The current issue of the Laval News volume 26-15 published August 15, 2018, (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.
The operation is taking place at Highway 440 and Boulevard des Laurentides. The highway has been completely closed to traffic in both directions.
The Laval police indicated, via their Twitter account, that the armed person could be mentally unstable.
A spokesperson for the police explained that they were busy establishing a perimeter to secure the scene and to control the traffic around the area
The Laval police and the Ministry of Transport both recommended that motorists avoid the area.
Cynthia Abraham
July 8 – First responders were called to a dépanneur in Chomedey after a car crashed into the store’s front window. The incident occurred around 6 p.m. on Sunday. For reasons yet to be discovered, the driver of a grey 4-door Honda Civic failed to stop the vehicle in the allotted parking spot and ended up smashing into one of the floor-to-ceiling front windows of the Couche-Tard located at 2520 Boul. Curé-Labelle, just south of Autoroute 440.
(photos by C.A.)
Fortunately, the vehicle was not going very fast when it rolled into the dep, and the collision caused no serious injuries.
Investigators will review the store’s security footage to help determine the sequence of events that led to the crash.
July 5 – Police are investigating after a worker fell to his death while attempting to carry out some repairs at a Laval business.
According to authorities, the 57-year-old man was an employee of a refrigeration/ventilation company. He was working at Volailles Régal, located on Michelin St. in the industrial sector of Chomedey when he suddenly plummeted several metres from where he was positioned.
Investigators are waiting to review security footage to determine the circumstances surrounding the untimely death.
July 4 – Police across the country are on the lookout for David “Lingo” Maignan in connection with one count of sex trafficking of a minor, and other related charges. Authorities believe other victims have yet to come forward.
Maignan is an 18-year-old male who speaks both French and English. He is 1.86 m (6’1”) tall and weighs about 72 kg (160 lbs).
Police urge anyone with information about Maignan’s whereabouts to contact 911. Individuals should not attempt to approach him, as police consider him violent, dangerous, and possibly armed.
July 3 – The suspect in a shooting incident in a Longueuil strip club was arrested in Laval late Monday night. Authorities in Longueuil had been looking for David Midouin since the January 7th shooting incident at Cabaret Doric, which injured two people inside the bar at the time.
July 2 – Winston Omar Murillo Arizola was sentenced to 8 years in prison on charges of sexual assault, kidnapping, breach of conditions, and impersonating a police officer.
The 39-year-old received his sentence on June 14 at the Laval courthouse.
Laval police initially arrested Murillo Arizola on December 6, 2015, after he impersonated an officer and assaulted a woman. Two witnesses called 911 and alerted authorities which enabled the police to quickly nab the suspect.
When the story of his arrest was publicized by local media, other victims came forward with more reports of sexual assault by Murillo Arizola. The crimes were committed in Laval and Montreal between the years 1997 and 2007.
With collaboration from the Montreal police force, Laval investigators were able to arrest Murillo Arizola once again in February 2016 on new charges of sexual assault.
June 30 – New, tougher laws concerning the use of cell phones while driving came into effect on the final day of June this year.
A first-time offender caught using a cell phone while at the wheel – talking, texting, or just holding a cell phone while driving – will face a $300 fine and lose 5 points from their license.
A repeat offense will result in double the fine ($600!) and a suspended license for those who didn’t learn the lesson the first time.
Martin C. Barry
The Sir Wilfrid Laurier Foundation’s 2017 Lobster Fest, which took place at the Château Royal in Laval on June 14, raised $32,268 for educational equipment and materials for students at SWLSB learning centres and schools in the coming year.
Several hundred supporters of the foundation look forward each year to the Lobster Fest, which provides an opportunity to feast on lobster while supporting the cause of public education. For many, the Lobster Fest also brings the school year to a close on a festive note as one of the foundation’s two main annual fundraisers.
Many supporters and guests
Among the guests at this year’s Lobster Fest were Laval deputy-mayor and city councillor for St-Bruno David De Cotis, l’orée des bois city councillor Yannick Langlois (representing Mayor Marc Demers), Commission scolaire des samares president Michel Forget, and SWLSB interim director-general Fréderic Greschner.
“The Sir Wilfrid Foundation is an important partner of the school board and we are proud to contribute in the achievement of its mission,” SWLF president Christian Fréchette said in the opening address. “Over the past 14 years, the foundation has contributed to a wide variety of projects that benefit students directly.
$1 million target close
“Since its creation, close to $800,000 has been given to the schools and centres of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board. We are getting very close to our goal of $1 million. We have given $785,000 to the schools and centres.”
For 2018-2019, according to Fréchette, the foundation’s goal is to make possible the acquisition of more multi-sensory classroom equipment, which he said is highly in demand in all schools and will be used by students of all ages.
