During a symbolic Bell “Let’s Talk Day” flag raising ceremony in front of Laval City Hall on Jan. 25, Bell announced a $200,000 donation to the Cité de la Santé Foundation for the improvement of psychiatric facilities at the hospital.
Participating to the Bell Let’s Talk ceremonial flag raising and the announcement of a $200,000 donation to the Fondation Cité de la Santé du CISSS de Laval were (from left to right): Stéphane Boyer, Mayor of LavaL – Pierre Rodrigue, vice-president Québec Affairs at Bell – André Malacket, executive director Fondation Cité de la Santé – Lionel Carmant , Quebec Minister responsible for Social Services – Jean-Philippe Cotton, president and CEO CISSS de Laval (Photo: Courtesy CNW Group/Bell Canada)
According to a statement issued by Bell, the contribution will be entirely dedicated to an ongoing refurbishment of the psychiatric unit at Cité de la Santé. The project will reorganize, upgrade and improve the spaces used at the unit. More specifically, it will:
Integrate a psychiatric intensive care unit, including the addition of seven extra beds for high-risk patients;
Integrate a psychiatric crisis intervention care unit, where currently provided services will continue;
And renovate and upgrade all inpatient and psychiatric units, including the West Wing, which provides physical care.
“A day like this reminds us of the importance of talking about mental health, something that should be addressed all year round,” said Quebec Minister Responsible for Social Services Lionel Carmant, one of several dignitaries who took part in the ceremony.
“In this regard, I welcome Bell’s initiative and the donation made to the Cité de la Santé Foundation. There is no doubt that these funds will contribute to improving psychiatric care in the Laval region. The accessibility of mental health services and care must be improved for the entire population. Our government is making this a priority.”
“We welcome Bell’s support for mental health,” said André Malacket, Executive Director of the Cité de la Santé Foundation.
“Access to mental health care is a major challenge, and this addition is a practical solution to improve the situation,” said Pierre Rodrigue, vice-president Québec Affairs at Bell. “Too many people experiencing mental health issues do not receive the care they need. Let’s change this.”
A 31-year-old man from Laval is one of two suspects were were arrested on Jan. 25 in conjunction with a series of identity thefts committed in Quebec and Ontario, costing nearly 30 victims several hundred thousand dollars.
Following months of investigation, police officers from Laval, Montreal, Gatineau, the Outaouais region and with the Sûreté du Québec took part in two searches in Laval and Montreal at around 5 a.m. Wednesday.
Ahmad Mroue of Laval faces charges in Gatineau of theft over $5,000, fraud over $5,000, identity fraud, drug possession for the purpose of trafficking and failure to comply with an ordinance.
Also arrested was a 29-year-old woman from Montreal. The alleged identity thefts were first reported in August 2022 and other incidents were reported up until this past Jan. 18.
Up to 15 thefts in Gatineau alone were found to be linked to an identical modus operandi.
Further investigation connected the evidence to almost 20 additional files in Ontario and Quebec with similar circumstances.
According to police, the female suspect would park outside fitness centres, while the male suspect went in to steal wallets, cellphones, jewellery and car keys from lockers.
After the items were stolen, the police allege, the suspects would call financial institutions and talk client service representatives into changing the PINs for the stolen bank and credit cards.
The two suspects would then withdraw money from ATMs or make purchases.
Mac Ahern, age 20, who was arrested by the LPD in conjunction with a recent wave of gun violence in Laval, and some of the firearms that were seized during a raid at his home in Sainte-Rose.
The Laval Police Dept. says it arrested a 20-year-old man and seized three guns following a raid on Jan. 12.
The LPD reported that Mac Ahern was in custody and facing weapons possession charges after the three guns, 50 rounds of ammunition, narcotics and around $5,000 cash were found at a residence in Sainte-Rose.
The LPD believes the suspect may be linked to a number of recent shootings and gunfire incidents in Laval over the past few months. According to the LPD, Ahern, age 20, was already known to them in conjunction with past incidents of violence.
He was scheduled to have a court hearing at the Palais de Justice de Laval on Jan. 24. The LPD said that since the beginning of 2023, it has seized six firearms and arrested three individuals believed to be linked to the current wave of firearms violence.
