As part of the Laval Green and Blue Network, the City of Laval says it has carried out an ambitious project to plant trees and revegetate several highway ramps located on its territory.
According to the city, the project is part of a goal to increase the canopy, while reducing heat islands.
Representing an investment of $718,689, this greening project was made possible thanks to a contribution of $273,208 from the City of Laval, to which was added an amount of $445,481 coming, in equal parts, from the Government of Quebec and the Montreal Metropolitan Community, through the Greater Montreal Green and Blue Network program.
More trees expected to grow in City of Laval. (Photo: City of Laval, Vincent Girard)
An increase in heat waves, exacerbated by urbanization, represents a major challenge for the health and well-being of people. In order to respond to the challenge and improve the city’s resilience, Laval set itself an ambitious objective: to plant 30,000 trees by the end of 2025.
To achieve this objective, planting and revegetation of motorway slip roads became one of the major focuses of the project.
In 2024, tree planting work was carried out in five areas located at two Laval autoroute interchanges: the A-25 and on Boulevard des Mille-Îles, as well as on the A-440 and along Montée Saint-François.
“The fight against climate change and heat islands is of paramount importance to our government,” said Sainte-Rose MNA Christopher Skeete, Delegated Minister for the Economy in the CAQ government who is also minister responsible for the Laval region.
In Laval, we are committed to and taking action to protect the environment, the biggest challenge of the 21st century,” said Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer.
“The planting of 9,000 trees and plants on motorway slip roads, covering a total area of more than 10,000 m² last year, marked a further step in the fight against heat islands,” he added.
“We want a cooler, greener, and more resilient city to the heat waves and heatwaves that are increasingly affecting our communities.”
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 has been sentenced to a decade in prison.
(Photo: Courtesy YouTube/The 4K Guy)
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.
Surveillance camera images used in a subsequent investigation showed him not holding the steering wheel leading up to the crash.
The Quebec auto insurance board (SAAQ) had previously said he was unfit to work as a truck driver due to major physical and psychological problems.
Grewal’s license was also suspended at the time of the crash, and he was convicted three times for impaired driving in the 1990s
“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.
The Laval Police recently announced the arrest of two suspects believed to be connected with the murder of a man outside a Saint-Martin Blvd. reception hall in December 2023.
The suspects, Mewael Tesfit Betsuamlak, 20, and Hamza Hamud Ali, 23, are believed by the police to have been the perpetrators of the shooting of Marc Issa El-Khoury, thought to be linked to organized crime, while he was attending a wedding reception.
One of the two suspects shot El-Khoury as he was standing outside the reception hall.
Working in conjunction with other law enforcement officials, the LPD were able to track one of the suspects to Kitchener in Ontario, while the other was already behind bars at the provincial Donnacona detention centre near Quebec City where he was serving a six-month sentence for illegal possession of a firearm.
The murder is believed to be related to organized crime rivalries between Hells Angels in Ontario and street gangs in Montreal, both of which are involved in drug trafficking.
LPD asks for Duvernay residents’ help after Cap-à-l’Aigle shooting
The Laval Police are asking residents of Cap-à-l’Aigle Street in the city’s Duvernay district for permission to view their homes’ security camera images as part of an investigation into a shooting incident that took place during the late-night hours on Sunday May 4.
Officers from the LPD responded to a 9-1-1 call around 11 pm after shots were fired at a residence on the street. Although there were no reported injuries and no arrests have been made, LPD investigators are seeking leads to identify the perpetrators.
Sainte-Dorothée home heavily damaged by fire
A house on Desjardins St. in Laval’s Sainte-Dorothée district suffered more than $250,000 in damages from a fire that broke out in the early morning hours on May 3.
Firefighters who arrived on the scene around 4:10 am could see flames within the house’s kitchen.
Although they succeeded in preventing the blaze from spreading further, three people are now temporarily homeless.
As well as the damage done to the building, there was an estimated $100,000 in additional damages to interior furnishings.
LPD seeks victims of man charged with sexual assault on minors
The Laval Police are asking potential victims of a 31-year-old man facing sexual assault charges involving minors to come forward and provide additional information.
Dillon Buckly, 31, faces charges of harassment, luring and sexual assault. (Photo: Laval Police)
According to a press release issued by the LPD, Dillon Buckley is charged with harassment, luring on the internet, invitation to sexual contact and sexual assault.
The LPD alleges that Buckley used social media to contact victims, although they say he was also known to contact them in public places where he would provide them with a telephone number to call. Once he had gained the trust of victims, the police allege, he would meet and sexually assault them.
