A little more than a year after Chomedey-based Agape
social services took a bold leap forward with the opening of their new Laval
English-speaking Seniors’ Wellness Center, friends and members gathered at the facility
on Notre Dame Blvd. last week for a first-year anniversary celebration.
Something to celebrate
Nearly
40 people accepted an invitation to be there, including Chomedey’s Member of the National Assembly Guy Ouellette.
A self-serve “potluck” buffet was served. Ouellette
spoke and delivered a message of congratulations to everyone associated with
the Seniors’ Wellness Center.
The Seniors’ Wellness Center has been operating thanks
to a two-year subsidy provided through Quebec’s Ami des Aînés program, as well as guidance received from the Community
Health and Social Services Network.
Funding for another year
The
staff at Agape are hoping that a new source of funding for the Seniors’
Wellness Center materializes by next year, failing which they will be exploring
alternate ways to keep the center running.
“We’re hoping to get government programs that support
us once more,” said Ian Williams, Agape’s staff social worker.
“If not, then we may have to look into other forms of
fundraising such as membership fees, which the seniors seem to be willing to
do. But ideally it would be free at all times. We would exclude membership fees
if we could.”
English-speaking
seniors
With the new centre, Laval’s English-speaking seniors
have been able to participate in presentations on health, learn about the
resources available to seniors who prefer to be served in English, take part in
special activities, and receive referrals for their social service needs.
The center is located on the third floor at 3860 Notre
Dame just east of Curé Labelle Blvd. The building has an elevator and there is a large
parking lot on the side and in the rear.
The current issue of the Laval News volume 27-12 published June 12th, 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. 27-12
June 12, 2019.
Seen in the photo are former Laval communications employee Caroline Jodoin, Laval chief of communications Louis-Philippe Dorais and Catherine Erazola of the city’s communications department.
(TLN)
The City of Laval recently won two awards for excellence in its communications
with the public. The awards were presented during a recent evening sponsored by
the Association des communicateurs municipaux du Québec (ACMQ).
A
campaign by the city’s communications department promoting Laval à vélo won a Plume d’excellence award. The strategy included
video, social media, posters and TV coverage. Olympic track and field medallist
Bruny Surin was recruited as a spokesperson.
The city’s communications department also won an award
for a print-media campaign promoting outdoor activities, and Laval’s public
libraries won an award for using social media to promote library services among
youngsters from the ages of 10 to 14.
Laval, June 10, 2019 – Rallying Opposition Forces in Laval was a commitment made by Action Laval’s interim leader and president, Achille T. Cifelli, when he took the party’s leadership. It is therefore with great pleasure that he announces the adhesion, by signing a membership card, of Francine LeBlanc and Gilles Boudreau to his party.
“The unification of the Opposition parties is
a necessity to offer a real alternative to the actual administration, Laval
needs a team that listens to its citizens, for real“, said Achille Cifelli.
Since
the 2017 election, Action Laval has
positioned itself as a party of openness and unification against Marc Demers’
administration. Without an office paid by the taxpayers, but with a team of
committed and determined volunteers, the party was able to pull out and win
over Laval’s citizens, supporters and elected officials from all political
horizons. The party’s objective: to replace Marc Demers’ administration with an
administration that is truly attentive to the needs of Laval residents, in
order to offer them the services and a community life that meet their
aspirations.
It
is through this philosophy that Francine LeBlanc and Gilles Boudreau, both
former officers of the Official Opposition Party, have joined Action Laval.
For Gilles Boudreau, Parti Laval’s
candidate for Vimont in 2017 and former party treasurer, Action Laval
represents the best alternative to Marc Demers’ team: “Action Laval is light years away from Parti
Laval, it is not a one-man-party but a team that truly works for the benefit of
all Laval residents, that is open to ideas, new initiatives and innovation. It
is an honour for me to join this great family and it is together that we will
show the door to Marc Demers and his team in 2021!”.
For Francine LeBlanc, who until recently
was Vice-President of Parti Laval’s Board of Directors, her membership in
Action Laval is a revelation: “Action
Laval is first and foremost a team and a big family. My membership in the party
is a continuation of my desire to serve my fellow citizens and to make a real
difference in Laval, as part of a united team whose objective is not only to
promote the candidacy of a single man.
