The City of Laval says that the deadline for submitting memorandums during an ongoing public consultation on the city’s master urban plan has been extended by two weeks, until June 28.
More time for memos
In a statement, a spokesperson for the executive-committee says the committee’s members decided, following requests from residents, to offer more time for the submission of memorandums. It is the city’s hope that a greater number of views and opinions can be added to the decision-making process.
In the meantime, residents and stakeholding organizations can, after registering, also make oral submissions of views and comments during virtual public hearings that will be taking place during the week of June 14.
Following the public consultations, the city will proceed with an analysis of the residents’ contributions.
Other steps in process
Following the recommendation of several committees overseeing the urban plan revision project and in conjunction with city council, comments and other information from the consultation will be included in the final version of the revised by-law.
A report on the consultation will also be issued. The coming into force of the new urban planning code will take place over the months following its adoption by city council.
Council served with notice of Laval region’s vanishing golf courses
Nearly a dozen residents of Webb Ave. and other streets in western Chomedey questioned Mayor Marc Demers during Laval city council’s June 2 webcast meeting on the major infrastructure work being conducted outside their homes, as protesters for the cause tried as best they could to stir up attention on the plaza outside Laval city hall.
The questions, which were submitted by e-mail and read out by a staff member, raised doubts about the wisdom of narrowing the width of the streets, widening the sidewalks and adding greened over border areas containing shrubs and plants.
Impact on seniors
“There are many owners here who are older people,” said Angie Patsios, a Webb Ave. resident, maintaining that some of the changes will cause hardship for senior citizens by complicating snow removal during the winter. She also claimed that most residents of the area don’t want the green border areas installed.
“Does the city not have a moral obligation to consult the owners affected by these changes when the vast majority are strongly opposed and have made complaints?” she added.
Weeds, leaves, etc.
Another resident wrote, “Why hasn’t anyone replied to our request to the director-general, to the mayor’s office? Why does the City of Laval want to have strip grass and trees on the west side of Webb Avenue? No one wants to have the problem of weeds, leaves, debris etcetera on their own lawn coming from the addition and the extra maintenance.”
The Islemere Golf Club in Sainte-Dorothée is one of five golf courses in Laval whose future is a concern to green space activists.
Other residents also suggested there could be complications created by the new infrastructure for the pick-up of waste and recycling bins by city workers, as they maintained that the city never bothered to formally consult them on the changes.
‘We consulted,’ says Demers
Mayor Marc Demers defended the city’s position. “When it is said that the citizens were not consulted, on the contrary we created a vision for across the City of Laval and we consulted across the city,” he maintained. “Some might say, ‘Yes, but the citizens across the City of Laval aren’t necessarily concerned with what is going on our street.’”
He said “the reason the work is taking place on your street is mainly due to a problem involving sewers that are at the end of their usefulness. So, if we don’t do it within a reasonable timeframe, we risk having major problems and you also risk having major problems.”
Regarding the widening of the sidewalks, he read out a letter received at city hall from a man who is confined to a wheelchair.
Wheelchair mobility
The letter writer recounted that while backing his wheelchair on du Couvent St. in Chomedey, he accidentally slipped off the sidewalk because it was narrow and couldn’t get back up. Demers cited the incident as something the city hoped to avoid in the future by building wider sidewalks that are friendlier to persons with reduced mobility.
As for consulting residents, Demers acknowledged the city didn’t consult people on every street, but noted that “all the people paying for the repairs that will be made on your street, which will cost quite a few million dollars, should be consulted too. So, that’s why we consulted the people around the city to see what our policy should be.”
While saying that most other residents in Laval had no objections to similar changes being made on their streets, Demers added, “We will see if there is something particular on your street for you and we will answer all your questions.”
Future of golf courses
Also during question period, Jonathan Tremblay said the Laval-based organization Parc Sentiers des Bois had become concerned lately about the future of the golf courses that are still operating in Laval.
