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District 2 winners from annual Maisons Fleuries contest

Sidney Benizri and I emcee the ceremony.

I was very pleased once again to co-host the annual Maisons Fleuries Contest Awards Ceremony, along with Councillor Sidney Benizr as we recognized excellence in floral arrangements This year we switched up the format. A dessert reception was held at City Hall before the  ceremony, which took place in the council chamber prior to our monthly public meeting rather than the standalone event we have organized in previous years.

Awards were presented in five categories: single family and semi-detached dwellings; duplexes; townhouses ; highrise  (apartment and condominiums); and institutions (church, hospital and synagogue).

In another change to our format we announced all winners by district.

 

Mayor Brownstein and I congratulate some of the District 2 winners.

 

For District 2 here were the results.

Single Family

1^st place 5720 Park Place – Dong Chun and Bing Zhao

 

Townhouse

1^st place 6562 Kildare –   Harry  and Gloria Freedman.

2^nd place 6532 Mackle – Terry Wolkove and Gerry Trager

3^rd place 6602 Mackle – Sandra Raphael and Robert Lubarsky

3^rd place 6604 Mackle – Carole Tauer

 

Highrise

1^st place 5840 Marc Chagall – Le Bellagio

2^nd place 5700 Rembrandt – L’Hermitage Condominiums

3^rd place 6500 Mackle – Le Rothchild #1

Thanks to Maisons Fleuries  coordinator Laura Trihas, Parks and Recreation Director Cornelia Ziga, the judges and of course our wonderful photographer Rami Negev.

First TBDJ Mini-Med talk on cardiology a huge success

 

The hall was jammed.

Congregation Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem Congregation in Côte Saint-Luc has a wealth of medical expertise among its membership so it only made sense when President Jonathan Gal and his predecessor Judah Aspler agreed to follow up on my suggestion and start a new Mini-Med series. Rabbi Yechezkel Freundlich  fully supported the concept, was in attendance and asked a question.

Drs. Moss and Rudski.

On November 10 experts in the field of cardiology were paired with medical students for this free lecture.Dr. Lawrence Rudski, Chief of cardiology at the Jewish General Hospital and Director of the Azrieli Heart Center,  chaired and moderated the evening.  Recognizing that the nearby Adath Congregation in Hampstead was presenting a comedy night, Dr. Rudski delivered a few funny jokes of his own.

About 100 chairs were setup for the event. But a half hour before the start every seat was filled, forcing the synagogue's jack of all trades Yakov Lev to more than double the capacity. By the time things got going it was standing room only - a message that these kind of talks are very much in demand.

A big credit to Dr. Rudski for his brilliant idea of pairing medical students - the next generation- with senior physicians.

The lineup looked as follows: 

 

Jack Rudski

• McGill Med 1 student Jack Rudski (Who needs a blood thinner for atrial fibrillation, and which?) and  Dr Stanley Nattel, clinical cardiologist and Director of the Electrophysiology Research Axis at the Research Centre of the Montreal Heart Institute (Advances in atrial fibrillation treatment)

Alexandra Cohen

• McGill Med 2 student Alexandra Cohen (How do women present with heart disease and why?) and Dr. Shoshana Leah Gal Portnoy, a cardiologist at the Hôpital Notre-Dame (Cardiac Rehab: Get Moving!)

Eliana Sacher

• McGill Med 3 student Eliana Sacher (Who should take an Aspirin or a cholesterol pill?) and Dr. Mark Eisenberg, an interventional cardiologist at the JGH and Director of McGill’s MD-PhD program; Professor of Medicine (New interventions in the cath lab)  

Uri Bender

• McGill Med 4 student Uri Bender (Why do some people get angioplasty and others need bypass surgery?) and Dr. Emmanuel Moss, Gross Tietolbaum Distinguished Scientist in Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery at the JGH (Robotic bypass and valve surgery).

Dr. Moss was on CJAD with Andrew Carter the day before and  gave a small preview of his fascinating presentation. You can hear it by clicking here.

Dr. Mark Eisenberg

There were questions and answers at the end of each segment and then at the conclusion. When it was all over, many of those on hand got to talk to some of the speakers one on one. I heard so many good things about this lecture and Gal promises there will be more. The next one will likely be some time in the spring. With expertise in fields such as gastroenterology, urology, neurology, orthopedics, geriatrics and a whole lot more  there are no shortage of topics.

 

 

Former Manoire Montefiore seniors facility to become a residential apartment building

Three and  a half years after the Manoir Montefiore closed as a seniors residence,  the highrise at the corner of Cavendish and Mackle will be transformed into a residential apartment building.

Jadco, the company behind the Équinoxe project on Marc Chagall, purchased the property from  Réseau Selection. They will be granted a permit to proceed with renovations since there are no zoning changes requested nor is the façade being altered.

Manoire Montefiore present-day.

The timing, of course, is not ideal. Excavation work will begin soon followed by as much as an 18-month construction period for the second Equinoxe building.

There are presently 130 units in the Montefiore building. Jadco has proposed 94 units for their rejigged project – 43 one bedroom and  and  51  two bedrooms. The area of these units are conforming to the city by-law.  There will be about 90 interior parking spaces, including 14 new ones to be constructed in what is now a dining area. In addition, an outdoor lot will accommodate 23  more vehicles.

I will provide more news as it becomes available.

Beautiful new green space appreciated by Beth Chabad and others

A look at the pathway and green space.

For those who may have missed it, last summer the Public Works Department of Côte Saint-Luc  put together a beautiful piece of green space between  Beth Chabad and JPPS-Bialik at the corner of Kildare Road and Marc Chagall in District 2.

Sidney Benizri, Ray Petrovic, Mitchell Brownstein, myself, Beatrice Newman, Dalia Bosis, Ruth Kovac and Mitchell Kujavsky cut the cake modelled around the new green space.

Beth Chabad had used the space, which is city-owned land, for wedding ceremonies for years but it was hardly attractive. That is when Public Works Director Beatrice Newman and her team stepped in. Working with Rabbi Mendel Raskin and  caterer Ray Petrovic of Blossom by the Plaza, the area was beautified with a lovely pathway running through it.

As a thank you, Petrovic invited Director Newman, her senior management team and the hard working blue collar employees for a classy barbeque lunch. Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, myself and Councillors Sidney Benizri, Mitchell Kujavsky and Ruth Kovac were pleased to attend.

Thanks to Ray Petrovic, Dalia Bosis, Eva Ohayon and others who made this all possible.

Discussions have already begun about  choosing a name for this space.

 

Solidarity with Pittsburgh: Why I went to synagogue on Saturday

For more than a decade I have been a member of Congregation Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem on Baily Road in Côte Saint-Luc. However, my presence is generally relegated to the high holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and special events.

When last week’s senseless act of terror occurred at a Pittsburgh synagogue, the gutless and disgraceful shooter probably thought that he would scare everyone away from attending services. His shameless actions had the complete opposite effect. In fact, he did more to unite Jews around the world than he could possibly have imagined.

The murders may have occurred in Pittsburgh, but every member of our community felt as if it happened in our very own backyard. How else can we explain the overwhelming turnout at a vigil at Beth Israel Beth Aaron Congregation in Côte Saint-Luc organized by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) and the presence of such high ranking political leaders. Everyone recognized that such a tragedy could happen anywhere.

Rabbi Freundlich

So on Saturday morning I did something different. I got up early and accepted the challenge being thrown out by rabbis across the globe to take part in a worldwide  Shabbat in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who were brutally murdered in Pittsburgh, as well as the victims who were injured. I went to synagogue. Councillor Dida Berku was there as well. Other councillors went to their synagogues.

Now TBDJ generally has a good attendance each Saturday. But regulars told me numbers there were indeed up. I must say I felt good being there. There were two security guards at the door. D’Arcy McGee Liberal MNA David Birnbaum addressed the congregation. And then came Rabbi Yechezkel Freundlich, just over two years on the job here and a man every person in that room lauds for his leadership. He spoke about the tragedy in his address, shared personal connections he has in Pittsburgh and then introduced our Police Station 9 Commander  who was visiting local synagogues with his show of support. While applause is rare at Saturday services, the mere presence of a police officer in uniform resulted in such a warm feeling that everyone started to clap.

During services a memorial prayer for the deceased, as well as a prayer for the recovery of the injured,  took place. Following services, everyone was invited to a community Kiddush sponsored by generous donors. Any funds raised over the cost of the Kiddush will be donated to a fund to aid the victims and their families.

“Unfortunately, as a consequence to the horrors of Pittsburgh, I spent much of the week dealing with the issue of security,” said synagogue president Jonathan Gal. “Many are concerned about our security at TBDJ this week and moving forward. I personally met with both the police and public security and they have assured me that despite the tragedy in Pittsburgh, there is no increased threat in Canada.”

Patrols past all synagogues were increased this past Shabbat. As well, Federation CJA has a security expert who consulted directly with the synagogues and he joined the Police Commander on his visits.