Some of the firearms seized by the LPD.
Three charged, more arrested after LPD weapons and drugs seizures
The Laval Police made several arrests and seized drugs and weapons following a series of raids over the Christmas holiday period and into the New Year.
The LPD said officers conducted three interventions between Dec. 30 and Jan. 1, resulting in charges being filed against Marc Bou Nicolas, 24, Shevonthae Samuel Stewart-Wilson, 18, and Ryan Reon Ollivierre, 21. Other suspects were also arrested and face drugs and weapons charges.
Marc Bou Nicolas, 24, Shevonthae Samuel Stewart-Wilson, 18, and Ryan Reon Ollivierre, 21 have been charged by the LPD with weapons, drugs and related charges following a series of police raids in Laval. (Photo: Courtesy of Laval Police Dept.)
On Dec. 30 at around 3:30 am, a routine police stop involving a parked vehicle on Saint-Luc Street in Pont-Viau led to three arrests for drug possession and weapons charges. Nicolas, according to the LPD, was carrying a 9 mm pistol at the time.
Two of the suspects, aged 23 and 16, were released and may face drug possession and trafficking charges. The LPD said the Dec. 31 arrest was connected to a vehicle stop for Highway Safety Code infractions near the Du Souvenir Boulevard and Jarry Street intersection in Chomedey.
“At the scene, they arrested a young male minor for having a Glock 19 pistol in his possession,” said the LPD, adding that at the time of the seizure, the gun was loaded and a high-capacity magazine was attached.
Photo Marc Bou Nicolas, 24, Shevonthae Samuel Stewart-Wilson, 18, and Ryan Reon Ollivierre, 21 have been charged by the LPD with weapons, drugs and related charges following a series of police raids in Laval. (Photo: Courtesy of Laval Police Dept.)
Laval man arrested in Ottawa after OPP recovers stolen vehicle
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) recently arrested and charged a man from Laval who was found to be in possession of a stolen vehicle.
Chadson Gaspard, 18, from Laval was charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and dangerous operation of a vehicle. He was being held for bail.
On Jan. 11, 2023 shortly after 4 a.m., OPP officers observed a vehicle that matched the description of one that was reported stolen in Ottawa. The vehicle was observed eastbound on Highway 417.
The driver failed to stop for police and eventually struck two police vehicles when a traffic stop was attempted. Gaspard, who was the lone occupant, was arrested and the vehicle was seized. There were no injuries.
Hawkesbury OPP charges man from Laval with stunt driving
A man from Laval is facing a stunt driving charge in eastern Ontario after an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer clocked him on Jan. 17 driving 70 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 417 in the Hawkesbury area. The speed limit on Highway 417 is 110 km/h from Ottawa to the Quebec border. The driver was stopped as he was doing 180 km/h. In addition to the stunt driving charge, he also received a 30-day driver’s license suspension, and his vehicle was impounded for 14 days.
Federal elected officials among the guests at festive Château Royal event
For a fifth consecutive year, more than 40 organizations again came together to celebrate the contributions of Tamils since their arrival in Canada.
Approximately 1,000 guests, including representatives from several other cultural communities and many elected officials from the three levels of government, took part in the celebration at the Château Royal in Chomedey.
A networking event
The admission-free event was held on Sunday January 15 from 10am-3pm. Lunch and refreshments were provided, along with a great opportunity to learn and network with fellow leaders and organizations within the Tamil community in Quebec.
Among the guests at the Tamil Heritage Month launch at the Château Royal on Sunday Jan. 15 were several prominent elected officials, including federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, Vimy Liberal MP Annie Koutrakis, Laval-Les Îles Liberal MP Fayçal El-Khoury, Alfred-Pellan Liberal MP Angelo Iacono and Bourassa Liberal MP Emmanuel Dubourg.
Among the guests were several prominent elected officials, including federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, Vimy Liberal MP Annie Koutrakis, Laval-Les Îles Liberal MP Fayçal El-Khoury, Alfred-Pellan Liberal MP Angelo Iacono and Bourassa Liberal MP Emmanuel Dubourg.
Celebrating Tamil heritage
Tamil Heritage Month, which started in 2010, aims to celebrate the history of Canada’s Tamil community and its contributions to the social, cultural, political and economic strength of Canada.
