Montréal QC ☕ The morning chat
Good morning Montréal.
After ten years behind scaffolding, Notre-Dame Basilica is about to unveil its façade, a moment that promises to be as spectacular as it is symbolic. We also tell you about a Montrealer who crossed the ocean for surgery, a police reinforcement against sexual exploitation, and a hockey night that finally smiled on the Canadiens.
Main Story
Notre-Dame Basilica finally unveils its façade after ten years of work
Ten years of scaffolding have hidden the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal. On October 25, the restored façade will be officially unveiled during a ceremony that promises to be memorable. A free concert by the Société philharmonique du Nouveau Monde and organist Jean-Willy Kunz is planned for the occasion. Seats inside the basilica are already all reserved, but those who couldn’t get a ticket can still enjoy the show outdoors, in front of the building, before the concert begins inside.
While the façade is finished, much work remains. About 20% of the necessary work has been completed, according to Michel Issa, general manager of the Fabrique de la paroisse Notre-Dame de Montréal. He estimates that exterior work will take another four years, a figure he himself calls optimistic. For the interior, count on five to ten more years.
The project is colossal and costly: $100 million in total, interior and exterior included. To finance this work, the basilica organizes benefit concerts, generates revenue through its café Le Firmament, in partnership with the Café Saint-Henri chain, and launches fundraising campaigns. The most recent relies on an original idea: allowing donors to “sponsor a stone” and inscribe a digital message, private or public, visible on the façade through augmented reality, a bit like in the Pokémon Go game. Messages will only be visible starting in early 2027.
The complexity of the work is explained by the state of the entire structure. All the masonry must be reinforced and restored, explains Mathieu Verreault, director of tourism and operations. The stones, which came from an old Mile End quarry, have aged poorly: some were laid vertically, making them more permeable to rain, and mortar was replaced with epoxy, which put extra pressure on the stones. Water infiltration has also damaged the painted decorations inside, which they are trying to reattach rather than repaint, a demanding heritage conservation method.
The challenge is significant, but the team remains confident. If the work is not done, deterioration risks accelerating exponentially. In the meantime, the basilica will have to cope with scaffolding about ten storeys high to restore the blue vault, which will likely suspend concerts and guided tours, and reduce its revenue.
In Our Neighbourhood
SPVM strengthens its unit against sexual exploitation
The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) is adding 15 new resources to its unit against sexual exploitation, starting next week. This expansion, made possible thanks to funding confirmed in the spring by the ministère de la Sécurité publique, will create a Montréal hub within two integrated squads: the integrated squad against pimping (EILP) and the integrated squad against child pornography (EILP-J).
“The creation of this hub will intensify the fight against sexual exploitation, specifically on the island of Montréal, while facilitating collaboration with police forces in Quebec and the rest of Canada,” said Commander Frédéric Martineau, head of the unit. The unit, which has existed for nearly 25 years, has developed particular expertise in supporting victims, notably through the Survivantes program and the partnership with the Centre d’aide aux victimes d’actes criminels (CAVAC). It also participates in the SPHÈRES program, which supports Montrealers aged 12 to 24 who are victims of sexual exploitation.
The SPVM invites anyone who has experienced or witnessed sexual exploitation to come forward, whether at a neighbourhood station, by calling 911, or anonymously and confidentially via Info-Crime Montréal at 514-393-1133 or online.
A Montrealer gets endometriosis surgery in Romania
After years of intense pain and a wait of up to 21 months for surgery, Larisa Elena Petrec, a Montrealer, chose to go to Romania for treatment. She paid about $20,000 out of pocket, hoping to find relief. Her pain became unbearable earlier this year when a sharp pain in her right ovary left her unable to walk, laugh, speak, or work. Doctors found an endometrioma, a cyst associated with endometriosis, the size of a grapefruit.
She considered options in Mexico and Turkey before choosing Romania. Medical costs came to about $12,000, and with transport, accommodation, and food, the total reaches about $20,000. Dr. Christopher Labos explains that several factors contribute to delays in diagnosis and treatment, including non-specific symptoms, limited access to family doctors, and the lack of a single diagnostic test. “We haven’t historically been very good at treating pain, especially women’s pain,” he says.
Katie Luciani, who advocates for people living with endometriosis, says the average diagnostic delay is about 5.4 years, with some patients waiting decades. An estimated two million people in Canada live with the disease. Luciani is calling for a national action plan, like in France, Australia, and Denmark. Petrec, who shares her experience on social media, encourages others to trust themselves. Dr. Labos, however, warns against the risks of having surgery abroad, where quality standards are not the same as here.
To Remember
Canadiens finally win, Fowler blanks Red Wings
The Montréal Canadiens ended a three-game losing streak by beating the Detroit Red Wings 1-0, Saturday night at the Bell Centre. Zachary Bolduc scored the winning goal in the shootout, in the sixth round, and Jacob Fowler made 30 saves, recording the second shutout of his career. The goaltender was solid, even though the Red Wings created good chances. Fans chanted “We want Larkin!” several times, as the Red Wings forward had requested a trade during the summer.
Defenceman Kaiden Guhle played his first game of the season, after undergoing surgery on an adductor muscle on August 10. Forward Florian Xhekaj was absent due to a minor injury. The Canadiens saw three goals disallowed by referees, including one by Cole Caufield early in the game, after a long video review. Despite these setbacks, the team controlled the play for long stretches.
Loto Max: record $85 million jackpot up for grabs Tuesday
The next Loto Max draw, scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, will offer a jackpot of $85 million, a record since the game’s creation. The total prize pool will be $101 million, with 16 Maxmillions prizes of $1 million each and 85 prizes of $100,000. The $80 million jackpot not being won Friday, it was carried over to the next draw. The last jackpot was won on August 21, when 49 people, who didn’t know each other, shared $55 million. The largest amount ever won in Quebec is $70 million, won three times, the last in June 2022.
Man arrested after police operation in Longueuil
A police operation took place Saturday afternoon in Longueuil, on boulevard Curé-Poirier Ouest, between rues Duvernay and Joliette, following reports of threats and the possible presence of an armed individual in a grocery store. A man was apprehended and handcuffed around 3:50 p.m. It is still unknown whether he is the person seen with a weapon or if he is linked to the reported threats. The investigation continues.
Practical Corner
Thanksgiving: check hours before heading out
Several services and businesses have announced changes to their hours for Monday, October 12, Thanksgiving Day. Before heading out, it’s wise to check opening hours, as some establishments will be closed or operating on reduced hours.
Loto Max: try your luck Tuesday
If you want to try your luck at the record $85 million jackpot, you have until Tuesday to buy your ticket. Online buying groups are popular right now, and it’s possible to participate in the Group format. Good luck!
Coup de Coeur
The story of Larisa Elena Petrec, who crossed the ocean for treatment, is a reminder of human resilience in the face of a health system that, despite its strengths, sometimes leaves people waiting. Her courage in sharing her experience to help others feel heard and validated is a beautiful lesson in solidarity.
To Finish
We wish you a gentle Sunday, between Thanksgiving preparations and the last rays of autumn sun. And if you pass by Notre-Dame Basilica, look up: soon, it will finally reveal itself. ☕