Quebec Minister for Small and Medium Enterprise Stéphane Billette, right, is greeted following his arrival on May 7 at Terranova WW offices where he announced a subsidy to Inno-centre which provides Terranova with guidance and support.
Martin C. Barry
Quebec Liberal Minister for Small and Medium Enterprise Stéphane Billette was at the offices of computer security systems developer Terranova WW Corp. on de l’Avenir Blvd. in Laval on May 7 to announce a $15 million subsidy by the provincial government to Inno-Centre, a business “accelerator” that has helped computer security systems developer Terranova improve its efficiency.
Supporting success
“We are proud to support business accelerators that perform like Inno-centre,” said Billette, who was accompanied by Laval-des-Rapides MNA Saul Polo and Fabre MNA Monique Sauvé.
“They are partners who are essential for the economic development of the regions of Quebec. The assistance they offer to our innovating small and medium enterprises facilitates the acceleration of their growth and expansion internationally.”
“Businesses in Laval, like those elsewhere in Quebec, have an exceptional capacity to innovate and everything that is necessary to expand in foreign markets,” said Polo. “We are therefore happy to offer them, through this important financial support accorded to Inno-centre, customized assistance in order to prepare them to face the various issues involved in export. We are proud at the same time to be able to make this announcement in Laval-des-Rapides and to see that a business here is flourishing.”
From the left, Fabre Liberal MNA Monique Sauvé, Laval-des-Rapides Liberal MNA Saul Polo, Inno-centre president Claude Martel, Quebec Minister for Small and Medium Enterprise Stéphane Billette and Terranova WW Corp. president Lise Lapointe are seen here at Terranova’s Laval offices following the announcement of a $15 million subsidy by Quebec to Inno-centre.
Facilitating expert advice
“Thanks to this major investment by the government of Quebec, Inno-centre will be able to offer the support of expert advisors of international calibre to hundreds of innovative SMEs in Quebec,” said Claude Martel, president of Inno-centre. “This support, which is being provided during a key moment of their growth, will significantly increase the probabilities that some of them will become future large businesses.”
“For more than 30 years, Inno-centre has been contributing to the growth and the success of businesses in the regional of Laval, such as Terranova WW Corp., and everywhere in Quebec,” Mille-Îles MNA Francine Charbonneau said in a statement.
Helping small business
“It is therefore with great enthusiasm that we help it today to improve its support to innovative SMEs, of which several are active in the innovative manufacturing sector, so that they can stand above their competitors internationally,” she continued.
“This kind of assistance program meets the goals of Investissement Québec’s Manufacturing Initiative, which aims to increasingly support the innovative manufacturing sector in all the regions, but notably here in Laval.”
On May 1, unionized workers did their best to make as much noise as possible outside Laval city hall during the monthly city council meeting.
Martin C. Barry
Laval’s blue collar workers had a special surprise in store for those attending the monthly city council meeting on May 1 – a noisy May Day demonstration that left Mayor Marc Demers perplexed as he tried to understand the union’s underlying motive.
A noisy evening
“I am somewhat surprised to hear this kind of noise this evening,” Demers said at the beginning of the meeting, while speaking above the din being generated outside by the workers. He noted that a collective agreement with the workers was signed recently after being accepted by a large percentage of the union membership.
According to the mayor, the terms of the collective agreement included a good number of concessions by the city, including more hirings and salary increases. He apologized for the noise, saying it made the proceedings more difficult, but that there was nothing that could be done.
City council passes Pontic Genocide resolution
During a portion of the meeting reserved for city councillors’ announcements, Chomedey councillor Aglaia Revelakis presented a resolution to have the Pontic Greek Genocide recognized by the City of Laval, just as many cities in Quebec, Canada and the world have already. The resolution was unanimously adopted following extensive efforts by Revelakis.
“Today, we officially recognize and commemorate the memory of those who were exterminated, massacred or deported from their native land and whose children and grandchildren now live in Laval,” she said to a group of representatives from the Hellenic community following the council meeting. “This is a solemn and historic moment for you, who now participate in our Canadian society,” she added.
