I am pleased to announce officially that I will be seeking my sixth mandate as the Côte Saint-Luc City Councillor for District 2 in the November 2, 2025 Municipal Election. It has been my honour to serve the area in which I reside since 2005. My campaign team is already in place, with representation from every building, town house complex and street in the district. Thanks to everyone for their support over the years.

I grew up in Côte Saint-Luc and have lived in District 2 for 30 years, first winning election to council in 2005 with 92 percent of the vote. I have a long record of extensive involvement in setting up municipal programs as a volunteer, as a journalist and communications specialist, as well as a city councillor.

District 2 encompasses Merrimac, Rembrandt., Kildare (between Marc Chagall and Honoré Balzac), Sir Walter Scott, Ilan Ramon, Marc Chagall, Mackle (between Cavendish and Brandeis), Quartier Cavendish Mall, Cavendish (Le Montefiore, Manoir Camelia, L’Excelsior), The Avenue, Jubilee, Park Place, Honoré-de-Balzac..

With a member of my campaign team, Frank Palucci.

Je suis heureux d'annoncer officiellement que je solliciterai un sixième mandat en tant que conseiller municipal de Côte Saint-Luc pour le district 2 lors de l'élection municipale du 2 novembre 2025. C'est un honneur pour moi de servir le quartier dans lequel je réside depuis 2005. Mon équipe de campagne est déjà en place, avec des représentants de chaque immeuble, complexe de maisons de ville et rue du district. Merci à tous pour leur soutien au fil des ans

J’ai grandi à Côte-Saint-Luc, habité dans le district 2 pendant 30 ans et été élu au conseil municipal en 2005 avec 92 % des voix. J’ai participé activement à la mise en place de programmes municipaux en tant que bénévole, en tant que journaliste et spécialiste en relations publiques et en tant que conseiller municipal.

Le district 2 comprend Merrimac, Rembrandt, Kildare (entre Rembrandt et Marc Chagall), Sir Walter Scott, Ilan Ramon, Marc Chagall, Mackle (entre Cavendish et Brandeis), le Quartier Cavendish, Cavendish (Le Montefiore, Manoir Camelia, L’Excelsior), ch. du Jubilé, Place Park Place, L’avenue et Honoré-de-Balzac.

For many years we have experienced drainage issues with the pathway to Rembrandt Park on the turn of Merrimac. Public Works has attempted a variety of methods to remedy the problem, but none have been successful. They did repave  the pathway  a few feet away with success.

It was recently decided that the pavement will be replaced with grass.

Public Works hopes to remove the pavé by the end of this week. The ground will then be levelled and the sod laid.  That will take two to three weeks. The crazy weather we have experienced in recent months have forced numerous delays. In the meantime, the entry and exit ways have been blocked.

Depuis de nombreuses années, nous rencontrons des problèmes de drainage sur le sentier menant au parc Rembrandt, dans le virage de Merrimac. Les services des travaux publics ont essayé diverses méthodes pour remédier au problème, mais aucune n'a été couronnée de succès. Ils ont repavé le sentier à quelques mètres de là, avec succès.

Il a récemment été décidé de remplacer le pavé par de l'herbe.

Les travaux publics espèrent enlever le pavé d'ici la fin de la semaine. Le sol sera ensuite nivelé et le gazon posé. Cela prendra deux à trois semaines. Les intempéries que nous avons connues ces derniers mois ont entraîné de nombreux retards. Entre-temps, les voies d'entrée et de sortie ont été bloquées.

Traduit avec DeepL.com 

Last fall Roy Salomon called to ask if I could help him organize a reunion of the fabled Côte Saint-Luc Slo Pitch Association.  The ageless Roy, who looks fit as a fiddle at age 88 years young, agreed with my suggestion that we reunite at Kirwan Park.  So, the date was set for June 22. A big thanks to Moe Giobbi from the Parks and Recreation Department for really going above and beyond the duty. He found some vintage CSL Slo Pitch sweaters and brought some bats and balls. As well, he extended an invitation to alumni from the CSL Executive Softball League.

A nice photo on the pitcher's mound.

Kirwan Park was recently refurbished to the tune of $10 million. Diamond One, the field where we played, looks remarkable and it was amazing to see the reaction from the alumni about the facility. Indeed, there was an awe factor for both the field and the chalet.

Roy and fellow 88 year old Mish Granik were on hand. They both hit the field, took some swings and ground balls. I was in the outfield when the amazing Roy drove some balls high into the air. Harold Miller, 80, was on hand. Harold started in the league when he was 16 and may go down as one the greatest. He was a left handed slugger and manager of the Internationals, the dynasty sponsored by Herb Isenberg of the International Development Corporation. I spoke to Herb, 92, a few weeks ago. He was up north for the weekend  and unable to attend, yet he still goes to the office several times a week.

That's me with Ted Dash, Harold Miller, Mark Rothpan and photo bomber Suzie Schwartz.

A big surprise was the appearance of Ted Dash, another former star for the Internationals. Ted moved to Toronto 26 years ago and this was his first time at the park in at least three decades. He was blown away. Ted picked up the bat and showed that he can still hit the ball well.

