Westmount house firebombed
A posh house in Westmount was firebombed overnight, the second time it’s been the target of trouble in the normally quiet wealthy enclave. Two cars were burned there last year. CBC’s report is discreet and I was hoping QMI would have more nitty gritty about who owns the house and why it might be under attack – they usually do, on stories like this – but nope. Not a peep. So, journalists, what’s the story?
Update: Daniel Renaud at La Presse says it’s actually the third time this house has been targeted. The caption merely suggests it’s a matter of “une histoire de dette ou de transaction immobilière.”
BB 08:19 on 2019-03-13 Permalink
Registered owner is Maria Svourenos Trust
dhomas 08:20 on 2019-03-13 Permalink
The home seems to belong to one Maria Svourenos. Apparently, she’s a life coach: http://m.yourcoachmaria.com/maria.html
Kate 08:57 on 2019-03-13 Permalink
Good research, dhomas and BB. Thank you.
Maybe I should’ve become a life coach, if it buys you mansions in Westmount.
Blork 11:41 on 2019-03-13 Permalink
I suspect the mansion came first. “Self image expert coach” is definitely a career path for the (otherwise) idle rich.
YUL514 15:34 on 2019-03-13 Permalink
Long time lurker here, first time posting. Further digging online would reveal the husband is the more likely target, John Essaris, I’ve personally never heard of the name, seems he’s in the restaurant business though.
dhomas 05:04 on 2019-03-14 Permalink
The Journal has more info about John Essaris: https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2019/03/14/sa-luxueuse-maison-encore-incendiee
Paul 15:46 on 2019-03-18 Permalink
Except he’s dead: https://www.urgelbourgie.com/en/necrology-obituaries/21278-john-essaris
Harold P 08:13 on 2021-02-28 Permalink
John Essaris inherited businesses from his father, James Essaris. He never actually started anything on his own to any success. Chronic problems with franchise owners and aborted business attempts – he’s had a bad reputation amongst certain people for a long time. Googling will chronicle various business histories and why someone is angry enough at him to bomb his cars and home on numerous occasions.
Cafe Supreme I believe was his first business, but that was started by his father and passed on to him – at the time, his father had his own offices above his on Drummond St in a brownstone, and his father subsidized various costs, including credit cards, gasoline, car repair costs, insurance for cars etc. Michael Dickey, who eventually married John’s sister and James’ daughter (a successful businesswoman who had a successful children’s store in Westmount prior to taking over Michael’s position as VP at James’ office, upon Michael’s death) Peggy Essaris, was the one who insisted this subsidization end permanently.
John has a fairly notorious history in being sued, aborted enterprises – he’s not a successful businessman like his father, despite his home in Westmount etc. That’s all thanks to James, unlike Peggy who established herself successfully on her own.
The article linking his death – I’m not entirely sure if that is the same John Essaris in this post – I only saw John a few times, more than 20 years ago now. The terse line on John does not state anyone other than the wife’s name – at the very least it would have the names of his father, sister, and children’s names.