(From the left) Laval’s mayor tables a document containing the city’s seven requests to the leaders of the federal political parties, one of which will form the next government in Ottawa.
(TLN) With a federal election set to take place on
Oct. 21, the City of Laval has tabled a list of seven requests it would like
the next government to fulfill for the municipality.
To transform the
‘Old Pen’
The city wants the next federal government to
transform the old St. Vincent de Paul penitentiary in Laval’s eastern end into
an educational, cultural and tourist destination. Laval wants the future
government to pay for such a project.
“We firmly believe that we could in conjunction with a
partnership with the federal level completely revitalize the Old Pen site to
fully bring out the value of this heritage site while enhancing the core of the
Saint-Vincent-de-Paul village,” said Mayor Marc Demers.
Support of heritage group
Longtime
Montreal area heritage advocate Dinu Bumbaru, who leads Heritage Montreal and
joined the mayor for the announcement during a recent press conference, agreed.
“Heritage Montreal is happy to associate itself to the City of Laval to invite
the future federal government to diligently commit itself to a concerted effort
to bring life back to the important heritage site that is the Old Pen,” he
said.
Collège
Laval, which is located next to the vacant penitentiary, also expressed support
for the project. “Collège
Laval wishes to actively participate in the rehabilitation
of the old Saint-Vincent-de-Paul penitentiary,” said
Michel Baillargeon, the school’s executive-director. Other requests the City of
Laval is making to the future federal government:
Funding for aquatic
complex
1. Laval wants the future government to put as much as $20 million to help pay for a future aquatic complex the city has been planning for years now. 2. The city wants Ottawa to double the amount of funding transferred to Laval through the federal gasoline tax refund program. 3. Laval wants the next government to maintain the amounts currently being paid to the city to subsidize new social and affordable housing. 4. The city also wants the party in power after Oct. 21 to provide the necessary funding to buy three large islands in the waters off Laval: Île aux Vaches, Île Saint-Pierre and Île Saint-Joseph. 5. Laval wants the next government to upgrade program funding for flood protection in vulnerable areas near the waterfronts in the Laval area. 6. The city also wants Ottawa to provide funding to help develop an integrated public transit system serving Laval and the Lower Laurentian regions.
(TLN) Beginning on Friday Oct. 4, BIXI’s well-known
rental bikes have been available in Laval. The availability comes as a result
of an agreement struck between the Montreal-based BIXI organization and the
City of Laval.
A fleet of the electric bikes has been acquired by the
Société de transport de Laval with financial assistance provided by the federal and
provincial governments. The bikes can be borrowed and returned to four stations
in Laval: City Hall, Montmorency Terminus, Cartier Terminus and Sainte-Claude
Park. All the stations are powered by solar energy.
BIXI welcome
in Laval
“The City of Laval is proud to join the BIXI network
and to add bike sharing to the cocktail of transportation means put at the
disposal of Laval residents in order to improve mobility on its territory,”
said Laval city councillor for L’Abord-à-Plouffe Vasilios Karidogiannis, who is responsible for the
dossier.
The
arrival of BIXI in Laval was a direct result of cooperation by the STL. “The
arrival of BIXI in Laval aligns perfectly with the STL’s intention to encourage
active mobility by Laval residents, while keeping in harmony with urban
development,” said city councillor Eric Morasse, the STL’s board president.
The
City of Laval says it will add 20 BIXI bikes next year and two additional
stations. Following this, the system’s growth in Laval over the next 10 years
will see the number of bikes available grow to 350.
How BIXI works
Rental
can be made through the BIXI app, which also allows geo-locating the bikes,
while determining their availability, or directly at the bike station. Wearing
of a helmet is mandatory on electrically-assisted BIXI bikes. For short-term
access, a security deposit of $100 on a credit card is required. The bikes can be
returned to any BIXI station in Laval, Montreal or in Longueuil. BIXI bikes are
available between April 15 and November 15.
