(TLN) As part of a major consultation undertaken by the
Quebec Tourism Ministry to determine a new economic development strategy for
tourism from 2020-2025, around 70 key people from the Laval region’s tourism
sector gathered at the Laval Sheraton on Feb. 25 to take part in presentations
and workshops.
Six
guiding themes
During the event, the participants shed light on some
of the issues, shared their concerns, suggested solutions and discussed matters
based on six guiding themes: human resources, entrepreneurship, innovation,
investments, access to tourism facilities (promotion, transportation, etc.) and
strategic knowledge.
Among the main issues raised: availability of
financing for the development of innovative projects; retention of workers and
valorization of career in tourism; optimization of transport in order to
encourage access to destinations and tourist attractions; accompaniment of
entrepreneurs in their efforts at development.
Minister
welcomed
“We are delighted to have welcomed the Minister of
Tourism during her tour of the regions,” said Tourisme Laval board president
Yves Legault. “We have shown the spirit of working together and mobilization
which motivates the players in the Laval tourism sector and which allows us to
bring together projects that contribute to Quebec’s tourism industry.”
The
minister finished her day with a visit to SkyVenture, a Laval landmark tourist
attraction that duplicates the sensation of free fall parachuting. This
family-owned business is considered to be a leading example of entrepreneurial
tourism in the Laval region. The province’s new tourism strategy is expected to
be presented next year.
The RCMP announced it has cracked down on an elaborate international money-laundering network operated by organized-crime cells in Montreal and Toronto.
Police arrested 17 people in early
morning raids in the two cities Monday, seizing more than $32.8 million in
assets.
“It is by depriving criminal groups of
their money-laundering networks that we will shake the very structure of
organized crime,” said RCMP Supt. Martine Fontaine Tuesday at a news
conference.
The network had the capacity to launder
millions of dollars, she said.
Dubbed Project Collecteur, the
bust involved multiple police forces and the Canada Revenue Agency
(CRA), the RCMP said in a statement Tuesday that offered some
details of their investigation.
Fontaine called the investigation
extremely complex and one of the most important of its kind in Canada — one of
the rare money-laundering probes that has led to gangsterism charges.
Investigators had to narrow their focus
to certain people and keep track of evidence, she said, in a bid to
facilitate the prosecution process and not cause delays.
“It’s thousands and thousands of
documents to disclose and to caveat and to be prepared for full
disclosure,” Fontaine said.
The arrests were the result of a two-year
investigation launched in the spring of 2016. Those
targeted were allegedly collecting money from criminal organizations in
Montreal and then moving that money through various individuals and
currency exchange offices in Toronto.
More than 300 officers
were involved in the raids Monday morning. The RCMP teamed up with Montreal,
Laval and Toronto police. (Radio-Canada)
International network
The group used an informal value transfer
system with connections in Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, the United
States and China, the RCMP said. The funds were then returned to drug-exporting
countries, such as Colombia and Mexico.
“This procedure allowed for the
laundering of significant amounts of money originating from illegal activities,
including drug trafficking. The criminal organizations could thus import drugs
through this network,” the RCMP said.
The names of those arrested are:
Quebec Network
Mohamad Jaber, 51, Laval.
Kamel Ghaddar, 39, Laval.
Eric Bradette, 36, L’Assomption.
Sergio Violetta Galvez, 43, Laval.
Alexei Parasenco, 26, Montreal.
Mario Maratta, 64, Sainte-Sophie.
Sorin Ehrlich, 62, Montreal.
Gary Maybee, 57, Austin.
Ontario Network
Nader Gramian-Nik, 56, Vaughan.
Tania Geramian-Nik, 28, Vaughan.
Sahar Shojaei, 45, Thornhill.
Thomas Hsueh, 47, Thornhill.
Mohammadreza Sheikhhassani, 55, Richmond Hill.
Shabnam Mansouri, 38, Maple.
During the investigation and the searches,
police seized drugs including cannabis, cocaine, hashish and
methamphetamine, with a market value of close to $2.2 million,
the RCMP said.
The RCMP say officers
seized cannabis, cocaine, hashish and methamphetamine, for a market value of
close to $2.2 million in Monday’s raids. (RCMP)
Bank accounts and money in Canadian and
foreign currencies were also seized, for a value of $8.7 million.
