A 44-year-old male resident of Laval is one of five suspects facing nearly 100 charges in Toronto for allegedly participating in a criminal ring involved in the theft of credit and banking cards from elderly victims in retail store settings.
Toronto Police Service investigators allege the suspects lingered at banks and retail stores between Sunday Dec. 10, 2023 and Saturday Oct. 19, 2024 for the express purpose of stealing bank and credit cards from unwitting persons.
According to the TPS, the suspects targeted the elderly using a variety of techniques to clandestinely obtain personal identification numbers (PINs) while stealing wallets containing credit and bank cards.
The suspects would then go to bank branches where they would withdraw funds.
These would in turn be used to buy pre-paid credit cards which would be applied to the purchase of expensive electronics and other luxury items.
The Toronto Police Service issued this photo of Virgil Barbu of Laval as one of the bank card fraud suspects arrested. (Photo: Toronto Police Service)
A search warrant executed by the Toronto Police led to the seizure of the following items:
• Eight iPhone 15 Pro Max smartphones • 50 smartwatches • 56 bottles of designer perfume • 21 fraudulent pre-paid credit cards worth $10,500 • $23,000 Canadian cash • Lock-picking tools • 32 provincial lottery tickets • Two foil-lined “booster” bags (used to bypass electronic anti-theft detection) • Multiple fake passports • And four fraudulently-obtained vehicles identified as shipped overseas worth about $250,000
In all, five persons (two men and three women), are facing charges.
They are: Virgil Barbu, 44, of Laval, Constantin Florian, 39, of Montreal, Aura-Floria Florian, 40, of no fixed address, Dumitrita Pauniou, 49, of Milton, and Eugen Catruna, 52, of no fixed address.
While many Laval residents were having a well-deserved break during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, Laval Fire Dept. personnel were busy dealing with emergencies that included two house fires and a rescue operation on the Rivière-des-Prairies involving a couple of stranded dogs.
In the first of the fires, a home on 69th Ave. in Chomedey was seriously damaged by flames and smoke on the evening of December 31 following a blaze believed to have broken out as a result of incense embers spilling onto a carpet.
Flames spread quickly throughout the mostly-wooden structure of the building. One person ended up being taken to hospital.
Firefighters with the Laval Fire Dept. began 2025 with the rescue of some dogs off the ice of the Rivière-des-Prairies. (Photo: Courtesy Association des Pompiers de Laval)
Damage to the building was estimated at $200,000 (a possible insurance write-off), with an additional $50,000 in damages to interior furnishings.
in the second fire, this time around 1:30 am on January 2, a two-storey residential building on de Galais Ave., a few blocks east of 69th Ave., suffered around $50,000 in structural damages and $10,000 damages to furnishings, as a result of a fire that was set off by an overheated electrical connection.
Firefighters determined the source of the blaze to have been in the kitchen of the upstairs unit of the building.
Finally, on the afternoon of January 1, the Laval Fire Dept. was called in to rescue two dogs which had wandered out onto the half-frozen ice on the Rivière-des-Prairies and were unable to get back to safety without expert help.
They were “returned safe and sound to their owner,” the Association des Pompiers de Laval reported on their X feed.
The City of Laval is just one of several municipalities in or near the Montreal region where the Quebec Health and Social Services Ministry is monitoring outbreaks of measles.
According to the provincial ministry, four cases of measles have been traced to outbreaks that started in early December in Laval and Montreal, on the region’s North Shore in Sainte-Thérèse, Saint-Eustache, Deux-Montagnes and Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, as well as in Saint-Jérôme in the Lower Laurentians.
The ministry is also advising that anyone who was a passenger on EXO public transit’s bus line 88 (Saint-Eustache-Sainte-Thérèse) on December 24 may have been exposed to measles and should monitor for symptoms until mid-January.
The symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and general malaise, followed by rashes on the face and body.
Measles, which is highly contagious, is spread by coughing or sneezing into the air. It can also be transmitted by touching the eyes, nose, or mouth after being in contact with an infected surface.
Although measles outbreaks in Canada are rare, owing to high immunization coverage, measles outbreaks are often associated with travel (referred to sometimes as “measles importations”).
According to a Quebec Health Ministry spokesperson, the first case of the most recent outbreak here resulted from exposure to a person residing outside Canada who travelled to Quebec during the contagious period.
If you are experiencing symptoms of measles, your are advised to stay at home and call your health care provider or local public health unit immediately.
Be sure to notify them prior to your arrival so that the appropriate precautions can be taken to prevent the spread of measles.
Although there were significantly fewer car thefts and gunfire incidents in Laval last year, fraud cases increased, according to a year-end report filed by the Laval Police Dept.
