The Laval Police Dept. announced on Friday that they cracked open an illegal cannabis retailing operation which was based online and sold other types of drugs at the same time.
Stemming from an investigation that began last year after an informant tipped off the LPD, the investigators found cannabis was being sold and delivered to buyers, while being co-ordinated from a website.
Three suspects ages 21, 29 and 33 were arrested. Search warrants were obtained for two vehicles, three residences and businesses in Laval, Montreal and Blainville.
Searches conducted by the police resulted in the seizure of nearly 50 kilos of cannabis, a kilo of cocaine, nearly 20 grams of crack cocaine, more than 700 grams of crystal meth, unspecified quantities of methamphetamine and Xanax tranquilizers, and more than 10 kilos of psilocybin (magic mushrooms).
The additional seizure of illicit tobacco products, as well as two vehicles believed to be used to commit crimes, brought the total value of what was seized above $1 million.
Newsfirst Multimedia political columnist Robert Vairo.
I have never heard so many Canadians displeased, unhappy, and downright disgusted with the state of our country today. No need to chat up the bartender to find out how people are feeling. No need for a survey that tells us that three out of four Canadians believe our country is broken.
“Broken”. That’s the word that is being used. I have never heard of anyone saying Canada is broken before, ever. We all love our Canada, its people and its scenery. But that’s where it stops these days. True, we don’t have the spectacular structures, monuments, temples and pyramids of the middle east, Europe and Asia. But we do love each other, appreciate our countryside, our Laurentian mountains, Rockies, Cabane a Sucre, lush forests, and impressive fresh water lakes. Travelling to our far north provides a spectacular natural phenomenon we have come to know as the aurora borealis.
Do we appreciate our freedom? That all depends on what is meant by freedom. In comparison to North Korea, China, Russia, and Venezuela, absolutely we do. The Oxford dictionary defines freedom as “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants with[1]out hindrance or restraint”. We do not have that kind of freedom, not even in Canada, which is supposedly meant to be “strong and free.” We can not say whatever we want without severe push back, and sometimes life-threatening social media threats. It appears freedom is rela[1]tive. It’s not supposed to be. Free is free, free whether it be to think, speak, or act, without libel or defamation of course.
We are free to celebrate and protest with ‘Black Lives Matter” and take a knee next to our Prime Minister, but we cannot condone a protest by the Ottawa truck caravan over Covid’s restriction on cross border truckers. We are not free to criticize Justin Trudeau’s actions. If this Prime Minister does not agree with what you say, you are a racist, misogynist, a flat earth believer, or as Trudeau prefers to say, a “flat earther”. And, you evidently belong to a small, irrelevant gang of right-wing yahoos.
Yes, saying what you think can and will get you in trouble. Saying what we think about the residential schools for Indigenous children is a glaring example. Atrocities were committed, as police and the catholic church tore children away from their mothers’ arms. Violence and sexual abuse happened. But saying many also died because of the deadly tuberculosis disease, rampant in the 50’s and 60’s, can get you fired. For example, teacher Jim McMurtry of the Abbotsford School Board in British Columbia. Fired for speaking out, in Canada. And don’t you dare say there are only two genders, not even in a Roman Catholic school. In a Renfrew Ontario school class discussion about male students using female washrooms, gender dysphoria and male breastfeeding, student Josh Alexander said there were only two genders and that gender does not trump biology. He was expelled and then arrested by two police officers the next day for trespassing. Now I may not necessarily agree with what was said, but it does not matter what I think. What matters is Canadians have the right to say it.
So, you see, we are not “strong and free”.
China infiltrates our governments and elec[1]tions and our Prime Minister is concerned about who leaked this information. Really? Should he not be outraged and act to stop a foreign nation from challenging our sovereignty? Our last Liberal budget was a fiscal illusion. We have amassed more debt under this government since 1867, with no regard to applying a tourniquet to this hemorrhage. Our justice system is a mess with too many repeat violent offenders. Countless shootings and stabbings, and eight policemen have died since last September. Bureaucracy has increased more than in any other government and we all know it is not reflected in the services, at airports, passport offices etc. Conflicts of interest and ethical shortcomings occur almost every week. Bill C-11 will control social media content. Relatives of a minister and a cottage neighbour have been chosen to chair some of the most responsible positions, including one who will oversee a closed-door investigation of China’s intrusion. This is a nightmare.
