Montréal QC ☕ The Daily Chat
Good morning, Montreal.
We head into this long weekend with a busy city on the move, from thousands of runners taking to the streets to a major traffic challenge around our bridges. We also look at a dramatic downtown high-angle rescue, newly announced emergency shelter measures ahead of colder weather, and the latest political and cultural news marking the day.
Top Story
Montreal Marathon and La Fontaine tunnel closure to disrupt long weekend travel
Anyone planning to travel through the city over the coming days will need to plan ahead. The 34th edition of the Beneva Montreal Marathon is bringing together 35,000 participants across the weekend, leading to significant road closures in several neighbourhoods.
The races get underway Saturday around Parc Maisonneuve between 6:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. for the 1 km, 5 km, and 10 km events. On Sunday, the half-marathon and marathon will start from Espace 67, crossing the Concorde Bridge and Notre-Dame Street before winding through Parc La Fontaine, Saint-Joseph Boulevard, and Saint-Laurent Boulevard until mid-afternoon. Drivers will still be able to cross the route at key designated points, including Route 136, Sherbrooke Street, the Van Horne overpass, and Highway 40.
At the same time, the Ministère des Transports is replacing fire protection panels at the entrance to the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel. Southbound Highway 25 toward the South Shore will be completely closed from Friday at 11 p.m. until Tuesday at 5 a.m. Drivers are advised to use the Champlain Bridge as the primary detour until Sunday evening to avoid race routes, and the Jacques Cartier Bridge starting Sunday at 11 p.m. Overnight closures into Montreal are also scheduled. The STM is adding extra service on the metro to help commuters get around.
Around Town
Two window washers rescued from 14th floor downtown
Emergency crews launched a high-angle rescue operation Friday morning near Place Bonaventure. Around 7:45 a.m., two Groupe Picotte workers were left stranded on a window-washing platform that suffered a mechanical failure at the 14th floor of a building at the corner of Robert-Bourassa Boulevard and De La Gauchetière Street.
The platform tilted and dropped roughly three feet, prompting the workers to dial 911 immediately. The Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal’s specialised technical rescue team responded quickly to bring both men safely down to the ground. Urgences-santé confirmed that no one was injured. The platform remained secured to the building until the company could attend to it.
City announces 3,000 emergency shelter spaces for unhoused residents
Montreal has confirmed its winter plan to support unhoused individuals, with the mayor describing homelessness as the greatest humanitarian crisis currently facing the city.
The network will feature nine warming centres and bring overall capacity to 3,000 emergency and transitional shelter spaces. Among these, 500 seasonal spaces will open in November as temperatures drop.
Two police investigations involving minors in Anjou and Saint-Henri
The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal handled two separate cases involving youth over the past few hours. On Thursday afternoon, two suspects, including a 14-year-old, were arrested following an armed robbery at a jewellery store in the Place Versailles shopping centre. The fleeing suspects collided with a car at the corner of Galeries-d’Anjou Boulevard and Jarry Street before running off on foot and being intercepted. A bag of jewellery was recovered at the scene.
In a separate incident, five minors were questioned after a fleeing vehicle crashed into the front of a Saint-Henri dépanneur. Meanwhile, gunfire in a Villeray residential alleyway Thursday night left shell casings on the ground and led police to find two young men, aged 19 and 21, in Anjou with bullet holes in their car. No injuries were reported.
Need to Know
Mathieu Lacombe apologises and leaves cabinet
Former culture and communications minister Mathieu Lacombe has issued a public apology after attending the Parti Québécois victory gathering on Monday evening. His presence at the election night event led to his expulsion from the Coalition Avenir Québec for a serious breach of party rules, as well as his removal from cabinet by outgoing premier Christine Fréchette.
Lacombe explained on social media that he had wanted to acknowledge long-standing personal friendships across party lines, while acknowledging the gesture was inappropriate for a sitting minister.
Canadian poet Anne Carson wins Nobel Prize in Literature
Canadian writer and translator Anne Carson has won the Nobel Prize in Literature. A major figure in contemporary poetry renowned for her reinterpretations of classical myths and ancient Greek texts, her body of work spans more than 20 published titles.
Her collections, including Autobiography of Red, saw an immediate surge in interest at independent bookstores across the country following the announcement.
Financier and philanthropist Stephen Jarislowsky dies at 101
Canadian investment manager and patron of the arts Stephen Jarislowsky has died at the age of 101. The founder of investment firm Jarislowsky Fraser, he made a lasting mark on the business community through his advocacy for corporate governance and his widespread philanthropic support for institutions across the country.
Practical Details
Getting around during the long weekend
Between the Montreal Marathon and the full South Shore closure of the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel, roads will be exceptionally busy through Tuesday. Officials advise checking Québec 511 before setting out and opting for public transit where possible, with the STM running extra trains across the metro network during the events.
In Closing
Whether you are running, navigating the detours, or simply enjoying the holiday weekend at a slower pace, we wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving. ☕