The annual March school break will be taking place from March 2 -6. But what can a family do to keep restless school kids who will be home busy during that time? The City of Laval, in conjunction with several local organizations, is offering a range of activities for families during the break all over Laval. For openers, the city is offering more than a dozen day camps throughout the school break week, including interior as well as exterior camps, bioscience camps, nature and environment camps, sport camps, craftmaking camps, etc. Registration is mandatory and space is limited. Information is available at campsdejour.laval.ca.
Outdoor park events
The City of Laval’s parks are also hosting outdoor winter festivals around the same time. On Feb. 29 from 1 pm to 4 pm, a festival event will be taking place at Parc Des Coccinelles, with music, hot chocolate and fun for kids. Also on Feb. 29 from 1 to 4 pm, the same sort of outdoor fun will be taking place at Parc Champfleury. On March 4 from 10 am to 4 pm, Parc Émile will be hosting a Rocket Fest, including games, initiation to curling, face-painting and maple taffy on snow. Then on March 6 from 7 to 9 pm, there will be an evening under the stars at the Berge aux Quatre-Vents, with storytelling around a campfire, star gazing, hot chocolate and “s’mores.”
Winter fun on break
In several of Laval’s parks and wooded areas, it will be possible during the school break to borrow skates, snow shoes or downhill sledding gear, in addition to taking part in organized activities in those parks. There’ll be skating and hockey on the outdoor rinks, sliding on hills, and paths through the woods that will be marked for cross-country skiing. These services will be available at the Berge des Baigneurs, the Berge aux Quatre-Vents, the Sainte-Dorothée woods, the Bois de l’Équerre, the Centre de la nature and at Parc Bernard-Landry).
Go for a swim
During the school break, there will also be open skating and hockey for kids, adolescents and adults at most arenas. At the city’s pools during the school break hours for swimming will be lengthened. The pools are: Centre sportif Honoré-Mercier (Sainte-Rose), and Centre sportif Josée-Faucher (Laval-des-Rapides). At the City of Laval’s public libraries, kids will be able to play board games, video games, CDs, DVDs, read books, and take part in special activities. At Laval’s Maison des arts, displays of art work and special presentations are also planned during this time.
Following some recent news reports questioning the future of some recycling depots in the City of Montreal, the City of Laval says it wants to assure its residents that Laval’s Tricentris recycling centre isn’t affected.
City reacts as Montreal faces escalating recycling crisis
A news release issued by Tricentris earlier this month said the organization was managing to operate its recycling triage centres to 95 – 99 per cent efficiency following the investment of money to improve procedures. The city suggests that Laval residents should continue with the good recycling practices they’ve acquired up to now, while striving to help improve the city’s overall recycling and waste disposal performance.
The Laval Police Service is requesting the collaboration of the public to aid in identifying a robbery suspect who committed several thefts in the Chomedey area.
In November and December of 2019, the suspect broke into residences and automobiles helping himself to expensive personal effects. The individual (assailant) took advantage of unlocked back and side doors of the homes, entered and robbed valuable items. Description of the Suspect: -Male Caucasian, approximately 18 yrs. old -About 5’10” -Wearing with a diamond earring on both ears -Sporting a hoodie sweater, a dark-colored tuque and jogging pants, dark-colored shoes and gloves. The Laval Police Service is advising residents to keep their cars, windows, and doors locked, and belongings secured. Ensure that all other easily accessible areas are secured. Citizens may contact police at any time to report a prowler or suspicious individual by calling 911. Anyone having any information leading to the identification of this individual can contact the INFO LINE or call 450 622-INFO (4636) or 911. Mention the File number LVL 1912 14-016.
While the City of Laval recently announced yet another postponement in its longstanding plans to build an Aquatic Complex, the history of the project dates back much further and is characterized by repeated delays and uncertainty over completing the project.
