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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 1h

The woman who died in the encampment fire early Wednesday has been named: Mélanie Carbonneau, age 50, mother of five children. Nothing is reported about where her children are, but presumably not in the camp.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140754

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 3h

Elon Musk thinks Quebec should separate. In fact, he thinks Canada should be broken up into easily digestible pieces. I'm surprised at how angry this makes me. His big ugly Boer face is almost more irritating than Trump's.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140750

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 7h

Poor Montreal motorists! If it isn't a bike race, it's a foot race claiming the streets and making them miserable.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140746

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 7h

Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, who had considered requesting a judicial recount in Saint‑Henri–Sainte‑Anne when it looked like he'd lost the riding by 39 votes, has conceded and congratulated his opponent now that it turns out he actually lost by 275 votes on... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140741

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 9h

I was at Milano yesterday and, noticing the Savoura tomatoes, I was reminded that the owner of the company had died in an air crash. Coincidentally, La Presse has an item Wednesday on the 2019 helicopter crash in which Stéphane Roy and his teenage son died.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140736

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 10h

A woman died in a fire in a homeless camp early Wednesday, in Montreal North. There was also a fierce fire in Park Ex overnight which unhoused 30 people. Dramatic photos in the Journal. Also lost is grocery store JPA. The fire department distributed leaflets... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140730

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

SMF has announced a 10% property tax hike downtown in the 2027 budget, to pay for infrastructure maintenance and other services.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140726

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Mayor Martinez Ferrada has already told PSPP that Quebec needs to put homelessness first on the agenda of the new government, according to La Presse, whereas Le Devoir writes as if PSPP has already agreed.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140724

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

With zero seats won and Christine Fréchette stepping down as leader, does the CAQ even exist any more?... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140719

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Voter turnout, as posted by Elections Quebec at 11:30 Tuesday (some numbers on the site are still being finalized) was 66.89%. So about one third of the eligible voters decided to loaf. Not as pathetic as the turnout for municipal elections, but far from... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140714

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

I was able to go to sleep after the announcement that it would be a PQ minority government, although the numbers suggest an unstable situation. It will be surprising if this government makes it to 2030. Post-election notes from CBC, Radio‑Canada, CTV, Le... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140706

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

A man in crisis in Rosemont, brandishing a gun from a second‑floor balcony, caused the lockdown of customers in an IGA for an hour on Sunday afternoon. He eventually gave up and police brought him to hospital.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140699

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

An interesting scam has been reported in Bout‑de‑l’Île, at the far eastern tip of the island. Residents received a vaguely official‑looking paper saying that some unspecified work was being done in their area so they had to evacuate their homes for a... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140694

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

In theory, by now, rue Mont-Royal Avenue should be pedestrianized only between St‑Laurent and St‑Denis, but although it was meant to be open for traffic east of St‑Denis, I walked along there Saturday afternoon to find the roadway full of excavations,... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140684

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Singer Sass Jordan has died at 63. Jordan grew up and began her music career here in Montreal.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140681

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

With the election on Monday, the topic has been the foibles of the party leaders and their growing bag of promises. Godin reuses campaign placards and so does Côté. Ygreck pictures a very entertaining game of snakes and ladders. Duhaime after admitting his... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140633

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

It's been on social media all afternoon that someone fell onto the tracks at Lionel‑Groulx and was killed by the oncoming train, although as reported it sounds like misadventure rather than suicide, which is hardly ever reported in the media. Sounds like it... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140668

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

The traditional Montreal address plaques in white on dark blue (some in black on white) are being made here again – this item has two sidebars about the development process, but unfortunately do not identify the font. (It's quite likely it was never a font... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140662

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

It isn't a new ploy (see Oliver Twist) but police say teenagers are being recruited to rob jewelry stores, as we saw this week. Cops say there have been 46 thefts of this kind so far in 2026, as compared to 15 in all of 2022. The kids will be all right, but... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140660

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

The 3000 unionized professionals of the city of Montreal are on strike evenings and weekends. These are people who work in libraries, do IT, and manage many technical matters for the city. The strike is to begin October 19.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140650

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Weekend notes from CityCrunch, Le Devoir, CultMTL, free and cheap events in the Journal. Traffic issues, all kinds of traffic issues.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140630

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Following recent discussion here about the certificate of anglo rights, Andy Riga in the Gazette has a piece about how a form initially meant only to allow children to be educated in English has been turned into a much bigger deal despite not being suitable... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140645

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

The STM is refusing to arm the special constables that patrol the metro, saying police tend to be too quick on the draw. Later CBC piece also mentions the STM doesn't want them carrying tasers.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140642

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

A ram‑raiding of a jewelry store in Kirkland netted the thieves at least $400,000 in bling, in a store that's been robbed before. Nothing's said about where they got the car from. It's a bit of a trend. In September, four teenagers smashed up a Rosemere... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140640

