Get ready for an unforgettable time celebrating Canada’s birthday on Wednesday July 1 at the City of Laval’s Centre de la nature in Duvernay.
To celebrate Canada Day, everyone is invited to take part in a large family celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. designed to delight visitors of all ages.
All are invioted to come and share a joyful and welcoming moment with the Laval community in a festive and heartwarming atmosphere.
A Day Full of Family Activities
Starting with the official opening of the site at 10 a.m., visitors will be able to enjoy a full day of activities.
In celebration of World Cup 2026, with Canada as one of the host countries, soccer will take centre stage with mini matches and skills challenges.
Guests will also be able to enjoy face painting, creative craft workshops, inflatable games and more.
The presence of the Canadian Armed Forces will add an extra patriotic dimension to the event.
Beginning at 11:00 a.m., food trucks will offer something for every taste.
Meaningful and Symbolic Moments
At 12:50 p.m., the national anthem will be sung during the Canadian flag-raising ceremony.
At 1 p.m., a moving citizenship ceremony will welcome new Canadians – promising to be a powerful moment celebrating inclusion and diversity.
The traditional Canada Day cake will be cut at 2:45 p.m. and will be shared with the public starting at 3:30 p.m.
An Invitation to All
Full event details are available at www.feteducanadalaval.net Facebook: @feteducanadalaval Instagram: @feteducanadalaval #CanadaLaval2026
The event is made possible thanks to support from the City of Laval and the Government of Canada.
Weather Advisory: The event will take place rain or shine! Only thunderstorms or severe weather requiring site evacuation could lead to a cancellation.
The Laval Police say there has been an increase in criminal activity within its territory related to the Pokémon card phenomenon, and that this rapidly growing market is attracting the attention of malicious actors.
Investigators from the LPD’s Crimes Against Persons Unit recently arrested ten suspects in connection with several armed robberies – four of which involved the sale of Pokémon cards.
Three of these incidents were publicly shared by the LPD “to raise awareness of the speed and intensity of these crimes and, above all, to educate citizens about safety precautions,” the LPD said in a statement.
The suspects allegedly contacted victims through the Facebook Marketplace transaction platform to arrange the sale of Pokémon cards or MacBooks.
The victims would then go to a public place with the item for sale. At the time of the transaction, the suspects allegedly used violence to force the victims to hand over the stolen item and flee without paying.
Since January 1 last year, the LPD recorded 30 incidents related to Pokémon cards. Of these, eleven occurred since March 1 this year, indicating a recent increase. Seven of the incidents involved acts of violence, said the LPD, including pepper spraying.
A total of 13 searches were also conducted to gather evidence for the charges, as well as for other cases related to the wave of MacBook thefts. The operation required the involvement of several dozen investigators, the LPD’s Azimut Brigade, regular patrol officers and the LPD’s Tactical Intervention Group.
On June 9 and 11, investigators arrested ten young men aged 16 to 18. According to the LPD, some were released on a promise to appear in court with conditions, while two remained in custody. They face charges including armed robbery, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, assault and possession and trafficking of property obtained by crime.
Laval man arrested in Ontario on suspicion of organized car theft
A man from Laval is one of five suspects arrested in the Ontario regional municipality of Halton on suspicion of organized car theft and other criminal offenses.
Ahmad Fares, 33, of Laval faces charges on various counts ranging from auto theft to identity fraud and possessing break-in tools. A vehicle theft investigation in nearby Milton in March led investigators to a residence in Brampton in Ontario.
Further information obtained in April connected the suspects to 13 auto thefts and attempted thefts in the Halton region as well as an act of auto larceny in the Waterloo Ontario area.
Police charged four Quebec residents and one Mississauga man on a number of theft and break-in charges.
17-year-old recovering after impalement in car accident
A 17-year-old boy was considered to be out of danger earlier this month after being impaled by a fence post during a serious car crash in Laval.
The collision happened shortly before 3 a.m. on des Oiseaux Blvd. near Héron in Laval’s Sainte-Rose district. Four young people between the ages of 15 and 19 were inside a Honda Civic that was travelling at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control.
The vehicle struck a lamppost, crashed through a cedar hedge and a fence, and came to rest in the backyard of a residence, stopping just short of an in-ground swimming pool.
Police say a 17-year-old passenger seated in the back of the vehicle was impaled by a fence post during the crash. He was taken to hospital in critical condition and underwent surgery. The three other occupants of the vehicle did not suffer serious injuries.
Laval man arrested for alleged arson in Ontario
A Laval man has been charged with arson after multiple unoccupied homes were set alight in the Adjala-Tosorontio region north of Toronto two years ago.
The Ontario Provincial Police say OPP officers executed a search warrant on June 10 at a residence in Laval.
The OPP’s major crimes unit, with assistance from the Laval Police and OPP officers in Hawkesbury in Ontario, conducted a search at the suspect’s Laval home where he was arrested.
Ramin Lazar, 34, of Laval, has been charged with arson and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. Lazar, who is the seventh suspect facing charges related to the incidents, was released with a July 2 court date with the Ontario Court of Justice in Ontario.