(TLN)
Elected officials from the City of Laval turned on an electric switch last week
to illuminate city hall with pink light as a reminder that October is Breast
Cancer Awareness Month. At the same time, they raised the Cancer Awareness
Month flag on a flagpole outside city hall. Céline St-Denis, a breast cancer survivor from Laval, shared her story
with the guests. Seen in the photo (from the left) are
Céline St-Denis, Councillor Sandra El-Helou and Nathalie Tremblay of the
Fondation du cancer du sein du Québec.
Breast cancer statistics
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women
(excluding non-melanoma skin cancers). It is the second leading cause of death
from cancer in Canadian women. Breast cancer can also occur in men, but it is
not common.
Incidence and mortality
Incidence is the number of new cases of cancer. Mortality is the
number of deaths due to cancer. The following incidence and mortality
statistics are estimated using the most up-to-date data available at the time
of the analyses.
It is estimated that in 2019:
26,900 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. This represents 25% of all new cancer cases in women in 2019.
5,000 women will die from breast cancer. This represents 13% of all cancer deaths in women in 2019.
On average, 74 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer every day.
On average, 14 Canadian women will die from breast cancer every day.
230 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 55 will die from breast cancer.
Vimy Liberal candidate Annie Koutrakis launched her campaign on Oct. 1.
Martin C. Barry
In a riding like Vimy, which is home to a great many cultures
and ethnicities that make up the Canadian mosaic, getting the support of each
is always crucial to winning any election.
Getting out
the vote
So if for a while last week during Vimy Liberal candidate
Annie Koutrakis’ campaign launch members of the Armenian and Lebanese
communities seemed well represented, supporters from the Greek community arrived
a little late, but made up for it with their warmth and enthusiasm.
“I truly believe that the people who are going to vote
for me are going to go out and all the communities will be there for me
equally,” Koutrakis said in an interview with Newsfirst Multimedia.
“It’s nice to see such a good turnout by the Armenians
and the Lebanese. And the Greek community was also here. I thank them all for
coming out to support me and my team and my campaign.”
Off to a
bumpy start
Koutrakis’ recent induction to federal politics was
not without turbulence. Among other things, there was controversy over the
Liberal Party’s decision not to renew former Vimy MP Eva Nassif’s nomination. Then
the riding association distanced itself from Koutrakis along with campaign
funds.
There were also rumblings in Montreal’s Greek
community, with insinuations that Koutrakis, who won the presidency of the
Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal (HCGM) over the summer, used the
position to perform a leap-frog manoeuvre and secure the Liberal nomination in
Vimy.
However, all that seemed very distant during her
campaign launch as supporters, family members (including her mother and father)
and longtime friends gathered. Koutrakis draws inspiration from Barack Obama.
Among the supporters who attended the campaign launch for Vimy Liberal Annie Koutrakis (centre) were her parents (far left), Saint-Laurent Liberal MP Emmanuella Lambropoulos, former Ahuntsic Liberal MP Eleni Bakopanos as well as members of the Armenian, Lebanese and Greek communities.
Likes to
quote Obama
“It’s easier to be cynical, to accept that change
isn’t possible, and politics is hopeless, and to believe that our voices and
actions don’t matter,” she said in a speech, quoting the former U.S. president.
“But if we give up now, then we forsake a better future.”
Why did she decide to run
for the Liberals? “Because as far
back as I can remember, I have always been a Liberal,” she continued. “I have
always been in favour of political ideas that help the middle class and above
all, families.
“You know, I am a woman who values family very much, I
am a mother of two children who have gone to school here in Laval and I believe
we must invest in our children. We must respond to the challenges they will
face tomorrow.”
More
funding for Laval
Koutrakis said that in addition to current transfers
from the federal gasoline tax fund, the City of Laval stands to benefit directly
from a portion of stable annual funding of $3 billion from Ottawa to support
public transit initiatives.
“Our communities need this, Laval needs this,” she
said. “Traffic costs us more than $15 billion in lost productivity per year. We
have a duty to do something. It makes economic sense.”
Koutrakis said the difficulties families have in
making ends meet are among her biggest concerns. “Actions speak louder than words,” she said, maintaining that the
incumbent government’s tax-free Canada Child Benefit has helped more than
20,400 children in Vimy alone.
“This measure is working so
well that we have decided to improve it by up to $360 a year,” she added. “Bringing
it to a total maximum of $6,639 for children under six years old. The Liberal
Party chose to lift nearly 300,000 children out of poverty in Canada.”
