Chair of Montreal public markets board resigned after orchard was repeatedly vandalized
In the weeks before the chair of the board of directors of Montreal's Public Markets resigned from his post, Nicolas Villeneuve's apple orchard in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, Que. was the target of repeated acts of vandalism.
Police in the Lac des Deux-Montagnes area are now asking for the public's help in finding who's responsible.
They say the first incident on July 28, caused about $40,000 in damages to machinery. Then, overnight on August 3, about 350 fruit trees were cut down.
On Aug. 7, police say, a man broke into Villeneuve's home on the Domaine de Villeneuve property when his teenage son was alone inside.
That was the last straw for Villeneuve, who resigned alongside the entire board of directors.
He says it will take years to recover from the damage to his orchard.
Police are asking anyone with information to reach investigators at 450-473-4686 ext. 272.
In a letter dated Friday, Aug. 16, Public Markets of Montréal director Isabelle Laliberté stated that the board resigned to retain their "personal integrity."
According to Radio-Canada, the resigning administration was trying to change the practices within the corporation following an internal investigation and a damning report from the city's comptroller, alleging illegal acts by some producers and distributors, mainly at Jean-Talon Market.
The internal report from December 2018 reveals a system of resale and subletting of leases that has been in place for several years between certain producers and distributors, rather than through the corporation.
The report alleges that this activity was known by the board of directors, but conflicts of interest prevented any action.
Those changes are the subject of a request for a safeguard order sent to Quebec Superior Court from four sellers at Jean-Talon Market on Friday.
The sellers allege that changes to the corporation's bylaws over the composition of its board of directors received 64 per cent support from members present at a meeting in March, when two-thirds majority support is required.
They also argue the corporation is engaged in a "witch hunt" against certain members.
The public markets corporation declined to comment on the legal challenge.
Villeneuve did not wish to comment about a possible link between the vandalism and the changes to the corporation, saying he left his post "for my well-being and that of my family."
