Renata Isopo

Mark down this coming Sunday, November 24th, as a day of opportunity not to be missed.

From 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, at Laval’s Salle de Recéption Palace, you are invited to a shopping extravaganza of unmatched elegance, practicality and, of course, many wonderful bargains –  the ultimate holiday gift-gathering experience reserved, for families and friends, for the first time in our fair city, combining early holiday fever and fun under one roof.

Close friends and first-time moms Angelia Mantis and Claudia Valiante are the creative force behind this Mobile Shopping Mall project, an idea conceived while both were on maternity leave. Intelligently sensing an up-and-coming trend quite popular with on-line shoppers, these two vibrant young women felt it in their minds and hearts to start something original and purposeful, in service to the people of Laval.

An exciting time

Branded Popup2Shop, the day’s most beautiful theme – Holiday Shopping – will come alive with festive displays of tantalizing food and drink, special holiday items and many heart-warming booths making the spirit of the season heighten, offering a magical experience in anticipation of the happiest of seasons just around the corner.  

This sentiment is joyously shared by Angelia and Claudia.  “It’s an exciting time of the year not only for children, but for adults as well,” said Angelia.  “This is the reason for us wanting to give the ultimate on-line shopping experience through a mobile shopping mall,” Claudia added.  “We bring what is appealing to the shoppers under one umbrella where consumers can actually see, feel, and try on the same clothing and accessories which can’t be done with on-line shopping,” Claudia explained.

The holiday season – Christmas, Hanukah, Kwansa, Epiphany, is upon us and stores and shopping centers are bustling with anxious shoppers.  For Angelia, the challenge is clear: “Whether you’ve been ‘naughty or nice’, there’s no lack of ideas for locally-made or imported gifts. There’s something about the thrill of the hunt when it comes to big events.  And, what’s bigger than Christmas?”

“The Popup2Shop at the Palace will be a one-day event for picking up one-of-a-kind gifts, with treasures available in every corner.  There will be no shortage, something for everyone’s discriminating taste and budget,” the dynamic duo stated to TLN.  “Fun and more fun for the excited and inquisitive consumer.  DJ music, raffles, and booths of sweets for the irresistible temptation of the sweet tooth await all comers.”

Best buys of the season

 It’s no surprise that consumers are becoming more reliant on on-line holiday shopping.  With easy ability to make purchases on mobile devices, browsers can buy anything anywhere.  The drawback is that buyers can’t try on the clothes, footwear, etc., often returning purchases. The Mobile Shopping Center brings on-line shopping to consumers, on site.  “It’s definitely not the time to miss this first-time biggest event and best holiday market,” Claudia specified in a telephone interview.  And, what’s more interesting, there’s something for all tastes and budgets, from tiny to extravagant prices.

“PopUp2Shop brings together fashion, cosmetics, self-care, ornaments, stocking stuffers, and food vendors from around the city to showcase and sell top lines and best buys of the season,” Angelia pointed out. “More vendors are joining, and there’s still no definite number of booths although we’re close to maximum for the space reserved at The Palace, 1717 Le Corbusier Boulevard.”

Fashionistas can ‘gaga’ over sought-after brands – Lamarque, Piper and Jane, Black Suede Studio, The New Icon, Shop Viixen and more to find perfect attire to sparkle and sizzle at holiday celebrations.  “This is it. Pop is the future of shopping,” stated Angelia, “and we’re proud to be instrumental parts of it, in Laval and beyond.”

“We are proud and exhilarated about launching PopUp2Shop in consumers’ posts and stories,” added partner Claudia.  “Furthermore, November 24^th is a special holiday edition, and we are working on more than one event.”

The intentions are to make PopUp2Shop an annual event in Laval, providing consumers with the most sought-after items in all categories.

Of benefit to Children’s Wish Foundation

Claudia and Angelia also revealed their ‘give-back and pay-forward’ initiative to donate all profits from the day’s gift-wrapping service to the highly-admired Children’s Wish Foundation, the long-standing organization that performs little miracles in making sick children’s dreams come true.

Admission is free although it is highly recommended to register in advance to ensure smooth holiday shopping since space may be limited.  If interested, you should sign in at the event’s Evenbrite page and visit Facebook for more information.  “No one will be turned away, everyone is welcome,” assure Angelia and Claudia.

(TLN) Get ready for the upcoming holiday season at the 9^th annual Laval Christmas Market which will be taking place at the Centre de la Nature from Dec. 6 to Dec. 8.

More than 70 exhibitors will be showcasing their quality products and wares at this open market where the magic of Christmas is sure to enchant visitors from everywhere.

