Martin C. Barry

The 2016 Laval Armenian Festival, which took place at the former Cavalia site just off Autoroute 15 from June 24 – 26, attracted thousands of people from all over Laval and the Montreal region for one of Quebec’s biggest annual celebrations of Armenian culture.

Faithful to the culture

The many families who attended enjoyed traditional Armenian foods, midway games, dancing and live music, all to remind them of their Armenian roots. As many as 9,000 Laval residents are of Armenian descent.

The festival is organized as a fundraiser by members of Laval’s Sourp Kevork Armenian Apostolic Church. In Laval there are several Armenian churches and Sourp Kevork Armenian Apostolic Church has about 600 members.

The weather cooperated

The Laval Armenian Festival is one of the largest Armenians stage in the province. “The weather is cooperating this year, so we have been expecting many more people than last year,” said Vicken Khozozian, president of the organizing committee for the event.

On the opening evening on June 24, comedy was on the menu: a trio of Armenian comedians flew in from various cities across the world  and performed for 1,500 people under the big top. On Saturday night, one of the world’s most famous Armenian pop singers, Harout Pamboukjian, flew in from his home in Los Angeles to perform for Laval’s Armenians.

Legendary Armenian singer

“He’s a living legend who’s been around for more than 40 years,” said Khozozian, noting that a crowd of at least 3,500 was expected for the performance. Sunday was set aside as a special Family Fun day featuring a children’s show in the morning, followed by an Armenian folk dancing show in the afternoon and an Armenian vocalist that evening.

“The City of Laval is very involved with the Armenian community and we are very proud to be one of their partners,” said Laval executive-committee vice-president David De Cotis. The Armenian Festival site was furnished over the three days by the city. “The Armenian community in Laval is one of the largest,” said Laval-Les Îles Liberal MP Fayçal El-Khoury who was one of the many dignitaries who turned up on Saturday to pay their respects.

Many dignitaries present

“We’re here to enjoy all the festivities,” said Chomedey city councillor Aglaia Revelakis. “This festival is very close to my heart because my wife is of Armenian descent so it’s very important for us to be close to the Armenian community,” said Abord-à-Plouffe city councillor Vasilios Karidogiannis. “It’s nice for a community like the Armenians to be able to share their values and their traditions like this,” said Vimy Liberal MP Eva Nassif.

“Coming to the Armenian Festival is like coming home,” added Chomedey Liberal MNA Guy Ouellette who was attending the event for the tenth consecutive year. In contrast, it was the first time for Fabre Liberal MNA Monique Sauvé since she was elected only six months ago in a by-election. “The Armenian community is very important in my riding,” she said.

Affected product(s):

IKEA children’s chests of drawers taller than 60 cm (23 ½ inches) and IKEA adult chests of drawers taller than 75 cm (29 ½ inches)

Product description:

This notice involves all IKEA children’s chests of drawers taller than 60 cm (23 ½ inches) and adult chest of drawers taller than 75 cm (29 ½ inches) sold to June 2016.  The affected IKEA chests of drawers will have a label affixed to the product with the company name “IKEA”, the model name, and the manufacturing date. The affected IKEA chests of drawers model names are:

Alesund, Alleby, Alvesta, Aneboda, Angus, Ånes, Arup, Askedal, Askvoll, Aspelund, Balstar, Bankeryd, Bergsmo, Bialitt, Birkeland, Blimp, Boj, Brett, Brimnes, Boksta, BJÖRN, BÖRKVALLA, Brusali, Busunge, Diktad, Edland, Elis, Engan, Eksil, Fjell, Fjord, Flaten, Fridolin, Granås, Gute, Haddal, Hajdeby, Hemnes, Hensvik, Herrestad, Holleby, Hovdal, Hopen, Hosteland, Hurdal, IKEA PS, Kabin, Kirkenes, Knot, Koppang, Kusk, Kurs, Kullen, Kviby, Leksvik, Lo, Lomen, Mac, Malm, Mast, Mammut, Mandal, Meråker, Midsund, Natura, Narvik, Nordli, Nordnes, Nornas, Nyvoll, Ottenby, Rakke, Ramberg, Ranvik, Rodd, Robin, Rustik, Sala, Skarnes, Sandefjord, Stranda, Sveio, Stavanger, Stockholm, Stuva, Sundvik, Tarva, Tassa, Tovik, Trandum, Trogen, Trondheim, Trysil, Tyssedal, Undredal, Varde, Vajer, Vallvik, Vestby, Vinstra, Visdalen, Vollen.

Hazard identified:

The recalled chests of drawers can tip-over if not securely anchored to the wall, posing a tip-over and entrapment hazard that can result in death or serious injuries to children.

Health Canada has received 1 report of a tip-over incident with a minor injury in Canada related to the use of IKEA chests of drawers.

IKEA Canada has received 3 reports of tip-over incidents with 2 minor injuries in Canada related to the use of the IKEA chests of drawers.

IKEA US has received 78 reports of tip-over incidents involving IKEA chests of drawers in the United States, resulting in 6 deaths and 31 injuries to children between the ages of 19 months and 10 years old.

(SOURCE: IKEA)

Martin C. Barry

With displays of locally-grown flowers and produce, the City of Laval held a press conference at its commercial and industrial development headquarters on Chomedey Blvd. on June 13 to announce the beginning of a new policy for the protection and maintenance of the municipality’s extensive agricultural areas.