We are weak and chained. We are not free from incomprehensible tax levies including the trickle-down effects of the carbon tax and absurdly high cost of groceries. We are not free to take home a pay cheque and be able to save. We are not free from galloping mortgage payments, from the ability to buy that first home, to be ill and receive quick attention at any one of Canada’s thirteen hundred hospitals. If you have had the misfortune of visiting an emergency room lately, you have counted the hours waiting. I realize that this is a provincial responsibility, but should there not be federal leadership to help fix what was once an enviable health care system? After all, it is called the Canada Health Act, a statute of the Parliament of Canada.
How are we to have confidence in a government that appoints a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Trust Fund director and personal friend like David Johnston as “rapporteur”. What is a rapporteur? I could guess its meaning but I had to look up this seldom, if ever used word. It is one utilized by a smug and arrogant PM who treats us as fools.
Our oil and gas industry is dead. Bill C-69 prevents any nation building project in our energy rich country, when the world is practically begging for our oil and gas. What nation does that? When Germany and Japan came calling for gas exports, our Prime Minister said no, and preached his pseudo virtues of environment preservation. What an embarrassment. Can we not be strong and free?
The aftermath of yet another business firebombing in Chomedey – this time it was Flysky on Curé Labelle Blvd. (Photo: Courtesy of Laval Fire Dept.)
In yet another firebombing incident impacting a growing number of businesses in Laval’s Chomedey district, firefighters were forced to put out a blaze early Friday morning at the Flysky Lounge on Curé Labelle Blvd. believed to have been started by arsonists.
It was the second time the bar near the intersection of 7th St. was hit.
An initial firebombing at the address also took place in late March.
Around 5:25 am, a witness called 9-1-1.
Firefighters who arrived on the scene within a little over five minutes determined that the establilshment’s front window had been smashed.
At least 50 firefighters were called in and the fire was under control before 7:30 am.
Damages have been estimated at $300,000 for the building and $100,000 for property inside.
The Laval Fire Dept. has turned responsibility for investigation over to the Laval Police as it is believed arson was the cause of the fire.
Chomedey’s beautiful and abundant trees suffered a significant blow
The ice storm that raged through Laval and other areas of the greater Montreal region at the beginning of this month made a devastating impact on trees in neighbourhoods like Chomedey – although not to the same extent as the far more disastrous 1998 ice storm.
On Notre-Dame Blvd. near Curé Labelle Blvd., there was less severe damage, even though the remainders of smaller trees fell across the pavement, forcing traffic to detour (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
If anything, older trees with brittle trunks and limbs seemed to have been more susceptible to shearing off and falling. In Chomedey, on 90th Ave. near the corner of 7th St., one of the neighbourhood’s oldest and stateliest trees fell halfway across the road.
Assessing the damage
On close-by Notre-Dame Blvd. near Curé Labelle, there was less severe damage, even though the remainders of smaller trees fell across the pavement, forcing traffic to detour around until the arrival of city employees who were already working double-time all over Laval on the clean-up.
At Berthiaume-Du Tremblay Park in Chomedey in the days following the ice storm, the scene was also one of fairly-extensive tree devastation. Like the 1998 ice storm, this one will be keeping city crews, contractors, as well as private property owners busy tidying up over the coming months.
In the aftermath of the ice storm, the City of Laval is undertaking a massive cleanup operation, taking into account that it’s now spring and the regular post-winter operations also need to be done.
On with the cleanup
Do you have branches that have fallen off due to the April 2023 ice storm? You can dispose of your tree branches and trunks at the Ecocentre and the dry material reception area. They were accepting branches and tree trunks free of charge until April 16, with no limit on the quantities accepted, although the city has not said what happens after that date.
