After 30 years, THE LAVAL NEWS has ended its door-to-door distribution.
The February 21st, 2024 edition of THE LAVAL NEWS was the last issue delivered door to door by PUBLIC SAC. Since our first edition in 1993, THE LAVAL NEWS entrusted PUBLIC SAC with the mandate to deliver our paper, your paper, to your door. On that note, we thank all the workers who were behind and in front of the scenes that made the distribution of your newspaper possible.
However, on March 4th, 2024, PUBLIC SAC ceased its door-to-door distributing service due to changes in municipal by-laws in Montreal and other cities in Quebec. It’s an effort to reduce, at the source, a significant amount of paper and plastic in circulation in cities across Quebec. This leaves us with no cost-effective way to distribute our newspaper.
Therefore, as of March 6th, you can pick up THE LAVAL NEWS throughout the city at many selected local distribution points, such as public buildings, grocery stores, pharmacies, bakeries, etc.
Below, you will find the list of distribution points. Thank you for your loyal readership. We will continue to keep you informed and entertained.
Points de distribution / Distribution points
H7A
600 Montée du Moulin
Jean Coutu
H7A
600 Montée du Moulin
RONA
H7A
8075 Blvd. Lévesque E
Ultra Depanneur
H7C
4411 Blvd. de la Concorde E
IGA
H7C
4425 Blvd. de la Concorde E
Jean Coutu
H7E
2900 Blvd. de la Concorde E
Germaine-Guèvremont Library
H7E
3200 Blvd. de la Concorde E
Metro Plus
H7E
3595 Blvd. de la Concorde E
Intermarché Palumbo
H7E
4975 Blvd. Robert-Bourassa
Canadian Tire
H7E
5805 Blvd. Robert-Bourassa
IGA
H7E
2495 Blvd. Saint-Martin E
Patisserie St Martin
H7E
3245 Blvd. Saint-Martin E
Villa Val Des Arbres
H7G
155 Blvd. de la Concorde E
Metro Plus
H7G
300 Blvd. de la Concorde E
Polyclinique Médicale
H7G
405 Blvd. des Laurentides
Jean Coutu
H7G
1610 Blvd. Saint-Martin E
Chartrand Ford Inc
H7K
134 Blvd. Bellerose E
Euro Marché
H7K
5000 Blvd. des Laurentides
Metro Plus
H7K
5680 Blvd. des Laurentides
IGA
H7L
180 Blvd. Curé-Labelle
Jean Coutu
H7L
380 Blvd. Curé-Labelle
IGA
H7L
1207 Blvd. Curé-Labelle
Metro Plus
H7L
173 Blvd. Sainte-Rose
Uniprix
H7M
1640 A. Jean-Noël-Lavoie E
Subaru de Laval
H7M
1755 Blvd. René-Laennec
Cité-de-la-Santé Hospital
H7M
1859 Blvd. René-Laennec
Jean Coutu
H7M
1759 Blvd. des Laurentides
Uniprix
H7M
1904 Blvd. des Laurentides
Super C
H7M
255 Blvd. Saint-Martin E
Vimont Toyota Laval
H7M
700 Blvd. Saint-Martin E
Honda De Laval
H7N
475 Blvd. de l’Avenir
Salle André-Mathieu
H7N
1100 Blvd. de l’Avenir
Metro Plus Dépatie
H7N
1455 Blvd. de l’Avenir
Résidences Soleil Manoir
H7N
279-B Blvd. Cartier O
Uniprix
H7N
307 Blvd. Cartier O
IGA
H7N
430 Blvd. Cartier O
Proxim
H7N
255 Blvd. de la Concorde O
Jean Coutu
H7N
255 Blvd. de la Concorde O
Intermarché Palumbo
H7N
1295 Blvd. de la Concorde O
Jean Coutu
H7N
1315 Blvd. de la Concorde O
Uniprix
H7N
1395 Blvd. de la Concorde O
Maison des arts de Laval
H7N
1950 Rue Claude-Gagné
Place Bell
H7P
3699 Autoroute 440 O
Colfax
H7P