There are currently at least five golf courses on the island: The Islemere Golf Club in Sainte-Dorothée, the Club de Club Laval-sur-le-Lac in Laval-sur-le-Lac, the Club de Golf Le Cardinal and Golf UFO in Laval-Ouest, and Club de Golf Saint-François in Saint-François. (Le Cardinal recently closed part of its course and sold it for housing development.)
“In the event of the sale or end of their commercial activity, it would be important that golf courses not be re-dedicated entirely to real estate development,” Tremblay said in an e-mailed question. He asked whether the City of Laval would be willing to develop a strategy for the future of the golf courses while doing so before changing the zoning for golf courses.
Demers pledges to consult
Responding to Tremblay, Mayor Demers maintained that the zoning status of the golf courses will never change without residents being consulted first. “Not a single golf course will change zoning without the population having their say,” he said, while also giving his assurances that part of the golf courses will always be reserved for future green spaces.
Action Laval opposition councillor David De Cotis noted that he would be tabling a resolution later in the council meeting that called upon the city to explore the feasibility of forming a common front with Terrebonne, Mascouche, Candiac and Beloeil to ask Quebec to change municipal law so it becomes easier for towns and cities to expropriate old golf courses and turn them into green spaces and parks.
The Laval Police Department says a search warrant executed by LPD officers last week as part of an operation called Project Duel resulted in the seizure of firearms and other weapons, contraband tobacco, tens of thousands of dollars in cash, and illegal narcotics with an estimated value of nearly $60,000.
The LPD says it received a tip from the Longueuil Police that a suspect would be making a major delivery in the Laval area. In all, warrants were served at five addresses and one person was arrested.
Here is a list of the items seized during the raid:
Five firearms, including a 12-gauge shotgun, and four handguns
Two brass knuckle sets
An assortment of ammunition
An electric stun device
Two bulletproof vests
3,200 contraband cigarettes
$24,000 in cash Cdn.
$58,954.62 worth of narcotics
513.21 grams of cocaine
39.42 grams of cannabis “wax”
397 tablets of methamphetamine
1.46 grams of amphetamine powder
475 tablets of generic Viagra
35.09 grams of an unidentified powder substance
(According to an online source of information on illicit drugs, cannabis wax is a relatively new substance being offered by dealers. Made from the oils of marijuana plants, it has a high level of THC – the chemical that makes a user intoxicated.)
According to the LPD, Project Duel brought together forces from the LPD, the Montreal Police and the Longueuil Police in a concerted effort.
The police officers were assisted by the canine squadron and crime scene technicians.
Anyone with information they feel might be useful to the police in this dossier or any other regarding narcotics trafficking is urged to call the Laval Police Department’s special Info-Line at 450 662 INFO. The file number is LVL 201125 023.
The current issue of the Laval News volume 29-17 published June 9th, 2021. Covering Laval local news, politics, sports and our new section Mature Life. (Click on the image to read the paper.)
The Laval Police Department is investigating fires that destroyed pricey cars last week in Chomedey and Sainte-Dorothée.
The first incident, around 11:30 pm, was on Devonshire St. in Chomedey.
A witness contacted 9-1-1 to report hearing an explosion, after which the vehicle, parked on the street, was consumed in flames.
A few hours later, another expensive car parked on des Roseaux St. in Sainte-Dorothée was also destroyed by fire.
Again, a witness called 9-1-1 after hearing an explosion followed by intense fire. Although the LPD do not believe the two incidents are related, they have opened an investigation all the same.
Car chase with stolen vehicle from Laval ends in Montreal
Two people driving a stolen vehicle led the officers of the Service de police de Laval (SPL) in a chase that finally ended in the borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville, in Montreal, on Sunday evening.
The theft of the Subaru brand vehicle, in the Saint-Vincentde-Paul sector, was reported to the police a few hours earlier.
He had been seen in the neighborhood originally, but the driver had greatly accelerated and was difficult to catch up, according to Lieutenant Jean-François Gignac, of the SPL.
It was finally at the intersection of Boulevard Henri-Bourassa and Rue Saint-Hubert that the vehicle was abandoned, in very poor condition, after it lost control.
