Laval-based Regal Confections announced in a press release on Jan. 6 that it has acquired Woodbridge Ont.-based Kisko Products, which produces the market-leading freeze pop for the Canadian market.
Described as a seasonal specialist and leading distributor of global candy and chocolate confectionery brands across Canada, Regal was founded in 1962 and is currently led by company CEO Hani Basile.
Kisko was founded in Jamaica in 1968 by Leslie and Glenor Josephs. The company’s canadian operations started nearly 45 years ago, shortly after the Josephs family moved to Canada.
The transaction was supported by Clearspring Capital Partners, a Canadian private equity firm focused on growing mid-market companies, with additional support from Regal’s other shareholders and banking partners.
“There is tremendous fit between Regal and Kisko, including shared values, similar business models, counter-seasonality, and complementary product offerings that bring joy to millions across North America,” said Milap Choksey, principal partner at Clearspring and a member of the Regal Confections board.
“Kisko’s penetration within the freeze pops industry is impressive and we look forward to providing capital and strategic support to expand the company’s presence in existing and new markets,” he added.
A more than 150-year-old heritage building on the main street of Laval’s Sainte-Rose neighborhood containing the Dame Tartine breakfast restaurant was heavily damaged by fire on the evening of Thursday Jan. 6.
Several dozen firefighters from the Laval Fire Department responded to the blaze before 8 pm Thursday night at the corner of Sainte-Rose Blvd. and Plateau-Ouimet St.
Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé announced on Thursday that, beginning on Jan. 18, anyone wishing to enter government-owned Société des Alcools du Québec or Société Québécoise du Cannabis stores will have to show proof they’ve received the required number of vaccinations against COVID-19.
Dubé also said the provincial government plans to expand the vaccination passport requirement to retail businesses, including personal care services, with a formal announcement expected in the coming days.
Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé announced on Thursday that a vax pass will be required to enter SAQ and SQDC stores beginning on Jan. 18.
During the same webcast press conference, Dubé announced that the CAQ government will soon be requiring vaccination passports showing that the document’s owner has received three doses. The pass will be considered invalid otherwise.
The health minister didn’t provide a specific date when the third dose will be required, suggesting that the system needs to catch up because only a minority of Quebecers have received a third dose to date.
At present, access to a third dose is provided only to those who are 50 years of age or older. All adults will be given access beginning on Jan. 17.
Beginning tomorrow Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve, a 10 pm – 5 am curfew will come into effect all over Quebec, allowing only health personnel and caregivers to be out in public during those hours, while imposing fines ranging from $1,000 – $6,000 on those who fail to comply.
Premier François Legault made the announcement during a webcast press conference late Thursday afternoon. After 5 pm Friday, only members of the same family will be allowed to gather together under one roof.
“Our experts tell us that there’s a risk that we won’t be able to treat all those who need it in the coming weeks,” said the Premier. “I know we’re all tired, but it’s my responsibility to protect ourselves from this. This is why I’m announcing restrictions starting tomorrow.”
Quebec Premier François Legault announced the new curfew during a 5 pm webcast press conference on Thursday Dec. 30.
According to the rules, restaurants will be closed except for deliveries. Gatherings with guests from outside of households will not be allowed, with exceptions being made for caregivers and people living alone.
All indoor sports will also be prohibited. Places of worship will have to close, except for funerals limited to 25 attendees.
Schools, CEGEPS and universities will remain closed until Jan. 17. Regular daycares will remain open, while school daycare services will also be open, although only for essential employees.
Legault also announced stores will be closed for the next three Sundays.
More than 14,000 cases of Covid were announced on Thursday, representing the largest single-day increase in infections since the beginning of the pandemic early last year.
In the meantime, hospitalizations in the province jumped by 135, bringing the total to 939. Of those, 138 Covid patients were in intensive care on Thursday afternoon.
Environment Canada issued a special weather statement on Wednesday afternoon, suggesting that the beginning of 2022 could be messy in Laval and other areas of Quebec.
According to the national weather service, a “mixed bag of precipitation” is expected for the beginning of the new year on Saturday Jan. 1.
Environment Canada says a developing low pressure system over the southwestern United States will affect the province of Quebec beginning Saturday afternoon.
Regions to the north and to the west of its track will receive significant snowfall amounts while rain will occur further south.
