WINNER OF A 2024 CANADIAN ARCHITECT AWARD OF MERIT
The jury appreciated the architect’s structural
and compositional commitment to an organizing grid
This design approach can be relentless or unremarkable when handled without variation
This project’s strategy yields a range of nuanced spaces with different light conditions
offering an alternative to overglazed public spaces
Nestled in the heart of the Hautes-Laurentides region
Mont Laurier is a municipality of 15,000 surrounded by forests and mountains
The region’s growth was historically driven by the province’s developing forestry industry—an industry celebrated in Mont Laurier Library’s innovative use of wood
The design features local engineered wood in an exposed reciprocal waffle frame
the first of its kind for a cultural building in Canada
The reciprocal framing system is a repetitive assembly of short glulam beams of identical eight-foot (2440 mm) lengths
which are tied together by simple connections
cross and support each other in a balancing act that is then delicately placed on round
The bi-directional structural pattern of wood is organized in a rigorous four-foot (1220 mm) grid
This measurement is the width of the standard sheets of plywood used as the architectural decking of the system
the system is designed to minimize waste and maximize the use of the primary resource of local engineered product
The criss-cross woven wood beams are fully visible on the library ceiling
The gridded framing system architecturally integrates services including lighting
It is mirrored by the use of a raised floor system
which includes a displacement ventilation and air-conditioning system
meticulous attention was paid to the efficiency of the programmatic layout
and its alignments with the grids of the both the structure and floor
This reciprocal framing concept is conceived as a full-scale prototype for a fully reproducible
The proposed structural system allows for the complete deconstruction of the framework and reuse of the glulam modular framing elements
The research and design of these mass timber components is being followed by Quebec’s Ministry of Forests
The concept is part of a vision to reduce the production of GHGs in the construction industry through designing for disassembly
stimulating reflection on the lifecycle of building components and on the potential for the decarbonization of our industry
CLIENT Ville de Mont-Laurier | ARCHITECT TEAM Stephan Chevalier (MIRAC)
Olivier Brasseur-Trottier | STRUCTURAL Latéral | MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL Pageau Morel | AREA 1,325 m2 | BUDGET $10.9 M | STATUS Under construction | ANTICIPATED COMPLETION 2025
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS INTENSITY (GHGI) 218 kg CO2e/m2
As appeared in the December 2024 issue of Canadian Architect magazine
See all the 2024 Awards of Excellence winners
You can read our jury’s full comments here
Annex House
Éva-Circé-Côté Library
Confederation Centre of the Arts Revitalization
Montreal Old Port Infill
11 Brock
Warehouse Park Pavilion
07mayAll Day14sepGroundwork Exhibition - Canadian Centre for ArchitectureMontreal, Quebec
Groundwork is a three-part film and exhibition series exploring the conceptual development and field research of contemporary architects cultivating alternative modes of engagement with new project sites
the CCA will take a critical look at how designers across diverse geographies and contexts engage with their environments in preliminary phases of projects
and stages of transformation will be highlighted as revelatory aspects of architectural work that help to deepen our understanding of new critical modes of practice and engagement
the project questions how different architects situate themselves in relation to changing natural and disciplinary boundaries
The exhibition is on from now until September 14
For more information, click here
13febAll Day11mayElana Herzog - ExhibitionToronto, Ontario
This exhibition surveys the 35 year career of Toronto-born Brooklyn-based artist Elana Herzog and is curated by internationally Canadian artist Jessica Stockholder
It features a new site-responsive installation made
This exhibition surveys the 35 year career of Toronto-born Brooklyn-based artist Elana Herzog and is curated by internationally Canadian artist Jessica Stockholder
It features a new site-responsive installation made using wallpaper designed by the artist
Part of Herzog’s process is to encrust textiles onto – and into – different surfaces
explains “while working in the building trades
I became intimately acquainted with the built environment and how it is constructed
On a very personal level I learned about how systems interact and are installed in buildings – what’s behind the walls and under the floors.”
