Severe thunder storms that rolled through the Montreal region Sunday evening damaged power distribution systems and plunged at least 558 Hydro Quebec clients in Laval into darkness.
There were also local reports of flooding from rains generated as a side effect from tropical storm Isaias which has been sitting off the coast of Florida and is expected to make its way up the eastern U.S. seaboard to cause disturbances in Canada’s maritime provinces.
In addition to the thunder and lightning, Environment Canada issued an advisory for the Montreal region saying that the severe weather could also be capable of producing strong wind gusts and even tornadoes.
The forecast is for the rain to continue until Monday afternoon, after which it is expected to begin once more on Tuesday and Wednesday. Sunny weather isn’t expected to return until at least Thursday.
The federal government announced on Friday that following suspension of most passport operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadians can apply for a passport once again by mail.
According to the government, if Canadians have an immediate need for a passport or are travelling in less than 30 days with proof of travel, they can request in-person appointments. Applicants can visit Canada.ca/passport to learn more and find out how to apply.
For those who don’t have immediate travel plans, the government is asking that they wait before applying for a passport. They say processing times are expected to be longer than normal due to high demand and measures to safeguard the health and safety of Service Canada Centre employees, as well as the public.
Applicants who are concerned about renewing their passport should note that they can now use a simplified renewal process within two years after the expiry date rather than one, if their passport expired on or after February 1, 2019.
This means there is more time to renew if they aren’t travelling soon. The simplified renewal process will allow applicants to submit a shorter form without resubmitting their citizenship documents and a guarantor declaration.
As Service Canada Centres begin to gradually and safely reopen, passport services will be limited to appointment only. Canadians can also continue to visit canada.ca/service-canada-home for the latest updates.
Health Canada is advising Canadians that the following hand sanitizers, which contain technical-grade ethanol, may pose health risks. For more information, including what Canadians should do, visit the online safety alert.
Canadians are also advised to refer to the list of hand sanitizers that contain ethanol or denaturants that are not acceptable in hand sanitizers and are being recalled from the market because they may pose a risk to health.
Health Canada maintains these lists of hand sanitizers that may pose health risks, so that Canadians can easily identify products they may have purchased and take appropriate action. Canadians are encouraged to check both lists regularly for updates.
Product
Company
NPN or DIN
Lot Number(s)
Expiry Date
Date Added
BioOrigin Pure Hands Antibacterial Hand Gel
Mineral Origin Inc.
80098887
12020 12720-2 14020 14320
October 2021 November 2021 November 2021 November 2021
A 17-year-old teenager from Laval’s Vimont district who succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained in a park behind a school during the early morning hours Thursday following a shooting incident has been identified.
According to the Laval Police, it was just a quarter hour past midnight on Thursday when residents in the quiet, semi-rural neighbourhood heard what they later described as explosive sounds and called the police department.
Witnesses told media later that they heard at least six shots. While they thought at first it might be fireworks, they then heard people screaming as well as voices speaking loudly.
A shooting incident in the park behind this school near the corner of Saint-Elzéar Blvd. and Bédard St. in Vimont early Thursday morning ended with one teenager dead and another hospitalized.
By the time a squad car from the LPD reached the scene at the corner of Saint-Elzéar Blvd. and Bédard St. just a few minutes later, they found one of the teens sprawled on playground equipment, unconscious and suffering from a gunshot wound. Although the teen was transported to hospital, he was declared dead some time after arrival.
A second teen, this one 18 years old, was found shortly afterwards by the police in the same park, which is located behind École des Explorateurs. He too had suffered a gunshot wound, although not as seriously. While the police were able to get some basic information from him, they were unable to determine the identity of the shooter.
While the police say that neither of the victims had any previous run-ins with the law, the Montreal daily La Presse reported on Thursday that the LPD isn’t completely ruling out the possibility the incident was the result of a confrontation between the two teens which turned violent.
On Friday, La Presse identified the 17-year-old youth who succumbed to his gunshot wound as Dario Frometa Valdes. The Laval Police are continuing to investigate.
The Laval Police Department is asking the public for assistance in locating 23-year-old Isaiah Atkins.
An arrest warrant was issued for him on July 28, on charges of aggravated assault, break and enter, assault with a weapon and theft.
On July 4, at 4:15 a.m., the suspect allegedly broke down the door to his ex-spouse’s apartment, in the Laval-des-Rapides sector.
He then allegedly attacked her with a knife, in addition to similarly injuring two other individuals in the apartment.
The three victims were hospitalized for injuries which are not life-threatening, but which will leave them with medical and psychological consequences.
Description: – Black male, 23 years old. Measures 1.80 m (5 ’11’). Black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information concerning Isaiah Atkins can communicate confidentially on the Info Line at 450-662-INFO (4636) or dial 911 and mention the LVL 200704 015 file.
The Laval Police allege that this man robbed a Pizza Pizza restaurant in Sainte-Rose in November last year.
The Laval Police Department is requesting the public’s cooperation in helping to identify a suspect who committed a robbery at the Pizza Pizza restaurant, located at 240 boul. Curé-Labelle in the Ste-Rose area in November last year.