The two suspects fled, and after police raided the area, one of them, a man in his twenties, was found and arrested. The investigation is still ongoing to find the other fugitive.
Retired singer is being billed as opposition party’s ‘star’ candidate
For decades now, Quebec’s television viewers and music-buying public have purchased her records and watched her on reality TV.
However, voters in Laval’s Vimont district will decide in November whether Jacynthe Millette-Bilodeau – better known professionally simply as Jacynthe – also scores a Top 10 with them when they go to the polls during the city’s municipal elections.
The Action Laval party announced last week that Jacynthe Millette-Bilodeau would be the party’s “star” candidate in the Nov. 7 vote.
Galati connection
Incumbent Action Laval city councillor for St-Vincent-de-Paul Paolo Galati, who built a career as a showbiz agent prior to entering politics, is credited for having used his connections to recruit her as a city council candidate for the party.
The 41-year-old native of Quebec City has recorded five albums since 1996, when she launched her career while still in her teens. She had two Top 10 hits with Seize the Day and Look Who’s Crying Now, a series of No. 1 hits on Quebec radio stations, and a significant base of fans in Japan.
Works as an ESL teacher
In 2004, she was part of the cast of the French-language reality TV series La Vie Rurale, which was produced by Quebec vocalist and businesswoman Anne-Marie Losique. In more recent years, she’s been a teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL) atÉcole du Bois-Joli in Duvernay/Laval.
‘During my career as an entertainer, I always tried to establish a close connection with people,’ says 41-year-old entertainer and aspiring politician
“During my career as an entertainer, I always tried to establish a close connection with people and to give back by participating in telethons while working with a number of foundations,” she said during a press conference. “Now, as a teacher and as a mom, I continue to be involved as a parent and a volunteer.”
But popcorn and snacks won’t be sold in Laval or Montreal until June 7
Following the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown which kept most movie theatres in the province closed since last year, Vincenzo Guzzo, President and CEO of Cinémas Guzzo, has announced the reopening of all Cinémas Guzzo theatres, in accordance with provincial health and safety guidelines.
The owner of the largest independent chain of movie theatres in Quebec, and a “Dragon” on CBC Television’s entrepreneurially-focused show Dragons’s Den, says moviegoers will finally be able to enjoy the complete experience Cinémas Guzzo offers its guests in all nine of its locations throughout the province.
End of confinement
Mega-Plex Marché Central 18 (IMAX,) Mega-Plex Taschereau 18 (IMAX,) Mega-Plex Lacordaire 16, Mega-Plex Pont-Viau 16 (IMAX,) Mega-Plex Lacordaire 16, Mega-Plex Terrebonne 14 (IMAX,) Mega-Plex Jacques-Cartier 15, Mega-Plex Deux Montagnes 14 (IMAX,) and Cinéma Guzzo des Sources (IMAX) will once again greet movie goers with feature films.
Additionally, according to Guzzo, later this summer the ever-popular movie theatre chain’s new state-of-the-art Mega-Plex Saint-Jean 12 will be inaugurated on Montreal’s South Shore.
“I’m confident people will return to cinemas as they are tired of being confined mainly to their homes and they crave that special moviegoing experience,” Guzzo said in a statement. “There is simply nothing like seeing a good movie on a big screen.
Long-awaited reopening
“We’ve been closed since late September of last year and from the overwhelming feedback we’ve received, it’s clear that our loyal customers are anxiously awaiting our reopening and it will be an honour to welcome them back,” he added.
“I’m also excited to announce that our tenth theatre will soon open in the community of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and it will feature Giulietta Pizzeria,” Guzzo said.
Following official health and safety measures, each Cinémas Guzzo auditorium will be allowed a maximum of two hundred and fifty guests, while maintaining the required physical distancing. Furthermore, government-approved air filtration systems and disinfection protocols will be in place.
Some restrictions ‘til June 7
Guzzo wasn’t waiting for Laval or Montreal to become Orange pandemic zones to reopen his theatres. Although the government decreed a general relaxation of the curfew beginning on May 28, Laval and Montreal still remain under some Red zone restrictions, such as the sale of popcorn and other snacks in theatres, until June 7.