Koutrakis’ campaign launch drew a large crowd to her Notre Dame Blvd. election headquarters in Chomedey.
Criticizes
former PM Harper
As well, she claimed that the Liberal Party’s first time home buyer incentive will help more than 100,000
first time home buyers by lowering their mortgage payment by up to $286 a
month.
“For those who know me, you know that I am optimistic
and that I rarely attack, because I try to act rather than criticize,”
continued Koutrakis. “But there is something I cannot ignore.
“I want to talk to you about Stephen Harper’s move to
raise the retirement age to 67. That is
such an irresponsible and
financially unnecessary decision. A great disrespect for our seniors.
The Liberal Party did the right thing and brought the retirement age back to
65.”
Carbon
emissions policy
Regarding the incumbent Liberal government’s policy on
carbon emissions, Koutrakis said, “We have to put a price on carbon that makes
polluters responsible for reimbursing the cost of their pollution.” She said
this would be accomplished through reimbursements to Canadian taxpayers through
tax rebates across Canada.
Referring to the Montreal Climate March, which took
place a week earlier and in which Koutrakis said she participated, she stated,
“We must do more, especially for our children. We [the Liberals] have already
committed to planting two billion trees in ten years, a great commitment for
the future. We have a duty to meet the challenges that future generations will
face. And we are the only ones who can act on this matter as government.”
The current issue of the Laval News volume 27-19 published October 9th, 2019, (Laval’s English Newspaper) covers local events such as politics, sports and human-interest stories. It features editorials and other columns. Click on the image to read the paper.
Front page of Laval News, Vol. 27-19
October 9, 2019.
Laval museums and attractions get $950,000 in subsidies
(TLN)
Four Laval attractions that draw tourists and visitors consistently year after
year were recently accorded nearly $1 million in subsidies by the Quebec
government to continue pursuing their activities.
Laval’s
Centre d’interprétation de l’eau received $100,000, the Cosmodôme received
$200,000, the Armand Frappier Museum was accorded $250,000 and the Parc de la
Rivière‑des‑Milles‑Îles was granted $400,000.
Sainte-Rose
MNA Christopher Skeete, who is responsible for relations with Quebec’s Anglophones,
and Finance Minister Eric Girard made the announcement on behalf of Minister
for the Economy and Innovation Pierre Fitzgibbon.
“By attracting many visitors every year, these four
museum institutions are participating in the cultural, touristic and economic
growth of the Laval region,” said Skeete. “It is thus with enthusiasm that we
support their activities.”
“Museum institutions with scientific and technological
vocations are essential to the promotion of scientific culture,” said Girard.
“Their mission goes along with our government’s goal which is to encourage
scientific museums everywhere in Quebec, most notably in Laval.”
Top row :Fifi, Perle, Fany, Emilie, Alma, Romy, Hiba, Sophia, Mantha, Alexi, Head coach Billy Zagakos, Assistant Coach Jad Hamadeh, CSC Technical Director George Strantzalis , President of Soccer Quebec Pierre Marchand Bottom row: Angelina, Katerina, Nina, Chloe, Ann-Sophie, Tea, Emma, Sarah, Victoria
The Chomedey Soccer Club is wrapping up a very successful summer season. The most noteworthy success comes from their under-16 girls AAA team. On September 7th, they won the Coupe du Québec, defeating CELTIX HAUT-RICHELIEU 3-1 during the final match at complex Bois de Boulogne.
The team also clinched the league championship and finished first in the Ligue élite soccer du Québec (LESQ). The girls’ team suffered only one defeat the entire season. Billy Zagakos who took over the team in February explained that the transition wasn’t easy.
With the assistance of George Strantzalis, the club’s new technical director, they adopted a new philosophy, game model and tactics. However, as change is never easy, making the girls believe and buy into the plan required them to change their whole mindset – they way they approached things, the intensity they wanted, the type of practices, said Zagakos.
In the end, he continued, they did a very good job and it showed right from the beginning of the summer. Rolling off 11 straight wins, the girls established themselves as the team to beat and the favourites moving forward. Although they had a lot of injuries, they persevered through the dog days of summer and everyone stepped it up during the games.
