Well known in the Quebec City area, the Ashton restaurant chain will open its first location in the Greater Montreal area this fall.

It will be a counter located in the heart of the Montreal Premium Outlets in Mirabel.

For Ashton, this opening marks the beginning of a new phase of growth driven by the desire to establish a lasting presence elsewhere in the province.

“This is a big day for us and for our entire team,” said Émily Adam, co-owner of Ashton restaurants, in a press release. “After announcing the launch of Ashton franchises a year ago, we are now extremely proud to begin our growth in the Montreal market. We’ve long had the vision of an Ashton in the metropolis and its surroundings, and today marks a major milestone in making that vision a reality.”

Located in a high-traffic area, this new restaurant will allow poutine lovers—and those who’ve never experienced Ashton before—to discover the signature dishes that have made the brand famous for over 50 years.

The new Mirabel counter will offer a 100% Ashton experience: a full menu of classics, including milkshakes, along with online ordering, delivery service, and of course, the famous weather discount that brings smiles to customers—even in the middle of winter.

With this announcement, Ashton kicks off a new growth phase fueled by the goal of establishing a lasting presence beyond its original territory in the greater Quebec City region. The Mirabel restaurant will serve as a launching point for a carefully planned expansion of the brand into the Greater Montreal area.
(C.P./IJL)

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L’article First Ashton Restaurant on the North Shore est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

Since May 16, residents of Laval can enjoy a new Poulet Rouge location in the Chomedey district.

This is the 68th restaurant of the chain offering customizable grilled chicken bowls, including 4 in Laval.

The new location is situated at 890 Curé-Labelle Boulevard and covers an area of 1,800 square feet.

“The branch is located in a strategic spot for visibility and aligns with our expansion plan and vision to become a key player in the healthy fast food sector in Canada,” said Lauralie Tanguay, Marketing and Communications Coordinator at Poulet Rouge.

According to the professional, Laval residents showed up in great numbers during the first few weeks of the opening, but the company chose to proceed cautiously to give the team time to adapt and manage the flow before launching a special offer to celebrate the new restaurant.

Customers can still enjoy Poulet Rouge’s classics on the menu, with a choice of three bowl sizes based on brown rice, bulgur wheat, quinoa, or lettuce, topped with grilled chicken or veggie filets, enhanced by a selection of sauces and toppings.

Fifth Laval Location?
A Google Maps listing has been created for a fifth Poulet Rouge location in Laval, this time in the Sainte-Dorothée district, at the Méga Centre Notre-Dame.

At the time of writing, no opening hours are listed, and the address is not officially included in the Poulet Rouge restaurant directory on the company’s website.

The location at 1088 Desserte Ouest Street is listed for lease on the website of the mall’s real estate developer, Harden.

The latter seems to be going all out to attract major tenants with the recent opening of a Sephora store and the upcoming arrival of a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop. Could Poulet Rouge be the next addition to its lineup?

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L’article New Poulet Rouge in Chomedey est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

The Petits Bonheurs festival team in Laval is celebrating both its 15th anniversary and the City of Laval’s 60th by offering nearly a hundred free shows and workshops for little ones across the region, from May 1 to 11.

To mark this doubly meaningful year, the festival’s activities will take place in a dozen different venues, in collaboration with 16 local community organizations.

For the first time, Petits Bonheurs will present two shows and two workshops at the Espace citoyen des Confluents, a new neighborhood service center in Saint-François that opened in November 2024. To highlight this major addition to the area’s services, all presentations at this location will be free of charge.

“We’ve never hosted this many shows before,” says Julie Doneda, coordinator of the youth program at the Maison des arts de Laval (MDA). “11 different shows and 39 performances—that’s a huge number! This is largely thanks to the festivities we’re able to organize with support from the City’s 60th anniversary. On May 10 and 11, the final weekend of the festival, there will be a full lineup of activities at the MDA, showcasing creations developed with the City’s support.”

