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Laval police arrest four suspects in ‘grandparent scam’

Four men between the ages of 23 and 25 were arrested on Wednesday last week to face charges of conspiracy and identity theft involving the so-called “grandparent fraud.” The Laval Police Dept. said the alleged fraud ring had nearly 190 victims.

A search warrant executed at a Laval residence police allege was a call centre used by the suspects yielded 18 cellphones and more than $13,000 in cash.

A police investigation uncovered 187 fraud cases across Quebec totalling more than $900,000. In grandparent scams, fraudsters call victims and claim to be a grandchild or other young relative. They say they are in trouble with the law and need money to be released from jail.

A member of the fraud ring, impersonating a police officer or other intermediary, then instructs the victim on how to withdraw cash from their bank, place it in an envelope and give it to a person who goes to the victim’s home.

Anyone with any information on this type of fraud is urged to call Laval police at 450-662-4636 or call 911 and mention file LVL 210615 049.

Laval Police seek ‘misrepresentation’ fraud suspect

The Laval Police Dept. is seeking the public’s help to locate a suspect wanted on several warrants involving misrepresentation and fraud.

According to the LPD, during 2021 several suspects, including Yani Noel, age 21, were allegedly involved in a type of fraud known as “false representation” in several regions across Quebec.

The suspects contacted victims, pretending to be employees of financial institutions, while claiming to have found fraudulent transactions made with the victims’ bank debit cards which needed to be rectified.

As part of the scam, the victims were asked to provide the suspects with confidential personal information, such as PIN numbers. As well, an accomplice would go to the residence of the victims to pick up the victims’ debit cards, which the fraudsters claimed were no longer valid.

The LPD alleges that the suspects would then use the stolen debit cards, with the information they obtained, to steal money from victim’s bank accounts. The LPD alleges that Yanni Noel acted as an intermediary, going to victims’ homes to pick up the debit cards.

Description of Yani Noel:

  • Mixed race, speaks French.
  • Black hair, brown eyes.
  • 1 m 78 (5’10’’) tall, weights 79 kg (175 lb).

Has tattoos on the fingers of his right hand. Anyone who believes they have information about Yani Noel’s whereabouts can call the LPD’s confidential Info Line at 450 662-INFO (4636), or 911. The file number is LVL-220424-020.

Crimes against individuals up, LPD says in annual report

The Laval Police Dept. recorded a larger than usual number of crimes against individuals involving firearms last year, the LPD says in an annual report released on June 8.

Last year, the LPD reported that this category of crime rose 25 per cent over the previous year, during a time when the Covid pandemic was underway.

According to the force, the majority of firearms incidents took place in public places, and most of these in turn occurred in Chomedey.

From 2020 to 2021, crimes of sexual nature, criminal harassment and making threats also rose, says the LPD, including cases of domestic violence.

Man in his 60s dies after car crash in Laval

A man in his 60s has died after his vehicle went off the road early last Saturday morning in Laval.

A 911 call shortly after 4:30 a.m. notified emergency services of the crash that had just happened on Autoroute 440 eastbound near the St-François overpass.

According to early reports, the driver lost control of his vehicle after feeling discomfort. The driver ended his trajectory by hitting the median wall.

The man was alone in his vehicle. He was transported to hospital in critical condition and later succumbed to his injuries. A Sûreté du Québec investigation is continuing.

Laval driver in B.C. crash receives two-year sentence

After a nearly two-year-long investigation, a driver from Laval who was involved in a rollover crash that seriously injured a female passenger in June 2020 has pleaded guilty to Criminal Negligence Causing Bodily Harm and has received a two-year sentence.

On June 5, 2020 at 1:00 a.m., the Burnaby B.C. RCMP responded to a report that a Dodge Durango had rolled over at Gilmore Avenue and Halifax Street. The driver left the scene, leaving his female passenger with severe injuries.

Burnaby RCMP’s Criminal Collision Investigation Team took conduct of the investigation. Several charges were approved in May 2021, but the suspect had left the province and a Canada-wide warrant was issued for his arrest.