There are difficult choices that can be made, and signing my membership
card was not one of them. I encourage all Laval residents to come and work with
us, because yes, now I can say us!”.
In
conclusion, Action Laval’s Interim Leader and President, Achille Cifelli,
welcomes his two new members while reiterating his commitment: anyone of good
faith who wishes to work for his fellow citizens is welcome! “It is together, and only together, that we
will be able to make a difference in Laval”.
About Francine LeBlanc and Gilles Boudreau
Francine LeBlanc: With a very impressive professional career in health and education, Ms. Francine Leblanc, a nurse by profession, is currently a senior medical representative for a large pharmaceutical company. Until recently, she was vice-president of the Board of Directors of Parti Laval.
Gilles Boudreau, CPA: Mr. Gilles Boudreau is an accountant and a trained administrator, having held outstanding senior management positions in Canada, United States, Mexico, Switzerland and Hong Kong during his career. He is now a consultant in the administration field. Mr. Boudreau was Parti Laval’s candidate for the Vimont district in 2017, coming in second with just over 23% of the vote. He also served as treasurer of that party.
Laval auditor-general Véronique Boily notes in her annual report that tracts of protected farm land in Laval have been purchased in recent years by business interests “who were not agricultural entrepreneurs.”
Martin C. Barry
In a report on the City of Laval’s management
performance that is politely restrained despite its criticism, Laval
auditor-general Véronique Boily raises questions about
the Demers administration’s continuing failure to protect Laval’s once vast
agricultural lands – some of which have been snapped up in recent years by
development speculators, adds Boily.
City falls behind
In
a statement issued when the report was tabled last week, Boily’s department
noted that in 2016 the city adopted its first Agricultural Zone Development
Plan (PDZA) for the period up to 2020. However, the city didn’t bother to
measure the increase in the area of cultivated land, whose target set by the
plan is 10 per cent.
In
addition, she added, the city “has not taken the steps needed to acquire
regulatory tools to prevent the spread of fallow land and restore it for
agricultural purposes.”
Developers in the wings
In
an executive summary of the 186-page report, Boily points out that Laval’s
agricultural lands are located squarely in the middle of a vast market for farm
products in the greater Montreal region. Even so, the City of Laval appears to
be ignoring this.
While
noting that Laval hasn’t bothered since adoption of the PDZA to inventory the
rise and fall in the number of agricultural properties being cultivated or
lying fallow, Boily suggested that land acquisitions made by property
developers “can have important consequences” on attaining the goal set out in the
PDZA.
City officials say certain agricultural areas in Laval are protected from development, despite an auditor-general’s report indicating developers have been buying farm lands all the same.
Non-agricultural ‘speculators’
According
to Boily, in 2012 alone more than 84 hectares of land zoned agricultural in
Laval were purchased “with the possible aim of speculation by businesses whose
activities have nothing to do with the agricultural sector.” As well, she
added, in 2018 at least 62 hectares of agricultural lands were acquired by two buyers
“who were not agricultural entrepreneurs.”
The report comes in the wake of some renewed concern
among agriculturalists in Laval about the city’s neglect of the farming sector.
Farmers
critical of city
Among those who raised the issue recently was Gilles
Lacroix, a Laval-area farmer who spoke during a public consultation on May 21
on the ongoing development of Laval’s master urban plan.
“You talk about protecting the agricultural
territory,” said Lacroix, noting that the city has failed to turn its words
into action and isn’t providing any incentive to keep agricultural land owners
from abandoning their properties.
After presenting her report to journalists at Laval
city hall, Boily was asked by The Laval News to elaborate on her comments about
the involvement of development speculators in the purchase of agricultural
lands.
Land’s being
bought, says Boily
While pointing out that the status of Laval’s
agriculturally-zoned areas is officially protected and that this effectively
should prevent them from being used for any other means, she said nothing
stands in the way of development speculators purchasing farm lands.
“These lands get purchased,” she said. “On the other
hand, they cannot use them for purposes other than what is provided for in the
law.”
But the question remains: Why would property
developers, who have converted vast tracts of Laval’s more than 95-square-mile
territory from a once rural landscape to one that has gradually been urbanized,
want to acquire agricultural land if the law says they can’t use it for
anything other than farming?