Laval-Based Collaborations

On the final two days of the festival, more than a dozen free activities will be offered at the MDA to wrap up the celebration, which is geared toward children ages 0 to 6.

Three Laval-based theatre companies are involved in this special edition. Théâtre Incliné created the immersive installation Poissonneries, which will be accessible almost throughout the entire festival. Théâtre Fêlé will host the closing celebration on May 11, complete with surprises and a culminating parade. Théâtre Omnivore will offer a musical theatre workshop for children aged two and up.

In addition to these special collaborations, the trio will present their youth-focused productions: Momo le chameau (Théâtre Fêlé) and Juju et Marcelle (Théâtre Omnivore), which have previously toured Laval parks in summer, as well as Jour Bleu, Théâtre Incliné’s brand-new creation.

“This year, we’re especially able to showcase Laval’s own organizations, something we can’t always do since they don’t always produce content specifically for young children,” says Julie Doneda. She also praised the City of Laval’s Early Childhood Creation Support Program and emphasized the importance of fostering creation for this audience.

Program Highlights

All art forms are included in the 2025 Petits Bonheurs lineup—from performing and visual arts to circus, dance, and puppetry.

Outdoor presentations also play a key role this year, with the participatory juggling workshop L’art des poïs at Parc Chopin, and the shows Payzages (dance-theatre) and Hiatus (circus arts), presented in the MDA’s courtyard.

The Petits Bonheurs festival will take place from Thursday, May 1 to Sunday, May 11, all across Île Jésus.
More info: https://www.laval.ca/culture/activites-culturelles/evenements-festivals/petits-bonheurs-laval

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L’article A Year of Firsts for Petits Bonheurs in Laval est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

On Saturday, February 22, and Sunday, February 23, residents of Laval are invited to take part in two free winter activities: Fabreville en Neige and Fest’hivernal.

Fabreville en Neige

On Saturday, February 22, from 1 PM to 4 PM, residents are welcome to join a free family-friendly winter festival at Parc Isabelle (400 Jacques Street, Fabreville).

Several local organizations will be present to offer cultural and sports activities, as well as delicious treats.

Participants can take part in a snow castle challenge, enjoy giant and inflatable games, go skating and sledding.

Free hot chocolate will be available on-site, and a churro food truck will also be present.

This is the first edition of the Fabreville en Neige festival, an event organized by M’Iles Lieux Ensemble, the community table for Sainte-Rose/Fabreville-Est.

Fest’hivernal

On Sunday, February 23, it’s time for Fest’hivernal, organized in partnership with Loisirs Bon-Pasteur, at Parc Bernard-Landry (387 Boulevard des Prairies, Laval-des-Rapides).

From 11 AM to 4 PM, residents can participate in cardio fitness sessions, storytelling around the fire, skating lessons, and snow painting.

There will also be inflatable games and mascots, along with the traditional hot beverages to keep everyone warm.

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L’article Two Free Winter Festivals in Laval This Weekend est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

For the past few weeks, a mural by Toronto artist Jacquie Comrie has adorned two facades of the Saint-Martin Towers in the Chomedey neighborhood. While many people are pleased with the colorful addition to the urban setting, others are questioning the cost of such an installation and the choice of an Ontario-based artist.

The gigantic work, titled *Inner Child Healing*, enhances the City of Laval’s public art collection as part of an initiative led by MU, a charitable organization specializing in mural development.

The municipality states that it invested $306,100 in the creation of this 11,000-square-foot artwork. This amount was included in the city’s public art budget.

Mixed Reactions

On social media, citizens are questioning the use of public funds.

“How much did this ‘magnificent’ mural cost?” wrote a Laval resident, addressing Alexandre Warnet, Laval-des-Rapides municipal councilor, who shared photos of the work on Facebook. “I imagine this Toronto artist was the only one available and the cheapest compared to Quebec or Laval artists? The planting of trees in certain places (like Kraken Square, for example) must surely blow the city budget, preventing the creation of green spaces… Let’s paint the walls and viaducts and leave public spaces without shaded areas. We don’t need them!”

