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CBC
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
What to do in and around Montreal for National Indigenous Peoples Day
Social Sharing Native Montreal, a friendship centre, is gearing up to host its biggest event of the year to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day Saturday in Verdun. For nearly 30 years, the summer solstice has provided an opportunity to celebrate Indigenous arts, tradition and culture. Philippe Tsaronséré Meilleur, Native Montreal's executive director, says he's especially looking forward to seeing families come together and build community — something that isn't always easy to do given funding and infrastructure barriers, he said. "[It's] super important because people have to see each other outside of just tackling life challenges and trying to build services or do things like that. We need to just hang out, have some fun and relax," said Meilleur. "We honestly still don't have many opportunities to meet up as a community." Native Montreal will hold a family barbecue-style event at Arthur-Therrien Park from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. featuring live music by Backwater Township, Innu throat singer Nina Segalowitz and the Pow Wow Rangers, a group of women drummers. Kokums, "grandmothers" in Cree, will compete in a cook-off, children will have games to play and vendors will be showcasing their arts and crafts. The event is happening across from some land the organization has been holding since 2018 with the goal of developing it for a major housing project and creating a space for community gatherings. "We have many community organizations, but we don't have any major space to hold big events," said Meilleur. "So we end up having to, you know, utilize parks and rent out spaces and I think that has a direct impact on our capacity to hold events as frequently as we would probably like." He says development has stalled due to contamination issues and lack of political support, but that the centre is still trying to make possible an indoor gathering space for the community. More to do in Montreal Land InSIGHTS, an organization that promotes Indigenous culture, is hosting an event at Montreal's Old Port Saturday from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. There will be a tobacco ceremony as well as traditional drums and dance. People can also go a little later in the day to the Botanical Garden where they can shop an open-air market and listen to a performance by Wendat singer-songwriter Eadsé. For more information about what's going on in the city, the Montreal Indigenous Community Network has put together a list that can be found here. Laughter is on the program in Kahnawà:ke Celebrations will kick off around 11 a.m. in Kahnawà:ke, just across the St. Lawrence River from Montreal, at the Golden Age Club. The event, organized by Kahnawà:ke Tourism, will run until 5 p.m. and will include performances by stand-up comedians and Lone Wolf and the Spaghetti Corner Band. There will also be art and food vendors, traditional workshops, face painting and inflatable structures. Head to Joliette if you want a crowd National Indigenous Peoples Day is Sabrina Paton's favourite day of the year, she says. The cultural development and events co-ordinator at the Lanaudière Native Friendship Centre is behind one of Quebec's biggest events on June 21, Waskapitan, which means "coming together" in Atikamekw. "The streets are closed, the stage is in the middle of the street so everyone can dance in the middle of the street and sort of re-appropriate the territory and just celebrate together," said Paton. "Every year it's fantastic to see like everyone getting together, dancing together, no matter what from, it's just like a moment to just share." Last year, 2,000 people converged in downtown Joliette, Que., for the event. Patron says she's hoping to see that number grow to 3,000 on Saturday. The show will feature musical acts from artists like Anachnid and Régis Niquay. Headliner Q-052 won't be able to attend due to a health issue, but Paton is making up for it with a few surprises that will be revealed the day of, she said. Waskapitan is also partnering with the Bastringue circus festival happening this week in Joliette and will offer a free show by Artcirq, an Innu performing arts collective. Kwe! Show at the National Assembly Saturday evening, the grounds of the National Assembly in Quebec City will be home to the Kwe! Show, a free concert celebrating Indigenous culture. Wendat violinist Geneviève Gros-Louis will open the show with a performance blending Indigenous instruments and voices with the violin. Then, artists from 11 nations will come together to put their spin on Québécois folk-rock song Un musicien parmis tant d'autres composed by Serge Fiori. "The song is not a translation," said Kwe!'s executive director, Mélanie Vincent. "Serge Fiori asked all the artists: 'what does it mean for you to give the voice to your people?' So, the answer to that question are the words of the song." The night will end with a performance by alternative folk-rock band Maten in honour of Innu singer-songwriter Florent Vollant.