“We have been assured by the police that there is no increased threat and that all of the security measures that we are currently taking - and will improve upon – are sufficient,” said Gal. “However, the police maintain that the best possible security is us. They, along with Cote Saint-Luc Public Security and Federation CJA Security, ask all of us to be vigilant. If you see something strange or that looks suspicious, report it immediately.”

Jordy Reichson, seen here with Councillor Oren Sebag and Mayor Brownstein.

Allow me to give some thanks our Director of Public Safety Jordy Reichson, who took the lead on this matter with Public Affairs Chief Darryl Levine.

Jordy reports that at the vigil last week there were a total of 31 police officers from SPVM - plus two others on horseback assigned to the event, plus MSP protective service, three  public security agents, two Emergency Medical Services crews, RCMP protective service, 14 private security agents and Federation CJA Community Security. “The crowd was estimated at 1,200, including people standing in the aisles, sitting and standing the lobby and standing outside,” noted Jordy. “All large vehicles and trucks were stopped and checked by SPVM and escorted by police along Mackle, to prevent a truck trying to ram into the crowds. We had excellent communication and collaboration between all of the police and security services.”

The man who allegedly gunned down 11 worshipers at a Pittsburgh synagogue used three handguns and an AR-15 assault rifle in the 20-minute rampage and screamed to SWAT officers who wounded him in a shootout that he wanted "all Jews to die." If he is convicted, the death penalty will be pursued.

See this report from City News. from the solidarity Shabbat at Shaare Zedek Congregation in NDG where Mayor Mitchell Brownstein was among those in attendance and spoke.

Necessary Hydro work begins on Marc Chagall Avenue

Work is about to begin by Hydro-Québec on Marc Chagall Avenue, closer to Mackle Road, connected to phase two of the Equinoxe high rise building project. As a result, for the next several weeks only one lane of traffic will be available  in front of the new facility.

 

This electrical work being performed by Hydro  and their sub contractor was originally supposed to start three weeks ago,  but there were unforeseen delays on their part.  This work is essential for the new project and must take place before our Urban Development Department issues a building permit for the next phase.

 

Hydro obtained all the necessary required permits and Urban Development signed off on the signage plan and traffic lane reduction, all essential to do the required work. We were told the work could last approximately three weeks, however their intention is to complete it as fast as possible weather permitting.

 

We all recognize this is yet another unavoidable inconvenience for residents. It is our intent to do everything possible to minimize the problems.

New Deputy Premier among those on hand at vigil in CSL for Pittsburgh synagogue shooting victims

Last Saturday’s senseless murder of 11 innocent victims at a Pittsburgh synagogue has resonated with people all over the world. Soon after this horrible news hit, we learned that a community-wide vigil  coordinated by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) would be held at Beth Israel Beth Aaron Congregation in Cote Saint-Luc on Monday, October 29.

City Council delayed the start of our meeting so we could attend this event. What we experienced was something beyond anything I could have imagined. When we arrived, cars were already parked blocks away. There was an endless array of police vehicles, not to mention police officers on horseback. Security to get inside was knee deep.

Genevieve Guilbault

There was standing room only and a highly impressive list of senior political leaders: from the new provincial CAQ government, Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Security Genevieve Guilbault; Minister Responsible for Montreal Chantal Rouleau; and Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and Responsible for the Anglo Secretariat file Christopher Skeet; Provincial Liberal Interim leader Pierre Arcand, local D’Arcy McGee Liberal MNA  and a large number of his MNAs; PQ Interim leader Pascal Berubé; Federal Liberal Minister for the Francophonie and Tourism Melanie Joly; former Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre; and City of Montreal Executive Committee Vice-Chair Magda Popeanu and a number of city councillors; several municipal mayors and members of their council. There were also many representatives from cultural communities present.

Rabbi Reuben J. Poupko, the spiritual leader of Beth Israel Beth Aaron, co-chair of CIJA Quebec and a constituent of mine in District 2, spoke with deep emotion as he opened up the evening. Not only is he from Pittsburgh, but his  late father served as a rabbi there for more than 60 years. The Poupkos lived only blocks away from Squirrel Hill and the Tree of Life Congregation, where the carnage took place.

Melanie Joly

 

Joly, reading a message from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, stated that an attack on one is an attack on all.

When Gail Adelson, first vice-president of Federation CJA, began to recite the names of the victims and candles were lit, many people started to weep. These people were gunned down by a lunatic terrorist only because they are Jewish. Could this really have happened in 2018 North America? How did a 97 year old victim survive the Holocaust, only to lose her life in a place that everyone should feel so safe.

Only a few weeks in office, it was impressive to see the CAQ government send three senior MNAs to show solidarity with the community. Guilbault, representing a government that wants to strip the rights of  public employees in positions of authority from wearing religious symbols, drew warm applause for stating how there is no place in society for such acts of hatred. “I am proud to see Quebecers united,” she said.

Israel Consul General David Levy brought a message from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. When he thanked American President Donald Trump for his condemnation of the murders, some in the audience booed. Only yesterday Trump seemed to be blaming the synagogue for not having an armed guard on duty.

Rabbi Poupko speaks.

 

Rabbi Poupko, his voice cracking, noted that a synagogue is a place of peace, prayer and faith. He said it best, emphasizing how we all know the people of Squirrel Hill. “All of us can relate to what happened," he said  "We go to synagogues that look just like [Tree of Life] synagogue. Our ties and bonds of history and of solidarity and our values are very strong."

The underlying message by Rabbi Poupko was to thank everyone for stepping inside a synagogue and not being afraid to do so. "The best way is to continue to do what we do with greater intensity," he said, "which is to lead lives of tolerance, to lead lives where we understand that ultimately the power of good is more powerful than evil, where we continue to strengthen the bonds between individuals and communities and hope the light will block out the darkness."

A look at the crowd.

 

Rabbi Lisa Grushcow from Temple Emanu-El Beth Sholom, said she called a friend in Pittsburgh who is also a rabbi. He was performing a baby naming at another congregation when the shooting took place. His synagogue went into lock down. The couple named the baby Israela.

This coming Saturday synagogues across North America will urge all Jews to come to services – a week after the tragedy occurred in Pittsburgh. It will send a true message to all of the anti-Semites out there. I spoke to Cantor Danny Benlolo at Shaare Zedek Congregation in NDG and Yechezkel Freundlich from my own Congregation Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem.

Côte Saint-Luc Men's Club throws another superb gala

The Côte Saint-Luc Men’s Club sure knows how to throw a party.

Seated: Peter Kovac, Dida Berku, Randy Berman Erdelyi, Steven Erdelyi, Jordana Kujavsky. Standing: Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, Ruth Kovac, Anthony Housefather, Mitch Kujavsky and myself.

Along with Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, other members of council,  Mount Royal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather and D’Arcy McGee Liberal MNA David Birnbaum, I was so pleased to be at the Gelber Centre for the 2018 Men’s Club Gala.

Marvin Hayman is introduced by David Gandell, with Kenny Bessner in the background.

More than 400 people enjoyed sumptuous hors d’oeuvres, music and dancing, a full course meal, speeches, awards and door prizes. It was a classy affair from beginning to end, co-chaired by District 2 resident Joe Presser and Kenny Bessner.  District 2 resident David Haltrecht, who is one talented individual, was recognized as the Man of The Year.  Volunteer Awards were handed out to Peter Sternberg, Peter Atkin and District 2’s Marvin Hayman.

David Haltrecht, myself and Beryl Peletz.

Haltrecht, the Men’s Club First Vice-President, earned a Bachelor of Engineering and an MBA. An active member of the club, he works on several committees. Professionally he designed, developed and implemented computer based systems in retail, manufacturing and restaurant environments. Using this experience, he has implemented an operation system with a web site for the Men’s Club.  For many years he was an avid sailor and also worked with model trains. Today, he has the Men’s club members working with drones.

With his children and grandchildren in the audience, David thanked his wife of 55 years Phyllis for supporting his many interests.

With the one and only Dr. Paul Weinstein.

Presser and Bessner recognized committee members Haltecht, Hayman, Sternberg,Charles Eklove, David Gandell, Beryl Peletz, Syd Kronish and president Mannie Young who was away in India.

MP Houseather made a powerful speech about  the tragedy that occurred at the synagogue in Pittsburgh, followed up by similar remarks from Birnbaum and Mayor Brownstein.

More than 30 members of the club were saluted for  being 90 years old or more – 11 were present to accept their plaques, including the ageless Mr. Peletz.

Music was provided by The Absolutes. There was also a photo booth coordinated by Mark Bessner Event Coordinators.

With more than 600 members, the Men’s Club continues to go strong. You need only be 55 join. I qualified last year.

With Joe Presser, wearing his sharp new glasses.

With my neighbours, Allen and Shirley Rosen.

