An elderly resident of Saint-Judes St. in Laval’s Chomedey district was reported to be in serious condition on Wednesday morning after a fire around 9:30 pm the night before.
Fire investigators with the Laval Fire Dept. as well as with the Laval Police were reported to be working together to determine whether arson was involved in the blaze in the three-unit building, which includes a basement apartment.
The LFD reported on their X social media feed that upon their arrival, flames were visible on the second floor of the two-story building, spreading to the roof.
The occupants were evacuated, according to an LFD spokesperson, who said the building was heavily damaged.
The Canadian government’s tightening of temporary foreign worker (TFW) rules might soon reverberate across Laval’s economy.
Business leaders and economists warning of closures, lost contracts, and long-term reputational damage.
The Chamber of Commerce
Caroline de Guire, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Laval, said the restrictions touch nearly every sector of the city.
“Yes, we always hear about tourism, hotel, agriculture, caregiving. These are big ones. But because we’re in a large agglomeration in the Greater Montreal region, it really is all sectors.” she said. “Everybody is impacted.”
A survey released by the Fédération des chambres de commerce (FCCQ) found that 63% of Quebec businesses risk contract losses, production cuts or even shift closures if restrictions persist. De Guire said the risks for Laval companies, adding that another survey showed 18% of small and medium enterprises employing low-wage TFWs could close altogether.
“These people have been hired, they’ve had contracts, their contracts are up for renewal. And they’re at a standpoint where it’s a no man’s land, where they might actually not be able to keep their workforce,” she said.
The workforce
Recent examples from other regions in Quebec illustrate the potential impacts of the new restrictions. Marineau Hotels in Mauricie told Le Journal de Montréal last week it risks losing “perhaps 80% of our kitchen staff” under the new rules.
The Quebec Hotel Association said 74% of hoteliers expect major impacts within a year if restrictions remain.
Meanwhile, federal criteria now cap many employers at 10% of their workforce in TFWs, with wage thresholds cutting off access to lower-paid roles.
According to a report by Canadian immigration lawyer, Joshua Slayen, Canada’s temporary foreign worker program has expanded rapidly, with the number of workers growing from 356,000 in 2011 to 845,000 in 2021 and employer approvals reaching nearly 240,000 in 2023.
Economist perspective
Economist Moshe Lander of Concordia University said the political debate often frames TFWs as either displacing Canadians or filling roles no one else will take. In either case, he argued, restrictions carry costs.
“It’s almost irrelevant whether they’re substitutes or complements. It does damage local workers,” Lander said. “Any attempt to keep foreign workers out will ultimately hurt the local population.”
Lander explained that policymakers increasingly frame the issue beyond the labour market, emphasizing potential competition between temporary foreign workers and local residents for housing, medical services, and school spaces. He said this shift helps justify restrictions even when foreign workers are economically complementary to domestic labour.
Still, he warned that restricting entry could harm Canada’s global image. “Once that message goes out, that’s not just short-term damage that’s done, that’s medium to long-term damage,” Lander said. “Canada is now going to be seen for a generation as an unwelcoming place for foreign workers.”
De Guire rejected the notion that foreign workers take jobs away from Quebecers. “It’s not a tradeoff, it really is a compliment,” she said. She added that retail, restaurants, hospitality, logistics, and advanced manufacturing as the sectors most vulnerable to labour shortages in Laval.
“Temporary foreign workers are chosen. It’s a decision. They’re not a fallback. They are a strategic necessity,” De Guire said.
The current issue of the Laval News, volume 33-19, published on October 8th, 2025. Covering Laval local news, politics, and sports. (Click on the image to read the paper.)
Front page of The Laval News, October 8th, 2025 issue.
Fifty years ago, École arménienne Sourp Hagop opened its doors to just 37 kindergarten and grade one students.
Today, the Montreal-based institution stands as a cornerstone of Montreal’s Armenian community, educating hundreds of students each year while preserving language, culture, and identity across generations.
History
Founded in 1974, Sourp Hagop was born out of the Armenian community’s determination to rebuild cultural life after displacement. As immigrants arrived in Montreal with few institutions of their own, community leaders set out to create a school that would transmit language and history while offering a high-quality Quebec education.
“It started in the 1970s, or even before, when immigrants came to Montreal. There were no Armenian schools,” explained director Lory Abrakian. “As a people who have survived genocide, it is important for us to transmit language, culture, history, so that memory lives on.”