4355 Autoroute 440 O
Guimond Sports Complex
H7P
3095 A. Jean-Noël-Lavoie
Carrefour Multisports
H7P
3131 A. Jean-Noël-Lavoie 440 O
Mercedes-Benz Laval
H7P
2705 Blvd. Chomedey
440 Lincoln Laval
H7P
2800 Blvd. Chomedey
Cadillac Laval
H7P
2805 Blvd. Chomedey
CHSLD de Laval
H7P
2911 Blvd. Chomedey
Service de police de Laval
H7P
3230 Blvd. Curé-Labelle
Agoo
H7P
3505 Blvd. Dagenais O
Gabrielle-Roy Library
H7P
3270 Blvd. St-Elzear O
Résidence Estia
H7R
4515 Blvd. Arthur-Sauvé
Jean Coutu
H7R
6155 Blvd. Arthur-Sauvé
Metro Plus
H7R
3875 Blvd. Sainte-Rose
Depanneur Wilson
H7S
1700 Blvd. le Corbusier
Duclos Laval Chrysler
H7S
2250 Av. Francis-Hughes
STL
H7S
1446 Blvd. Saint-Martin O
St. Martin Oasis
H7T
3500 A. Jean-Noël-Lavoie
Desmeules Chrysler
H7T
3670 A. Jean-Noël-Lavoie O
440 Laval Chevrolet
H7T
2150 Autoroute Laurentian
Cosmodôme
H7T
3300 Blvd. le Carrefour
Groupe Sélection
H7T
1700 Blvd. Chomedey
Lallier Kia de Laval
H7T
2200 Blvd. Chomedey
Mazda de Laval
H7T
2385 Blvd. Chomedey
Chomedey Toyota Laval
H7T
2450 Blvd. Chomedey
BMW Laval
H7T
2137 Blvd. Curé-Labelle
IGA
H7T
1794 Av. Pierre-Péladeau
Presse Café
H7T
3131 Blvd. Saint-Martin O
Ville De Laval
H7T
3208 Blvd. Saint-Martin O
Déjeuner Cosmopolitain
H7T
3216 Blvd. Saint-Martin O
Marchés Tau
H7T
4363 Blvd. Saint-Martin O
Pharmacy Liounis
H7V
3205 Place Alton-Goldbloom
Jewish Hospital
H7V
1 Place de la Belle-Rive (#7)
Le Domaine Bellerive
H7V
5 Place de la Belle-Rive
Appartements Bellerive 3
H7V
505 Rue Cardinal
Residence Le Renoir
H7V
800 Blvd. Chomedey (Tour B, 2nd Floor)
CLSC Ruisseau-Papineau
H7V
1333 Blvd. Chomedey
Laval Administration
H7V
1400 Blvd. Chomedey
Jardins de Renoir
H7V
1535 Blvd. Chomedey
Multiculturelle Library
H7V
435 Blvd. Curé-Labelle S
Axion 50 plus
H7V
610 Blvd. Curé-Labelle
Jean Coutu
H7V
2999 Blvd. Notre Dame
CHSLD Résidence Riviera
H7V
3055 Blvd. Notre Dame (#109)
Boisé Notre-Dame
H7V
1450 Pie X (Suite 214)
CDC Laval
H7W
1013 Autoroute 13
Tennis 13 Fitness
H7W
5400 Av. Clarendon
Depanneur Bleue
H7W
1665 Rue du Couvent
CLSC Ruisseau-Papineau
H7W
25 Promenade des Îles
Villagia De L’ile Paton
H7W
4311 Blvd. Notre Dame
Marché Bamyan
H7W
4325 Blvd. Notre Dame
Tabagie Elite
H7W
4331 Blvd. Notre Dame
Lillies Bakery
H7W
4349 Blvd. Notre Dame
Uniprix
H7W
4919 Blvd. Notre Dame
Vie en vert Supermarket
H7W
4594 Promenade Paton
Manoir des Îles
H7W
755 Chemin du Sablon
Centre du Sablon
H7W
4219 Blvd. Samson
Depanneur Samson
H7W
4305 Blvd. Samson
Supermarché Atlantis
H7W
4427 Blvd. Samson
Royal Lepage
H7W
4600 Blvd. Samson
Supermarché PA
H7W
4657 Blvd. Samson
Ambrosia Bakery
H7W
4691 Blvd. Samson
Jean Coutu
H7W
4725 Blvd. Samson
Depanneur Chomedey
H7W
4136 Chemin du Souvenir
Serano Bakery
H7W
4232 Chemin du Souvenir
Dépanneur STO DEP
H7X
550 Autoroute Chomedey O
IGA
H7X
3200 Autoroute Chomedey A13
Chomedey Hyundai
H7X
239 Blvd. Samson O
Allô mon Coco
H7X
245 Blvd. Samson
Jean Coutu
H7X
555 Blvd. Samson
Metro Marché Denigil
If you would like to add your store as a distribution point, please email us.