Chomedey city councillor Aglaia Revelakis presented a resolution to have the Pontic Greek Genocide recognized by the City of Laval.
EV subsidy criticized
During the public question period, Benoit Blanchard questioned city council’s recent decision to offer a $2,000 subsidy to buyers of electric vehicles. “I wonder if you understand who this subsidy will actually be benefiting,” he said, maintaining that those who currently buy electric vehicles are households which are economically well off and that already own two or more vehicles.
“That’s understandable, since with an electric vehicle you can’t plan a trip to the Saguenay or to Gaspésie. Going to Toronto, you might agree, it takes too much time to recharge when half-way there. And so that we might understand each other, I’m not against the environment. Hydrogen-driven cars are coming, and I intend to be among the first to buy one whether there’s a subsidy or not.
Laval resident Benoit Blanchard criticized the city’s $2,000 subsidy towards the purchase of an electric car during the May 1 city council meeting.
The cost per household
“But taking into account that this subsidy is being launched on the basis of municipal taxes,” he continued, “I would imagine that, if the provincial government reaches its sales goals which are unrealistic, we’re talking about $200 per household that it is going to cost to finance this subsidy. However, for a family that has difficulty having both ends meet, what does $200 represent? It’s $200 less for them to spend.” He asked Mayor Marc whether these aspects were taken into consideration when deciding to create the subsidy.
Mayor defends subsidy
Responding, Mayor Demers insisted that money for the subsidy is not coming from taxpayers. As he explained, a law governing a special tax imposed for the recovery of greenhouse gases makes it mandatory to re-use the money for the further reduction of greenhouse gases.
“Yes, the vehicles are more and more efficient in terms of their autonomy,” Demers said, noting the City of Laval’s support for the installation of new electric charging stations and that “the government of Quebec is coming along with a policy for rapid electric charging station a little bit everywhere in the province.
“So what’s happening goes beyond the City of Laval since it is something involving the province.” The mayor went on to say, “When I see the increase in the cost of gas over just the last two days, I am even more convinced that we made the right decision.”
Local farm producers pleased
Also during question period, Gilles Lacroix, an agricultural producer from Laval, noted that in 1988 local agricultural producers signed an agreement with the City of Laval decreeing that 28 per cent of the island’s territory would be dedicated to agricultural activities.
According to Lacroix, local agriculturalists are pleased with the current municipal administration. He also thanked the mayor and council for adopting a buy-local policy that encourages Laval residents to purchase agricultural products grown on Laval’s territory.
From the left, Vimont MNA Jean Rouselle, Chomedey MNA Guy Ouellette and Laval-des-Rapides MNA Saul Polo were among the elected officials who provided service during the all-day spaghetti event.
Martin C. Barry
The Chevaliers de Colomb’s five councils in Laval came together on Sunday May 6 from 11 am to 8 pm to hold their first annual Spaghetti Day at the Laval Sheraton. It was a great success, according to an organizer.
“Things went great,” said René Marchand, a Laval Chevaliers de Colomb member who coordinated the all-day event. It was the first time the five C de C councils in Laval united for a single fundraising event.
From the left, Chevaliers de Colomb Spaghetti Day organizing committee member Louis-Georges Tremblay, Mille-Îles MNA Francine Charbonneau and Fabre MNA Monique Sauvé are seen here helping serve event supporters on Sunday May 6.
A great success
According to Marchand, 1,300 tickets had been sold by late afternoon when the evening crowd was just starting to come in. Since the goal was 1,500 tickets, it looked like the results would exceed the C de C’s best expectations.
Among the major sponsors supporting the event were Barbies restaurants (who furnished all the sauce and pasta), Aubut Distributaire Alimentaire (who supplied disposable dishware as well as other necessities), and Members of the National Assembly who furnished financial support.