In January 2022, with the assistance of Laval Police Dept. (Service du police de Laval), 33-year-old Moussa Daoui was arrested in Laval and returned to B.C.

On Monday, May 30, 2022, Daoui pleaded guilty to Criminal Negligence Causing Bodily Harm and received a two-year prison sentence.

Le Pilier Foundation’s first ‘Urban BBQ’ was a resounding success

Mayor Stéphane Boyer and several city councillors were among the guests

On June 9, Le Pilier Foundation was pleased to welcome more than 100 guests to the first edition of their Urban BBQ event, with the mayor of Laval as a special guest of honor, at the Château Taillefer Lafon vineyard near Laval-Ouest.

Respite for families

From the left, Pierre Bélanger, executive-director Fondation Le Pilier (FLP), Bernard Rochette, administrator FLP, Stéphane Boyer, mayor of Laval, city councillor Sandra El-Helou, Isabelle Bonin, FLP board administrator, Sylvain Fontaine, president of the board FLP, Daniel Paquette, FLP board administrator, Sylvie Parent, FLP board administrator, and Johanne Desjardins, executive-director for philanthropy, development and communications at FLP. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)

With a fundraising target of up to $50,000, all proceeds from the event are going towards supporting the adaptative activities and specialized respite services available at Le Pilier’s Centre Marcelle et Jean Coutu in Laval, for families of persons with disabilities.

In a relaxed and informal atmosphere, with the Andy Dacoulis Quartet jazz band providing musical entertainment, the guests were invited during the evening to enjoy a taste of the renowned vineyard’s various products, with expert guidance provided by a sommelier, while networking with members of the Laval business community.

Many supporters

As participants in the fundraiser, the board members of Le Pilier Foundation said they wished to extend their warmest thanks to Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer, to the City of Laval, to Pillar Platinum sponsors Jean Coutu and Brunet, as well as to all the other sponsors, partners, donors and guests who helped make the foundation’s first annual Urban BBQ event a resounding success.

From the left, Valérie Gagnon Paradis and Jonathan Turcotte Lebreton, who are special ambassadors for Le Pilier, were among the guests at last week’s Urban BBQ. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)

“I am honoured to have contributed to the first edition of Le Pilier Foundation’s Urban BBQ,” said Mayor Boyer. “It was important for me to attend and show my support for this charitable organization involved with people with disabilities and their families.

Mayor supports Le Pilier

“This is especially important since Le Pilier Foundation has been providing essential services in the community for over 37 years, even before I was born,” he added. “They deserve all our support in the continuation of their mission.”

“All proceeds from our Urban BBQ will support many families of people with disabilities,” said Sylvain Fontaine, president of Le Pilier Foundation. “This new tradition of Le Pilier Foundation also helped us celebrate the Québec Week for Disabled Persons.”

Quality of Life

For the past 37 years, the mission of Le Pilier Foundation has been to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities, young or adult, living with an intellectual disability, a head injury or another type of physical disability, or an autism spectrum disorder, without forgetting the benefits for their families.

More than 100 guests attended the first edition of Le Pilier’s Urban BBQ event with the mayor of Laval at the Château Taillefer Lafon vineyard near Laval-Ouest on June 9. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)

Today, Le Pilier Foundation includes more than 200 employees dedicated to the well-being of people with disabilities who work daily with 110 people with disabilities in ten adaptative living environments.

Services for the disabled

Two hundred and fifty other disabled people also benefit from Le Pilier’s specialized respite services, inclusive housing for autism and youth, and adaptative activities at the Marcelle and Jean Coutu Centre in Laval.

The foundation is grateful to its donors who, since the foundation’s creation in 1985, have supported Le Pilier’s mission. Donations can be mailed to Le Pilier Foundation (425 Jean-Coutu Place, Laval, Quebec, H7H 3C8) or can be made electronically online at www.lepilier.org.