The CRA seized six properties valued at
about $15 million, and the RCMP seized property estimated to be worth
$7 million.
Clandestine swaps in parking lots
RCMP Sgt. François-Olivier Myette said
there were two “major organizations” operating — one in Toronto
and the other in Montreal.
He said the cash was moved in suitcases,
duffel bags and car trunks.
The RCMP conducted surveillance operations,
monitoring secret transactions in parking lots and elsewhere, capturing
everything on video.
The RCMP says bank
accounts and money in Canadian and foreign currencies valued at $8.7 million
were seized. (RCMP)
The suspects sometimes didn’t know
each other, he said. They would identify each other during these
transactions by using a predetermined token number — often a serial
number on the cash.
The cash transactions involved
between $500,000 and $1 million at a time. The suspects would pick up bags
of cash in Toronto and then release an equivalent value, mainly in
Dubai, he said.
“It’s like if you take money from your
left pocket and you exit it from your right pocket,” Myette said.
“That’s the way it operates.”
Stéphane Bonin, director of criminal
investigations for the CRA, said 50 CRA investigators were involved in the
operation in both Montreal and Toronto.
“Tax evasion and the underground economy
both in Canada and abroad are priorities of the Canada Revenue Agency, as well
as other tax administrations around the world,” he said.
Seen in the photo during the Jeux du Québec launch in Laval are Vincent Brazeau, chief of the Laval delegation, Joseph Polossifakis, flag bearer Simone Huang, and Geneviève Cossette, president of Sports Laval.
(TLN)
On Feb. 17, Sports Laval held a large gathering of athletes, coaches and
supporters to mark the beginning of the process that will culminate next year
when the City of Laval sponsors an important part of the Jeux du Québec.
At the same time, the coaches, athletes and others had
the chance to take part in orientation sessions in preparation for their
participation in the Jeux du Québec beginning in March next year. While the City of Laval
is hosting the finals, Quebec City will be hosting many of the Jeux du Québec’s main events from March 1 – 9.
The
excitement builds
During last week’s warmup event in Laval, Mayor Marc
Demers emphasized the accomplishments of the athletes from Laval. “It is a
source of pride for the City of Laval to support the next generation in
sports,” he said. “It is with excitement that we will be following the
performances of our athletes in Quebec City next March. Our representatives
will be inspiring the athletes who will be coming to Laval in 2020 for the next
Jeux du Québec finals.”
Former Olympian Joseph Polossifakis, part of the
fencing delegation from Canada in 2016 and a special patron at the 2019 Jeux du
Québec,
was also on hand at this
week’s launch to express encouragement to all the athletes from Laval. Polossifakis
represented Laval at the 2005 Jeux du Québec which took place that year in St-Hyacinthe, and where
he won two Silver medallions.
(TLN) In conjunction with the launch of a regional
program to encourage perseverance in school, public health officials at CISSS
de Laval recently released an updated version of a province-wide survey on the
development of kindergarten-age children.
Among
other things, the study reveals that in Laval 31.3 per cent of children
starting grade school are vulnerable in at least one out of five developmental
areas: physical health and well-being, social skills, affective maturity,
cognitive and linguistic development, and communication stills and general
knowledge.
Most children OK
While
the percentage is high, the researchers noted that the majority of children in
Laval are not in these categories of vulnerability.
“Signs of vulnerability in kindergarten allow the
Laval community to take action and develop programs that respond to the needs
of children and their families,” says Jean-Pierre Trépanier,
director of public health at CISSS de Laval. “By investing in the development
of a child who is considered vulnerable today, we can offer professional
support, as well as a chance to succeed in school.”
Efforts being made
Since
the first report was released in 2012, efforts have been made in the Laval
region and several initiatives have been taken so that children can progress and
integrate fully in the school environment.
For
example, preparatory workshops for school were offered in all neighborhoods in
order to encourage harmonious transition towards school, especially for
children whose first language isn’t French or who didn’t regularly attend an
educational daycare for children.
(TLN) During a recent meeting with the president of
the Quebec Union of Municipalities, Laval mayor Marc Demers suggested the
province’s towns and cities should work to develop a common snow removal
strategy, taking into account new climate realities that snow removal crews are
dealing with.
Changing
climate
Demers noted that despite all the hard work by the
City of Laval’s public works crews for snow removal and de-icing, quickly
evolving climate changes are creating situations that are drastically
complicating the task for snow removal workers.