Laval city councillor Sandra Desmeules, right, serves up a heaping plate of spaghetti to an appreciative customer during the Laval Chevaliers de Colomb’s first annual Spaghetti Day at the Laval Sheraton.
For Cité de la Santé
All profits from this fundraising event are going to the Cité de la Santé Foundation. For part of the day, Laval’s city councillors provided service. Later, Laval’s six MNAs (Francine Charbonneau, Monique Sauvé, Jean Rousselle, Guy Ouellette, Jean Habel and Saul Polo) were on hand to do the same.
Marchand said the Chevaliers are already preparing for next year’s Spaghetti Day, which will be taking place on May 5, 2019. According to Marchand, the same sponsors, whose generosity he praised, have agreed to come back on board and take part once again next year.
The lineup was long around the evening dinner time during the Laval Chevaliers de Colomb’s Spaghetti Day fundraiser for Cité de la Santé.
The City of Laval wants to reconfigure the intersection of des Laurentides and Cartier boulevards.
Martin C. Barry
As part of a long-term effort to beautify Laval’s bridge entrances, the City of Laval is holding public consultations on proposed changes to the Lachapelle Bridge entrance in Chomedey, des Laurentides Blvd. in Pont-Viau and Curé-Labelle Blvd. in Sainte-Rose.
Public consultations
The city held one of the first of a planned series of consultations on May 9, when around 200 residents of Pont-Viau and Laval-des-Rapides came out to École Léon-Guilbault for a presentation on a proposed reconfiguration of the intersection of Cartier and des Laurentides boulevards, a short distance from the Pont Viau bridge.
While the city wants to undertake a similar reconfiguration in Chomedey where Curé Labelle widens and leads towards the Lachapelle Bridge, the des Laurentides reconfiguration is more complex due to a large number of old and narrow streets that feed into the Cartier/des Laurentides intersection.
About 200 people attended the City of Laval’s consultation on the Pont-Viau entrance to Laval last week.
Former city hall demolition
While major work for the Cartier/des Laurentides project won’t get underway until 2021, the city is planning expropriations and demolitions in the area. Among other things, for example, the days are numbered for the landmark former Laval-des-Rapides city hall building, which is now being used as a municipal courthouse.
The city plans to rebuild a new municipal court building a little further to the south on Quimper St. by 2022. All the same, the city plans to carry this all out over a period of up to 20 years. The city also wants developers to become involved with proposals of their own.
Other changes coming
The city’s urban planners are also keeping in mind the historic character along side streets like St-Hubert, where houses which were part of the original village of Laval-des-Rapides still stand. And they want to eliminate some of the more unsightly aspects at the Pont-Viau/des Laurentides entrance, such as the steel barrier that runs up the middle of the street, which was initially installed to prevent pedestrians from crossing into the dangerous flow of high-speed traffic.
In an interview with the Laval News, Mayor Marc Demers said the city also has plans for Laval’s Lachapelle Bridge entrance along Chomedey Blvd. “It’s another goal of ours,” he said.
The days are numbered for the former Laval-des-Rapides city hall, which is set to be demolished to make way for a new municipal court house.
Careful approach, says mayor
“But we have so many challenges that we have to proceed while being careful about what we can accomplish. We decided that Pont-Viau was one of the priorities, Chomedey and Curé-Labelle Blvd. is another, and we are also working on projects in Saint-Rose and Vieux St-Vincent-de-Paul.”
Demers confirmed that one of the challenges the city faces is the fact that a number of private properties lie within the path where Laval wants to renew and redevelop. He said that in Pont-Viau alone, the city has served expropriation notices to some owners and is negotiating with others.
Will take money
“Obviously, money is necessary for all this,” he noted, while adding that the City of Laval is currently in the midst of another major renewal undertaking: the Val-Martin social housing project, for which the city received millions of dollars from Quebec City and Ottawa.
According to the mayor, a public consultation like the one held in Laval-des-Rapides/Pont-Viau will also be held in Chomedey for Lachapelle Bridge/Chomedey Blvd. recnofiguration project.
