health – LAVAL QC

Laval QC ☕ The Morning Brief

Hello,

Today we look at health, politics and a viaduct that left its mark on Laval. We also take a look at a busy morning for drivers and a citizen initiative that makes getting around Place Bell a little easier.

What to know this morning

A judge orders Quebec to send bilingual electoral cards: A decision that directly affects Laval’s English‑speaking voters.
A setback for paratransit service: Nine positions will be cut at the Société de transport de Laval.

In Laval

A tight race in Sainte‑Rose: Qc125 projects a Liberal win, but the CAQ and PQ are close behind.

Laval‑des‑Rapides as a bellwether riding: A three‑way race that could help determine who forms the next government.

Vimont‑Auteuil may return to tradition: Qc125 sees the Liberal Party taking back the riding.

Across Canada

Tariffs threaten 53,112 Canadian small businesses: The CFIB is calling for expanded support measures.

Former RCMP intelligence officer granted day parole: Cameron Jay Ortis, convicted of violating the Security of Information Act, will begin reintegration.

Main Story

A citizen‑made map to navigate the Place Bell area

Finding a place to park or somewhere to eat near Place Bell has become a challenge for many Laval residents, especially on Rocket game nights or during major shows. With questions multiplying on social media, one resident decided to take action and created an interactive map that brings together parking options, transit access points, restaurants, hotels and even bike paths around Place Bell.

The map, updated based on community feedback, includes practical information that is often overlooked, such as free parking with shuttle service at 1333 Chomedey during Rocket games, and an important reminder to avoid parking at Centre Laval, where towing is quick. Users also suggested affordable options like Stationnement EM for those arriving by metro, as well as switching the map background to CyclOSM to display up‑to‑date bike paths.

This citizen initiative, born from a simple need to help people get around, is quickly becoming a reference tool for both visitors and residents. It is a reminder that sometimes the best solutions come directly from the community.

In Detail

In Laval: Update on Mayor Stéphane Boyer’s health

Laval Mayor Stéphane Boyer shared a new update on his health, one week after announcing that he had been diagnosed with a meningioma, a brain tumour. After his first appointment with a neurosurgeon, he posted an image of the tumour, which he compares to the size of a golf ball, and said he remains able to carry out his duties while reducing some public activities this fall.

Boyer, who had been experiencing headaches and visual disturbances for several months before undergoing an MRI, says he still feels energetic and fully capable. He says he is moving forward “with serenity” and leaning on small daily comforts, including bringing a box of doughnuts to his team, to keep spirits up.

Elected in 2021 at age 33, he is the youngest mayor in Laval’s history and was re‑elected in 2025. His diagnosis comes ten months into his current mandate, which runs until 2029.

Practical Tip

Place Bell: Easier parking and access

If you plan to head to Place Bell for a show or a Rocket game, a citizen‑made map now brings together parking options, transit access points, restaurants and bike paths in the area. Note the free parking with shuttle service at 1333 boulevard Chomedey during games, and a key reminder to avoid Centre Laval, where towing is quick. To plan your trip, check the interactive map before you go.

Coup de coeur

Mayor Stéphane Boyer’s quiet strength

Our highlight of the day goes to Stéphane Boyer, who is facing a personal challenge with a calm determination that is rare in politics. Without dramatizing, he chooses transparency, stays present for his team and continues moving forward with a quiet strength that inspires. In a city where leadership is measured not only in decisions but also in how one navigates difficult moments, his attitude shows that resilience can be a form of public service.

Before we go

We wish you a day that leaves room for reflection and gentleness. Whether you take a moment to remember or simply enjoy the day, we hope you find a bit of time for yourself. See you tomorrow.☕

Laval QC ☕ The Morning Chat

Good morning,

Today, we’re revisiting the latest leaders’ debate, a local tragedy that deserves commemoration, and news that directly affects our daily lives, from health to the road. Enough to start the day well, without having to read everything elsewhere.

Key Points This Morning

The final leaders’ debate was dominated by health, immigration, and the referendum question: The five leaders squared off Wednesday night, 12 days before the October 5 vote, over the CAQ’s health record and the future of Quebec.
A driver died after a collision with construction machinery on Highway 13 in Laval: The Sûreté du Québec confirms the death, without giving more details for now.
The Labour Administrative Tribunal orders Laval’s CISSS to better manage the Cité-de-la-Santé hospital emergency room: The nurses’ union won its case regarding the setup of an overflow zone, deemed dangerous for employees.