“It’s beautiful, but if we’re going to spend on visual art, it would be nice to support local artists,” added another resident under the same post.

Regarding the artist’s selection, Nesrine Saci, public affairs advisor for the City of Laval, said, “The artist selection was made by a committee composed of experts, building owner representatives, and city representatives,” following a “pre-selection of artists with experience in creating large-scale murals from Quebec, Canada, and abroad.”

Saci also noted that “the artist’s practice needed to have a significant impact in public spaces, particularly through the use of color.”

This is not the first time a public art project has sparked debate in Laval. One can recall the mural under the Concorde viaduct, completed in August 2023.

The Artwork

Since the beginning of her artistic career, Jacquie Comrie has based her creations on the science and psychology of color.

For her, it is clear that colors are connected to our emotions and can influence our mood and mental health.

The creation of the Laval mural *Inner Child Healing*, one of the largest in her career, is tied to this issue.

“People are suffering,” observes the Toronto muralist. “The world… it’s chaos right now. People are hurting, and there’s a mental health crisis. Why not use this space to create a therapeutic environment for citizens?”

It took Jacquie Comrie a month to complete the Saint-Martin Towers mural, finished in early September. Back home, she hopes her work will brighten the neighborhood.

“All the colors used in this mural are intentional and were placed in a way to evoke a feeling of joy in people,” she explains. “What do you see when you look at the mural? How do you feel? The artwork encourages introspection. It’s a piece that fosters mindfulness through color.”

L’article Mixed Reactions to a 11,000-Square-Foot Mural in Laval est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

Having to make the perilously journey from Laval all the way downtown through snowstorms, construction cones and potholes to get his comedy fix, Charles believed there was a golden opportunity in providing English comedy on the North Shore. Along with the partnership of Sid Khullar of MTLComedyClub, he started Laval’s Got Jokes, a monthly English comedy show at the House of Jazz of Laval “to prove that his town of Laval is not only the butt of the jokes”, by press release.

One year and 12 shows later, Charles, Sid, the House of Jazz and their audience celebrate the 1 year anniversary of their show (named #3 on the CultMtl list of Best Comedy Shows in town)! “The energy in this room is different. The comics and the audiences have such a good time! And the venue is so beautiful also! Thousands of chandeliers, the way the stage is set up, the balcony. It all comes together nicely.”

The gala, which will take place Tuesday May 30th at 8:00pm, will feature a lineup of comedians, as well as some special surprises, and a live house band! From witty one-liners to side-splitting stories.

“We’re thrilled to bring together such a talented group of comedians for this event,” said Charles Daghlian, the event organizer. “We want to give people a chance to forget about their troubles and just laugh for a night. I’m going all out! Live band, special surprise comedians. I’m even going to suit up for the occasion!”

On top of one year of English comedy, Charles and Sid are starting a French show at the House of Jazz as well, for the French speaking public of Laval and North-Shore in need of laughter. The first show will take place on Tuesday, June 13th.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.mtlcomedyclub.com/laval.

L’article Comedians Take Over The Iconic House of Jazz Laval est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

1. First, where to? Consider a location that offers a variety of activities for everyone to enjoy, such as a beach resort, a spa retreat or a big city with plenty of nightlife.
2. Next, choose a date that works for everyone and make sure your group has plenty of notice. This way everyone can clear their schedules and plan for work, childcare and other responsibilities.
3. Once the location and date are set, create an itinerary. Brainstorm a list of activities and experiences that everyone wants to do and make sure there’s a good mix of relaxation and adventure. For example, you could plan a day at the spa followed by a night out on the town, or a morning yoga class followed by a hike in a nearby park.
4. When it comes to accommodations, consider renting a vacation home rather than booking separate hotel rooms. A private place allows everyone stay together and creates a more intimate and relaxed atmosphere. Look for plenty of space and amenities such as a full kitchen, outdoor seating area and comfortable bedrooms so you can really go all out.
5. Finally, don’t forget the little details that can make a big difference. Bring a curated selection of snacks and drinks to enjoy during downtime, create a playlist of everyone’s favorite songs and pack some matching outfits or accessories for group photos.