Players, management and supporters of Baseball Laval and the Pirates 440 Chevrolet de Laval gathered at 440 Chevrolet de Laval on May 2 to announce the loaded roster of baseball programs and activities the two associations are promoting this coming summer.
Martin C. Barry
For the third year in a row, the Pirates 440 Chevrolet de Laval and the Laval Regional Amateur Baseball Association – better known to fans as Baseball Laval – have announced their rosters of activities and events for the coming summer and fall.
For a fifth year, the number of baseball players who have registered with the organization has risen. “It is with great pride that I can tell you that we have had more than 900 registrations for the 2018 season,” Baseball Laval vice-president Maxime Faille said on May 2 during a season-opening press conference held at 440 Chevrolet de Laval. In contrast, last year there were 860 registrations.
Season opens May 19-20-21
In keeping with a longstanding tradition at Baseball Laval, the 2018 baseball season will open for the A and B minor divisions at Laval’s Centre de la Nature on the three-day long weekend of May 19, 20 and 21. According to Faille, the Club de baseball de Laval-Est will once again host the event. “All our teams should play a game on this opening weekend,” he said. “In addition, a match between the two Moustique AA will be on the program that weekend.”
Girls’ baseball on the rise
On May 13, which was Mother’s Day, the Associés held their increasingly popular Baseball Pink Day. For this very special occasion, players on the Associés team wore pink jerseys during their five matches which took place at Laval’s Chénier Park.
With regards to girls’ baseball, Maxime Faille made another important announcement. “We are very happy to announce that girls’ baseball is expanding in Laval,” he said. “In effect, we will have at least one additional girls’ team this year, meaning that there will be five teams made up entirely of girls. It’s in the Atom, Mosquito, Pee Wee and Midget divisions where you will find these teams made up of players coming from all the associations in Laval.”
Girls’ baseball championship
According to Faille, this summer Baseball Laval will be hosting the girls’ provincial baseball championships. Championships in four categories, that is Moustique, Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget, will be taking place simultaneously from July 19 to 21 on the Association sportive de Laval-Nord’s sports event fields.
“I would like to underline the outstanding work by the organizing committee for all their efforts in order to put into place all the elements necessary to make the girls’ provincial baseball championships in Laval a great event,” added Faille.
On June 15, the Pirates 440 Chevrolet de Laval will be holding their Soirée Laval at the ball stadium in Paul-Marcel Maheu Park. At that time, the Pirates will be welcoming all the amateur baseball players and supporters in Laval.
Baseball clinic offered
On May 26, the Pirates 440 Chevrolet de Laval will be holding a baseball clinic aimed at improving the skills of ball players from all associations in Laval. This event will also be taking place at Paul-Marcel Maheu Park. Last year, more than 150 youths took part in the baseball clinic.
Although the season’s end is still far off, that will happen on Oct. 13 when Baseball Laval will hold its traditional season closer – the 440 Chevrolet de Laval Gala. As Baseball Laval’s vice-president put it, “the gala will offer an opportunity to honour all the players, coaches, teams, match officials and baseball volunteers in Laval who distinguish themselves the most over the course of the coming season.”
Adapted baseball program
For a fourth season, Baseball Laval’s adapted baseball program will be back. The program for challenged youths aged 5 to 21 years is especially designed for those with an interest in baseball, but who have physical or other types of limitation that prevent them from otherwise participating.
Each player must be accompanied by a “helper” who can be a friend or a parent. Each player is expected to have their own baseball glove. The program’s season runs from June 1 to Sept. 28 at Parc Chopin. Registration is $45 per player.
Sainte-Rose MNA Jean Habel, Laval mayor Marc Demers and Marc-Aurèle-Fortin MP Yves Robillard are seen here during a tour of F/LIST Canada’s new facility last Monday.