“The education of our youth and school perseverance are at the heart of the foundation’s actions and decisions,” he said. “It is our responsibility to invest in our young people and support them in their education so that they can become accomplished citizens.
Funding tools and equipment
At the same time, he announced that in 2019 the foundation will again fund tools and sensory equipment for all the school board’s schools and centres.
“This equipment was a success in 2018, but the need is so great that we will give more next year,” he said. “Of course, the foundation will continue to award citizenship scholarships to graduating students and will carry on holding the Laurier Gala in May of each year.”
The president of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board, Jennifer Maccarone, took the opportunity to thank the members of the foundation’s board of directors for their efforts and the time they devote to the school board’s students.
SWLSB ranked one of the best
“You are valuable partners and we are grateful for the difference you make in the school board,” she said. Maccarone also informed the guests that the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board was ranked among the best in the province.
The many guests at this year’s Lobster Fest had a wonderful evening which was lively and energetic, and they were able to enjoy the all-you-can-eat lobsters. Since its creation in 2014, the Sir Wilfrid Laurier Foundation has annually awarded hundreds of citizenship grants to graduates of the youth and adult sectors. Since 2014, these amounts have been distributed as follows:
| Projects | Contribution |
| Academics | $100,394 |
| Technology | $175,260 |
| Arts | $31,940 |
| Healthy Lifestyles | $73,695 |
| Leadership | $31,390 |
| Safety and security | $55,765 |
| Sports | $60,011 |
| Student bursaries | $165,100 |
| Recognition (Annual Laurier Gala Funding) | $90,000 |
| Total Amount | $783,555 |
The foundation’s mid-winter fundraising gala will be held on January 24, 2019. Details will be released in the fall. Created in 2004, the Foundation’s mission is to promote educational, cultural, recreational, technological and sports programs for the SWLSB’s students. For more information, visit the website of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier Foundation at www.fondationlaurier.com.
Martin C. Barry
The searing heat wave that descended on the Montreal region during Canada Day weekend wasn’t enough to keep thousands of people with Greek roots from all over Quebec from returning to their cultural origins when the Laval Greek Orthodox community held its Hellenic Summer Festival at Holy Cross Church in Chomedey.
The Laval Hellenic Summer Festival is one of the biggest Greek cultural events that takes place in Quebec each year. People arrive from many areas of eastern Canada, eager to meet and greet old friends and members of their extended families. In Laval there are an estimated 40,000 Greek residents.
Dignitaries cut the cake
Proceeds from each year’s festival support local Greek educational needs, as well as charitable causes in the Greek community. A highlight each year on July 1 is the Canada Day celebration with a large Canadian flag cake. This year, there were also stirring performances of traditional Greek dancing, as well as a demonstration of Chinese kung fu by students of a Laval martial arts school.
Among the many dignitaries who turned up were Laval city councillor Yannick Langlois (representing Mayor Marc Demers), Deputy Mayor David De Cotis, Laval-area Liberal MPs Fayçal El-Khoury and Eva Nassif, Quebec Liberal MNAs from Laval Guy Ouellette and Monique Sauvé, and Laval city councillors Aglaia Revelakis, Vasilios Karidogiannis, Aline Dib, Paolo Galati and Aram Elagoz.
A little rain on the party
“Last night we had rain, but it didn’t stop the party,” noted Dennis Marinos, Laval regional president of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal (HCGM) who was overseeing the multi-day event. “People continued dancing. The singer simply went under the tent to continue. Of course, we had to stop a little early because of thunder storms. But everything went well other than that.”
Chomedey MNA Guy Ouellette said that attending the Laval Greek Festival was a fitting way for him to cap Canada Day. “I couldn’t ask for a better way to conclude Canada Day than being with the Greek community this evening,” he said.
A proud Canadian
“Today is a day when we are proud to be Canadian, when we should announce our national pride to the entire world,” said El-Khoury. “I want the entire world to hear that we are Canadian and leading the world in humanitarian relief. I am proud to be here to participate in the Greek Festival as I do every year.”
“This is a very hot Canada Day,” said Nassif, noting that earlier in the day she attended a citizenship swearing-in ceremony at Laval’s Centre de la Nature, where 25 new Canadian citizens took an oath to become full-fledged citizens of the country.
Celebration of traditions
“More than 40,000 Greek people now live in Laval, and I am happy to be here every year with the Greek community,” said De Cotis. “When they are celebrating the Greek festival, they are celebrating their traditions, their heritage and their culture. It’s important that these traditions remain here in the City of Laval for the next generation.”
“Wherever they live, Canada is very important to everybody, to people who have immigrated to Canada and Laval,” said Revelakis. “It’s nice to see that people who come here to make a life for themselves believe in this country.” For his part, Karidogiannis said that Canada Day in Laval brings out the best that every community has to offer. “This is what Canada is about,” he said. “Bringing everybody together for a good and peaceful time with safety and prosperity.”
