The organizer of the controversial party on a Sunwing flight is sowing as much discord in the air as on land, he who multiplies the offers to buy the properties of his neighbors to move them away from his small kingdom on the North Shore of Montreal.
the Journal went to the roundabout on rue Place du Coteau in Bois-des-Filion to observe the six houses and a wooded lot belonging to James William Awad. The 28-year-old man, whom Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called “Ostrogoth” last week, spent $ 6.3 million for the acquisitions.
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“No one here was surprised here to see that he made international headlines with his flight. This is just the tip of the iceberg of what he does. In the roundabout, everyone has had an offer to buy him, but some families resist. He wants to make a private club here, ”explains Pierre Châteauvert, immediate neighbor of Awad, with a sigh.
Photo from Facebook, TripleOne Inc.
The latter, who has lived in this place for 18 years, adds that Awad’s arrival has disturbed the tranquility of the neighborhood: “This summer, at least 150 people came to party. None of them complied with sanitary measures. The music was very loud, no one could sleep. The police came several times, but there was nothing they could do to stop them ”.
Photo Martin Alarie
Even though he has lived in the neighborhood for about two years, a good portion of the street already seems to belong to him.
It is impossible not to notice the many statues bearing the likeness of James William Awad in front of his residences which will be used to welcome his future clients of “Private Club 111”.
Photo Martin Alarie
In front of a house converted into a recording studio for his music, a statue of Awad holds a microphone. Another of him in a bathrobe is in front of a residence transformed into a spa.
Photo Martin Alarie
And a sign that its properties are well guarded, two sculptures with swords in hand protect the main entrance leading to its castle on top of a hill.
Photo Martin Alarie
“Everyone is wondering how he makes his money. We feel intimidated with our families for leaving here and because he wants to be the sole owner in the area. He takes himself for a king, ”thunders a neighbor, who wants to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals.
Photo Martin Alarie
At least eight Awad neighbors, who refused to identify themselves so as not to “have any problems”, said they had had offers to buy. The controversial organizer would even plan to install a gatehouse when he owns all the residences in the area.
“I don’t want neighbors either. I try to buy the houses next door so as not to have neighbors, confesses by text message and without filter Mr. Awad. They all want to sell, but they charge ridiculous prices. ”
the Journal also learned that residents are now forming a small committee to watch Awad.
“The straw that broke the camel’s back was when he put up plaques threatening to kill anyone who wanted to enter his land. People complained to the police because the children were afraid. He finally withdrew them last month, ”says one of them.
Courtesy photo
On these, we could read in English: “Any intrusion can lead to sudden death”. James William Awad initially denied the existence of these plaques and then said it was just a joke.
“To me, it doesn’t look like a joke. It is clearly a death threat. If it was a colorful poster from a movie with that word on it or a pink poster with emojis, it would be different. This plaque is clearly written to prevent people from entering the field and to arouse fear. That is illegal, ”says Me Alexandra Longueville, criminal lawyer.
Several videos posted on James William Awad’s social networks indeed show hundreds of people gathered in his woodland at the end of the summer. Party-goers party without respecting any sanitary rules, like aboard the Sunwing flight at the end of December.
“We do not comment on specific files targeting specific locations,” said the intermunicipal police service of Terrebonne, Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines and Bois-des-Filion briefly by email. The latter also declined to say whether an investigation into Mr. Awad was ongoing or not.
– With Philippe Langlois and Pascal Dugas Bourdon, Bureau of investigation
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