Martin C. Barry
F/LIST, an Austrian high-end business jet interior manufacturer, became one of the latest aerospace industry suppliers to choose the City of Laval as the location for a Canadian subsidiary when it officially inaugurated a new 59,000-square-foot production facility last Monday on des Rossignols Blvd in Laval’s industrial park.
Investing in Canada
“Investing in Canada is very important to our company’s future growth and success in aerospace,” said Katharina List-Nagl, the Austria-based CEO of the privately-held company during a ceremony held at the new facility.
“F/LIST has a long and successful history in Canada, working very closely with Bombardier and other partners in the region,” she added. “It made great business sense to set up our centre of Canadian operations here in Laval where we are so close to so many great aerospace businesses and opportunities.”
F/LIST Canada uses quality hardwoods (seen in the foreground) to produce veneer interiors in the business jets it services for clients.
Aerospace industry growth
F/LIST is one of the most recent European suppliers of aerospace industry components and materials to choose Laval for expansion, while doing so with Bombardier specifically in mind. Last October, Liebherr, a diversified Swiss-based heavy equipment and engineering conglomerate, opened a sprawling new facility along Autoroute 13 in Chomedey where pre-manufactured landing gear for the CSeries medium-range passenger is being put together for delivery to a Bombardier final assembly site in Mirabel.
Mayor Marc Demers was visibly very pleased that F/LIST chose Laval to be the base for its Canadian operations. “One of our main goals is to see that our business people succeed here,” he said, noting that Marc Tremblay, the city’s director of economic development, “will work with you to make sure that we all have success.”
: Jean Habel and Yves Robillard are seen here last Monday with guests during a tour of F/LIST’s new facility in Laval’s industrial park.
Interiors for Challenger
While Liebherr is betting on the CSeries, a Bombardier aircraft that hasn’t yet achieved its highest anticipated level of success, F/List Canada, on the other hand, will be providing its services for one of Bombardier’s greatest successes – the already well-established Challenger business jet, as well as some of Bombardier’s other planes.
F/LIST’s Laval facility, which is the first manufacturing plant the company has opened outside of Austria, represents an investment of more than $20 million for F/LIST, including $10 million by the end of 2018. The company provides high-quality wood veneers for business and executive jet interiors, finishing and assembling of interior components, refurbishment of interiors, and product and customer support.
F/LIST is latest company drawn by doing business with Bombardier
Service to North America
“We will be serving not only the thriving local market in Canada, but across North America with our quality workmanship and F/LIST spirit,” said Sean Johnson, CEO of F.LIST Canada Corp. “We are committed to building and growing our presence here, having already invested millions of dollars in specialized production equipment, and recruiting top local talent.”
F/LIST says it is currently hiring and the positions available include cabinetmakers and veneer specialists, production managers and quality assurance experts. The company received financial support of $1.2 million. from the government of Quebec and $1 million from Economic Development Canada for Quebec towards infrastructure and equipment for the project, totalling more than $8.5 million by the end of 2018.
Austrian aerospace supplier chooses Laval for Canadian facility
‘Great news,’ said Robillard
“Today’s inauguration is great news for Canada,” Yves Robillard, Liberal MP for Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, said on behalf of Navdeep Bains, federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. “F/LIST’s decision to set up in the Greater Montréal area reaffirms the strategic positioning of Québec’s aerospace industry.
“It also demonstrates that Quebec and Canada have strategic assets to attract international companies, including a highly-qualified workforce and solid, structured business networks. I am proud to see F/LIST’s first plant outside of Austria open here in Laval. Its arrival will generate significant economic spinoffs that will benefit the citizens of the region.”
Vote of confidence, says Habel
“By setting up here in Laval, the Austrian manufacturer F/LIST is clearly demonstrating that Quebec is a good place for private investment,” said Jean Habel, the Quebec Liberal MNA for Sainte-Rose and parliamentary assistant to Quebec Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation Dominique Anglade.