 

With former Councillor Sam Goldbloom and Parks and Recreation Department legend Harold Cammy,

 

Volunteers of the Year 2018

The City of Côte Saint-Luc announced the Volunteers of the Year for 2018 at the annual Volunteer Recognition evening on October 24, 2018.  A few years ago our Parks and Recreation Department came up with a unique new format by holding this event at the Cineplex Theatre at Quartier Cavendish. All volunteers are invited to see a movie (This year it was A Star is Born), with a free soft drink, popcorn and some candy included. A pre-recorded video of the Mayor presenting the awards is shown on the big screen. Afterwards everyone is invited to a dessert reception. We remain very fortunate to have a movie theatre in our community and its represents the perfect backdrop for such an occasion. Bravo to Parks and Recreation Director Cornelia Ziga, event coordinator Laura Trihas and the rest of the team.

Here are the recipients.

The Aquatics Volunteer of the Year Award

Richard Leon
Richard has completed two seasons with Côte Saint-Luc Aquatics. He stepped up to become the officials coordinator. He helps planning official trainings and representing Côte Saint-Luc Aquatics at Lac St-Louis swim association meetings. 

 The Community Special Events Award

Miriam Cohen
Miriam has been volunteering at the Creative Social Centre for over 20 years. She’s on the board of directors, teaches an art class, and organizes an annual vernissage for her students. 

The Eco Award

Diane Jameson
Diane helped transform the garden behind the library into a beautiful space. She also developed the EARTH Project, which is an interactive 10-step program to help young people discover the joy and benefits of gardening.

The Edward J. Kirwan Award

Dmitry Vasserman
Dmitry has been a volunteer for 12 years at the CSL Figure Skating Club. He’s been on the board and has helped usher in programs like ice conditioning, ballet classes, as well as on ice stroking classes. Under his watch, the club increased the number of competitive skaters. 

The EMS Award for Excellence in operations

Peter Garish
Peter brings to EMS more than a decade of experience as a police officer. He has been instrumental in helping EMS revamp and overhaul its driver training program. Peter ensures that EMS drivers are fully prepared for the risks and responsibilities of driving an emergency vehicle.

The EMS Award for Excellence in Training

Steve Merling
Steve returned to EMS after a decade away. He has boundless energy and enthusiasm. He now leads the community outreach program and helps recruiting new members.

The EMS Rookie of the Year Award

Alexandre Cahérec-Gagné

Alexandre has been selected amongst the 16 new recruits from the past year for his dedication and passion for the organization. Always ready to lend a hand, with his constant smile and good cheer, he is a great addition to the EMS team. 

 The Hazel Lipes Award

David Haltrecht
David, a District 2 resident,  uses his engineering experience to modernize operations at the Men’s Club. He implemented the online registration project for members and worked on several committees. Giving the award to David is the awards namesake, Hazel Lipes, who was elected to council in 1975. She was also the first woman ever elected to the city council. It was nice to see her at the Volunteer event after all of these years.

I was pleased to greet Hazel Lipes to our event alongside Mayor Brownstein and Councillor Ruth Kovac.

The Lifetime Achievement Award

Syd Kronish
Syd Kronish,a  District 2 resident, completed a four-year term as president of the Côte Saint-Luc Men’s Club. Membership doubled 350 to 700 members and the average age decreased by four years. The club also raised lots of money, including a half million dollars for Canadian Magen David Adom.

The Royal Canadian Legion Brigadier Frederick Kisch, Branch #97 Award

Awarded to the Youth Volunteer of the Year

Avi Kroo
Avi approached the library about starting a club for teens to teach the card game Magic: The Gathering. We has taught the game for two years now, coming each week. The game fits with the library’s goal of providing programming that piques curiosity and develops communication and problem-solving skills.

The Socio-Cultural Award

Sam Boucher
Sam has been performing with the Côte Saint-Luc Dramatic Society for three years, including in Little Shop of Horrors, The Producers, and Hairspray. Earlier this year he was the title character in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which recently received the META award in the category of Outstanding Community Production. 

Special Recognition Award

Charles Guerin
Charles,a District 2 resident, has been involved on several fronts over the last year. He shared his technical knowledge to help the city formulate its preliminary proposal for the Smart Cities Challenge competition. He has also volunteered his time at the library’s CreateSpace. He has donated equipment and helped spread the word about this library program.

 The Sports Award

Eric Bettan
Eric has coached and served on the executive of the Côte Saint-Luc Minor Hockey program since 2013. He is heavily involved in helping to organize the novice hockey tournament every season and much more. 

The Stewart Mankofsky Memorial Trophy

Awarded to the Cote Saint-Luc athlete who best exemplifies the qualities of dedication, sportsmanship, and love for competition and fellow participants

Yuan Yi Wang
Yuan Yi is a Pre-Novice competitive skater and works extremely hard reach her goals. She has received the Regional CanSkate award as well as the Test Skater award. She as devotes a lot of time helping the club's young skaters in their group programs. She is well liked and admired by her skaters and has become great role model for them.

The vCOP Award

Marty Croitoru
Marty,a  District 2 resident,  is a member of the vCOP orientation team for new recruits. He is ready to respond on a moments notice when needed. He also provides with feedback, ideas and insights on how to make vCOP more interesting and more effective.

The William E. Kesler Memorial Trophy

Awarded to a volunteer for exceptional contribution to City programs

Joel Lazarovitz

Joel has been a head coach in our intercommunity baseball program since 2015. He has a great connection with the players on his team thanks to his positive attitude. 

David Rosenberg

David has been a head coach in our intercommunity baseball program since 2015. He is extremely dedicated, organized and well-liked by the players and parents of his teams.

Watch the Volunteers of the Year video

 

 

 

District 2 resident Nancy Rubin tells her story

It’s worth putting retirement on hold to guide The JGH Auxiliary in helping patients (story from the Jewish General Hospital News)

 

 

Nancy Rubin, Director of the JGH Auxiliary, with members of Dr. Clown, Zoé (Michele Sirois) and Frankie (Jean-François Leblanc). The Auxiliary raises funds that enable patients and staff to enjoy the troupe’s therapeutic humour on a weekly basis.

In his novel The World According to Garp, John Irving made an insightful observation that nicely describes my unexpected path to The JGH Auxiliary: “You only grow by coming to the end of something and by beginning something else.”

My end—or rather, what was supposed to be the conclusion of more than 35 years in the work force—came in 2006, when I decided to join my husband, Donny, in a well deserved retirement. Then fate intervened and I realized that, in fact, I was on the brink of, as Irving says, “beginning something else.”

To my surprise and delight, my position as Director of The Auxiliary has given me a precious opportunity to help others, while continuing to grow. For 12 years, I’ve been privileged to be part of a dedicated team of generous volunteers and top-notch professionals whose desire is to make life better for patients in our hospital.

I can’t say I had a specific career goal when I was younger. In high school, my interests were all over the map, and in the mid-1960s, there was no CEGEP to promote self-discovery in an academic setting.

What I did know was that community organizations were where I belonged. My parents, Beatrice and Saul Glassman, had leadership roles in our synagogue and other community groups, and their influence clearly rubbed off on me.

By the late 1960s, I had completed a marketing and public relations program at McGill University, and found summer jobs in a law office and at Dun & Bradstreet, where I conducted research into various companies. That set the stage for a series of fascinating and rewarding challenges over the coming decades.

“It’s gratifying to honour the legacy and values that have existed at The Auxiliary since it was founded in 1936.”

One particular highlight came in the mid-’90s, when I spent a year at McGill as a Project Director organizing the International Forum for Child Welfare. This remarkable five-day conference on legal advocacy for children brought together more than 200 delegates from over 30 countries. Planning it proved to be quite a task, since it meant staying in touch with global contacts in an era when email was rare and even faxes were uncommon.

For three years in the late ’90s, I was Special Events Coordinator for B’nai Brith Canada, which entailed organizing numerous fundraising events, including tribute dinners, galas and memorable performances by Jackie Mason, Don Rickles, Donny Osmond and Itzhak Perlman.

“Memorable” was also the word for my four years as National Executive Director for Maccabi Canada, preparing for our country’s participation in the 16^th Maccabiah Games in Israel in 2001. After working intensively with coaches, athletes, parents and planners, it was a genuine thrill to walk into the opening ceremony at the Ramat Gan Stadium alongside Jewish participants from around the world!

And speaking of sports, one of my fondest memories comes the Yaldei Developmental Centre, where I was Director of Development from 2002 to 2006. In supporting children with special needs, my team and I worked with the Montreal Canadiens’ Children’s Foundation to buy an 18-seat school bus. For the grand unveiling, we filled it with Canadiens alumni and when it pulled up to the school, the first person to step out and greet the kids was Jean Beliveau.

Then Evy Uditsky, a good friend and Past President of The Auxiliary, transformed my life by strongly encouraging me to apply for the position of Auxiliary Director in 2006. At first, I was reluctant, because retirement was beckoning and I’d already turned down offers from other organizations. But Evy was so persistent and persuasive that I thought, “Why not? I still have a few good years left.” Lo and behold, I got the job, and Evvy was right: It’s been a perfect fit.

Every night, I go home feeling that what we’ve all accomplished together really matters. It’s also gratifying to honour the legacy and values that have existed at The Auxiliary since it was founded in 1936. Some of our programs, like Dr. Clown, raise the spirits of patients and staff. Others provide the hospital with much-needed equipment—notably, our Tiny Miracles program, which supports the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Do I regret not having retired all those years ago? Not for a moment. Look at what I would have missed! As John Lennon so aptly put it in one of his songs, “Life is what happens to you, while you’re busy making other plans.”