The city has also made some arrangements since the ice storm to pick up branches and tree trunks, although the following conditions apply: Branches must be less than 8 feet in length; they must be placed at the curb in front of the residence; no wood will be collected in the backyard; wood must be bundled according to the size of the logs and branches must be separated; wood must be placed at the edge of the public road to avoid the need for City employees and their machinery to drive on your property.
The City of Laval is undertaking a combined spring/post-ice storm cleanup operation
The city is making the following recommendations: It is suggested that certified arborists be used for forestry work; and if a tree or branches threaten to fall on a wire or a power pole, contact Hydro-Québec. The collection of organic waste is limited to what goes into the bin. Branches left next to the bin will not be collected at this time.
Types of collection
As well, collection services differ based on who prunes the branches or fells the trees:
At Berthiaume-Du Tremblay Park in Chomedey in the days following the ice storm, the scene was also one of fairly-extensive tree devastation. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Collection by the city: Municipal crews usually cut branches or trees that are diseased (mainly ash trees) or that occupy a right-of-way. The collection is carried out by the public works department. Residents should usually allow for a period of 7 to 10 days for the collection. Delays can vary considerably, depending on the season and the weather (strong winds, glazed frost, etc.)
Collection by a pruner: Pruners are responsible for collecting the branches they cut. It is up to the resident to ensure that the pruner provides this service, however.
Collection by a resident:
Organic waste collection: Branches are accepted in the organic waste collection, but certain criteria apply. Please view the page on organic waste for further information.
Garbage collection: Tree stumps, branches and trunks are accepted in the garbage collection, but certain criteria apply. Please view the page on garbage collection for further information.
Debris sites for dry materials: Tree branches, trunks and stumps within Laval city limits are accepted at debris sites under certain conditions. Fees may also apply. Please view the page on debris sites for further information.
The City of Laval’s new director-general, Benoit Collette.
Mayor Stéphane Boyer announced during the April 4 meeting of Laval city council that Benoit Collette, a 30-year veteran of the city’s administration, has been chosen to become the City of Laval’s new director-general.
Collette began his new position on April 10.
Some of his previous postings with the city included director of culture, leisure, sport and social development, and interim-director of communications and marketing.
He has a Master’s degree in sports administration from University of Ottawa, and also completed a course of studies in public administration at the National School of Public Administration.
The scene near the corner of 83rd and du Havre early Thursday afternoon following the 7 am deadly shooting of Tinel Timu. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Officers with the Laval Police were still on the scene investigating early Thursday afternoon near the corner of 83rd Ave. and Rue du Havre in Chomedey following a gunfire incident in which a man in his 60s was shot dead.
The LPD received a 9-1-1 call around 7 am reporting gunshots outside a home on du Havre near the edge of the Rivière des Prairies.
When officers arrived, the found the victim lying on the ground, suffering from several gunshot wounds to his upper body.
Although the officers tried to resuscitate him, he was declared dead after being transported to hospital.
A Laval Police spokesperson referred to the victim as being “known to police.”
The Journal de Montréal and other media identified him on Thursday as Tinel Timu, a successful business owner well-known in the Montreal Romanian community.
According to several news reports, Timu was arrested last year following an investigation into the alleged bribery of a city of Montreal official in charge of permits and inspections in the borough of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.
The Journal de Montréal noted that Timu was presented with a National Assembly Medal in 2018 by former Fabre Liberal MNA Monique Sauvé in recognition of his community involvement.
The current issue of the Laval News, volume 31-08, published on April 19th, 2023. Covering Laval local news, politics, and sports. (Click on the image to read the paper.)
Front page of The Laval News, April 19th, 2023 issue.
CFL veteran brought a message of hope to Laval English-Speaking Senior Wellness Centre
If male attendance at the Laval English-Speaking Senior Wellness Centre on March 24 was somewhat higher than it usually is, this was perhaps not completely surprising, since men do tend to have a greater appreciation for sports heroes like legendary former Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo.