Martin C. Barry
A team of federal and provincial elected officials from the Laval region defeated a team of elected officials from the City of Laval by a score of 6 – 4 in a soccer match played last Sunday on the grounds behind the CSDL’s Centre de formation Compétences 2000 as part of the Laval International Soccer Cup.
The city team was led by Mayor Marc Demers and included city councillors David De Cotis, Paolo Galati (and his daughter), Isabella Tassoni, Sandra El-Hélou, Aline Dib (and her daughter), Sandra Desmeules, Virginie Dufour, Ray Khalil and Éric Morasse.
Who played?
The federal/provincial team included Laval-des-Rapides MNA Saul Polo and some of his attachés, Fabre MNA Monique Sauvé and staff members, Vimy MP Eva Nassif and members of her staff, and Laval-les-Îles MP Fayçal El-Khoury and some of his staff.
“It’s good to be out on the field today,” said El-Khoury, predicting correctly before the match that the federal/provincial team would do well. “My team is here with me and we are going to do our best in order to score – and we will.”
For school perseverance
Mayor Marc Demers pointed out that the match was held for the benefit of school perseverance. “It’s for our children,” he said. “The elected people are getting together to play a match for fun and to set a positive example for our young people.”
Although she wasn’t active on the field, Chomedey city councillor Aglaia Revelakis cheered her teammates on from the sidelines. “I came here to support my colleagues, as well as my friends from the federal and provincial levels,” she said, hoping that the municipal officials would win.
Third year for match
Mongi Zitouni, president of the Laval International Soccer Cup, noted this was the third year since the tournament’s organizers first decided to stage a special soccer match bringing together Laval’s elected representatives.
As is often the case with sports events involving politicians, friendly rivalries sometimes come up. “Last year it ended in a draw, and the year before it was the provincial/federal team that won,” said Polo, suggesting that the municipal team was hungry for a victory this time around. “I think De Cotis really wants to win,” he said. Following the match, De Cotis noted it was all for a good cause.
Imported soccer talent
However, being a highly competitive sportsman (he also plays in other events each year involving elected officials, including hockey), De Cotis maintained the odds were stacked against the city councillors.
He suggested the federal/provincial team included a number of players with a great deal more experience at soccer than their municipal counterparts. “They got players from all different parts of the world playing for them,” he said. “And they’ve done this three years in a row.”
The current issue of the Laval News volume 26-14 published July 13, 2018, (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.
The current issue of the Laval News volume 26-13 published June 27th 2018, (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.
The current issue of the Laval News volume 26-12, (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.
Martin C. Barry
Although no Gold medallions were awarded at the May edition of Laval’s semi-annual Mérite sportif sports awards, bronze and silver medals were given out to 132 of the city’s most deserving athletes and coaches.
It was with great pride that the athletes and coaches from Laval were honored on May 30 during the city’s 59th Mérite sportif lavallois awards evening.
Among those attending the event at théâtre Marcellin-Champagnat at Collège Laval were Vimont city councillor Michel Poissant, Sports Laval president Pierre Gervais, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League referee Olivier Gouin.
Bronze and Silver medals
Among the sports honored during the evening were boxing, cheerleading, athletics, gymnastics, figure skating, short-track speed skating, curling, hockey and taekwondo. Of the 132 medallions given out, 29 were silver (for competing in Canadian sporting events) and 103 were bronze (competition in provincial events). There were no Golds this time for distinction in international events.
Delivering the evening’s keynote address, Olivier Gouin explained how he ended up becoming a referee in a sport and league known for being tough on rule enforcers. When he was in his mid-teens, he didn’t fancy the idea of working McDonald’s or Tim Horton’s.
A hockey referee’s life
“I said to myself that it couldn’t be too hard,” said Gouin, drawing some laughter from the young and sports-wise audience. After refereeing his first match at the former Samson Arena (now named after Martin Saint-Louis), he swore he’d never do it again after enduring abuse from over-enthusiastic parents in their 40s.
However, 12 years later he’s still pursuing refereeing as a career and has risen professionally to the point where he’s refereed two Canadian Hockey League Memorial Cups, two World Hockey Championships, and he’s also been involved in refereeing Olympic-level hockey.
Very competitive domain
“It’s a domain that’s extremely competitive,” said Gouin, comparing referees to the athletes themselves in terms of the amount of ambition and drive they both require. He also noted that there are 35,000 referees in Canada alone. Although relatively few of them end up refereeing at the highest levels of hockey, “I am someone who is extremely competitive,” he added.
But one thing he said he did want to make clear to the young athletes, which is the necessity to remain in school and pursue academic studies while participating in sports. “That’s the best decision I ever made,” said Gouin. “Today whenever I get on the ice, thanks to my Plan B I’m not refereeing just to survive. You wouldn’t believe how this takes the pressure off.”