Nancy Rubin
Director, JGH Auxiliary

Artist Maxine Bloom opens a magnificent display of her work at the CSL Library

I was pleased to meet with Maxine at her display.

Maxine Bloom, a longtime constituent of mine in District 2, is a wonderfully talented artist who lives and paints in two places. Here is Côte Saint-Luc spring, summer and fall and Deerfield Beach, Florida in the winter.

Maxine’s style is mixed media and her eclectic subjects reflect her love of color and movement. She combines watercolor, acrylic and ink with collage.  As she and her husband Victor told me at the opening of an exhibit of her work at the CSL Public Library, many of the paintings are from holiday destinations of theirs.I encourage you to drop by the library anytime through November 18. Many of the 35 paintings on display are for sale, with net proceeds going towards the Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors Foundation.  There is a price list on site. Cathy Simons oversees the latter operation. She is also a constituent.

Maxine has exhibited in group shows in Florida and has won both first and second prizes. Her work hangs in several private collections and she is delighted that others are enjoying her paintings every day.

You can reach her at maggiebloom1942@gmail.com.

 

Second public information session planned on planned felling of trees behind the library

On Monday, October 29, 2018 at 7:30 pm,  we will have a public information session in the Council Chamber of Côte Saint-Luc City Hall at 7:30 pm to provide background into plans for the necessary felling of trees in Ashkelon Gardens. We had such a gathering last spring, but many of the Snowbirds were away so I felt that a repeat session is necessary at this time.

Our objective is  to ask for a few representatives, one from each area ( ie townhouses on Mackle, condos on Marc Chagall and apartments on Sir Walter Scott)  to be the reps who can contact the city with the residents' issues and concerns.   

A tree infected by the Emerald Ash Borer.

Hundreds of trees from the Ashkelon Park are infested with the Ash Borer and the Dutch Elm disease. These trees are dangerous for people who were walking in the area (from the possibility of falling branches or trees) and may even constitute a fire hazard. The city requested our  expert contractor, Nadeau Foresterie Urbaine, to prepare an inventory of the affected trees.

On February 16, 2017 (based on this inventory), the city issued a public call for tender for the felling of 255 trees under tender number C-16-17. On June 12, 2017,   Council approved the awarding of the contract for the felling of infested trees to Services d’Arbres Tessier.  

In total, we are looking towards felling approximately 300 trees and clearing approximately 21,000 buckthorn plants and bushes, a species that interferes with healthy tree growth in Ashkelon Forest.

STEP 1

The felling all 300 trees, all at the same time during the winter of 2018:

(a) The woodlands have been divided into three  zones:

1.     i) East - near the back of parking lot where 10 percent of trees need to be felled 
2.     ii) Center -  woodlands next to parking lot where 75 percent of trees need to be felled

      iii) Near Cavendish - next to the library where 95 percent of the trees need to be felled as they are all dead.

(b) The Western side of the woodlands, near Veteran's Park, will be conducted during 2019 (exact date to be determined)

STEP 2

A massive clearing and controlling of the 21,000 buckthorns over a period of two years. Buckthorn out-competes native plants for nutrients, light, and moisture. Buckthorn degrades wildlife habitat, contributes to erosion by shading out other plants that grow on the forest floor, serves as host to other pests, such as crown rust fungus and soybean aphid, forms an impenetrable layer of vegetation and lacks "natural controls" like insects or disease that would curb its growth.

An image of buckthorns.

(a) We will first conduct the clearing at the eastern zone, located towards the back of the City Hall parking lot. This will be conducted in 2018 because some maples can be saved and as such, the land won't look completely bare when the buckthorn is removed

(b) The western side of the woodlands near Veteran's Park, will be conducted during 2019 (exact date to be determined)

STEP 3

The plan is to reforest the area where we have removed the buckthorn. Of course, some of the trees will be small but we will take into account that funds must be used for mature trees too. 

We will be following the plan of action that was provided to us by Luc Nadeau foresterie urbaine.

District 2 resident Chriqui playing lead role on Smart Cities Challenge

District 2 resident Marc Chriqui is playing a key role in the development of our city's plan to win the Smart Cities Challenge.

 

The City of Côte Saint-Luc spoke at the fourth Annual Smart City and IoT Expo in Toronto on October 10, where it offered a preview of its eventual final proposal to the Smart Cities Challenge contest.

 

Councillor Dida Berku and Marc Chriqui.

 

“We met with a lot of people in the industry who were very excited to hear that a city is looking to tackle the issue of how to help isolated seniors stay at home longer through the use of smart technology,” said Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, who spoke along with Councillor Dida Berku and  Chriqui. “Côte Saint-Luc has a lot of programs for seniors to help keep them engaged, but the focus of our Smart Cities Challenge proposal is to help those who perhaps we don’t see at our events and who are more isolated.”

 

Côte Saint-Luc was selected as one of 10 finalists in its category (and one of 20 overall) by the selection committee of the Smart Cities Challenge, a contest created by the Government of Canada. Each finalist community will receive a $250,000 grant to help develop its final proposal that outline all design, planning, privacy, data protection and project management components of their plans. The grant can be used for activities such as staffing, professional services, feasibility assessments, capacity building, pilot projects, community engagement and communications, data, and relevant training. 

 

“The Smart Cities Challenge has given us the opportunity to brainstorm and to exchange in our city new ideas and new ways of doing things,” Councillor Berku said. “As cities, we don’t often get the chance to talk to researchers and people who are involved in seniors issues and really understand what we are trying to accomplish.”

 

In addition to the Smart City and IoT Expo on October 10, Côte Saint-Luc has also attended the Conference on Caregiving in Montreal on October 13, and held numerous meetings with researchers, people in industry and academia.

 

The next step is to launch a pilot project with seniors. The city will outfit their homes with sensors and smart devices in order to test and refine the ideas it believes can help isolated seniors live independent lives and stay at home longer. Participants must be age 65 or older, live autonomously, and have little or no caregiver support. To learn more or to participate in the pilot project, email smartcities@cotesaintluc.org or call 514-485-6800 ext. 5539.

 

See the video of our presentation.

 

From my Notebook: Roy Salomon honoured; Vineberg back at Nosherz & Saul Ettinger still carves brisket

 Bravo to Roy

One of Côte Saint-Luc’s most distinguished individuals, Roy Salomon, will be been presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the International Jewish Hall of Fame in 2019. This honours those individuals who have contributed to Jewish life, Israel, society and the community at large, through sports. After he first experienced the Magic of the Maccabiah Games as a basketball athlete representing Canada in 1969, Roy knew he had to stay involved with the Maccabi Movement and found other ways to get involved. His mission was to promote Canadian Jewish athletes and he has remained a pillar in the Maccabi Movement since he first got involved. In 1979 he founded the Montreal Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. From 1981 through 1985 he was Maccabi Canada’s National Athletic Chair and in 1982 led Canada’s delegation to the first JCC Maccabi Games. In 1990 he was the First Vice President of Maccabi Canada and in 1992 he was elected president, a position he held for two terms until 2001.

 

Roy Salomon (left) is pictured here when he was honoured by the Cummings Centre in 2013.

Roy has been the recipient of numerous awards over the years, including the Yakir Award in 2001, and in 2013 he received the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal for volunteer work and was inducted into the Israel Softball Hall of Fame as a Builder. One of the accomplishments of which he is most proud was a proposal to bring junior athletes to participate in the World Maccabiah Games in Israel, one that he saw through to fruition with the first Juniors athletes participating in the 1985 Games. Professionally Roy has always worked in the corporate real estate field and for many years served as the managing partner of the Cavendish Mall.

The return of Robert Vineberg  at Nosherz

Robert Vineberg is back as owner of the fabulous Nosherz bakery on Westminster Avenue near Mackle. Robert had sold the operation a few years ago to focus more attention on a series of puzzle businesses. He clearly missed the excitement and can now be found behind the counter offering freshly baked goods, prepared meals, fabulous side dishes, homemade favorites, hearty soups, prepared foods made daily, a full deli and cheese counter, sandwiches, salads, catering and so much more. They also deliver now.

Robert Vineberg was always popular with his customers.

Vineberg has kept the same great staff, notably the very popular Mena. “We are a small local, long-standing neighborhood, business working hard day-after-day to bring people delicious foods,” says Robert.

“ It would be great if you could include us in your blogs and hopefully even write an article and have it printed Suburban for everyone to see (FYI - since we spoke, we stopped advertising Nosherz in the Montreal Times).

For more information call 514-484-0445 or log on to www.nosherz.com.

Briskets founder Saul Ettinger has not lost his magic touch

 One of the great things of having been in office for  13 years now as a city councillor is that I get to know many of my constituents very well.  Take Saul and Farla Ettinger for example. They are wonderful people who always support my different initiatives, such as the recent benefit concert for our CSL Cats Committee.

