MTLQC – Montreal QC
Montréal QC ☕ Weekend Coffee Chat
Hello Montreal.
Today we start with a story that deeply shakes public trust in the SPVM. We also stop in Verdun, Villeray, Mile‑Ex and the South Shore, with a few very practical things to keep in mind for the day. A short read, but not a light one.
Top Story
A major internal investigation shakes the SPVM in Montreal North
An internal investigation is targeting 16 officers from Station 39 in Montreal North after actions described as racist and hateful during police interventions. Two officers have been suspended, three others have been pulled from active duty, and the rest of the immediate team has been reassigned while the review continues.
The alleged actions include racist and hateful behaviour toward detained men, including cutting and keeping locks of their hair. The file has been sent to the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions for review.
SPVM Chief Fady Dagher said he was deeply saddened by the allegations, adding that their disclosure is a clear reminder that such behaviour cannot be tolerated. Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Montreal’s mayor, said trust has been broken and that full clarity is needed.
Outside official institutions, reactions are just as strong. Community groups say they are shocked, though not surprised. The Montreal Police Brotherhood called the allegations unacceptable and disturbing, while noting that the investigation is ongoing.
Local Stories
Two people killed in an apartment fire in Montreal
A fire in a residential building in Villeray–Saint‑Michel–Parc‑Extension left two people dead early this morning. Calls to 911 came in around 7:30 a.m., and several others were injured before first responders could evacuate them.
Details remain limited, but the human toll is heavy. It is the kind of news that stops a day before it even begins .
Search efforts in Verdun end in tragedy
Emergency crews searched Friday night near Verdun Beach after a person was reported missing in the water. Police confirmed Saturday morning that a young man had died .
A recently launched water‑safety awareness campaign in the area inevitably comes to mind, but the outcome remains painfully simple: the search did not end the way anyone hoped .
Mile‑Ex artists fear losing a key creative space
In Mile‑Ex, artists are worried about the future of the red‑brick building at 435 Beaubien West. The space has housed studios for years, and it quickly becomes clear how essential it is to the people who create there every day.
What stands out is the fragility of cultural spaces that may not look like much from the outside but carry a big part of a neighbourhood’s creative life. Sometimes a quiet address holds far more than you’d expect.
Jean Leloup’s Le Dôme returns to the Francos
At the Francos, Jean Leloup’s Le Dôme is back in the spotlight. For its 30th anniversary, a lineup of artists including Lou‑Adriane Cassidy, Klô Pelgag, Les Louanges and others will revisit the album in a free outdoor concert Sunday night.
Released in 1996, the album has become a landmark of Quebec music, carried by songs that have lasted decades, from Johnny Go to I Lost My Baby. The show, Pour la suite du Dôme, will also feature Thierry Larose, Safia Nolin, Rau_Ze, We Are Wolves and Zach Zoya, and will be broadcast live on ICI Musique and OHdio.
A moment promising both nostalgia and fresh energy, exactly what the Francos do best.
Loto‑Québec still looking for winners, including one in Montreal
Loto‑Québec says four major prizes remain unclaimed in the province, including a ticket sold in Montreal. Three tickets are worth one million dollars each, and a Grande Vie ticket offers 25,000 dollars a year for life.
Winners have one year from the draw date to come forward. Somewhere in Montreal, a ticket is worth far more than some forgotten pocket change.
To Watch
Quebec Liberals plan to send a formal notice to Paul St‑Pierre Plamondon
The Quebec Liberal Party intends to send a formal notice to Parti Québécois leader Paul St‑Pierre Plamondon after he linked the Liberals to organized crime.
No further details have been provided, but the dispute has clearly moved from political ground to legal ground .
Héma‑Québec aims to boost blood and plasma donations
Héma‑Québec has launched a province‑wide awareness campaign to encourage blood and plasma donations. The initiative is part of National Blood Donor Week and aims to maintain participation during the summer vacation period.
Quebec lifts ban on open fires near forests
The ban on making open fires in the forest or nearby was completely lifted on Saturday at 9 am. The decision was made by the Ministry of Public Security in collaboration with SOPFEU.
Since the start of the season, 202 fires have been recorded, affecting 194 hectares. At this time, the ten-year average was 241 fires for 108,164 hectares burned.
Mark Carney announces agreements between Canada and Ireland
Mark Carney announced several agreements between Canada and Ireland, noting that both countries are moving forward with complementary artificial‑intelligence strategies.
Collision in Ontario kills five children from the same family
Five children from the same family were killed in a collision Friday evening in Mapleton Township, Ontario. They were between 4 and 12 years old. Five adults and an infant were also seriously injured.
Authorities describe the loss as unimaginable for the family and for the community of Elmira, where they lived. In a rural area where everyone eventually knows one another, the shock reaches far beyond the crash site.
Practical Notes
Boil‑water advisory in the Châteauguay region
A preventive boil‑water advisory is in effect after a technical issue at the Marchand water‑treatment plant. The affected municipalities are Châteauguay, Mercier, Léry, Saint‑Urbain‑Premier and Sainte‑Martine.
Until the advisory is lifted, residents must use bottled water or boil tap water for at least one minute before drinking it, brushing teeth, preparing drinks or washing raw foods. Baths and showers can continue, but be careful with young children so they don’t swallow the water.
Police in Saint‑Hubert searching for suspect in mail theft
Longueuil police are asking for the public’s help identifying a man linked to a mail theft on Raoul Avenue on March 30. The stolen mail included PINs for TD credit cards, and a fraudulent credit‑card application was filed in the victim’s name.
The suspect is described as over 25, about 1.78 m tall, with a moustache, thin beard and a neck tattoo.
Spotlight
Even when the news is heavy, some stories remind us what holds a city together. The reaction from community groups to the SPVM investigation, and the concern of Mile‑Ex artists for their creative space, point to the same truth: in Montreal, people look out for the human fabric of their neighbourhoods, even when it starts to fray a little.
Before You Go
Thanks for spending a moment with us at the start of the weekend. Take what speaks to you, leave the rest for later, and keep a bit of space for your corner of the city and the people who make it home. ☕