In the proposal made to UMQ president (and
Drummondville mayor) Alexandre Cusson, Demers said, “Since it would seem
obvious that all the efforts to combat climate change will not succeed in
reversing the trend in the short-term, should not the UMQ create a study table
which would concern itself with the strategies to be adopted in order to deal
with this new reality?”
An
evolving situation
According to Mayor Demers, the idea takes into account
weather conditions which would have been considered exceptional previously,
although they’ve now become more common, including quickly rising and dropping
temperatures and twice as much rain as usual for this time of year.
“In the space of a few days or sometimes even during
just a single day, we see periods of snow and rain fall that are often spaced
with periods of freezing rain,” Demers added in his message to the UMQ
president. He also suggested certain parameters within which discussions on
snow removal and climate change might be discussed.
Learning
to adapt
“The goal should be to see how we can better adapt to
the numerous challenges created by the new climate conditions our crews now
face on the terrain,” he said. “This includes challenges to come, as well as
our future needs in order to improve our operational strategies.
Demers suggested that Laval city councillor Ray
Khalil, who is responsible for public works on the City of Laval’s
executive-committee, should serve as a liaison with UMQ members sharing similar
concerns. For his part, Khalil said he was confident that Laval and other UMQ
cities could find a common ground in order to develop an improved approach to
snow and ice removal in the context of a changing climate.
(TLN) Given the increasingly evident effects of
climate warming on the environment, the Conseil régional de
l’environnement de Laval is asking the provincial government to adopt a policy
for regional wetland plans within the next five years.
Range of wetlands
According
to the council, wetlands include different ecosystems such as swamps, marshes,
bogs, fens and ponds. They have distinct fauna, flora as well as habitat and
ecological functions. What they do have in common is the permanent or intermittent
presence of surface or soil water.
Wetlands
therefore have a large buffering capacity for excess rain water and flooding
mitigation, which as well known, is expected to increase with climate change. Wetland
value is widely recognized scientifically but also legally in Quebec.
Regional plan needed
“Regional
county municipalities (RCM) or groupings of RCMs must adopt a regional wetland
plan (Plan régional des milieux humides et hydriques) within 5 years,” the
council says in a statement, while noting that Bill 132 concerning wetland
conservation requires authorization from the Quebec Environment Ministry if a
wetland is to be affected or destroyed.
Compensation
of the affected area is also mandatory in order to achieve no net loss of
wetlands. However, the council wonders whether wetlands in Quebec are well
protected. On the one hand, they say, obtaining a certificate of authorization
requires a request and a waiting period before it is successfully granted,
although this is usually in most cases. The council concludes that a generic
wetland is therefore not protected and could be potentially backfilled and
destroyed.
Replacing wetlands
On
the other hand, no net loss rule implies that any destroyed or altered area has
to be recreated elsewhere, but without considering the pristine state of the
wetland. A destroyed swamp could be compensated by a pond of equal area. Wetland
ecosystems support different ecological communities and have specific functions
such as controlling the water balance in a sector.
The
council compares this to compensating for a damaged house with a tent of the
same area without municipal infrastructures. The council notes that the City of
Laval initiated a regional wetland plan by inventorying the city, which
revealed 1,550 hectares of diverse and threatened wetlands. In 2018, the environment
ministry gave out 14 permits and 14 more are pending or in evaluation.
Political will needed
“It
takes decades to recreate the complexity and initial ecological functions of a
new wetland,” says the council. “However, to conserve an existing and thriving
one only takes a few minutes of political will. Wetland compensation should be
but a backup when no options are available but is in no way a shortcut for
sustainable development.”
The
council maintains that the current authorization certification process “fuels
irresponsible development by making ecological destruction socially acceptable.
Our lax system is allowing loss of our natural and common legacy. Our
resilience to climate change is provided by these urban ecosystems: the forest
cools us, ponds mitigate floods, swamps are outstanding habitats and marshes
retain heavy metals.
Fighting with sand bags
“We
are fighting global natural catastrophes with sand bags and air conditioning
while voluntarily heading towards a wall of failure,” they continue. “What we
need is a solid conservation plan to protect ecological services which we
depend on.”