Saul is a well-known respected restaurateur and real estate magnate, having brought us the Briskets smoked meat chain and the Il Etait Une Fois burger spot. Almost 40 years ago Saul opened his first Briskets deli on Bishop Street. Twelve franchises in Montreal and Ottawa soon followed.  As Saul says, people who remember dining at Briskets described the smoked meat sandwiches as "addictive." Briskets smoked meat was not only homemade, but it was never pumped. “Most smoked meat in Montreal and elsewhere were and still are prepared with briskets that are pumped with phosphates and a preponderance of nitrates and sodium,” he explained to me a few years ago. “This pumping technique is used in order to increase profit margins by making the briskets heavier. Strange, isn't it---the government bans the use of phosphates in your dishwasher and laundry detergent, but allows it in food? Briskets' smoked meat was made with unpumped briskets using a tightly-held secret recipe. They were dry-cured the truly old-fashioned way over a period of two to three weeks, producing superior smoked meat---smoked meat that was mouth-watering, and truly addictive.”

Briskets smoked meat sandwiches were just about everywhere, be it the Olympic Stadium concession stands or catered at private parties.   As for Il Etait Un Fois, the classic hamburger spot was located in a standalone building in heart of Old Montreal at a time when it was a relative ghost town, Saul recalls pioneering a new phenomenon. While McDonald's was selling burgers for as little as 60 cents, he decided it was time to introduce Montreal to a gourmet half-pound burger at $5. In those days, the thought of a burger for $5 was ludicrous. Yet, within a short few weeks, Il Etait Un Fois attracted huge line-ups and rave reviews. Saul's burgers were made through a rarely used secret process that turned out the juiciest and most scrumptious burgers in Montreal. And along with mouth-watering burgers and incredible fries, the menu included specialities such as homemade beer-battered onion rings and fish n' chips as well as fried mushrooms and foot-long dogs.

Another of Saul's visions was launched on the Trans Canada, Linguini, an Italian restaurant situated in a rustic log cabin built by Saul on the south side of the 40 just west of Morgan.  

Saul Ettinger carves away in his condo.

Long retired from the restaurant business, Saul still hosted dinners and parties where he serves his amazing smoked meat.  When I saw him at the cats concert I jokingly asked if he planned to make any briskets. Two days later I got a call to come to his condo. My brisket was ready. When I arrived Farla presented me with a special fork which Saul used to demonstrate to me how to carve the huge piece of meat. It was absolutely delicious. Boy Quartier Cavendish could use a Briskets franchise if Saul ever considers reviving it!

MITCHELL AND ELAINE:

Loved or reviled, tempos may soon come to Côte Saint-Luc driveways

Here is a CBC Story about our plan to allow tempos in CSL. For the record I am very much in favor of this proposal.

Bylaw would make it one of few suburban Montreal cities to allow temporary car shelters

Elias Abboud · CBC News · Posted: Oct 12, 2018 4:53 PM ET | Last Updated: October 12

 

Arnold Cohen says a tempo on his driveway would be an improvement to his quality of life because he wouldn't have to shovel out his family cars after big storms. (Elias Abboud/CBC Montreal)

 

When you look inside Arnold Cohen's garage, you can see bikes, boxes and hockey equipment.

But there's no car.

"It's the classic, where the nice cars are in the driveway and the junk is in the garage," said Cohen.

Even if the garage were empty, Cohen says there would not be enough room for either of his family's cars.

That's why Cohen says he'd erect a temporary car shelter, known by its popular moniker "tempo," if a draft bylaw making its way through Côte Saint-Luc city council passes.

Bylaw 2217 would allow residents of Côte Saint-Luc to install a tempo on their driveway for the winter months.

Cohen pays for a snow-removal contractor to clear his double-wide driveway after storms. He says the contractor arrives in the morning before he leaves for work, but only manages to clean the snow from behind the cars parked in his driveway.

That leaves more work for the 53-year-old lawyer.

"You have to dig the cars out in between to be able to get into the cars, and then shovel out the cars," said Cohen.

"You have to clean off the snow, clean off the ice. It's a real pain."

 

Almost every house in Côte Saint-Luc has a garage. However, most are barely wide enough to accommodate a regular-sized car. (Elias Abboud/CBC Montreal)

Narrow garages

Almost every detached home in the suburban Montreal community has a garage, and the tempos were deemed unnecessary as a result. But the garages are small, barely wide enough to fit a modern car. Many families also have more than one vehicle.

The city has given exemptions to about 120 homeowners who do not have a garage or permanent car shelter on their property. They were the lucky few allowed to erect a tempo.

The city's mayor, Mitchell Brownstein, says Côte Saint-Luc has changed over the years, to the point where more people are demanding to be allowed to erect a tempo.

 

Côte Saint-Luc Mayor Mitchell Brownstein says he'll withdraw the draft bylaw and rework it if there is too much opposition.(Elias Abboud/CBC Montreal)

He said more families have two or three cars, and allowing them to park under a sheltered driveway would get vehicles off the streets and help with the city's snow-removal operation.

Brownstein said the city also has a large senior population, about one-third of Côte Saint-Luc, that needs to be considered.

"They have a hard time cleaning their car in the winter, and there's the danger of falling on the ice," said Brownstein.

Opposition to the tempo

Not everyone shares Arnold Cohen's enthusiasm for the tempo. At a recent public consultation on the shelters, a number of residents spoke out against allowing them.

"I do not want tempos because I really think they're an eyesore," said Morrie Baker.

He worries that the shelters would provide an opportunity for burglars to enter cars and homes without being seen. He also questioned whether allowing the long, white carports for four or five months a year would bring down property values.

"We do know there are some people in our city that find them ugly," said Brownstein.

"Most of those people still don't want to oppose the bylaw because they understand the need."

Despite their unsightliness, many people in Côte Saint-Luc are willing to accept the tempo.

"They're practical, but very ugly," said Pinedale Ave. resident Elaine Silberman.

"Aesthetically, it's going to make a difference here. But if somebody wanted it, it would be okay with me."

Residents opposed to tempos can sign registers at city hall, triggering a referendum on the draft bylaw. Brownstein said if there is a lot of opposition, he would withdraw the bylaw and rework it to reflect concerns of the population.

If the bylaw passes, Côte Saint-Luc residents could be setting up their tempos before the snow flies.

 

Another successful CSL Cats Committee Benefit Concert is in the books

Eight years ago I helped establish the first-ever Côte Saint-Luc Cats Committee. We began with a small group of volunteers, spearheaded by Shelly Schecter of Educhat and a small allocation from the city.

Myself and Councillor Mitch Kujavsky. (Photos by Rami Negev)

Very quickly we learned that if you are going to conduct a Trap, Neuter, Release and Adopt Program there is a heavy cost attached to this task, so fundraising was absolutely necessary. The fabulous Musicians of the World Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Joseph Milo, rehearsed on our premises so I approach then to do a benefit concert at the Wagar Auditorium. From that very first event seven years ago, we had a big success on our hands. Our committee came together and staff from the set stepped up to lend an invaluable hand.

Conductor Joseph Milo.

The most recent annual concert took place on October 9 at Wagar, a change from all our previous late August dates. We made the switch to ensure that we avoided a hot and stuffy evening. Well October began on the cool side, but wouldn’t you know it on the day of our event a 60 year record for high temperatures was set. A day later it was cold outside again. That being said we sold more than 300 tickets. Singers Alexandra Cohen (also our emcee) and Nicole Arrage were superb. The Musicians of the World were their usual delight and the Gideon Vigderhous Quartet brought the crowd to its feet. We especially appreciated it when Gideon integrated the word “Meow” into one of his numbers and had the audience repeatedly shout it out.

Gideon Vigderhous

We thank our main sponsors, Sean Flynn from Expedia Cruise Ship Centers, Chuck Altman from Little Bear Pet Supplies and D’Arcy McGee Liberal MNA David Birnbaum. Artist Nelly Leitner donated a beautiful painting we held a raffle for. Committee members Ronnie Roter and Randi Kader sold cat novelty items and raffle tickets. Tireless worker Fern Collier-Pereira began working on our bake sale months ago and persuaded so many wonderful people to contribute goods.  Ellen Kogut introduced our first kosher snack corner.  Chuck Altman also donated some nice items for the raffle.

Chuck Altman

Councillor Mitch Kujavsky, a cat and dog owner, co-chaired the event with me. His wife Jordana baked some delicious muffins. Councillors Ruth Kovac, David Tordjman, Steven Erdelyi and Sidney Benizri were in attendance. Elisabeth Prass represented David Birnbaum. Mayor Mitchell Brownstein was out of town at a conference, but send words of welcome in our program book. Former Councillors Sam Goldbloom and Glenn J. Nashen were on hand and I very much appreciate their support. Sam and wife Bev have a cat and as such Sam still sits on our committee.

Mere words cannot express how grateful we are to Diane Liebling, the devoted chairman of our Cats Committee.

Sean Flynn and his team at Expedia.

