Fall from grace: Michael Applebaum's ill-fated climb to power

Michael Applebaum's19-year climb up Montreal's political ladder brought him to the top job at city hall,but it ended a mere seven months later with his arrest on corruption charges.

After a three-year wait,Applebaum'strial in Montreal is finally getting underway in Quebec Court.

On Monday, the prosecution is expected to outline its case, arguingthatApplebaumwas involved in a scheme of corruption involving real estate projects while he wasborough mayor of Cte-des-NeigesNotre-Dame-de-Grce, between 2002 and 2012.

Applebaumhasconsistently denied all charges against him.

As the disgraced politician fights to defend himself in court, CBC News takes a look back at Applebaum'stime in city politicsand the scandal that overshadowed apromising career.

• Trial begins for ex-mayor who swore to erase corruption from Montreal City Hall

Early days: The NDG neighbourhood organizer

WhenApplebaum was sworn in as Montreal mayor in 2012, he recounted how afight to save a popular community skating rink prompted him to get involved in politics.

That skating rink was inMacDonaldPark, in Notre-Dame-de-Grce.

In 1994, when the city moved to closetherink,Applebaum was one of the local volunteers who helped keep it open, clearing the rinkafter each snowfall.

In an interview with CBC in January of that year, he called on the city to pitch in and send itssnowplows more often.

"They do show up sometimes to clean our skating rink, but we are not guaranteed. So what happens is, we have to come out, we clean the rink, and they show up the next day and say, 'Oh,the rink has been shovelled.'"

The NDG city councillor : 1994-2002

Almost a year after his fight to save the rink, Applebaum ran for city council.

In November 1994, he was elected councillor for Notre-Dame-de-Grceunder the banner ofJrmeChoquette'sParti des Montralais.

This would become the stepping stone to a career that would last nearly 19 years.

Borough mayor for CDN-NDG: 2002-12

After serving asborough councillor for roughly eight years, Applebaum was elected Cte-des-NeigesNotre-Dame-de-Grce borough mayor in January 2002.

During that period, he also climbed the ranks at city hall, joining the executive committee in 2009 and eventually being named as its chair.

Grald Tremblay's right-hand man: 2011-12

With a pat on the back from then mayor Grald Tremblay, Applebaum was formally introduced as the new chair of Montreal's executive committee on April 6, 2011.

With that appointment, Applebaum, the former community organizer, had ascended to the second most powerful position at city hall.

In the new role, he was also responsible for city finances.

Mayor's office: A short-lived reign

Michael Applebaum sworn in as Montreal mayor

8 years ago

Duration 0:27

On Nov. 19, 2012, Michael Applebaum was sworn in as Montreal's first anglophone mayor in a century.

On Nov. 5, 2012, Grald Tremblay stepped down from his position as Montreal mayor amid allegations that he had turned a blind eye to corruption within his Union Montral Party.

None of the allegations against Tremblay have been tested in court.

At the time, Applebaum responded by distancing himself from Tremblay and the scandalized party,throwing his hat into the ring for the mayor's job.

• Michael Applebaum sworn in as Montreal's interim mayor
• Applebaum will be the first anglophone mayor in 100 years

He wona narrow victoryover his former UnionMontralcolleague RichardDeschampsand was sworn inas Montreal's42ndmayor on Nov. 19, 2012.

With a promise to "erase this stain on our city,"Applebaumbecame the city's first anglophone mayor in a century.

"I vow that I'll be your eyes and ears and that I will get back what has been stolen from you," he pledged to voters. "I will give you back your city."

Arrest, corruption charges:June 17, 2013

Less than a year after Applebaum promised to clean up city hall, he was facing corruption charges of his own.

• Quebec premier says Montreal mayor should resign

Officers with the province's anti-corruption unit (UPAC) arrested him at his home oncharges including fraud on the government, conspiracy, corruption and breach of trust on June 17, 2013.

Two other former city employees were also arrested that day.

The charges date back to Applebaum's time as borough mayor of Cte-des-NeigesNotre-Dame-de-Grceand involve real estate projects and allegations that bureaucratic favours were exchanged for cash.

Resignation and 'fall from grace': 2013 topresent

Michael Applebaum resigns as mayor

8 years ago

Duration 2:23

"I have always acted in the best interest of Montrealers," Michael Applebeaum says as he announces he will be stepping down to fight corruption charges.

The day after his arrest, Applebaum resigned from his position as mayor, forced out of public life by a corruption scandal just ashis predecessor Grald Tremblay was.

In a solemn speech, he denied the allegations against him, sayingheloved Montrealersand had always acted in their best interests.

"I have never taken a penny from anybody," he said.

Since that day, Applebaum has retreated from public life, although he's attended every court hearing leading up to his trial.

At a hearing in May 2016, during which he tried to getthecharges against him dropped, Applebaumtold the court that the years of waiting for his trial to begin have been "very wearing."

"I was arrested. All of the media were there," Applebaum said.

"It's a fall from grace."