While recognizing the Tamil community’s accomplishments and tracing its roots, Tamil Heritage Month also provides opportunities to celebrate the Tamil community’s history in Canada. As well, the month-long observance shines a spotlight on Tamil heritage overall, while helping to rejuvenate Tamil culture in Canada.
Tamil Heritage Month goals
According to organizers of this year’s event, the objectives of Tamil Heritage Month are five-fold:
1. To celebrate the richness of the Tamil language and literature;
2. To celebrate the traditions, arts and culture of Tamils around the world;
3. To educate Canadians of all backgrounds about the language, traditions and history of the Tamil people;
4. To highlight the achievements of Tamils in various fields both in the past and the present;
5. To advance the growth and prosperity of Tamils.
They say the month of January was chosen as Tamil Heritage Month for a number of reasons. The Pongal festival, the most important and widely-celebrated festival amongst Tamils around the world, falls in the middle of the month.
Pongal and a New Year
Pongal is both a time of thanksgiving for the blessings of a past year and a time to look forward to the start of a new year. As well, the first month of Tamil calendar, Thai, begins in the middle of January.
According to tradition, the Pongal festival marks the end of winter solstice, as well as the start of the sun’s six-month-long journey northwards when the sun enters the Capricorn, also known as Uttarayana. Pongal is regarded as one of the most important festivals celebrated by Tamil people.
Tamil diaspora celebrates
It is observed by the Tamil diaspora worldwide, including Tamils in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Malaysia, Mauritius, South Africa, Singapore and the Gulf countries.
Canada’s Tamil population is among the largest in the western world. From a population of fewer than 150 in 1983, Tamils form an increasing share of the overall Canadian population.
According to Statistics Canada figures, there 237,890 Tamils living in Canada in 2021, a more than 25 per cent increase since 2016. Quebec is home to more than 20,000 people of Tamil origin.
After two years of absence from the calendar, it is at the Centre de la nature that the outdoor winter event Laval en blanc will be held from January 27th to January 29th.
A diversified program for all to enjoy awaits citizens throughout this last weekend of January: fireworks, shows under a big top, mobile circus performances in the form of street trucks, via ferrata, obstacle course, mini-zip line, Fort challenge (snowball fight), bumper cars, snow sculpture, and several other activities.
“It’s time to dress warmly and put your nose outside to come and take a tour of Laval in white! This is the first year that the event has taken place at the Centre de la nature, in an enchanting setting. The most entertaining shows await citizens who want to play and have fun with their family!” said Executive Committee Member and Responsible for Special Events Sandra Desmeules.
Programming
January 27 7 p.m. Fireworks, outdoor site; 7:30 p.m. Explosion Band, varied music show, marquee; January 28 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. Ari Cui Cui and the magic skates; 7 p.m. Sara Dufour, music show.
January 29
11 a.m. & 2 p.m. L’hiver rock d’Atchoum.
To learn about the complete program, go to lavalenblanc.laval.ca.
Outside this winter
Several open practice sports are also offered throughout the winter in neighbourhood parks.
Sliding, skating, snow mazes and many other activities are accessible free of charge to allow you to move outside with your family.
For more information, go to dehors.laval.ca.
crossing between intersections, to respect traffic lights, to establish eye contact with drivers and to never presume that a driver sees you.
Nearly 200 activities offered this winter at Laval library branches
Feeling bored this winter as the skies hang grey over Laval? The city’s library branches may hold the answer to your seasonal blues, with more than 200 free activities scheduled over the coming months.
Since Jan. 18, registration (which is mandatory) for the activities has been open to all residents of Laval.
Laval’s public library branches are offering a wide range of programs and activities over the coming months.
“Beyond the access to thousands of documents, Laval’s libraries are lively places for gatherings and interesting exchanges,” says city councillor Flavia Alexandra Novac, who is responsible for cultural issues including the libraries.
“This season, the programs available are inviting Laval residents to come explore new horizons near them, with workshops and activities for all tastes and all ages,” she adds. “Registration, attendance and participation in the activities at the libraries is 100 per cent free and all are welcome. So, this winter, set off to discover – come to the library.”