 This year our CSL Public Library assumed the primary organization of the event. Thanks to Chief Librarian Janine West, main coordinator Danielle Belanger, Farah Mohammed, Lisa Milner and Justin Burnham.

Our bake sale in action.

 Parks and Recreation remained a key player, most notably the invaluable Alvin Fishman and Maurizio Giobbi who once again handled the key logistical tasks. We are sad to say goodbye to Michel Leblanc, the uber-talented caretaker at Wagar who retires soon. He did a magnificent job the last few years handling our sound and lighting needs.

Nelly Leitner presents her painting to Cheryl Roth.

Regine Banon in Communications and graphic artist extraordinaire Ruth Farrugia play a crucial role in ensuring we market the event property.

Thanks to our Finance Department and Public Safety Director Jordy Reichson for overseeing our budget.

There are so many committee members to thank, Rachel Alkallay being one of them. Rachel oversees an information table once a month. She also sold many tickets and is a very devoted individual.

While everyone went home pleased with the evening’s entertainment, our Cats Committee gained the security of sufficient funds which will allow us to continue the hard work of rescuing homeless cats, having them sterilized and looked after medically and arranging adoptions when possible. We have a group of people who foster cats while we seek homes for them. Then there are the good souls who feed outdoor cats year-round. That is where the proceeds from our bake sale and raffle will go. We are grateful as always to the Côte Saint-Luc Hospital for Animals which tends to the cats we rescue.

Now our work continues. Some other smaller-scale fundraisers will take place. People can always make a donation. Someone who prefers to remain anonymous, now residing elsewhere, sent us a very generous cheque. Another individual bought 10 tickets for people who could normally not afford such an evening.

If anyone wishes to volunteer for our committee   email dianeliebling@gmail.com   or   log on to www.cotesaintluc.org/cats.

Here is an interview I did with Nancy Reich on Breakfast TV.

Here I am on CJAD with Andrew Carter.

See Glenn J. Nashen's blog.

 

Local Wiffle ball season concludes in Côte Saint-Luc

The 2018 Wiffle ball season concluded recently at Singerman Park in Côte Saint-Luc

Mark Rabinovitch

 

Wiffle ball is a variation of the sport of baseball designed for indoor or outdoor play in confined areas. The game is played using a perforated, light-weight, resilient plastic ball and a long, typically yellow, plastic bat.  Organizers of the local Wiffle ball league want to construct an actual stadium modeled around the old Jarry Park, the original home of the Expos. See photo below.

Mark Rabinovitch,   a cardiologist practicing at Clinique MedicElle, told me that  he started playing Wiffle ball with a group of friends from Côte Saint-Luc’s and the Montreal General Hospital around 1999.  “We played our games at Macdonald Park, and when we heard about a Wiffle ball tournament in the US, a group of us went to South Bend, Indiana to compete,” he says.  “We were outclassed,   but had a memorable time. Our love for Wiffle ball led us to hearing about another aficionado in Jericho, Vermont, who built a Wiffle ball field named Little Fenway. We made about three trips to Little Fenway  and that site has grown to include Little Wrigley and Little Field of Dreams.”

About  three years ago, Harold Cammy  from our Parks and Recreation Department invited the group to start playing at Kirwan Park. They now have a pool of about 25 players and compete with teams of five to eight on each side, every Sunday morning from May until the end of September.  Singerman Park serves as their base. Players range in age from nine to their late 70s.  There are three   father and sons players and daughters have played, too.  “The games are fun and not too competitive,” Rabinovitch says.

Our council has  allocated funds for a dedicated Wiffle ball field at Singerman Park. Rabinovitch and his group want to call it Expos Park at CSL Yards as a homage to the Expos and Camden Yards. City Council has yet to discuss the name and I am told this will be placed on an upcoming agenda.

“Wiffle ball is a game I used to play in the country with my cousins and neighbors, including kids of all ages and our parents,” noted Dr. Rabinovitch. “That is one of the attractions - it doesn't require any expensive equipment or special talent to go out and have fun together. 

I love baseball, but as we all know, a softball can hurt, if you're hit. The wiffle ball  is a plastic ball, with several holes, designed to throw curve balls, and other tricks. That's all Wiffle ball requires - a plastic bat and ball. A friend of mine even sent me an algorithm, showing how injuries from a wiffleb all are almost nonexistent.”  

I must admit I have not seen any games yet. But next season I will make it a point of doing so, perhaps even offering to step in as a pinch hitter.

Those interested can email wifflecsl@gmail.com  or shurob2007@hotmail.com. 

Autism Speaks Canada bringing a Dog Walk to our very own Trudeau Park

The City of Côte Saint-Luc is proud to be hosting  the  Autism Speaks Canada  Dog Walk  on Sunday, October 21 (9:30 am to 11:30 am) at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Park on Mackle Road. The event goes  rain or shine. I cannot think of a better way to start my birthday off.

One in 66  individuals is diagnosed with autism. Autism Speaks Canada aims to raise awareness and fundraise to support family community services and research into causes and better interventions for autism and related conditions.

“We recognize and value that dogs provide unconditional love to all,” said Krista Leitham, the Regional Walk Coordinator. “Specifically, to the family living with autism, dogs also provide important therapeutic support.  Both research and pet therapy providers alike support that dogs provide important pet therapy to individuals with autism which help improve their social interaction, increase attention and cooperation, decrease anxiety and provide support for independence skills.”

Our Dog Owners Committee, chaired by Jonathan Goldman, is supporting this wonderful initiative. I urge all dog owners to register with their dogs of course.  

“This is the first time ASC will hold an ASC-branded Dog Walk,” said Leitham. “At our signature Walk events across Canada, we have an increasing number of pet therapists participate, in addition to families with trained therapy dogs. The idea for an ASC-branded dog walk is inspired by an ASC supporter in Alberta, a veterinarian with a son on the spectrum and he has organized a local dog walk for the past few years.”

Leitham notes how research supports that dogs (pets) help improve social interaction, increase attention and cooperation, decrease anxiety and provide important tools for independence skills. Research articles are available on the Autism Speaks (US) website, an example is here.

Also, an increasing number of schools are including trained therapy dogs into the classroom pedagogy or after-school programs. This is a true grassroots initiative with local community support. Merchants with dog care services are new to participate at an event like this and welcome engaging with the community by exhibiting their services and leading family-friendly and dog-friendly activities.

The response on social media has been consistently strong. A noted number of community groups and organizations are sharing our posts. We encourage participants to register online so we can best prepare for the number of participants.

Registration is online at (English) www.autismspeaks.ca/dogwalk or (French) www.autismspeaks.ca/promenadedechiens. Event-day registrations are welcome, but online is preferred. The cost is $30 fee per family or team; just one person needs to register to represent the family or team. Registrants with their family or team are encouraged to fundraise. Donations are preferred by credit card online or cash/cheques can be remitted on event day.

Event day activities will include the following:

• Exhibitors: Dog care specialists, local community organizations, each will lead a family and dog-friendly activity.
• Event day contests: Best Dressed Dog, Best Dog Trick, Best Doggie-Owner Look-a-Like, Best Halloween Costume, Best Dog Strut, etc.  Contest winners receive a gift.
• Pre-event contest for Best Dog Photo :Registrants are invited to send in a dog photo with the dog’s name and breed, and share their story how their dog is important to their family, especially if they are a family living with autism. The photo and story is posted onto the Montreal Autism Speaks Canada facebook and event Instagram @ascdogwalk leading up to the event. The public vote will be announced on event day.
• Prize Draws: Fundraising Reward tickets are remitted to registrants on event day based on their fundraising. The more you fundraise, the more tickets you receive. On event day, registrants select which Prize Draws to place their tickets towards to increase their chances to win.

• 1 km Dog Walk: To close the event to empower families both directly and indirectly affected with autism.

For more information e-mail kristaleitham@autismspeakscan.ca  or log on to   www.autismspeaks.ca.

 

Autism Speaks Canada bringing a Dog Walk to our very own Trudeau Park

The City of Côte Saint-Luc is proud to be hosting  the  Autism Speaks Canada  Dog Walk  on Sunday, October 21 (9:30 am to 11:30 am) at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Park on Mackle Road. The event goes  rain or shine. I cannot think of a better way to start my birthday off.

One in 66  individuals is diagnosed with autism. Autism Speaks Canada aims to raise awareness and fundraise to support family community services and research into causes and better interventions for autism and related conditions.

“We recognize and value that dogs provide unconditional love to all,” said Krista Leitham, the Regional Walk Coordinator. “Specifically, to the family living with autism, dogs also provide important therapeutic support.  Both research and pet therapy providers alike support that dogs provide important pet therapy to individuals with autism which help improve their social interaction, increase attention and cooperation, decrease anxiety and provide support for independence skills.”

Our Dog Owners Committee, chaired by Jonathan Goldman, is supporting this wonderful initiative. I urge all dog owners to register with their dogs of course.  

“This is the first time ASC will hold an ASC-branded Dog Walk,” said Leitham. “At our signature Walk events across Canada, we have an increasing number of pet therapists participate, in addition to families with trained therapy dogs. The idea for an ASC-branded dog walk is inspired by an ASC supporter in Alberta, a veterinarian with a son on the spectrum and he has organized a local dog walk for the past few years.”