“I am a little disappointed because I was hoping to reopen my food counters at the same time as my theatres, beginning on May 28,” he told a Montreal daily last week. “But I understand the situation and I can live with it.”
‘I’m confident people will return to cinemas as they are tired of being confined,’ says chain owner Vince Guzzo
However, Montreal’s South Shore, as well as the Laurentian and Lanaudière regions, entered Orange zone status beginning on May 31, meaning that Cinémas Guzzo was able to reopen the snack concessions at its theatres there.
Waited until now
Since February, only theatres in Orange and Yellow zones have had the right to sell snacks to customers. It was for that reason that Cinémas Guzzo had decided in February not to reopen its theatres, since the loss of revenue from the food concessions made reopening before then impractical.
Vince Guzzo is widely regarded as a seasoned entrepreneur, with a diverse portfolio of businesses that includes his multi-theatre chain, restaurants, a construction company, an e-commerce gourmet food platform, and a personal fashion brand called “Mr. Sunshine.”
A true ‘Dragon’
In addition to these business successes, in 2007 he and his wife, Maria, established the Guzzo Foundation to centralize their philanthropic endeavours, through which they have raised millions of dollars to support medical research aimed at the prevention of cancer and the support of mental health initiatives.
As well, his role as a “Dragon” on CBC’s wildly popular and internationally syndicated Dragons’s Den program has provided Vince Guzzo with a platform to share his personal insights on entrepreneurialism, while giving entrepreneurial guidance to people around the world.
From June 1 to September 6, whenever Environment Canada issues a smog warning for the Laval region, the Société de transport de Laval (STL) will reduce its fare to $1 the following day throughout its regular bus and shared taxi network.
The STL hopes that this initiative—which is unique in Canada—will encourage public transit use in Laval and reduce the number of cars on the road, which are responsible for a large part of atmospheric pollution during the summer.
“Once again this year, we are proud to launch our Smog Alert program. Public transit plays a crucial role in fighting climate change, and this initiative reflects our commitment to improving air quality,” explains STL Board President Éric Morasse.
The special $1 fare in effect the day following a smog event is equivalent to a reduction of almost 70% off the regular single fare.
Watch for smog alerts!
When there is a smog alert, the STL will issue a special bulletin on its website, on its newsletter, social media and on variable message signs operated by the ministère des Transports (MTQ) along the region’s main highways, in addition to providing announcements to media outlets.
STL providing accessible transportation to disabled women fleeing domestic violence
To mark Quebec Week for Disabled Persons, the Association Lavalloise du Transport Adapté (ALTA) and Société de transport de Laval (STL) are proud to announce a new initiative making it possible for disabled women who are victims of domestic violence to use accessible transit services free of charge, with no registration required.
The project began in spring 2019 with the creation of a task force made up of women working for the following organizations: Table de concertation de Laval en condition féminine (TCLCF), Société de Transport de Laval (STL), Regroupement des Organismes pour la Promotion des Personnes Handicapées de Laval (ROPPHL), Lina’s Home, Maison le Prélude, Maison l’Esther, and the Association Lavalloise pour le Transport Adapté (ALTA). Evidence shows that 39% of women with functional limitations are likely to experience spousal violence, but they are underrepresented in shelters.1
“Domestic violence against disabled women is a serious issue, and given that transportation to shelters has been identified as a barrier, I am very proud that the STL is part of the solution. The initiative provides women and children fleeing domestic violence with an option that is free of charge, quick and easy to use,” says Éric Morasse, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Société de transport de Laval.
“We are proud to work with the City of Laval and support the project as part of the sectoral development agreement to promote gender equality in the region. The Secrétariat à la condition féminine has provided close to $100,000 in funding over two years to ensure the successful implementation of the project. This is a meaningful initiative developed jointly with a number of regional partners. The new project will enable women with disabilities to get out faster of abusive relationships and find their way to a shelter. Removing barriers for women who need to go seek help is a step in the right direction,” says Isabelle Charest, Minister for Education and Minister responsible for the Status of Women.