Laval auditor-general Véronique Boily tabled her annual report at Laval city hall on June 5.
De-zoning
possible, says expert
Among those present during the presentation of the
auditor-general’s report was Guy Debailleul, a University of Laval
associate-professor of agricultural economics and co-president of the Institut
Jean-Garon which conducts research on the use of agricultural territories.
While agreeing that generally speaking provincial law ensures
that the status of agriculturally-zoned land can’t be changed, he suggested
applications for de-zoning can be made to remove the protected status from
certain portions of agricultural territory.
“There can be requests made to the Commission de
protection du territoire agricole, which has a quasi-legal status of sorts, and
individuals or municipalities may ask for modifications in the zoning for
particular purposes,” Debailleul said.
De-zoning
farm land now rare
He noted that de-zoning protected agricultural land
has been done more commonly for autoroute construction, for example, but in
exceptional cases also for residential development – although much more rarely.
According
to former Fabreville city councillor Michel Trottier who leads the Parti Laval,
de-zoning of farm land in Laval was fairly common under the administration of
former mayor Gilles Vaillancourt, whose discredited governance ended in 2012. Trottier
said the practice came to a halt the following year with the election of the
Demers administration.
De-zoning ‘impossible,’
says Trottier
While
acknowledging that applications for de-zoning can be made to the provincial
commission, he said the buck would stop here in Laval because of the protected
status accorded in Laval’s master urban plan by the city.
As
for the property developers who’ve purchased land in the protected agricultural
areas, Trottier suggested the acquisitions were made before the law came into
effect. “It would be impossible to de-zone as things are now,” Trottier
insisted.
From the left, city councillors Michel Poissant and David De Cotis hold up a copy of the letter they and other Action Laval councillors signed, asking the Demers administration to implement a tax freeze.
Martin C. Barry
Action Laval, the city’s second opposition party, is
demanding Mayor Marc Demers return a portion of the $42 million the city got
back from corrupt Vaillancourt-era contractors to Laval’s taxpayers in the form
of a residential tax freeze over the next two years.
During a press conference held at Laval city hall last
week, Action Laval city councillor Michel Poissant said that three years ago
Laval’s auditor-general noted in her annual report that the City of Laval had
significant surpluses and that the Demers administration should be setting out
a plan on how to use them.
They want tax
freeze
“Basically, that’s where things still stand,” he said.
Poissant and Councillor David De Cotis are among the Action Laval councillors
who signed an open letter calling on all members of Laval city council to
support a resolution they drafted demanding the tax freeze.
In addition to the $42 million, Action Laval says the
City of Laval is also sitting on what they claim is $555 million dollars in
surpluses. “This is a clear indication that the citizens of Laval have been
overtaxed the last couple of years,” said De Cotis.
Belongs to
citizens
“The recovered $42 million which was linked to
corruption and collusion under the administration of Gilles Vaillancourt is not
Marc Demers’s money,” he added. “It is the money of citizens. $42 million
dollars was recovered and yet they don’t stop raising taxes at a rate higher
than real inflation. The money must be given back to the citizens of Laval.”
While Laval has completed some costly projects in
recent years, including Place Bell costing the city $200 million alone, De
Cotis and Poissant maintain the City of Laval’s financial position is strong.
They estimate a tax freeze would mean up to $300 less on the average
residential tax bill over two years.
Less debt,
more surplus
“The City of Laval has the lowest debt among the
largest cities in Quebec,” said Poissant. “So we have more surplus, less debt.
And this is what was presented internally by the management to all the
officials last week. These are also figures that you can find in the city’s
financial statements.”
While noting that Action Laval’s demand targets the
city’s half-billion dollar surplus, De Cotis said the party is focusing
primarily on the $42 million because it is above and beyond amounts stated in
the City of Laval’s last budget.
“We can take that amount or a part of that amount to
give a tax break to the citizens,” he said. “It belongs to them. They overpaid
taxes for so many years. It would be a nice gesture from the city to freeze the
taxes over the next two years.”
‘For the
citizens,’ said De Cotis
As De Cotis acknowledged, Laval implemented property
tax freezes in 2013 and 2014. He dismissed a journalist’s suggestion that tax
freezes go over well with taxpayers and win support from property owners. Laval
residents will next be voting in municipal elections in late 2021.