Speedier interventions expected, along with improved emergency coverage
According to City of Laval officials, significant improvements are being made to the city’s First Responder program to enable the Laval Fire Department (SSIL) to respond more effectively everywhere in Laval, with the ultimate goal being to save more lives.
The City of Laval and Urgences-Santé (the Montreal-based ambulance service) have enhanced and renewed their agreement, thereby improving First Responder services through enhancements that are expected to directly benefit the public.
The official announcement was made on December 17 at Fire Station 6 in Laval. The new one-year agreement includes optimized SSIL interventions and deployments to provide better emergency coverage for the city’s residents.
Stéphane Boyer, Mayor of Laval, Patrick Taillefer, Director of the Laval Fire Department, and Michel Garceau, president and CEO of Urgences-Santé, met at Station 6 (Laval-Ouest) in December to formalize the new agreement. They were accompanied by Pierre Brabant, city councillor for Vimont, Flavia Alexandra Novac, city councillor for Sainte-Rose, members of both organizations, and first responders from Station 6. (Photo: Vincent Girard, City of Laval)
Improved emergency access
Specifically, says the city, more people experiencing health distress will receive rapid assistance from First Responders. Now, all extreme emergency calls (priority 0) will automatically trigger an intervention, significantly increasing the chances of survival.
Also under the new agreement, coverage is being extended to significant emergencies (Priority 1) when the ambulance takes more than 10 minutes to arrive.
In addition, firefighters will be released more quickly after each call, resulting in a faster response to all urgent incidents in the region. As well, beginning in 2027, designated First Responder teams will answer to cases of severe hypoglycemia.
(Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, occurs when glucose levels drop below a healthy range (around 3.9 mmol/L or 70 mg/dL), causing shakiness, hunger, confusion, sweating, rapid heart rate and weakness. It often happens in people with diabetes from too much insulin, missed meals or intense exercise, but also reactive hypoglycemia can occur after meals.)
Improvements since 2022
Since its implementation in May 2022, according to the city, Laval’s First Responder program has transformed emergency response in Laval in the following ways:
• 6,016 interventions carried out by SSIL teams;
• 409 lives saved in life-threatening situations;
• Reduced response time: from an average of more than 11 minutes to receive medical assistance to an average of less than 7 minutes and 30 seconds when first responders are dispatched;
• 100 per cent of firefighters (306 in total) are trained and certified as Level 1 First Responders (PR-1);
• First Responders intervene in life-threatening medical emergencies: high risk of cardiorespiratory arrest, allergic or anaphylactic reaction, medication or drug overdose, respiratory failure, and unconscious individuals;
• In addition to being First Responders, Laval firefighters possess expertise in water and ice rescue.
Shorter response times
“Laval is a vast territory to cover, and this valuable partnership with Urgences-Santé plays a vital role in public safety,” said Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer, adding that Laval’s nine fire stations, strategically located throughout the territory, allow response times for medical assistance to be shortened.
“Our firefighters can quickly provide first aid in medical emergencies while awaiting the arrival of paramedics,” he continued. “We are very proud that the expertise of our fire department is now inspiring all first responder services in Quebec.”
Going the extra mile
Since First Responder service was implemented in 2022, SSIL teams have responded to 526 cardiac arrests, including 37 resuscitated individuals who were revived before the ambulance even arrived, according to Laval fire department director Patrick Taillefer.
“This enhanced renewed agreement allows us to go even further in protecting the lives of Laval residents,” he said. “Laval is a leader in this field and will even be invited to sit on the new provincial First Responder committee of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS).”
“Urgences-santé and the City of Laval are joining forces to offer citizens an efficient and rapid pre-hospital response chain,” said Michel Garceau, Urgences-Santé’s executive-director. “Thanks to the commitment of first responders, lives are saved and morbidity is reduced.”
A convenience store located on Montée du Moulin in Saint-François was the target of a suspected arson attack during the late evening of December 30.