The
council points out that New York City protected the state’s Catskills forests
to secure the water supply, instead of building an inefficient water plant. “We
know the risks related to climate change and have solutions to mitigate them,”
they say. “We have to stop this irrational and short-term profit-oriented
destruction of wetlands, or in five years, our regional wetland plan will be
very dry.”
For the 12th consecutive year, the Montreal Canadiens are
teaming up with the Fondation de l’athlète d’excellence (FAEQ) to reward the
next generation in women’s and men’s hockey. Tonight, prior to the NHL game
between the Montreal Canadiens and the Anaheim Ducks at the Bell Centre, 29 of
Quebec’s most promising hockey student-athletes each received a $1,500
scholarship from the team’s general manager, Marc Bergevin.
“As a sports organization, we are very proud to have been promoting
the sporting and academic success of young hockey players across the province
for 12 years, and to, once again tonight, highlight the outstanding performance
of our recipients both on the rink and on school benches,” said Geoff
Molson, president and CEO of the Montreal Canadiens Hockey Club.
Thanks to the bursary
program created in 2008, the Montreal Canadiens play an active role in the
development of homegrown talent. In 2015, the partnership with the Fondation de l’athlète d’excellence was
extended for another five years with an amount of $250,000 invested in the
program until 2020.
“What more could
a young hockey student hope for than to be supported by the Montreal Canadiens?
The Fondation de l’athlète d’excellence
is truly proud of this valuable collaboration from the Habs, which goes
well beyond financial support, reminded Claude
Chagnon, president of the FAEQ. Indeed, what a feeling to be encouraged by
the most famous hockey club in the world! The Montreal Canadiens are a
prestigious and key partner for the FAEQ, and together, we are dedicated to the
success of our province’s best hockey student-athletes.”This year, the
Montreal Canadiens Bursary Program, administered by the FAEQ in partnership
with Hockey Québec and the Midget AAA Hockey League, will benefit 29
student-athletes between the ages of 15 and 17, who were selected for their
on-ice achievements as well as their academic results. Eight were awarded to
laureate players from the women’s Quebec team looking for a selection with
Canada’s national team, while 21 bursaries were handed out to young hockey
players from the Midget AAA level. One of the eligibility criteria for the Fondation
de l’athlète d’excellence scholarships focuses in the scholastic perseverance
of young athletes in preparing for a career after sports.
Jérémie Bergeron recieves his $1500 scholarship from Marc Bergevin, General Manager of the Montreal Canadiens
Photo: CHC-Thierry du Bois-OSA Images
Jérémie Bergeron Born January 21, 2002 in Laval Academic Excellence of $1500
Goaltender with the Laval-Montréal Rousseau-Royal of the Midget AAA Hockey League.
Recorded 6 wins, 9 losses and 1 SOL with a .882 save percentage in 16 games in his rookie season with Rousseau-Royal
Playing with the Laval Patriotes midget team, he was selected 70th overall by the Chicoutimi Saguenéens in the 2018 QMJHL draft
Took part in the 2018 Gatorade Challenge with the Newfoundland entry
Currently completing his final high school year in the sports development program at École Antoine-de-Saint-Exupéry. He posted an 88% academic average in the first term
Inspired by Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Jérémie plans on continuing his education towards a medical degree. While suiting up with the Saguenéens in 2019-20, he will also study Nature Science at the collegiate level. He hopes to work in the field of pediatric or sports medicine.
McGill University announced today that it has received the
single-largest gift in Canadian history to create a flagship graduate
scholarship program thanks to a $200-million donation from longtime University supporters,
John McCall MacBain, BA’80, LLD’14, and Dr. Marcy McCall MacBain.
The McCall MacBain
Scholarships at McGill will provide outstanding students from Canada and
internationally with the opportunity to pursue a master’s or professional
degree, combined with a world-class enrichment program. In addition to full
funding to cover tuition and fees plus a living stipend, scholars will benefit
from mentorship and immersive learning experiences, including retreats,
workshops and internships. It will be the most generous and comprehensive
graduate scholarship to exist at this level in Canada.
“We are incredibly grateful to John and Marcy McCall MacBain
for their visionary support of McGill’s students,” said Principal and
Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier. “As McGill prepares to celebrate its
Bicentennial in 2021, the McCall MacBain Scholarships embody our vision for
McGill’s third century: a place where students become future-ready and prepared
to contribute to shaping our rapidly changing world.”
