A year of developments

Statistical data from the 2006 census is made public. While the percentage of immigrants in Saint-Laurent is slightly increasing, the overall population of the borough is growing more quickly. Mayor Tremblay visits the borough, going to Place Benoit’s Bon Courage Community Centre.

The interregional hockey tournament takes place at the Raymond-Bourque Arena, with 130 games in 10 days! Two Saint-Laurent teams, the Midget A Rockets and the Novice C Sonics, stand out from the rest.

A rather calm month.

In politics, local elected officials happily announce their projects for the coming year. It is learned in particular that the reserve at the Musée des maîtres et artisans du Québec require significant renovations for the conservation of items which are stored there.

Minister Raymond Bachand gives a talk, insisting on the need for the companies to investment more.

A serious fire claims two victims on Rochon Street.

Sweet success for the urban maple! This year hundreds of people come to Vieux Saint-Laurent where cultural communities are invited to share in Québécois traditions.

Maison Robert receives a visit from the Heritage Council. It seems that its construction was before the XIXe century.

The aeronautic sector has its own turbulence: Honeywell closes its doors, Bombardier moves and AAA comes in.

The management plan of recyclable materials is submitted, but the objectives imposed by Quebec seem unattainable.

Our colleague Normand Prévost passes on.

The finals of Cégeps en spectacle takes place at CEGEP Saint-Laurent where it is also announced that a restoration plan is necessary for its facility, at a cost of 9 million dollars.

Lastly, the Stanley Cup comes to Saint-Laurent!

The conditions for the extension of Cavendish Boulevard are made public. The end of phase III of Demeures Sainte-Croix, which includes 55 social housing units, is made official.

Harvest Montréal inaugurates its eco-energy renovation work. All local and federal politicians come out for the occasion.

Photographers from the local Saint-Laurent association organize their annual exposition.

The Ordre des Grands Laurentiens is given to Guylaine Dault, a teacher, and Kathleen Coleman, a community volunteer.

The Alpha Gala awards the most successful companies of the year. The Canadian Electronic Powders Corporation earns the title of ‘company of the year.’

The annual report of Saint-Laurent Economic Development indicates that the year 2007 was good. Data which, on the eve of 2009, seems quite remote…

The world of hockey championship comes to Saint-Laurent. The team from Latvia makes the Raymond-Bourque arena its training camp.

The construction of a second library in Saint-Laurent is officially announced. A 24 million dollar project, spread out over four years, is revealed. The American company Flextronics announces the end of activities at its facility located in the borough, 700 jobs are affected by this measure.

Adonis supermarkets announce plans for a new store in Place Vertu.

CEGEP Saint-Laurent obtains the excellence mention within the framework of a “Green CÉGEP” certification.

Ten prizes are given to athletes and artisans from sport étudiant laurentien on the occasion of the sporting excellence Gala of the Lac Saint-Louis sport étudiant regional association.

Two million dollars is granted to the borough for road work on Thimens and Cote-Vertu.

Aérports de Montréal suspends the route for takeoffs put in place two years earlier, which consisted of a left turn and flying over Autoroute 13.

Bombardier launches the new CSeries, a range of equipment which aims to create 1,500 jobs.

Water games are set up in various Saint-Laurent parks.

One month under the Olympic symbol. Two athletes from the Saint-Laurent Sélect Club, Ashraf Tadili and Hank Palmer head to Beijing and try for medals on the track.

Other beautiful performances take place, but this time at the Raymond-Bourque Arena: the circus arts show returns and proves to be dazzling once again.

New places within local daycares are announced from now to 2010.

The collection of green waste is put in place, with new recovery bags taking their place on the sidewalks.

The federal elections begin. The candidates mobilize, trying to take the place of Stéphane Dion.

The borough of Saint-Laurent receives the second prize within the framework of the contest “Leaders in Sustainable Transport.”

A seasonal market is tried out for the first time at Place Benoit.

The clean-up campaign of the Marcel-Laurin woodland takes place, on the same date each year.

The federal elections lead to the following result: the Member of Parliament from Saint-Laurent-Cartierville, Stéphane Dion, is comfortably re-elected with 61.7% of the votes. But the leader of the Liberal party is severely beaten on the national scene.

One week after the electoral verdict, Dion announces that he will leave as leader of the party as soon a successor is designated.

The new bac-sac recycling tool, emanating from a design competition, is presented by the mayor of Saint-Laurent.

At 155 Deguire Street, drama occurs. A concrete slab detaches in an underground parking garage, killing a deliveryman in his car. Apartments in the building are evacuated, as well as neighbourhood residences. Neglect and water leakage are at the origin of the event. Inspections and work are ordered and still taking place.

Another turn at the polls: provincial elections are launched by Jean Charest. Jacques P. Dupuis puts his seat in the National Assembly up for grabs.

Wheeled bins return to the borough.

Bus lines in the industrial park are improved.

The provincial elections finish, without surprise, with a large victory by Jacques Dupuis. He returns to his old function as parliamentary leader, keeps the ministry for Public Safety and becomes Minister Responsible for Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs and the Reform of Democratic Institutions.

In Ottawa, a coalition of opposition parties is formed. At its head, Stéphane Dion, who is theoretically able to take charge of the country. The parliamentary session is finally extended. The Liberal party moves up the replacement of its leader and it is finally Michael Ignatieff who will take control.

An eco-centre is announced in Saint-Laurent for 2010.