“10:39 PM // Building fire on Montée Du Moulin in the Saint-François sector,” the Laval Firefighters’ Association posted on their X feed.
“Commercial building. Flames visible in the convenience store. Code 10-07, intervention required. File forwarded for investigation,” they added.
The incident, which occurred at a small shopping mall just east of Marcel-Villeneuve Avenue, was reported to 911. The Laval Police dispatched several patrol cars to the scene, sending seven units, 26 firefighters and officers from the Laval Fire Dept.
The first firefighters arrived on the scene at 10:44 p.m. when the business was closed but engulfed in flames. The firefighters noted that a front window had been shattered and they immediately began attacking the blaze.
By around 11:06 p.m., they had brought the fire under control, although smoke had spread to neighboring businesses by then. Around 11:30 p.m., after the discovery of possibly incendiary materials, the LFD transferred the case to the Laval Police for investigation and analysis for evidence of arson.
It should be noted that the firefighters found no smoke detectors. The damage was estimated at approximately $30,000 for the building and $30,000 for its contents.
Faulty fireplace sets home on fire in Saint-François
A faulty installation or design in an indoor fireplace at an old single-family home on Rang du Haut Saint-François in Duvernay is believed to be the cause of a fire on January 3 that resulted in over $200,000 in damage.
“00:52 // Building fire on Rang Haut-Saint-François in the Duvernay sector,” the Laval Firefighters’ Association posted on their X feed. “Residential building. Smoke visible with fire spreading to the roof. Code 10-12, second alarm,” they said.
The incident, which forced two people to seek out temporary accommodation, was reported to 911 at 12:40 a.m. The Laval Fire Dept. dispatched 34 firefighters and officers, for a total of nine units, to the area located just west of Pie-IX Boulevard.
The first firefighters arriving on the scene easily spotted smoke, particularly at the roof level of the century-old building where flames had rapidly spread.
Faced with a complex situation due to the age of the building and a significant amount of interior wooden structure, the firefighters determined that a wood-burning stove connected to the chimney had been venting combusted gases into the attic.
After confirming the presence and functionality of a smoke detector, allowing for a safe evacuation, the firefighters covered furniture on the first floor to shield it as much as possible from water damage. They were finally able to declare the blaze under control at approximately 2:06 a.m.
An estimated $175,000 in damage was caused to the building’s structure and $50,000 worth to the contents. The Laval Fire Dept. is reminding residents to always make sure that any fireplace or other heating appliance meets safety standards.
Chomedey residential fire being investigated
Laval Police are investigating a suspicious house fire that broke out during the early hours of January 4 in a residential area of Chomedey.
The blaze forced the evacuation of six people. Three of them, who had inhaled smoke, were transported by ambulance to hospital. The fire broke out at 4:51 a.m. Thirty-five firefighters and two chiefs responded to the blaze.
“5:00 AM // Building fire on Edmond-Rostand Street in the Chomedey sector,” Laval’s firefighters reported on their X feed. “Two-story residential building. Flames visible. Code 10-09, full response, potential for escalation. File forwarded for investigation.”
The family home sustained extensive damage, estimated at approximately $400,000, according to an initial assessment by firefighters. However, their intervention contained the flames and prevented the fire from spreading to the adjacent building, explained Ms. Bolduc-Jacob. The cause of the fire is not yet known, but the case has been turned over to the police for investigation.
Mayor Stéphane Boyer pledged during the June 3 meeting of Laval city council to take whatever action was necessary to prevent the demolition of an early 20th century heritage house located on du Mont-Royal Street in the city’s Vieux Sainte-Rose neighbourhood.
The heritage property on rue du Mont-Royal in Sainte-Rose. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
A petition was started by Sainte-Rose city councillor Flavia Alexandra Novac opposing the redevelopment of the house and land – dating from as early as 1911 and vacant since last November – into a rental project with as many as two dozen individual units.
While maintaining that Laval has made great strides in recent years to safeguard the heritage homes and properties on its territory, Boyer said he agreed with the residents that there was something not right about the situation involving 133 du Mont-Royal St.
On a bright Saturday afternoon in Laval, while many were out running errands or soaking up the sun, a group of about 15 people had other plans.
Gathered outside the Le Berger Blanc facility, the city-contracted animal shelter and control service, they protested what they described as systemic failings in the city’s animal adoption services.