Recent fires in Laval
June 15 | 10:41 PM // Building fire on Curé-Labelle Boulevard in the Chomedey sector.
Commercial building.
Fire contained in a restaurant kitchen and spread to the roof.
They ‘touch on several rights under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights,’ says CRA ombudsman Boileau
The Canada Revenue Agency’s ombudsman says his office has opened an investigation into delays involving the processing of complex T1 adjustments after receiving numerous complaints from taxpayers from across the country.
In a statement issued last week, CRA ombudsman François Boileau said the examination was started because they had been receiving a consistently high level of complaints about the delays.
The T1 General (or simply T1) is the tax form issued by the Canada Revenue Agency which is used by individuals living in Canada to file personal federal income tax returns.
According to the CRA’s own reporting, taxpayers have been facing undue delays. Although the CRA’s service standard for complex requests is 20 weeks, as of May 14 the CRA was taking up to 47 weeks to complete complex T1 requests.
“We understand that the CRA is under tremendous pressure to deliver its services to the public,” Boileau said in a statement issued by his office. “But T1 adjustments affect many taxpayers, and delays can cause real issues for those who are seeking redress,” he added.
Possible Bill of Rights violations
“The delays we have been seeing with complex T1 adjustment requests touch on several rights under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. With a systemic examination, we are hoping to get to the root causes of why the CRA is not currently meeting its service standard.”
In Laval, Tom Laios, a professional tax accountant, said he was mostly unaware of the processing delays described by the CRA ombudsman.
While saying that none of his clients had run into this particular problem, he added, “I know from what I’ve heard from other people, usually it takes them [the CRA] a couple of months to do it.”
In their statement, the ombudsman’s office noted that if a taxpayer wants to change an income tax and benefit return, there are different options to do so.
The CRA’s service standard for routine adjustments requested through “Change my return” in CRA taxpayer accounts or through tax software is to issue a notice of reassessment or a letter of explanation within two weeks of receiving the request. For routine adjustment requests made by phone or mail, the service standard is eight weeks.
20 weeks for complex requests
However, according to the ombudsman’s office, the CRA can determine that a request is complex. This happens when the CRA needs more information or has to review the request. In these cases, the service standard is 20 weeks, which is much longer than the service standard for routine requests, according to the CRA.
In addition to opening a systemic examination, the ombudsman’s office said they sent a service improvement request to the CRA.
“We asked it to change the T1-ADJ T1 Adjustment Request web page to encourage taxpayers to file their T1 adjustment requests online, rather than by printing and mailing the webform as suggested on its website, so that the requests can be processed more quickly,” reads the OTO’s statement, while adding that “our office is committed to carrying out this examination fairly and impartially.”
“With this examination, we are looking to better understand current processes, the root causes of service issues, and what the CRA is doing so that it can meet its service standards,” they continue. Based on the examination’s findings, they say the ombudsman may make recommendations on solutions “to lessen delays so that taxpayers can receive more timely service from the CRA.”
Mandate to improve service
The Office of the Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson (which is the OTO’s official name) describes its role as being to help improve service that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) provides to taxpayers.
It says it does so by reviewing complaints about the quality of service as well as by identifying and reviewing “systemic and emerging issues that can affect more than one person or a part of the population.”
The ombudsman can also make recommendations directly to the federal Minister of Finance and National Revenue or to the Minister and the Chair of the CRA’s Board of Management to address systemic issues and improve the service the CRA provides to taxpayers. The OTO says it also works to raise awareness of the OTO’s role and the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
Canada’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights
There are 16 rights that describe the treatment you are entitled to when you deal with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Additionally, there are 5 small business commitments.
You have the right to receive entitlements and to pay no more and no less than what is required by law.
You have the right to service in both official languages.
You have the right to privacy and confidentiality.
You have the right to a formal review and a subsequent appeal.
You have the right to be treated professionally, courteously, and fairly.
You have the right to complete, accurate, clear, and timely information.
You have the right, unless otherwise provided by law, not to pay income tax amounts in dispute before you have had an impartial review.
You have the right to have the law applied consistently.
You have the right to lodge a service complaint and to be provided with an explanation of our findings.
You have the right to have the costs of compliance taken into account when administering tax legislation.
You have the right to expect the CRA to be accountable.
You have the right to relief from penalties and interest under tax legislation because of extraordinary circumstances.
You have the right to expect the CRA to publish its service standards and report annually.
You have the right to expect the CRA to warn you about questionable tax schemes in a timely manner.
You have the right to be represented by a person of your choice.
You have the right to lodge a service complaint and request a formal review without fear of reprisal.
Spotlight falls on works of 80 artists in Laval’s historic Vieux Sainte-Rose
While the dates may change a little from year to year, and the weather can vary from warm sunshine to sudden downpours of rain, there’s one thing about the Sainte-Rose Art Symposium you can always count on.
This popular summertime artists’ gathering – held in a setting as romantic as it is historic – is always a guarantee of four days of appreciation for sculpting, photography and other visual arts by the thousands of patrons who drop by every year.
