Aylmer, Quebec news

• Home-invasion victim finds peace as attacker gets 10-year jail sentence

  12-12-2018 20:15 via montrealgazette.com
  A man who was beaten and left for dead in his own home during a brutally violent home invasion in Vaudreuil-Dorion said he found some peace on Wednesday after a judge sentenced the man who attacked him to a 10-year prison term.
  “He pointed out exactly what happened and how I feel today,” businessman Santiago Gimenez said after Quebec Court Judge Bernard St-Arnaud sentenced Terrence Rakeim Floyd, 27, at the Valleyfield courthouse. The sentence will leave Floyd with a 67-month prison t
  
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• Chez Doris is serving holiday meals to more women than ever

  12-12-2018 19:49 via montrealgazette.com
  Close to 300 women who live in poverty or suffer from mental health problems will receive a holiday meal from Chez Doris on Wednesday. The women’s day shelter says that’s a 25-per-cent increase from last year.
  The increased demand is due to the arrival of asylum seekers from Nigeria and a lack of affordable housing in Montreal from women living on welfare, said Marina Boulos-Winton, the organization’s executive director.
  “The social assistance cheques are really low and t
  
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• Repentigny police racially profiled 12-year-old boys, rights commission says

  12-12-2018 19:48 via montrealgazette.com
  Three police officers and the Repentigny Police Service have been asked to pay $48,000 in punitive damages for racially profiling two 12-year-old biracial youths at a birthday party five years ago.
  The Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission is also recommending that the Repentigny Police Service train its members on the risks of profiling of people of colour and members of visible minorities.
  On June 8, 2013, Shewany Tshilombo and Kélian Ruault were intercepted at the Marina of R
  
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• Annie DeMelt named CTV Montreal’s weekend anchor, surprising no one

  12-12-2018 19:36 via montrealgazette.com
  In what should not have come as much of a surprise, Annie DeMelt has been named CTV Montreal’s weekend news anchor. DeMelt, who officially begins the gig on Jan. 1, has been regularly filling in as a CTV Montreal anchor.
  DeMelt, a 15-year vet at CTV Montreal, takes over from Tarah Schwartz, who recently announced that she was leaving the job to devote more time to her young son.
  “To be a full-time anchor has been a dream of mine for a long time,” DeMelt says. “I’ve
  
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• ‘Worst thing is silence,’ justice minister says after Rozon charged with rape

  12-12-2018 19:33 via montrealgazette.com
  Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon will face a charge of indecent assault and a charge of rape, Quebec’s director of criminal prosecutions, the DPCP, announced on Wednesday.
  The charges come after prosecutors spent two days explaining to 13 other plaintiffs against Rozon that no charges would be filed in connection with their complaints. The DPCP notes that the charges Rozon will face date from 1979, when the offences are alleged to have occurred.
  According to the charges, the offences
  
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• Quebec tries to smooth relations with Alberta over 'dirty energy' backlash

  12-12-2018 19:31 via montrealgazette.com
  QUEBEC — The Quebec government says it is not at war with the province of Alberta over the future of oil and wants to maintain good relations.
  Moving to patch up a feud between the two provinces sparked by Premier François Legault’s comments last week about Alberta’s “dirty energy,” Canadian Relations Minister Sonia LeBel said Quebec has a great deal of respect for Albertans.
  “I understand it (the comment) created quite a storm in Alberta,” LeBell
  
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• Pedestrian dies after being struck by truck on Atwater Ave.