The acts, all of which are alleged to have taken place in Laval, were between September 2024 and April 2025, although the victims were not Laval residents.
Anyone who believes they may be among the victims is urged to call the LPD’s Info Line at 450 662-INFO (4636), or the 9-1-1 emergency line. The file number is LVL250415058.
Recent fire calls
May 10 MAI | 03:42 am // Building fire on Dagenais Blvd. in Laval’s Vimont district. Multi-unit building. Flames apparent upon arrival of firefighters. Source of fire traced to a kitchen within building. Firefighters called in a 10-09 code, requesting additional units, with further aggravation possible.
May 3 | 18:58 pm // Building fire on 37th Avenue in Laval’s Fabreville sector. Residential building. House was completely engulfed in flames upon firefighters’ arrival. Firefighters called in a Code 10-12, requesting additional units following a second alarm.
Our faithful representative for nearly 25 years, Jean-Paul Chamberland passed away on May 6, 2025 at the Cité de la Santé in Laval.
Jean-Paul was very discreet about his private life and his clients were probably unaware that he had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for several years.
His good humour and professionalism will be missed.
Saint-Bruno district’s municipal councillor David De Cotis, member of Action Laval, along with mayoral candidate Frédéric Mayer, have acknowledged the recent announcement by the City of Laval and the Société de transport de Laval (STL) regarding the partial reinstatement of four bus lines serving certain seniors’ residences.
This decision comes nearly four months after Action Laval proposed the reinstatement of this essential service, which was unjustly withdrawn in 2024.
Mr. De Cotis, who has been vocal about the issue since August 2024, expressed his frustration: “The partial return of the service is good news, but it comes far too late. What seniors have experienced since last year is unacceptable. We must stop playing yo-yo with essential services. The improvisation of this administration has lasted long enough.”
Despite the service’s partial restoration, which affects nine residences, several establishments remain without service. The current plan offers only one round trip per week, which is insufficient to address the isolation and needs of the elderly.
“This is not a gift; it is an obligatory retreat by the mayor in the face of popular pressure. This partial return is a step forward, but it also highlights the lack of vision of the current administration. Laval deserves better than this amateurism,” stated Frédéric Mayer, mayoral candidate.
Public transit in Laval continues to face significant challenges. The current administration has struggled to prioritize effectively and be accountable for its decisions. The purchase of expensive software following service and staff reductions is highly questionable.
Coupled with the elimination of bus lines, increased registrations, and the fare hikes announced for July, Laval residents are paying more for fewer services.
The City of Laval, in collaboration with the Société de transport de Laval (STL), is excited to announce the resumption of public bus services for seniors residing in retirement homes.
Starting Monday May 12, the STL will operate four dedicated bus lines (102, 104, 106, 107) to serve nine seniors’ residences that are located more than 200 meters from a regular bus stop. This service is exclusively for residences that were previously served before June 2024.
Each of these routes will provide one round trip per week between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., continuing until the end of December 2025. A re-evaluation of the service is scheduled for mid-December to assess its impact and make any necessary adjustments.
This initiative has been made possible through funding from the City of Laval, aiming to enhance the mobility of seniors and combat social isolation, a growing concern in our communities.
Mayor Stéphane Boyer expressed his satisfaction with the return of these bus lines, emphasizing their importance for seniors in retirement homes. “In a context of limited public finances, we worked with the STL to develop a targeted solution focused on the most underserved sectors. The mobility of seniors remains a priority for Laval. This service, fully funded by the City, complements existing measures, including the free bus pass for people aged 65 and over, to promote accessible and inclusive travel,” he stated.
Jocelyne Frédéric-Gauthier, Chair of the Board of Directors of the STL, highlighted the significance of the City’s financial support. “The recommissioning of these revised lines allows the STL to fulfill its mission of providing transportation services that meet the needs of the Laval community while promoting access to public transit. Despite presenting a balanced budget for 2025, funding challenges persist in a context where the population’s travel needs are increasing,” she noted.
This renewed service underscores Laval’s commitment to supporting its senior residents and ensuring their mobility and social inclusion.
Additional Information
The following residences will benefit from the revised transportation service once a week. The routes of the bus lines concerned have been adjusted according to the new service. • Domaine des Forges 1 and 3 (Ste-Rose district) • Thérèse Casgrain Manor (Ste-Rose district) • Plateau-Ouimet Residence (Ste-Rose District) • Manoir Marc-Aurèle-Fortin (Ste-Rose district) • Vimont Residence (St-Bruno district) • Manoir du Sablon (district of Chomedey) • Manoir de La Giraudière (district of Marigot) • Manoir des Prairies (Laval-des-Rapides district) • Manoir St-Claude (district of Marigot)
Information on the new routes and timetables for the four lines dedicated to residences will be available in the coming days at stlaval.ca/ reseau/horaires-residences
For any questions related to residential service, customers can contact the STL’s Customer Contact Centre at 450-688-6520.