Corporation Rose-Art members, Québec chanteuse Shirley Théroux (second from right), Laval city councillors and representatives of Sainte-Rose MNA Christopher Skeete were on hand at the Vieille Caserne in downtown Sainte-Rose last week for a preview of the 2026 Symposium de Sainte-Rose. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Symposium’s 30th anniversary
This year, the Corporation Rose-Art’s annual show is taking place from Thursday July 23 to Sunday July 26. Those with discerning taste for fine sculpture and inspiring visual creations – or who simply know what they like – will be arriving from all over Québec, as well as other parts of eastern Canada, for this year’s celebration of the three successful decades of the Symposium de Ste-Rose.
In addition to the symposium’s 30th anniversary, the Corporation Rose-Art is celebrating its 35th year of activity promoting the work of Laval’s artists.
As part of this, the organizers will be holding a special silent auction during the symposium, featuring 33 canvases by Rose-Art members, with the goal of raising $5,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.
In an homage to Corporation Rose-Art’s well-founded roots, a group of “original six” artists (Yolande Lapalice Daneau, Diane Lafond, Monique Lafond, Lise Dupuis, Maxime Lacourse and Carole Laurence), who were in at the beginning, will be exhibiting in a special segment of the symposium.
Legendary Québec chanteuse Shirley Théroux
This year, the organizers from Corporation Rose-Art have again persuaded legendary Quebec singer Shirley Théroux to be the official spokesperson for the Sainte-Rose Art Symposium. Sainte-Rose MNA Christopher has also again agreed to serve as the event’s honorary president.
Théroux had a string of song hits in Québec during the 1960s and 1970s and was also a highly popular late-afternoon program host on French-language television.
From the left, Laval city councillor for Sainte-Rose Flavia Alexandra Novac, Shirley Théroux and city councillor for Champfleury Carole St-Denis at last week’s preview of the 2026 Symposium de Sainte-Rose. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
An accomplished painter in addition to her musical talents, Théroux will be offering a range of art works, with potential collectible value, in a special segment of the show.
‘The beginning of a dream’
In an address last week to guests attending a special preview of the 2026 symposium, Corporation Rose-Art president Oprina-Felicia Dolea set the tone for this year’s event.
“Thirty years ago, it was the beginning of a dream in these enchanting surroundings of Vieux Sainte-Rose – the creation of a bridge linking the artist and the public directly, between feeling and artwork,” said Dolea.
“For three decades, our historic neighborhood is transformed over the course of a summer into a gallery open to the sky where creativity has no limits,” she added.
“What was only a dream by artists in the beginning has become a highly-respected cultural gathering, shining a spotlight on Vieux Sainte-Rose far beyond the limits of Laval.”
Eighty artists taking part
Many visitors will be purchasing works produced by the 80 participating artists, who express themselves in styles ranging from traditional and impressionistic to modern and abstract.
As always, the symposium will be taking place alongside the Rivière des Mille-Îles in the charming and historic Laval neighbourhood known as Vieux Sainte-Rose.
The village is renowned as the birthplace of internationally-acclaimed Québécois painter Marc-Aurèle Fortin. Sainte-Rose was also at one time the home of landscape painter Clarence Gagnon. Both influenced generations of artists here and around the world.
After winning a range of awards for excellence over nearly three decades, the organizing committee continues to uphold the standards that have established the Sainte-Rose Art Symposium’s reputation for excellence in art circles across eastern Canada.
“What was only a dream by artists in the beginning has become a highly-respected cultural gathering,” according to Corporation Rose-Art president Oprina-Felicia Dolea. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Rose-Art’s award-winning efforts
The organizers have received some significant recognitions for their efforts. In 2019, the Laval Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented them with a Dunamis award for helping to promote tourism in Laval. They were also a finalist for a second Dunamis in 2020 and 2022, as a sustainable organization or enterprise.
More than 20,000 people are expected to attend. Although most are usually from the Laval and greater Montreal regions, the busy vacation season is also known to bring in visitors from Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, as well as from the U.S. states of Vermont, New Hampshire and New York.
Tourism has been growing by leaps and bounds in Laval over the past few years, as travellers from all over Canada and the U.S. begin to rediscover hidden treasures such as the Symposium de Sainte-Rose.
Some of the best times to go
The Symposium will be taking place along a stretch of the main street in downtown Sainte-Rose, next to La Vieille Caserne (216 Ste-Rose Blvd.), a stone’s throw from Sainte-Rose-de-Lima Church, between Filion and Deslaurier-Hotte streets.
All the events are free. The hours are as follows: Thursday July 23, 10 am to 6 pm; Friday July 24, 11 am to 6 pm; Saturday July 25, 10 am to 6 pm; Sunday July 26, 10 am to 5 pm. Additional information is available on the website www.roseart.ca. E-mail: roseart@videotron.ca. Phone: (450) 625-7925.
‘Hat’s off to the chamber of commerce for taking the lead,’ says executive-committee VP Khalil
The Laval Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCILaval) last week unveiled Laval Net Zero 2040, an ambitious initiative to encourage Laval businesses to take part in a concrete, measurable and profitable transition to a lower-carbon, more circular and more resilient economy.