Some highlights from the report:
There were two murders and two attempted homicides in 2024 (up to early December), compared to five murders and 11 attempts during the same period in 2023;
Stolen car incidents dropped by 38 per cent;
Fraud cases have risen by 37 per cent since 2021, according to the LPD;
There were 23 incidents involving the illegal discharge of firearms in Laval in 2024, compared to 11 the year before;
16 arrests related to firearms were made in 2024, and 31 firearms were seized, compared to 53 seized firearms in 2023.
Jean-François Rousselle, assistant-director of the Laval Police, told the Montreal daily La Presse that the LPD believes a wave of arson attacks at local restaurants, accompanied by extortion threats against owners, may have been perpetrated by relatively new criminal gangs fighting for territory against larger more experienced entities like the Mafia and the Hells Angels.
“We get the feeling there are other groups seeking their own space, especially as regards the extortion phenomenon,” said Rousselle.
A Laval man who taught at two Laval-area schools has been charged by police in the North Shore community of Blainville with sexual assault against a minor.
The Blainville Police allege that François Durocher, age 60, assaulted a minor sometime between 2002 and 2005.
Arraigned late last week at the Palais de Justice in Saint-Jérôme, Durocher taught at École secondaire Curé-Antoine-Labelle in Sainte Rose, as well as at École primaire Villemaire also in Sainte-Rose.
The Blainville Police are inviting potential victims of the former teacher to come forward with additional information.
Anyone with information is asked to call 450-434-5305, extension #7250.
The Council of Commissioners of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board (SWLSB) recently welcomed three student representatives as members.
Maya Lavictoire from Lake of Two Mountains High School, Anthonia Oluwadarasimi Adedeji also from Lake of Two Mountains High School and Andressa Reginato from CDC Pont-Viau were officially sworn in at the regular council meeting held on December 12.
The student representatives were elected by their peers during the Central Students’ Committee (CSC) meeting held on December 3.
As active members of the CSC, according to a statement issued by the SWLSB, “they will bring forward the student perspective to council discussions and decisions, ensuring that the voices of the SWLSB student body are heard.”
The initiative stems from the SWLSB’sStudent Representation Policy, adopted in 2021, whose aim is to introduce students to democratic processes, while encouraging student engagement and promoting leadership opportunities.
Under the policy, says the SWLSB, student representatives “may provide valuable input on matters discussed by the council while gaining firsthand experience in governance.”
The Central Students’ Committee is chaired by Commissioner Benny Catania, with SEAC Parent Commissioner Elena Ferrato serving as vice-chair. Commissioners Heather Appleby and Noémia Onofre De Lima also sit on the committee.
“The presence of student representatives on the Council of Commissioners is a testament to our commitment to fostering student engagement and leadership,” said SWLSB chairman James Di Sano.
“These three exceptional students will not only gain valuable experience but will also provide us with meaningful insights into the realities and priorities of our students,” he continued.
“We look forward to working with Maya, Anthonia, and Andressa as Council continues to prioritize student success and well-being in all our decisions.”
Peel Regional Police, which serves a large portion of the greater Toronto area, has announced the arrest of two individuals from Laval who are part of a group of suspects taken into custody to face more than 100 criminal charges relating to what the PRP describe as “a well-coordinated car theft ring” based in Quebec.
The PRP says that on Oct. 30, Marie Mallous, a 28-year-old woman from Laval, was arrested and charged with eight auto theft related criminal offences.
She was held for a bail hearing and appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton.
According to Peel Regional Police, an arrest warrant has been issued for Steven Trottier of Laval (second from right) as a suspect in the car theft ring. (Photo: Courtesy of Peel Regional Police)
Also on Oct.30, Abdullah Farooq, a 22-year-old man Laval, was arrested and charged by the Toronto Police Service in relation to the investigation.
According to the PRP, an arrest warrant has been issued for Steven Trottier, a 22-year-old man also from Laval, for eight auto theft related criminal offences.
The alleged car thefts are all believed to have been committed in and around the Toronto Pearson International Airport.
The suspected stolen vehicles – 2022-2024 Lexus SUVs, Toyota Tundras, Sequoias and Highlanders as well as Ram pickup trucks – were targeted.
Peel Police says that from August to November, a coordinated operation took place.
In all, six suspects from Quebec were arrested, arrest warrants for five outstanding suspects have been issued, and several residential search warrants were executed in Toronto, yielding computer programming equipment, master keys and signal-jamming devices.
Anyone with any information is being asked to contact investigators at Airport Division Criminal Investigation Bureau at 905-453-2121 extension 3133.
Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visiting www.peelcrimestoppers.ca.
The Laval Police are seeking the public’s help to identify a suspect recently arrested for alleged sexual assaults committed against minors.
According to the LPD, Steve Haddad, age 35, was taken into custody to be processed following allegations of sex crimes committed over the past year.
The charges include child luring, sexual contact, incitement to sexual contact and sexual assault. The LPD believe there may be additional victims.
According to a statement issued last week by the LPD, Haddad, who was arraigned at the Laval Palais de Justice, made initial contact with adolescents through social media.
After gaining their trust, he allegedly would ask them to send him cell phone photos of themselves in sexual poses. The victims were in various regions of Quebec.
Anyone who believes they may have been one of the victims is being by the LPD to call the police Info-Line at 450 662-INFO (4636), or 9-1-1. The file number is LVL 240903-049.
Two Laval business owners convicted of tax evasion
Two business owners from Laval were recently sentenced to pay more than a half-million dollars in fines after being found guilty of evading payment of taxes owed to Revenu Québec, the province’s tax collection agency.
Fadi Khoury and Maria Poroshina were found liable for more than $500,641 in unpaid tax, with Khoury receiving an additional 12-month prison sentence.
Both ran an employment agency for factory workers. Each will have to pay more than $250,000.
The court found that Poroshina was acting as a front for Khoury who ran a business under a numbered company name.
She acknowledged having taken steps to avoid paying federal and provincial sales tax on products and services, while he admitted filing tax forms containing false or misleading information with federal and provincial tax authorities.
More than 40 Canadian Forces heroes honoured during traditional ‘Trisagion’ ceremony
A dozen or so families from the Montreal Hellenic community paid homage on Saturday Dec. 7 to more than 40 Greek-Canadian veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces whose remains lay buried at the National Field of Honour on Montreal’s West Island.
From the left (foreground), Edouard Pahud, executive-director of The Last Post Fund, Lac-Saint-Louis Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia, Vimy Liberal MP Annie Koutrakis, are seen here with members of the Royal Canadian Legion and students from Socrates-Demosthenes School as commemorative candles are deposited on the grave of a Greek-Canadian veteran during the Trisagion service at the National Field of Honour on Montreal’s West Island on December 7. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Hosted by Lac-Saint-Louis Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia and Vimy Liberal MP Annie Koutrakis, the traditional Greek Orthodox “Trisagion” service honored the memory of 44 Greek-Canadian heroes.
First time, but not the last
Although it was the first time a ceremony was held for Greek-Canadian veterans of Canada’s military at the National Field of Honour, the organizers have pledged to turn it into an annual event.
“Before today, we’ve never done a ceremony to recognize Greek veterans buried here,” Koutrakis said in an interview with Newsfirst Multimedia.
“And being of the Greek community, I thought what a wonderful way to pay our respects and let people know that there are 44 Greek veterans and family members buried here,” she added.
“I know that the families we reached out to are thrilled to be here,” said Koutrakis, noting that students from the Socrates-Demosthenes School were among those who turned up to pay their respects.
Upkeeping the cemetery
Koutrakis and Scarpaleggia have been working closely with The Last Post Fund. a non-profit dedicated to ensuring no veteran is denied a dignified funeral and burial. It was while focusing on this task that the two MPs became aware of the Greek-Canadian veterans buried at the Field of Honour.
Organizers have pledged to turn the ceremony into an annual event
They want to help smooth the way for the federal government to take on more of the Last Post foundation’s responsibilities for upkeeping the military cemetery in Pointe Claire.
The National Field of Honour isn’t owned by the federal government, even though it is the largest military cemetery in Canada and the remains of thousands of Canadian war veterans are buried there.
Canada’s largest vets’ cemetery
Since 1930, the Last Post Fund has been the exclusive operator of the National Field of Honour, although the federal government provides subsidies.
The Last Post Fund’s primary mandate is to deliver Veterans Affairs Canada’s Funeral and Burial Program which provides funeral, burial and grave marking benefits for eligible Canadian and Allied Veterans.
The Last Post Fund is supported financially by Veterans Affairs Canada and by private donations. The LPF’s Unmarked Grave Program provides military markers for unmarked Veterans’ graves.
Members of the Koutsimanis family were among the relatives of Greek-Canadian veterans who paid their respects on December 7 at the National Field of Honour on Montreal’s West Island. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
School Chaplain Father Alan Cox also recognized for community service
“It’s all about having great appreciation for her values of welfare and respect for all people regardless of religion and race,” former Laval Catholic High School student Louis Burri said of the recent unveiling of an interactive exhibit of Saint Teresa of Calcutta at Laval Junior Academy.
