MikeCohen.ca

Multi-million dollar Intergenerational/Aquatic complex announced for CSL

Today I was proud to be in attendance at a press conference at Côte Saint-Luc City Hall where city council's wish to build an intergenerational/aquatic centre became a reality thanks to an investment of $11.5 million from the federal and provincial governments. We will make up the remainder of the cost.

Provincial Minister of Municipal Affairs Lauren Lessard made his first visit to our community. He was accompanied by D'Arcy McGee MNA Lawrence Bergman. Senator Judith Seidman represented the federal government. Côte Saint-Luc Mayor Anthony Housefather gave Mr. Bergman a lot of credit for pursuing this file. Councillors Allan J. Levine and Ruth Kovac were also on hand. Ms. Kovac will co-chair the new project with Councillor Mitchell Brownstein. Below is a group photo after the announcement and the full press release.

 

Senator Judith Seidman, acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today joined Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, and Lawrence S. Bergman, Member of the National Assembly for D’Arcy-McGee and Chair of the Government Caucus, in announcing that the City of Côte Saint Luc will receive $11,571,880 in joint government financial assistance under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec for the construction of an intergenerational/aquatic centre.　

The project involves the construction of an intergenerational/aquatic centre covering a total gross area of about 5,456 square metres in the City of Côte-Saint-Luc. This new complex will comprise a 25-metre swimming pool, a wading pool, an indoor terrace adjacent to the aquatic pools, portable bleachers for about 200 people, multifunctional community halls, a physical fitness room and dance and warm up studios.　

The new complex will bring sport and recreational facilities under one roof and boast modern equipment tailored to contemporary indoor leisure and fitness activities as well as suite of activities for persons aged 55 and over. Students from nearby schools and residents from surrounding cities and boroughs will also be able to benefit from the activities and services on offer at the new centre.　

"Côte-Saint-Luc’s construction of a new intergenerational/aquatic centre will serve the interests of its residents and businesses. In supporting this project, we are seeing to it that the population enjoys the high quality of life for which our country is famous. Indeed, the Government of Canada is committed to equipping every community with modern facilities and equipment to ensure citizens’ health and safety. The renewal of public infrastructure is part of a broad action plan that will enable us to thrive and prosper in a healthy environment," stated Senator Judith Seidman.　

"By participating in this project, the Government of Quebec is moving forward to ensure the province’s municipalities have infrastructure that meets their unique realities while fostering sustainable development. By injecting new capital into the Quebec Infrastructure Plan, our government is looking to accelerate the execution of numerous infrastructure projects throughout the province, like this one in Côte Saint Luc, in an effort to improve Quebecers’ well-being, create jobs and promote a high-performance economy. In this way, we are leaving the municipality a legacy of quality infrastructure with which to face the challenges of the future," said Minister Laurent Lessard.　

"Côte-Saint-Luc is the Island of Montréal’s third largest city and its population is growing faster than that of Quebec as a whole. It is important that the City have all the necessary infrastructure to meet the needs of its increasing number of residents," added MNA Lawrence S. Bergman.　

Completion of this project will necessitate an overall eligible investment of $17,357,821. The governments of Quebec and Canada will each contribute $5,785,940 toward the work, for a total of $11,571,880 in combined government funding, while the City of Côte Saint Luc will assume the remaining third, or $5,785,941, of the project’s costs.　

The Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund – Quebec is a cost-sharing initiative aimed at funding infrastructure projects in communities with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants. These communities are thus able to use this assistance to improve infrastructure that is in major need of revitalization, including water treatment plants, water supply systems and cultural and sports centres.　

For provinces, like Quebec, that have committed all of their funding under the Communities Component, the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides for up to $500 million in additional funding for projects that will be completed by March 31, 2011.　

In Quebec, a joint federal-provincial contribution of $232 million will be used to fund 106 infrastructure projects.　

The contribution from the Government of Canada has been awarded through Canada’s Economic Action Plan. To learn more about this plan, visit　

www.actionplan.gc.ca.　

For further information on the Government of Quebec’s Quebec Infrastructure Plan, see　www.infrastructures.gouv.qc.ca.　

Aussi disponible en français :　www.dec-ced.gc.ca.　

Mike Cohen"s video message to constituents: February 2010

Saluting a future mayor, a hero and our Public Works Department

There was a lot to celebrate at the Dec. 14, 2009 Côte Saint-Luc Council meeting.