Activities for all ages
A sampling of some of the activities offered until spring:
Children’s story telling (up to 5 years);
No Parents Allowed Night, 25 February (10 to 15 years);
Board game Sundays (families);
Travelogues to Italy, Barcelona, Gaspésie, Boston or the Canadian Rockies (open to all);
Hi-Tech Studio (open to all);
Literary celebrities
The library branches will be welcoming several Québécois literary celebrities, including accomplished authors Marie Laberge and Christine Brouillet. As well, the composer/performer Étienne Drapeau is also invited, as is science writer Martin Carli.
School break in March
Staff at the Laval library branches won’t be slowing down when it’s time for school break in late February and early March.
From Feb. 25 to March 3, more than 20 activities will be offered to young people, including technical tinkering, robotics, virtual reality, introduction to knitting and macrame, manga drawing and other topics. The Medialab Studio at the Multicultural library branch will also be open from 10 am to 9 pm the entire week of the school break.
Safety blitz in Laval focuses on risky pedestrian habits
The City of Laval and the Laval Police have launched a week-long campaign in which the focus will be the safety of pedestrians.
The campaign, which is ongoing until this Friday, emphasizes respect for Highway Code regulations at intersections, stop signs, pedestrian crosswalks and school zones, while also drawing attention to negligent drivers.
While the LPD maintains that the main causes of motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians are negligence, inattention and distraction, they add that they are going to be on the lookout for “risky” behaviour shown by pedestrians.
Although drivers are advised to always make sure their vehicle is stopped behind the stop line at intersections, that they respect pedestrians’ right of way and that they ensure the vehicle’s lights are on to maximize visibility, pedestrians are being advised to avoid crossing between intersections, to respect traffic lights, to establish eye contact with drivers and to never presume that a driver sees you.
Mayor pledges to address speeding, housing, other problems this year
In spite of some generally negative economic predictions made for the year 2023, Mayor Stéphane Boyer provided an optimistic outlook for Laval during the January 10 meeting of city council, saying the city has several projects underway which should be delivering positive results over the coming year.
Mayor Stéphane Boyer speaks during the Jan. 10 meeting of Laval city council.
Solutions for speeding
Among other things, he pointed out that the municipality will be making an announcement sometime this year about reducing the speed limit on a significant number of the City of Laval’s residential streets.
“Also as concerns public security, we have a multi-party commission which has met several of the players involved over the course of last fall, as far as social and security issues are concerned, and it will soon be issuing its report and we will be seeing what comes next for actions that will follow,” said Boyer.
He said that in the meantime, the city has been hard at work soliciting the provincial government for additional financial assistance for a number of projects.
Housing fixes coming
According to the mayor, some of the concepts and ideas which emerged from the Housing Summit held at the Laval Sheraton last September will be implemented over the coming months.
Regarding environmental issues, Mayor Boyer noted that the city’s 2023 budget allotted funding for the creation of an Ecological Transition and Social Innovation Office, whose aim will be to draw the city’s various departments closer together for the fulfillment of environmental goals.
Finally, concerning the City of Laval’s economic situation, Mayor Boyer said, “Laval has for several years now had a very dynamic economic profile.
Recession fears loom
“That being said, there is of course talk of a recession over the coming year, with interest rates rising rapidly and impacting the cost of living. So, these are all things we will be keeping a close eye on in order to make sure that Laval continues to prosper.”
During a segment of the meeting reserved for special statements and depositing of documents by council members, Chomedey city councillor Aglaia Revelakis noted that January is Tamil Heritage Month. “It’s a time to reflect on the wealth of history and culture to be found in the Tamil community, as well as their resilience and strength,” she said.
‘there is of course talk of a recession over the coming year, with interest rates rising rapidly and impacting the cost of living’
Cities with Nature
Councillor Alexandre Warnet tabled a petition signed by around 50 Laval-des-Rapides residents asking for snow removal to be improved near École Sainte-Marguerite.
Warnet, who is responsible for environmental dossiers as an associate-member of the executive-committee, also tabled a certificate recently issued to the City of Laval by U.S.-based Cities with Nature, a global group of municipalities and regions that have made a commitment to work with nature in planning, building and managing their cities.
