The new league continues to break barriers for women’s hockey just days into its start.
When the puck was dropped for the first time on Jan. 1 in Toronto, it was apparent that the new Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) was bound for success.
In the span of just four months, the league has been built from the ground up. In September, each team took part in the first PWHL draft where rosters began to take shape. Fans had their first glance at what each roster would look like, sparking interest and ticket sales through the fall months. By November, teams had finalized their rosters and prepared for training camp. Once the calendar flipped to 2024, the time for teams to take to the ice was finally here.
The inaugural game saw Toronto host New York at the Mattamy Athletic Centre. The game reached a historic viewership, gathering 2.9 million views through its coverage on CBC, Sportsnet, and TSN. On top of this, Minnesota hosted Montreal on Jan. 6 in front of 13,316 fans, a new record for a professional women’s hockey game.
Locally, Montreal played their franchise’s first home game on Jan. 13. The game took place at the sold-out Verdun Auditorium in front of 3,245 fans. The large crowd at the historic venue made for an electrifying home opener. With names like Ann-Renee Desbiens, Erin Ambrose, and superstar forward Marie-Philip Poulin, it should be no surprise that Montreal’s passionate fan base is ready for a second professional hockey team. The team will split the remainder of its home games this season by playing at the Verdun Auditorium and Place Bell in Laval.
All of the milestones this new league has already accomplished is an outstanding sign of what is yet to come. It is sometimes tough to gauge how a brand new league is doing in terms of interest from the first week of its existence. In the case of the PWHL, there is no debate that fans are ecstatic to see the action and talent this league has to offer.
As the season progresses, the PWHL will undoubtedly continue to display the skills and talent of its star players. For the first time outside of non-league tournaments, we are seeing a best-on-best professional women’s hockey league. It is the beginning of a new era— an era that is truly exciting for the players, the cities, and the fans of women’s hockey.
JMSB student Daniel Lomanto tells us about the highs and lows of opening his own business at 23 years old
Months into the pandemic, we’ve seen its devastating effects on our economy and local businesses. Though the federal government has been scrambling to offer guidance and financial support for business owners, the sharp decrease in clientele and consumers’ continuing aversion to retail therapy has hit hard.
As COVID-19 spread, the situation evolved rapidly everywhere: within days of the announcement of the first case of the virus in Canada, the federal government announced a countrywide lock down, and Quebec ordered to close all non-essential businesses. For Daniel Lomanto, the owner of Italian deli-grocery shop BOSSA, it was the ability to react quickly to the new measures that spared him from needing to close shop and allowed his store to flourish. Located on Wellington Street, the main artery in the borough of Verdun, the store serves a large portion of the neighbourhood; it was therefore crucial for him to adapt not only for his customers, but also to make a living with the business he is passionate about.
However, the pandemic was only one of the many adversities faced by Lomanto, who, as he opened the business at the age of 23, lost everything to a fire. In true socially distanced fashion, we discussed his store’s story over the phone, and how he was able to overcome difficult times.
EL: Tell me about when you first opened the restaurant.
DL: We opened for the first time about two and a half years ago. We chose Verdun because I’m a resident of Lasalle, and all my friends growing up were from Verdun, so it was always close to home. When I started working in restauration, four to five years ago, I was always working on Wellington Street. I always saw that there was a potential for an Italian prêt-à-manger and catering place because there was nothing in the area like that. So I got together with my mom — she’s my business partner — and we opened this place.
EL: What did opening this business mean to you?
DL: Honestly, it’s family to me. My mother’s here all the time, my grandparents come here to help. We always make all of our sauces at home. I have a pretty big garden in my backyard that they help take care of. It just brings everyone together, and I couldn’t think of a better thing for us to be doing right now.
EL: What hardships did you encounter when you first opened BOSSA?
DL: Starting a business at 23 is really hard. I was at John Molson at the time — I still am, but studying part-time — but managing, building everything up, making everything come together, and even just having people take me seriously at that young of an age, those were some of the hardships I had at the beginning.