The winner of the 2009 Mayor For a Day essay-writing contest, Rina Dayan, read her winning entry at the meeting. Rina received a book, a copy of which will be placed in the Eleanor London Côte Saint-Luc Public Library. In addition, her school, Yeshiva Yavné received a $100 gift card to buy books for its school library.

During this evening, for the second consecutive year, the association representing public works professionals in Canada awarded Côte Saint-Luc the top prize in its annual National Public Works Week Awards.The Canadian Public Works Association (CPWA) awarded the top prize to Côte Saint-Luc among cities with a population of 75,000 or fewer. The results will be announced formally at the CPWA Luncheon at the American Public Works Association Congress in Columbus, Ohio on September 14.　

Public Works Week in Côte Saint-Luc raised $4,000 for the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation over the course of several days, from May 19 to 24. Staff helped raise money  in different ways, such   as a pie-throwing event. Grade 3 classes from Hebrew Academy toured the Public Works Department facilities and our waste education staff visited École Maimonides to promote waste-free lunches and recycling. The Public Works Carnival closed on Sunday, May 24 with a barbecue, inflatable games for children, wagon rides, household hazardous waste collection and more.

Meanwhile, we also recognized a true hero. 　 On the afternoon of Oct. 18, an elderly driver of a vehicle suffered a medical problem and lost control of his car. The car barreled through two fences and plunged into a half-filled private swimming pool. The man was pulled from the car at the bottom of the pool and successfully resuscitated. At the time he left for the hospital by ambulance, he had regained a pulse and was　 conscious. This miraculous story of survival would not have been possible if not for the rapid intervention of Martin Benko, a 17 year old Côte Saint-Luc resident who was walking his dog when he witnessed the accident.

Martin quickly tied up his dog and jumped into the pool. He broke the rear window of the car which, along with the trunk, was the only part of the car not submerged, and pulled the man out. He dragged the man to the stairs of the pool where, as a trained lifeguard, he assessed that the man had no pulse. Mr. Benko suffered lacerations to his arms during the rescue.　 We publicly saluted him at the meeting as well , with a special plaque.

Mayor Housefather Announces Council Portfolios

I am pleased to be returning to my same portfolios as the previous mandate - corporate identity, communications, sponsorship and intercommunity relations. Over the last four years we launched a fully functioning Public Affairs and Communications Department. Darryl Levine was hired as the director and Regine Banon as manager. We created a new city website, enhanced our Courier newspaper, introduced district newsletters,installed new street signs, developed guidelines for sponsorship and naming rights, increased the number of press releases issued and worked on a wide array of promotions and new publications. As for the intercommunity relations dossier, we created a data base from scratch which showed the wealth of community organizations that operate out of Côte Saint-Luc. We've had a few meetings a year, hosted by different organizations, and a whole new dialogue has been developed. I look forward to greatly expanding this process over the next four years.

Here is the press release issued today with the complete list of portfolios:

 PRESS RELEASE                                                                               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Côte Saint-Luc announces portfolios of council members


Côte Saint-Luc, November 10, 2009 – The City of Côte Saint-Luc today announced the portfolios for its council members.

“At the start of our first mandate in 2006, I entrusted each council member with one or more portfolio,” Mayor Anthony Housefather said. “As we begin our 2010 to 2013 term of office, I am happy to announce the new distribution of portfolios.”

The portfolio model is based on the cabinet system where elected members represent not just their individual districts, but the city in general through specific portfolios.

Mayor Anthony Housefather will be responsible for issues related to human resources, legal matters, purchasing, information technology, and for relations with the Agglomeration of Montreal and other levels of government.

Councillor Dida Berku will be responsible for issues related to finance, the Cavendish Mall re-development (with Councillor Ruth Kovac), the environment including the preservation of Meadowbrook, the implementation of a code of ethics, and the Cavendish Blvd. extension.

Councillor Mitchell Brownstein will be responsible for issues related to parks and recreation and the construction of the Intergenerational and Aquatic Centre (with Councillor Kovac).

Councillor Mike Cohen will be responsible for issues related to corporate identity and communication, sponsorship, and inter-community relations.

Councillor Steven Erdelyi will be responsible for issues related to public works and engineering.

Councillor Sam Goldbloom will be responsible for issues related to the library and culture.