President of Soccer Quebec Pierre Marchand CSC U16 Captain Chloe
The icing on the cake was the Quebec Cup, said Coach Zagakos, who went on to thank coach Jad Hamadeh, goalie coach Thanasi Manolopoulos, manager John Theodossiades, and especially technical director George Strantzalis. Next year, they agreed, things will be tougher as opponents will be hunting for them. That’s why, they insisted, the focus on commitment, a strong work ethic and professionalism has to be twice as good.
The president of the club, Stephane Alex Bisbikos, said everyone in the club is extremely happy and proud of their girls’ team and what they accomplished. He also maintained they was not surprised with their success. He said the team was a force to reckon with and will likely continue to do so.
Bisbikos said the club has a proven track record for developing and fielding elite teams. In addition to the girls’ team, the Chomedey club has two other AAA boys’ teams which are also preforming extremely well.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the club and winning the cup was a very fitting moment. In August, the club successfully submitted its application for a Youth National license, which is the highest level an amateur club can hold.
Bisbikos said he is confident that Chomedey will succeed in its application, given the quality on and off the field. He said the club is very fortunate to have highly qualified coaches and volunteers and is currently preparing to meet new national club level requirements. This will ensure that the club continues for the next 30 years.
George Strantzalis, Technical Director
The Chomedey Soccer Club leadership said the U16FAAA team had a difficult winter preparation. They changed coach and with Billy Zagakos in the position of head coach he changed the style and the way the team played. At first it was not easy to apply the tactic, they continued: applying the style of play of a “possession game” and pressing high! Of course, the team has quality players and the spirit of the whole team quickly led to the championship. The team suffered their only defeat throughout the championship, which was definitely a good lesson for all, he maintained. The follow-up was amazing, so the club won the championship (with a big margin of points from the second place team) and the cup at the same time. Once again, congratulations to coaches Billy Zagakos, Jad, Thanasi Manolopoulos, team manager John Theodossiadis, as well as all the parents and the CA of CSC for the effort and support in the U16FAAA division.
Thank you, George Strantzalis Technical Director Chomedey Soccer Club
Billy Zagakos, Head Coach
The winter season wasn’t easy trying to install the new philosophy, game model and tactics. Making the girls believe and buying into our plan wasn’t easy. The whole mindset had to change. The way we approached things, the intensity we want, and the type of practices. They did very good and it showed right from the get go of the summer season, rolling off 11 straight wins and establishing ourselves as the team to beat and the favourite going forward. The teams will and perseverance through the dog days of summer when we had a lot of injuries, all the girls stepped up their game. The icing on the cake was the Quebec cup win, without team unity and everyone pulling together this amazing season wouldn’t have happened. I thank all the coaches assistant Jad Hamadeh, goalie coach Thanasi Manolopoulos, the manager John Theodossiades and especially the TD George Strantzalis who was hands on with the team. Next year will be tougher, all the opponents will be hunting for us. That’s why our focus, commitment, work ethic and professionalism has to be twice as good.
Laval police arrested Huard Sept. 4 for online luring,
making sexually explicit materials available online and breaking conditions.
According to an SPL news release, Huard
contacted an 11-year-old girl on Messenger last fall and corresponded with her
for several days allegedly sending sexually explicit images and videos to the
victim.
Huard used the Facebook profile Sakapfet
Rose claiming to be 22 years old, and police say he carried on the exchange
with his victim in full knowledge of her being a minor.
Investigators in the Major Crimes Division
have reason to believe that Huard contacted or tried to contact other victims
through social media.
Huard is being detained and will return to
court Oct. 9.
Those with information are asked to
contact the SPL confidentially at 450-662-INFO or by calling 911 and mentioning
the file LVL 181212065.
On September 17, l’ Association Restauration Québec (ARQ) held a media conference at the Palace Convention Center. Founded in 1938, consisting of 5,600 members throughout Quebec, the organization extends its services to government representatives, provides valuable information, and informs on ways to obtain discounts to restauranteurs.
