A Laval Police Dept. cruiser. (Photo: Courtesy of Blue Line Magazine)
ALaval Police Dept. constable had some explaining to do to his superiors last week after the cruiser he had left momentarily parked near the corner of de la Concorde and des Laurentides boulevards while attending to an emergency was driven off by the person he had set out to help.
According to the LPD, around 10 a.m. on Nov. 21 the officer was responding to a “woman in need” call in the district of Pont-Viau.
For reasons the officer would perhaps know best, the woman in question was able to get into the police cruiser and drive off.
As the vehicle was equipped with a GPS tracking module, the LPD was able to recover the car across the Rivière des Prairies in Montreal near the Henri-Bourassa Metro station where the woman was placed under arrest.
There were no reports of injury or damage to the vehicle.
The Laval Police Dept. is asking for the public’s assistance in a case involving a man from Laval who faces charges of committing a sexual assault and a robbery seven years ago.
Nabil Taher faces charges of sexual assault and robbery.
Nabil Taher, 41, was arrested last March and released with several conditions to observe, according to the LPD. He was arraignedat the Palais de Justice de Laval in July.
According to an account issued by the LPD, Taher is alleged to have met the victim on a dating website in September 2015.
It is alleged that he sexually assaulted the victim at a motel and also made threats while demanding money.
As the LPD believes there could be other victims, they are asking anyone with potentially useful information to phone the police force’s confidential hotline at (450) 662-4636, or 9-1-1. The file number is LVL 150912-002.
The Laval Police Dept. took part late last week in a major operation seeking nine suspects believed to be connected to a recent wave of gun violence, including the Nov. 11 incident in a park near Collège Montmorency in the city’s downtown sector.
As many as 150 officers — including police from the Sûreté du Québec, the RCMP and officers from the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal, as well as from Deux-Montagnes, St-Jérôme and Longueuil — executed nine search warrants of residences and six warrants on vehicles last Thursday as part of an investigation that began in August.
All the suspects are believed to be involved in an organized crime network, according to the LPD.
If you dream of experiencing the alchemy of glamour, celebration, seduction and intimacy – then Marquise VII, a residential lifestyle impeccably curated by DeMeta and Groupe Monsap, is the place for you.
In this seventh phase of residences, to be located in sizzling downtown Laval, illuminated by the infinite shimmer of the sun and the moon, a radiant tower will soar in the heart of downtown Île-Jésus. Offered the best of enlightened design, artful service and city amenities, residents can expect lifestyles infused with laid-back luxury.
Award-winning precedents
This residential project follows the renowned builder’s previous award-winning Marquise VIl expressions of rarefied, refined, and perfected aesthetics, at a venue in the heart of Chomedey. More-than-a-home is not just a slogan at Marquise VII; it’s embodiment of unique living, conceived, designed and personalized with precision, passion, and finesse.
The dazzling fifteen-story tower, housing 112 expertly-crafted units, is enhanced by the location’s natural energy. The extraordinary architecture, customized interiors, lush gardens and city promenades create masterpieces of life and light. Resplendent in style and spirit, every day promises to be more vibrant, more sensuous, more serene.
Begin an affair-of-the-heart with the Marquise VII luxury residence, beautifully reflected by the vistas of over 100 luxury two-or-three bedrooms, with central-air, indoor-parking, and storage-space. Following the success of the previous six Marquise manors the 7th phase, starting at tag $500,000 per condo has already begun, with 2024 guaranteed delivery.
A stunning residence set apart by meticulous attention to enriching community ambiance, Marquise VII opens doors to elite networks of people wanting to share life’s loftiest experiences. Its availability offers much-coveted invitations to a sublime destination, a place where every encounter feels like an event of the decade.
Panoramic views of the Laval’s shimmering skyline materialize through modern contempor[1]ary architecture, combining the best of previous towers with latest designs in luxury-living, adorning the heart of city and community.
Masterpieces of tradition and modernity
Resplendent in its timeless beauty, Marquise VII evokes a living Eden of sweeping gardens, in the elegance of bygone times in ultimate contemporary luxury, a masterpiece nestled in relative exclusivity in Chomedey’s prized downtown; a welcoming place of uniqueness and strength providing invitingly-designed common spaces.
A fully-equipped urban-chalet of bar, bistro, and superb lounge with giant TV, will add spice-to-life. A swimming pool of coolness-and-warmth will be center stage of spacious lush terrace with dreamy pergola. A gymnasium, high speed elevators for fast movement, a receiving-room for packages will all facilitate daily life at Marquise VII.