Former SQ investigator has been hard at work on TV crime series since retiring
Former Chomedey MNA Guy Ouellette 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.
Wide-ranging career
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. For most of that time, he sat with the Quebec Liberals, although as an independent during his last term.
At the same time, former Canadian pro boxer Marie-Ève Dicaire, who is a two-time IBF female super-welterweight World champion, was also presented with the King Charles III Coronation Medal. Both were cited for their “exceptional contributions to the community, to Quebec and to Canada.”
‘Humbled and honored’
“I accept this recognition with pride and humility,” Ouellette said in a message posted on his LinkedIn feed, following the ceremony which took place at Saint-Eustache city hall. “Thanks to Senator Claude Carignan, to [Saint-Eustache] mayor Pierre Charron and to Marie-Ève Dicaire, a model of perseverance,” Ouellette added.
In an interview with The Laval News, Ouellette said that receiving the medal was an emotional experience for him. “Because all my life, I always gave more than I received,” he said. “And when you receive something and you don’t know what to say, that’s what happens. For me, that was something special. I was humbled and honored to receive it.”
A prolific author
In addition to his law enforcement and legislative work, Ouellette is also the author of several books. They include ‘Mom,’ an in-depth wor of non-fiction about former Hells Angels Quebec leader Maurice ‘Mom’ Boucher.
Ouellette also wrote ‘Qu’on accuse ou qu’on s’excuse: Les dessous de mon arrestation illégale,’ a 2020 full-length examination by Ouellette, closely examining the circumstances surrounding his arrest, without being charged, by Quebec’s Unité permanente anticorruption (UPAC).
Since retiring from politics, Ouellette has also worked with Quebec screenwriter Luc Dionne (who created the Quebec television series Omerta, the second most popular series in Quebec television history) as a consultant on the Dionne script for the 2024 TV series ‘L’appel.’
Contributed to TV series
According to a description of L’Appel posted by Videotron where it is available for streaming, it “tells the story behind this important piece of Québec judicial history, the prosecutors’ and investigators’ take on the case, and the steps that led to the arrest and conviction of Maurice “Mom” Boucher.”
As well, Ouellete said he is working on a second project, based partly on his experiences as a Sûreté du Québec investigator, while adding “not that I can talk about it,” although he might be able to in a few months.
Ouellette also worked as an expert consultant on Godasse: Le vrai visage d’un tueur des Hells, written by Jean-Louis Fortin and Éric Thibault and published this past February. It offers a look at hired assassin Stéphane ‘Godasse’ Gagné, whose witness testimony finally put Mom Boucher behind bars where he died of throat cancer in July 2022.
On May 8, David De Cotis, City Councillor for the Saint-Bruno district and leader on Council for Action Laval, enthusiastically participated in the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) fundraising campaign.
At the Vimont branch, he greeted customers and served their favorite sandwiches, contributing to the foundation’s mission of supporting over 26,000 Canadian families annually.
“This mission is crucial as it allows families affected by illness to stay together during their challenging times,” said Mr. De Cotis. “Having family by a child’s side during illness makes the child stronger.”
Mr. De Cotis embraced his role with dedication, joining the restaurant staff during peak hours to serve customers. “It’s wonderful to see families from my district participating in this event,” he noted. “For those who give, it’s a small gesture, but for those who benefit, it makes a significant difference.”
Committed to community involvement and charitable activities, Mr. De Cotis is always ready to lend a hand whenever possible.
Action Laval proudly announces that Mr. David De Cotis, municipal councillor for the district of Saint-Bruno and a dedicated member of their political party, has been awarded the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal.
This accolade, bestowed by the Government of Canada, celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to Canadian society or achieved remarkable feats that enhance the nation.
The Coronation Medal acknowledges Mr. De Cotis’ outstanding commitment to his community, his leadership within the city of Laval, and his unwavering dedication to public service.
“I am deeply honoured to receive the Coronation Medal from King Charles III. This recognition is a profound privilege and a significant symbol of appreciation for service during a pivotal moment in our country’s history. I accept it with heartfelt gratitude and a renewed commitment to serve with dedication and integrity. I extend my sincere thanks to Senator Leo Housakos for presenting me with the King Charles III Coronation Medal,” expressed David De Cotis.