CTV News
6 days ago
- General
- CTV News
‘We're seeing desperation': Tenant advocates brace for housing crisis around moving day
With moving day approaching, community organizations say rising rents, renovictions, and a lack of affordable housing are pushing more people to the brink. With July 1 just weeks away, some housing advocates are sounding the alarm over what they call a deepening crisis. Community groups like Project Genesis say they're already overwhelmed by the number of people unable to find a place to live, many of them at risk of homelessness. Rising rents, renovictions, and limited access to affordable housing are pushing vulnerable tenants to the brink. 'We're seeing desperation,' said Margaret van Nooten, a social rights worker at Project Genesis. 'People are afraid to move, but others have no choice — and many just can't find anywhere to go.' A 72-year-old Montreal man says he may be forced to sleep outdoors in the coming days. Richard Duncan has been renting a room in a Verdun apartment for six years. But when the building was sold, his name wasn't on the lease, and his roommate accepted a buyout from the landlord. Duncan, who is retired and on a fixed income, was left with nothing. 'I was given three months' notice,' he said. 'The new owner paid people to leave. [The leaseholder] took the money, and now I'm stuck.' His search for new housing has been difficult —and with no cellphone or internet, Duncan says even accessing listings is a struggle. 'I have to do everything myself and I don't have the needed resources,' he said. 'It's been a stressful three months.' Duncan's situation is far from unique, according to van Nooten, who says her office has seen an increase in people unable to secure housing — even those with jobs or stable incomes. 'The housing situation overall — it's terrible. It's been a really difficult year for tenants,' she said. 'We're seeing people getting hit with massive rent increases — five, even 10 per cent in some cases and people just can't keep up.' Project Genesis has cautioned renters not to break their lease unless they've already secured another apartment. But some, like Duncan, are being forced out — either through repossessions, renovictions, or pressure tactics. 'We're seeing landlords managing to get long-term tenants out — sometimes by offering a few thousand dollars to leave, sometimes by threatening renovations that may or may not happen,' she said. 'They know they can double or triple the rent if they turn the unit over.' Those unable to find housing in time are increasingly doubling up with family or strangers. 'We see three generations in one apartment, people living in overcrowded, sometimes unsafe conditions,' explained van Nooten. 'Rooms being carved out of living rooms. It's not sustainable.' In Montreal's overheated market, she said even being able to pay doesn't guarantee an apartment. 'There are bidding wars — people get to a showing and find someone else offering the landlord more than the asking price,' said van Nooten. Credit checks, references, and online-only listings present additional barriers — particularly for people without access to internet, phones, or email. 'And the city's platform to search for housing still requires internet access, a certain level of digital know-how and assumes literacy," she added. 'If you're a single person on welfare and your cheque is around $800, you likely can't afford a phone plan or home internet.' Discrimination is another factor, she said, with families, racialized tenants, and those with disabilities often passed over. 'I had a woman with an autistic daughter who was repeatedly rejected for housing — the landlord just didn't want a child with special needs.' The Office municipal d'habitation de Montréal's (OMHM), the city's municipal housing office, has already received more than 600 requests for help this year. The annual average is just over 900. Duncan is hoping his application will be among those accepted. 'I'm just looking for somewhere to lay my head down at night and not worry,' he said. 'If I don't find it, I'll end up sleeping in a park very soon.' In a statement to CTV News, Loyola district councillor Despina Sourias, who serves as a special advisor on housing at Montreal's executive committee, said the administration is aware this moving season will be particularly difficult. 'That's why our administration is continuing to invest more resources to support vulnerable households,' she said. 'We've doubled the budget dedicated to relocation support and created a new $1.5 million envelope over three years to strengthen housing committees and tenant associations — essential allies in protecting renters.' Sourias added that the city is working actively with partners to ensure no one is left behind. 'We want every household to know they're not alone and that there are real resources available to help them through this.' But van Nooten said housing groups are already overwhelmed. 'Staff are exhausted. We're hearing from organizations across the city that they've had to shorten their [opening] hours and still can't keep up with the number of requests,' she said, calling it a cry for help. She said what's needed most is more social housing — and fast. 'The private market is ruled by greed. It's not meeting this most basic need,' she added. 'We need more subsidized units, more practical help for people trying to find housing, and better protections for tenants.' For now, Duncan continues to wait — without a safety net.
