Martin C. Barry

The Sir Wilfrid Laurier Foundation’s annual winter fundraising gala raised more than $47,000 for educational projects to take place in the coming year at schools and training centres operated by the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board.

Held at the Embassy Plaza in Chomedey on the evening of Jan. 26, a highlight of the event was a set of performances by the Ultimate Showband. This year’s silent auction segment featured a large number of valuable collectibles which were eagerly snapped up by the end of the night.

Collectibles on the block

They included a signed Maurice Richard montage (high bid $650), a signed Patrick Roy jersey (high bid $525), an autographed jersey from former Montreal Expos right fielder Vladimir Guerrero (high bid $445), and a 10KT white gold diamond necklace (high bid $725). The evening’s top raffle prize – a $2,000 voucher from Voyages Universel good for travel to any destination – was won by Benoit Gauvin of Laval.

Among the guests were some of Laval’s leading elected officials, including Mayor Marc Demers, Quebec Minister for the Laval region Francine Charbonneau, Chomedey MNA Guy Ouellette, Sainte-Rose MNA Jean Habel, Laval executive-committee vice-president David De Cotis, and city councillors Paolo Galati and Michel Poissant.

City behind the cause

In an interview with the Laval News, Mayor Demers noted that the City of Laval likes to maintain a strong bond of friendship and cooperation with the two school boards on its territory. “We are working for the same boss – the citizens of Laval – and we also have the same goal for our youth,” he said. “We work together and this is a very important occasion to raise funds to make sure our children get the best education they can.”

Launched in 2005, the Sir Wilfrid Laurier Foundation raises money to purchase teaching aids and technological equipment which are factors that encourage students to complete their studies. In Quebec, where government funding for public education is at an all time low, the SWLF helped pioneer the concept of raising additional money from donors.

Grateful for the support

According to SWLF president Chrisian Fréchette who delivered a key address along with SWLSB chairwoman Jennifer Maccarone, the foundation has raised more than $700,000 since the beginning of its activities. “What I felt earlier while meeting some of you here tonight was profound gratitude for everything you are doing for us,” said Maccarone.

“Whether it’s taking part in our galas or in the auctions, the Sir Wilfrid Laurier Foundation couldn’t exist without your valuable support. Your presence here this evening adds a human touch. You should know that you are making a difference in people’s lives and in mine also, and for that I can never thank you enough.”

City officials’ support

“This foundation is for a good cause,” said David De Cotis. “It’s for the children, for the students and for the future. That’s why we’re very happy to be here to support the cause.”

Paolo Galati, who attended as a member of the board of the foundation, as an SWLSB commissioner and as the Laval city councillor for Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, told Laval News that he’s been able to accomplish a lot for public education through his triple role. “I’m looking forward to seeing how much we raised this year,” he said.

Martin C. Barry

‘A good cigar is a Smoke.’

– Rudyard Kipling –

Without apologies to Kipling, who knew a thing or two about stogies all the same, there were plenty of cigars to go around – just as a good number of toasts of single malt scotch whiskey were hoisted and downed – during the Hellenic Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal’s cigar tasting evening at Stogies Crescent St. cigar lounge on Jan. 25.

“This is our fifth annual cigar event where we invite clients, as well as guests and members of our business community to take part in an evening of fine cigars while enjoying a good drink,” said Evan Kiousis, vice-president of marketing for HBOT Montreal.

A convivial atmosphere

In Stogies’ upstairs cigar lounge and bar where up to 70 people crowded during the event, the air was thick with fragrant cigar haze. As well, the atmosphere was as convivial as a 19^th century gentlemen’s club. Although a few women members of the HBOT were present, they were outnumbered by their merry male counterparts. And by the look of things, the men appeared to be getting the most enjoyment from the cigars.

“Cigars are something that are enjoyed in a social setting,” said Kiousis. “Very few people like to smoke cigars by themselves. Some people do. But we do this because it’s a very social and convivial environment and it’s conducive to sharing experiences and business practices.”

Among those networking were entrepreneurs, lawyers, doctors, accountants and other professionals. They shared stories, and in some cases offered advice on how to attain professional success. “We invite our clients, our friends to participate in an evening to see if we can increase the presence of Hellenic business people in the community and to show them the strength of the Greek community in business,” added Kiousis.

Mentoring younger members

“We’re very proud of what the community has accomplished and we’re looking to further that, while mentoring young up-and-coming Greeks and allow them an opportunity to meet other more successful Greeks. We want to help the younger generation get to where we are quicker with everything we’ve learned.”

As he suggested, a new and younger generation is beginning to make its presence known in the HBOT, just as an increasing number of women are also becoming members. “There are more women coming on board than we’ve had in the past,” said Kiousis. “Especially in the legal, accounting and medical professions. And they’re coming on board to share their experiences and to try to help the up-and-coming generation in the Greek business community to go further.”

Vanessa Velentzas, an auditor and senior manager at Montreal-based accounting services firm Richter LLP, typifies the younger generation the HBOT would like to see more of in its membership. “I think it’s important for people of my age to realize that we are a presence in the Hellenic community and that it’s important for us at a young age to start building relationships,” said Velentzas.