Appropriately branded for its comfort, spacious corridors, impeccable design, distinctive layout, and so much more, this latest concretization of all-purpose quality-living also features dream kitchens, the envy of all men and women, combining quality material with soft finishes and high-end appliances.
A large-scale project particularly responsive to the needs of people desiring to move from a home, and/or from single life’s responsibilities to condominium life, Marquise VII is the solution where everything is taken care of.
“This is possible because the living spaces have been designed to offer the ultimate luxury, space and light, in the heart of a residential urban environment,” stated Genevieve Lussier, on behalf of Agence Six.
Everything that is needed
Ida Teolis who purchased a Marquise 1 unit in 2014, said she simply adores the place. “I love living here. I will not move anywhere else. I would not change it for anything. We have everything we need. It’s also mobility-access[1]ible. I recommend it for all ages, and there’s a crowd of young people here. My adult grandson Giovanni Gentile lives with me and he will buy here when the time comes,” Mrs. Teolis told TLN, smiling radiantly.
DeMeta and Groupe Monsap is one of the leading property specialists providing stylish innovation properties, which set new benchmarks in condominium development. The team’s vast experience across multiple prop[1]erty segments ensures the highest standards in design and construction of every project. Moreover, the model condo was awarded the prestigious Grand Prix Habitat Design, recognizing builders and professionals in the construction industry who stand out.
“Living at the Marquise really means living in a privileged environment. Our team has really put everything in place to meet the needs of a demanding and experienced clientele. We’re very proud to present phase VII to the latter,” explains Michel Guilbault, Vice-President of Development at DevMeta, adding that the project was conceived as a luxurious and exclusive private domain, where co-owners can enjoy a relaxing community, respectful of privacy.
The Marquise is designed as an oasis in downtown Laval, a favourite spot for active people who want independence and a worry-free lifestyle. Located near Chomedey Boulevard, a few minutes away from highways 440, 15, and 13, it is a convenient choice. Some of the nearest places include Carrefour Laval, Centropolis, Marché 440, trendy bars and bistros, restaurants galore, sporting and cultural events, theatres, Place Bell, Musée-des-Arts, parks, clinics, shopping centers, and public transit, including the metro.
Crafted with best floor plans from the first tower and newest features and design, Marquise VII’s tower is an ideal blend of space-and-serenity, built to provide limitless opportunities to enjoy what life has to offer. Focusing on creating livable functional spaces, designers create future-oriented projects that deliver flexibility.
Whether you are looking for a pied-à-terre or forever-home, Marquise VII gives access to services that are creative and intuitive, with power to positively transform people’s emotional and practical life, a nexus of personal craftsmanship and art intimately entwined with the finer sides of living, leaving residents inspired and at ease. Marquise VII is an iconic neighbourhood of all-day all-night lifestyles – the best of both worlds, where one can truly have it all. It is the future of downtown Laval, made real and livable for today’s modern residents.
Neither Covid nor Hurricane Ian will deter Laval Snowbirds from flocking to the warmth of The Sunshine State
Maturing Canadians have looked to South Florida for affordable winter-month properties for decades, but stiff competition in the rental and home ownership markets, compounded by the rising cost of living, are making it more difficult for the nation’s snowbirds to enjoy paradise the way they once did.
Hurricane Ian was the cherry on the cake. Definitely not getting better anytime soon, with everyone paying the price, including Snowbirds.
However, Florida is booming in part because the expansion of remote work and restrictions imposed to combat COVID-19 changed the calculus on where people wanted to live; Americans and Canadians flocked to the Sunshine State. The last year’s US Census Bureau, revealed that the state experienced the largest net-domestic migration with an influx of 220,890 people, adding 38,590 from outside the country, some of these legal immigrants, others not.
Undoubtedly, Florida attracts Canadians, as 3.5 million of them temporarily migrate to the sun, with 500,000 snowbirds making the state home for at least a month. While most don’t head south until November, peak departure time, the Canadian Snowbird Association is encouraging property owners to check their insurance coverage now.