“The new approach is a community-driven solution to the pressing issue of domestic violence against women with disabilities. The City of Laval is pleased to be the launchpad for this initiative, which is the first of its kind in the province. Quebec’s disability awareness week is the perfect opportunity to spread awareness of the many barriers to inclusion and of the serious challenges disabled people are facing in their daily lives, even when they find themselves in abusive situations,” says Stéphane Boyer, Deputy Mayor.
The service is easy to use. Women can call any of the three shelters in Laval and the shelter then contacts the STL to book a ride without disclosing the victim’s name. Rides can be booked for the same day with a minimum of two hours’ notice. The drivers, who have experience working with people with functional limitations, are sensitive to the issue of domestic violence and will respect the women’s privacy.
An awareness campaign led by ALTA
In addition to the initiative, ALTA is distributing awareness materials to better support at-risk women with functional limitations who are fleeing abusive relationships.
“It is critical that we address the issue of domestic violence against disabled women. We want to circulate the awareness campaign logo and posters to give a voice to women with disabilities. More information and details will soon be available on the project website. We are proud to continue working on this initiative and other projects over the coming months”, says Mara Audet-Leblanc, Chief Executive Officer of ALTA.
The website can be accessed at www.fshlaval.ca as of June 15.
Liliya Boyadjieva hopes to make breakthroughs in health technology
A young Laval woman with aspirations to advance in the traditionally male-dominated domain of electrical engineering is one of five female university undergraduates from across Canada who’ve been chosen to receive scholarships from the Canadian Engineering Memorial Foundation.
An ÉTS student
Liliya Boyadjieva, who currently is attending École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) in Montreal, is a second-year electrical engineering student. She and the others were selected as 2021 CEMF Undergraduate Women in Engineering Scholarship winners, the CEMF says.
They were chosen as the strongest regional ambassadors in their profession, based on their leadership, volunteerism and community involvement. Each award is valued at $5,000 and comes with extensive networking and promotional opportunities for the recipients.
Women in engineering
The scholarships are awarded annually to the most promising women in an accredited undergraduate engineering program in Canada. Since 1990, the CEMF has been promoting engineering as a career choice for young Canadian women through an extensive award and networking program.
While the level of competition is always outstanding, with many strong contenders among the women in engineering, the CEMF says the five women chosen this year stood out as the very best. All of the recipients are actively involved in their communities, volunteer many hours to helping others and are strong role models for the engineering profession.
Inspired by robotics
Liliya, 23, lives in Laval’s Sainte-Dorothée district. She went to high school at École internationale de Laval in Chomedey.
In an interview with the Laval News, she explained how she became interested enough in electrical engineering to pursue a career in the domain. “It was a long road,” she said. “When I was in high school, I had the opportunity to participate in robotics competitions and I participated one year. And that sparked an interest for me in robotics.
“When I went into CEGEP at Collège Bois-de-Boulogne, they had a team in competition there. And it was there that I really just fell in love with creating things with my hands, the process of designing something from scratch. That’s really when I started to love engineering.”
Interested in health technology
Currently studying at ÉTS for a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, she hopes eventually to apply her learning and skills towards the development of health and medical technology, a field where robotics are increasingly being used in areas such as surgery.
She was inspired to pursue electrical engineering as a career after taking part in robotics competitions
“I think there’s a lot of work to be done in that area, and not a lot of people going into it,” she continued, noting that part of her current studies include health technology. While she had previously received awards for her entries in robotics competitions, she said the CEMF scholarship “is the biggest honour I’ve been given so far. It is indeed a great honour for me.”
Worthy award winners
“It is heartening to see so many qualified and capable applicants,” said Julie Lassonde, the CEMF’s president.
“Each of these young women are worthy award winners and we look forward to watching them continue to help connect young Canadians, through their passionate volunteerism, with engineering and its vast possibilities as a viable career choice for other young ladies.
“We’re delighted to see their infectious enthusiasm for engineering, and are thrilled to be supporting them in their future endeavours.”