The HBOT holds many events

According to HBOT president John Charalampopoulos, the board is actively trying to recruit younger members “in order to take this organization to the next level and continue for years to come,” he said. In an average year, the HBOT holds more than a half-dozen important events, several of them for networking. Including smaller gatherings, the board holds an event each month, he added. The HBOT also interacts and occasionally holds events in conjunctions with other groups in the Montreal region, including the Italian and Jewish chambers of commerce, in order to broaden network connections.

The HBOT’s Deka Awards Gala, celebrating Hellenic excellence, is without doubt their largest annual event. Held this year on May 10 at The Windsor downtown, the awards recognize outstanding Hellenic individuals and businesses in greater Montreal who through their creativity and excellence have contributed to the enrichment of the region. The award winners are chosen by a selection committee made up of professionals and business people. The deadline for the 2017 Deka Awards is Feb. 14 and nominations can be submitted by e-mail to info@hbotmontreal.com.

Martin C. Barry

Although the City of Laval got the go-ahead last week to build 124 new units at the long-neglected Val-Martin social housing project thanks to $18.2 million from Quebec and Ottawa, the number still falls far short of a 1,000-unit goal to match Laval’s needs, according to Mayor Marc Demers.

Federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Jean-Yves Duclos and Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs Martin Coiteux were at the Habitation Raymond-Goyer in Chomedey on Jan. 16 to announce more than $407 million in funding over two years for the creation of additional affordable and social housing across the province.

Needed: 1,000 units social housing

Questioned by the Laval News about the city’s projected requirements in social housing, Demers cited a report issued by Laval a few months ago. “The needs are about 1,000,” he said, while pointing out that Ottawa, Quebec and the city agree this is only the first installment of several over the next few years which should bring the number of completed social housing units in Laval much closer to the target.

Nonetheless, Demers was visibly pleased with the commitment made by Quebec and Ottawa, following years of buck-passing and foot-dragging over which government bore more responsibility for social housing. All the while, the Val-Martin housing project deteriorated to the point a large number of its units became mould-infested and uninhabitable and had to be boarded over.

“What’s happening today is strongly symbolic of the willingness of the three levels of government to take on a problem that unfortunately afflicts society all across the country, in the province and in Laval,” said Demers. “Laval will stand out as a symbol showing there is willingness to solve the problem of affordable social housing.”

$407 million for the province

The two governments maintain that their investments will help improve access to affordable and social housing for households in need, particularly by supporting seniors and victims of family violence while addressing repairs of existing social housing. The work, which will begin in the summer of 2017, will be carried out over a two-year period.

Under the agreement, $286 million is being committed by Ottawa and $121 million by Quebec. The announcement was made near the site of Immeubles Val-Martin. Also on hand were Vimy MP Eva Nassif, as well as Francine Charbonneau, Minister responsible for Seniors and Anti-Bullying and Minister responsible for the Laval region and many other elected officials.

“Our government is committed to investing in affordable housing, strengthening our communities and helping to create jobs and grow the middle class and those working hard to join it,” Duclos said, adding that the federal government hoped to provide better lodging for families, seniors and individuals while laying a strong foundation for a sustainable economic future.

Val-Martin serves as example

“This agreement will help Quebec build and renovate more social and affordable housing units, while keeping all the flexibility needed to prioritize and develop major projects,” said Coiteux. “The case of Immeubles Val-Martin is a great example of what we can do with this funding. The funding announced today is in addition to the hundreds of millions of dollars invested every year by the Government of Quebec in support of Quebec households in need of affordable housing.”

“Our government is working alongside the Quebec government in order to give people living in Quebec greater access to affordable housing, and to make improvements to social housing. We are committed to grow the economy while strengthening our communities, including Vimy,” said Eva Nassif, MP for the riding of Vimy where the Val-Martin housing project is located.

Was hard work for Ouellette

Chomedey MNA Guy Ouellette said he felt it was an especially important moment. “In the 10 years I’ve been in politics, it’s 10 years we’ve been talking about Val-Martin and 10 years we’ve been pushing this file,” he said, while adding that he found it meaningful that the federal and provincial officials chose Laval to announce the funding envelope for the entire province.

The province wide funding includes $48.4 million to support the construction, repair and adaptation of affordable housing for seniors; $22.2 million to support the construction and renovation of shelters and transition houses for victims of family violence; $94.5 million to help address the demand for repairs as social housing units age and to improve efficiency and reduce energy and water use; and $242.4 million as part of the commitment to double current funding levels under the IAH Agreement to increase the supply of affordable housing in Quebec.

(TLN)

During the Jan. 17 meeting of Laval city council, council passed a resolution calling for a new code of ethics for employees. Revised and added to, the proposed ethics code would include the following changes:

The introduction of a rule forbidding employees from accepting gifts, regardless of the value; new commitments by employees after they no longer work for the city, including clauses pertaining to lobbying, loyalty and protection of the public interest; new rules enshrining the sorts of remunerate or volunteer activities an employee can take part in.

A major change for Laval

“The city underwent a major transformation over the last few years, and as regards ethics this change was marked by numerous fields of improvement for which Laval received recognition,” said Mayor Marc Demers. “The updating of the employees’ code of ethics, which was done with their cooperation, is yet another demonstration of renewal in Laval.”

Serge Lamontagne, director-general of the city, said Laval is also working on the preparation of a code that will apply to Laval’s many suppliers in order to assure the most transparency possible in the way things are done. “This document will be echoing the ethical responsibilities of employees,” Lamontagne said.