Over five decades, the school has expanded from its modest beginnings to offer a full curriculum through Secondary 5.
Classes are taught primarily in French, with English instruction and Armenian heritage courses woven into the program. The school moved into the former Malcolm Campbell High School building on Rue Nadon, where it remains today.
Growth
Abrakian said the anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on how much the institution has grown, both physically and in its role within Quebec society. “Fifty years ago, I don’t even think that they envisioned what the school was going to become,” she said, noting that Sourp Hagop now counts more than 1,400 alumni, many of whom are active contributors to Quebec’s professional and civic life.
To mark the milestone, the school held a series of events over the past year, culminating in a gala. The evening brought together community members, donors, and elected officials, and served as a launch pad for the school’s future projects, including a major schoolyard renovation.
Courtesy Sona Lakhoyan Olivier
MNA celebrates
For Sona Lakhoyan Olivier, MNA for Chomedey, the celebrations captured the spirit of the institution. “It was inspiring to see the community’s dedication and very generous contributions toward the school’s growth, looking ahead to the next 50 years,” she said.
Lakhoyan Olivier described the school as a “cornerstone” of the Armenian community, preparing leaders and fostering a strong cultural identity while contributing to Quebec and Canadian society.
A series of missing cats in a Laval neighbourhood near the Armand-Frappier woods prompted concern among residents this summer.
Several owners reported their whiskered companions disappearing within weeks of one another, with coyotes suspected to be the culprits.
Amalia Caporicci, a clinical research lead and nearby resident, first noticed lost-cat posters appearing in her neighbourhood in July. Two of her own cats later disappeared and have not returned.
As the Chomedy resident filed reports, put up posters and posted online, she heard from other owners that she wasn’t alone— and that coyotes had been seen near the woods.
“Within that time period, two to three other cats basically disappeared,” Caporicci said. “I realized I wasn’t the only one— people were actively searching for their cats, and it was happening all at once. That’s when I started to get really concerned.”
Other residents reported similar concerns. Sylvie Lozier, a retired resident of the same neighbourhood, said her eight-year-old cat Mimi had always gone outside and returned home without issue, until recently. She noted the recent disappearances were unusual for the area. “If it was one or two cats, sure, but it’s a lot of cats. It’s weird. It’s not normal,” she said.
In July, a stormy night marked the last time Agnes Por, who operates a home daycare and works as an educator, saw her cat. Her cat, Gabi, was used to going outside and always came home, but this time he didn’t.
Por searched the neighbourhood for days, posted notices, and filed reports with the SPCA, but never found him. As time passed, she began noticing more missing-cat posters nearby. “And I see more and more posters of cats missing in this area,” she said. “And I’m thinking, must be a coyote. What else could it be?”
Amalia Caporicci, a clinical research lead and nearby resident, pictured in the Armand-Frappier Woods on Sept. 24 2025. (Matthew Daldalian, The Laval News)
City and political responses
Caporicci said she contacted Laval’s Gestion Animalière, Protection de la faune Laval-Laurentide, the Ministry of the Environment, and the office of Sandra El-Helou, the councillor for her district, Souvenir–Labelle. She said she did not receive responses.
“To date, I’ve just been met with silence. I haven’t had any of my calls returned,” Caporicci said.
Frédéric Mayer, Action Laval leader and mayoral candidate, said he had not heard about the situation through official channels. He believed that when natural habitats change, it’s normal for animals to move into new areas.
Mayer said his party would prioritize communication with residents if elected. “This is at the heart of our values,” he added.
He also argued that Laval currently lacks a dedicated municipal animal service to deal with situations like coyote sightings, leaving residents to handle problems themselves.
While the city has regulations governing pet ownership and contracts animal control to Berger Blanc, it does not operate its own wildlife management team. The closest option is the provincial Environment Ministry, which intervenes when coyotes become aggressive or lose their fear of humans.
One of Amalia Caporicci’s missing cats, Fluffy. (Courtesy Amalia Caporicci)
According to Caporicci, a biologist from the Ministry of the Environment would later tell her that coyotes are now common in urban areas due to habitat loss, but no investigation would be conducted near her neighbourhood due to budget constraints.
Laval has also partnered with the SPCA Lanaudière Basses-Laurentides on pilot projects to manage stray cats through catch-sterilize-release programs, but Mayer said Action Laval would go further by bringing a permanent animal centre to the city.
