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Construction begins on 31 new social and affordable housing units in Vimont

Martin C. Barry
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Construction begins on 31 new social and affordable housing units in Vimont

Habitation Palerme will house individuals, seniors and persons with physical disabilities

Officials from the federal, provincial and municipal governments as well as from Laval’s housing authority recently marked the start of a new social housing project in Laval that will be providing more than 30 social and affordable housing units to individuals, independent senior citizens and people living with physical disabilities.

Located on rue de Palerme in Laval’s Vimont district, Habitation Palerme will include a total of 31 new housing units at a cost of just over $14 million.

An official ground turning took place on February 20, with Alfred-Pellan MP Angelo Iacono, Vimont MNA Valérie Schmaltz, Laval city councillors Nicolas Borne and Sandra El-Helou, and interim general manager of the Corporation d’habitation Laval David Bélanger doing the honors.

Elected officials from Ottawa, Quebec and the City of Laval, as well as the municipal housing authority, helped start off construction of the Habitation Palerme housing project in Vimont on February 20. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)

Three-way financing

For its part, Ottawa is contributing more than $6.3 million to the project through the third Canada-Quebec Rapid Housing Initiative Agreement. Quebec is contributing more than $6 million through the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ). And the City of Laval is investing more than $1.7 million in the project.

“Laval is experiencing strong growth in the housing sector and we want everyone to benefit from it,” Mayor Stéphane Boyer (who was not among the guests) said in a statement.

“We are actively working to accelerate projects like Habitation Palerme so that the city’s growth will concretely result in accessible and inclusive living environments for those who need it most,” Boyer added. “Laval must remain an affordable city for our entire community.”

“The Habitation Palerme project, through the revitalization of a high-potential site in Vimont, will make 31 social housing units available to a vulnerable clientele,” said City Councillor for Laval-les-Îles Nicholas Borne, who is vice-chair of the board of directors of the Corporation d’habitation Laval.

Social housing with adapted units

“This building will also include adapted units to increase the supply of social housing for people with reduced mobility,” he continued. “We are therefore convinced that this project will support the Laval community by helping to develop new non-market housing in the city.

“Through Habitation Palerme, we are building a sustainable and promising partnership with a Laval community organization working with homeless people to mitigate the effects of the housing crisis on the most vulnerable populations,” said Borne.

“Our government is tackling the housing crisis by investing in all types of housing in Laval and across Canada,” said Liberal MP for Alfred-Pellan Angelo Iacono. “The construction of Habitation Palerme is a big step forward for the Laval community, as these units provide quality of life and residential stability to the most vulnerable people in the riding of Alfred-Pellan,” he added.

Making a difference

“Today, we are marking the start of work that will make a concrete difference in the lives of the residents of the riding of Vimont,” said Valérie Schmaltz, the Coalition Avenir Québec MNA for Vimont.

“This project is more than just jobs,” she continued. “It’s a commitment to our community, an investment in our collective future and proof that when we work together, we can build safer and more accessible living environments for everyone.”

“I’m proud to see this major project get under way in our beautiful region of Laval,” Christopher Skeete, the CAQ Minister Responsible for the Laval Region, said in a statement.

“It demonstrates our commitment to providing safe and adapted living environments for various client groups,” he added. “Our government is taking action to provide Laval residents with environments that are in keeping with their expectations, by prioritizing their well-being and independence.”

Shovel-ready: Elected officials from Laval were on hand rue de Palerme in Vimont on February 20 to kick off construction of the Habitation Palerme social housing project. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)

Solutions to housing challenges

“Our government is committed to helping communities develop local solutions to housing challenges,” Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure in the federal cabinet, said in a statement.

“Today’s announcement shows what can be done when governments and municipalities work together. It’s also another step in our bold and ambitious plan to build a strong Canada,” he added.

“This is a wonderful and concrete example of our government’s efforts to ensure that Quebecers can enjoy a quality living environment,” Caroline Proulx, Quebec Minister Responsible for Housing and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, also said in a statement furnished by her ministry.

“We continue to support initiatives that strengthen the housing supply and support our communities,” said Proulx. “This is proof once again that our investments benefit all regions of Quebec and all those seeking social or affordable housing.”

Laval replacing mini-farm with mobile animal-based activities

Martin C. Barry
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Laval replacing mini-farm with mobile animal-based activities

The City of Laval announced last Monday that a new programme of animal-based activities will be starting at the Centre de la nature (Nature Centre) in early June, while also confirming that the mini-farm at the nature centre is closing permanently.