But as the wellness centre’s director, Kevin McLeod, pointed out, the story of Anthony Calvillo’s journey through the 20 years he spent playing pro football isn’t just about excelling at athletics. The 50-year-old native Californian, who retired from active play in 2013, has had quite a tough life journey.
Family first for Calvillo
As a teenager, Calvillo played a range of sports, but excelled especially at basketball and football. Having grown up in a family where his father was alcoholic and abusive, he found comfort from mentors that included many sports coaches, and eventually extended family members.
“It’s never too late to do something that you want to do,” said Anthony Calvillo, drawing on one of the lessons he said he learned during his 20-year career in professional football. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)
“For me, it’s always been about family,” Calvillo said. “I did not have the best environment growing up. I saw certain things, and I knew deep in my heart that was not what I wanted for my family. I wanted to make sure that they did not have issues with alcohol. And, of course, domestic violence was the last thing I wanted for them. So, for me it was always important that I was able to break that cycle.”
Made his mark with the Als
Calvillo today is the quarterbacks coach for the Alouettes. Although he began his career with the short-lived CFL U.S. expansion Las Vegas Posse and also played for the Hamilton Tiger Cats, it was with the Montreal Alouettes that he made his lasting mark.
He signed as a free agent with the Als in 1998, becoming one of the most outstanding quarterbacks in history. He led the Alouettes to the 2002 Grey Cup – their first in 25 years – and was named the most valuable player in the game.
In all, Calvillo won three Grey Cup championships, in 2002, 2009, and 2010, and was named the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player in 2002. He also won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player Award three times, in 2003, 2008 and 2009.
Bernice Chyfetz of Chomedey was one of two members of the Laval English-Speaking Senior Wellness Centre who won a draw for an Alouettes player jersey autographed by the team’s former No. 13 star quarterbck Anthony Calvillo. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)
A life with ups and downs
Calvillo was professional football’s all-time passing yards leader from 2011 to 2020, and remains first in all-time CFL passing yards. In his career, he passed for 79,816 yards and is one of nine professional quarterbacks to have completed over 400 touchdown passes.
In 2010, following an on-field injury, Calvillo found out he might be suffering from cancer. It was not the first time he’d heard the C word, since his wife had previously received a cancer diagnosis. (Calvillo’s in-laws are Chomedey residents of Greek heritage.)
Although he had surgery to remove his thyroid gland and knew his cancer wasn’t life-threatening, his wife’s was far more serious, although she achieved remission and is in good health today.
Through all of this, Anthony Calvillo eventually managed to arrive at an important conclusion. “It’s never too late to do something that you want to do,” he said, “something that you thought about and said you would do it – but what happens is you push it off.”
State of the Alouettes
Regarding the currently lamentable state of the Alouettes (the team was eliminated last November from the 2022 Grey Cup finals by the Toronto Argonauts and hasn’t made it all the way to the big game since 2010), Calvillo had this to say.
‘For me, it’s always been about family’
“For years, we had an owner with Mr. Bob Wetenhall, who I was associated with for many years,” he said. “And I’ve learned this: that winning, in any organization, it starts from up top with leadership and it funnels its way on down.”
Better days in store, he says
He said the last owner, Gary Stern, ran everything well financially. “The bills, everything was paid and stuff like that. But there were other things that were going on that I still don’t know about that put a lot of pressure on Danny Maciocia, our general manager.
“But the current ownership with Mr. Péladeau, again there’s a lot of excitement,” he added. “It seems that financially it’s not going to be an issue. But what I’m encouraged about is the fact that, talking to Danny Maciocia the general manager, is Mr. Péladeau’s going to let Danny do his job.”
An ‘unlucky’ number brought good fortune, he tells Souvenir Elementary
The number 13 turned out to be very lucky for Anthony Calvillo. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Thirteen is not a number you usually associate with good luck – and certainly not with the sort of positive fortune it might take to prosper as a professional football player for 20 years, knowing that the average major league player’s career is around four years.