Unveiled at the Laval Evolution Summit 2026, the initiative builds on efforts undertaken for several years by the CCILaval and its sustainable development team to support businesses in improving their practices, operations and environmental performance.
Members of the Laval Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as elected officials from the City of Laval and the Quebec government, are seen here following the unfurling of a banner to mark the official start of the CCIL’s Laval Net Zero 2024 campaign to create a lower-carbon and more resilient local economy. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Turning words into actions
Laval Net Zero 2040’s ultimate goal is to support 50 Laval businesses over a 24-month period, from 2026 to 2027, in identifying, planning and implementing measurable environmental projects.
According to the CCIL, the initiative will generate 60 to 75 concrete projects, for an estimated total of 1,800 to 2,000 hours of support for participating businesses.
“With Laval Net Zero 2040, we want to demonstrate that the sustainable transition is not an abstract or theoretical exercise,” Caroline De Guire, CEO of the Laval Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said during an official launch at the Grand Times Hotel Laval Centropolis.
“It is a lever for competitiveness, productivity and resilience for businesses,” she added. “Our role, as the Chamber of Commerce, is to make this transition accessible, structured and visible for Laval businesses.”
Making less of an impact
Laval Net Zero 2040 represents an investment of approximately $850,000 (including $120,000 from the City of Laval). Financial contributions are also being made by the Government of Quebec, Desjardins, Filgo, Matrec), Montoni and Hydro-Québec, with additional support from numerous private and implementation partners.
Laval city councillor for Sainte-Dorothée Ray Khalil, who is vice-president of the city’s executive-committee, along with Laval-des-Rapides MNA Céline Haytayan, were among the guests for the campaign launch.
“Most businesses right now realize something like this is a must,” Khalil said in an interview with The Laval News. “We all want to make less of negative environmental impact and more of a positive impact. So my hat’s off to the chamber of commerce for taking the lead after listening to their members and putting into place this project.”
“My hat’s off to the chamber of commerce for taking the lead after listening to their members and putting into place this project,” said Laval executive-committee vice-president Ray Khalil. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Laval Net Zero 2040 is based on a four-step approach: diagnosis, selection of a concrete objective, project implementation and measurement of results. Participating businesses will be able to work on areas such as waste reduction, energy efficiency, electrification, eco-design, decarbonization, greenhouse gas management and resource optimization.
Moving from intention to action
The projects will be supported by the CCILaval team, in collaboration with local experts and specialized partners, to help businesses move from intention to action. The objective is to achieve measurable gains, both environmental and economic, particularly in terms of cost reduction, GHG emission reduction, operational efficiency and better resource use.
“Since 2008, the chamber and its board of directors have championed a sustainable and ambitious vision of the circular economy in Laval. This vision has been structured over the years, with the Symbiose Laval initiative, the Zero Waste 2040 Vision, and concrete support for businesses,” said Daniel L’Écuyer, chairman of the board of directors of the CCIL. “With Laval Net Zero 2040, we are now shifting into a new gear: that of a broader, visible and measurable mobilization of businesses.”
Beyond technical support, Laval Net Zero 2040 will also take the form of a vast campaign of recognition and regional mobilization, inspired by the spirit of the major ISO 9001 campaigns that enabled many companies to proudly display their commitments and certifications in industrial districts.
Participating Laval companies will be able to make their efforts visible through signage on their building facades, a presence in the media, on digital platforms and partner networks, as well as an annual recognition event.
‘A large collective movement’
The joint undertaking also aims to highlight efforts already made, inspire other businesses and mobilize not only management, but also employees, suppliers, customers and business partners, says CCILaval. “Deployed prominently throughout the region, it will contribute to creating a large collective movement from which the entire Laval community can benefit,” they say.
“In businesses, the desire to act is often present, but taking action requires time, tools and tailored support,” said Jean-Sébastien Trudel, director of sustainable development at CCILaval. “Our role is to help leaders identify the right levers, prioritize the most promising projects and concretely measure the results. Laval Net Zero 2040 precisely bridges this gap between ambition and implementation.”
Laval plans to carry out similar renewals at parks and facilities all over the city
There was something new and exciting last week at Pie-X Park in Chomedey. Elected officials from the City of Laval were on hand to mark the official completion of several new facilities in the park following several years of redevelopment.
Among them are a swimming pool, a wading pool and splash pads (with universal access), a new chalet, a skate ramp and teen area, a synthetic soccer field, a refrigerated ice rink (winter use), a basketball and pickleball court (summer), children’s game modules (with universal access), new playground equipment and table tennis platforms.
Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer and Laval city councillor for Souvenir-Labelle Sandra El-Helou prepare last week to cut the ribbon marking the official opening of the new chalet in Chomedey’s Pie-X Park. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Cost split between city and Quebec
As well, it will be possible to borrow sports equipment at no charge for activities including pickleball, soccer, hockey, skating, table tennis and basketball. In all, the overall cost of the project was more than $20 million, split between the City of Laval and the provincial government. As the work comes to an end, the facilities will be fully opened gradually beginning on June 29.