  12-12-2018 19:07 via montrealgazette.com
  Montreal police have blocked off one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares after the death Wednesday morning of a pedestrian who was struck by  truck.
  The incident occurred at about 11:20 a.m. at the corner of Atwater Ave. and Tupper St. Police say the truck, travelling west on Tupper St., began to turn south onto Atwater Ave. when the collision occurred. The pedestrian was declared dead at the scene while the driver was being treated for shock.
  Atwater St. is closed between Ste-Catheri
  
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• Ste-Catherine St. sewer work to cost 24% more than estimated

  12-12-2018 18:59 via montrealgazette.com
  Major infrastructure work will get underway in February on Ste-Catherine St. between Bleury St. and Robert-Bourassa Blvd. in February, under a $42-million sewer and water-main project approved by the city’s executive committee Wednesday.
  The city is paying 24 per cent more than it had estimated for the contract, awarded to Eurovia Québec Grands Projets.
  The higher cost is because of the complexity of doing the work while maintaining access to stores on Ste-Catherine, the size, d
  
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• Bombardier wins contract for New Jersey rail cars

  12-12-2018 18:29 via montrealgazette.com
  New Jersey Transit’s Board of Directors has voted to approve the purchase of 113 rail vehicles from Bombardier at a meeting on Wednesday morning. The purchase is worth more than $669 million U.S. — over $892 million Canadian.
  The contract includes options for NJ Transit to purchase up to 636 additional vehicles, as well as 250 vehicles for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.
  If those options are exercised, the value of the deal would grow to more than $3.6 bi
  
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• Opinion: Dossier Santé Québec isn't yet all it should be

  12-12-2018 18:22 via montrealgazette.com
  The Dossier Santé Québec (DSQ) is a web-based province-wide medical database, the first and only of its kind in Quebec. It has been in development for more than 10 years, and in use across Quebec for the past five, in hospitals, offices and clinics. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, health-care administrators, and others have privileged access to the DSQ. All Quebecers with a medicare card will be entered into the DSQ, but individuals can opt out and keep
  
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• Ex-JFL head Rozon charged with rape, indecent assault related to ‘79 incident

  12-12-2018 16:55 via montrealgazette.com
  Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon will face a charge of indecent assault and a charge of rape, Quebec’s director of criminal prosecutions (DPCP) announced on Wednesday.
  The charges come after prosecutors spent two days explaining to 13 other plaintiffs against Rozon that no charges would filed in connection with their complaints. The DPCP notes that the charges Rozon will face date from 1979, the time when the offences are alleged to have occurred.
  A civil suit has also been launched a
  
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• Montreal house price index drops slightly in November

  12-12-2018 15:55 via montrealgazette.com
  The resale price of houses in the Montreal area declined in November, when compared with the month before, according to the Teranet–National Bank national house price index.
  The index for the Montreal area was down 0.11 per cent from October to November. It was up 4.4 per cent from November 2017.
  It rose 6.71 per cent between November 2016 and November 2017.
  The index, which is calculated by comparing the selling prices of houses, condos and townhouses that have sold at leas
  
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• 'Dirty' oil finances Quebec's schools, hospitals, Alberta reminds Legault

  12-12-2018 14:44 via montrealgazette.com
  Alberta Premier Rachel Notley on Tuesday invited Quebec Premier François Legault to “get off his high horse” when it comes to what the latter dismisses as “dirty” energy, reminding Legault that her province’s oil revenues help pay for Quebec’s social programs and infrastructure.
  “He needs to look at what’s in the ground, and he needs to understand that not only is our product not dirty, but that it actually funds the schools, the hospitals,
  
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• While you were sleeping: Factory mishap paves street with chocolate

  12-12-2018 14:06 via montrealgazette.com
  Here’s what happened while you were wondering what would go away first: your worries or Formula E.
  A Quebec Superior Court judge approved a settlement for victims of Quebec City’s 2012 Legionnaires’ disease outbreak. Judge Clément Samson approved the agreement “without hesitation” because “it is fair and reasonable,” reads his decision, issued on Tuesday. The settlement calls for $7.5 million to be distributed to 200 victims. The agreeme
  
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• Woman dies after being struck by bus in Boucherville

  12-12-2018 13:45 via montrealgazette.com
  A woman in her 60s died after being struck by a bus in Boucherville Tuesday evening.
  Longueuil police will be questioning witnesses and the driver of the Réseau de transport de Longueuil (RTL) bus that struck the woman at the corner of Marie-Victorin Blvd. and Argenson St.
  The cause of the accident, which occurred at about 6:30 p.m., remains unknown.
   