Lots of gift ideas

The range of goods to be seen and purchased will include gourmet items, locally-grown produce, jewellery, beauty aids, toys, clothing, fashion accessories and home decor items. Everything will be under a heated big top tent.

As well, Quebec-grown Christmas trees in various sizes and at various prices will also be available. The whole family is invited to take part in activities taking place all weekend.

Will be lots to do

These will include horse-drawn calèche rides, heated igloos where people can rest, refreshment stands where hot drinks can be purchased and entertainers wandering around playing music.

The Centre de la Nature’s little make-believe village will be the place where Santa Claus is stationed to welcome all the young ones and their Christmas wishes. He’ll be accompanied by elves to provide assistance.

The Laval Christmas Market: where and when?

At the Centre de la Nature, 901 avenue du Parc, Laval (Quebec) H7E 2T7

• Friday December 6, 10 am to 9 pm
• Saturday December 7, 10 am to 8 pm
• Sunday December 8, 10 am to 5 pm

The Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) presented its Corporate Leadership Award in the Marketing and Communications category to the Société de transport de Laval (STL) for the development and rollout of its new branding. The ceremony, held on November 13, in Calgary, was attended by representatives from across the Canadian urban transit industry, and was part of CUTA’s Annual Conference and Transit Show.

The new branding updates the STL’s image, better reflects STL users, adds more creative range to STL’s advertising, and embodies the innovative personality of the STL.

With new colours, a photo bank and a revamped iconography, the makeover puts people at the core of the message and relies on a more urban art direction. The new branding was first unveiled to the employees, then announced to the general public in June. The concept was developed from scratch by the STL and its advertising agency Forsman & Bodenfors. It is based on a multitude of research and studies conducted since 2016.

“Make public transit out of the ordinary”

The campaign to launch the new branding was accompanied by a pledge to users to “Make public transit out of the ordinary.” In addition to emphasizing the innovative facets our bus service, the pledge can be further tailored to our internal communications or even our recruitment efforts by offering prospective hires careers that are “out of the ordinary.” The campaign has been primarily poster-driven, although the core element of the campaign is a video that is more “street” in attitude and adopts a bolder tone with the message. The purpose is clearly stated with a running text advocating for our commitment to public transit and its future, meant to inspire the general public as well as employees to aspire to the STL’s mission daily. 

View the video https://youtu.be/n64iZlb45SU

 “We are very proud of the new branding, both visually and with respect to the bolder tone.”, said  STL Board President Éric Morasse. “This breath of fresh air and authenticity that reflects more genuinely what we’re about has imbued new life into all of our communications and has enabled us to better represent all Laval residents of all ages and backgrounds. The pledge to “Make public transit out of ordinary” motivates everyone at the STL to deliver outstanding quality service and to do our utmost to make public transit even more appealing”, he concluded.

Martin C. Barry

Several new development projects were announced on Nov. 7 during the City of Laval’s 5^th annual real-estate forum, including one that will soon see a large landmark at the corner of Curé-Labelle and Notre-Dame demolished and replaced with an eight-storey residential rental project.

Project Récréathèque, which is being promoted by Montreal developer Shafiraman Weiss (Vertex Construction) and designed by architect David Smith, will rise up to eight stories and have 347 housing units, 532 interior parking spaces, 13 more spaces outside, as well as additional parking for motorcycles and bicycles.

Bye to old Récréathèque

As most people in Chomedey and elsewhere in Laval already know, the current Récréathèque – a massive building that served as an amusement centre for 45 years – closed in 2012 and has fallen into a considerable state of deterioration since then.

Many generations of people from Laval, as well those who’ve travelled along Curé Labelle Blvd. while heading north on Route 117, have lasting memories of the Récréathèque.

“I think everybody in Laval knows La Récréathèque – we’ve either been there or passed by,” David Smith said during a presentation on the project he gave during the forum. “But as everybody also knows by now, it’s been shut for some time and the area is even roped off for security reasons.”

Easy access to transit

Smith described the area in question as ideal for the type of development he and the builder have in mind, as the availability of public transportation is optimal and offers easy connections in all directions to almost anywhere in Laval or Montreal.

In recent years, there have also been suggestions by Mayor Marc Demers that the city hopes to eventually establish a new Metro station for Chomedey somewhere near the Récréathèque site.

While Smith made no mention at all of a Metro station in his presentation, Laval executive-committee vice-president Stéphane Boyer acknowledged in an interview afterwards that the city hasn’t abandoned the notion.