For Action Laval, this honour underscores the dedication of its elected officials and the impact of their daily efforts. Interim leader Achille Cifelli remarked, “David De Cotis’ recognition is a source of immense pride for our entire party. It reflects not only his exemplary career but also the values of service, community engagement, and integrity that we collectively uphold.”
Action Laval reiterates its pride in having such a devoted elected official among its ranks and extends gratitude to all those who, like David De Cotis, contribute to building a city and a country that align with our aspirations.
Ex-federal minister leads fundraising, with support from more than half the PLQ MNA caucus
Although he came out of the first of the Quebec Liberal Party’s recent leadership debates relatively unscathed, Pablo Rodriguez took more of a pounding during the second event – especially when fellow leadership hopeful Mario Roy decided to challenge him.
PLQ hoping for a revival
Former Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec head Charles Milliard, former Conseil du patronat du Québec head Karl Blackburn, Matane commercial lawyer Marc Bélanger and Beauce agronomist and economist Mario Roy are also running for the leadership.
From the left, Matane commercial lawyer Marc Bélanger, Beauce agronomist and economist Mario Roy, former Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec head Charles Milliard, former federal cabinet minister Pablo Rodriguez and former Conseil du patronat du Québec head Karl Blackburn are running for the PLQ leadership. (Photo: Courtesy PLQ)
The Quebec Liberals are hoping the leadership race will help revive the party, which has been languishing since the rise of Premier François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec which bumped the PLQ aside following the province’s 2018 general election.
The candidates all seemed to agree that the CAQ’s time is up, while saying they would reclaim the PLQ’s status as the party most supportive of economic issues. The PLQ membership will finalize their choice of a new leader on June 14. The next provincial election is set for October 2026.
Rodriguez as frontrunner
As a former senior Liberal minister in the Trudeau cabinet – and with 16 years total experience in several federal Liberal governments – Rodriguez has emerged as one of the likeliest candidates to snag the PLQ’s leadership.
In the days leading up to the French and English-language debates held respectively in Laval and on Montreal’s West Island, it was revealed that Rodriguez had managed to beat out everyone else in campaign fundraising.
As well, it came out within a short time after the second debate that two more Liberal MNAs – Marwah Rizqy (Saint-Laurent) and Greg Kelley (Jacques-Cartier) – had decided to throw their backing behind Rodriguez, raising his support within the party’s 19-member caucus to 10.
While Rodriguez leaned heavily on his experience as a federal minister, saying he knows how to deliver, his rivals sometimes pointed to his close relationship with Justin Trudeau as a liability.
Although several Quebec governments have remained staunchly opposed to pipeline development, largely for environmental reasons, during the first debate Rodriguez was among the candidates who said they were open to fossil-fuel projects here as a means to boost Canada’s energy independence, while overcoming tariffs imposed by U.S. president Donald Trump.
Carbon pricing issue
Mario Roy, said he would end Quebec’s cap-and-trade program, which he said is making local businesses uncompetitive. Quebec’s carbon pricing scheme has been under scrutiny since Prime Minister Mark Carney abandoned the federal carbon tax in April.
Asked what a PLQ government might do differently if elected next year, Rodriguez said they wouldn’t engage in cheque-writing politics, an allusion to the Legault government’s practice of mailing out cash payments to Quebecers on a number of occasions.
“Another thing we wouldn’t do is to give money out to the Los Angeles Kings,” he added, referring to the CAQ government’s $7 million payment to the NHL team last year for exhibition matches in Quebec City.
Rodriguez comes under attack
Blackburn, who as head of the Conseil du patronat was highly critical of the CAQ government’s immigration quotas, said a Liberal government under his stewardship would do everything possible to maximize employer access to a qualified workforce.
While the overall tone of the first debate was collegial and tended to see the candidates agreeing with each other more than disagreeing, the second debate saw Mario Roy, the youngest of the contenders at age 31, making especially open thrusts at Rodriguez.
He suggested the former federal Heritage Minister had fundamentally abandoned Quebec’s English-speaking universities when the CAQ government passed legislation to force them to increase tuition fees charged to foreign students.
Ex-minister defends himself
“You did nothing at all,” Roy maintained. “You closed your eyes on the problem. The institutions were destroyed right and left, and the federal government looked at it and did nothing. So, when you come here and say, ‘We will change what is going on,’ why didn’t you do it before coming here?”
Rodriguez denied he did nothing, saying that “from day one when the CAQ did this, I came out publicly. I was a minister in the federal cabinet. I came out and I said very strongly: this is bad Mr. Legault, this is a bad idea because you’re closing windows and doors to the world. Those are my direct quotes. Go back and read the papers. That’s exactly what I said.”
