal in Chomedey to have a little fun, enjoy a gourmet meal, listen and dance to some exciting music, and answer the call to help raise an anticipated $325,000 for the benefit of patients at the McGill University Health Centre’s Breast Center.

Three out of four Laval Liberal MPs running in next election

Saying they had every intention of running in the next federal election, two of the Laval region’s four Liberal Members of Parliament said in an interview with The Laval News that Canadians could actually be heading back to the polls much sooner – as early as January possibly.

“For me, my answer is it’s possible,” Laval-Les Îles Liberal MP Fayçal El-Khoury replied when the question of an early election was put to him. “I think so, too,” Vimy Liberal MP Annie Koutrakis responded, although she was more nuanced in her response.

A third Liberal MP, Angelo Iacono of the Alfred-Pellan riding, confirmed to The Laval News that he would also be running in the next election.

LPD arrests jewellery store robber wanted for six heists

The Laval Police confirmed that an appeal to members of the public to help identify a suspect being sought following a Chomedey jewellery store robbery over the summer of 2024 led finally to his arrest.

The suspect, Alain Bernecky Jr., age 45, faced two charges of theft over $5,000. In the robbery committed in Laval, he made off with a rack of 20 gold chains with a value of $800 – $1,000 each.

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