Insurance is a must
“Not having insurance, in a storm like Hurricane Ian, you risk not being able to make any claims, having to pay for damages out of pocket,” cautions Evan Rachkovsky, the association’s director of research and communications. The Association also cautions against visiting Florida before officials say it’s safe. The Canadian government has also issued a travel advisory, urging Canadians to avoid all travel to the southeastern coast of the United States, for now. However, rain, snow, earthquakes, hurricanes, or the weakening loonie which has fallen to its lowest level in almost two years, nothing will stop Canadians from flocking south.
These Canadian snowbirds are mainly flocking from Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic provinces, according to Florida’s Tourism Office. While snowbirds so travel to other states, Florida is prime destination for Canadians looking for attractive, affordable winter getaways even with the loonie at 70% US.
What separates snowbirds from casual Florida vacationers is their stay. Lavaller Ida Teolis Venafro has averaged about five-months-a-year, for three decades in Deerfield Beach. Venafro sees herself lucky having excellent travel-health-insurance, considering unexpected gall-bladder surgery while vacationing, telling TLN she’d never travel without it. “It could be financial nightmares without insurance in the U.S. Snowbirds should have insurance or they could end up in the poor house, Venafro cautions.
Generally-speaking, retirees tend to escape 3-6 months to rental or purchased homes. “It’s directly related to what’s going on in Canada. For example, in Quebec snow and frigid weather can be expected early November, when Florida starts seeing more Canadian license-plates. On the downside, as Covid up-ticked demand for car rentals, cars at reasonable prices became scarce. “It’s more feasible to drive or ship your car, saving thousands of dollars,” Venafro offers.
“With four to six months of winter, it’s obvious that people would like to go south even for a short period,” said Chomedey’s Lina Varano who’s passionate about Florida’s welcoming climate and lifestyle. Her home in Lake Worth is “paradise away from home.” For many snowbirds, flying south for the winter is traditional, a virtual and actual religion. Canadians of many generations have been going south, parents and grand-parents before them. That trend continues according to Lina and Ida, both of whose children and grandchildren love Florida. Florida Tourism cites appealing weather and seductive cost-of-living, as obvious factors in this migration. No winter clothes and plentiful relatively-inexpensive-food are also major motivations.
Destination worth the drive
Other factors include accessibility, particularly proximity to Canada. In the opinion of Venafro and Varano, the 26-hour drive to Lake Worth isn’t unreasonable; accessibility also involves language. “Since many Quebecers speak French, maybe exclusively, they’re more comfortable in French, and there’s plenty of it in Florida,” confided fully-bilingual Venafro.
Some Florida communities are home to so many Canadians that some snowbirds can live entirely in French during their stay,’ adds Varano. “A community that speaks French and functions in French provides comfort.” The annual sojourn of millions of snowbirds has had an impact on Florida’s culture and economy.
Large annual festivals, such as Canada-Fest (South Florida) and Snowbird Extravaganza (Central Florida), have seen the light of day. These celebrations, at end-of-January – early February, according to Florida Tourism, reflect the substantial effect of the snowbird-wave. “People come, settle in, ready for fun events,” the Tourist Office reveals, with unabashed pride.
Floridians should recognize that they’re actually involved in international trade. “Selling services like meals or car-repairs to foreigners, you’re actually exporting that service,” says Florida Tourism. Other economic effects include real-estate-spending, as snowbirds rent or purchase property during extended stays. Canadians are top international purchasers of residential properties, estimated by Florida officials at a whopping $60 billion. With these numbers, Canadians contribute about $580 million in property taxes across Florida. Canada is Florida’s most important international economic partner, and tourism is the tip of that iceberg (excuse the pun).
Come on down, you’re welcome “People go where they’re welcome. Floridians make Canadians feel welcome,” Venafro and Varano conclude. Although Covid has kept some Canadians and other international travelers at home, the future of tourism in Florida is secure. If you have warm, sunny, economically-welcoming places where people can spend more money if they’d like to and feel safe – that’s what Florida offers. Considering all this, to which can be added that Florida is one of North America’s most successful jurisdictions in handling Covid, these are many reasons for tourism to blossom, towards which snowbirds whisper quite prayers. Florida is doing a good job attracting Canadians, Laval residents no exception. Once a snowbird, there’s no flocking away
39 per cent of businesses have thought of moving outside province, says lobby group
According to the Manufacturers and Exporters of Quebec (MEQ), at least $356 million was lost in the past year because of ongoing labour shortages in the province’s manufacturing sector.