In a written statement to The Laval News, the City of Laval said “neither the City of Laval nor the mandated animal service have received any reports on this subject.”
The city added that 30 calls were made to 311 about coyotes in 2025. Several reports were received in August from residents near the Armand-Frappier woods, and tracks were observed by Canopée, the organization responsible for managing and patrolling eight of Laval’s municipal woods.
Deterrent patrols were conducted between August 14 and 22, and a hunting camera was installed at the end of the month.
Information posters warning residents about coyotes were also put up at the entrance near Boulevard du Souvenir, near Fire Station No. 2, close to Laval Senior Academy and inside the forest itself.
The signs outline basic safety measures, including keeping pets indoors at night and avoiding leaving food or garbage outside.
Ecological perspective
Grant Brown, a professor of behavioural ecology at Concordia University, said coyotes and other “mid-ranking” predators could possibly be drawn into cities because of food sources and changing habitats.
“Urban environments represent a food resource,” Brown said. “Neighborhood pets are a wonderful source of food. Garbage refuse is a wonderful source of food and available freely.”
Grant Brown, a professor of ecology at Concordia University, speaks to The Laval News in his office on Sept. 24, 2025. (Matthew Daldalian, The Laval News)
He said habitat fragmentation forces animals to choose between moving farther away or entering urban areas. “You’re changing the characteristics of that habitat and you’re changing the resources and the availability of usable habitat,” he said.
Coyotes, he added, adapt easily to urban conditions.
On their part, the Laval Police Service confirmed that coyote calls near their Chomedey headquarters have been a recurring issue.
The Laval Police said they receive coyote-related calls every year in the area near their Chomedey headquarters. However, spokesperson Erika Landry noted that the number of sightings has declined since the construction of condo towers on St-Elzéar Boulevard, and only a few reports have been made so far this year.
The Montreal SPCA warns that outdoor cats face higher risks of injury from predators, cars, and other animals, and recommends microchipping, parasite treatments, and GPS collars.
Residents continue to seek answers
Lozier has since stopped letting her remaining cat outside, Por has advised neighbours to do the same.
Caporicci continued to search for her missing cats and believed the city should have done more to alert residents.
“I think in this particular case, [the city is] responsible for that,” Caporicci said. “They should actually, at the very least, take our calls, listen to us.”
On September 20, contraband and unauthorized items were seized at the Federal Training Centre, a multi-level security federal institution located in Laval’s Saint-François district.
The items seized included hashish, cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy pills, amphetamines, tobacco, lighters and rolling papers.
The total estimated institutional value of the seizure was $142,534, according to the Correctional Service of Canada.
The CSC says it uses a number of tools to prevent drugs from entering its institutions.
They include ion scanners and drug-detector dogs to search buildings, personal property, inmates and visitors.
The CSC says it is heightening measures to prevent contraband from entering its institutions in order to help ensure a safe and secure environment for everyone.
“CSC also works in partnership with the police to take action against those who attempt to introduce contraband into correctional institutions,” says the agency.
CSC has set up a telephone tip line so that it may receive additional information about activities relating to security at CSC institutions.
These activities may be related to drug use or trafficking that may threaten the safety and security of visitors, inmates, and staff members working at CSC institutions.
According to the CSC, the toll-free number, 1‑866‑780‑3784, helps ensure that the information shared is protected and that callers remain anonymous.
Multiple vehicles from the Laval Police and Urgences-Santé were on the scene at the Starbucks coffee franchise on Autoroute 440 at the corner of 100th Avenue late Wednesday morning, responding to reports of gunshots being fired and at least one fatality.
The Laval Starbucks on Autoroute 440 near the intersection of 100th Ave. (Photo: Google Maps)
According to preliminary reports coming in during the early afternoon, at least three people were hurt, one seriously.
Posting on X, Sainte-Rose MNA Christopher Skeete, whose constituency office is near the Starbucks, urged people to stay away from the area.
“I am asking citizens to avoid the sector and know that I am following the situation closely with my colleagues,” he said.
Several media confirmed during the afternoon that one of the three injured, a male in his 40s, had died, and that the shooting was probably linked to organized crime.
In the meantime, the Sûreté du Québec, which deals with province-side organized crime, has become involved.
The Laval News will be posting additional information as it becomes available.
Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ will make things worse, says Canadian Federation of Independent Business
To improve Canada’s tax competitiveness and boost economic productivity, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business is calling on the federal and provincial governments to lower corporate income tax rates for small firms, and increase the small business deduction threshold while indexing it to inflation.
TLN3318CFIBSmallBusinessTaxes1: “U.S. tariffs are not the only competitive issue facing Canadian small businesses,” says Bradlee Whidden, a CFIB senior policy analyst and the report’s co-author.
Quebec businesses overtaxed
The motion comes after the CFIB recently issued a report that compared business tax loads in Canada and the U.S., concluding that small businesses in Quebec and Atlantic Canada were among the most overcharged in the ten provinces.
A Canadian microbusiness (which the CFIB defines as being made up of four employees) pays on average a whopping 20% more in taxes than a similar firm in the United States, stated the report which compared tax loads in 10 Canadian provinces and 20 U.S. states.
By comparison, a small business (25 employees) pays 23% more in taxes than its U.S. counterpart, the CFIB found. But even the most competitive provinces (B.C. for micro businesses, Saskatchewan for small firms) had an average tax burden higher than the vast majority of U.S. states.
Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’
The CFIB notes that recent pro-small business changes in the United States through the “Big Beautiful Bill” driven through by President Donald Trump made the tax gap between the two countries even wider.
The conclusion the federation came to? “Canada needs to lower taxes or risk driving investment south of the border,” they said in a September 11 statement.
“U.S. tariffs are not the only competitive issue facing Canadian small businesses,” said Bradlee Whidden, a CFIB senior policy analyst and the report’s co-author.
“We can’t ignore the widening gap between Canadian small firms and their U.S. competitors,” said Juliette Nicolaÿ, the CFIB’s policy analyst for national affairs and the report’s other co-author.
“When you look at the numbers, it’s crystal clear: smaller businesses in Canada are already at a serious tax disadvantage, which was just made permanent by recent pro-small business changes in the United States through the Big Beautiful Bill.
“If Canada wants to compete and raise our standard of living, we need to cut taxes,” added Whidden. “Payroll taxes are heavy on both sides of the border, but the real gap is in corporate and property taxes. Here in Canada, that gap means less money going back into wages, business operations and growth.”
Quebec’s poor tax performance
On a province-by-province level, Quebec and Atlantic Canada performed the poorest, the CFIB said, while western Canadian provinces ranked a bit higher, but still significantly below the average of U.S. states that were analyzed.
However, even the most competitive provinces (B.C. for micro businesses, Saskatchewan for small firms) had an average tax burden higher than the vast majority of U.S. states, the CFIB concluded.
Among microbusinesses, the five best (1 – 5) and worst (26 – 30) jurisdictions in the report were:
1. South Dakota (USA)
26. Newfoundland and Labrador (CAN)
2. North Dakota (USA)
27. Prince Edward Island (CAN)
3. Wyoming (USA)
28. Nova Scotia (CAN)
4. Florida (USA)
29. New Brunswick (CAN)
5. Texas (USA)
30. Quebec (CAN)
Among small businesses, the five best (1 – 5) and worst (26 – 30) jurisdictions are:
1. South Dakota (USA)
26. Nova Scotia (CAN)
2. Wyoming (USA)
27. Prince Edward Island (CAN)
3. North Dakota (USA)
28. Newfoundland and Labrador (CAN)
4. Florida (USA)
29. New Brunswick (CAN)
5. Texas (USA)
30. Quebec (CAN)
In addition to the recommendation to the federal and provincial governments, the CFIB is also suggesting that municipalities, working in conjunction with provincial governments that oversee them, should reduce property taxes and close the property tax gap between commercial and residential properties.
“Trade disruptions have put the spotlight on Canada’s uphill battle to remain competitive with the United States,” said Juliette Nicolaÿ, the CFIB’s policy analyst for national affairs and the report’s other co-author.
Gap can’t be ignored, says analyst
“While we can’t control what other countries do, we can’t ignore the widening gap between Canadian small firms and their U.S. competitors,” she added. “It’s time for governments to step up with policies that lower the cost of doing business in Canada.”
The Laval Police confirmed last week that it arrested one of its own, Constable Anthony De Melo, to face charges of luring and transmitting sexually explicit materials to a person believed to be a minor.
De Melo was arraigned in Quebec Court, with the LPD noting that the alleged offences occurred outside of the police officer’s working hours.