Then, two months into opening, we had a fire: one of my freezers short-circuited overnight, causing an electrical fire, and we had to close for seven months. We renovated the place and had to settle everything with the insurance company.
EL: How did you feel?
DL: It was a very low time. But at the same time, I tried to be optimistic about things and I saw it as an opportunity to figure out what was and wasn’t working. We sort of redesigned and reorganized the entire business after the fire, so I always look at it as a blessing in disguise.
EL: How did you react when COVID first hit in March?
DL: When COVID happened a couple of months ago, we made the decision to stay open — obviously while taking precautions. But having closed for seven months the year before, I wasn’t about to close down again. We powered through and it ended up working in our favour. We were one of the only places that stayed open on the entire street, so our clientele was really happy; they were extremely grateful.
EL: Did you find that you were prepared when COVID hit?
DL: Yeah, I could say that. When the fire hit… it changes your mentality. You just want to go through with it and nothing can stop you, you’re invincible. So when COVID hit around mid-March, the second they shut the city down, people were lining up down the corner to buy our sauces, our pasta. So from then it was just we’re going straight through, we’re not stopping anymore. The fire didn’t really help us, but it did give us the drive to keep going.
We’re pretty lucky because we were always a take-out and grocery place, we never really had seats inside. Within the first couple of days, we were able to implement having two people at a time, wearing a face mask, hand sanitizers everywhere, and we put up plexiglass everywhere.
EL: How did you feel having your family help you throughout the crisis?
DL: It’s tricky, it was a bit stressful. I don’t want to say I was risking anything, but at the same time, my mom was here. I was always making sure that she was being very careful, and I had to be very careful as well.
EL: Do you have any upcoming projects for your business?
DL: We’re always trying to improve, and I definitely embrace the feedback from my clientele. They’ll sit down and talk to me and give me new ideas, so it’s a real personal relationship with all my customers. We’re constantly working on projects, but other than coming up with new menu items, it’ll have to be day-by-day for now — we’ll have to look into picking things up once everything settles.
EL: What has been the most rewarding part of owning your business?
DL: Just having fun, every day. When I walk into work, it never feels like I’m working. It’s weird to say, but it almost feels like I’m doing a big school project. There are always new things that we want to try, and even just getting customers’ opinions — it’s really fun.
Grand Potager is an urban agricultural centre in Verdun that brought new life to the district’s municipal greenhouses. Photo by Mackenzie Lad.
A second breath of life for Verdun greenhouses
Two years ago, a group of people from the farmers market in Verdun decided to revitalize local greenhouses. This idea has sprouted into what is now Grand Potager, an urban agricultural centre in the district’s municipal greenhouses. Grand Potager has spent the last few years revamping local greenhouses as a way to give back to their surrounding community.
Lia Chiasson, co-founder of Grand Potager, explained that she and a group of people were walking alongside riverbanks with unused greenhouses and felt they had to do something. “One person talked to another who talked to another and that’s how the project was born,” said Chiasson. She explained that, because greenhouses are municipal property, although they submitted their district application in the fall of 2016, it wasn’t until 2018 that they were able to launch their pilot year. Grand Potager currently consists of twelve members.
According to Grand Potager’s website, the centre promotes urban agriculture—or growing food in a city setting and distributing it within local food systems. “Our goals are also forming social ties in gardening altogether,” said Chiasson. Grand Potager positively impacts the fabric of their community by bridging communication between other organizations working out of the Verdun greenhouses, local residents, and the municipal borough.
Clementines in full-bloom at the Grand Potager greenhouses in Verdun. Photo by Mackenzie Lad.
Chiasson explained that, while people from the neighbourhood frequent the greenhouses more often, everybody is welcome. “It’s a beautiful place near the river,” she said. “It’s perfect to do some workshops, conferences, harvest.” She also said that different people need different amounts of land for their gardens, and that they’ll do their best to accommodate that. “We have to meet the needs of all.”