Her work can be described as a form of domestic archeology
often engaging architecture and other more intimate forms of material culture
For more information, click here
01mayAll Day30Arthur Erickson: Design in MindVancouver, British Columbia
The Arthur Erickson Foundation has announced the world premiere of ArthurErickson: Design in Mind
The immersive pop-up exhibition will run from now until May 30
This experience marks the culmination of the AE100 Centennial Celebration
a year-long series of events honouring the life and work of architect Arthur Erickson
For more information, click here
08mayAll DayTMU Department of Architectural Science Year End Show 2025Toronto, Ontario
Toronto Metropolitan University's Department of Architectural Science encourages its students to test boundaries
and apply their skill to prevailing issues present within their evolving surroundings
Toronto Metropolitan University’s Department of Architectural Science encourages its students to test boundaries
The annual Year End Show presents the culmination of the 2024-25 academic term
showcasing the impressive and cutting-edge works of our top students in all four years of study and at the graduate level
For more information, click here
To view this year’s thesis booklet, click here
08mayAll Day14University of Montreal - Cohort 2025Montreal, Quebec
The annual exhibition of graduates from the Faculty of Planning at UdeM
will soon be back for an extended 2025 edition
A full week to admire the innovative projects of future architects
For more information, click here
09mayAll Day11housed…[un]housed...[re]housed… 2025 SymposiumToronto, Ontario
The housed…[un]housed...[re]housed… symposium will shine its academic light on our affordable housing and unhoused crisis in Toronto
Given our recent pressing issues and experiences with affordability issues
The housed…[un]housed…[re]housed… symposium will shine its academic light on our affordable housing and unhoused crisis in Toronto
the symposium will probe and discuss precedents with a critical and multi-disciplinary lens
and expand on the Fair Housing Act discourse
which prohibits discrimination and the Ontario Human Rights Commission that housing is a human right
For more information, click here
09may7:00 pm10:00 pmPresence roma XLV exhibition - CambridgeCambridge, Ontario
The University of Waterloo School of Architecture class of 2025 is proud to reaffirm its long-standing Presence in Rome with an exhibit of our design projects
For more information, click here
13mayAll DayUniversité de Montréal School of Architecture's 60th anniversaryMontreal, Quebec
Come and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Université de Montréal School of Architecture on Tuesday
the school is preparing a commemorative catalog and visuals
to reminisce on the school’s 60-year history since joining the Université de Montréal
To register for the event, click here
14mayAll Day24City Building 2025 - Call for SubmissionsToronto, Ontario
This is an exhibition of contemporary works by artists who explore our changing urban environment while looking at local architecture and urban issues
Artists interested in participating are being asked to send a image list, current CV /artist statement, and 4 to 6 jpegs to [email protected]
Selected artists will pay $40 per selected work
The exhibition will be on display from May 14 to 24
For more information, click here
24mayAll Day25Doors Open TorontoToronto, Ontario
Doors Open Toronto invites the public to explore the city’s most-loved buildings and sites
The event provides rare access to buildings that are not usually
The event provides rare access to buildings that are not usually open to the public and free access to sites that would usually charge an admission fee
it has attracted more than two million visits to nearly 700 unique locations and remains the largest event of its kind in Canada
For more information, click here
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8x Olympic medalist Regan Smith graces the cover of SwimSwam Magazine’s 2025 Women In Swimming Issue
Ilya Kharun opted out of both of his B-final berths at the Pro Swim Series
while many other stars scratched one event in favor of another
and Judy Garay combined for five Masters short-course meters world records at the 2025 Ontario Masters Swimming Championships
The Board wants to eliminate a $58 million budget deficit
is considering closing pools it doesn’t lease out and cutting the jobs of 86 aquatic instructors
lowered her own national record and came within .01 of the US Open record in prelims of the Fort Lauderdale Pro Series
February 14th, 2025 Canada, International, News
A bus carrying a Canadian swim team was involved in a collision on Thursday on a snowy highway in Canada
with several individuals being injured and transported to a hospital
Swimmers from Club aquatique régional Abitibi-Témiscamingue (CARAT) team in Val-d’Or
Quebec were travelling to the Quebec Junior cup in Blainville
Quebec when their bus collided with a heavy truck on Highway 117 around 3:45 when the driver of the bus reportedly lost control
A local health agency reports that at least 10 minors between the ages of 11 and 17 were being cared for at the Mont-Laurier hospital on Thursday evening
director of the Quebec swimming federation
Some members of the team were transferred approximately 240 kilometers (150 miles) to Montreal for further care
“Our thoughts are with all those affected by this incident,” the federation said
“We are aware that this situation can emotionally impact our athletes and coaches
especially during this competition time.”