Applications will
open in the fall of 2020 to students from across Canada for the inaugural
class. McCall MacBain Scholars will begin their studies at McGill in the fall
of 2021. The Scholarships will then be expanded to include international
students in the third year of operation. Ultimately, the program will build a
community of scholars dedicated to solving pressing global issues and complex
problems that will improve the lives of others around the world.
(TLN) On Thursday Feb. 14 at 8:15 am, representatives
of Agape, Laval Senior Academy and the Community Learning Centre were outdoors
at Laval Senior Academy, taking advantage of School Perseverance week (Feb. 11
– 15) to welcome students as they entered school for the day.
Launching
web site
They were giving out Got my info? pens to all the
students (and staff) that morning for the official launch of the new Got my
info? website. At the same time, they were giving words of encouragement and
praise to all the youths they met outside the Souvenir Blvd. secondary school.
Like the French-language As tu mon numéro.com web site, Gotmyinfo.com is an interactive web site for all
English-speaking Laval youths, parents and professionals in various areas
working with youth (school network, municipal level, health and social services
and community sector).
A joint effort
Got my info? is a joint initiative that was created in 2006
by various Laval partners working with youth who’s mission was to create
awareness of the many resources available for Laval youth.
The As-tu
mon numéro?committee is composed of representatives from Agape, Carrefour jeunesse emploi de Laval, Centre communautaire Val-Martin, Commission scolaire de Laval, Corporation intégration à la vie active des
personnes handicapées de Laval – CIVAPHL, CISSS de Laval and the City of Laval with support from ALPABEM – project fiduciary.
Commmittee members
The Got my info? committee
is composed of representatives from Agape, CISSS de Laval, the Community Learning Centre, the Sir Wilfrid Laurier
School Board, CDC Vimont with support from Health Canada action plan for
official languages 2018-2023 – investing in our future – managed by the
Community Health and Social Services Network (CHSSN).
The organizers say that, through a joint collaboration,
they are making information and resources accessible to Laval’s
English-speaking youth, families and professionals. The As-tu mon numéro?
committee collaborated with Agape and the Got my info? committee to translate
and design the website into the English language.
In
an effort to protect and enhance the heritage architecture on its territory,
the City of Laval, in keeping with a trend in other cities in Quebec, has
served noticed that it is drafting a new by-law dealing with the demolition of
buildings and other structures considered architecturally significant because
of their heritage value.
More
than 1,400 buildings and structures are targeted by the by-law. Almost all of
them are part of pre-inventory of the City of Laval’s heritage architecture
that was conducted in 2015 by the firm Patri-Arch. The list includes primary
and secondary buildings, roadside crosses, shrines, tombs and a vault.
Heritage protection
The
city’s by-law was developed in keeping with elements contained in a provincial
law on urban planning, which allows municipalities to have regulations to
control the demolition of buildings considered noteworthy – with special
emphasis on their heritage value.
“We
are very happy that this project is coming together which will certainly help
to avoid regrettable demolitions, attesting to our willingness to guarantee the
continuation of this collective wealth which is architectural heritage,” said
Laval councillor for Sainte-Rose Virginie Dufour, an executive-committee member.
Demolitions suspended
Since
the new by-law came into effect on Jan. 31, the issuing of demolition permits
has been suspended for buildings eyed by the city for possible preservation
based on their heritage value. This suspension will cease to be valid under the
following conditions:
If
the demolition by-law is not adopted within the two months following the
passing of the resolution; If the demolition by-law has not come into effect
within the four months following its adoption; When the demolition by-law comes
into effect.
Over
the past year, a groundbreaking public consultation was conducted by the city
among property owners potentially affected. Around 100 heritage buildings were
identified. During the consultations, around 30 people took part in four
working sessions between April and May 2018.
45 recommendations
The
participants came up with around 45 recommendations, which were presented to
members of the executive-committee. Some of the recommendations were taken up
by the executive-committee, including one that called for additional support
for a program to revitalize heritage buildings.
Among
the tasks that have already been accomplished: The creation of an inventory of
roadside crosses and shrines all over Laval’s territory; The creation of a study
on the history and heritage of the Saint-François de Sales sector; The
realization of a series of videos on Laval’s heritage and history; The
restoration of roadside crosses and shrines in Laval’s public areas.