According to the city, the work is part of a major redevelopment not only in the Chomedey neighbourhood, but also planned in other districts of Laval to breathe renewal into them. Among other things, the refrigerated outdoor rink (inaugurated in March during spring break) is the first of its kind in Laval.
“Over the course of the coming years, we want to invest more to renovate what already exists,” Mayor Stéphane Boyer said last week in an address prior to an official ribbon-cutting ceremony at the park.
Renewing disadvantaged areas
While noting that a good number of Laval’s facilities were built during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, he said the city hopes to continue the redevelopment process started in Pie-X Park, beginning in some of Laval’s more disadvantaged neighborhoods.
“For me, it’s important to be able to offer a quality of life to our citizens in general,” said Boyer. “But even more so to our youths who may sometimes live in conditions that are difficult.”
Mayor Stéphane Boyer and (from left) city councillors Nicholas Borne (Laval-Les Îles), Sandra El Helou (Souvenir-Labelle) Christine Poirier (Pont-Viau) and Mohamed Bâ (Le Carrefour) cut the ribbon for new playground equipment last week at Chomedey’s Pie-X Park. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
In an interview with The Laval News, the mayor said “it was important for us to carry off a good project in this neighborhood that has big needs.” But at the same time, he acknowledged that two years ago some residents living in the area had raised objections about certain aspects of the redevelopment.
A group of up to 400 residents signed a petition opposing a significant part of the plan. They wanted the city to at least postpone the project so that some of the impact could be reconsidered. Up to 16 residents received legal notices the year before from the city, advising them to vacate 12-foot spaces on their property next to several fenced pedestrian walkways leading from the street into the park.
City claimed right to property
Additional notices were sent to the residents, informing them that land survey posts were going to be installed to establish the exact property limits. Fences and hedges belonging to property owners, but encroaching on municipal property, would also have to be demolished, according to the notices.
The city claimed it needed to enlarge the walkways in order to make them more secure and accessible for the population in general, but especially for those who may be physically-challenged or who suffer from limited mobility.
“For me, it’s important to be able to offer a quality of life to our citizens in general,” Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer said last week while officially dedicating new infrastructure and facilities at Pie-X Park in Chomedey. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
In so doing, the city expected to enlarge the walkways (which varied in width from 6 to 10 feet) to 30 feet, while enhancing the grounds with additional lawn and trees.
In addition to these claims, the city served notice that it was placing a “reserve” status on several houses located near the north and south entrances to Pie-X Park as an option for an eventual purchase in order to possibly add space in the park. This was done under a revised provincial law (“Right of pre-emption”) for municipalities.
City overlooked problem
Mayor Boyer told The Laval News last week that the issue dated back decades when some property owners had unwittingly encroached on land that legally belonged to the city with fences, trees, driveways and hedges – although the city overlooked it.
“And so, when we decided to do Pie-X Park, we decided to use all the lands which were available to us to make access wider, and this unfortunately came with changes for those residents,” he said. He said the city met with the residents and negotiated flexibly. “And I believe today everybody is happy with the outcome,” he added.
Legislation inspired by ‘Clare’s Law,’ which was first implemented in the United Kingdom
The head of a Montreal-based family services agency is giving a thumbs-up to the CAQ government’s recently-adopted Bill 4, which allows criminal and police record information to be shared in order to prevent femicide and intimate partner violence.
Melpa Kamateros, executive-director of Shield of Athena, says Bill 4 creates another level of security for domestic violence victims. (Newsfirst Multimedia file photo: Martin C. Barry).
Based on a UK law
In a June 11 statement, Premier Christine Fréchette’s government said they were proud to confirm the adoption by the National Assembly of Bill 4, inspired by Clare’s Law, “taking a significant step to prevent intimate partner violence and femicides and to combat these scourges.”
First implemented in the United Kingdom in 2014, Clare’s Law is named after Clare Wood, a woman murdered in England by a former domestic partner who police knew to be dangerous. Variations on the legislation, implemented in different areas of the world, provide several ways for police officers to disclose a person’s history of abusive behaviour to those who may be at risk.
Quebec’s Bill 4 amends various legislative provisions in order to allow the disclosure, to a person who fears for their safety or that of their child, of information concerning the history of domestic violence of a current or former intimate partner.
SQ and local police checks
Following a background check by the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), in collaboration with municipal and Indigenous police forces, disclosure will be made through a designated organization with expertise in domestic violence “to ensure compassionate and tailored support,” according to the government’s statement.
The person at risk can also be referred to appropriate resources if needed. The goal, says the government, is to provide the person at risk with as many tools as possible “to make an informed decision about their relationship, without imposing a decision.”
The law grants a victim the right to be informed of the conditions of any supervision imposed as part of a release order, a probation order with supervision, or a suspended sentence. It also grants the victim the right to be informed of the area where the person will be residing.
The government says significant collaborative work will continue in the coming months to develop tools with the partners involved who have expertise in this area, particularly as regards the use of the online application forms.