The club posted a message on Friday morning saying that the remaining team members will be swimming in honor of their injured teammates
le CARAT ne sera représenté que d'une moitié
nous allons nager pour vous ❤️ Nos pensées sont avec vous
Posted by Club aquatique régional Abitibi-Témiscamingue – CARAT on Friday, February 14, 2025
Quebec was hit by its biggest snowstorm of the season earlier this week
with some parts seeing up to 40 cm (16 inches) of snow
Police have not yet said if the snow was a factor
though the federation encouraged caution for teams travelling to the meet that begins on Thursday
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My coach used to coach in the same area and know them
Hope everyone recovers to full health soon!
Sending love and support from the United States
going through the same journey…you’ve got this
doesn’t signal a ton of love and support when you vote in a leader that sanctions us and tells us we’re not worth being a country ✌🏼
I find the current political situation in the United States and this comment both heartbreaking
Please know that many Americans (myself included) did not vote for Trump
and find his actions as repugnant as you do
I was in the bus accident and it is great to hear message like this
More from Braden KeithSee All
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Tesla’s latest round of Supercharger Voting for Q4 2024 has wrapped up
and Canadian Tesla owners and enthusiasts can celebrate as five new locations across the country have emerged victorious
Five winning locations were also announced for the US:
These locations will soon be added to Tesla’s rapidly expanding Supercharger network
filling in critical gaps and providing more convenience for EV owners
Tesla’s Supercharger Voting program allows owners to have a direct say in where the next charging stations are built
Tesla drivers can influence the growth of the network to better suit their travel needs
ALSO READ: Tesla adding over 50 new Superchargers with more than 630 stalls across Canada in 2025
the North American leaderboard showed a strong Canadian presence
was sitting in the top spot with 1,353 votes
pushing past US locations like Johnson City
Other Canadian cities rounding out the top ten included Liverpool
Tesla has unveiled the list of potential sites for the next round of voting in Q1 2025
British Columbia leads the list with five locations
reflecting the province’s growing rate of EV adoption
and Newfoundland & Labrador round out the list with critical sites that could help facilitate long-distance travel across the country
Everyone can vote for up to five of these locations, or any others listed as potential locations around the world at Supercharger Voting. You can also suggest a location for the next voting cycle at the same link.
Tesla Deploys Mobile Megapack Superchargers to Tackle Holiday Travel Congestion
Hyundai unlocks 20,000 Tesla Superchargers in 2025 with free NACS adapters
Currently living in California, formerly from Ontario, I love all things tech, EVs, and Tesla. Contact me to share any tips or stories! Email: matt@driveteslacanada.ca
Through a partnership with various levels of government, a total 40 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are coming soon to Surrey, British Columbia. The new Level 2 chargers will be installed at 10 different […]
Rivian has told existing reservation holders that the R1T with the Max Pack battery and Quad Motor configuration will no longer be produced for the foreseeable future. The decision comes just a few months after […]
A new analysis of Tesla’s order backlog reveals that it looks like it is improving, albeit slowly. According to an analysis by Troy Teslike, Tesla’s estimated order backlog is roughly 414,000 cars as of the […]
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There was an earthquake north of Mont Laurier on Tuesday evening
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The earthquake happened about 15 kilometres north of the town at 6:59 p.m
This region is part of what geophysicists call the West Quebec Seismic Zone
where the bedrock is prone to many small earthquakes and a few larger ones
which some people would notice as a minor vibration and some wouldn’t notice at all
Mont Laurier is 160 kilometres north of Gatineau
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Text description provided by the architects. Located in the Laurentian ountains, 250 kilometers northwest of Montreal, Mont-Laurier is a small town where the forest industry still plays a centralrole despite a declining demand for lumber. The building site is located on the southern embankment of the Lievre River between the cathedral and the public school.