Offered free of charge in conjunction with the Permaculture, Art, Community and Education (PACE) mobile farm organization, the new program, according to the city, will allow Laval residents to have fun, educational and accessible experiences.

“We heard how much Laval families value the animal-based activities at the Nature Centre,” said city councillor for Pont-Viau Christine Poirier, who is responsible for local services dossiers on the executive-committee.

“It was important for us to find a way to maintain this special connection, in a renewed format that is accessible to everyone,” she added.

“Thanks to this partnership, we can offer an engaging and educational experience while respecting our financial responsibilities. I am delighted that residents can continue to enjoy these precious moments in the heart of our park.”

According to the city, the PACE mobile farm will welcome visitors to the Centre de la nature with about fifteen farm animals, including alpacas, sheep and goats. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every weekend from Saturday June 6 to Sunday September 27, the animals will be grazing in the heart of the park.

The initiative also aims to offer a special opportunity to interact with the animals in small groups within the safe environment of their enclosures. Other educational activities also be part of the Centre de la nature’s summer program will be announced in the coming weeks.

The city said the mini-farm will permanently cease operations on Friday March 6 at 4:30 p.m. “Until then, visitors will be able to see the animals during their gradual relocation to permanent living environments better suited to their needs,” said the city.

The city says it had to make “this difficult but responsible decision, consistent with its financial capacity and its primary mission of providing essential services to the public while managing public funds responsibly.”

First payment on property tax bills due soon

The City of Laval is reminding property owners that the deadline for payment of municipal taxes is almost here and that extra fees can be applied when payments aren’t made on time.

The city says it is working to limit tax increases to protect homeowners’ budgets, while maintaining essential services such as snow removal, park maintenance and garbage collection. They also say that even if property values ​​increase, adjustments are made to minimize the impact on tax bills.

The municipal tax bill represents the taxes homeowners pay each year to fund municipal activities and services. The first installment of the 2026 tax bill is payable no later than March 18. The second installment is payable no later than June 16.

In case of late payment, fees are calculated daily at a rate of 8.5 per cent for interest and 5 per cent for penalties. How to pay? Through your financial institution, by check or money order, or in person.

Municipal taxes are the City of Laval’s main source of revenue to fund public activities and services such as waste collection, road and water system maintenance and development, libraries and the police and fire departments.

Check your smoke and CO detectors

The city is also reminding homeowners as well as other Laval residents that the only way a smoke or carbon monoxide detector or a fire extinguisher can be of use is if they’re working properly. Municipal regulations require that your residence be equipped with a smoke detector.

How do you choose one? In residential buildings constructed before 1985, smoke detectors with a long-life (10-year) non-removable lithium battery are mandatory, replacing 9-volt battery-powered detectors.

Is your house built before 1985 but equipped with electric smoke detectors? In this case, this kind of building is not affected by the regulatory change. Residential buildings protected by electric smoke detectors connected to a private monitoring station are also not affected by this regulatory change. However, floors without a detector connected to a monitoring station must be equipped with smoke detectors that comply with regulations.

Petition for return of twice-weekly Laval garbage collection goes viral

Martin C. Barry
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Petition for return of twice-weekly Laval garbage collection goes viral

Action Laval and resident ask mayor to reconsider a public consultation

Action Laval city councillor for Saint-Bruno David De Cotis has announced that, along with Laval resident Wael Hamdar, he has sent a joint letter to Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer, asking him to reconsider a decision to refuse to hold a public consultation on the switch to bi-weekly garbage collection, scheduled to begin on April 1.

The request comes as a citizen petition demanding the continuation of weekly collection has nearly reached 9,000 signatures.

No public acceptance, says AL

Action Laval maintains that this clearly demonstrates the lack of public acceptance of the new measure imposed without consultation by the mayor and his team. The petition will be officially tabled next week at the March city council meeting.

“When nearly 9,000 people express their dissatisfaction by signing a petition, the least we can do is open a dialogue,” De Cotis said in a statement. “Refusing any consultation in this context sends the message that citizens’ opinions don’t matter,” he added.

Action Laval maintains that the decision to reduce the frequency of garbage collection was announced in June 2025 without prior consultation with citizens.