  
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• Sale of Pioneer bar poised to be finalized next week

  12-12-2018 13:33 via montrealgazette.com
  The sale of the Pioneer bar and restaurant property in the Pointe-Claire Village will be notarized next week, but the future use of the property remains in limbo as a fierce stand-off between some villagers and merchants and a developer who would like to build a luxury condo facility continues unabated.
  The aging structure has captured the imagination of some villagers who see it as a village icon. It had been designated as a building of heritage interest, but was not protected by a full-fledged
  
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• Plans to build a church hall trigger mixed results at consultation

  12-12-2018 13:11 via montrealgazette.com
  When it comes to development projects, points of view often differ wildly.
  Case in point.St. Peter and St. Paul Coptic Orthodox Church in Pointe-Claire wants to demolish an abandoned school building on its property and build a church hall with underground parking.
  Parishioners envision a hall where they can gather to share a meal after the Sunday church service and use during week nights for church-related activities and youth gatherings. Neighbours opposed to the idea see it as a colossal mista
  
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• Modest tax increase for Kirkland homeowners

  12-12-2018 12:44 via montrealgazette.com
  Kirkland council adopted a $59.5 million budget Monday. Residents will see a modest 1.5 per cent uptick in taxes in 2019.
  The budget bumps up 1.64 per cent — or $963,000 — over 2018.
  Kirkland director general Joe Sanalitro said the budget hike is the result of a number of elements including increased contract costs, the hiring of two new employees, the increase of service payments to the longterm debt and the injection of an additional $250,000 into the special-projects budget.
  The r
  
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• Kramberger: Will West Islanders fight to save the English school board?

  12-12-2018 12:22 via montrealgazette.com
  Is the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) plan to abolish school boards and elected commissioners and replace them with service centres akin to throwing the baby out with the bath water?
  The West Island and Off-Island public English-language school system is managed by the Lester B. Pearson School Board, which is marking the 20th anniversary this year of the transition from religious to linguistic school boards in Quebec. Prior to 1998, there were Catholic and Protestant school boards, the lat
  
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• Report finds low risk to city wells from proposed St-Lazare development

  12-12-2018 12:00 via montrealgazette.com
  An equestrian development proposed in the western sector of St-Lazare would be unlikely to have a negative impact on the quality and quantity of water of municipal wells, according to a new report released to the public last week.
  The report, in response to concerns raised by a group of citizens about development in the environmentally sensitive area, was prepared by water consulting company TechnoRem. It analyzed potential impacts of a residential development in the Chemin du Fief sector o
  
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• New Montreal book shows shelters at forefront of homelessness revolution

  12-12-2018 12:00 via montrealgazette.com
  The words “homeless shelter” often conjure images fit for a Charles Dickens novel: men in ill-fitting coats huddled in the snow, waiting for a bowl of slop and a rusty cot to sleep on for the night.
  And from the late 1800s until the 1990s, that’s mostly how the shelter system operated.
  But James Hughes, the former director general of Montreal’s Old Brewery Mission, says that since the mid 1990s there’s been revolution in the way shelters operate. After working in th
  
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• Allison Hanes: Thank God for the provocative power of art

  12-12-2018 12:00 via montrealgazette.com
  Art and outrage often go hand and hand.
  Pablo Picasso’s Les Desmoiselles d’Avignon scandalized with its distorted, geometric depictions of the female body. But it revealed the influence of African art on the emerging master’s oeuvre and heralded a groundbreaking new style in cubism.
  Marcel Duchamp’s Readymades repurposed everyday objects, including a urinal he rechristened “Fountain.” They shocked the art world into reconsidering notions of beauty and ref
  