Grand Potager is a vector of food security for its patrons, which are mostly local farmers. “We’re offering organic and local products of a good quality to our members. With this food security, we also teach [members] about vegetables, how they grow, where [they are] from. It allows [them] to develop culinary knowledge,” said Chiasson. Grand Potager offers many weekly events, both to Verdun residents and the general public. According to their website, the centre participates in the Verdun farmers market every week and occasionally partners up with other agricultural centres, like the Concordia Greenhouse. Chiasson said kids are more than welcome, and that a few schools near Verdun arranged for their students to visit and discover the greenhouses.
Grand Potager will be hosting their Harvest Party Friday, Oct. 12 in the Verdun greenhouses at 7000 Boulevard LaSalle, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Photo by Mackenzie Lad.
This system allows for a sustainable environment and, thanks to cleverly thought-out spacing and creative garden construction, Verdun is slowly turning green. “With our plans, we reduce heat islands, so we reduce greenhouse gases,” said Chiasson. “It’s also a sustainable economic view. The local market is a business incubator for emerging companies. It can help to develop their projects in greenhouses, also linked to food security.”
The next step for Grand Potager is to acquire more greenhouses, reorganize them to optimize their greenspace, and ultimately, welcome a larger community.
For more information about how you can get involved with Grand Potager and become a member, visit their website grandpotager.ca.
The Grand Potager Harvest Party is on Friday, Oct. 12. in the greenhouses at 7000 Boulevard LaSalle, Verdun, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Put some spring in your step along the St. Lawrence
I don’t know if it is the spirit of the semester break, but something in the air is fizzy and sweet and I can’t help myself from chanting: “Spring! Spring!” The idea may seem crazy, as February 2015 was the coldest month ever recorded in most of Quebec, according to CJAD. Nevertheless, doesn’t the sunlight feel warmer? February is history now; March is a new start! Spring will be here soon enough—you can count on it.
This piece is addressed to those of you who will embrace your inner child as the sun hits the snow and creates wonderful puddles to jump in. It is for those of you who are active and for whom waking up to feel the breeze is the best thing ever. It is for the contemplatives who need to find nature, history and the contemporary world at peace.
Flavourful Kingsway Bon Bons, a rainbow of pleasure. Photo by Béatrice Viens Côté.
Only a few neighbourhoods can answer those needs in Montreal, and Verdun and LaSalle are probably those that can do so best. Indeed, located along the St. Lawrence River, Verdun and LaSalle are heavenly for those who enjoy moving, playing and admiring nature. Not too far from the city, the quietude is an inspiration as much for those who live there as for those passing by.
It would be unfair not to mention the work that was done in the last 20 years to improve the neighbourhoods. Not so long ago, in the 1980s, Verdun—which used to be a city of its own—was almost abandoned. Buildings were getting old, and the shopping centres built outside the city became the object of fascination for most consumers, thus affecting commercial streets such as Wellington St. A similar scenario applied to LaSalle as well. Thankfully, citizens, urban planners and leaders combined forces to help revitalize the two neighbourhoods. Programs were put in place and led to, among other things, the enhancement of the riverbanks.
Today, no hideous buildings harm the beauty of the river. A green area was protected from Highway 20 all the way to Lachine, this being the perfect setting for the creation of pathways and bike paths. Named “Piste cyclable des Berges,” the bikeway spans about 20 kilometres, following the river and crossing various parks—Parc Arthur-Therrien, Parc du Quai-de-La Tortue; Parc de l’Honorable George-O’Reilly; Parc des Rapides; and Parc René-Lévesque, to name a few. In the first days of spring, cyclists, skaters and simple wanderers hit the road.