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Although the account given here is a little vague and conflicted, it seems the STM has hired Martin Prud'homme – late of the SQ and SPVM – as a sort of security boss to reassure people that the metro is safe. But the article also quotes an STM flack as... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140627

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

The CHUM hospital is evaluating a patient who may have Ebola. Although this brief piece is padded out with information about how Canada is barring people from three African countries, etc., etc., it doesn't tell us via what route the patient in the story came... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140623

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Élyse Quenneville-Proulx, who pleaded guilty in August to the 2022 murder of 81‑year‑old Rollande Ducharme, was sentenced Thursday to 18 years. The judge commented again on how the murder would have unaccountably passed unnoticed had Ducharme's niece not... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140619

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

The Canada Malting plant in St‑Henri has been declared dangerous. CBC Radio news just said part of St‑Ambroise has been closed because of the hazard. I've become cynical and am wondering if the sudden declaration of risk is a convenience because someone... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140617

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

La Presse's Maxime Bergeron ponders how Montreal has largely been a taboo topic in the election campaign. None of the party leaders asked to consult the mayor – she had to request meetings with them. Also, the leaders held only 8% of their campaigning... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140614

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Elections Quebec's rules make it more difficult for the homeless to vote than the rules from Elections Canada during federal elections. There had been a proposal last year to change Quebec's law to be similarly lenient but this piece says the PQ objected to... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140612

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Two legal rights groups are bringing a challenge to the new law against insulting police (and other municipal employees). The basis of their objection is the attack on freedom of expression, but this is also a good point: "À l'heure où la confiance envers... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140609

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

SMF thinks the general success of the cycling event will reflect well on the city. It wasn't hell all around, as she had predicted – if anything, it was the reverse. The blue collar strike got settled before the big event, the weather stayed pleasant and... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140603

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Contradicting a recent piece La Presse ran about REM ridership numbers being lower than forecast – as admitted in the lede to the current piece – there's news now about its surging popularity and the consequent lack of sufficient parking spaces. The... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140600

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is not a holiday in Quebec – although federal services will be closed – but there will be a march from Westmount Park to Cabot Square, and CBC lists other events in Quebec. Indigenous leaders reminded us that... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140596

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

A vacant building in Verdun Sud-Ouest borough has been occupied by protesters who have hung out banners and signs about the housing crisis. Meantime, the population of the Notre-Dame tent city continues to grow.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140592

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The CCA is celebrating founder Phyllis Lambert as she prepares to turn 100.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140589

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Le Devoir looks at the vastly expensive task of maintaining the city's infrastructure.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140586

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The Mount Royal cross will go dark for a year while the structure is reinforced and the lighting system updated. Quoting Matthew Hays on Facebook: "I celebrate the cross for its sheer kitsch chutzpah. It lights up! And it lights up purple when a Pope dies! I... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140584

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

A coroner's report out on Tuesday says that the power failure in January in the west end was the direct cause of the death of Sheila Padmore, 87. The NDG resident died during a cold snap when the power was out.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140582

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

SPVM documents show that some police working in Montreal North station 39 had become radicalized, but in which sense, the documents don't say.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140579

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Although CN uses herbicides on its rights of way that are forbidden by the city, it refuses to reveal when or how much, as a federal body not answerable to the city.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140577

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Interesting description of the "chaos" of the men's road race on Sunday in the Guardian. I was struck by the photo of the three top riders. Brandon McNulty is 28 years old. I would not have guessed.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140574

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

REM ridership is lower than forecast; this piece is seeing it in terms of disappointment to nearby real estate developers. [But see comments below.] But living too close might not be a great idea. A woman living near Sunnybrooke REM station in DDO has... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140571

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

There has been growing anger in Park Extension over a crackhouse at 7015 d'Outremont in that area, and relief at a report Monday on TVA about the situation with its attendant crime and unpleasantness. Remains to be seen how the situation will be handled.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140565

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

A Toula Drimonis post pointed me to this excellent Martin Patriquin piece in the Walrus, on PSPP's shift from being a progressive democrat to a right‑wing xenophobe.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140563

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The SPVM has sent the dossier on racist actions in its Montreal North station to the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (DPCP) but aside from that fact is remaining tight‑lipped about the details and the extent of the charges.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140559

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Law student Aris Chikh pleaded guilty Monday to dangerous driving causing death and to driving while intoxicated. In March 2025 he was doing more than 140km/h downtown in a 50km/h zone when he plowed down Ani Mardiros on René‑Lévesque and kept going. He... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140557

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Rizzuto compadre Stefano Sollecito, behind bars as he waits for his trial, has cancer and has asked several times for compassionate bail release because of his illness. He was turned down again Monday morning, the judge maintaining that Sollecito's loss of... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140555

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Montreal City Weblog @mtlcity.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Two workers on the Blue Line extension were injured in separate incidents recently, and other safety issues have plagued the worksite.... mtlcityweblog.com/?p=140551

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