“The recognized expertise of our aerospace industry has also played a major role in attracting this company,” Habel continued. “This new plant will generate significant spin-offs for Québec. With such initiatives, Québec will undoubtedly strengthen its position as the world leader in the aerospace industry,”
May 7 – Laval police announced last week they had arrested a third suspect in connection with a string of burglaries, including the botched burglary at The Bay at Carrefour Laval on August 19, 2017. (Caught off guard by a mall security guard at the end of their heist – after having successfully loaded their truck with suitcases stuffed with $2 million worth of stolen merchandise – the trio of thieves dropped most of their stolen loot out of the back of their getaway van as they sped away.)
Keven Denis, 24, faces 4 counts of break-and-entry and larceny
Keven Denis, 24, faces 4 counts of break-and-entry and larceny in connection with the group’s activities. He was arrested and charged on May 2, and he will remain in custody until his next court date on June 6.
Earlier this year in February, police arrested the first two members of their group: Evens Riodin, 38, and his spouse Gabrielle De Morasse, 30, both residents of St-Lin. The duo faces a total of 15 charges between them. On May 2, Riodin pled guilty to all charges against him.
The bungled Bay job last August led the investigators to link the thieving trio to 10 other robberies they had committed in Terrebonne, Gatineau, and Longueuil.
May 9 – A man travelling the world by bicycle was sidelined in his quest last week when his bike and all his supplies were stolen while he was shopping at a Walmart in Laval.
The ambitious cyclist is Beijing native Yu Yang. He is currently travelling by himself, by bicycle, from Argentina to Alaska. He’s been away from home and on the road for two years.
After the media shared his story, Yang began receiving offers from people who wanted to help.
Lamar Timmins, owner of Allo Velo in Montreal, reached out to offer Yang a new bike. Someone else found him a place to stay, others offered him supplies, and new cargo bags for his bike.
The Laval police distributed a photo of the alleged thief, taken from surveillance footage of the Walmart parking lot where the theft occurred.
PHOTO: The bicycle thief’s image was captured on Walmart’s video surveillance in the parking lot where the theft occurred. Anyone with information about the man’s identity or location is asked to call 911, or the LPD’s info-line to communicate confidentially with an officer at 450-662-INFO (4636).
May 9 – Police are searching for a burglar who managed to swipe more than $50,000 worth of drones and equipment from the specialised store, Drone Volt, located north of Autoroute 440 in Fabreville.
Drone Volt Location
Authorities were alerted to the break-in at 8:20 p.m. when the store’s alarm sounded. At the scene, officers noticed clear signs that the robber had committed the offence of breaking and entering prior to committing the theft. The thief was fast and efficient, managing to get away with more than $50,000 worth of drones and equipment before the police arrived.
Investigators are reviewing video surveillance from the store.
Anyone with information is asked to communicate confidentially with an officer by calling 450-662-INFO (4636) or 911.
Laval City Hall. 1 Place du Souvenir, Laval, Québec, Canada.
City Watch
Acquisition for conservation purposes in L’Équerre Woodlands
The City will acquire a lot of 766.4 square meters at a cost of $41,000 for conservation purposes. The land is located north of boulevard des Oiseaux, within a special development zone (ZAEP) of the Bois de l’Équerre which is in an area earmarked for ecological conservation. The municipal administration collaborated with Nature Action Québec (NAQ) to make this acquisition. This purchase was facilitated through funding provided by NAQ as part of a federal program to protect the habitat of endangered species of flora and fauna in Canada on the endangered species list.
Acquisitions for conservation purposes in Auteuil Woodlands
Two lots totaling 929 square meters will be acquired for $11,600 for preservation purposes. The lands are located inside a special development zone (ZAEP) of the Woodlands of Auteuil, in an area designated for environmental conservation and as such is a priority consideration for the administration.
Consolidation of purchase with UMQ for de-icing salt
As authorized by the members of the executive committee, the City of Laval will participate in the call for tenders of the Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ) for the supply and transport of bulk sodium chloride (de-icing salt) for the winter season 2018-2019. As the supplier market in this product area is limited consolidating their bids allows municipalities to benefit from the advantages of the bulk purchase. In addition, the bidding process will be facilitated since it is to be managed by the UMQ.