Attendance soars at 2022 Laval Firemen’s Festival

Laval Fire Dept. division chief Claude Lussier walks along at the Centropolis, dressed for the occasion, during the 2022 Laval Firemen’s Festival. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)

Post-Covid life got back to normal during the June 4 – 5 event

The 2022 Laval Firemen’s Festival, which took place on June 4 – 5 at the Centropolis, delivered all the excitement festival-goers had grown used to up to the last time it was held in 2019. The crowds seemed all the more eager this year to get out and enjoy the festivities following the two-year-long Covid pandemic.

The ever-popular parade of fire trucks, with sirens and warning signals blaring, took place Saturday morning, starting around 9:30 am from Laval’s industrial park, slowly making its way towards the rendez-vous point at the Centropolis an hour later.

The LFD’s annual Course des Pompiers (Firemen’s Race) also took place as part of the 2022 Firemen’s Festival. (Photo: Courtesy of Association des Pompiers de Laval)

Lots to do and see

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.

Who says the sporting life and clowning around don’t go together? Crowds at the Centropolis for the 2022 Laval Firemen’s Festival got a few belly laughs from this foursome. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)
Officers from the Service de Police de Laval were on hand to give out information on a range of topics related to public safety. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)

Environment Canada issues severe thunderstorm warning

The federal weather service issued a widespread warning at 3:28 pm on Thursday afternoon that severe thunderstorms are expected over the Greater Montreal area in the coming hours and that anyone in the outdoors during this period should take immediate cover as the front approaches.

“The warm and humid weather expected will be favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms in the afternoon,” the agency said. “The primary threats associated with these thunderstorms are strong wind gusts, heavy downpours and large hail. There is also a risk of tornado for the day.”

Water-related activities may be unsafe due to violent and sudden gusts of wind over bodies of water, Environment Canada adds. They warn that lightning kills and injures Canadians every year.

“Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors!”

Royal Canadian Legion reacts to federal report on disability claims delays

Legion has long been advocating for a comprehensive strategy

Royal Canadian Legion Dominion President Bruce Julian.

The Royal Canadian Legion is renewing its call for a comprehensive strategy to deal with escalating wait times faced by Canada’s veterans after they submit disability claims for processing.

The call comes in the wake of the Auditor General of Canada’s report released recently, which conducted an audit into whether Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) was taking appropriate actions to reduce wait times for veterans to receive disability benefits to which they may be entitled.

‘Turning point,’ says Julian

In a statement released by the Legion’s Dominion President Bruce Julian, the Legion expressed hope that the new report marks a turning point.

The Legion “has long been pushing Veterans Affairs Canada for change because we’ve seen the unacceptable wait times, inefficient processes and insufficient staff to handle the load,” said Julian.

“We’ve seen the despair and anger from veterans and families as situations worsen. We hope this report will finally provide the impetus needed to create and execute a concrete plan of action, end unreasonable wait times, and duly serve the injured Veterans who served us.”

Poor processing procedures

Among the findings, the Auditor General’s report reflected that not only are veterans waiting a long time, but that women, francophones and RCMP veterans are waiting even longer.

The report also showed that VAC’s departmental data on how claims are processed is poor, and that there is no long-term staffing plan to address the situation. The Legion has long been advocating for a comprehensive strategy to deal with the disability claims backlog. They say they remain hopeful that with the new report, a long-term plan will finally be tabled.

Quebec allots $3 million to Laval, so city centre business recovery can get underway

‘Downtown areas are important,’ says delegated CAQ Economy Minister Lucie Lecours

With municipalities all over Quebec starting to enter a true economic recovery following several false starts during the pandemic in the past two years, the CAQ government’s delegated Minister for the Economy Lucie Lecours was at Laval city hall last week to announce that $3 million of an overall $25 million has been set aside by Quebec for the recovery of businesses in Laval’s downtown core.