The guidelines of the architectural competition initiated by a local non-profit society stressed the need for a multipurpose hall able to accommodate traditional performing art events and offering a series of other configurations for cabarets, banquets, corporate events, and trade shows.
Ground Floor PlanThe capacity of the hall is variable from 700 to 270 seats in order to accommodate comedy shows, theatre presentations, school performances and various concerts. The gross floor area for the project is 3500m2 and the budget for tenderas $9.2M excluding equipment and taxes.
© Steve MontpetitThe hall is divided in three sections that combine a series of mechanisms for easy and efficient reconfiguration. The portion closest to the stage consists of a platform on synchronized Spiralifts with seating sections gliding on rails. The middle portion has telescopic seats that retract to rovide additional floor space when needed. Finally, the rear section of the hall features a mezzanine of 184 seats whose guardrail can be removed.
© Steve MontpetitThe project offers a new cultural model for regional development blurring the lines between experimental theatre
It is in a constant process of transformation offering to the community different artistic performances
corporate events and socio-cultural activities every day
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MontrealNewsThree dead after helicopter crash in La Verendrye wildlife reserveBy Marisela AmadorPublished: August 20, 2024 at 4:52PM EDT
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MontrealTornado struck Mont-Laurier Sunday: Environment CanadaBy The Canadian PressPublished: October 16, 2017 at 3:53PM EDT
MontrealNEWSDam threatens to burst in the Laurentians, residents evacuated from homesBy Rachel LauPublished: December 04, 2023 at 8:16AM EST
J’ai été informé d’une évacuation préventive à Chute-Saint-Philippe et Lac-des-Écorces en lien avec l’instabilité de la digue Morier. Je suis la situation de près avec les équipes de la Sécurité civile. La @sureteduquebec est aussi mobilisée sur le terrain
J’ai été informé d’une évacuation préventive à Chute-Saint-Philippe et Lac-des-Écorces en lien avec l’instabilité de la digue Morier. Je suis la situation de près avec les équipes de la Sécurité civile. La @sureteduquebec est aussi mobilisée sur le terrain.
In addition to extending opening hours from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. every day of the year, Forget also focused on becoming a major beer retailer. “I know the brewing business so I moved quickly to organize and increase our offering,” says Forget. “We soon became and remain one of the biggest beer retailers in the region.”
Another big winner is the ready-to-eat meals that Forget introduced. “When I was with Labatt I saw how popular those items were in some of the stores I visited so I did the same here,” he says. “It was a game changer.” From a few initial items, notably homemade spaghetti sauce, the store now sells some 200 hot and cold items—everything from sandwiches, soups and salads to desserts and snack foods.
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that was indeed an earthquake you might have felt at about lunch time on March 19
The magnitude 3.8 event struck minutes before noon in the Laurentian Mountains
with the epicentre being around 110 kilometres north of Ottawa
but reported the quake didn’t cause any damage
and none would be expected,” Earthquakes Canada said
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Nevertheless, social media was buzzing with reports of shaking being felt in Ottawa, Gatineau, Embrun, Casselman, Cornwall and elsewhere.
Earthquakes Canada reported most witnesses described the earthquake as “weak” or “light.”