January Alzheimer’s month
As January is the official month for raising awareness of Alzheimer’s disease, Fabreville city councillor Claude Larochelle noted that the American Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new drug that is considered one of the first to effectively slow the progress of Alzheimer’s.
“All this to say that scientific research delivers results, and this is good news, I think, providing some hope to all the families impacted by this,” said Larochelle. “It’s important to continue supporting families and others affected by this disease.”
Poor snow removal
During the public question period, two residents from Laval’s eastern districts, Sylvie Saint-Amand and Marc Cadotte, raised questions about pedestrian safety and speeding vehicles on Montée Masson. She complained that Montée Masson isn’t snowplowed adequately, although pedestrians continue to walk along the sides anyway.
City councillor for St-Vincent-de-Paul Paolo Galati.
She asked whether the city could take measures to ensure Montée Masson gets plowed more carefully during the winter in residential sectors at least, while also requesting that the speed limit be reduced to 40 km/h on Montée Masson in residential areas.
Speeding a problem
Replying, Councillor Paolo Galati (St-Vincent-de-Paul) said he had recommended last year that the city reduce the speed on all Laval’s residential streets from 40 km/h to 30 km/h, with a special recommendation that the speed be reduced to 40 km/h on Montée Masson.
Regarding snow removal, Mayor Boyer said he would be asking the public works department whether the private contractor who plows Montée Masson can clear a wider path in order to accommodate pedestrians walking on the side.
He also pledged to see that a review of posted speed limits all over Laval, set to take place this year, pays special attention to the speeding situation on Montée Masson.
Ex-NDP leader takes issue with Ottawa’s pending overhaul of Official Languages Act
In a talk at Concordia University last week, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair said that in an election he expects later this year, Quebec’s Anglophone community should “express clearly what its views are” on the Trudeau government’s Bill C-13, as well as on “the abject failure” by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and federal Justice Minister David Lametti “to do anything to defend” the constitutional rights of anglo Quebecers.
In a talk at Concordia University last week, former NDP leader and Chomedey MNA Tom Mulcair urged English-speaking Quebecers to express their views on Ottawa’s Bill C-13 in a federal election he expects will take place before the end of the year. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)
‘Let them know,’ he says
“I would never ever – because I’m not in that game anymore, I’m not in politics – suggest to anybody how they should vote,” the former Chomedey Liberal MNA turned political analyst said during his talk sponsored by the Concordia Arts and Science faculty’s Jurist-in-Residence program at the downtown campus.
“But I can tell you that if you want a result, let people who want your vote know that you’re dissatisfied with what they’ve done so far,” said Mulcair.
C-13 not yet adopted
Introduced in March 2022, Bill C-13 is currently before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages. According to the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), which has been closely monitoring the legislation’s progress, the committee is unlikely to send its report on C-13 to the House before mid-March.
As well, if Bill C-13 is adopted after third reading in the House, it will be sent for additional consideration by the Senate, further delaying it. As such, Bill C-13 is not expected to pass into law until late spring at the earliest.
‘Throttling back access’
Calling the Quebec government’s Bill 96 a “massive, complex piece of legislation that breaks down the existing rules and agreements that have been in place” since the introduction of Bill 101 in 1977, Mulcair said “despite the protestations to the contrary from the Quebec government, it is simply true that it [Bill 96] is throttling back access to English language health and social services.
Bill 96 is throttling back access to English language health and social services, according to former NDP leader turned political analyst Tom Mulcair. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)
“When you look at these big questions – and these are monumental questions that we’re talking about here, these are big struggles over time – you have to keep asking yourself who decides and how do you enforce,” he continued.
Rights are rights
“Because, you see, so much in the world of rights is about declaring them, but then nothing happens. Or simply saying we’ve declared all these rights, but now we’d like you to interpret it in such a way that even though we’re breaking them, that’s not actually happening. That’s the Wizard of Oz approach: ‘Pay no attention to the man behind that screen.’”
Mulcair, who worked on amending Bill 101 during the early 1980s when he was director of legal affairs at Alliance Quebec, said a detailed reading of Bill 96 reveals, among other things, a provision which says that if an English-language birth certificate from a province such as British Columbia is being used in Quebec, then it must be translated professionally into French to be validated.