A period of freezing rain could also affect the regions near the St Lawrence River and the Chaleur Bay. Behind this feature, moderate to strong westerly winds will cause a significant drop in the temperatures on Sunday.
As of this past Wednesday afternoon, the low pressure system’s track remained fairly uncertain, although the exact types and amounts of precipitation forecasted would depend on it, Environment Canada said, while adding that, under the circumstances, travelers might want to “consider modifying any non-essential travel plans.”
It was with much enthusiasm that the Sir Wifrid Laurier School Board’s Council of Commissioners recently appointed three students as student representatives to the Council of Commissioners.
The students are also members of the Central Students’ Committee, composed of one representative and one alternate from each school and centre of the SWLSB.
The three secondary 5 students appointed on Dec. 16 are Ève Boucher (Rosemere High School), Joseph Savastano (Laval Senior Academy), and as substitute representative, Andrew Wylie (Laval Senior Academy).
Moving forward, according to the SWLSB, they will take part in meetings with the Council of Commissioners and may be consulted on various topics at the Council’s direction.
The responsible commissioners leading the Central Students’ Committee are committee Chair Olivia Landry (ward 4), James Di Sano (ward 7), Vincent Cammisano (ward 8) and Parent Commissioner Stéphane Henley.
The committee members held their first meeting on November 30and will hold four more meetings from now until the end of the school year.
Joseph Savastano.
Ève Boucher.
Andrew Wylie.
“It has been Council’s wish to have students represented on the Council of Commissioner for a long time and I could not be prouder that we have finally made it happen. Students have a voice and we want to hear it,” said SWLSB chairperson Paolo Galati.
“Students are always at the forefront of all decisions made by Council,” he added. “Having students represented on the Council of Commissioners will not only give students valuable learning opportunities, but will also give Council members some valuable insights from the student body.
“I am confident that Ève, Joseph and Andrew will do an outstanding job and I look forward to their participation in Council meetings in the coming months.” According to the SWLSB, the objective of the Student Representation policy is to introduce students to democracy and encourage student involvement.
The Laval Police Department is asking members of the public for help in identifying two suspects who are believed to have threatened to commit arson at a residential condo building in Sainte-Dorothée.
On Dec. 6 around 10:50 pm, the two male suspects turned up in the entrance lobby of the building, after which they made their way to an apartment where they left a device for the purpose of starting a fire.
The LPD hasn’t revealed who the target of the threat was, nor the extent of any ensuing damage.
The first suspect is a Black male, 6’3” tall, weighing around 250 lbs. At the time of the incident, he was wearing blue slacks with a Nike logo and blue and white shoes. He spoke French.
The other suspect was a Black male, 5’7” tall, weighing around 150 lbs. He was wearing a black coat, black slacks and black and white shoes. Anyone who believes they have information that could help the LPD find these individuals is encouraged to call the LPD’s Info-Line at 450 662-INFO (4636).
Autoroute 15 closes after driver slams into overhead sign
The southbound Autoroute 15 towards Montreal reopened to traffic on Dec. 14 after it had to be closed for a few hours by the Quebec Ministry of Transport following the collision by a car with the structure supporting an overhead piece of signage, weakening and rendering it hazardous.
The heavily-trafficked provincial artery was shut for several hours after 1:50 am between Autoroute 640 and Sainte-Rose Blvd., in order to allow the MTQ to carry out repairs on the signage, a large part of which ended up smashing through the roof of the vehicle after the collision.
The driver, said to be in his 20s, lost control of his vehicle around kilometre 15, leaving the road and slamming into the supports for the signage. He had to be cut with special equipment from the wreck, following which he was taken by ambulance to hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries.
Laval restaurant shuts temporarily after 30 infected with Covid
The Boating Club restaurant in Laval announced on Dec. 16 it was voluntarily closing for a week after a staff member and about 30 patrons caught COVID-19 during a party at the restaurant.
At least one of the infections linked to the establishment on Curé Labelle Blvd. in Sainte-Roe is believed to be the highly-contagious Omicron variant.
According to Laval public health spokesperson Marie-Eve Despatie-Gagnon, the outbreak may have been an early sign of the virulence of Omicron, a new mutation of the Covid virus. The restaurant closed voluntarily rather than being ordered to shut by local health authorities.
Last week, Laval was tied with the City of Montreal for the third-highest COVID-19 rate in Quebec. Both had 259 active cases per 100,000 population.
