Laval QC ☕ The morning chat
Good morning,
Today we’re catching up on a weekend that’s shaping up to be busy: a shooting in Laval, a historic lottery record, and an initiative giving hope to young people. Enough to keep you sharp without having to dig through everything yourself.
Need to know this morning
- Shooting near a Laval cemetery: two injured, investigation ongoing. Two men, aged 28 and 34, were struck by projectiles Wednesday evening in Sainte-Rose, near the Sainte-Rose-de-Lima cemetery. Their lives are not in danger.
- Lotto Max jackpot hits a record $90 million. Friday’s draw offers a total prize pool of $108 million, with up to 18 instant millionaires possible.
- Collège Montmorency opens a blood collection centre. Nursing students are offering services there, and 230 appointments have already been booked in eight days.
- Caisse corrects PCQ’s claim about the Québec City tramway. The project’s budget was not calculated with a simple “rule of three,” the institution says.
Around town
- A boxing gala in Laval to help vulnerable youth. The Phoenix Fight Night takes place Saturday at the Phoenix MMA centre, featuring amateur boxers, some from tough backgrounds. Profits fund scholarships and gym memberships.
Main story
Two men shot near a Laval cemetery
Wednesday evening around 10:45 p.m., several 911 calls reported gunshots in Sainte-Rose, near the intersection of boulevard Je-Me-Souviens and rue Lancelot. Laval police patrol officers found two men, aged 28 and 34, struck by projectiles.
Taken to hospital by Urgences-santé paramedics, their lives are not in danger. Investigators from the Crimes against Persons squad took over, and forensic identification technicians examined the scene overnight and into the morning to gather evidence.
The victims will need to be interviewed by investigators as soon as their condition allows, to shed light on the circumstances. The SPVL has not yet said whether this was a targeted attack or a random act.
In detail
Lotto Max: a record $90 million jackpot up for grabs
Friday’s draw could make history. For the first time, the Lotto Max jackpot reaches $90 million, for a total prize pool of $108 million, thanks to Maxmillions prizes. Up to 18 Quebecers could become instant millionaires, plus 90 prizes of $100,000.
Loto-Québec reminds that players in the province have already won more than $4.37 billion this year, including 54 jackpots. The previous record for a jackpot in Quebec was $70 million, reached three times. So luck seekers have a golden opportunity to make history.
A bug at Kingston base: refrigerants under scrutiny
Environment and Climate Change Canada warned the Department of National Defence that Kingston base had violated federal halocarbon regulations. Leak tests on air conditioners were not conducted in 2023, leading to releases of more than 100 kilograms of greenhouse gases.
The department acknowledges maintenance and monitoring problems but says it has corrected the situation. No fine will be imposed, but an additional position will be created to improve compliance. The case raises questions about environmental management of military infrastructure, an issue that also affects bases elsewhere in the country.
Coup de Cœur
Whitney Baille’s boxing gala reminds us that sport can be a lifeline. For vulnerable youth, stepping into the ring is about learning to get back up. And for those watching, it’s a lesson in resilience that goes beyond the ropes.
To wrap up
We wish you a weekend that’s full but not too much. Between the work, the draws, and the fights, take time to breathe. After all, even champions need rest.
See you tomorrow, Laval. ☕