From the left, Lidia Divry, director-general of the economic development corporation Laval économique, Sainte-Rose MNA Christopher Skeete, delegated Quebec Economy Minister Lucie Lecours, and Laval city councillor for Duvernay–Pont-Viau Christine Poirier, who is the executive-committee member responsible for economic development dossiers, are seen here at Laval’s interim city hall on June 6. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)

Recovery underway

Lecours, who was accompanied by CAQ MNA for Saint-Rose Christopher Skeete and Laval executive-committee member Christine Poirier, confirmed that the provincial government has reviewed and accepted an economic recovery plan submitted by the City of Laval.

According to a statement issued by Lecours’ ministry last week, the City of Laval’s plan includes six initiatives which are expected to help boost business prospects and revenues in the downtown sector.

Encouraging digital

The plan also includes special subsidies, a major awareness-raising event, and a digital transformation element whose purpose will be to encourage downtown enterprises to focus on doing more business on the web.

“The economic recovery is accelerating in Quebec,” said Lecours.

“Our government continues to offer the right financial tools to municipalities for restore their confidence, while helping them rediscover their momentum from before the pandemic. Downtown areas are important economic engines, and must be able to resume their economic activities while getting back up to full-speed as quickly as possible.”

Laval’s downtown sector provides employment for up to 40,000 people

Challenges to meet

“The city is very happy to know it can count on this financial assistance from the government of Quebec for the recovery of its city centre,” said Laval councillor for Duvernay–Pont-Viau Christine Poirier, who is the executive-committee member responsible for economic development dossiers. “Our economy is facing great challenges, and we need the right tools to meet them.”

Laval city councillor for Duvernay–Pont-Viau Christine Poirier, who is the executive-committee member responsible for economic development dossiers, noted that 26,000 jobs were lost in the city centre at the peak of the Covid pandemic. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)

Noting that Laval’s downtown sector provides employment for up to 40,000 people, she said the pandemic caused the loss of 26,000 jobs, although the city reacted quickly with a range of support programs for businesses to minimize the damage. She said Laval was the region in Quebec that was hardest hit job-wise during the pandemic, with unemployment reaching 12 per cent at one point.

Skeete optimistic

“Entrepreneurialism is one of the pillars for regional development, as well as an important indicator of the economic and social well-being of populations,” said Skeete. “The recovery in downtown areas will breathe new life into the businesses and restaurant owners who were weakened by the slowdown or stop of their activities. This help will benefit not only the City of Laval, but also all of Quebec.”

“We want to get the word out about Laval’s city centre,” said Lidia Divry, director-general of the economic development corporation Laval économique, adding that the agency wants to make Laval’s downtown area a kind of destination that stands out on maps. She said another goal is to begin holding important events in the city core in order to attract more pedestrian traffic.

Laval backs away from digital currencies as a tool for economic growth

Idea was first proposed in 2020, before the pandemic shook up the economy

Have you ever considered investing some of your time and energy in any of the dozens of digital currencies that have sprung up like so many mushrooms in the global economy in recent years?

The City of Laval has given it a bit of thought, although economic development officials working in conjunction with the municipality seem to have decided to forego the opportunity.

Which ought not be too surprising, considering the turbulence and volatility which have characterized the performance of digital currencies over the past year.

City’s ‘buy local’ initiative

Two years ago, when the City of Laval had first begun taking measures to counter the economic flack resulting from the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, among the programs announced was a “buy local” initiative that local merchants and businesses were encouraged to support through subscription.

The program was accompanied by a perk for merchants’ customers called Freebees, which had already enjoyed some success in other regions of Quebec in the previous years.

City has withdrawn from Freebees retail perks program

Freebies program cancelled

Among other things, the program would have allowed business owners in the Laval region an additional option: to support the creation of a local digital currency as a tool to help generate customer loyalty, while stimulating the Laval economy at the same time.