At approximately 9:55 p.m. on November 9 2019, the suspect arrived at the Pizza Pizza restaurant and headed into the kitchen. He allegedly threatened an employee with a knife to get the contents of the cash register. He then fled on foot.
Description of suspect: Black male, around 40, English speaking. Measures approximately 5 feet and 10 inches (1.7m) – Mid-length black curly hair, short beard. Wore a brown leather coat, blue jeans and a black cap.
Anyone who has information about this individual can communicate confidentially on the Info Line at 450 662-INFO (4636) or dial 911 and mention the LVL file 191 109 075.
With the BIXI bicycle rental system now in the midst of its first year in Laval, the city announced on Tuesday that two more BIXI bike stations and 15 standard BIXI bikes are being added to the growing network.
Laval is opening two more BIXI stations, both of which are in Laval-des-Rapides.
Beginning on Wednesday July 29, new stations are expected to be up and running in Laval-des-Rapides on Legrand Ave. at the corner of Cartier Blvd. Ouest (in front of the Émile Nelligan library branch), as well as on Robin Blvd. at the corner of 15th Ave.
According to the city, this will bring the total number of BIXI stations in Laval up to six, and the number of BIXI bicycles to 55, 40 of which are electrically-assisted bikes.
The City of Laval has been a member of the BIXI bike-sharing network since October 2019.
Laval plans to have up to 350 BIXI bikes available on its territory in ten years time. The current BIXI season got underway on April 15 and will continue until Nov. 15 when the bikes will be withdrawn for the winter.
With the after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic still playing havoc with the Quebec economy, the province’s Coalition Avenir Québec government announced on Monday that it is extending the deadline for paying the balance owing on 2019 income taxes to Sept. 30.
The government had previously set the deadline at Sept. 1.
According to a statement issued by Revenu Québec on July 27, the new deadline applies to personal, corporate and trust fund tax accounts. The provincial tax gathering agency said the extension will also apply to any amounts that would have been owing to Revenu Québec on Sept. 1.
Revenu Québec said the new date is in line with an extension to Sept. 30 that was announced on the same day by Revenue Canada. According to Revenu Québec, there will be no penalties or interest to pay if all balances owing are paid in full by the new deadline.
Details of the new measures are available from this linked informationbulletin issued by the Quebec Ministry of Finance. Revenu Québec says that anyone who expects to have problems paying in full by the deadline can negotiate a payment schedule.
The Laval Police Department (SPL) is requesting the public’s cooperation in identifying a suspect who committed a hit-and-run causing injury to an individual in the Auteuil sector.
Chronology of event: On July 16, around 11 a.m., a motorist and his passenger left a commercial lot located on boul. des Laurentides, near the intersection of rue Turcot. The driver headed north, cutting off a 16-year-old boy who was traveling south on a scooter. The latter lost control of his motor bike, fell and hit the car.
The Laval Police say they want to speak to this man about his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run accident that left one person injured.
The motorist stopped and got out of his vehicle to approach the victim, cell phone in hand. However, he would then have returned to his vehicle to exit north without providing assistance to the victim. The victim was taken to a hospital for bruises, scrapes and a concussion. He was released from the hospital the next day. The investigation uncovered a photo of the suspect and his passenger who had visited a business before the accident.
Description of the suspect: Black man; – Measures approximately 1m 78 (5 feet and 10 inches); – Earring on both ears, a gold chain and bracelet on the right wrist.
Description of the passenger: Black woman; – Measures approximately 1 m 67 (5 feet and 6 inches);
Description of the suspect’s vehicle: – Black sedan, 4 doors, Mazda 6 style from 2010-2012.
All information on suspects can be reported to police on Info Line 450-662-INFO (4636) or by dialing 911, mentioning file LVL-200716-038.
Saying they want to help restaurant owners and local businesses increase their capacity during the COVID-19 recovery period, officials with the City of Laval have announced a new pilot project that will allow restauranteurs and retailers to temporarily enlarge outdoor terraces and open-air commercial spaces.
According to the city, merchants and other business owners who wish will be able to ask for short-term permission to enlarge an outdoor terrace that is either within their own space or in an adjacent parking lot. The measure is expected to remain in effect until COVID-19 physical distancing measures come to an expected end on Nov. 30, but could be renewed if necessary, says the city.
The City of Laval is launching a COVID-19 economic recovery pilot project that will allow restaurant operators and other business owners to expand outdoor terraces and exterior retail spaces.
“The municipal by-law normally forbids any sort of temporary set up, whether on a public or private space,” says Laval city councilor Stéphane Boyer, vice-president of the executive-committee who is also responsible for economic development dossiers.
“However, due to the current economic and sanitary situation, we believe it is more important than ever to support our merchants.
“This pilot project is therefore part of the economic revival of our businesses, but also part of our determined efforts to better serve our citizens, while making Laval a dynamic and attractive city,” added Boyer.
The city says that business owners who may wish to participate in the pilot project should call 3-1-1 in order to start off the process by submitting a plan.
The dossier will then be studied to see whether the plan meets certain basic requirements, such as fire safety and traffic fluidity in parking areas, says the city.