Many were longtime pet owners, holding handwritten signs that read “Cages too small,” “Adoption fees too high,” and “Lack of transparency.”
The June 7 protest marked a continuation of long-standing public concern over Le Berger Blanc’s operations. The shelter, which operates as a for-profit company, had previously been the subject of investigative reporting, including a 2011 exposé by Radio-Canada that alleged inhumane euthanasia practices.
Residents of Harvard Avenue in Chomedey were expressing frustration over what they described as minimal cleanup efforts from the City of Laval, despite the area being densely populated with mature trees that shed heavily.
Panagiotis Gomatos cleaning leaves built up at the front of his house on June 18, 2025. (Photo: Municipal councillor, Aglaia Revelakis)
While the buildup of leaves was most visible in the spring and fall, locals said 2025 had been especially troublesome. Many residents had taken it upon themselves to manually clean the debris each day, citing a lack of effective municipal response.
“Every single day, we’re out with blowers and shovels,” said Harvard Avenue resident Christos Kouloukis. “We try to clean the street ourselves, but the service is zero.”
With an eye on maximizing all sectors of economic activity using every means available, the City of Laval announced its entry into a strategic partnership with Ivado, Canada’s largest consortium for Artificial Intelligence research, training and development.
Beginning last fall, specialized training would be made available to managers and employees at businesses in Laval through the agreement reached by the city’s economic development arm, Laval économique, with Ivado.
“We are clearly determined to make our city the go-to reference for businesses that hope to accelerate their digital transformation,” said Mayor Stéphane Boyer.
Firearms incidents, which have become more commonplace in recent years in the City of Laval’s otherwise tranquil residential neighbourhoods, were the focus of a complaint made by a Duvernay resident to city council during its May 6 public meeting.
Michel Saintonge said he wanted to talk about two recent murder attempts in Duvernay’s Val-des-Arbres sector, the first one having taken place around three weeks earlier. The Laval Police found spent ammunition cartridges in the parking lot as well as the yard of a nearby elementary school.
“I find this truly unacceptable, to say the least.” he said. “The next time somebody will be killed. I hope it won’t be a child. But we’re going to do what?”
Laval city councillor for Sainte-Dorothée Ray Khalil, who is also the executive-committee vice-president. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Speaking on behalf of Mayor Stéphane Boyer (who was absent for personal reasons) Sainte-Dorothée city councillor Ray Khalil, the executive-committee vice-president, insisted the city and the Laval Police “make every effort to reassure citizens.”
Former Chomedey MNA Guy Ouellette, who handed out recognition medals during his time in office, was one of two people who were presented with the King Charles III Coronation Medal by Canadian senator Claude Carignan in Saint-Eustache in April. It was in recognition of Ouellette’s many years of service in the National Assembly as well as in law enforcement.
Former Chomedey MNA Guy Ouellette received the King Charles III Medal in May last year in recognition of his many years of service.
Ouellette served for more than 30 years as a provincial police officer and crime investigator with the Sûreté du Québec. He was the Member of the National Assembly for Chomedey from 2007 until 2022. “I accept this recognition with pride and humility,” Ouellette said in a message posted on his LinkedIn feed.
In local police and court news, the truck driver found responsible for the August 2019 fiery multi-vehicle pile-up on Autoroute 440 near the A-15 in Laval which killed four people was sentenced to a decade in prison.
On Aug. 5, 2019, Jagmeet Grewal was driving a transport truck and a 53-foot trailer without a valid license, when he crashed into stopped traffic as he was travelling around 100 km/h, causing a major fire, while trapping some occupants in their cars.
The crash killed Robert Tanguay-Plante, Sylvain Pouliot, Michèle Bernier and Gilles Marsolais, while injuring 15 others.
“Innocent victims that were at the wrong place at the wrong time perished and others were severely injured and are still carrying their pain and sufferings,” Superior Court Justice Yanick Laramée wrote in a ruling prior to imposing the sentence.
As Canada’s voters prepared themselves for a national election at the end of April last year, the Laval region’s Conservatives announced that Konstantinos Merakos would be running for the Laval-Les-Îles seat for the Conservatives.
Merakos, a lawyer and a graduate of McGill University and the London School of Economics and Political Science, also obtained law degrees from the University of Montreal and the University of Ottawa.