Proposal rejected by mayor

The following month, Action Laval city councillor David De Cotis submitted a proposal for a public consultation before the change took effect. The proposal was subsequently rejected by the mayor and his councillors who hold the majority of city council seats.

“Continuing to refuse a public consultation gives the impression that the decision has already been set in stone, regardless of the concerns expressed,” said Wael Hamdar, the resident who launched the petition. “At this point, the mayor must explain why he is choosing to ignore this citizen voice.”

De Cotis and Hamdar are asking the mayor to show openness and to reconsider his position in light of the strong citizen mobilization, in order to allow a genuine public discussion before the change comes into effect.

According to the Canadian Infrastructure Council (whose primary focus is developing national infrastructure assessments that provide an evidence-based picture of Canada’s long-term infrastructure needs), Ontario and parts of Quebec are within a decade of possibly running out of existing authorized landfill capacity.

According to the CIC, landfilling remains the primary method of municipal waste disposal in Canada. Modern landfills collect and treat leachate, the rainwater that accumulates and becomes contaminated as it travels through waste, says the CIC, while landfills equipped with the proper equipment can also capture methane, which can then be used for energy production.

The CIC views landfills as a cost-effective way of managing solid waste, although they do not lead to resource efficiency as a considerable portion of the waste disposed of could have been reused, recycled or composted.

“The nature of the Canadian economy makes landfilling more ideal than recycling in many cases, as both landfilling and raw materials are relatively affordable in Canada,” the CIC states in Solid Waste Management Systems in Canada, a technical paper posted on the CIC website.

Canada is home to over 1,500 active landfills, the majority of which are small and service the many rural communities across the country, adds the CIC.

The contents of landfills can include garbage, which is not processed, and also residual material from processing operations (e.g., material recovery facility residues, incinerator ash, organic processing residues).

Although in theory there is no shortage of land for new landfill sites, environmental, social and legal considerations limit what areas can be developed into landfills.

“In 2022, the Government of Quebec identified that several communities could face local landfills reaching capacity within ten years,” the CIC states in its paper.

“With waste disposal volumes remaining at 2019 levels and no new capacity added to existing landfills, 9 of Quebec’s 38 engineered landfill sites are projected to reach capacity before 2030, and 13 by 2040. Only 16 sites are expected to maintain residual capacity after 2041,” they continue.

They refer to this situaiton as “particularly concerning as engineered landfills account for 92 per cent of disposed waste in Quebec, while noting that some landfills may reach capacity by 2025, and “many of those close to Metro Montreal would reach capacity by 2030 to 2040.”

West-end Laval councillors explain changes in garbage pick-up to residents

Martin C. Barry
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West-end Laval councillors explain changes in garbage pick-up to residents

With focus on recycling, trash will be collected every two weeks starting in April

Of all the issues over which Laval city councillors Yannick Langlois, Nicolas Borne and Ray Khalil took questions last week from a room full of west-end Laval residents, probably none resonated with more emotion than the dilemma the City of Laval is currently facing over changes in its garbage collection.

The city’s decision to move garbage removal to just one day every two weeks – instead of once a week as it was for decades – has hit a nerve in many of Laval’s densely populated residential neighborhoods.

Although it may offer little to some in the way of consolation, the fact is that many towns and cities in the Montreal region – and indeed all over the province – are currently dealing with the same problem: a deadline to scale back garbage disposal imposed by the Quebec government.

From the left, Laval city councillors Yannick Langlois (L’Orée-des-Bois), Nicolas Borne (Laval-Les-Îles) and Ray Khalil met residents of their districts to discuss local issues, including changes in waste removal, at the Centre communautaire Accès Laval in Laval-Ouest on February 20. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)

Recycling prioritized

The province wants municipalities to drastically cut down on the mixed waste gathered during the garbage collection – which goes straight into landfill – while strongly encouraging municipalities to concentrate on the recycling of waste matter.

Langlois, who represents the district of L’Orée-des-Bois, often deals with city council dossiers involving financial and urban planning. Khalil, the longtime city councillor for Sainte-Dorothée, was responsible at one time for public works, although he’s been overseeing the tricky issue of waste management lately. And Borne, who’s been the city councillor for Laval-Les-Îles since 2013, deals frequently with issues involving public administration.