2009
Former Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board chairman Steve Bletas says he can remember talk of the Aquatic Complex project taking place between political players from the various levels of government in Laval as early as 2009. More than a decade ago, according to Bletas, the federal and provincial governments were expressing willingness to work with the City of Laval on the project. Along with that, he recalls, discussions were also underway in an attempt to get the SWLSB to become involved in the day-to-day operation of the Aquatic Complex – an offer that the SWLSB declined. While Bletas finds the delay in getting the project completed frustrating not only to himself but also to many others, he said he could understand what the Demers administration probably has in mind. He suggested that the Demers administration, which probably remains sensitive about the possibility of corruption within municipal institutions given Laval’s relatively recent past, finds it preferable to endure the negative publicity from repeated completion delays, to the alternative which would be massively inflated contract costs and estimate overruns. “You want to make sure that everything is above board and nothing is hidden,” he said.
2013
As former Laval mayor Gilles Vaillancourt was setting the wheels in motion for the eventual construction of Place Bell (although he was turfed from office before it started), the Aquatic Complex was already being talked about as Laval’s next major project after Place Bell. With the Place Bell project taken over by the Demers administration following their arrival in office in 2013, Place Bell opened in 2017 after three years construction.
2016
The City of Laval launched the architectural competition for the aquatic complex in 2016. Following a rigorous selection process, four finalists were chosen who made public presentations before a jury.
2017
In January 2017, Mayor Marc Demers announced the winner of the competition held to produce a design for the future Laval Aquatic Complex. A consortium was chosen for the building to be located on Terry Fox Ave. near the Cosmodôme. The corporation would be responsible for all planning and specifications for the building itself, as well as supervision of construction which was expected to be completed by 2020. In all, 17 proposals were received and analyzed. A selection jury was appointed by the city. Sitting on the jury were Olympic champion diver Alexandre Despatie, as well as an urban planner, a building engineer and architects. The building, initially estimated at $61.1 million, would have three pools, including one for swimming, another for diving and a third for recreational use. Pemanently-installed bleachers would accommodate 700 people, while an additional 500 temprary seating spaces would be made available for major events.
While the jury was said to be particularly impressed by the circular shape of the building, that circular shape is said today to be one of the factors responsible for the most recent delay, because contractors aren’t used to building a project designed along unconventional lines. Although the start of construction was scheduled to begin sometime in 2018 so that the Aquatic Complex would be ready in time for the Jeux du Québec Finals which Laval is hosting this July, that deadline no longer applies as most people know by now.
2018
By April 2018, the city was inviting residents to drop by city hall to view an exhibition showing plans developed by the four architectural competition finalists – including a 3D model of plans by the winning architectural firm. See photo below. However, in September 2018 the Laval executive-committee announced that a call for tenders that was made for the construction of the superstructure, building envelope and other aspects of the future Aquatic Complex were cancelled because the lowest of three bids came in 46 per cent higher than the city budgeted. “We are determined to build an aquatic centre,” Mayor Marc Demers said in a statement at the time. “We are talking about an infrastructure that is necessary for the well-being of Laval residents. On the other hand, we are not going to build it at any price.” According to the city, measures would be taken to protect the existing foundations for the Aquatic Complex in view of the approaching winter season. On Oct. 2 that year, city council approved an expense of $710, 930.75 to pay for the application of a waterproofing membrane on the concrete foundation. However, the city added that this waterproofing work would have been done anyway as part of the regular construction process.
2019
In November 2019, the vice-president of the executive-committee, Stéphane Boyer, issued a statement in which he said he wanted to set the record straight regarding the postponement of the Aquatic Complex project. “What must be understood is that the project is neither abandoned nor has it gone beyond the costs,” said Boyer. “We chose to cancel call for tenders lot number three to give us time to analyze the various alternatives that will allow us to realize this project while respecting a balance between costs and quality.”
2020
Officials with the city announced at the February city council meeting yet another delay: the cancellation of the contract with the architectural firm that was mandated to produce the initial plans for the Aquatic Complex. The city announced that its contract with the consortium of companies that had been chosen (NFOE|HCMA) was cancelled because of what the city referred to as “the impossibility of the consortium to respect its contractual obligations.”
