Laval QC ☕ The morning chat
Good morning,
We start the day with news that hits close to home: a study shows that more than one in four adults in the region has experienced poverty over the past eight years. We also look at an upcoming Laval event on developmental language disorder, and check in on roads, sports, and politics.
Need to know this morning
- More than one in four adults in Greater Montreal experienced poverty between 2016 and 2023: A study by the Institut national de la recherche scientifique and Centraide reveals that 26% of adults in the region, including Laval, lived below the poverty line for at least one year.
- A developmental language disorder fair will be held in Laval on October 24: The Association Dysphasieplus is organizing a free event at the Pavillon Bois-Papineau, in Duvernay, with conferences, workshops, and free screenings for children.
- The Canadiens win 4-3 in overtime against Buffalo: Cole Caufield scored the winning goal on a breakaway, giving Montreal an opportunistic victory.
- The CAQ looks for an interim leader after its electoral defeat: The party’s executive council meets to choose a successor to Christine Fréchette, who resigned after the October 5 rout.
Around town
- Laval hires a deputy general manager from St-Eustache: Bastien Morin, a seasoned municipal manager, will join Laval’s senior public service on November 30.
- Carré Laval gets trustees: Robert Dutton, former president of RONA, is expected to chair the social utility trust that will manage the eco-neighbourhood project.
Across Canada
- Major fire at Wainwright military base: There are deaths and injuries, and the fire has crossed the base’s perimeter.
- Referendum in Alberta: Albertans will vote Monday on a possible separation, and Quebec sovereigntists are distancing themselves.
Main story
More than one in four adults in Greater Montreal experienced poverty between 2016 and 2023
A new study by the Institut national de la recherche scientifique, conducted with Centraide of Greater Montreal, reveals that 26% of adults in the metropolitan region, which includes Laval, lived below the poverty line for at least one year between 2016 and 2023. This figure is much higher than the annual rates, which have hovered between 10 and 12% since 2020.
The study, based on Statistics Canada data, shows that 14% of adults experienced poverty for at least three years, and 12% lived in poverty for one or two years. Immigrants and seniors are particularly affected, with proportions rising markedly among the elderly.
Tasha Lackman, president of Centraide, notes that even small expenses can become major barriers to escaping poverty, such as the cost of public transit to get to a job or an interview. The report recommends increasing social assistance benefits, which are deemed insufficient to escape poverty.
In detail
A developmental language disorder fair will be held in Laval on October 24
The Association Dysphasieplus is organizing the Fair of Professionals and Partners of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) on Saturday, October 24, at the Pavillon Bois-Papineau community centre, in Duvernay. The free event, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will allow visitors to meet partners, attend conferences, and hear a testimony about living with DLD.
Volunteer speech therapists will offer free screening sessions for children aged 3 to 12, by appointment. On-site childcare will also be available. The fair is part of Quebec DLD Week, which runs from October 19 to 25 under the theme “Beyond prejudice, DLD persists throughout life.”
Laval hires a deputy general manager from the City of St-Eustache
Bastien Morin, currently deputy general manager at the City of St-Eustache, will join Laval’s senior public service on November 30. His appointment as Deputy General Manager – Citizen and Institutional Relations was ratified at the October municipal assembly.
Mr. Morin will oversee the Citizen Experience Department, the Communications and Marketing Department, the Clerk’s Office, the Government Affairs Office, and the Judges’ Office. He will also be responsible for coordinating commissions and advisory committees.
This new deputy general management position was born from the merger of two entities, following the retirements of two DGMs. The general manager, Benoît Collette, praised the experience and leadership of his new deputy.
Coup de Cœur
The developmental language disorder fair is a great initiative to break the isolation of families and adults living with this disorder. Bringing together professionals, partners, and those affected in one place, with free screenings, shows a concrete willingness to reach out to those still looking for the right door.
To close
We wish you a lovely day, with a little time for yourself, whether it’s strolling at the market, getting some fresh air, or simply savouring a good coffee. And if you come across a closed road, breathe: it might be the moment to discover a new corner of the city. ☕