The new Repentigny Theatre is the result of an architectural competition aimed at offering patrons a variable configuration room with 350 seats for various cultural activities
while also providing a prominent space for classical music
The project completes a civic ensemble called Repentigny Cultural Space
conceived and developed at the heart of the municipality
To appreciate the Repentigny Cultural Space at its true value
a terrace-observatory was conceived to provide visitors with a panoramic view encompassing a local cemetery
The space provides citizens with an opportunity to see their surrounding environment
consisting mainly of single-family residences
It also provides an opportunity to strengthen the feeling of belonging to a territory and a community
The intent was for the public spaces of the new Repentigny Theatre to energize the forecourt connecting it to the Diane-Dufresne Art Centre
and the positioning of the entrance surmounted by a marquee have been designed to maximize interactions within an outdoor space that extends the interior
The objective is to promote the holding of cultural mediation activities and socio-cultural events in an informal setting that complements the programing and contributes to the continuous animation of the place
The Repentigny Cultural Space is an ambitious and unique project
incorporating emerging values shared by the entire population to transform the experience of living together in the suburbs by creating a new public spaces
The goal was for the Repentigny Theatre to be much less introverted than an urban venue
with its public spaces opening onto the exterior
The terrace is topped by a roof made of cross-laminated wood panels which
marks the space's identity on the scale of this new urban park
as does the theatre marquee on the scale of the sidewalk it overlooks
The 2.4m x 12m x 220mm thick panels are suspended under steel beams supported by 300mm diameter HSS
finished with prefabricated tapered ends of the Cast Connex type
This deliberately expressive structure with its asymmetrical diagonals is intended as a lighter and airy counterpoint to the massive structure of the portico of the Diane-Dufresne Art Centre
which is reflected in its basin along the Allée de la Création
Wood is also present on the ceiling of the room's foyer
double-volume space opening onto the outside and featuring a stepped staircase to facilitate informal occupation and the holding of complementary activities
The room can be accessed both from the parterre and from the balcony
depending on the varied activities that can be conducted in cabaret or banquet format
in addition to the conventional configuration of the armchairs on the telescopic bleachers
To address the variety of activities and occupations
the walls were lined with a device of vertical MDF slats of 19mm x 75 mm
spaced by 38mm and arranged in front of absorbent panels of rock wool
50 mm thick and concealed by a black geotextile fabric
has been successfully used in multifunctional venues such as Mont-Laurier
and it offers the advantage of keeping the acoustics of the room alive
while canceling the risks of unwanted floating echo or excess reverberation for amplified shows
The exterior layout provides citizens with a multifunctional civic space that can be easily transformed
The open space was maintained without planning constraints
energized by the diagonals in the paving that continue inside the entrance hall
and framed by fevers that provide the necessary shade to minimize the heat island effect and offer citizens a pleasant environment in all seasons
People who participated in the design and realization
Vincent Désy (intermediate architect)
Other professionals and consultants who collaborated on the project
General contractor : l'Archvêque et Rivest ltée
Civil/Structural Engineer : SNC-Lavalin
Mechanical/Electrical Engineer : Tetra Tech QI
Landscape Architect : Fauteux et Associés
FABG changed its name in 1988 to reflect the succession of a third generation of management of the firm that now exceeds fifty years
and movements within the staff are quite rare
This stability is necessary for the transmission of a corporate culture that promotes the quality of service and products delivered
The company offers comprehensive architectural services
with specialized expertise in cultural venues and restoration and renovation projects that have earned it more than 50 awards and mentions of excellence
Mont-Laurier is a small town where the forest industry still plays a centralrole despite a declining demand for lumber
The building site is located onthe southern embankment of the Lievre River between the cathedral and the public school
The guidelines of the architectural competition initiated by a local non-profit society stressed the need for a multipurpose hall able to accommodate
traditional performing art events and offering a series of other configurations for cabarets
The capacity ofthe hall is variable from 700 to 270 seats in order to accommodate comedy shows
The gross floor area for the project is 3500m2 and the budget for tenderas $9.2M excluding equipment and taxes
The hall is divided in three sections that combine a series of mechanisms for easy and efficient reconfiguration
The portion closest to the stageconsists of a platform on synchronized Spiralifts with seating sections gliding on rails
The middle portion has telescopic seats that retract to rovide additional floor space when needed
the rear section of the hall features a mezzanine of 184 seats whose guardrail can be removed
Our architectural proposition was based on a structural grid of crosslaminated wood beams that supports the roof and creates a canopy over he main entrance
It clearly communicates the importance of wood for the region and supports the local development of new technologies that add alue to this natural resource that has a better environmental footprint than steel and concrete
The project offers a new cultural model for regional development blurring the lines between experimental theatre
"The Holy Father has united 'in persona episcopi' the Diocese of Mont-Laurier with that of Saint-Jérôme and at the same time has appointed Bishop Raymond Poisson of Saint-Jérôme as also Bishop of Mont-Laurier," the Holy See Press Office said in a statement on Monday.