Current Sacred Heart School of Montreal students Ocean Massey, left and June Liu greeted Raise the Roof guests as they arrived.
Martin C. Barry
Members of the Sacred Heart School of Montreal community raised $60,000 on Jan. 31 during a Raise the Roof capital campaign event to help build a new auditorium for Sacred Heart’s music and drama programs. One hundred and twenty-five guests – including members of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, current and past parents, alumnae, sponsors, suppliers, staff and faculty – attended the event at the Plaza Volare in the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Côte de Liesse Rd. They enjoyed lavish cocktails from tables sponsored by the Ferri Family, and had their photos taken by PBL Photography, sponsored by JCB Construction Canada.
From the left, Head of School Shawn O’Donnell and his wife Jackie, and Raise the Roof guests Laurie Leblanc and Michael McCullough.
A dazzling show
Entertainment, sponsored by CMLS Capital, was provided by Sacred Heart’s very own Erin Waldbrook, along with her husband Adam, as well as the Sacred Heart Show Choir and DJ Marco Ferri. While the Waldbrooks played flute and trombone to accompany the cocktail hour, the students put on a dazzling show with choreography, to the hit songs Believer by Imagine Dragons, and Most Girls by Hailee Steinfeld.
Some of the evening’s entertainment was provided by Sacred Heart’s very own Erin Waldbrook, along with her husband Adam.
Focus on wellness
In addition to the auditorium, Sacred Heart School of Montreal also plans to build a wellness centre for physical and mental health, while undertaking renovations to the Sacred Heart students’ overall learning environment. After some moving words by Sister Sheila Hammond, head of the Society of the Sacred Heart’s U.S.-Canada Province, supper was served. The 4-course dinner of Manicotti di Crespella Ripena Alla Fiorentina, with fusilli; arugula topped with Parmigiano shavings; braised beef (or a vegan or gluten-free alternative); and chocolate lava cake, was sponsored by ALRE Properties Inc.
Outgoing board president
The decor was sponsored by Architecture49. Menu cards and other printed materials were sponsored by Presti Homes & Developements. The ever-beautiful flower arrangements of tulips, white roses, and hortensias were generously donated by Fleuriste Jules d’Alcantara. The outgoing president of the board of directors, Roberto Di Giorgio, made a heartfelt speech about his time at Sacred Heart, both as a volunteer on the board as well as a parent to Alessia ’09 and Rebecca ’17. Alessia, an invaluable volunteer for the evening’s event, introduced her father.
Fundraising surpassed
Head of School, Shawn O’Donnell, thanked Mr. Di Giorgio for his years of service to the school and announced that the event surpassed its fundraising goal, earning $60,000 for The future at heart, to the benefit of the entire Sacred Heart community. Part of the funds were raised through the sale of raffle tickets the evening of the event, thanks to the help of alumnae volunteers Alessia Di Giorgio ’09, Stéphanie Christodoulopoulos ’09, Caterina Gasparrini ’91, and Rosemary Vaupshas ’78.
Capital improvements
As well, the live auction contributed greatly to the evening’s success, thanks to auctioneers Paul Kruszewski and Melanie Dirks. Registration for the event was sponsored by Golden Home Care. Proceeds from the evening will be invested in major capital improvements to the school. The wellness centre will be designed as a space to support the physical, mental and emotional health of the students, while the new performance space will also further contribute to the Sacred Heart community by making it available for events.
Certified trainer Nathalie Godin is continuing her quest to offer cross-disciplinary workouts to women 30-55 years of age in cardio, yoga, meditation, motivation and nutrition. A condensed session of her method tailored to the needs of women held at the Sportium sporting goods store at the Centre Laval on Jan. 16 was the third event organized by Godin since she began offering her services in October 2018.
Session in March
“The good news is that we’re going to be doing this all over again sometime in March,” she said in an interview with Newsfirst Multimedia, while noting that the date has been tentatively set for March 19. Godin said management at the Laval Sportium store was pleased to have been given the opportunity to host her latest workout session and that they hoped to welcome the women’s workout group back in March.