Losses piling up
The MEQ represents 1,100 manufacturers across Quebec. The manufacturing sector in Quebec employs more than 497,000 people, representing 12.6 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product, as well as 86.1 per cent of exports.
The lobby group says the losses were the result of cancelled contracts, repeated delays as well as losses resulting from investments that were delayed or cancelled.
Jobs going unfilled
According to an annual survey conducted by the association, nearly all of the businesses in Laval, the Laurentians and Lanaudière that were contacted confirmed having an average 27 vacant job positions.
One of the immediate results, according to the MEQ, is that 39 per cent of businesses in the three regions have thought seriously about relocating at least part of the activities to another region of the world, or of contracting work to sub-contractors in other regions.
Fifty-four per cent of respondents said the labour shortage is impacting the mental health of workers. The industrial sectors in Quebec most impacted by the labour shortage are parts and materials manufacturing for transport, machine manufacturing and the food industry.
Quebec not doing enough
Véronique Proulx, president and executive-director of the MEQ.
While less well-paid jobs are difficult to fill, those paying more competitive salaries are the most difficult to find employees for. According to the MEQ, nearly half the vacant positions are in the $20 to $29 per hour range, while 38 per cent pay more than $30 per hour. Six out of 10 businesses in the survey were of the opinion that the provincial government could be doing a lot more to help relieve the problem.
“While there is more and more talk about an economic recession, Quebec and its regions have a greater need for prosperous businesses,” says Véronique Proulx, president and executive-director of the MEQ.
“In order to ensure their competitiveness against international players, they need people. There is no magic solution to fix the issues underlying the labour shortage in the manufacturing sector. But it is possible to use a series of levers to help alleviate the impacts on our businesses in Quebec, the Laurentians, Lanaudière and Laval.”
Imigration limits questioned
Among other things, she notes the CAQ government’s current limits being imposed on immigration levels, the acceleration of automation and robotization, and an increase in the number of manufacturers benefiting from training programs as factors affecting the situation.
“We are at the dawn of a recession, so the government should be making the labour shortage a priority, while doing more faster, to support manufacting businesses, which are the pillars of our regional economic development,” added Proulx.
The Sûreté du Québec announced last week that it had arrested four men, including two from Laval, believed to be connected to a car-theft ring specialized in shipping stolen vehicles overseas.
Two men from Laval, 52 and 54 years old respectively and two others from Terrebonne, 41 and 51 years, were scheduled to appear via videoconference at the Montreal courthouse to face charges related to the thefts, which according to police took place in Montreal and Toronto.
The arrests were part of a special investigation overseen by the SQ, involving eight police forces. Nearly 50 vehicles and $300,000 in cash were seized during the operation.
Woman critically injured in car crash at downtown Laval grocery
A female pedestrian was left in critical condition last week after a car hit her in the parking lot of a downtown Laval grocery store, after which the vehicle crashed into the store entrance.
Paramedics received a 9-1-1 call at 4:15 p.m. on Nov. 15 and responded to the Metro supermarket on de l’Avenir Blvd. in the Laval-des-Rapides sector.
The pedestrian, in her 40s, suffered serious injuries and was sent to hospital in life-threatening condition, according to Urgences-santé. In the meantime, paramedics treated two other people at the scene, although they didn’t require hospitalization.
Canvassers hope to raise $55,000 for children’s care services by December 20
On Nov. 20, International Children’s Rights Day, the Centre de pédiatrie sociale Laval launched its annual fundraising campaign, which will run until December 20.
The Centre de Pédiatrie Sociale Laval is a non-profit organization that provides activities and care to children in its community. The Centre contributes to the overall development of children and adolescents with developmental, social or health problems in disadvantaged areas.
Vulnerable clientele
The centre also promotes the interests and rights of children and their families. Its mandate is to offer, in a living environment integrated into the community, interdisciplinary health services to a vulnerable clientele that finds itself sometimes excluded from the current service network.
Places where you can donate to the Centre de pédiatrie sociale Laval on Nov. 25 – 26.
Over the next month, the organization will solicit the Laval population in various ways to raise $55,000, which will be used to provide medical and psychosocial care to children in vulnerable situations.
Children’s rights
“All children have the right to grow up healthy, the centre’s supporters maintain, saying that children’s rights are at the heart of the Centre de pédiatrie sociale Laval’s mission.
“All children have the fundamental right to access care adapted to their needs,” explains Mylène Du Bois, executive director. “Our work with young people in Laval aims to offer them every possible opportunity to develop to their full potential.