The Latin term “in persona episcopi” literally means “in the person of the bishop”
and is used by the Catholic Church to indicate the union of two or more dioceses
in which the structures of each diocese such as cathedrals
seminaries and curial offices are left unchanged
It is a mild form of union between dioceses and can be a temporary provision
In some cases the “in persona episcopi” acts as a transition towards full union as a single diocese
He studied at the Seminary of the Most Holy Trinity in Saint-Bruno and at the Collège André Grasset
1983 – Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Saint-Jean-Longueuil
He obtained his Bachelor’s degree from the Theological Faculty of Montreal
1987 to 1989 - Studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University
After 1989 – Appointed special secretary to the Bishop Bernard Hubert of Saint-Jean-Longueuil
He was also the vicar and then parish priest of Saint-Georges in the Episcopal city
1995 to 2007 – Pastor of the co-cathedral of Saint-Antoine de Padoue
he was parish priest of the Pastoral Unit of Sainte-Marguerite-d'Younville and Rector of the Basilica of Sainte-Anne in Varennes
2012 – Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Saint-Jérôme and consecrated bishop on June 15
2018 – Appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Saint-Jérôme
2019 – Succeeded as Bishop of Saint-Jérôme
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But there's so much more than Tremblant to discover in the region
If you want to explore the region before summer ends
then you're in luck because it's right at Montrealers' doorsteps
Why You Need To Go: Less than an hour from Montreal
Saint-Eustache is perfect for a day trip or a weekend away thanks to its wineries
Website
Why You Need To Go: Another beautiful town in the Laurentians
Mont-Laurier is located on the banks of the Rivière du Lièvre
and is perfect for anyone looking to get in tune with nature
but Quebec's cheese capital makes for an awesome getaway
Website
Distance From Montreal: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Why You Need To Go: With so many gorgeous parks and spots to explore
Val-David needs to be on your Laurentians bucket list if it's not already
Website
Why You Need To Go: This is one of the more popular spots for a country house because it's close to the city
but still gives you the feeling of being on a getaway
Website
Distance From Montreal: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Why You Need To Go: Great in the winter, great in the summer, this town is downright fantastic at any time of the year. It's also home to the fabulous Estérel Resort which will truly make you feel like you're travelling abroad
Website
Why You Need To Go: Filled with horseback riding trails
this idyllic town is perfect for a day trip or night (or two) away
Website
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed
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We built a Welcome tour we highly recommend
This article was published more than 12 years ago
Mayor Ulrick Cherubin stands in front of city hall in Amos on Monday
They're a long way from the Haitian campus where they dreamed of life abroad at a time when their homeland was under Papa Doc's despotic grip
Former schoolmates Ulrick Cherubin and Michel Adrien
could have never imagined how far the future would actually take them
who separately fled the Duvalier regime to Canada four decades ago
are popular mayors of their respective cities in a pocket of Quebec's hinterland
The last time an outlying Quebec town made headlines on the subject of integrating minorities
it was Herouxville's story of controversy and discord
Adrien have minuscule numbers of visible minorities
the voters have repeatedly handed them fresh mandates via landslide election wins and by acclamation
said he immediately felt at home in the mining and logging community after being lured here by a two-year teaching contract in 1973
"I came here to stay for two years and now it's been 40 years," Mr
Cherubin said in a recent interview at his office in Amos
about 600 kilometres northwest of Montreal
Adrien said he received a warm welcome of his own after moving to Mont-Laurier
The former high-school physics teacher had immigrated to Montreal from Haiti the year before
was the extreme kindness of the people," Mr
The men first met in the 1960s at their Port-au-Prince university
"If we were told at the time that the two of us would become mayors of cities in Quebec