A change of policy

Developed in conjunction with local farmers and other interested parties, the policy comes following decades during which large expanses of agricultural territory in Laval were re-zoned and redeveloped for residential purposes by the ousted administration of former mayor Gilles Vaillancourt.

The city councillors who helped develop the new policy included Ray Kahlil (Sainte-Dorothée), Daniel Hébert (Marigot), Frédéric Gauthier (Auteuil), Aglaia Revelakis (Chomedey) and Michel Trottier (Fabreville), are often in districts where there are agricultural interests.

A unique characteristic

“This plan highlights the importance of Laval’s agricultural zone which is a distinctive characteristic of our area while also an important element of our economy,” said Mayor Marc Demers. Laval’s agricultural zone takes up 30 per cent of the island’s territory, includes more than 121 types of agricultural activity and has more than 53 produce stands operating.

“This is important for us since a third of our territory is zoned agricultural,” added Demers. “We have a big job to do in terms of the reconsolidation of it which is something we will be pursuing. On this territory we must increase the percentage of lands which are for agriculture. We must support our farmers closely in terms of the promotion of their products and their work, and it is their work will be supporting in an atmosphere of trust between them and the municipal administration.”

New emphasis on agriculture

According to city manager Serge Lamontagne, the arrival of Mayor Demers as Laval’s elected head three years began a process which led to a modification of the city’s master urban plan so as to give new importance to agricultural activities. “We now have more tools than before for improvements,” he said, while adding that each year over the next five years specific actions will be taken with regard to improving the situation the agricultural zone.

Among other things, Lamontagne said Laval’s real estate valuation department will be making it a priority next year to buy up agricultural land in some areas, consolidate it and take measures to safeguard and see that it is developed properly for agricultural purposes.

Change long overdue

“This has been coming for too long, so that is what we are going to do,” he said. He also spoke of the city developing new neighbourhood fruit and vegetable markets, as well as additional guidelines to better define the limits between agricultural zones and urban areas.

“We think this is a great opportunity to position ourselves as a city,” added Lamontagne, noting that Laval had the reputation decades ago of being Quebec’s market gardening capital. “Thirty per cent of or territory is agricultural and we have to do more with it.”

Martin C. Barry

Agape, the Chomedey-based charity known for its fierce determination to help the needy while promoting access to English-language health services in Laval, last week celebrated the 20^th anniversary of the day in 1995 when it first opened in a former fish market on Notre Dame Boulevard.

An evening not to be missed

Supporters gathered at the Agape daycare on June 11 to mark the occasion. The evening included the celebration of a Holy Mass of Thanksgiving by former Holy Name of Jesus parish pastor Fr. Peter Sabbath, followed by a buffet style supper with beer and wine, a few words from Agape’s president, and finally a social evening with music and entertainment.

One of Agape’s most faithful supporters, Chomedey Liberal MNA Guy Ouellette, dropped by with his wife to spend some time, in spite of the fact he had to attend another function that night. Addressing the crowd, he referred to Agape as “one of the few resources that we have in Laval in the anglophone community. I have called it a jewel before and when you have a jewel you take care of it.”

“This has been a place of laughter, tears, passion,” said Fr. Sabbath. “If I were just to describe Agape, to me it would be as a great instrument of mercy not only in this Year of Mercy, but also in the many years of its existence. We’re all very grateful.”

Mulcair’s help instrumental

Describing the events leading up to Agape’s taking up residence at its permanent address, treasurer Elizabeth McLeod recounted how they were initially rebuffed by elected officials from the municipal, provincial and federal governments. However, they received support from future MNA and NDP leader Thomas Mulcair before he went on to be elected to the Quebec National Assembly.

McLeod recalled the treatment they got when they went to see former Laval West Liberal MP Michel Dupuy, whose political attaché, she said, told her and other Agape supporters, including Mulcair, “You walk in here as if you were in a bakery.” According to McLeod, Mulcair told the attaché that, with or without him, Agape would open. “And three months later we opened,” McLeod said.

Mind you, since the venue that became available to Agape was a former fish store which had been closed for a year-and-a-half, “the stench was unbelievable,” she continued, “and being the fancy little girl that I am, I said wait Cliffe, we’re not coming here.” But Agape co-founder Cliffeline Young had other ideas and tried to persuade McLeod that 3952 Notre Dame Blvd. in Chomedey was indeed the right place.

First opened on June 29

Thus it was that on June 15, 1995, Elizabeth, Cliffeline and other Agape supporters got on their knees and prayed for guidance. Then on June 29, they finally opened and held a large press conference which was well-attended. Among Agape’s first supporters, she added, was the Laval News.

McLeod gave credit to former Liberal MP for Laval-Les Îles Raymonde Folco for helping Agape obtain a federal subsidy that allowed the organization in 2002 to acquire ownership of the building it had been leasing until then. Folco, who has been out of politics since 2011, described McLeod as someone who is so tenacious when pursuing a goal that it becomes easier for someone being lobbied to say yes.

“One thing that we hardly ever mention about Agape is the fact that this organization that Betty and the other volunteers have created has become a family,” Folco said. “And it’s a wonderful thing that all the people of different ages have got together and are helping other newcomers who are coming into Laval, whether their language is English, French, Arabic, whatever. It doesn’t matter. They are helping and in doing so they are helping themselves.”