According to Lidia Divry, director-general of the economic development corporation Laval économique, businesses and merchants in Laval have shown relatively little interest in the creation of a local digital currency as an economic stimulus. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)

Last week during a visit by delegated Quebec Minister for the Economy Lucie Lecours to announce new provincial funding for Laval’s ongoing post-Covid recovery, Lidia Divry, director-general of the economic development corporation, Laval économique, acknowledged that the city has distanced itself from Freebees.

Merchants weren’t interested

“We stopped it because it was launched at the same time as there were closings on account of [sanitary measure] decrees made by the provincial government,” she said during a brief interview last week with The Laval News.

Although some other aspects of the Freebees program generated a degree of interest from businesses and merchants in Laval, Divry said they showed no enthusiasm for the idea of a digital currency. But at the same time, she didn’t disagree that the turbulence afflicting crypto and digital currencies probably has been a factor as well.

Interest rates, affordability and availability pose challenges

Half of non-homeowners unlikely to enter housing market, says new CPA study

Despite historically being one of the top life goals for Canadians, the prospect of home ownership for non-owners remains far from reach, according to a new study conducted by Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada.

The Housing Headache study found that half of Canadians who do not currently own a home believe it is unlikely that they will ever be able to purchase one. And, while the other half are optimistic about home ownership, only one-in-five (21 per cent) think it is very likely they’ll enter the housing market, while 29 per cent think it is just somewhat likely.

The hurdles to home ownership

According to CPA Canada’s Housing Headache study, currently just over half of respondents own a house (53 per cent), while 45 per cent rent or lease. The study dived deeper into the reasons that prevent renters becoming owners and, not surprisingly, 89 per cent of respondents cited the threat of interest rates increasing as the greatest challenge to owning their own home. Other hurdles cited include:

  • Affording a down payment (84 per cent).
  • Affording renovations for 83 per cent, meanwhile an equal number cite housing availability in their desired area as a challenge.
  • Affording taxes and mortgage payments are equal at 81 per cent.
  • Income stability worried 69 per cent.

“Home ownership remains a priority for many yet what it takes to get there for so many Canadians is becoming increasingly challenging,” said Doretta Thompson, CPA Canada’s financial literacy leader. “The popular wisdom used to be to buy the largest house you could possibly afford, however it’s important to define your personal goals, balance them with means and look to multiple ways to ensure financial security. Owning a physical asset isn’t the only definition of success.”

CPA Canada financial literacy leader Doretta Thompson.

Gender and generational divides

Across the board, women tend to be more likely than men to view home ownership considerations as representing challenges for them. For example, interest rate hikes are a concern for 93 per cent of women compared to 85 per cent of men and affording a down payment is daunting for 86 per cent of women versus 81 per cent of men.

Additionally, 31 per cent of parents with adult children living in their house report that their kids are still living at home because housing is too expensive. Despite this, of those who currently don’t own a home, three-in-four Gen Z respondents and seven-in-10 Millennials remain confident they will buy a house in the future. While their rates of current homeownership are much higher than the younger cohorts, of those older Canadians who do not own a home, optimism about ever doing so is much lower at just 38 per cent for Gen X and 13 per cent for Boomers.

Homeowners still face challenges

The housing headache persists for those who do own their homes. Many Canadians are struggling with the very things that renters identified as barriers to home ownership:

  • Three-in-five homeowners say that affording necessary renovations is challenging for them; meanwhile, 46 per cent are struggling with the costs of basic home maintenance.
  • Two-in-five indicate that mortgage payments and property taxes are hard to keep up with, while 35 per cent find utility payments challenging.

Easing the housing headache

Although home ownership feels far away for many Canadians, it doesn’t mean the goals of a happy lifestyle and long-term financial security are beyond reach. “Shifting your mindset and taking a hard look at expectations can be a good place to start when it comes to managing the housing headache,” stated Thompson.

“Weigh your needs against wants and consider what you can afford based on your income and lifestyle. For some, that may mean rethinking the size and or location of a housing purchase. For others, it might mean a longer-term rental strategy – or even an indefinite rental strategy – with complementary saving and investment goals to secure your long-term financial future.”