Leitham notes how research supports that dogs (pets) help improve social interaction, increase attention and cooperation, decrease anxiety and provide important tools for independence skills. Research articles are available on the Autism Speaks (US) website, an example is here.

Also, an increasing number of schools are including trained therapy dogs into the classroom pedagogy or after-school programs. This is a true grassroots initiative with local community support. Merchants with dog care services are new to participate at an event like this and welcome engaging with the community by exhibiting their services and leading family-friendly and dog-friendly activities.

The response on social media has been consistently strong. A noted number of community groups and organizations are sharing our posts. We encourage participants to register online so we can best prepare for the number of participants.

Registration is online at (English) www.autismspeaks.ca/dogwalk or (French) www.autismspeaks.ca/promenadedechiens. Event-day registrations are welcome, but online is preferred. The cost is $30 fee per family or team; just one person needs to register to represent the family or team. Registrants with their family or team are encouraged to fundraise. Donations are preferred by credit card online or cash/cheques can be remitted on event day.

Event day activities will include the following:

• Exhibitors: Dog care specialists, local community organizations, each will lead a family and dog-friendly activity.
• Event day contests: Best Dressed Dog, Best Dog Trick, Best Doggie-Owner Look-a-Like, Best Halloween Costume, Best Dog Strut, etc.  Contest winners receive a gift.
• Pre-event contest for Best Dog Photo :Registrants are invited to send in a dog photo with the dog’s name and breed, and share their story how their dog is important to their family, especially if they are a family living with autism. The photo and story is posted onto the Montreal Autism Speaks Canada facebook and event Instagram @ascdogwalk leading up to the event. The public vote will be announced on event day.
• Prize Draws: Fundraising Reward tickets are remitted to registrants on event day based on their fundraising. The more you fundraise, the more tickets you receive. On event day, registrants select which Prize Draws to place their tickets towards to increase their chances to win.

• 1 km Dog Walk: To close the event to empower families both directly and indirectly affected with autism.

For more information e-mail kristaleitham@autismspeakscan.ca  or log on t o   www.autismspeaks.ca.

 

Just for Kids Foundation Stroll for Kids Event a succcess in CSL

 Côte Saint-Luc was proud to provide the venue for the  fourth annual Just For Kids Foundation (JFK) Stroll for Kids event – where over 100 families   gathered at our sprawling Pierre Elliott Trudeau Park to enjoy a day of fun and philanthropy, to raise much needed funds for the Montreal Children’s Hospital. These funds will help to purchase high-priority medical equipment and to support initiatives that improve the quality of care for the young and vulnerable patients of the Montreal Children’s Hospital.

With co-chairs Alana Geller and Jodie Zimmerman-Frenkiel.

I was beyond impressed with the setup as I toured the park with JFK Executive Director Lorie Blumer and chatted with event co-chairs   Alana Geller and Jodie Zimmerman-Frenkiel. These two moms  were each blessed with twins in the summer of 2014 who were born prematurely and spent considerable time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. When their children came home, they wanted to express their gratitude in a unique and significant way and so JFK Stroll for Kids was borAmong those on hand was Rachelle Toussaint, a mother whose child has been in the NICU for over a year and has benefitted from the various initiatives that JFK has funded, including the one of its kind in Quebec, the JFK Sibling Park. Her story demonstrates the impact that JFK has had on families in our community.

Since this cheque presentations the totals have gone up.

More than $150,000 was raised, bringing the grand total to  over $650,000 for this event alone. The JFK Stroll for Kids has garnered a loyal following of over 150 families, vendors and sponsors, who continue to participate year after year.

The morning  featured live entertainment, games, music, activities, and plenty of food. Committee members did an outstanding job getting the likes of Moishes Restaurant, Rustique, Hank, TCBY,  Les Delices Lafrenaie and others to donate, resulting in a heavenly buffet at no cost to the attendees.

 All proceeds raised will be allocated towards Just for Kids Foundation’s Endless Possibilities campaign.

Moishes Burgers.

The JFK Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises funds to purchase high-priority medical equipment, and to support initiatives that improve the quality of care for patients of the Montreal Children’s Hospital.  

Skateboard area at Rembrandt Park to become a greenspace

A few years ago the central topic for one of my District 2 Town Hall meetings was Rembrandt Park. There were concerns raised about the lack of lighting at the tennis courts, the basketball area, play equipment and the skateboard area.

Ruby Goodman, who has served as a park attendant for more than 20 years at Rembrandt, was asked to get  a feel from the users. I also set up a small committee and we conducted surveys from people of all ages. The consensus was to  fix the lights, maintain the basketball area as is and replace the skateboard space with greenery.

The skateboard area will now become a nice greenspace

 

Last spring the Public Spaces Committee of the city, composed of senior staff and some councillors, highlighted the skateboard area for demolishment at some point this year or next.  Work began last week. I was not aware of the specific date and while some parents have come forward and stated their kids enjoy the area, inspections done in recent weeks warned of serious danger. due to cracks in the asphalt as well as heaving areas in the asphalt. Our Public Works Department told me Friday that this area is  not conducive to skateboarding.  Potential accidents would result in costly litigation. Some youngters use their scooters there, something which is also highly dangerous. As a result, filling in the bowl meets with the new required safety measures.

The earth is coming from excavation projects throughout the city. It is therefore, an environmentally friendly project. We will install sod and topsoil to create an area in the shade for picnic tables and benches, providing residents with the opportunity to enjoy summer fun in the shade. It will therefore be transformed into a nice gathering space

Ruby Goodman confirmed Friday that he has seen very few skateboarders there in recent years. In fact Public Works was constantly tasked to clean the bowl as it was becoming  a garbage dump.

When I was first elected 13 years ago there was a soccer field at Rembrandt Park that was sunk below the ground. We consistently found benches and debris dumped there. As well seniors complained about delinquents causing problems and using the spot as  a hideout late at night. We resolved the problem by filling the hole with leveled greenspace.

Constituents are always invited to contact me directly to discuss these issues.

 

Recent power outage shows the need for residents to be plugged into our social media channels

On September  6, most Côte Saint-Luc residents lost power when workers repairing the underground aqueduct on Kildare Rd. near Cavendish struck a natural gas pipe, causing a gas leak. Power was cut to the area as a safety precaution.  

Let me begin by commending our Public Safety  and Public Affaiirs Departments,  senior management and Mayor Mitchell Brownstein for the leadership role they played. Many people were searching for answers and it was those fully plugged in to our social media platforms who benefitted  the most.

Please, if you have access to the Internet like our main Facebook  page and  CSL Ideas; go directly to our website, which had constant updates throughout the day;  and sign up for alerts by phone and to receive our e-newsletter.

Diagrams like this, showing exit routes from the city, were posted on our website.

On September 6 the city sent two telephone call outs  (10:37am and 3:06pm) to share the information we had. Anyone who signed up to received the SMS and/or email emergency alerts received those, too. In addition, the city posted approximately 12 updates on Facebook and CoteSaintLuc.org during the day, and several tweets. The timing of the incident was not ideal as staff were on their way to work when the traffic into the city (as well as out) slowed down. 

"That said, we are always looking for ways to improve," stated Mayor Brownstein. "I would like to congratulate Public Security Director Jordy Reichson  and his team on a job well done.  We are lucky that there was no explosion and no one was hurt.  Our emergency response was excellent. 

"I also want to thank the city management and directors who worked together at the in-committee table throughout the day making sure communications were managed and schools and hospitals as well as the general public got the information they needed to make decisions throughout the day."

 

Mayor Brownstein oversaw a post-mortem at the end of the day to ensure we do even better next time, implementing new ways we can start communications sooner.

 

In light of the recent events and numerous questions around emergency responses that city has, Councillor Oren Sebag and Director Reichson  will be hosting an Emergency Preparedness Public Information session soon.  

 

Steven Spodek invites people to attend alternative Rosh Hashanah service

On the eve of the Jewish New Year, District 2 resident Steven Spodek is busy preparing for his volunteer duties as  part of the High Holidays Outreach Initiative at the Adath Israel Congregation (best known simply as the Adath) in Hampstead 

Steven is very proud of the program called Free Fast Fun, An  Alternative  Rosh Hashanah event featuring a one hour service, childcare provided and selected prayers and tunes. Here you get to learn the meaning of prayers and rituals, ask questions and blow and hear the shofar. Kiddush refreshments are also part of the package. There are  no charges, solicitations, tickets nor reservations required.

Steven Spodek

This will take place on Monday, September 10 (5:30 pm)  at. 223 Harrow Crescent in Hampstead.

“I have long admired Rabbi Michael Whitman’s commitment to community outreach, including this program that began in 2005,” said Steven. “Some of those who come attend a regular service   want to understand the meaning of the prayers and they get that here. Most of those who come do not attend any synagogue service. We often hear people saying they have not been in  synagogue in decades.”