Watch my video here Ted at the plate, with some fun commentary

Mark Rothpan was there. And he waxed nostalgic of those days he got to play with his late dad Mike, who passed away last year. Mark was also the league’s treasurer.

Eli “Buddy” Manis, known as the “sentimental gentleman” was there with his friend Irving Rabinovitch. Buddy is in remarkable shape at age 84 and he still plays competitive hockey.

Lorne Krane was the only former player there younger than 60.

Listen to the fun podcast by clicking here that  I recorded with Roy Salomon, Mish Granik, Mark Rothpan, Ted Dash, Buddy Manis and  Howard Morganstein.

The 2025 Côte Saint-Luc Golf Classic will take place on Tuesday, August 5 at Meadowbrook. In the event of rain, it will be held on August 12.

This event, in partnership with the CSL Men’s Club, has been held for the past 44 summers. The organizing committee consists of Councillors Mike Cohen, Lior Azerad and Dida Berku, Norm Goldfield from the Men’s Club, as well as Cornelia Ziga, Irene Lahaie and Moe Giobbi from the Parks and Recreation Department.

Lior Azerad, Moe Giobbi, Philippe Mamane, Mitchell Brownstein, Mike Cohen,  Dida Berku, Peter Lipari, Norm Goldfield and Oren Sebag,

Each Tuesday during the summer, Men’s Club members gather to play nine holes of golf. On this occasion, the “invitation” will be extended to elected officials, representatives from the business community and others interested in playing.

Officials sponsors will be Marc Ezerzer and Hagai Brenner from KW Prestige Real Estate and Philippe Mamane, a wealth management advisor at Assante Wealth Management. Proceeds from the event will go to the Parks and Recreation Bursary Fund, which assists parents with financial difficulties and children’s with special needs in registering for specific programs they might otherwise not be able to afford.

The team from Pierre Brunet’s McDonald’s franchise at the Côte St. Luc Shopping Centre will welcome golfers as they get set to tee off with coffee and danishes. There will be trophies up for grabs for the longest drive and closest to the pin (male and female categories). Peter Lipari, the owner of the IGA grocery store at the Côte St. Luc Shopping Centre and a strong supporter of community initiatives, will be the special honoree.

The price to register is $30, which also includes an invitation for two to attend a special banquet on September 29 at the Aquatic and Community Centre for the presentation of the Awards and the cheque unveiling for the bursary fund. This event will be held in conjunction with the annual Maison Fleuries celebration.

Registration for individuals or foursomes began on Wednesday, June 11 at the ACC. It should be noted that in the event of a rain date, golfers who cannot make it will be able to request a refund.

For more information contact Irene Lahaie at [email protected]

For at least five decades the Côte Saint-Luc Slo Pitch Association thrived, first at Westminster Park and then at Kirwan. At the latter venue, Diamond Number One was the home

In Slo Pitch, the pitcher slowly releases the ball between their hip and knee and lobs it into the air - usually six to 12  feet high - so that it will land on or close to home plate. Because of these slower pitching speeds, the batter in Slo Pitch has much more time to set up, react to the pitcher's pitch and send the ball as far into the outfield as possible.

In Côte Saint-Luc, this league functioned independently. Each team was sponsored and players paid a fee each year. The city provided the field and printing services. This was a serious league, with a commissioner  and executive and formal umpire crew. There was a pre-season draft of unprotected players, a trade deadline and strict residency rules. If you were found to using a non-CSL address you could be tossed out.  Games were played four nights a week and they often attracted crowds of average citizens because the quality of play was that good. Statistics were kept and awarded handed out at a much anticipated year-end banquet, usually at the old Bill Wong's on Decarie.

My late dad was involved in the league for years. In fact, he had an arrangement with his friend Dan Rosenberg of the then Montreal Star Newspaper to publish the scores and top performers after every game. When I was a young teenager I got hired as the scorekeeper. It was an exciting job. At the age of 17 I was eligible to play.

A few months ago noted sportsman Roy Salomon, an ageless 88, called to ask if I could help him plan a reunion of former Slo Pitch and Executive League players. We have it set for Sunday, June 22 (9:30 am to 11:30 am) at the familiar Diamond One. A lot of the attendees will be shocked to see  a revitalized park after $10 million in renovations. Some folks will attend just to banter. Others will take to the field for some batting practice and to throw the ball around. In the event of rain, this will be rescheduled.

E-mail me at [email protected] if you know of someone who might like to attend. It should be very nostalgic.

The town houses on Ilan Ramon and Sir Walter Scott represent beauty in our community. But the owner of two vacant lots on the latter property continues to use that greenspace as a dumping ground. Despite endless requests from the city,  a dumpster and building materials  remain on the premises.

This very sad situation has left the city with no choice but to take court action. I also wish to add that keeping this material on site  could pose a danger for young children and pets that might explore the area.

The grass was finally cut.

Last week we had to issue warnings in order for him to merely cut the grass, something that is required in our by-laws  for vacant lots.  The sign from a real estate agent remains in place. Last winter the owner had not even paid his taxes.  He was at risk at losing the property at public auction, so he finally issued a cheque.