He said he felt certain the Conservatives could win Laval-Les-Îles, which has long been a Liberal fortress. He said a particular concern raised by many Laval residents he’d heard from was rising crime, including car thefts, household break-ins, extortions and fire bombings.
Laval-Les Îles Conservative candidate Konstantinos Merakos touched base with a supporter who attended his campaign launch. (Photo: Martin C. Barry)
In the meantime, incumbent Vimy Liberal MP Annie Koutrakis maintained that new Liberal leader Mark Carney had succeeded in changing the party overnight following the departure of Justin Trudeau.
“We are now back to what we should always be and what Canadians are: in the centre economically and politically,” she told a gathering for her campaign launch.
“We believe in a strong economy to make our people better off,” she said. “And a strong economy to finance the social programs and defenses we need. That’s where elections are won. If you have to find anyone in the world to fit the moment, it would really be hard to do better than Mark Carney.”
Laval’s incumbent Liberal MPs seemed to agree about their party’s newest Laval-area candidate. As far they were concerned, Carlos Leitão would be an asset to a future Liberal government.
Supporters, family and friends of the former Quebec Liberal finance minister crowded into Leitão’s Autoroute 440 campaign headquarters to help launch his bid to win the riding of Marc-Aurèle-Fortin in the April 28 election.
Supporters of former Quebec Liberal finance minister Carlos Leitão crowded into his Autoroute 440 campaign headquarters to help launch his bid to win the riding of Marc-Aurèle-Fortin in the April 28 federal election.
In an informal address to the gathering of more than 50, Leitão was quick to get straight to the point as to why he’s running: the U.S. and its punishing tariffs.
“We will have to readjust, restructure, redirect the Canadian economy,” he said. Leitão, as well as Koutrakis, Laval-Les-Îles MP Fayçal El-Khoury and Alfred-Pellan Liberal MP Angelo Iacono, all ended up winning their House of Commons seats.
Since spring is a time for planting seeds and encouraging growth, it was fitting that officials from the City of Laval and four Montreal-area higher education institutions chose a day in April to sign an agreement to form a consortium aimed at building a college and university campus near the city’s expansive Carré Laval.
In March, another Laval-based company, Plastitel, was also not overly concerned with the tariffs.
Although Plastitel had a solidly established client base within Quebec, they had the foresight to prepare by providing themselves with a buffer through expansion into the U.S.
“We’re always good to find our way around,” said Plastitel general manager Sabrina Bolduc, while leading a tour of the company’s facilities for Vimy Liberal MP Annie Koutrakis who was there to confirm a large federal subsidy to the company.
From the left, Plastitel general manager Sabrina Bolduc explained the functioning of a new piece of plastic thermoforming equipment to Vimy Liberal MP Annie Koutrakis and Laval executive-committee member Christine Poirier during a tour of the company’s Laval industrial park facilities. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Alice Abou-Khalil, the CAQ MNA for Fabre, had the honour of recognizing three outstanding individuals who had dedicated themselves to building a more inclusive, supportive and engaged society, presenting them with National Assembly Medals.
A key figure in the Maronite community in Canada, Bishop Paul-Marwan Tabet, Eparchial Bishop of the Maronite Catholics, was honoured for his outstanding commitment to education while fostering unity and solidarity.
Another recipient, André Langevin, had founded Karaté Autisme after witnessing the transformative impact of karate on his son Philippe who was diagnosed as having an autism spectrum disorder. Aline Dib, Laval city councillor for Saint-Martin district, received a medal in recognition of her transparency, integrity and deep connection with citizens.
The parking lot behind Laval’s interim city hall on Saint-Martin Blvd. was the scene of some well-organized pandemonium. Unionized members of Laval’s blue-collar staff, along with officers from the Laval Police, made what was probably their noisiest effort yet to pressure the city into signing collective labour agreements.
The City of Laval’s unionized blue-collar workers staged a noisy show of force outside the March city council meeting last year. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Their tactic, involving the otherwise peaceful but nonetheless ear-shattering use of air horns in an attempt to disrupt the March city council meeting, had been used as an intimidation method by unionized city workers for years when contract negotiations were lagging.
If an applause meter had been deployed during a gathering in Laval to introduce the Quebec Liberal Party’s four leadership candidates, the reading might have suggested that perceived front-runner Pablo Rodriguez was in for a closer race than some political observers were anticipating.