Some of the new law’s measures
The new law adds an additional mechanism to existing measures implemented in Quebec to combat femicide and intimate partner violence. These measures include:
The addition of specialized domestic and sexual violence units within police forces;
The deployment of electronic monitoring bracelets for perpetrators of domestic violence;
The establishment and strengthening of rapid intervention units for domestic violence in all regions of Quebec;
Emergency financial assistance to quickly relocate victims of sexual or domestic violence who wish to leave a dangerous environment;
The creation of a dedicated phone line, which offers four hours of free legal consultation to all victims of domestic or sexual violence;
And the creation and implementation of specialized courts for sexual and domestic violence cases.
A tool for domestic violence victims
Melpa Kamateros, executive-director of Shield of Athena Family Services, cited some examples of how the new law might be applied on a day-by-day basis.
“If you suspect something about someone your daughter is going out with, you will have the right under this law to go to the police station and ask if this guy has had any previous situations of conjugal violence, criminal arrests, complaints, if they’ve been tried,” she said.
While acknowledging she was aware that some critics have objected that disclosing personal information potentially violates individual privacy rights, Kamateros said, “As a person who works in the domain, this information could be a reliable source and an additional point of security for domestic violence victims.”
A right to feel safe
“Everyone should be able to feel safe with their intimate partner,” said Quebec Public Security Minister Ian Lafrenière. “I am particularly proud of the collaborative work with all my colleagues in the National Assembly. We don’t play partisan politics when it comes to violence against women.
“The adoption of this important bill is the concrete result of collaborative work among parliamentarians, united by the desire to do even more to combat femicide and intimate partner violence,” he continued. “The work is far from over, but the adoption of this bill is a strong step that strengthens our safety net. This measure complements a range of other measures already implemented by our government.”
‘We owe it to the women’
“Every time a femicide is committed, all of Quebec is in shock,” said Quebec Minister of Justice Simon Jolin-Barrette. “In recent years, we have worked tirelessly to better support victims throughout their healing process. If we can offer an additional tool that is more likely to prevent another tragedy, we must try.
“We owe it to the women of Quebec,” added Jolin Barrette. “If the measures included in the new law allow us to prevent even one case of domestic violence, all of society benefits. Once again, we are sending a clear message to victims: you are not alone.”
Chomedey Blues football alumnus Greg Bradic needs a kidney
Martial arts instructor Gregory Bradic, a Chomedey Blues alumnus and lifelong resident of Chomedey, needs a donated kidney and is reaching out to the community for help.
A Chomedey Blues football club alumnus, who is also a dedicated martial arts instructor and lifelong Chomedey resident, is reaching out for help to the Laval community as he faces impending kidney failure from a hereditary medical condition.
Gregory Bradic, 53, suffers from Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), a condition that several other members of his family have had to struggle with for generations.
A former captain of Concordia University’s football Stingers, in 2016 Gregory’s 1993 Stingers team was inducted into the Concordia Sports Hall of Fame.
A few weeks ago, Bradic decided to turn to the community to which he had given so much, saying that he was seeking a living kidney donor while also hoping to raise awareness about kidney disease and the life-saving impact of organ donation.
Devoted to the martials arts
Born and raised in Chomedey, for over 20 years Greg has devoted his life to teaching martial arts to teenagers and adults at a martial arts dojo called Club Budo de Montréal in the Borough of Saint-Laurent.
A fourth-degree black belt, Gregory is known not only for his discipline and skill, but for the positive impact he has had on so many people over the years.
According to Greg’s girlfriend, Sonia D’Elia, his students see him “as a mentor, role model and source of encouragement both inside and outside the dojo,” she said in an e-mail to The Laval News.
However, according to Sonia, Gregory’s PKD has progressed to the point where he will soon need to be placed on the kidney transplant list. While waiting for a deceased donor kidney can take many years, a living donor transplant offers the best chance for a healthier and longer life.
They are hoping that by sharing Gregory’s story, it may help raise awareness about living organ donation and possibly inspire someone to come forward as a potential donor – not just for Gregory, but to help educate the public about how life-changing and life-saving living donation can be for so many people and families.
His PKD has reached the crisis point
In a recent social media post, Gregory wrote that his PKD “has now progressed to the point where my kidneys are no longer functioning well enough to keep me healthy.
Over the years, Gregory has given extensively of his time as an instructor in the martial arts.
“My options are limited. Dialysis can keep me alive by doing some of the work my kidneys can no longer do – but it is not a long-term solution. A kidney transplant, on the other hand, would give me a real chance at a longer, healthier and more normal life. It would give me time – time to live, to experience the things I love, and to be present for the people who matter most.
“But finding a kidney is incredibly difficult. Thousands of people are waiting right now for a deceased donor, and the reality is harsh: the wait can be 3 – 5 years or longer. Many people don’t make it that long.”
However, according to Gregory, there is another path – receiving a kidney from a living donor – and it could happen much sooner. “It could save my life,” he said.
