On Feb. 10, 2021, Villaggi had been notified by the Jean Coutu Group that the company would not renew neither the sublease agreement for the pharmacy premises, nor the franchise agreement.

If the franchisee wasn’t leaving the premises in time, which is by Oct. 31, 2022, the date set by Jean Coutu, a consequence was imposed: expulsion.

Even if, at the time, the owner wanted to leave the premises before the end of that month, and sell the pharmacy, we can conclude today that he had time to change his mind.

Heavy Legal Proceedings

In addition to the 2017 lawsuit, Villaggi also accused Jean Coutu in September 2021 of breaching the franchise agreement.

That contract describes the granting to Villaggi of an exclusive protected territory. That means no other Jean Coutu branch could establish itself in that location.

The territory was delimited by the René-Laennec Boulevard. However, another pharmacy is established there, but “on the other side of the street”.

Villaggi requested the disaffiliation of that other business, whose existence, according to him, contravened his contract, and which was in direct competition with him.

At the time, the judge called the request “inadmissible and abusive”, and therefore didn’t grant Villaggi’s request.

On Nov. 4, 2022, Villaggi appealed the decision in a final legal attempt to save his business, which has been active in Laval for more than 30 years.

The pharmacist pleaded a double argument, consisting of administrative objects related to the lease, but above all, the harm that the closure of the pharmacy would cause to patients.

The file was deemed incomplete, and the judgment, passed on Oct. 18, ordered the owner to respect the continued obligation to leave the premises.

About the Employees

Testifying under the anonymity, a former pharmacy employee testified that employees present on Nov. 8 were brutally escorted outside by ushers. No justification was received from Jean-Coutu that day.

Since then, the company has remained silent, and the human resources department refuses to answer questions from employees and provide them with a termination.

“The Jean Coutu Group should have taken care of the employees, and given psychological help if needed, especially because of the way we were treated,” said Andrea Villaggi, former pharmacy employee and daughter of the owner, on her Facebook account. “[They could have] relocated us elsewhere, apologized for the situation, but no, instead, no explanation was provided, only savage and unjustified treatment towards the employees.”

For its part, the Jean Coutu Group said, in an email to the Courrier Laval News, that it understands the difficult situation for Villaggi’s employees.

“Although we are not the employer, we continue to remain available to assist Villaggi if he wishes,” the Jean Coutu Group added. “We’re hoping, and doing everything to get the situation back to normal as soon as possible for patients and employees.”

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L’article Closure of Vimont’s Jean Coutu: Final Decision est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

This will cause complete night closures on an irregular basis until Dec. 5.

Traffic Management

During complete closures in both directions, a detour for drivers will be offered via Highway 19.

Heavy vehicles will instead use Highway 15.

Let’s note that the work could be cancelled, or postponed without notice due to operational or weather constraints. (N.P.)

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L’article Pie-IX Bridge: Complete Closures Until December 5 est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

A sheet stuck on the door awaited customers on Tuesday morning. The note, from the Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec, indicates that patient files of pharmacist Luigi Villaggi are now in the possession of pharmacists Émilie Larivière and Jean-Michel Dubeau.

Patients will now have go at the pharmacy located two kilometers further, on René-Laennec Boulevard.

Surprise

Although the files will be transferred to another pharmacy nearby, the decision will cause some problems for patients, especially for those who can’t drive to get there.

“We find it hard to understand the present situation,” said Dominique Palardy, a former customer of the pharmacy. “This is unheard of in the history of the company. At the same time, I greatly esteem Villaggi, who’s been there for me all my life as a patient. He’s an extraordinary pharmacist, and there for his customers.”

All customers met by Courrier Laval have a similar speech, as they don’t understand the current situation, but have only good, positive words for Villaggi.

Explanations

For its part, the Jean Coutu Group has confirmed the case has gone to court. Questions sent by the Courier Laval had yet to be answered when writing this piece.

The official reasons behind the closure therefore remain unknown for the moment. The pharmacy is no longer displayed on the company’s website, as if it had vanished overnight.

“After all those years of work, dedication and relentlessness, my father was kicked out of his pharmacy and all his employees were laid off,” said Andrea Villaggi, daughter of the pharmacist owner, through her Facebook profile. “In less than a few hours, more than 30 years of work were destroyed.”

Two security guards from the Maxi Security and Protection Agency have had the mandate to watch the front of the pharmacy since Thursday, Nov. 10. Apparently, there was a strike that day, which would justify the presence of increased surveillance.

Since the sudden closure of the business, the pharmacy taking over has been overwhelmed. In addition to having a smaller space, employees working there seem overwhelmed, drugs shelves are stripped, and the waiting lines are getting longer.

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L’article Sudden Closure of Vimont’s Jean Coutu est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

That same service road will be closed between Highway 13 and the 100th Avenue, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. The Highway 13 (northbound) access ramp for Highway 440 will also be closed.

Road users travelling on Highway 440 (eastbound) will be invited to take the detour via exit 19 (R-117/Curé-Labelle Boulevard/Chomedey Boulevard), Road 117 (Curé -Labelle Boulevard), Cléroux Boulevard, and the 100th Avenue to get back to the service road.

Those travelling on Highway 13 (northbound) can avoid the closure via Dagenais Boulevard (West), and Highway 13 (southbound), to then take Highway 440 (eastbound).