Initial information released by the LPD indicate the alleged offences took place place last March in the Châteauguay region south of Montreal.
The 46-year-old officer was exposed following efforts made by amateur pedophile hunters.
19-year-old hospitalized after stabbing outside Laval movie theatre
A 19-year-old man is in hospital after an armed assault outside of Laval’s Colossus movie theatre on the night of Sunday September 21.
At around 9:55 p.m., the LPD received a 911 call regarding the stabbing. Upon arrival, the 19-year-old male victim was found with serious stab wounds.
He was taken to hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries, according to the LPD. In the meantime, the force’s Crimes Against Persons unit has taken over the investigation.
The crime scene was analyzed by investigators and crime scene technicians Sunday night, the SPL said, although no arrests had been made by early Monday.
Recent LFD fire calls
16 September 11:09 am // Building fire on Place des Sarcelles in the district of Sainte-Rose. One-storey residential building. Flames were visible on the roof upon arrival of firefighters. Fire code 10-12, meaning a alarm was called in.
20 September 08:17 am // Building fire on Jean-Picard St. in the district of Chomedey. Multi-unit residential structure. Flames apparent in basement to firefighters upon their arrival. Code 10-07, necessitating intervention.
21 September 12:36 pm // Building fire on La Perière St. in district of Saint-François. Residential structure. Flames apparent on the roof. Code 10-09, meaning full intervention required secours engagé à plein, with aggravating circumstances possible.
Group’s founder is seeking someone willing to take on a new leadership role
With the searing heat of summer finally over, what could be more fitting for fitness-conscious seniors than a brisk walk around the block, when the sun is high in the sky, while enjoying the cool autumn air?
For a certain number of senior citizens from Laval who are loyal supporters of FILIA, the group’s September Walk a Thon is an outdoor event at Saint Norbert Park in eastern Chomedey never to be missed.
The 19th annual Walk a Thon on Sept. 15 drew a loyal following of FILIA members, as well as a few elected officials who have provided a significant amount help to the organization for years.
FILIA supporters walk along Third St. at the corner of 65th Ave. in Chomedey during the 2024 Walk a Thon on Sept. 16. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
A range of services
The goal of the day was to raise awareness of the needs of senior citizens – including regular physical exercise – while also raising funds for FILIA so it can continue providing a range of crucial services to seniors, such as a meals-on-wheels program, but also interesting field trips to locations in and outside the Montreal region.
Led for around 30 years by Johanna Tsoublekas who continues to provide guidance and management, FILIA’s services include home housekeeping and supervision, volunteer training and a healthcare clinic for the feet.
From the left (foreground standing), Montreal city councillor for Parc Extension Mary Deros, FILIA leader Johanna Tsoublekas and Laval city councillor Sandra El Helou (responsible for senior citizens’ issues, are seen here in Saint Norbert Park in eastern Chomedey before the start of the annual FILIA Walk a Thon on Sept. 15. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
“For me, this is a must annual gathering,” said Laval city councillor for Souvenir-Labelle Sandra El Helou who is responsible for senior citizen dossiers on city council. “It’s nearly eight years I’ve been following FILIA and its mission, and it is as important as ever to provide support,” she added.
Deros loves FILIA
FILIA leader Johanna Tsoublekas summarized the group’s activities over the past year prior to the start of the Walk a Thon in Chomedey. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
“It’s great to see the number of people who come out here year after year to participate and support the meals-on-wheels program,” said Montreal city councillor for Parc Extension Mary Deros. (FILIA was initially based in her district, but relocated to Chomedey as Montreal’s Greek population migrated here.)
“Joahanna brings people together,” said Deros. “She provides the FILIA members with a reason for being. She keeps them active in mind and in body, which is a great accomplishment. Especially when you come to a certain age, sometimes you want to be alone or quiet. But she gets them out of that and keeps everybody active.”
Passing on the torch
Although FILIA’s mission at one time was to provide assistance to Greek women of the Parc Extension Hellenic community, then later throughout the Montreal region, the organization’s mandate now is to serve senior citizens and people from all backgrounds – with a growing emphasis on the population of Chomedey.
With advancing age, Johanna has been looking over the past two years for someone who might be willing to take over at least some of her responsibilities. In the meantime, her son, Bill, has stepped in, and he was on hand at the Walk a Thon providing assistance.