Stéphane Boyer joins mayors saying homelessness must be tackled

Laval’s mayor was at Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ annual conference

Laval Mayor Stéphane Boyer agrees with mayors across Canada that homelessness in cities has reached crisis proportions. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)

Politicians from across Canada, including the City of Laval, spent a recent weekend in Regina, Sask. as they looked to plan a post-COVID future for the country.

Among many of the elected officials, homelessness and housing affordability appeared to be the central topic up for discussion during the Federation of Canadian Municipalities 2022 annual conference.

A housing crisis

Halifax Mayor Mike Savage, who chairs the FCM’s big city mayors’ caucus, was joined by Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer and by Regina mayor Sandra Masters. The three stressed that it’s important to start increasing the supply of affordable homes in an attempt to address the ongoing housing crisis.

Discussions about bringing all three levels of government together to tackle the housing problem took place between municipal officials and Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities.

Laval’s first eco-centre opens on June 15

Beginning on June 15, residents of Laval are able to access all the services at the city’s very first eco-centre, located at 1205 Dagenais Blvd. West, near Bellerose Blvd. in Vimont.

The first of a planned four ecocentres will allow the city to gather no less than 15,000 tons of recyclable materials annually.

Fabreville city councillor Claude Larochelle, Mayor Stéphane Boyer and Laval-des-Rapides councillor Alexandre Warnet officially opened Laval’s first ecocentre recently.

“The opening of the first of four ecocentres is paving the way towards new habits that Laval residents will be adopting,” says Mayor Stéphane Boyer.

“This is an important step we are taking for the sustainable management of residual materials. Without a doubt, this is a plus for the protection of our environment.”

The new eco-centre will allow residents as well as businesses in Laval to rid themselves of many kinds of things in a way that is safe and in keeping with environmental sustainability principles. The new eco-centre will be open during the following hours:

  • Monday and Tuesday, from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm;
  • Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, from 8 am to 7:30 pm;
  • Saturday and Sunday, from 8 am to 5:30 pm.

Among the materials that will be accepted are hazardous domestic waste (paints, solvents, corrosives, etc.), electronic components, construction materials, mattresses, household appliances including refrigerators, propane cannisters, tires, clothing, branches and cardboard.

45 hectares of natural spaces now protected in Laval

With the recent acquisition of Île Locas, the City of Laval says that since 2021 it has acquired 12 natural spaces all over its territory which will be protected as park and green spaces for use by the public from now on.

The $17 million in purchases were made with the assistance of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM) through the CMM’s Trame verte et bleue regional land acquisition program.

The CMM ultimately hopes to link all the parklands in Laval and elsewhere in the Montreal region into a connected green belt where water, vegetation and wild animals can flourish.

“After a year, we can say without any doubt at all that the Trame verte et bleue is already a great success,” said Laval city councillor and executive-committee member Alexandre Warnet, who is responsible to environment dossiers.

“Its implementation has led to the protection of our precious natural areas, which are now conserved for future generations of humans and non-humans alike,” he added.

“What’s more the Trame verte et bleue allows us to have a collective vision for the Greater Montreal region, which is essential since the issues related to loss of biodiversity and climate change don’t stop at municipal boundaries and are interlinked. Strengthened by this success, I am excited by the idea that this is only the start.”

Green space acquisitionAreaAmount invested by City of Laval
Île Locas137 808 m²$8,574,896
Berge Armand-Frappier27 715 m²$6,840,480
Bois de l’Orée-des-Bois381 m²$20,500
Val-des-Brises929 m²$27,000
Bois du secteur de la montée Champagne923 m²$10,000
Bois d’Auteuil1 117 m²$21,000
Bois de l’Équerre91 637 m²$796,176
Bois d’Auteuil17 587 m²$82,240
Bois du secteur Mattawa2471 m²$6,000
Île Saint-Pierre929 m²$13,300
Bois Sainte-Dorothée59 180 m²$114,662
Bois Saint-François113 188 m²$451,566

Weather

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