Let’s note that the work could be cancelled, or postponed without notice due to operational or weather constraints. (N.P.)

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L’article Complete Closure of a Part of Highway 440 Service Road to Come est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

Over the next weeks, the company will move its production and equipment to other factory in Quebec (Saint-Louis de Richelieu), and Ontario (Wallaceburg). However, the company’s headquarters will remain in Quebec, being relocated to the Sainte-Thérèse distribution centre.

As for the employees of Sainte-Rose, Whyte’s is looking to relocate as many of them to its other establishments in Quebec.

In its press release, Whyte’s specifies it will continue to serve its North American foodservice customers, as well as Canadian consumers, by producing high-quality pickled products.

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L’article Whyte’s Closes its Factory in Sainte-Rose est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

The closure is necessary in order to carry out work that’s part of the Pie-IX Bridge construction site.

It will be in effect from Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 12:01 a.m., and will end on Tuesday, Nov. 8, at 5 a.m.

Road users will be asked to continue on Highway 440, westbound, and take the detour via exit 30 (Road 125 south/Pie-IX Boulevard/Montreal), Route 125 (Pie -IX Boulevard), and Highway 440, eastbound, to be able to exit at Montée Saint-François.

Let’s note that the work could be cancelled, or postponed without notice due to operational or weather constraints. (N.P.)

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L’article Closure of Exit 31 for the Pie-IX Bridge est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

That work will take place between Louis-Bisson and Vachon bridges, both located in Laval. The goal of the project is to improve safety and ride comfort on that road axis.
This work step will continue until the winter, and will resume in the spring in order to carry out and complete the project.

Closures

The work will result in partial and complete night closures, as well as partial weekends on various sections of Highway 13. Access ramps will also be affected by those closures.

Between Louis-Bisson and Vachon bridges, drivers should expect night closures that will affect two or three northbound lanes. During weekends, partial daytime closures are expected, which will affect one to two lanes.

Still northbound, the Ministry’s planning complete night closures on Highway 13, between exit 12 (Samson/Notre-Dame Boulevard/Saint-Martin Boulevard) and Sainte-Rose Boulevard. That means the exit 12 ramp will also be closed.

For now, only one complete night closure is planned southbound, which is at Dagenais Boulevard’s level.

Let’s note that the work could be cancelled, or postponed without notice due to operational or weather constraints. (N.P.)

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L’article Highway 13: Complete Closures To Be Expected By Winter est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

Those closures are required in order to continue the construction of the Saint-Saëns interchange, carried out as part of the extension of Highway 19.

Route 335 will be closed between Saint-Saëns Street (east) and Dagenais Boulevard (east). The closure will be in effect, southbound, from Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 9 p.m., until the next day at 5 a.m. The north direction will be closed from Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 10 p.m., to the next day at 6 a.m.

Route 335’s closure will then extend from Laurentides Boulevard and Saint-Saëns Street (east) in both directions. This will be in effect on the night of Sept. 23–24, between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m., then on the night of September 24–25, from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Detours, especially for trucking, will be indicated, according to the routes for each of the closures. All the details can be found on Québec 511.

Let’s note that the work could be cancelled, or postponed without notice due to operational or weather constraints. (N.P.)

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L’article Highway 19 Extension: New Night Closures on Route 335 est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

The work will be carried out in the evening and at night in order to limit the impact on traffic. It should be completed by mid-October.

From Friday, September 9, at 11:59 p.m. to Saturday, September 10, at 7 a.m., the Ministry provides for the complete closure of the southern direction, between exit no. 3 (Henri-Bourassa Boulevard) and Highway 40.

A complete closure, northbound, between Highway 40 and exit no. 2 (de l’Acadie/Henri-Bourassa Boulevard /Sauvé Street), is scheduled for the same hours, but this time from Friday, September 16 to Saturday, September 17.

Depending on the following phases that are planned, it’s possible that two of four lanes will be closed in each direction, although non-simultaneously. The Ministry of Transport mentions in its press release that a complete night closure, in both directions, is a possibility.

The speed limit will be reduced in the work zone. There are also plans to set up marked detours, using temporary signs.

The work could be cancelled, or postponed without notice due to operational or weather constraints. (N.P.)

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L’article Complete Closures on Highway 15 for the Installation of Cameras est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

Users going northbound are invited to follow a detour via rue Charleroi, avenue Garon, boulevard Henri-Bourassa and Highway 19 (northbound).

Those going southbound will be able to take boulevard de la Concorde (westbound), Highway 19 south, rue Fleury, as well as boulevards Saint-Michel and Henri-Bourassa.

Some default closures will also take place tonight, starting at 9:30.

Among those, there’s the entrance from boulevard de la Concorde (east) for route 125 (south). It will be possible to take a detour, eastbound, via Vanier and Saint-Martin boulevards.

East and west entrances to boulevard Henri-Bourassa for Route 125 (north) will also be closed. Eastbound car drivers can use Léger and Lacordaire boulevards. For trucks, the drivers will simply have to continue on boulevard Henri-Bourassa, rue Albert-Hudon and boulevard Léger.

Closures can be cancelled or modified, depending on the weather conditions or operational constraints. (N.P.)

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L’article Complete Closure of Pie-IX Bridge This Weekend est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.