Not so unlucky
So, how is it that No. 13, which is now among the jersey numbers officially retired by the Als as a permanent tribute to one of their greatest players, is the number Anthony Calvillo was assigned at the beginning of his career with the team?
As Calvillo told grade five and six students at Souvenir Elementary School in Chomedey where he gave a talk last week, he was in grade ten and part of a high-school football team while living in the U.S. state of California as a teen.
Luck of the draw
When jersey numbers were being assigned and his turn came around, the only number left between 0 and 20 turned out to be number 13. “Nobody wanted the number,” he admitted to the Souvenir Elementary students, while adding that he was left with little choice but to choose number 13.
“And since then, it’s just been with me every single place where it’s been available,” said Calvillo, noting that his partiality for the number just grew. “People think it’s an unlucky number, but it’s been very good for me.”
Financially-rewarding career
After delivering a positive thinking message to the grade school students, with emphasis on good mental health and not being afraid to reach out to friends, parents or teachers should it be necessary to seek support when in emotional need, Calvillo was asked how much professional football players earn and whether he’d done well during his exceptionally long career.
Former Alouettes star quarterback Anthony Calvillo spoke to Souvenir Elementary School students in Chomedey last week. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Calvillo revealed a few days before, while speaking to seniors at the Laval English-Speaking Senior Wellness Centre, that his first contract as a pro football player, which was in 1994 with the now defunct Las Vegas Posse, paid just $35,000 a year.
Happy with CFL career
Regarding his remuneration while with the Alouettes, he noted that the pay in the Canadian Football League is a lot lower than what is paid in other sports leagues like the National Football League or the National Hockey League.
“Here in the CFL, we don’t make that kind of money,” said Calvillo, while going on to say that the pay rises to “pretty decent money” after a number of years. “I’m very fortunate to have played for 20 years,” he said.
Greece received recognition as an independent nation in 1832
Hundreds of patriotic Greek Montrealers converged on the Hellenic Community Centre in Montreal’s Côte des Neiges district on the evening of Friday March 24 to take part in the annual Greek Independence Day gala.
For Greeks around the world, March 25 in the year 1821 marked the beginning of the revolutionary fight that ended 400 years of Ottoman rule.
Elected officials and other dignitaries from Laval and Montreal are seen here in the foyer at the Hellenic Community Centre in Côte des Neiges on March 24 during the 2023 Greek Independence Day gala. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)
A historic event
Following a protracted war in which Greek patriots received support from Russia, Britain and France, Greece finally received recognition from the world as an independent nation in 1832.
For Greeks every year, the commemoration date also has deeply religious significance as it falls on the feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary in Christian Orthodox tradition.
Dignitaries present
Among the dignitaries seated at the head table at this year’s celebration at the Hellenic Community Centre on Wilderton Ave. in Montreal’s Côte des Neiges district were Greek Consul General in Montreal Katerina Varvarigou, Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal president Dr. George Tsoukas, Saint-Laurent Liberal MP Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Park Extension city councillor Mary Deros, Brossard mayor Doreen Assaad, Chomedey MNA Sona Lakhoyan-Olivier, Vimy MP Annie Koutrakis and Laval-Les Îles Liberal MP Fayçal El-Khoury.
Officials at the head table during the 2023 Greek Independence Day gala at the Hellenic Community Centre in Montreal’s Côte des Neiges district. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)
Children’s choir
Also among those seated at the head table were Laval city councillors Aglaia Revelakis and Vassilios Karydogiannis, Saint-Laurent Borough Mayor Alan DeSousa and Bordeaux-Cartierville city councillor Effie Giannou.
The commemoration date also has deeply religious significance
A choir of children from Montreal-area Greek schools demonstrated their proficiency in the Greek language while performing Hellenic folk songs and reciting works of Greek poetry.
The national anthems of Greece and Canada were sung by students from École Socrates-Démosthène.