Distribution of gifts and toys
On Suturday December 18, nearly 50 police officers and employees of the LPD were distributing gifts to the children selected as part of the Sharing Tree on a voluntary basis! In total, 400 children were visited by the police.
The Police Department would like to thank the great generosity of all the donors and their partners Rocket de Laval and Guy Saint-Jean Éditeur who made this second edition a great success!
Local hockey team prevails under pressure to become champions
After a rough 1-0 overtime loss in the quarter finals, the Riverains de Laval had one thing in mind: to win the 2021 Monteuil de Laval tournament.
So, after a hard battle and a 5-0 record in the tournament, the Riverains finally brought the championship home.
According to Riverains management, it had been a challenging year-and-a-half for everyone, but mostly for the young hockey players who had missed a whole year of their sport.
Off to a good start
The game started with a bang, and it only took the Riverains 2:01 to get on the board with a beautiful goal by Dayron Jimenez-Giraldo, assisted by Davide Petrangelo. It then took 1:29 for Gianluca Garippo to put his team ahead 2-0 with the help of Justin Iannetti and Ethan L’Ecuyer.
The period ended with a 2-0 lead. After two periods, it was 2-1 for the Riverains and their goalie Ayoub Halhoul stood on his toes to ensure his team was in a good spot entering the third period.
The third period started with another quick goal by Gianluca Garippo with a snipe top corner to ease the stress off the team.
Empty net goal
At the end of the period, the battle between both Laval teams was intense and incredible to watch. However, with only a minute left in the game, Justin Iannetti secured the lead for his team and pulled off an empty net goal.
With only seconds remaining, the team began to celebrate. Finally, when all was said and done and the final buzzer went off, the Riverains threw their gloves and helmets high with excitement because they could finally call themselves champions.
They got the job done
According to team management, it was not an easy journey despite what anyone says. They worked hard every shift and in every game with one goal in mind and they got the job done.
With the hard work of all the players, the encouragement from all the parents, the dedication of the coaching staff and, most importantly, the hard work of manager Paolo Girardi, Riverains de Laval are the champions of the 2021 Monteuil de Laval tournament.
Ground broken for comprehensive new facility at Technopôle Angus
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Dec. 13 marking the start of construction of the Giant Steps Autism Centre, a new facility that supporters say will make Quebec a leader in autism education, research and services across Canada.
Excavation work began this month and the doors of the centre are scheduled to open in the summer of 2023. A state-of-the-art building with a surface area of 66,500 square feet is being erected in the Technopôle Angus neighbourhood of the City of Montreal’s Rosemont district.
Designed by the architectural firm Provencher Roy, the centre will be meeting specific sensory and perceptual needs of autistic people, particularly in terms of the organization of spaces, the choice of materials and the types of lighting used.
Focused on four services
The Giant Steps Autism Centre will offer lifelong services grouped into four areas: the Giant Steps School, the Adult Education and Employment Centre, the Resource and Community Centre and the Research and Innovation Hub.
Officials from the Quebec government, from the Giant Steps School and from Technopôle Angus are seen here on Dec. 13 ceremonially turning the first ground for the future Giant Steps Autism Centre in the Rosemont district of Montreal.
With a major investment of $15 million by the Quebec government as well as contributions from donors from the private sector and the autism community, 84 per cent of the total fundraising goal has been reached, although more than $7 million is still to be raised.
As part of the ‘Take a Giant Step for Autism’ fundraising campaign which is still underway, the organization is looking to raise the balance in the private sector as well as from the federal government.
‘Simply delighted,’ said Metropolis Minister
“A few weeks after announcing the government’s investment in the construction of the Centre À pas de Géant, we are already at the ground-breaking, and I am simply delighted,” said Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and the Montréal Region Chantal Rouleau who was among those attending the groundbreaking.
“I am very proud that this project is taking root here in Montreal, at the heart of one of our most inclusive living environments,” she added. “This centre, which will reach many young people and adults with autism, will benefit their close friends and loved ones, their families, and the entire community.”
A ‘milestone,’ said Roberge
“This is a major milestone not only for the Giant Steps Centre, but also, and especially, for young people living with an autism spectrum disorder and for their families,” Minister of Education Jean-François Roberge said in a statement.
“These young people will soon have access to a school environment designed and built with their specific needs in mind. I am very happy for the young people who will attend this school. The support they will receive there will enable them to develop their full potential.”