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• In the Habs' Room: 'Unacceptable' performance against Wild

  12-12-2018 06:24 via montrealgazette.com
  ST. PAUL, Minn. — The philosopher George Santayana once said: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
  That was the case Tuesday as the Minnesota Wild crushed the Canadiens 7-1.
  There were eight players in the Montreal lineup who were blissfuly unaware that the Canadiens have trouble winning at the Xcel Energy Center, but have a better understanding of the history after this game.
  As for the other 12 Montreal players on the ice, they must be slow learner
  
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• Canadiens blown out 7-1 in chilly Minnesota

  12-12-2018 05:55 via montrealgazette.com
  ST. PAUL, Minn. — Bruce Boudreau is an old-time coach and he had the Minnesota Wild playing old-time hockey as they used their size advantage to grind the Canadiens offence to a halt and feasted on the power play.
  The result was a decisive 7-1 win for the Wild Tuesday. It was Minnesota’s sixth consecutive win over the Canadiens at the Xcel Energy Center. The Wild made life miserable for Antti Niemi as they exploded for four goals in the second period.
  The game was a total washout for
  
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• About last night … Minny mangles Canadiens 7-1

  12-12-2018 05:06 via montrealgazette.com
  Would a Carey Price start have made a difference in Minnesota?
  Nah!
  Quote of the Night, from Mike Johnson when Price entered a 7-1 game: “Is his groin loose?”
  Canadiens fans could be forgiven if their digestive systems were loose after watching their team put on a poop show.
  One night after the Vikings were shut out in Seattle, the Wild scored a converted touchdown against Antti Niemi and the hapless Habs.
  Not much to say about the Stinkeroo of the Season.
  Four power-play goals again
  
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• Liveblog: Minnesota stomps Canadiens 7-1

  12-12-2018 04:35 via montrealgazette.com
  Technical difficulties on the Liveblog. We’re working on fixing it.
  Matt Dumba’s power-play goal, less than a minute into the third period, made it 6-0.
  Two minutes later, Jeff Petry ruined Devan Dubnyk’s bid for a shutout.
  Then Zach Parise scored on a power-play breakaway, ending Antti Niemi’s night.
  Dumba’s howitzer, 11 minutes into the second period, had given the home team a 2-0 lead..
  Charlie Coyle scored a shorty 80 seconds later, and Eric Staal put the game o
  
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• Judge awards $7.5M to victims of Quebec City Legionnaires' outbreak

  12-12-2018 01:54 via montrealgazette.com
  A Quebec Superior Court judge has approved a settlement for victims of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Quebec City in 2012, but cut lawyers’ fees in the class action lawsuit by several hundred thousand dollars.
  Judge Clément Samson approved the agreement “without hesitation” because “it is fair and reasonable,” reads his decision, issued on Tuesday. The settlement calls for $7.5 million to be distributed to 200 victims.
  The agreement “compensa
  
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• Better mental-health support needed for released inmates, inquest hears

  12-12-2018 01:52 via montrealgazette.com
  There were signs Mario-Nelson Boucher knew he would need help when his last prison sentence came to an end.
  Boucher, 44, asked to see a mental health expert while incarcerated, but the meeting never happened. He then made three requests for entry into different halfway houses, but all were refused.
  With nowhere else to go, he ended up at the NAHA Centre, a homeless and social reintegration centre in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. He brought with him a prescription for antidepressants and an almost-
  
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• #ICYMI: Holiday flying, racial profiling, Huawei exec gets bail, more news

  12-12-2018 01:44 via montrealgazette.com
  In Case You Missed It (#ICYMI) is a daily feature highlighting news in and around Montreal.
  The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority is advising passengers to check that they’re not being naughty before flying this holiday season.
  René Bruemmer files this report: Cleavers, fake guns, snow globes are no-nos on flights, but cannabis OK
  ***
  A biracial couple is alleging Montreal police used excessive force on them, and a video of the incident — available in ou
  
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