“Asking anyone to donate a kidney to me is difficult, but it greatly improves my chances of getting a transplant. A living kidney donation typically lasts longer and has better function.”
What you need to know
While most people might not know a lot about living kidney donation (and Gregory himself admits he didn’t until it started to affect his life), he offered the following information on living-donor kidney transplants:
• You only need one kidney to live a healthy, long life.
• Most donor surgery is done laparoscopically, meaning through tiny incisions.
• The recuperation period is usually fairly quick, generally two weeks.
• The cost of your evaluation and surgery will be covered by Gregory’s insurance. The hospital can give you extensive information on this.
• You will have a separate team of healthcare professionals to evaluate you as a living donor. Their job is to help you understand the risks and benefits and look out for your best interests.
Now he needs your help
Outside of his work, Gregory spends a lot of his time teaching martial arts at a non-profit. “It’s something that means a lot to help others grow, build confidence and stay strong both mentally and physically,” he says. “Now, I’m in a position where I need that same kind of support.”
If donating a kidney to Gregory is something you would like to consider, please think of sending him a message and he would be happy to tell you more about his story and explore the process of determining if you are a match.
However, he says he realizes that living donation may not be right for everyone – but you may still be able to help. You may want to consider being an organ donor after death, and also help by sharing Gregory’s story with others.
At the very least, he says, he wants to raise awareness of kidney disease and living donation. “I am hopeful my efforts will help me receive a kidney sooner and encourage others to consider helping the many people on the wait list,” Gregory says. You can reach out to Greg Bradic at gregbradic@gmail.com
Calls on provincial election leaders to work towards reducing municipal infrastructure costs
Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer says he is encouraged by discussions held at the Municipal Infrastructure Summit last week on the skyrocketing cost for financing municipal infrastructure.
In a statement, he said he particularly welcomed the Quebec government’s commitment to abandoning the total nitrogen standard in wastewater treatment facilities.
Laval and other cities need a new deal from the Quebec government given the skyrocketing costs for important infrastructure work like this water infrastructure project in 2021 near the corner of Curé Labelle and Notre Dame in Chomedey. (Newsfirst Multimedia file photo: Martin C. Barry)
According to Boyer, this measure alone would allow Laval to avoid additional investments estimated at nearly $250 million, without compromising its environmental leadership and commitments.
Boyer is now calling on the leaders of the political parties in the upcoming provincial elections to continue working to sustainably reduce the cost of municipal infrastructure.
In its brief presented during the summit, the City of Laval advocated for a review of the standards it claims have contributed to skyrocketing construction costs, a simplification of government subsidy programs, and an acceleration of the construction permitting process.
Optimizing public funds
The city also reiterated the importance of continuing efforts to pool resources among municipalities and the Quebec government in order to reduce costs and optimize the use of public funds.
With the next Quebec election campaign close to getting underway, Laval’s mayor said he was inviting all party leaders to continue the work begun at the summit.
According to Boyer, controlling infrastructure costs will require decisions that may sometimes be difficult but necessary, in order to preserve the ability of municipalities to invest in the services and equipment their citizens need.
“Municipal infrastructure is becoming increasingly expensive and taxpayers have the right to expect that every dollar will be used as efficiently as possible,” Boyer said in the statement issued by the city.
“Today, we have put forward concrete solutions to reduce costs, simplify processes and increase resource sharing,” he continued. “Now we must have the courage to see this through, and I invite all political party leaders to commit to taking the necessary steps to make our infrastructure more affordable for citizens.”
‘A shared and funded vision’
The memo submitted by the city stated that the City of Laval “aspires to a shared and funded vision to act proactively in order to maintain economic prosperity and vitality while keeping public health and environmental protection at the centre of its concerns and making constructive proposals in this regard.”
The city listed three main priorities: reduce standards that increase construction costs; increase efficiency in the management of government programs; and accelerate the pooling of resources.
The city’s memorandum also offered some additional reflections: creating a more efficient, flexible and predictable funding model, both locally and provincially, while generally respecting taxpayers’ ability to pay; identifying methods for prioritizing the needs related to maintaining municipal assets; and identifying standards and requirements that can be reviewed or reduced to lower infrastructure construction costs.
Bearing costs without revenues
In the document’s conclusion, the City of Laval also maintains that cities in Quebec are responsible for 60 per cent of public infrastructure, but receive only 7.7 per cent of tax revenue, and the deficit in maintaining water and road assets is approaching $50 billion – an amount that could double by 2036 if nothing changes.
“The wastewater treatment plant that serves three-quarters of Laval’s households needs to be renovated,” it continues. “Lacking government funding, the city had to borrow $334 million to avoid delaying a project essential to its residents.
“This episode perfectly illustrates what these Estates General are seeking to correct: a financing model that is neither predictable enough nor flexible enough to keep pace with actual needs, and which shifts a risk onto taxes and municipal debt that municipalities cannot bear indefinitely.”
Memo says cities ready to rethink
The city says it took action to try to address these problems, noting that an “alliance formed with the City of Longueuil to explore the opportunity to launch joint calls for tenders, share plans and specifications and standardize replicable facilities demonstrates that municipalities are ready to rethink their practices to build more efficiently and at a lower cost.