“It is a real pleasure for us to welcome and contribute directly to the development of this unique project, which is so close to our hearts,” said Christian Yaccarini, president and CEO of the Société de développement Angus. “The start of construction is just one of the major steps ahead that will reinforce our pride in being part of it.”
More inclusive society
Among autism experts and community supporters, there is a growing conviction that autistic adults have the potential to become active members of the workforce and to contribute actively to the post-Covid economic recovery now getting underway, as well as the development of a more inclusive society.
While news report suggest that a critical labour shortage is holding back the province’s economic recovery, supporters from the autism community say a surprising majority of adults with autism (approximately 86 per cent) are still unemployed or are underemployed.
However, they add, many employers who have hired autistic individuals report above average overall job performance, less absenteeism, higher levels of accuracy in their tasks and other positive qualities. They say there are also many positive impacts on company culture, on the pride of other employees, on a company’s image and even on customer loyalty.
Building for the future
Having already assisted many autistic adults find employment with Quebec companies, Giant Steps administrators say they are determined to continue in this direction. They believe that by helping people with autism build on their positive characteristics and strengths, sharing their knowledge, and partnering with businesses and organizations, they will create a more inclusive society and new opportunities for everyone.
Construction of the Giant Steps Autism Centre is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2023.
“There is a clear business case for hiring autistic individuals,” said Andre Pereira, Project Manager – Employment Initiatives at Giant Steps School. “This is not about charity or social responsibility, but rather about creating a more diversified workforce with employees who think outside the box, are loyal, productive and detail-oriented.”
A unique approach
Giant Steps has been regarded as one of the leaders in autism education for more than 40 years. The school’s intensive educational and therapeutic programs, offered in both French and English to 90 students ages 4 to 21, are recognized as unique in Quebec and have been emulated worldwide.
“Giant Steps provides a learning environment where the diversity and unique strengths of each individual are celebrated,” said Thomas Henderson, director-general of Giant Steps School. “Today’s event reminds us that we will soon be able to do more and better to enable people with autism to develop to their full potential.”
Four-term Liberal MNA served Mille-Îles riding for more than 12 years
After more than a dozen years in office, Mille-Îles Liberal MNA Francine Charbonneau says she will not be seeking a fifth term in the provincial general election taking place in October 2022.
First elected in 2008, Charbonneau served as a cabinet minister under former Premier Philippe Couillard. From 2014 to 2018, she was Minister Responsible for Senior Citizens, as well as for families, and for anti-intimidation.
Many roles at National Assembly
From 2008 to 2012, she was a Parliamentary Secretary. She was the spokesperson for the official opposition from 2012 to 2014 for dossiers involving primary and secondary school education.
Her current role in the Liberal opposition shadow cabinet is party spokesperson for issues involving forestry, fauna, parks, professional training and adult education.
Mille-Îles Liberal MNA Francine Charbonneau will not be running in the 2022 provincial election.
Among other things, she is considered to have made important contributions to the National Assembly’s research on legislation regarding death and dying in dignity and the legislation on end-of-life care that followed.
As well, Francine Charbonneau guided the process leading towards the National Assembly’s adoption of its first legislation putting in place elements for the protection of senior citizens.
A real ‘people person’
In a statement released by Charbonneau’s office this week, she said her greatest satisfaction was the personal interaction she had with all the constituents who came to her with questions or seeking help from her team.
Quebec Liberal Party leader Dominique Anglade issued the following statement after learning of Francine Charbonneau’s decision.
“I would like to point out the great political contribution made by Francine towards the improvement in the lives of Quebecers,” said Anglade. “For more than a decade, she worked with all her heart and with devotion towards the advancement of our society.
Praised by PLQ leader
“Francine is a committed elected official from the Laval community, a model of persistence for all those who are thinking of jumping into politics,” Anglade added.
‘I would like to point out the great political contribution made by Francine towards the improvement in the lives of Quebecers,’ said the PLQ’s leader
“More than a remarkable Member of the National Assembly, Francine is also very much liked by her peers as well as by all those who have had the pleasure of meeting her along the way.”
For her part, Charbonneau said the following: “To represent the citizens of Mille-Îles is an honour that I live every day as though it is a gift. Working to improve the well-being of people has always driven me and that is what continues to guide me every day.
“I am therefore leaving with my head held high, sincerely honoured by the privilege that my constituents offered me by granting me their confidence.”