Learning CYMMA
For an hour during the most recent training session, Godin introduced the participants to her cross-disciplinary method, known as CYMMA, an abbreviation for Cardio, Yoga, Meditation, Motivation and Alimentation (nutrition). Godin was the founder of the Godrunners running group in November 2013. Having completed several grueling running challenges herself, including the 93-kilometre Montréal/New-York relay event, she wanted to share some of the secrets to her success with others.
A cross-discipline
Godin has trained more than 100 women in techniques to allow them to complete running challenges, ranging from 5-kilometre events all the way to half-marathons. For CYMMA, she expanded on her techniques to include yoga as a means for women to avoid self-injuries, while being able to stay in top shape. At the same time, Godin decided to include comprehensive information on proper nutrition, meditation and how to become fully motivated. “The goal is to inspire as many women as possible to integrate the five CYMMA elements into their activities, which will in turn bring balance into their lives,” she said.
Achieving balance
During full-length CYMMA sessions, a group of women do 45 minutes of walking on an outdoor course, followed by 45 minutes of yoga, 15 minutes of meditation, a session on proper nutrition, and conclude with an inspirational and motivational talk. While many participants are from Montreal, Laval and the North Shore, some women who have attended have come from all over Quebec, including Shawinigan and Trois-Rivières. She also has more than 10,000 followers on her Facebook page.
Godin hopes to eventually hold CYMMA training sessions in Quebec City and Sherbrooke. As well, she would like to make training available to employers who could offer it to interested employees.
Session set for May 16
Godin plans to hold a three-hour seminar on the CYMMA method at the Parc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles on Sainte-Rose Blvd. in Laval on May 16 from 9 am to 12 noon. She expects to receive up to 80 participants. The venue is especially beautiful, as it features outdoor pathways through woods alongside the picturesque Mille Îles River. Additional information is available at www.nathaliegodin.com, as well as on Facebook: @nathaliegodincymma, and Instagram: @nathaliegodin_cymma.
Independent Chomedey MNA Guy Ouellette says he is waiting for the conclusions of an investigation of potential UPAC abuse against him to be made public, but that a lawsuit against Quebec by him is likely to go ahead in 2020. Photo: Martin C. Barry
Martin C. Barry
Chomedey independent MNA Guy Ouellette says he is
waiting for the outcome of a police investigation before deciding this year whether
to proceed with a lawsuit against Quebec for allowing him to be arrested by
UPAC as a suspect allegedly involved in an information leak at the
investigative agency.
‘A trap,’
said Ouellette
In a controversial manoeuvre three years ago to find
the source of a suspected information leak, investigators with Quebec’s Unité
permanente anticorruption (UPAC) used a cell phone text message to draw
Ouellette to the residence of a leak suspect, where Ouellette ended up being
arrested.
Ouellette
called it a “trap,” while the police maintained it was a justifiable
investigative technique that was approved by a crown prosecutor and legally authorized
by a judge. At the time, Ouellette received solid support from National
Assembly members from all parties.
However, Ouellette, who used to represent Chomedey as
an elected member of the Quebec Liberal Party, also ended up being expelled from
the Liberal caucus by interim-leader Pierre Arcand.
Waiting for
the BEI
This happened after Coalition Avenir Québec
leader François Legault claimed during the 2018 election campaign that
Ouellette shared confidential
information about the Liberals with the CAQ.
“We are waiting for the investigation by the Bureau
des enquêtes indépendantes,” Ouellette said in an interview last week with the
Laval News, referring to the independent provincial agency that conducts
investigations into wrongdoing allegations involving the police.
The BEI investigators are specifically examining the
role of former UPAC director Robert Lafrenière,
who resigned in late 2018. Depending on the
conclusions of the BEI, Ouellette said, “We would have to go to court and
launch a file against the government for civil damages.”