CTV News
30-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Wellington Street will not be car-free year-round after report: Verdun mayor
Wellington Street is seen in the Montreal borough of Verdun Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press) Borough mayor Marie-Andrée Mauger posted on her Facebook page that after a public consultation (OCPM) report, the strip of road from Regina Street to 6th Avenue will be pedestrianized for the summer only. A petition was launched in 2023, and the OCPM held consultations to decide whether cars would be banned throughout the year. 'At the borough council meeting on June 30, we will submit the borough's response to the OCPM's recommendations,' Mauger wrote. 'I have always seen this citizen request as a declaration of love for our iconic artery.' The OCPM made three other recommendations. Any future pedestrianization plans should be done based on 'up-to-date studies on the impacts and benefits of the project in terms of accessibility, mobility, commercial dynamics, collateral effects and costs.' 'These studies should take into account the specific urban morphology of the neighbourhood, as well as parking issues in the vicinity of commercial and service establishments,' the post reads. The commission also suggests that the borough consider other ways to reduce vehicle traffic on Wellington outside of the summer pedestrianization period and continue efforts to 'reduce the nuisances associated with the summer pedestrianization of Wellington Street.' Included in the post were council members Sterling Downey, Benoit Gratton, Kaïla A. Munro, Véronique Tremblay, Enrique Machado and Céline-Audrey Beauregard. The mayor will table the response to the commission's report on June 30.
CTV News
30-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
26 signatures halt 525-unit housing project on Nun's Island
8 Place du Commerce is currently home to a large parking lot and a commercial building. For a group of developers, it's a great location to develop 525 new housing units. But some people on Nun's Island say, 'Not in my backyard.' 'I'm so in favour of blocking all of this. The densification has become so monstrous,' said Sylvie Martel. 'I don't think it would be good for the island,' said Marylena Catanese. 'I've lived here for 10 years. The traffic, there aren't enough schools, not enough clinics.' Claribel Gamboa added: 'There are already a lot of buildings in the neighbourhood. I don't think we need another.' One developer, MACH Group, requested a zoning change. It was backed by the borough but blocked by residents. Twenty-six people signed a register, just a few more than were needed to trigger a referendum and force public consultation, stalling the project. Some say that's a shame. Bertrand Guermeur said: '[It's] a bad idea, I'm sure. Because we need to open everything to everybody.' 'It would be great to have some more activity,' said Raymond Breard. Julien Regragui added: 'If it's every time not in my backyard, nothing's going to move, nothing's going to get better. And there's some decision that has to be taken to avoid those blockage.' The province is trying to limit these kinds of challenges. Bill 31 gives municipalities the power to sidestep potential referendums in the name of solving the housing crisis. In a statement sent to CTV News, the borough of Verdun said the 8 Place du Commerce project was not initially eligible for fast-tracking under Bill 31. However, it is currently working on a clear and transparent framework to guide the use of these powers, which it expects to adopt in June, along with the tabling of the project under this resolution. With more housing projects expected across the city, what happens here could shape how Montreal moves forward.
CTV News
29-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Shots fired for the second time at a residence on Montreal's Nuns' Island
A residence in the Verdun borough of Montreal was the target of gunfire for the second time in less than a month on Wednesday night. According to the Montreal police (SPVM), 'several' shots were fired at the residence, located on Sagittaire Street on Nuns' Island, at around 3:35 a.m. on Thursday. The same address was also targeted late in the evening on May 4. After the first incident, the SPVM reported that suspects had fired shots at the residence before fleeing on foot. During both incidents, people were inside the house, but no one was injured. 'Investigators will meet with the person who lives at this address to try to learn more about the incident itself,' explained SPVM spokesperson officer Jean-Pierre Brabant on Thursday morning. Further investigative steps will be taken, including searching for witnesses and reviewing surveillance camera footage. A security perimeter has been set up around the residence in question to allow the Montreal police force to conduct its investigation. The SPVM reported no arrests in this case on Thursday morning. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 29, 2025.