“We’re not doing it for the voters – we’re doing this
for the citizens,” De Cotis insisted. “They’ve paid that money. And freezing
taxes for two years won’t push the city into bankruptcy. We have half a billion
dollars in surplus.
“We estimate it would cost around $5 million a year.
So that’s $10 million the city could put aside to give tax breaks to the
citizens. They deserve it: it’s their money. It does not belong to Marc Demers
or his administration.”
Nothing brings out the kid in grown men than being able to dress up like old-time firefighters, like these guys did during Laval’s annual Firemen’s Festival at the Centropolis from May 31 – June 2.
Martin C. Barry
The
13th annual Laval Firemen’s Festival, which took place from May 31 –
June 2 at the Centropolis, delivered all the excitement festival-goers have
grown used to since it all started back in 2007.
Many
activities
The weekend opened on Friday evening with the
Firemen’s Run, a jogging event with two and five-kilometre trajectories,
continuing on Sunday June 2 with one, two, five, 10, 21.1 and 42.2 kilometre
circuits.
The ever-popular parade of fire trucks, with sirens
and warning signals blaring, took place Saturday morning, starting around 9:30
am from Laval’s industrial park, slowly making its way towards the rendez-vous
point at the Centropolis an hour later.
For the whole
family
Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 am to 4 pm, the festival
site was filled with a range of activities, including educational kiosks on
fire prevention and safety, a car accident simulation, firefighter museum
artefacts, fire truck displays, and more.
There were even demonstrations of cooking by some of
the more kitchen-savvy firefighters, whose sense of haute-cuisine has become
well-developed from years of preparing hearty meals in the firehouse kitchen
while waiting for emergency calls to come in.
The sound of sirens, horns and warning bells was deafening as the parade of fire trucks marked the opening of the 2019 Laval Firemen’s Festival.
(TLN)
Laval mayor Marc Demers played host last Sunday to some 150 members of the
Mouvement Lavallois/Équipe
Marc Demers during the party’s annual
general meeting.
While the day’s activities included a look at the
party’s financial state, a new executive-committee was also introduced.
Lyne Sylvain is the new president. Sylvie Bélanger,
formerly responsible for 9-1-1 service with the city, is now vice-president of
the ML, while Annick Annick Merry Senghor (a former 3-1-1 service employee) is
the new treasurer. Pierre Brabant remains the secretary, Patrick Ramsay is in
charge of the youth wing and city councillor Ray Khalil will represent council
on the party’s executive.
“I am very happy to be able to count on persons of
very high stature on our executive, notably with the arrival this year of three
women who distinguish themselves through their talent and devotion,” said Mayor
Demers.
(TLN)
Mayor Marc Demers and executive-committee member Sandra Desmeules attended the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ annual convention in Quebec City
recently.
Demers meets PM
While
there, Demers met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and had the opportunity to
discuss the issue of financing Laval’s infrastructures, the city’s acquisition
of nature and forest lands, the future of the Old Penitentiary in
St-Vincent-de-Paul and the importance of investing in public transport.
“This
type of cordial and quick exchange allowed me to remind the prime minister of
the preoccupations of Laval residents,” said Demers. “We have major projects
and in some cases the cooperation of the other levels of government will be
essential to implement the projects expected by our population.”
Desmeules re-elected
Councillor
Sandra Desmeules was re-elected to the FCM’s board of directors. She will be
representing the interests of Laval and the rest of Quebec in the FCM.
As
part of its program to help municipalities innovate environmentally, the FCM
granted the City of Laval a $750,000 subsidy for a project to “green” over
parts of Laval in a continuing campaign against heat islands.
Laval
will be using the money to remove 3,000 m2 of paved area while
planting 7,200 plants, including 1,500 trees on private and public lands. The
work is scheduled to run from this autumn to the end of 2020.
In honor of Father’s Day and in appreciation of the millions of fathers whose daily passion for their children and their love of the gift and privilege of fatherhood often goes unnoticed, here’s a special treat – a dad and daughter story that is exceptional in its simplicity and touching in its depth. Here is the loving professional and family bond between the father/daughter singing duo of Johnny and Christina Capobianco, paying a heartfelt tribute to fathering of all children, but especially does it to celebrate the unique and important relationship between fathers and daughters.
