Laval QC ☕ The morning chat
Good morning,
Today, we look at a gas leak that kept emergency crews busy in Laval-des-Rapides, a city councillor who cleared up her compliance paperwork just in time, and the clock change that might just be Quebec’s last. Let’s get right into it.
Need to know this morning
- Clocks fall back tonight: Quebecers will turn their clocks back one hour at 2 a.m., and it could be the very last time.
- Councillor Revelakis gets back into compliance: Aglaia Revelakis completed her mandatory training just before a scheduled hearing with the Commission municipale du Québec.
Around town
- Audible natural gas leak in Laval-des-Rapides: Emergency crews responded to Boulevard des Prairies across from Parc Bernard-Landry, setting up a perimeter and rerouting traffic.
Across Canada
- Five Canadians charged with U.S. voter fraud: The individuals face charges for allegedly claiming American citizenship to cast ballots.
- Canada positioned to become first EU “associate member,” says Carney: The initiative aims to deepen commercial ties between Canadian and European industries.
Top story
Gas leak in Laval-des-Rapides: four homes evacuated as emergency crews secure the area
A severed natural gas pipe triggered a swift emergency response on Boulevard des Prairies in Laval-des-Rapides on Friday morning, right across from the Parc Bernard-Landry parking lot. The call came in shortly after 10:56 a.m., prompting the Service de sécurité incendie de Laval (SSIL) to establish a security perimeter.
Laval police officers closed off the street and redirected local traffic while at least four neighbouring homes were evacuated as a safeguard. Énergir dispatched crews to the scene to repair the line, which appears to have been damaged during excavation work in a private driveway.
Technicians successfully resolved the leak by around 11:50 a.m., clearing residents to return indoors. No injuries were reported.
In detail
Turning back the clock tonight: could this be the final time?
At 2 a.m. overnight between October 31 and November 1, Quebec moves back one hour to Eastern Standard Time. That familiar seasonal adjustment could soon disappear entirely, following provincial commitments to phase out the practice.
Justice Minister Marie-Claude Sarrazin is expected to introduce legislation to make the shift permanent. A public consultation run under the previous justice minister revealed that 91% of respondents supported ending the time change.
In the meantime, the City of Laval reminds residents to treat the changeover as an opportunity to test smoke detectors and install fresh batteries. Officials recommend placing alarms on every floor of the house and near all sleeping areas.
Councillor Revelakis settles compliance file at the wire
Chomedey independent city councillor Aglaia Revelakis found herself under scrutiny by the Commission municipale du Québec (CMQ) after missing the deadline to complete two mandatory training courses within nine months of taking office. She was the only member among Laval’s 23 city councillors who had not filed proof of completion on schedule.
The CMQ had granted an initial 14-day extension before summoning her to appear before an administrative tribunal on October 8. She submitted both certificates that very day, prompting the ethics body to close the file.
Reached by phone on Friday, Revelakis noted she had been managing demanding personal and family circumstances since her re-election. She acknowledged forgetting the formal cutoff after 12 years in office, framing it as a mistake that has now been fully resolved.
School zones: slowing down must become second nature, CAA-Québec urges
The CAA-Québec Foundation has raised concerns over driver habits, reporting that three out of four motorists exceed the posted 30 km/h limit in school zones based on field observations conducted in October.
While most offenders travelled at moderate overages—averaging around 36 km/h—some exceeded 40 km/h, and one driver was clocked travelling at 69 km/h.
André Durocher, director of the CAA-Québec Foundation, stressed that obeying school zone limits should be as automatic as stopping for a red light, noting that 30 km/h represents a ceiling rather than a target pace.
Coup de Coeur
The handling of Friday’s gas leak in Laval-des-Rapides serves as a clear reminder of how well local emergency services operate under pressure. Within an hour, first responders secured the perimeter, safeguarded neighbours, and worked alongside Énergir to neutralise the hazard with minimal disruption.
Wrapping up
Here’s to a smooth weekend, an easy transition into standard time, and clear roads through Laval-des-Rapides. Don’t forget to test your smoke detectors when you adjust your clocks. Have a wonderful Saturday! ☕