Grant Application for the Development of Library Collections
The Executive Committee authorized the submission of a grant application to the Quebec Ministry of Culture and Communications (MCCQ) as part of the Project Assistance Program – Call for projects in the development of collections of autonomous public libraries. This programs’ objective is to facilitate the growth and development of public library collections by enabling the acquisition of books, periodicals, audio-visual documents and databases. For 2018 the City plans expenditures totaling $1,663,466. Fully two thirds of the acquisition budget for the development of the Laval library collections in 2018 will be funded by the MCCQ grant.
Grant application for the restoration of the André-Benjamin-Papineau House
The André-Benjamin-Papineau House, built in 1820 and classified as a heritage building by the Quebec Ministry of Culture and Communications (MCCQ) was closed to the public in 2014 due to the presence of mold in the walls. This house is part of a compound called Complex André-Benjamin-Papineau which includes the Grangerit Theater and Café de la Grange.
A review specifying all the maintenance, renovation and restoration recommendations required to render these buildings conforming to public health and safety standards was completed in 2016. Some elements of the restoration of the house are eligible for a grant under the capital assistance program (movable and immovable property) of the MCCQ. To take advantage of the available funding the executive committee authorized a request for funding of $400,000 which is equivalent to 50% of the total eligible costs of the André-Benjamin-Papineau House restoration project. This heritage property built in a rural context was relocated to facilitate the construction of Highway 13 and restored at its present location in 1975.
Municipal grant for the purchase of an all-electric vehicle
The City of Laval is offering a subsidy for the purchase of a fully electric vehicle. The amount of the grant is $2,000 per eligible vehicle. The Laval grant combined with the $8,000 grant already offered by the Government of Quebec allows Laval citizens wishing to purchase a fully electric vehicle to receive $10,000 in financial assistance.
This measure targets the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in Laval which contribute to climate change.
Note that for 2018, a maximum of 100 grants may be awarded. They will be in chronological order of receipt of complete and compliant applications. First come, first served!
Fishing Festival at the Nature Center
Fishing enthusiasts should note that the weekend of Saturday May 19th 2018 the city of Laval will once again offer a family friendly outdoor recreational event at the Center de la Nature Park. The fishing festival is an occasion where residents have the opportunity to fish for free and without a license.
For the occasion, the lake of the nature park will be stocked with thousands of trout. As the fish stock is not endless a catch limit of 5 trout per person per day will be enforced. This activity aims to introduce families to the practice of fishing.
On site activities include fishing, evisceration kiosks and games which are available for all ages and levels of fishing expertise. On Saturday May 19th and Sunday May 20th 2018, the site is open from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm exclusively for youth 17 years of age and younger and their companions while the site is open to enthusiasts of all ages from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm and all-day Monday May 21st from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.
A hot dog booth will operate for the benefit of the Canadian Red Cross and will be on site May 19th – 20th.
For participants who do not own their own fishing gear rental equipment will be available on site at a cost of $5.00 per 3-hour block (limited availability) and fishing bait can be purchased at a cost of $ 6 per container.
PROGRAM ONE CHILD, ONE TREE
The city of Laval will once again offer its ‘One Child One Tree’ program which helps residents celebrate the arrival of a child by offering families a tree that will grow by its side. On the second weekend of June each year, Laval parents blessed with a new arrival can receive a tree. For 2018 the offered tree is a sugar maple (acer saccharum) but new parents are advised to not delay to register for this gift as trees are available in limited quantities!
To be eligible to receive a tree parents have to be residents of Laval (proof of residency is required) who have either given birth or adopted a child between June 2017 and May 2018 (proof of birth or adoption is required: certificate or copy of birth certificate, health insurance card or other certificate). Parents must register before June 1st 2018.