Thirty-one-year-old
Christina Capobianco and Johnny, her renowned local singer dad, are taking
Laval, Greater Montreal, and beyond by storm with their latest CD Johnny and Christina Capobianco, 21
hits sung mostly in English and Italian.
The accomplished
duo shares two-part harmony from songs of the 60s to today, showcasing English,
French, Italian, and Spanish favorites. Fathers and daughters bond in many ways
– ice cream dates, sports, and even homework.
But this dad-daughter duo takes bonding to whole new levels with heart
felt covers of music’s most popular songs, an act so good that audiences can’t
get enough.
Here,
in their own words, as told to TLN, are the strings tugging the hearts of this
dynamic duo in their mission of gladness to every audience for which, they say,
they have the privilege to perform.
How was it growing up with a talented
dad?
“It
was special growing up in an environment that nurtured my natural musical
ability. I’m an only child, therefore,
dad became my mentor/singing coach when I was nine. As a young songstress, I performed
with dad in the community. We became a team
despite our individual tastes in music.
Although
a music career would have been an obvious choice for me, I also set my sight on
something different. But make no
mistake, we continue our duet on weekends and special occasions.”
Johnny, what is the music industry
today?
“The
industry has always been competitive at heart.
You have to keep re-inventing yourself – that’s where Christina and I
come in. We’re a duet – singers and
performers. I have a 12- piece extraordinarily talented orchestra (The Grand Show Band) which sizzles
crowds. Often, in bands, members split roles amongst the group. So, it’s important to learn different aspects
of professional music-making, and enjoy the process. Professional musicians wear
many hats these days. Making some money on the side isn’t hard, but to turn
passion into career you have to want it above all else.
Christina, with your amazing talent, why
something different?
Depending
on the music path, it’s possible that you’ll never make a stable income. Even if it is, it may take years before it’s
enough to enjoy certain luxuries. You need plan B – another pursuit on the
side. As singers/entertainers, we don’t
wait for opportunities to come to us – we seek them out or create them
ourselves. That’s our formula for
success.
What accounts for your great popularity
and respect?
Johnny: “The combination of excellent musicianship with a
stunning 12-piece orchestra and light show is the ultimate event entertainment
for celebrations looking for WOW factors.
It’s a show created by two industry professionals sharing the vision of
giving audiences unforgettable experiences. We have performed for luxury
clients and in respected venues – corporate events, private parties, weddings,
gala dinners, and fund-raising events for research into diseases and for the
less fortunate.
We are immensely proud of donating time and talent wholeheartedly
for worthy causes such as Generations Foundation, Operation Enfants Soleil, and The
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada. Over the past decade we have raised
over $300 000 in support of these crucial organizations.”
What is the objective in your musical
career?
Christina:
“To bring glamor and sophistication to venues across our beloved Laval, Greater
Montreal, Toronto, and beyond through various styles, such as pop, jazz, disco
and funk, all tailored to individual clients.
Describe your career in a nutshell.
Johnny:
“Very few people have the good fortune to be in major demand. As long as you keep making steps to improve
every day, you’ll eventually be one of the best out there. We’re lucky since I’ve been in the business
since I was 15, with Christina, 14 years.
We love singing at home and for audiences. It’s a passion. We constantly
raise the bar for ourselves. I’ve always taken the lead showcasing my fierce
vocals (he chuckles). Christina’s powerful vocals beautifully merges
our voices in perfect harmony. She’s a
very talented quality pop singer. She gets it from her dad! (chuckles again.) We love performing, it’s in our soul and
blood.”
Great to hear from you both, but what
does mom Connie think of all this?
Christina:
“She’s a trooper, constantly helping us actualize our plans and projects,
following us everywhere, often joining appreciative audiences singing along
with us. We love her involvement and are thankful for her support, which she
delivers to the fullest.”
The
Capobiancos count among their accomplishments a Certificate of Recognition Award for Outstanding Community Work,
from the House of Commons, conferred in Laval, May 12, 2017, by
Alfred-Pellan MP Angelo Iacono.
