Martin C. Barry 

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

Current situation

On December 31, 2019, a cluster of cases of pneumonia was reported in Wuhan, China, and the cause has been confirmed as a new coronavirus that has not previously been identified in humans. This virus is now known as the 2019 Novel Coronavirus or 2019-nCoV.

On January 25, 2020, the Government of Ontario reported the first case of 2019 nCoV in Canada. The case occurred in a person who had been in the city of Wuhan in the 14 days prior to becoming ill. Appropriate infection prevention and control measures were followed. On January 27, the Government of Ontario reported that the individual’s wife tested positive for the 2019-nCoV. She has been in self-isolation at home since her husband was identified as a case. Close contacts of these cases will be notified, monitored for signs of illness, and given instructions for what to do if they become ill by local public health authorities.

On January 28, 2020, the Government of British Columbia reported the third case of 2019 nCoV in Canada. The case occurred in a person who had been in the city of Wuhan in the 14 days prior to becoming ill. Appropriate infection prevention and control measures were followed.

Q&A with Health Minister Minister Hajdu:

Q: Is Canada ready to handle the spread of this novel coronavirus?

A: Our healthcare system is well prepared to handle cases of the virus in Canada, and we are taking all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of infection. There are best practices in place across all Canadian hospitals to isolate patients who are experiencing symptoms. The risk for Canadians remains low, and our healthcare system is prepared to prevent further spread.

Q: What is the status of the Canadian patients with the novel coronavirus?

A: The cases in Canada are all isolated and are receiving care. The risk for Canadians remains low. We are well prepared to deal with this virus in Canada. Hospitals have strong infection control systems and procedures in place to limit the spread of infection and protect health care workers.

Q: How long does it take to confirm a presumptive case?

A: A case remains presumptive until it can be confirmed by the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg. That process is typically completed within 24 hours.

Q: What happens if the World Health Organization (WHO) declares coronavirus a public health emergency?

A: Canada’s response efforts are in line with international partners. If coronavirus declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the WHO will make recommendations to prevent or reduce the international spread of disease.  Canada is fully aligned with the WHO recommendations to date.   

Q: Is there a vaccine for coronavirus?

A: Most people with common coronavirus illness will recover on their own. Your health care provider may recommend steps you can take to relieve symptoms. Consult your health care provider as soon as possible if you are concerned about your symptoms or have a travel history to a region where severe coronaviruses are known to occur. The sooner you get treatment, the better your chances are for recovery.

Q: What are you doing at the borders?

A: Various measures are in place in the three major Canadian airports: Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Travellers going through these airports will see additional signage in French, English, and Chinese asking them to alert a border servicesofficer should they have any flu-like symptoms. There will also be a health question at the kiosk for travellers coming into Canada, and border officers are able to identify travelers that have come to Canada from Wuhan through connecting flights.

Q: What can Canadians do to reduce the risk of spreading this novel coronavirus?

A: The overall risk to Canadians remains low. If you have traveled to Hubei province in China and develop symptoms of 2019 Novel Coronavirus infection, avoid contact with others and follow-up with your health care professional.  Tell your health care professional if you develop symptoms, if you have had direct contact with animals (for example: visited a live animal market) or if you have had close contact with a sick person, especially if they have had fever, cough or difficulty breathing.

(TLN) A fundraiser held for the benefit of the Jeux du Québec Games Finals being held in Laval this summer raised $141,900, according to the city. The amount was beyond expectations.

The event was sponsored by Desjardins Entreprises and was attended by 600 supporters. The initial had been $100,000. It took place at the Salle André-Mathieu at Montmorency College.

Everyone helping

Former Olympic diver Roseline Filion, who is official spokesperson for the Finals, was thrilled with the positive response. Mayor Marc Demers underscored the importance of all players in the community becoming involved with their support, including businesses.

“To host the Finals of the Games is an honor and I am extremely proud of it,” he said. “I am also proud to see that all the efforts made by the organizing committee and its partners to make our region known. Proud also of all our citizens who are preparing to warmly welcome people coming from all over Quebec.”