With a little planning and coordination, a girls’ getaway can be the perfect way to unwind, have fun and strengthen friendships.

(Source : News Canada)

L’article How to plan the ultimate girls’ getaway est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

Thanks to a grant from the Government of Quebec’s Young Volunteers program, and months of hard work, the young artist’s first album was officially launched on Sept. 30.

Responsible for the entire development process and deployment of her work, Girard now travels to theatres in Greater Montreal, to the delight of the Quebec public.

Journey

Girard made her debut in music by singing in a choir, then in musical comedy at Georges-Vanier high school in Duvernay. She continued to gain experience by attending Cégep Marie-Victorin, and McGill University in jazz singing.

In addition to pursuing her musical career, the young woman is a music teacher, and works in the restaurant industry.

For Some Reason

The album has 13 songs and is titled like of of them. When asked why that name, Girard said “the album reflects [her] life”.

“I think we do things for some reason,” Girard said. “We don’t know how things will be received, what will happen, but we have to get started.”

The song also represents well the particular style of the artist because of the significant contrasts between the sections.

Highly influenced by United Kingdom’s (UK) jazz, Girard is also inspired by several aspects of her life when composing her melodies.

Language

Although Girard’s mother tongue is French, most of the songs of her first album are in English. Some are also bilingual, while her favourite melody is in French.

In addition to the fact the international fanbase mainly speaks English, that language also allows her to go further into introspection.

“[Performing in English] allows me to put myself in a bubble,” confessed the singer. “Sometimes, I find French very close to me. When I sing in French, I feel more exposed.”

Engaged Music

The Laval native’s goal isn’t necessarily to create committed music, but, because of her experience, several pieces are nonetheless.

It’s the case of the song “Graceful Earth”, which sends a very clear message related to climate change. In that song, the artist thanks the Earth, and apologizes for everything humans are doing to it.

translated by Alec Brideau

L’article A Laval Artist launches her First Jazz Album est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

Quebec City native, Harvey, also known by her pseudonym missharvey, is a five-time world video game champion, and video game developer.

Many may also know her, or have discovered her recently due to her victory in the second season of the reality show “Big Brother célébrités”.

NUM Festival

Participants had free access to many activities on site, or even virtually during a week where the focus was on digital.

Harvey reminds people that at the bibliothèque multiculturelle de Laval, we can do way more than just read books.

“It’s possible not only to rent or consult paper works, but also to print in 3D, play video games or even use a recording,” Harvey said.

L’article A World Video Game Champion in Town est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

The show was presented in three parts, with The Standstills and The Warning performing the first and second part of the concert, respectively.

Three Days Grace is well-known for songs like “I Hate Everything About Yout”, “Animal I Have Become”, “Never Too Late”, “Pain”, and “Break”.

The Standstills

For the band The Standstills, touring with Three Days Grace is a great opportunity to perform some songs from its new album “Shockwave”.

Singer Jonny Fox said the shows have been incredible so far.

“For us, it’s really nice to bring those songs to live on stage,” Fox said. “We’re seeing a lot of people connecting with them, which is amazing.”

The singer also added that you never really know what kind of experience you’re going to live when touring in Canada during winter.

“It’s been crazy,” he laughed. “We’ve been battling against early winter weather. However, I think it kind of makes the show a little more intense because of the storms between the performances. I’ve never seen crowds that loud before.”

Fox couldn’t point out at one favourite song from the new album. However, he laughed that the ones his band had the most fun creating were probably those that didn’t make the cut.

“Each song has a story behind it’s creation process, ” he said. “For ‘Motherlode’, we collaborated with a friend. For ‘Back To You’, that song was a last-minute thing in the studio, and it was very special that we were able to pull out something.”

While it wasn’t the first time in the province, last night’s show was The Standstills’s first in Laval.

L’article The Standstills Starts The Show at Place Bell est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.