Every two weeks as of April

In Laval, household waste collection has generally taken place once or twice a week, depending on the area. However, starting on April 1, this frequency will change to every two weeks to encourage waste reduction. Bins must be placed at the curb after 7:00 p.m. the evening before or before 7:00 a.m. on the day of collection.

While explaining the looming adjustment last week at the Centre communautaire Accès in Laval-Ouest to around 60 residents, Khalil said the city had no real choice but to comply with the provincial government’s order, although some alternatives are available.

For instance, the drastic reduction in the amount of waste materials that normally would be going into the garbage stream will be raising the quantities of waste going henceforth into recycling. As a result, the capacity of household recycling bins may not be up to the looming demand.

Extra recycling bins available

Sainte-Dorothée city councillor Ray Khalil said the city had no real choice but to comply with the provincial government’s order to cut back garbage collection to once every two weeks. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)

However, according to Khalil, residents will be able to request additional recycling bins. “You shouldn’t have any problems getting them,” he assured them.

He said that if they run into any resistance from city employees, they should tell the employee to contact their respective city councillor. “They’re not supposed to say no for a recycling bin,” he said.

According to the Sainte-Dorothée councillor, an analysis revealed that up to 82 per cent of waste that had been going into landfill until recently didn’t belong there because it could be recycled.

The waste recycling program in Laval and other Quebec cities now includes separate streams for several types of recyclable materials, including moist kitchen waste and dry recyclable solids.

Savings seen for city

While some Laval residents (especially older ones) may find the new waste management system inconvenient, Langlois maintained that the city will be saving more than $3 million annually from the reduction of the garbage collection service.

Still, as at least one resident at the meeting with objections pointed out, a few million dollars isn’t much in an annual City of Laval budget that now stands at $1.293 billion annually.

“Rimouski, Chicoutimi – do you want me to rattle off the cities that are in the midst of voting to return to the old system,” said the resident, who also pointed out some of the problems – such as the proliferation of mice and rats – that were encountered in some cities where garbage collection was scaled back.

Khalil pointed out that the City of Laval is among the remaining municipalities in Quebec that have yet to comply with the provincial requirement. “We haven’t been leading the parade in this dossier – we’re among the last,” he said.

It may be worth noting that in Montreal, the City of Westmount is among the municpalities that have been toying with the idea of restoring weekly garbage collection because of a chorus of complaints from some of their residents.

Laval News Volume 34-05

Laval News Staff
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Laval News Volume 34-05

The current issue of the Laval News, volume 34-05, published on March 4th, 2026.
Covering Laval local news, politics, and sports.
(Click on the image to read the paper.)

Front page of The Laval News.
Front page of The Laval News, February 18th, 2026 issue.

Tow truck driver stabbed in A-15 road rage incident

Martin C. Barry
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Tow truck driver stabbed in A-15 road rage incident

A tow truck driver suffered a stab wound to the arm during a road rage incident that erupted on Thursday morning after a dispute on Autoroute 15 in Laval.

Shortly before 6:00 a.m. while the tow truck was travelling along the A-15 near Saint-Martin Blvd., the driver drifted slightly out of his lane because of tire ruts in the heavily-travelled road surface.

The other driver reportedly swerved, believing the tow truck was about to hit him, although the two vehicles never came into contact.

However, angered by the near miss, the second driver is alleged to have followed the tow truck when it took an exit onto Saint-Martin.

The second driver then reportedly cut off the tow truck, positioning his car to block it, then got out and verbally abused the tow truck driver, finally stabbing him in the arm.

The 52-year-old tow truck driver, who sustained a minor arm injury, was taken to the hospital for treatment and his life was not considered to be in danger.

The police got a description of the 30-year-old suspect who fled the scene and were able to arrest him shortly afterwards in Montreal.

Laval’s school kids are geared up for Spring Break

Laval News Contributor
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Laval’s school kids are geared up for Spring Break

The school bell has finally rung and time for a break. Laughter, spontaneous getaways and moments of rejuvenation.

In Laval, everything is ready for a school break week that could be as easy to plan as it might be enjoyable. From March 1 to 8, whether your children are nature explorers, science enthusiasts, tireless athletes or budding artists, the city reminds parents that Laval is brimming with activities for all ages and budgets.

Here’s a glimpse of the local must-dos and must-sees to create unforgettable family memories during the 2026 Spring Break:

Scientific Immersion at C.I.EAU
From February 28 to March 7, experience a sensory adventure with the 360° Rivière Rivière immersive dome. Also enjoy the Ice Rally and laboratory workshops. A family package for $55 (5 people) makes this fun and ecological quest accessible to all budding scientists.