Suit to
proceed in 2020
In the meantime, he said, “there are so many things
which have to be set up before taking any decision. But for now the most
important thing is the citizens of Chomedey, my riding, and doing what I have
to do for the people of Chomedey.”
Ouellette seemed certain about at least one thing: the
suit will proceed before this year is over. “It’s going to be in 2020,” he
said, noting that the BEI investigation was launched in October 2018 around the
same time Lafrenière quit. “I think this is going to
be an interesting year for sure,” said Ouellette.
Future with PLQ
As
for his future and relationship with the Quebec Liberal Party, Ouellette said
he remains a card-carrying member of the PLQ (although not yet re-admitted to
the party’s National Assembly caucus).
In
an interview with the Laval News last year, Ouellette
suggested that he and Pierre Arcand had settled their differences and that all
that stood in the way of getting back completely with the Liberals was to clear
the air with regards to the UPAC issue.
Michel Ianri, 59, was arrested by Laval Police on July 23, 2019 on suspicion of sexual assaults allegedly committed between 1986 to 1990. Known as Mike, Ianri was the manager of an arcade during the 1980s located on Laurel Boulevard in Laval-des-Rapides. Witnesses reported that the suspect had invited minors to his home to consume drugs and engage in sexual contact. His victims were mainly young males.
Investigators from the Major Crimes Division believe that there are other unidentified victims involved. On September 18, 2019, the accused appeared at Laval courthouse charged on several counts, including sexual assault, and incitement of sexual contact (touching). He was released with conditions, and will return to court on March 24, 2020.
Anyone who has been a victim of this individual is requested to contact the Laval Police Service to file an official complaint on the INFO LINE 450-662-INFO (4636), or call 911. Please cite file LVL 180628-034.
A computer-generated view of Carré Laval could look like as it is gradually developed over the next 20 years.
Martin C. Barry
The presence of two senior provincial government
ministers for an announcement that the City of Laval is pushing forward to
develop a large but underused tract of land near the downtown core was a good
sign Quebec is on board to see the project through, according to Mayor Marc
Demers.
Carré Laval, as the area is
called by Laval urban planners, is an almost perfectly square territory
measuring approximately 4 million square feet – equal to 68 football fields. It
is bounded in the east by the Laurentian autoroute, Daniel Johnson Blvd. to the
west, Saint Martin Blvd. to the north and Souvenir Blvd. on the south side.
Mostly
owned by city
While most of the 32 lots in the Carré
Laval are already owned by the city, the provincial
courthouse is located along the Saint Martin Blvd. side. As well, there is a
shopping mall occupying the corner lot at Saint Martin and Daniel Johnson.
There has also been some residential and commercial development nearby on the
site.
An abandoned and fairly deep quarry filled with water
sits behind the courthouse building. For years, the city has used a large
amount of Carré Laval’s space as a snow dump, with long lines of dump trucks making their way
on and off the site during the winter.
To develop over 20
years
The
city plans to develop the site for mixed use (residential, commercial,
institutional) over the next 20 years, with an emphasis on environmental
friendliness. For example, the Carré Laval
would be an area where automobiles would have no access, or it would be
extremely limited, although there would be lots of public transportation.
The transportation strategy calls for maximizing the
availability of public transit. As such, the plan would include the creation of
a new Metro stop in Carré Laval, which would bring to four the number of subway
stations on the City of Laval’s territory.
Among other things, Laval wants to put the flooded
quarry to good use by developing it into a lake in the middle of the city,
which would be the centrepiece of a park with a sandy beach.
From the left, Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard, Laval mayor Marc Demers, Economy and Innovation Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon and Sainte-Rose MNA Christopher Skeete shake hands in apparent agreement following the city’s announcement of the Carré Laval development project last Monday. Photo: Martin C. Barry
Interest
rising, says city
The city claims to have lined up as many as 20
partners interested in developing projects on the site. They include teaching
institutions and organizations with an interest in promoting
environmentally-sustainable ideas by putting them into practice in an urbanized
parkland such as the Carré Laval.