Maybe a Metro stop?

“We never reveal the exact locations of Metro stations to avoid speculation,” he told The Laval News. “But we have roughly traced out the path for an extension of the Orange Line and it foresees having a Metro stop in that area when the Quebec government allots the sums to extend the Orange Line.”

Boyer suggested that a Metro station roughly in that area would make sense since the Val-Martin public housing project (currently under redevelopment) is only a short distance east of there. According to the developer, demolition of the old Récréathèque building should begin in January. Construction will be spread out over the following three years.

Stimulus for the area

“This is a great project,” said Laval city councillor for l’Abord-à-Plouffe Vasilios Karidogiannis, who is the local elected official in the Demers administration closest to the dossier.

“For years that building’s been derelict and an eyesore,” he said. “This project will be like a linchpin for economic development in the neighbourhood. It’s sure to accelerate more positive development in the area. I’m sure that businesses in the area are very excited about it as well. This project will be densifying the area and the future is all about densification.”

A second notable development project announced during the real-estate forum will be property developer/builder Cosoltec’s Code 440 project.

Cosoltec’s Code 440 project

The mixed use office and industrial building is slated to be built next year on Lucien Lallier St. near the A-440 offering additional quick access to autoroutes 13 and 15 and less than 25 minutes from downtown Montreal. One floor of the four-storey avant-garde building will serve as Cosoltec’s corporate headquarters.

“With 30,000 new housing units planned from now to 2031 and $960 million in permits for the year 2018, it’s clear that the real-estate sector in Laval is in full growth,” Stéphane Boyer said in closing remarks.

However, he noted that the city is now applying a selective approach in its choice of projects allowed to proceed, in contrast to a more indiscriminate policy the former administration of longtime mayor Gilles Vaillancourt was known for.

New development approach

“We no longer want to have sterile residential towers surrounded by parking spaces,” he said, alluding to some of the former administration’s projects. “From here on in we are looking for quality projects which fit well into neighbourhoods where there is a lot of activity. This sometimes requires our paying more attention to smaller details and can also cost a little more to build in the short term.

“But in the long term, it’s what will ensure the growth and attractiveness of our city,” Boyer added. “Because in a world where the quality of life is increasing, where there is also a shortage of labour, and where younger generations are looking for lifestyle, it’s the quality of life that we are creating today that will end up drawing and retaining tomorrow’s residents and businesses.”

On October 23rd, young singers from over 25 Quebec schools were given the star treatment. Arriving by limo to the Palace reception Hall in Laval, these young performers walked the red carpet dazzled by photographers’ flashes and launched their baby: a children’s book/cd  

The Carnival of Marvels and Monsters is a massive international co-production of Chroma Musika (Montreal) and the renowned Quebec Publisher Planète Rebelle, written by Mihalis Makropoulos illustrated by Katerina Veroutsos, and set to music and lyrics written by Giannis Georgantelis.

Opera singers and directors of the entire project Maria Diamantis and Dimitris Ilias attributed the success of the project to the young stars, the parents and the volunteers. “If it was not for the parents this kind of multilevel educational and artistic super project would not have happened” said Dimitris Ilias. “This is the epitome of team work in order to give these kids these opportunities. From the beautiful art of the creative team, to the production team and from the meticulous work of the publisher to the young stars spending countless rehearsal hours”

From audition to practice, recording and launch!

Forming a youth choir over 350 strong, these talented singers sung the choruses for the CD companion to the book.   The recording sessions took place in Oscar Peterson Concert Hall with Dr. Mark Corwin professor of the Concordia University Music Department being responsible for recording, mixing and editing.  An incredible learning opportunity for the students to experience the various aspects of music production, from recording to mixing and finally, live performance!

An unforgettable night

The launch included speeches by invited guests including the Honorable Leo Housakos, Senator, Mr. Guy Ouellette, MNA for Chomedey, Ann Marie Matheson, EMSB Director General, Vicky Kaliotzakis VP of Sir Wilfrid Laurier school board and Chris Adamopoulos DG of école Socrates-Démosthène.

In front of over 1600 guests the massive children’s choir accompanied by a 20-instrument chamber orchestra filled the hall with the lush music of composer Giannis Georgantelis directed initially by Dimitris Ilias and then by conductor Mark Dharmaratnam who also conducted the Orchestre Symphonique Pop de Montreal in the actual CD.

The choir and orchestra performed four songs from the storybook album. The very last piece, a furious tarantella brought prompted an immediate standing ovation from the audience which was treated to an encore of the same piece closing the magical night.