Rabbi Whitman

Another example of a superb community service is that  the Adath is proudly welcoming this year another District 2 resident, Natalie Constantine,  and Nancy Witcher, ASL (American Sign Language) Interpreters. They will interpret Rabbi Whitman's High Holiday Sermons on:

• Rosh Hashana I - Monday, September 10, at 12:15 p.m.
  Rosh Hashana II - Tuesday, September 11, at 12:15 p.m.
  Kol Nidre - Tuesday, September 18, at 6:45 p.m.
  Yom Kippur - Wednesday, September 19, at 11:30 a.m.

Anyone who can benefit from this is invited to join  as  guests for the entire service  at no cost. It is necessary to register a request for this with the synagogue’s seating committee to make sure individuals are placed with a good view of Natalie and Nancy. Please contact the seating committee by calling or emailing Audra Libman, ADATH office manager at audra@adath.ca or 514-482-4252.

The Sweetness of Life: Dentist turned author Harry Rajchgot pens his second book

On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, local dentist and District 2 resident Harry Rajchgot has written his second book called The Sweetness of Life: My Mother’s Jewish Cookbook. It is a tale of where his parents came from in Poland, how they arrived in Canada and the language of Yiddish. In each section there is a storyline and one of his mom’s recipes, a unique concept to be sure. 

Harry in the kitchen.

Dr. Rajchgot spent more than 20 years writing his first novel called Gravitational Fields, released in 2016. The writing began at the time his father became severely ill in 1994. It gives a fictional account of a family of Holocaust survivors struggling to overcome their past, based on the stories of many individuals and families who went through similar experiences.

After Dr. Rajchgot’s mother’s death, he found among her effects an invoice book from a Montreal furrier where she had worked. Many of the pages were covered in Yiddish script in his mother's difficult handwriting. After glancing at a few of these, he recognized  some” of the Yiddish words and realized that these were recipes. Similar material was also written on odd pieces of cardboard, from Kleenex boxes or the cardboard that came with shirts from the dry cleaner.

“Too busy to deal with them at that moment, I put all these aside in a box, for later examination,” he explained. “About a year ago, seven years after my mother passed away, I looked again. I had recently heard of a call for submissions of possible projects by the  Foundation for Yiddish Culture, asking for material that would emphasize the role of the Yiddish language in recent Montreal history. Yiddish had been my mother tongue, although, for the most part, I had forgotten how to speak the languge. With a certain degree of curiosity, I applied, proposing to turn my mother's Yiddish recipes into a book which would explore my family's journey from pre-war Poland to Montreal in the recent past, and use this book to show the original recipes, in their Yiddish cursive, with translation into English, interwoven with my family history, the history of the Yiddish language, and a glossary of spicy, salty, and sweet Yiddish words, terms, and phrases. And to my surprise, I was given the approval to develop my project.”

The translation of the 70 odd recipes took a good six months. To a large extent, Dr. Rajchgot had to bring back the memories of the Yiddish he had learned as a child, and then try to read his mother's difficult handwriting, translate the words, and give them context. “I saw that each recipe was attributed to one or other of my mother's network of women friends who had dictated these recipes to her,” he said. “Most had a similar background as my mother, Holocaust survivors who had come to Canada after the war and made a life in this country. Interwoven with these was the theme of nourishment of young families, and the sublimated memories of past fear, deprivation and hunger. What was remarkable was that most of the recipes were for sweet things–cakes and cookies and other desserts. This gave the book its name: The Sweetness of Life, a somewhat ironic title considering my mother's difficult past.”

Of the recipes, Dr. Rajchgot only chose a handful for the book. The recipes, once he had translated them, were deficient in many ways compared to what one would find in a conventional recipe book: units if measurement were rudimentary and often unclear. Some Yiddish words were unreadable, and untranslatable, quantities, directions on how to mix ingredients, oven temperatures and baking times were mostly missing. There were also a number of repetitions: Mrs. G's honeycake, Mrs. M's honeycake, Mrs. L's honeycake, and so on. And yet, after two attempts to follow one cheesecake recipe, with a bit of intuition and some guesswork, yielded a surprisingly delicious European-style chessecake as a result.

With his book.

The book was successfully launched recently at the Museum of Jewish Montreal (St. Laurent and Duluth.) and is now available on Amazon  in both print and ebook formats. It’s short, only 125 pages, and has plenty of images and photos, so it’s a quick and easy read, unlike his novel. It is also available at Bonder’s Bookstore on Westminster Avenue in Montreal West, Argo Bookshop on St. Catherine Street West and the Côte Saint-Luc  Public Library.

JPPS-Bialik unveils a state-of-the-art artificial turf sports field, basketball court

Only a few weeks after Herzliah High School inaugurated its new campus in snowdon, JPPS-Bialik in Côte Saint-Luc’s District 2 formally unveiled a  new regulation-sized, state- of- the -art artificial turf sports field, basketball court and healthy living curriculum under its Project Fit banner.

Guests admire the new complex.

I was pleased to be at the VIP breakfast-time ceremony and tour, attended by parents, supporters and some community leaders. Dubbed the Cons Family Sports Facility and Tehrani Basketball Court, it is an absolutely extraordinary facility.

Officials noted that Project Fit will benefit the entire JPPS-Bialik Community through Mind, Body, and Spirit. This will include ensuring that their rigorous International Baccalaureate Programme is balanced with physical activity to promote a healthy mind and body; building on  strong academic programs with an enriched and accelerated curriculum; and backing up sport science studies which show that participation in sports activities improves school performance and builds self-esteem, especially in schools.

With Mayor Brownstein, David Birnbaum and some students.

JPPS will introduce the Brain Break Program, with lunchtime fitness activities, such as CrossFit and yoga for students and teachers at JPPS and Bialik. More team opportunities at the high school level, providing students with physical activity options to counter sedentary screen time .A new hockey program is being launched in conjunction with the City of Côte Saint-Luc., to prepare for the new GMAA regulations. In the area of spirit, Jewish life events and programs designed to highlight all aspects of Judaism to our students and community. Mindfulness will be practiced daily at JPPS. It allows   students and staff to focus inward and start their day intentionally and purposefully.

JPPS-Bialik President Lee Wise, Foundation President Joanna Yufe Naimer and Co-Heads of School Avi Satov and Marnie Stein were elated with the final result of the complex. “Today is a very happy moment for all who love sports and our school,” said Wise.  “I have been here daily for weeks and  I am still in awe of what was transformed here. The community at large can take great pride in knowing JPPS-Bialik has taken a leadership role in creating an environment where every student is seen as an individual, and where every student can challenge themselves to excel with confidence and enthusiasm in sports and all areas of their education. “

With Joanna Yufe Naimer, Lee Wise, Glenn J. Nashen, David Birnbaum and Mitchell Brownstein.

It was a couple of years ago that a past board officer, Etan Jagerman planted the seed that grew into a comprehensive effort to implement the concept of Project fit.  The baton  was then passed to Dave Perlis, who along with Jeff Fixman worked diligently assessing what was to be built and how.  Bobby Titleman, Ora Loeb  and John Dore were also in the mix. “The next stage was meeting with contractors and designers,” Wise explained. “I am going to be blunt now and tell you that we would not have such a gorgeous facility here without Luciano Catalogna and Ken Gilman.”

Gilman   is a new parent in the school and has a long family history in the artificial turf industry. He introduced Wise  to Catalogna whose family owns the huge The Catalogna Soccerplex in Lachine. “Together, they helped design, pick colors and most of all negotiate an incredible deal for us to build something that many thought was impossible,” Wise said.

Yufe Naimer credited Foundation staffers  Amy Finkelstein and Naomi Blumer for their diligent work on the project.  "Tuition alone cannot cover all of our costs," she said. "Fundraising is critical today."  

Satov said the opening of the complex marked an important moment in JPPS-Bialik’s history, “a moment that will propel our school to new heights.”

Satov said that  when he was growing up, his favorite movie was Field of Dreams, starring Kevin Costner. “For those of you who may not be familiar will the movie, the premise revolved around farmer Ray who heard mysterious voices one night in his cornfield,” Satov said. “The voices said ‘If you build it, they will come.’ Despite taunts of lunacy, Ray builds a baseball diamond on his land, then baseball legends start emerging from the crops to play ball. As Ray learned, the field of dreams was about much more than bringing former baseball greats out to play.This project has been in the making for a few years.  Just as in sports, teamwork, dedication and commitment reap great results. “

Past presidents and board members, under the leadership of Jamie Ross and Harley Eisman, were thanked for their guidance, insight and support for the project  

Satov said that the new field will be used for regulation sports such as soccer, touch football, track &and field, field hockey, lacrosse to name a few, as well as Physical Education classes. " It will also allow for winter sports. It will provide and support a higher profiled academic sports leadership; most recently with the hiring our  Senior Athletics Coordinator Matt Starr," he said.

Mayor Mitchell Brownstein and D'Arcy McGee Liberal MNA David Birnbaum were also at the ceremony as was JPPS-Bialik parent, alum and present-day board member Glenn J. Nashen with his wife Dr. Judy Hagshi.