Creative History at Maison André-Benjamin Papineau
Dive into the past with theatrical performances, game trails and a comic book workshop! Take on the miller’s challenges or create your own comic strips with a professional illustrator. Combining historical immersion and artistic creation, these exciting activities for ages 6 and up require prior registration.

Action and Adrenaline at Place Bell
Get moving downtown on an Olympic-sized sheet of ice! Enjoy extended skating and public hockey hours. For even more adrenaline, catch the Laval Rocket games on March 4, 6 and 7. The perfect place to experience the excitement of the national sport with your family.

Awakening at the Armand-Frappier Health Museum
Children aged 3-6 can enjoy the exclusive “Bougeottes” workshop within the “Bouger!” (Move!) exhibition. This inclusive activity stimulates motor skills and cognitive development through fun. Please note: space is limited to 15 children per session, so online registration is required.

Respite in Laval: A Breath of Fresh Air!
From March 2 to 6, enjoy mostly free programming throughout the city. Open swim, libraries, sledding and snowshoeing trails await. Stay tuned, as details for community centres and the Salle Alfred-Pellan will be announced soon. Sure to be a dynamic week for everyone!

Day Camp at Rivière-des-Mille-Îles Park
From March 2 to 6, children aged 4-12 can explore nature through three exciting themes: mini-explorers, budding biologists or aspiring econauts. Between scientific challenges and outdoor activities, this ecological adventure is sure to be unforgettable.

Roof fire forces evacuation at Manoir Cardinal seniors’ residence

Martin C. Barry
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Roof fire forces evacuation at Manoir Cardinal seniors’ residence

One person was treated for shock after a fire started on the roof of the Manoir Cardinal seniors’ retirement residence on Chomedey Boulevard in Chomedey late last week.

Laval Fire Dept. crew members outside Le Cardinal on Chomedey Blvd. late last week, responding to a roof fire. (Photo: Courtesy Association des pompiers de Laval)

A piece of mechanical equipment on the roof is believed to have been the ignition source.

Working swiftly, firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading into the multi-storey building.

However, after residents were evacuated into a ground-floor common area while the firefighters worked, Urgences-Santé was summoned to treat a resident for shock.

Damages were estimated by fire department evaluators at $100,000.

‘Icho’ Larenas found not guilty of murder charge

Martin C. Barry
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‘Icho’ Larenas found not guilty of murder charge
The City of Laval’s courthouse on Saint-Martin Blvd.

Former UFC fighter Edouardo “Icho” Larenas who claimed self-defence throughout a murder trial at the Laval courthouse over the course of several weeks was found not guilty by a jury late last week.

During the trial, testimony and evidence were presented indicating that Larenas, 45, and his wife were the targets of two home invasions within a few hours in May 2022.

Larenas testified that during the second incident at his home in Sainte-Rose, he fought extensively with one of the suspects, a 17-year-old boy, who was wielding a knife.

At one point the suspect fell, injuring himself on the blade, Larenas testified.

Larenas said he only learned the boy had died when he was questioned by the Laval Police investigators.

The jury informed Superior Court Justice Steve Baribeau that they had reached a unanimous verdict of not guilty to the second-degree murder charge Larenas was facing.

It took the jury three days to reach the verdict.

Laval man among three arrested for alleged I.D. and credit card forgery

Martin C. Barry
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Laval man among three arrested for alleged I.D. and credit card forgery
Some of the fraudulent materials seized by the SQ. (Photo: Courtesy of SQ)

A man from Laval is one of three suspects who were arrested by the Sûreté du Québec earlier this week for allegedly running a print shop that produced hundreds of credit and ID cards while stealing the identities of thousands of people.

Ralph-Isai Labady, 34, from Laval, along with Evens Emile, 42, from Repentigny as well as a third but unidentified man from Montreal, age 27, were arrested by the SQ.

The provincial police say 2,400 identities were stolen to create the fake documents and letters have been sent to 1,900 people to alert them of the theft.

Nearly 1,000 forged documents and state-of-the-art equipment for making counterfeit driver’s licences, Canadian residency cards, Quebec health insurance cards, debit and credit cards and social insurance cards, were seized, according to the SQ.

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