Councillor Ruth Kovac will be responsible for issues related to city planning as chairperson of the Planning Advisory Committee, the Cavendish Mall re-development (with Councillor Berku), and the construction of the Intergenerational and Aquatic Centre (with Councillor Brownstein).

Councillor Allan J. Levine will be responsible for issues related to seniors, the Royal Canadian Legion, the establishment of an English-language public high school by the English Montreal School Board (EMSB), the rail yards, the Côte Saint-Luc Tennis Club, the construction of tennis courts at Rembrandt Park, and a feasibility study on the construction of indoor tennis facilities by the city or in partnership with a third party.

Councillor Glenn J. Nashen will be responsible for issues related to traffic, and public safety—which includes the EMS first responder service, public security, vCOP, emergency preparedness, and fire prevention.

The nine members of council were re-elected on November 1 or by acclamation.

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For more information: Darryl Levine, Director of Public Affairs and Communications, 514-485-8905, dlevine@cotesaintluc.org

Three Côte Saint-Luc Councillors Re-elected

While Mayor Anthony Housefather, myself and four other city councillors were acclaimed to office in the City of  While Mayor Anthony Housefather, myself and four other city councillors were acclaimed to office in the City of Côte Saint-Luc, there were three elections on Nov. 1. Incumbent councillors Glenn J. Nashen (District 6), Allan J. Levine (District 5) and Steven Erdelyi (District 4) all faced opposition and rode to victory:  Nashen by 65.8 percent of the vote;  Levine by 74.4 percent of the vote; and Erdelyi by 94.4 percent of the vote.

Here are some YouTube videos with the winning reactions:

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GJ Nashen celebrates re-election

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOOCGKtDTN0

Anthony Housefather congratulates his re-elected councillors

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyCciVx5uyw


Steven Erdelyi celebrates re-election

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INGaFibnyZk

Allan J. Levines celebrates re-election

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHedB95ty2s

 

Election News: Acclaimed to office for another four years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Mayor Housefather,  Mitchell Brownstein, myself, Ruth Kovac and Sam Goldbloom. 

 

 

 

With my mother-in-law and father-in-law Shirley and Reuben (campaign manager) Spector and Mayor Housefather.

 

 

 

 

 

I am pleased to report that myself, along with Mayor Anthony Housefather and four other Côte Saint-Luc city councillors – Sam Goldbloom, Dida Berku, Mitchell Brownstein and Ruth Kovac -were acclaimed to office today (October 2) for another four years in office. Three of our colleagues – Steven Erdelyi, Allan J. Levine and Glenn J. Nashen – face opposition and now go into full election mode. The date of the vote is Sunday, November 1, with advance polls set for October25.

On a personal note I wish to thank my family for their tremendous support during my first term in office. I ran for the first time in 2005 in District 2, winning the election with 92 percent of the vote. Despite the wide margin of victory, I worked overtime for my constituents. I introduced the concept of District meetings, bringing together local residents at least twice a year to hear special guests and hear updates about issues of most concerns to them. Action was taken on hot button issues like traffic problems at Bialik High School and on Marc Chagall Avenue. I developed a wonderful personal relationship with my constituents, fielding multiple calls each day, as well as many emails. In terms of the city at large, I held the portfolio of corporate identity, communications and intercommunity relations. As such, I oversaw the development of the city

’s first ever, professionally run Department of Public Affairs and Communications. We launched a new website and introduced a variety of publications. I am very proud of the creation of the inter-community relations committee, which brought together representatives from community groups based in Côte Saint-Luc.

àBeing a member of city council requires a lot of commitment. There were many days where I would leave my office at the English Montreal School Board at 5 p.m. and head to City Hall, only to return home well after midnight. We are invited to attend a lot of public events.

I had the good fortune of covering Côte Saint-Luc City Hall for the local community press for many years. During this time some of my friends on council often urged me to run. After the demerger process five years ago, I decided to give it a shot. I must say that it has been a very rewarding experience. Yes, as noted, it requires a lot of time and patience. But as a councillor I saw that I have been able to make a difference. It gives me so much pleasure to get a call from a constituent and know I can resolve their issue.