“Mainly, I also learned a lot about Father Cox’s journey enlightening and inspiring journey. I never knew that back in-the-day at school,” Louis added at the end of the ceremony commemorating the historical visit of Mother Teresa to Sacred Heart Middle School and Laval Catholic High School 35 years ago.
In memory of the visit of the future Saint who met with children and staff at the two schools on the invitation of Chaplain Father Alan Cox, Laval Junior Academy (LJA) recently unveiled an interactive exhibit celebrating and commemorating Mother Teresa’s stopover on the morning of September 15, 1988.
Gathered in honour of Mother Teresa, left to right: John Fasciano, teacher/photographer/reporter, on day of Mother
Teresa’s visit; Saverio Mirarchi, LCHS principal in 1988; LJA Vice-Principal Leslie Aggrey-Finn (representing Principal
Eric Ruggi; Pietro Silvaggio, Interactive-Exhibit-Coordinator; Barbara Barrasso, SWLSB Alternate-Vice-Chairperson;
Thomas Mulcair; LJA Vice-Principal Gloria Cuccarolo; SWLSB Chairperson James Di Sano; LJA Assistant-Administrator
Vince Silvaggio. (Photo courtesy of Sonia Mirarchi)
Sanctity, sacrifice, presence
LJA, presently administered by principal Eric Ruggi, under Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board, is the fifth institution to grace the hallowed premises at 2323 Daniel-Johnson Blvd., following in the footsteps of Laval Catholic High School, Sacred Heart Middle School, Laurier Senior High School and the aptly-named Mother Teresa Junior High School.
The building, at 2323 Daniel-Johnson Blvd., was forever marked by the walk-about in its halls by the diminutive but powerful nun from Calcutta who left no one untouched by her sanctity, sacrifice, and presence not only to people in Laval but in all of humanity before her passing in 1997.
Those who knew of her said that she exemplifies the virtues needed for peace, for leaving no one behind, and for lifting the poor out of poverty. Father Alan Cox, who along with some grateful others was privileged to come face-to-face and heart-to-heart with her in Laval in 1988 exemplified the same characteristics in and out of Laval Catholic High School.
Following Mother Teresa’s visit, the dynamic priest who brought many hundreds of Laval students and families on spiritual retreats all over the world in 35 years of service to the community, helped pave the way for her eventual sanctification. For many years after her passing in 1997 Father Alan constantly lifted hearts to the understanding of the Calcutta nun’s 20th Century daily mission of being the human face of human hope.
War zones, natural disasters, famine, death, danger – nowhere is beyond the reach of her Missionaries of Charity. Not only a saint, she’s also an integral and permanent part of history. For Laval, thanks mostly to Father Alan Cox, Mother Teresa’s humble presence represents a historical moment for the schools inherited by SWLSB.
Linking of generations
Many former students present at the unveiling shared pride in their connection to Mother Teresa through LCHS; being invited in honoring her and Father Cox was an emotionally-charged moment. The guests included several generations of community members, some dating back to the opening of Laval Catholic High in 1969.
Notable for their presence were former NDP Leader and Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition Thomas Mulcair, a graduate of Laval Catholic High School, Class of 1971, and newlyelected SWLSB Chairperson James Di Sano, graduate of Laurier Senior High School, Class of 2014. These two current prominent community members represented the bridging of generations that sat at desks in schools of 2323 Daniel/Johnson Blvd.
Former principal Saverio Mirarchi, who hosted Mother Teresa in 1988, addressed the gathering in an instructive, edifying, factual and interpretive presentation of the ‘time-line-and-chronology’ of her memorable visit to Sacred Heart Middle School and Laval Catholic High School.
Thomas Mulcair praised the interactive exhibits effusively, especially in publicly acknowledging the presence of newlyelected Laurier Board Chairperson James Di Sano and alternate Vice-Chairperson Barbara Barrasso, emphasizing that their participation was reflective of their support for local public education in particular and English public education in general.
James Di Sano openly commended the merits of these kinds of special historical projects, expressing confidence that more schools of the Board would produce them, with encouragement and support of the Council of Commissioners.
Eavesdropping throughout the afternoon, it was revealing and emotional to witness the sharing of special moments among those who were with Mother Teresa September 15, 1988. Those who were not there on that memorable day, came Dec. 1, 2024, to share in the story of the Saint’s morning at the schools, and in the part played by Father Alan Cox in both the visit and of his time as a priest before, during, and after coming to serve as Chaplain of Sacred Heart Middle School and Laval Catholic High School.