“This initiative directly addresses the central objective of the government’s approach to reducing construction costs,” the memo continues. “This is particularly relevant when we consider that municipalities absorb up to $1.5 billion in additional costs each year, a significant portion of which results from the accumulation of government regulations. Cities are not waiting for efficiency to be imposed on them; they are already inventing it.”
Planning for the coming years
By making asset maintenance the top priority of its financial planning for the coming years, with major financial commitments to water, roads and underground networks, “the City of Laval is fully assuming its share of responsibility,” states the city. “This effort, however determined, is reaching the limits of what a municipality can bear alone.”
The memo closes by saying, “This is not about asking higher levels of government to replace cities, but about re-establishing a partnership commensurate with the challenge: a reduction in standards that increase construction costs, increased efficiency in the management of public programs, and an acceleration of the pooling of resources.”
Two projects by the City of Laval’s communications and marketing division received awards in June from leading communications organizations in Quebec and internationally.
The redesign of the laval.ca website received a Merit Award at the 2026 Gold Quill Awards from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).
At same time, the internal rollout of a new branding by the city won the Silver Award at the Quebec Society of Public Relations Professionals (SQPRP) Awards of Excellence.
Nathalie Monette, head of communications and Mireille Laurin-Burgess, graphic designer with the City of Laval’s communications and marketing service. (Photo: City of Laval)
“Receiving, within a few days of each other, such prestigious international and Quebec awards in two distinct areas of communications demonstrates the expertise and innovation that characterize the City of Laval,” Mayor Stéphane Boyer said in a statement.
“These awards reflect the excellence of the work done by our teams and our commitment to developing impactful initiatives that concretely meet the needs of the public and our staff,” added Boyer.
Designed to meet the needs of more than 460,000 citizens, according to the city, the new laval.ca was thoroughly redesigned to offer a modern, accessible and user-centric experience. A continuous feedback section allows residents to provide comments and contribute to the ongoing improvement of the platform.
Designed according to best practices in digital accessibility, the city says the site facilitates access to information and municipal services for people with physical or cognitive limitations.
Its redesign was also guided by eco-design principles, notably through a streamlined architecture that promotes more responsible use of digital resources.
The City of Laval also distinguished itself on the Quebec scene by winning the Silver Award at the SQRP Awards of Excellence on June 3 in the Internal Public Relations Program category.
The city said the award highlighted the internal rollout of the City’s new employer branding, a strategy focused on collective experience and team engagement. The initiative generated results that exceeded the established objectives in terms of awareness, participation, and satisfaction, according to the city.
“These accolades demonstrate the expertise of the Communications and Marketing Department and its ability to develop effective strategies that enrich both the citizen and employee experience,” stated a press release from the city, acknowledging both awards.
City mobilized to support households seeking housing on July 1
As the annual July 1 moving day approaches, the City of Laval says it is reaffirming a commitment to support individuals and families facing hardship.
In conjunction with its partners, including the Housing Search Assistance Service (SARL) at the Laval Municipal Housing Office, the city says it is deploying resources to support tenants, while continuing efforts to better protect them and preserve affordable housing.
“Housing has long been a top priority for Laval,” said Mayor Stéphane Boyer. “In recent years, numerous measures have been implemented to help the most vulnerable find housing, and we intend to continue to go further. The SARL’s support for households seeking housing is an important tool that we are deploying once again.”
The SARL is offering free support to Laval households at risk of becoming homeless, helping them find solutions tailored to their situation. Services are tailored to various eligibility criteria, including the household’s circumstances and income.
The city says it is working with its Social Emergency Division as well as community organizations to ensure a rapid and coordinated response. To date, the SARL is providing support to 154 Laval households. Of these, 28 cases are considered a priority for July 1 due to the risk of becoming homeless, while 32 others involve situations where the move-out date is later in the year.
Taking into account the current intense pressure in the rental market, the city says it is working towards the adoption this fall of a new bylaw aimed at better regulating eviction practices, thereby helping to prevent wrongful evictions and keep households in their homes.
Following the implementation of the new regulations, applications for demolition permits for any building with 10 or more units will be assessed based on the loss of affordable housing and the number of affordable units planned in the replacement project, while also taking into account the characteristics of the neighborhood and the vulnerability of the households.
The bylaw will also specify the applicants’ obligations to the tenants.
The city says it is continuing the implementation of its recently adopted 2025-2028 Housing Action Plan. This plan aims to sustainably improve access to quality, affordable housing that meets the needs of the population.
By 2028, the city intends to contribute to the construction of 2,000 social, affordable and non-profit housing units through a series of measures, including financial incentives, to promote residential construction and social inclusion, as well as the mobilization of municipal land and resources to accelerate residential development.
Available Resources: Individuals experiencing housing difficulties are encouraged to contact the SARL at 450-505-6025 or by email at sarl@omhlaval.ca. For information on the various collection services, go to laval.fr/collectes on the city’s main web page.