who's been Mont-Laurier's mayor since 2003
The men lost contact with each other in Haiti and didn't reconnect until they met again in Quebec during the 1990s
when both served as members of their cities' councils
have followed parallel paths to an improbable degree
Both were born in Haiti's coastal city of Jacmel
Both married nurses after moving to Quebec
And both served as city councillors for eight years before entering – and winning – their first mayoral races
Neither has looked back and both say they will seek re-election in November
The same resource-rich region also boasted a Haitian-born municipal leader in the past
a man described by many as Canada's first elected black mayor
Firmin Monestime ran the tiny town of Mattawa
about 400 kilometres from both Amos and Mont-Laurier
pioneer towns like these show an openness to newcomers
Cherubin say they have never been the target of prejudice in their adoptive communities – except for one situation that surfaced during Mr
Adrien said his rival's campaign included the slogan: "Vote for me
"His ad was very poorly received because I got close to 80 per cent of the vote," he said
"I think he got less than 10 per cent of the votes."
about 250 kilometres northwest of Montreal
did have to adjust to each other a little bit
He was one of many teachers hired to work in the region during the 1960s and '70s
some parents were surprised when they met him for the first time
"(Many parents) weren't not used to mixing with visible minorities," he said
Adrien joked that by being one of only a handful of black men in town
he was forced to maintain a pristine driving record
Neither mayor has seen their city become more diverse since they were first elected
but it's not an area of concern for Cherubin
"The colour of skin is not what makes the person," said Cherubin
"What makes a person is what's in his head
Cherubin was gently ribbed by colleagues for a slip of the tongue he once made during a meeting with members of a local First Nations community
Cherubin said he was told he mistakenly said: "We white people
we don't have the same way of doing things as aboriginals."
but says it's not a big deal if he did say it
Cherubin's first journey to Amos in 1973 took him to Mont-Laurier
which lies along the route between Montreal and Amos
a puzzled Cherubin figured that somehow he must have missed Amos
A gas-station attendant told him he had to keep going for another 350 kilometres
"I didn't think it was possible that anyone could live any further," Cherubin recalled
"I thought I had arrived at the other end of the world."
With stretches of wilderness at their doorsteps
Adrien and Cherubin have both taken an interest in fishing since moving to Quebec
Adrien has also become a dedicated partridge and hare hunter
The men have become better friends over the years — and are much closer now than they were back in Haiti
They often share ideas about managing their cities and municipal projects
But discussions about their unlikely roads to mayoralty in rural Quebec don't come up
"We've never taken the time to talk about that
life is weird — we come from pretty much the same place and we followed the same path,' " he said
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A moderate magnitude 3.7 earthquake hit 76 km (47 mi) away from Mont-Laurier, Quebec, Canada
2024 at 9.02 am local time (America/Toronto GMT -4)
The quake had a very shallow depth of 21 km (13 mi) and was felt widely in the area
The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would.No significant damage or impact is expected from this quake and no particular alert was issued
Mont-Laurier has relatively few earthquakes
Based on data from the past 25 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900
there are about 42 quakes on average per year in or near Mont-Laurier
Mont-Laurier has had at least 10 quakes above magnitude 4 since 1970
which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently
probably on average approximately every 5 to 10 years
The quake had a very shallow depth of 18 km (11 mi) and was too small to be felt by people
Mont-Laurier has had 5 quakes of magnitude 3.0 or above and 15 quakes between 2.0 and 3.0
There have been also 48 quakes below magnitude 2.0 which people don't normally feel
2024 at 12.39 am local time (America/Toronto GMT -4)
The quake had a very shallow depth of 18 km (11 mi) and was felt by many near the epicenter.