From local farms to the consumers’ table, Laval produce isn’t just a journey through a farm; it’s a journey through flavor, where chefs provide a modern interpretation of local food production. Restaurants are considered the heart of Laval agriculture because bakeries, pastry kitchens, dairy products, and vegetables dishes rely on local producers for ingredients of the highest quality. These are the sentiments expressed to TLN by Stephane Lalande, Laval Agropole Commissioner, and the restaurant owners who were mingling and discovering new products for their next gourmet menu aimed to please.
Laval restaurateurs are now seducing clients by integrating flavors, aromas, and traditions of families into their menus by using produce from Laval farms and farmhouses, in generous quantities. Managers and chefs stated that certain actions of local food producers stand out as reasons why they continue to buy local foods; for example, response time to process an order is quick, thorough, and reliable. Food purchasers also indicated that local foods must have unique selling points and variety, besides cost, a trait enjoyed by many, if not all, local Laval producers.
From left to right: Stephane Lalande, Laval Agropole Commissioner, Francois Meunier, vice president of government and public affairs, Master of Ceremony, Daniel Tanguay, Business Consultant and motivational speaker
Over 60 display booths exhibited a multitude of tantalizing eye-catching products from a variety of food and beverage industries intended for distribution to restaurants, schools, grocery stores, and other institutions.
Stephane Lalande, who was born into a family of agricultural entrepreneurs and has extensive experience in economic development, cited processors, distributors, retailers, and particularly farmers as major players in the food system.
“What we want is the ‘taste’ of Laval—gourmet meals exclusively made from Laval products,” he stated. And, “our objective is to attract businesses to Laval which will contribute to our city’s economic development. I am very proud of this extensive Laval network,” he told TLN, pointing to 85 food transport businesses, 16,000 employees in the food processing industry including restaurants, and 2,200 employees in the food industry. There are 125 farmers that cover 30 per cent of the government- protected agricultural land. “We’d like Laval produce to be destined for gourmet meals in all of our city’s restaurants,” he summed up.
Daniel Tanguay, business consultant recognized for his dynamic animation, offered ways for managers, restauranteurs, and employees to reflect on their practices in human resources, marketing, and customer service. His focus was on the mission of promoting the Quebec/Laval agricultural products’ distribution in all of Laval eateries, while maintaining great service, quality food, and regular updating of menus. The importance of customer service was prioritized, thus the magical success rate of restaurants in Laval.
Display booth of “Solo Gelato” Far left: Dino Palmieri, Business Development Manager with his beaming troop.
Master of Ceremony, Francois Meunier, vice president for government and business public affairs, addressed restaurateurs, informing that Laval boasts 819 eateries in 2019 such as restaurants, bistros, cafés, schools, and more, which produce 11,300 jobs (bars and taverns excluded) and brought in an estimated $536 million in 2018.
A highlight of the conference was the announcement of the recipient of the ARQ Foundation award, Chapeau Restaurateurs, Maryse Gosselin, native of Laval, owner of the Bistro Bar Rossignol for her contribution to the community, and the sustainability of her establishment. Her business is also recognized as a place of cultural diffusion, while several artists appear there in musical performances. Gosselin helps with benefit evenings including Cystic Fibrosis Canada, Montreal Chapter, The Wind Rose (cancer), The Lanaudiẻre Association of People with Visual Disabilities, and the Montreal Heart Institute.
The
award was presented by Claude Menard, President of the ARQ Foundation. No
doubt, Laval has great taste!
Laval-Les Îles Conservative candidate Tom Pentefountas launched his 2019 federal election campaign in Chomedey last Wednesday night.
Martin C. Barry
Laval-Les Îles
Conservative candidate Tom Pentefountas unleashed a blistering attack on Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau and the incumbent Liberals during a campaign launch in
Chomedey last Wednesday night.
This is Pentefountas’ first foray into federal
politics. He previously made two attempts to win a seat in the Quebec National
Assembly, running for the defunct Action démocratique
du Québec.
Former CRTC vice-chair
From
2011 to 2015, he was vice-chairman of the Canadian Radio-television and
Telecommunications Commission, having been appointed by former Conservative
Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Addressing the guests in fluent English and French,
Pentefountas said that while campaigning door-to-door, an issue that kept being
raised by those he met was immigration.