Around Here

First official commemoration ceremony for the Concorde overpass collapse will take place September 30: Twenty years after the tragedy that claimed five lives, the Société d’histoire et de généalogie de l’île Jésus is organizing a gathering, with a march and a moment of silence.
Tight race in Sainte-Rose and Laval-des-Rapides, according to Qc125 aggregator: In both ridings, liberals are leading, closely followed by the CAQ and the PQ, two weeks before the vote.
The 9th edition of the Excellence Tourisme Awards took place at the Sheraton Laval: 14 winners were honored, but no Laval business was in the running.

In Canada

Carney says he has studied the risk of a US military intervention: In an interview with the New York Times, the Prime Minister says he has prepared the country for an “extreme risk,” without giving details.
A Leger poll indicates that 70% of Canadians support the idea of an association with the European Union: But they are more reluctant to change Canadian laws to align with Europe.

Main Story

The Last Leaders’ Debate: CAQ on the Defensive, Referendum at the Heart of Exchanges

The third and final debate of the provincial election campaign, broadcast Wednesday night on Radio-Canada, was the last chance for the leaders of the five main parties to clash before the October 5 vote.

Health was initially the focus of attacks. Liberal leader Charles Milliard accused the CAQ of having “betrayed” Quebecers by not reducing emergency room wait times and not providing access to a family doctor for everyone. PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon echoed this, calling the repetition of broken promises a “disrespect for people’s intelligence.” Éric Duhaime, of the Conservative Party, proposed a “mixed” public-private model, while Québec solidaire, through Ruba Ghazal, firmly opposed it, fearing that the private sector would “plunder” the public.

Immigration was also a battleground, with Charles Milliard reproaching Christine Fréchette for being “minister responsible” for two failing portfolios, the economy and immigration.

But it was the referendum question that most inflamed the debate. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon reiterated his promise to hold a referendum during a first PQ term, while pushing back the timeline as long as Donald Trump is in power. “We must not fear democracy,” he said, citing Jacques Parizeau. His opponents denounced the idea, recalling that 70% of Quebecers do not want it.

Outside the studio, protesters, union members, and striking ambulance workers greeted the leaders, adding a touch of tension to this final confrontation.

In Detail

Driver Loses Life in Collision on Highway 13 in Laval

A fatal accident occurred on Highway 13 in Laval when a vehicle collided with construction machinery. The Sûreté du Québec confirmed the driver’s death, without providing further details for now. An investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances of the event.

Laval’s CISSS Must Fix the Cité-de-la-Santé Hospital Emergency Layout

The Labour Administrative Tribunal sided with the nurses, respiratory therapists, and auxiliary nurses union of Laval, affiliated with the CSQ, in a dispute over the setup of an overflow zone in the Cité-de-la-Santé hospital emergency room.

The Tribunal ordered the CISSS de Laval to “take the necessary measures to protect the health, safety, and integrity of workers” in this zone, where lack of space to work and move around posed risks. The CISSS has until October 23 to correct the situation.

First Official Commemoration for the Concorde Overpass, 20 Years Later

September 30 marks the 20th anniversary of the Concorde overpass collapse, which claimed five lives in Duvernay. For the first time, an official commemoration ceremony is being organized by the Société d’histoire et de généalogie de l’île Jésus, supported by Liberal MNA for Mille-Îles, Virginie Dufour.

The families of the victims, who never had a memorial or official recognition, will be at the heart of this evening. The meeting is set for 7 p.m. in the courtyard of Jules-Verne elementary school in Pont-Viau, for a speech, then a march to the current overpass, where a moment of silence will be observed.

Coup de Cœur

The initiative of the Société d’histoire et de généalogie de l’île Jésus reminds us that collective memory is not decreed from above. It is sometimes built by the perseverance of citizens and organizations who refuse to let lives be forgotten. Twenty years after the tragedy, this gesture of recognition is a balm for the families, but also for an entire community.

To Close

We wish you a day that starts well, despite the heavier news. Take the time to breathe, check on your loved ones, and prepare for what’s next. In Laval, solidarity also lives in the small gestures of daily life. ☕

Laval QC

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