During this mandate our mayor, one of the brightest men I have ever worked with, introduced the portfolio system. As such, each councillor became a de-facto cabinet minister if you will. It made the management of the city so much more efficient. At this point I must commend our city manager Ken Lerner for the stellar job he does day after day. If I email Ken at 1 a.m. he will respond at 1:01 am. To Public Affairs and Communications Director Darryl Levine and his associate Regine Banon, hats off for your hard work. To my campaign manager Reuben Spector, who also happens to be my father-in-law, thanks for steering the ship once again.

When I covered City Hall I learned one important thing about municipal elections: do not take anything for granted. In terms of my campaign, it really began the moment I was first elected. But last June I began preparing my strategies. In September campaign material was produced and new campaign posters placed on poles. I began my door to door campaign. Even though I have been acclaimed, I will continue to meet constituents and hear their needs and concerns for the next four years.

I want to expand my email list and send out more frequent links to my blog postings, which really keep constituents in the loop. One of the biggest issues we will deal with in the next mandate will be the future of the Cavendish Mall site. As for District 2, Beth Chabad will soon move into their new community centre across from Bialik while on Marc Chagall efforts are still being made by a developer to put up a new town house condominium project.

Thank you to the constituents of District 2 for showing your confidence in me for another four years!

I can always be reached at 514-485-6945 or via email at mcohen@cotesaintluc.org.

A visitor from Japan

Masako Awata, a town council member from the Japanese town of Toyoyama, toured the Côte Saint-Luc city hall and library and attended our city council meeting on Septembert 29. Councillor Steven Erdelyi, who taught English in Japan for two years, welcomed Councillor Awata in Japanese before Mayor Anthony Housefather invited her on stage to address to the audience. Councillor Awata was in Canada visiting her daughter, who lives in Côte Saint-Luc. Toyoyama, which is in central Japan, has a population of about 13, 500 and is the home town of Seattle Mariners all-star right fielder Ichiro Suzuki

Mayor Housefather endorses all 8 councillors; and they support him

Cote Saint-Luc Council wants four more years

Housefather supports his eight councillors for re-election and they support him for Mayor

Cote Saint-Luc, September 6, 2009: With municipal elections for the City of Cote Saint-Luc scheduled for November 1, 2009, incumbent Mayor Anthony Housefather and all eight of his city councillors have announced their intention to seek re-election .

The mayor is extremely pleased with how well this council has functioned as a team. While each will run independent campaigns , the mayor has announced support for each of his incumbent colleagues: Sam Goldbloom (District 1), Mike Cohen (District 2), Dida Berku (District 3), Steven Erdelyi (District 4), Alan J. Levine (District 5), Glenn J. Nashen (District 6), Mitchell Brownstein (District 7) and Ruth Kovac (District 8) and each councillor has announced their support for Mayor Housefather’s re-election.

"This has been an excellent council over the last 4 years," said Housefather. "I really do believe we have found an effective and businesslike way to govern the municipality. I have always believed in empowering each member of council and I am very pleased with the success that has come with my decision to assign portfolios to each councillor. They became de facto cabinet ministers if you will and rose to the occasion. We have accomplished everything that was promised since demerger and more and I would be proud to serve with each one of them for the next four years."

Mother Nature Rains on our Canada Day Festivities

While it rained on our parade for Canada Day in Côte Saint-Luc, we were able to proceed with two late afternoon ceremonies: a citizenship court in which new Canadians from 15 different countries were sworn in and the induction of Miep Gies into our Human Rights Walkway at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Park.

The citizenship ceremony was presided over by Judge Barbara Seal, who due to a case of laryngitis had to limit her words. This is the third year in a row we have hosted such a ceremony on Canada Day and it is always a big success.

Miep Gies was one of the people who hid Anne Frank and her family in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, during the Second World War. Gies became the ninth person honoured with a plaque on the Côte Saint-Luc Human Rights Walkway.

 Members of council join Councillor Ruth Kovac's mother, who knew Miep Gies, as we unveil the plaque that will now stand at our Human Rights Walkway.

We had a wonderful evening of entertainment planned. And it actually got underway at 6 p.m. with a youth band followed by the musical group Airport 77. Regrettably the sky opened up and the rain came down in buckets. We had no choice but to cancel the rest of the evening as the ground was soaking wet. Fireworks will be rescheduled.

I feel badly for our committee and staff who worked so very hard to put this event together. Months of planning went up in smoke as Mother Nature did not cooperate.

Next District Meeting: June 1 at City Hall