It’s perhaps also worth noting that Carré
Laval is located immediately next door to Laval’s successful Cité de la Biotech
for science-based businesses, opening the
door to potential synergies. And Carré Laval currently
has a significant amount of forest land on it that is
ideal for park development.
$10 million
from Quebec
At this early stage, Quebec is agreeing to provide the
City of Laval with a $10 million subsidy to decontaminate the land, which is
bound to be heavily soiled from years of snow dump use. However, there is
likely also to be a fair amount of additional preparation work, as the mayor
himself acknowledged that Carré Laval was used for
years to dump landfill and the ground needs to be stabilized.
Carré Laval appears to be one of the largest steps taken by
the administration of Mayor Marc Demers until now to make good on the slogan,
‘Urbaine de nature,’ which expresses the city’s long-term strategic vision of
Laval as a municipality where nature is woven closely into the urban fabric.
Members of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier Foundation board and others gathered towards the conclusion of the evening to unveil the amount raised by the 2020 Gala – $26,270. Photo: Martin C. Barry
Martin C. Barry
The Sir Wilfrid Laurier Foundation’s 202 Gala
fundraiser raised $26,270 for educational equipment, programs and resources at
schools and training centres across the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board’s
territory in the Laval, Laurentian and Lanaudière
regions in the coming year.
An evening
of winners
Held at the Embassy Plaza
in Laval on Jan. 23,
the popular event featured a silent
auction segment showcasing, among other things, a Montreal Canadiens jersey
signed by Habs great Guy Lafleur, sports and rock and roll memorabilia, and
many other items of art and jewelry.
The
evening’s Grand Prize (awarded to the winning “balloon” holder) was a $1,500
gift certificate for an all-inclusive trip, cruise or guided tour of the
winner’s choice. The top raffle
prizes included a $300 Apple Watch Series 3 and a Fitbit Versa worth $200. The
evening’s musical entertainment was provided by the Boogie Wonder Band.
Richard Mason, principal of McCaig Elementary School in Rosemère, must have sensed one of the raffle tickets he was buying from SWLSB chair Paolo Galati at the gala was a winner to be smiling so widely. Photo: Martin C. Barry
Laval’s
mayor attended
There was a good turnout by elected officials from all
over Laval and the North Shore areas. Among them were Laval mayor Marc Demers.
The mayor was accompanied by city councillors Virginie Dufour, Éric Morasse,
Sandra El-Hélou, Aline Dib, Jocelyne–Frédérique
Gauthier, Vasilios Karidogiannis and Sandra Desmeules.
Laval city councillors Michel Trottier and Claude
Larochelle of the Parti Laval were also guests, as were Action Laval city
councillors David De Cotis, Michel Poissant, Aglaia Revelakis, Isabella Tassoni
and Daniel Hébert. From the North Shore, Rosemère mayor Eric Westram
and Rosemère town councillor Philip Panet-Raymond were also present.
: Laval mayor Marc Demers (second from right) attended the SWLF’s January Gala accompanied by city councillors Éric Morasse, Sandra El-Hélou, Jocelyne–Frédérique Gauthier, Vasilios Karidogiannis Sandra Desmeules and others.
High
graduation rate
According to SWLSB chairman Paolo Galati who delivered
one of the evening’s addresses, the board’s schools are maintaining an 84.5 per cent graduation
rate, which is among the 10 highest scores for school commissions across
Quebec.
“We have achieved this success thanks to our 2,000
outstanding employees who ensure all our students have all they need to reach
their full potential,” said Galati, thanking the board’s teachers, staff and
administrators, many of whom attended the gala as a gesture of additional
support.
Remarkable
achievement
Christian Fréchette, chairman of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier Foundation, noted
that the foundation has raised $900,000 since it was founded. “All this would
not have been possible without you,” he said, adding that $900,000 is a
remarkable sum to be raised by a small foundation.
“I’ve said it before, but today’s students are
tomorrow’s future,” Fréchette added. “The better education they receive, the better
equipped they will be in life.”