On their way, not only will they enjoy the scenery but they will also be able to admire sculptures made by artists from here and elsewhere. The bikeways are also a great opportunity to encounter old buildings such as the Nivard-De Saint-Dizier House (built in 1710), at 7244 Lasalle Blvd., and the Fleming Windmill (built in 1827), at 9675 Lasalle Blvd. Both of these important heritage structures can be visited once temperatures becomes milder, mid-May. Maison Nivard-de Saint-Dizier more particularly is a museum and archaeological site, and will no doubt feed the history enthusiasts out there.
Along the waterfront, passers-by might want to stop at Comptoir Luncheonette 21 behind Verdun’s Natatorium, at 6500 Lasalle Blvd., which serves healthy snacks, sandwiches, salads, coffee, smoothies, fresh juices and ice cream—a perfect deal for the summery days!
Promenade Wellington is easily accessible via bus and metro – Eìglise Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs is also said to be quite remarkable. Photo by Béatrice Viens Côté.
For thrill-seekers and wave aficionados, don’t worry—you will also find satisfaction in these neighbourhoods! It must be mentioned that adventure often comes with a price—so don’t be too surprised. A favourite option is Kayak Sans Frontières (KSF), located in Parc des Rapides, 7770 Lasalle Blvd. The nautical activity centre allows you to try kayaking, river surfing, and stand up paddleboarding (SUP), via lessons (starting up at $39) and rentals. The advantages of KSF are that it is open to everyone, from beginners to experts, and that it has a reasonable student to instructor ratio, thus ensuring a safe, quality service. KSF’s mission is to help people discover Montreal by the means of water sports, and I feel reassured to know security is an important, if not the most important value for them. Because, let’s admit it—the Lachine rapids can be quite scary. KSF seems to have chosen a successful path, combining fun and exhilaration with security, perseverance and commitment.
A second option is the Saute-Moutons jet boating, which departs from Quai de l’Horloge in the Old Port, and confronts the Lachine rapids further down in Verdun and LaSalle. At the cost of $67, it seems worth the investment. If you want to see for yourself, know that both KSF and Saute-Moutons reopen their business in May. Let’s go spring: you can do it!
Outside the water and beside the shore, you will mostly find residential areas. There are a few commercial streets, the main one being Wellington. Something about Wellington St. reminds me of Mont-Royal Ave. in the Plateau. That surely has to do with the previously mentioned refurbishment of the late ’80s. Interment of electrical wires, restoration of store façades and authorization of terracing all helped renew the road’s appearance. Furthermore, the situation keeps getting better.
In 2010, alcohol sale regulations in Verdun freed up a little, opening opportunities for microbreweries and performance venues. Before, sales were solely restricted to restaurants, grocery stores and the SAQ. There is certainly a sense of positivity that can be felt in the neighbourhood. There seems to be hope for merchants and a bright future for the population. Along with the revamping of the St. Lawrence shore, such things make me realize how much work has to be done in order to build our neighbourhoods, our city. The success of an area can never be taken for granted, but where there is passion, willingness and dedication, there is hope.
Since spring rhymes with sweetness (at least, in my scat-y way of speaking), I urge you to stop by confectionery Winifred Pepperpott at 3870 Wellington St. Recently opened in November 2014, the Victorian-inspired watermelon-coloured shop sells a variety of candies, mainly American and British classics, as well as European importations. Following owner Valérie Trudeau’s recommendations, I tried the Kingsway Bon Bons, which are like vintage Starbursts, and I was happily satisfied. Trudeau, who owns the store with her husband Louis-Charles Letendre, showed me around, describing her favourite candies. If you ever go (and I hope you will!), don’t limit yourself to the polite “Hi!” and shy smile. Go ahead and talk with them, ask questions—their passion and energy are sincerely contagious. This is part of the whole concept they sell, and you will leave the store with an even greater smile (because it can’t be denied: candies by themselves will already do part of the job—but fantastic service will do the rest).
Speaking of nature and renewal—or, even better, rebirth—seems to link easily with spring… Who knows, if we talk and talk about it, buds may want to blossom a little bit sooner.