“Our workers target the children’s most pressing needs, and we invest the money received from our valued donors to provide them with personalized services such as medical care, psycho-education, speech therapy and music therapy,” added Du Bois.
Adapted and essential care
Since 2011, the organization has been offering multidisciplinary health services in a community-based environment to a vulnerable clientele that isn’t adequately dealt with by the current service network.
To date, according to the centre, interventions by the dedicated team have had a direct impact on more than 2,000 families living in precarious and disadvantaged conditions.
“For the young people we work with, the Centre de pédiatrie sociale is a space where they can talk freely, without judgment and in complete confidentiality,” said the organization’s clinical coordinator, Laurence Cadieux.
“Our team welcomes them with kindness and creates a safety net for each of them. Often, a child comes to the Centre spontaneously to confide in us about a success, a difficulty or a feeling they have.”
Many ways to support
Laval residents are known to be generous when it comes to the children in the community. “It’s wonderful to see that children are a priority for the people of Laval,” said Me Jean Marius Mottet, founding president of the Centre de pédiatrie sociale Laval. “As caring adults, it is our duty to ensure that the rights of children are respected. Their development depends on it.”
As the drive is underway, it is possible to make a donation online at cpslaval.org to support the organization. In addition, the centre’s team and volunteers will be in the four corners of Laval on November 25 and 26 to collect donations from Laval residents.
How to donate You can find them at the corners of Jean-Béraud/Daniel-Johnson and Notre-Dame/Lavatère streets; at Laval’s Metro stations; at Toys R Us in Laval; and at Canadian Tire Vimont and Fabreville. “We are fortunate to be part of a caring Laval community that takes care of its children. It is the future of our society that is at stake,” added Me Mottet.
Josée Roy becomes regional transit agency’s general manager
Following a lengthy and careful selection process, Société de transport de Laval president Jocelyne Frédéric-Gauthier last week announced the appointment of a new general manager at the regional transit agency.
Josée Roy, whose appointment as the STL’s new general manager was announced last week by STL president Jocelyne Frédéric-Gauthier, will be starting her new position next January 30.
The winning candidate for the position, Josée Roy, currently is executive director for operations at the STL. Her term as general manager will start on January 30 in the new year and her contract runs for five years.
GM Picard retiring
She will be succeeding Guy Picard, the STL’s general manager since 2012, who announced his retirement earlier this year after a nearly 40-year-long career in the public transit sector.
“The selection committee is confident that it chose the best candidate from among all internal and external candidates it met with over the past few months,” Frédéric-Gauthier said in a statement, adding that a specialized firm supported and guided the selection committee in finding the right fit for the position.
Knows the industry
“We are all the more proud to appoint the first female general manager in the STL’s history,” she added. “Ms. Roy not only sets herself apart through her wealth of experience in the public transit industry, her extensive knowledge of the transit agency and her proven management skills, but also through her recognized leadership and her strong motivational skills.”
“I would like to thank the members of the selection committee, the board of directors and Ms. Frédéric-Gauthier for placing their trust in me,” said Roy. “I especially want to commend Guy Picard on his vision, for the trust he showed me, and for instilling his love for the STL in me, which I now have etched in my heart.
Challenges she faces
“I am honoured and proud of the headway I have made. I will start this new mandate focused on helping to revitalize public transit and to make the STL and the City of Laval an example for the industry to follow.”
Among the challenges Roy faces, the STL is starting a critical transition to electrification that will have to take into account not only a balanced financing plan, but also an overall reconsideration of how the agency conducts its business.
As well, Roy is taking the reins at the STL as the transit agency is recovering from an extended period of labour tensions with its bus drivers, while also dealing with a drastic drop in ridership and resulting reduction in revenue which came about during the three-year-long Covid pandemic.
Josée Roy is taking the reins at the STL as the transit agency is attempting to recover from the drastic drop in ridership and resulting reduction in revenue which came about during the three-year-long Covid pandemic.
“Above all else, I wish to continue showcasing all the heart and talent of this wonderful team of STL employees, who get up every day to provide the highest quality service possible to Laval residents,” said the STL’s new general manager.
32 years in public transit
Josée Roy has a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from Université de Montréal, and has been working in the public transit industry for 32 years. One of her first jobs was with the Quebec Ministry of Transport in 1990.