“Somebody who’s been here for many years was telling
me their father worked for 50 years, he is retired, but there are people
arriving by taxi with suitcases at Roxham who make more money than their father
and their mother,” he said, referring to the Canada/U.S. border crossing where
refugees have been streaming into Quebec.
Laval-Les Îles Conservative candidate Tom Pentefountas (third from left) is seen here surrounded by Montreal and Laval area Tory candidates, as well as CINEMAS GUZZO CEO Vincenzo Guzzo (second from left) and Senator Leo Housakos (second below).
Shots at
Justin Trudeau
Explaining his party’s views on the current refugee
system, Pentefountas said a Conservative government would place more emphasis
on regular immigration applicants, such as families seeking reunification,
who’ve followed the rules. At the same time, he took a jab at the current leader
of the Liberal government.
“True asylum seekers that are leaving areas of war and
destruction and bloodshed that truly need our help are being delayed because of
Justin Trudeau sending out a tweet to maintain his status as an international
rock star,” he said. “Well, we’re paying for that rock star image he wants to
protect. And we’re tired of doing that.”
Pentefountas said the second issue he’s hearing most
often about is the Trudeau government’s decriminalization of marijuana.
Attacks
legalized marijuana
“It’s unbelievable – the only institution that can
lose money selling drugs is the Canadian government,” he said, referring to the
Liberal government’s efforts in the last four years to decriminalize and
regularize the sale of pot.
“People can’t get over the fact that consuming of
marijuana is being encouraged,” he said. “A psychotropic substance. This is not
alcohol. This is serious business that will have unbelievable damaging effects
on young people. The science is clear: in developing minds, those who are under
25 or 30, the damage caused long-term short and medium is overwhelming. We have
no idea what the medical bills will be for our young people going forward.”
Pentefountas suggested the Liberal government’s
marijuana decriminalization efforts have been a failure since the non-regulated
marijuana sector is flourishing. “There isn’t one pusher that’s out of
business,” he said.
Pushers
prospering, he said
“You want to know why? His product is exceptional, his
prices are better than the government’s because they’re not unionized workers,
and his service is overwhelming. He’ll bring it to your house if you want. So
no one is leaving their pusher to start buying pot from the government. The
only people buying pot from the government are people who didn’t try it, didn’t
want to try it or were worried about going to the local pusher to buy it. Ergo
we have an increase in the consumption of pot in this country.”
Pentefountas said one of several reasons Justin
Trudeau decided to decriminalize marijuana “was to get the youth vote. And he
was successful. He got the youth vote. More young people voted in the last
election than at any other time in the history of Canada.”
‘Apologizer
in chief’ Trudeau
Referring to Justin Trudeau as “the apologizer in
chief,” Pentefountas said, “This guy will cry and apologize for everything and
anything except things of his doing. It’s time that we had honesty and
integrity in government.”
Pentefountas predicted that if re-elected, the Trudeau
Liberal government will end up making drastic budget cuts to compensate for the
spending spree it went on since 2015. “When you create these massive debts for
no reason, two things have to happen thereafter,” he said.
“One, we increase taxes. Or two, we decrease services,
Or even worse, both: decrease services and increase taxes. And that’s what’s
coming under Justin Trudeau in a second mandate.”
For his part, Vince Guzzo waded into the fray,
criticizing the Liberal Prime Minister for his stance on Quebec’s legislation
that imposed a partial ban on religious symbols – Bill 21.
“Let’s be honest: Bill 21 is a provincial
jurisdiction,” he said. “All of a sudden we have a Prime Minister who’s telling
us ‘I don’t want to get too many Quebecers against me, so I’m not really going
to tell you that I’m going to contest it.’
“But while contesting that law would be an attack to
Quebec’s sovereignty over dictating its own law, you know what it really is? It
is what he’s done for the last four years: it is wasting our tax dollars.”
Senator Housakos called Justin Trudeau “the master of
the photo-op” while adding that “it’s time to get to work and that’s the bottom
line. It’s time to stop with the selfies, the handshakes and the parades.
Unfortunately for Justin Trudeau he’s running out of time on October 21.”