As things stood, the Laval region’s two current Quebec Liberal MNAs had chosen to support two different candidates.
Chomedey PLQ MNA Sona Lakhoyan Olivier was endorsing Rodriguez, a former federal Liberal cabinet minister and Quebec lieutenant in the defunct Trudeau cabinet. In the meantime, Mille-Îles Liberal MNA Virginie Dufour was supporting Charles Milliard. Although Rodriguez prevailed, he has since then resigned.
With the prospect of an early federal election more certain by the week, Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services in the outgoing Trudeau cabinet, was warning that a Conservative government under Pierre Poilièvre would almost certainly make deep cuts to programs introduced by the Liberals in the past nine years – including national dental care and access to affordable housing.
“Pierre Poilievre wants to take away dental coverage for millions of Canadians and leave you and your family without the health care you need and deserve,” Duclos said in an interview with The Laval News.
Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer.
Mayor Stéphane Boyer confirmed in February he’d be seeking a second term in the November 2 municipal elections, in spite of the fact he was facing a health issue which was impacting the quality of his life.
Boyer, who became Laval’s youngest elected mayor in 2021 at the age of 33, told journalists he was diagnosed more than a decade ago with ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis that affects the spinal cord.
The Rubino family from Laval’s Duvernay district were among the thousands of moms, dads and children who converged on the Centre de la Nature on the weekend of January 24-25-26 for the city’s Laval en Blanc winter carnival.
For elected as well as unelected members of the Action Laval opposition at Laval city hall, longtime Chomedey city councillor Aglaia Revelakis’s announcement during the February council meeting that she was abandoning the Action Laval caucus was as unexpected as it was astonishing.
Independent city councilllor for Chomedey Aglaia Revelakis. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Revelakis was one of the first Action Laval city councillors to be elected in 2013 after former mayor Gilles Vaillancourt’s monopoly on Laval city council seats had finally been broken.
Since then, she won clear majorities in three elections, while retaining a large and reliable base of support for Action Laval from within her territory.
“As of today, I will no longer sit as municipal councillor with Action Laval,” Revelakis said, adding that she was giving up her membership in the party at the same time.
Although fallout from U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed 25 per cent tariffs on imported Canadian goods had yet to make a full impact in Laval, as far as one local business owner was concerned, Trump’s threat was a challenge to be taken.
“Bring on the tariffs,” Jason Bérubé, CEO of Chemtec Epoxy Coatings, a Laval-based manufacturer and distributor of industrial floor coatings, told The Laval News.
He said the company’s earlier decision to shift some of its focus to the U.S. would probably help Chemtec absorb whatever impact came from the tariffs – even if they were as high as 25 per cent.
Federal and city elections, U.S. tariffs and crime made 2025 an exciting year
It was the year of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, as well as elections in Laval and across Canada, and a steep rise in local urban violence and crime. Although far from telling the whole story, these three themes offered many of the defining moments for news stories that broke in 2025.
In our first issue of 2026, The Laval News takes a look back at these and other important newsmakers up to June last year. In our next issue, we will examine the following six months.
Justin Trudeau resigned as PM in January
On January 6 last year, Justin Trudeau announced he would resign as Liberal leader and Prime Minister of Canada by March 24 upon the election of a new party leader.
In one of his last public appearances, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau endorsed the candidacy of his successor as MP for Papineau, Marjorie Michel. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)
In his resignation speech, Trudeau stated that party dissent would prevent him from campaigning effectively in the 2025 federal election. Trudeau, who had served as Prime Minister since 2015, stated he would remain as PM until the Liberal Party selected a new leader.
His decision came after a period of increasing pressure from within the Liberal Party and from the public, largely due to his handling of various issues, including the rising cost of living, internal party conflicts and recent controversies.
Reaction from at least one of the Laval-area’s Liberal MPs was quick following the news of Trudeau’s decision. “He did the right thing,” Vimy Liberal MP Annie Koutrakis said in a phone interview with The Laval News minutes after the announcement.
She said she advised her constituency association caucus members the previous week of her decision to join other elected Liberal MPs in publicly recommending to the prime minister that he should step aside. “And many of my colleagues agreed with me,” she said.
Although the City of Laval’s 2025 elections were set to take place in early November, incumbent mayor Stéphane Boyer was saying little at the beginning of the year on whether he would be seeking a second term.
