Laval QC ☕ Morning Conversation
Good morning,
Today, we look at an eight-year-old Laval boy facing another fierce battle, a beloved community thrift shop welcoming shoppers back after a devastating fire, and a free digital arts festival landing in local libraries. Here is what you need to know to start your day.
The short version
- Jules Courtois, Laval daycare crash survivor, diagnosed with leukemia: The eight-year-old boy who survived the tragic 2023 bus crash has begun intensive chemotherapy at Sainte-Justine Hospital.
- Over $1M recovered in major anti-fraud sweep: Operation Érable 2.0, spearheaded by the RCMP, tackled upwards of 4,200 reported fraud files.
Close to Home
- NUM Festival at Laval Libraries: Running from November 12 to 22, this free festival offers hands-on digital workshops across the network, wrapping up at Marius-Barbeau Library.
- Relais communautaire de Laval thrift shop back in business: Following a six-month recovery, Le Carrefour des Aubaines is once again stocking low-cost furniture, clothing, and household appliances.
Across Canada
- Ottawa confirms ban on Russian players for World Juniors: Russian athletes will be denied entry to Canada for the tournament, even if they hold valid visas.
- Canada emerges as top funder for La Francophonie: For the first time, the money that Ottawa and the provinces put toward the OIF exceeds what France gives.
Top Story
Jules Courtois, survivor of the Laval daycare tragedy, battles leukemia
In February 2023, eight-year-old Jules Courtois was pulled from the wreckage when a city bus slammed into his Laval daycare. The disaster claimed two young lives, including his closest friend, Jacob. Jules miraculously survived. Today, he finds himself in the midst of another daunting fight: high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
The ordeal began with unexplained bruising on his arm. A subsequent blood test confirmed the diagnosis, and Jules was admitted to Montreal’s Sainte-Justine Hospital the very next day to begin intensive chemotherapy. His parents, Sébastien Courtois and Virginia Duprat, described the heartbreak of sharing the diagnosis with their young son.
“He asked us if dying from leukemia meant he would get to see his best friend again. We told him that wasn’t an option—he has to fight and win,” his father shared. His mother noted that while the fear of losing him never fully disappears, they are staying strong and optimistic for his sake.
Jules faces an estimated two years of medical treatments. The family is also focused on providing a stable routine for his ten-year-old sister, Margot. Sébastien has taken a leave from work and Virginia is working part-time so they can stay by Jules’ side throughout his care. An online fundraiser has been set up to help the household manage expenses.
Through it all, Jules’ spirit remains remarkably bright. Right before a recent medical procedure, he looked at his mother and insisted, “I’m not going to die anyway.” For his parents, that determination means everything. As his father put it: “My son is a survivor, not a victim of his own life.”
In detail
Community thrift store reopens on Boulevard des Laurentides after fire
Le Carrefour des Aubaines, the community thrift boutique operated by Relais communautaire de Laval, officially welcomed shoppers back on November 5. Located on Boulevard des Laurentides, the store had been shuttered since April after an electrical fire gutted the space and destroyed thousands of donated items.
Despite absorbing roughly $85,000 in losses, the non-profit organization kept its entire staff employed and ensured uninterrupted access to its essential services, including emergency food support. The reopening was marked alongside city councillor Christine Poirier and executive director Corine Vanderborght.
“The money families save here makes a tangible difference in their everyday lives,” Vanderborght explained. Offering affordable furniture, clothes, books, and appliances, the store serves as a vital resource for residents looking to stretch their budgets while retaining dignity.
Multi-agency blitz recovers more than $1M from fraudsters
Operation Érable 2.0, a coordinated national effort led by the RCMP alongside the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, has reclaimed more than $1 million. Between November 2 and November 6, investigators handled over 4,200 fraud reports and executed nearly 11,000 disruptive interventions.
With scam operations deploying increasingly complex tactics, the joint initiative brought together over 50 partner organizations to dismantle fraudulent networks before more victims suffered financial harm.
Coup de Coeur
Jules Courtois’ journey is a powerful testament to the idea that true resilience has no age limit. Having lived through an unimaginable ordeal, this young Laval boy faces his current challenge with a quiet bravery that moves everyone around him. His unwavering confidence is an inspiring lesson in grit for our entire city.
Before you go
Here’s hoping your Thursday is filled with small triumphs, whether that means a bit of good news, an act of kindness, or just a quiet moment to catch your breath. Laval’s strength has always come from its community spirit, and we are at our best when we look out for one another. ☕