She also explored the service industry before she began a 19-year stint at the former Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT) in 1998, during which time she climbed the corporate ladder to become director of infrastructure, a position she held for eight years.
At STL since 2017
Roy has been working at the STL since 2017. She held the position of senior manager of infrastructures for a year-and-a-half, before being appointed to her current position as executive director of operations.
In her new position, Josée Roy will be overseeing a team of more than 1,100 dedicated employees. Besides its highly visible bus network, the STL also develops and operates an integrated public transit system that includes school service buses, shared taxis and paratransit vehicles.
The STL’s regular bus service operates 47 routes, with close to 2,700 stops across more than 1,500 kilometres in the Laval area.
With the arrival of the winter season, officials with the City of Laval say they are for whatever Mother Nature will be throwing at them over the next five months.
According to the city, more than 740 trucks and equipment (including street plows, snow blowers, road graders and Bombardier sidewalk clearers) are ready to be deployed whenever the weather turns nasty.
“Laval’s territory is vast, and so the snow clearing operations are sometimes complex and unpredictable,” says city councillor for Sainte-Dorothée Ray Khalil, who is responsible for public works issues on the executive-committee.
“Citizens can make a difference by working proactively with the city,” he adds. “Every little gesture counts in order to improve the quickness and quality of snow clearing.”
From the moment a snowfall is announced, residents are asked to respect and follow the winter-time parking regulations on Laval’s residential streets, which have been in force since Oct. 1. When snow removal ops aren’t underway, parking is allowed on the street, depending on the parking rules shown on posted signage.
Until the next snowfall, residents are encouraged to adopt some of the following advice to help maximize snow removal operations:
Always shovel snow onto your own property, rather than into the street;
Place recycling and trash bins on your own property, near the property line, rather than on the street or on the sidewalk;
If possible, park in your own driveway on snow removal days. When parked on the street, keep 30 cm from the sidewalk so the sidewalk tractor can pass more easily, while making sure at the same time there’s enough space on the street for emergency vehicles to drive through.
Each fall, install driveway snow shelters 60 cm (2 ft) from the sidewalk or 1,2 m (4 ft) from the street.
Photo: Vincent Girard
Up to $35,000 available to homeowners with damaged foundations
The City of Laval is reminding homeowners with damaged foundations from collapsing soil that the provincial government has renewed a program of subsidies, of which Laval has been allotted $1 million.
Crack in Brick Wall caused by subsidence
Homeowners wishing to apply for some of the funding have until March 17 next year to fill out an application, while submitting necessary documentation.
“Since 2019, through this subsidy, the city supported more than 40 owners from Laval who were impacted by building foundations with cracks in them,” said Duvernay-Pont Viau city councillor Christiane Poirier, who also sits on the executive-committee.
To be eligible, here are some of the criteria:
You must own a residence with one to eight units, while residing in it up to the time when the subsidy is paid;
You must wait for the arrival of a certificate of admissibility, as well as a construction/renovation permit, before starting work;
The work to be done must be worth at least $5,000;
At least one piling must be installed;
The total amount of each subsidy will be two-thirds of the total cost of the work, to a maximum of $35,000 per residence. The cause of the failure of the foundation must be attributable to condition of the soil, rather than a defect in foundation construction.
A new accessible and inclusive nature trail opens in the bois de l’Équerre
A new one-kilometre-long nature trail opened recently in Laval’s bois de l’Équerre woods, which are located in the city’s north-central area a short distance from the Champfleury neighbourhood.
The pathway, which includes a 32-metre section with bridges mounted on pylons, is an addition to the 2.65 kilometres of trails in the forested green space.
The trail has been modestly landscaped so that there are small hills. As well, large tree roots and other potential obstacles have been removed to make walking safer for persons with limited mobility.
The new path was created with financial support ($212,500) provided by the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM) and its Trame verte et bleue project.
“Laval is replete with exceptional natural areas, and we are truly spoiled as citizens to be able to enjoy this,” said Mayor Stéphane Boyer. “To this end, we made a commitment to develop them, while also making them more accessible to the largest number of people.
“This new trail offers to users of all ages, regardless of their physical condition, a means to be able to fully appreciate the outdoors, while becoming aware of the magnificent urban forest which is the bois de l’Équerre.” The new trail was established over an old agricultural roadway that was being used by visitors to the woods. Since the trail includes bridge sections on pylons, the installers respected the fact the area is a wetland needing to be protected.