What about Lametti?
“That’s not right,” he said. “Our courts are supposed to function in both languages. And yet our Attorney General, David Lametti, whose riding is Verdun here in Montreal and was a prof at McGill, is just staying with his arms folded over this thing.”
Mulcair said the federal government “is completely absent from this, as the Quebec government says that it can unilaterally amend the BNA Act to remove existing language rights.”
He said, “What Legault is doing does not respect the constitution. Trudeau knows it, his Justice Minister Lametti knows it, but they won’t do anything about it … Where is the Attorney General of Canada with regard to this power grab to remove the rights guaranteed by Section 133 of the BNA Act?…”
‘What Legault is doing does not respect the constitution. Trudeau knows it, his Justice Minister Lametti knows it, but they won’t do anything about it’
The perils of Bill C-13
Mulcair said the Trudeau government’s pending Bill C-13 [An Act to amend the Official Languages Act] would “imperil the ability of the English-speaking community to continue to say we have a constitutional guarantee of control and management of our school boards …”
However, he acknowledged that some Montreal-area Liberal MPs, including Anthony Housefather (Mount Royal) and Marc Garneau (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Westmount), “have fought very hard against certain aspects of Bill C-13 and there are a couple of other representatives of the federal Liberals from greater Montreal who are pushing back very hard against C-13.”
Don’t remove Notwithstanding
Despite his criticism of the Canadian Charter’s Notwithstanding clause, Mulcair said, “It’s not true that the Notwithstanding clause in and of itself should be removed completely. Because that conversation, that debate between who gets to decide will always be taking place.
“But the more fundamental the right – and that’s built into the constitution of ’82 – the more fundamental the right, the more difficult it is to change them or take them away. The parts to do with schooling, they’re beyond the scope of the Notwithstanding clause.”
The current issue of the Laval News, volume 31-02, published on January 25th, 2023. Covering Laval local news, politics, and sports. (Click on the image to read the paper.)
Front page of the Laval News, January 25th, 2023 issue.
The LPD issued this police mugshot of Michel Ianiri dating from March 2021.
Michel ‘Mike’ Iarini, who ran an amusement arcade on Laurier Blvd. in Laval-des-Rapides during the 1980s, was sentenced to seven years behind bars earlier this week after being found guilty of sexually assaulting teenage boys who were supplied with cocaine and money in exchange for sexual favors.
In addition to the jail sentence imposed at the Palais de Justice de Laval, Ianiri was also declared a long-term offender. As such, he will be subjected to close supervision by correctional service authorities for four additional years after his release.
The 62-year-old pleaded guilty in October 2021 to several sexual assault charges involving four male victims.
Three were teenagers when they were assaulted sexually during the 1980s.
The LPD issued this photo of Michel Ianiri when he was younger.
A fourth instance, which took place in the last three years during the Covid pandemic, involved a youth whom Iarini was sheltering at his home, although he was threatening to evict him if he didn’t agree to ingest cocaine.
In the three other instances, according to evidence and information presented in court, Ianiri preyed on his victims’ drug addiction to force them into humiliating sexual acts, including branding in one of the cases.
The victims all suffered lasting post-traumatic impacts, including long-term drug addiction, academic failure and attempted suicide.
A psychiatric report declared Ianiri to be a “high risk of violent recidivism, especially sexual. His lawyer, Me Marie-Ève Duplessis, did not oppose the court’s decision to declare Ianiri a long-term offender.
The Laval Police Dept. announced on Friday that search warrants they executed earlier in the week led to the seizure of 151 kilos of shisha, a Middle Eastern flavored tobacco product, as well as more than $1,000 in cash from alleged sales.
According to the LPD, the warrants were executed two days before in Laval’s Sainte-Rose district, and came following an investigation that started in August last year.
In addition to seizing the shisha and the money, the LPD also seized a vehicle. The total value of the assets seized was estimated at $48,000 by the LPD.
A spokesperson for the force said two suspects were arrested and that the LPD was acting on a tip received from a member of the public.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call the LPD’s Info-Line at 450-662-4636 or 9-1-1. The incident file number is LVL 220826-021.