One of the only allusions made by the mayor to the upcoming elections came during his opening remarks – which were unusually brief – at the January 2025 city council meeting.
“I wish a happy new year to all our citizens,” was almost all he said. “And I take the opportunity to wish you in this municipal election year that you have exchanges which are constructive and calm for the best interests of the residents of Laval.”
For a seventh consecutive year, members of more than 40 Tamil community organizations gathered at the Château Royal in Chomedey to celebrate the contributions of Tamils since their arrival in Canada.
More than 1,000 guests, including representatives from a number of other multicultural communities as well as elected officials from the three levels of government, took part in the admission-free celebration.
Lunch and refreshments were provided. It was a great opportunity to learn and network with fellow leaders and organizations within the Tamil community of Quebec.
Among the guests were a number of prominent as well as local elected officials.
The City of Laval has announced the appointment of Jean-François Rousselle as the new Interim Director of the Laval Police Dept.
The Laval Police Dept.’s new interim director, Jean-François Rousselle.
Effective January 10, Mr. Rousselle will simultaneously assume the responsibilities of this position and those of his current role as Deputy Director of Corporate and Organizational Services for the LPD and Director of the Laval Integrity and Ethics Office (BIEL).
His appointment, ratified by City Council on December 22, was followed by a swearing-in ceremony in accordance with section 83 of the Police Act.
With over 20 years of experience, Rousselle, a police officer by training, holds a Master of Business Administration degree and a Bachelor of Management.
He has held several strategic positions within the LPD where he used his expertise in management and organizational development, according to the City of Laval.
The process to fill the permanent position of Director of the LPD is underway, says the city and Rousselle will serve as interim-director until this process is complete.
He fills a position last held by former LPD director Pierre Brochet, who is now vice-president for corporate security at Mouvement Desjardins.
City holds annual Laval en blanc from January 23 – 25
Laval en blanc is the the city’s annual winter carnival that lets you enjoy the joys of winter in a festive and magical atmosphere at the Centre de la nature in Duvernay. This outdoor event, from Jan. 23-25, will offer free access to a wide range of activities and shows for families.
Some of the events:
Friday January 23, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Get ready for a vibrant musical journey! Star 80s is an original and energetic musical revue where three singers and their musicians bring back to life the greatest hits of the 1980s. From Michael Jackson to Madonna, via Cyndi Lauper and Boy George, relive this electrifying era. A refreshing concept, contagious energy, and top-notch production values for 90 minutes of pure enjoyment.
Saturday January 24, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. An unforgettable circus show blending humor and breathtaking feats. After touring the world, juggler Gabzy presents a hilarious and completely wacky show. Embodying a world-renowned pastry chef, this extraordinary master transforms the stage into an extravagant kitchen. In this world, juggling and balancing brilliantly intertwine. This interactive and imaginative show invites young apprentice cooks to help him create a recipe. With Gabzy, the ordinary becomes extraordinary and the circus takes on the flavor of a real dessert: spectacular, sweet and completely crazy!
Sunday January 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A rock concert for the whole family. Atchoum dreams of being everywhere at once so she doesn’t miss a thing. Rock climbing, writing, photography, yoga… She’s taking a few days off to tackle a long list of ambitious activities because she wants to do it all, experience it all. Accompanied by David, her multi-instrumentalist musician partner, Atchoum presents a captivating musical show where energy and explosive youthful rock collide. A festive, colorful and surprising experience for the whole family.
Also not to be missed
Big fireworks show, Friday January 23 at 7 p.m. Come and experience the magic of winter like you’ve never seen it before and let yourself be carried away by a pyrotechnic musical show where every colorful burst matches the rhythm of a catchy soundtrack.
Lakeside Zone. A range of fun activities to be experienced, including curling, Snow Castle Challenge (build a castle, fort or gigantic snow fortress as a team), inflatable axe throwing; archery and skating on the big lake (if it’s frozen over).
Open games zone. Activities include hockey rink (mini hockey); Snow sculpting workshop (children must be accompanied by an adult); human foosball, obstacle course and basketball-style tic-tac-toe; multisport caravan and sports introductions presented by Sports Laval, in collaboration with sports organizations; open hockey on the hockey rink (if open); inflatable games and more.
The current issue of the Laval News, volume 34-01, published on January 7th, 2025. Covering Laval local news, politics, and sports. (Click on the image to read the paper.)