The neighbours are tired at looking at this eyesore.   Have there been any bites to purchase the property? Land to build new homes in Côte Saint-Luc remains at a premium.  We are all hoping someone makes an offer  for the land. We all can’t stand looking at it anymore.

I wish to thank our Urban Development Department for staying on this case.

La maison de ville située sur Ilan Ramon et Sir Walter Scott représente la beauté de notre communauté. Cependant, le propriétaire de deux terrains vacants sur cette dernière propriété continue d'utiliser cet espace vert comme dépotoir. Malgré les demandes répétées de la ville, une benne à ordures et des matériaux de construction restent sur les lieux.

Cette situation très regrettable n'a laissé d'autre choix à la ville que d'intenter une action en justice. J'aimerais également ajouter que le fait de laisser ces matériaux sur place pourrait constituer un danger pour les jeunes enfants et les animaux domestiques qui pourraient s'aventurer sur le site.

La semaine dernière, nous avons dû lui adresser des avertissements afin qu'il se contente de tondre le gazon, ce qui est exigé par notre règlement municipal pour les terrains vacants.  Le panneau de l'agence immobilière est toujours en place. L'hiver dernier, le propriétaire n'avait même pas payé ses impôts.  Il risquait de perdre sa propriété lors d'une vente aux enchères publiques, il a donc finalement émis le chèque.

Les voisins en ont assez de voir cette horreur.   Y a-t-il eu des personnes intéressées par l'achat de la propriété ? Les terrains pour construire de nouvelles maisons à Côte Saint-Luc restent très prisés.  Nous espérons tous que quelqu'un fera une offre pour ce terrain. Nous ne supportons plus de le voir.

Je tiens à remercier notre service d'urbanisme pour s'être occupé de cette affaire.

For the second year, in partnership with the Quebec Writers’ Federation, the CSL Public Library organized the Rosyln and Max Margles Young Writers' Contest for children in Grades 3 to 6 who either attend a school in Côte Saint-Luc or reside here. A number of students were recognized at an awards ceremony at the Aquatic and Community Centre, where all participants were recognized for their creativity and efforts.

A nice group shot.

Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, myself and Councillor Dida Berku were in attendance. Thanks to Chief Librarian Janine West and staffers Bronwen Cathey and Marina Resina for their support.

Recognizing some of the recipients.

Here are the certificate recipients:

3rd/4th Grade:
• 1st place: Matti Gonzalez-Idan (JPPS). See my video chat with him here
• 2nd place: Adèle Mechache + Sarah Israel (co-authors) (Yavné)
• Honourable Mentions :
o Madison Rappaport (Solomon Schechter Academy)
o Cordelia Carrier-Sydor (Mary Gardner school)
o Jacob Segal (JPPS)
5th/6th grade:
• 1st place: Aderes Zigman (JPPS)
• 2nd place: Anastasia Maria Ion (École des Amis-du-Monde)
• Honourable Mentions:
o Naveen Dosag (Willingdon)
o Nona Morakabaty (École académie Saint-Clément)
o Izzy Druckman(Edinburgh)

We had excellent participation from the following schools: JPPS, UTT, Solomon Schecter Academy, Willingdon, Saint George’s School, Maor Israel, École Saint Laurent, École académie Saint-Clément, Merton. Yavné, Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs, École de la Mosaïque, Hebrew Academy, Villa Sainte-Marcelline, St. Gabriel Elementary, École des Amis-du-Monde, Guy Drummond, École alternative Jonathan, Edinburgh, Royal Vale and Ecole Nouvelle-Querbes.

The judges were writers and authors .Marie-Louise Gay, Paul Bracegirdle and Anne Renaud.

Watch my Instagram video chat with some of the other kids.

With Thierry Dhaisne and Jordan Guetta.

Last week I met with two senior members of our Public Works Department, Jordan Guetta and Thierry Dhaisne, to do a walkabout at Rembrandt Park and conduct a review.

• The rim and backboard for the kids basketball court will be replaced soon.
• Equipment for toddlers will be checked for safety.
• The park equipment will be evaluated at the end of month
• The pathway that fills with water each year will be filled with grass.
• In the last few years the roof has been replaced on the chalet, a new handicapped accessible bathrooms and new water fountains have been installed.
• I have asked that the unused petanque court be moved and replaced with more greenspace.
• One of the picnic tables on the soccer field will be moved to a more appropriate place.

Each park gets specific allocations. Over the last decade, Rembrandt has benefitted from a generous array of allocations. The lighting for the tennis courts has been changed, a permanent ping pong table installed and the basketball courts were completely redone. The kids court was a new addition. Several pathways were fixed as well.

Removing the leaky path.

In the Capital Expenditures Plan over the next three years, Public Works plans to replace the stairs of the external amphitheatre , add a glide wheelchair swing to the park and replace the light fixtures. In the interim, lights will be checked.

The petanque courts need to be removed.

La semaine dernière, j'ai rencontré deux membres chevronnés de notre service des travaux publics, Jordan Guetta et Thierry Dhaisne, afin de faire une visite du parc Rembrandt et de procéder à une évaluation.

• Le rebord et le panneau du terrain de basket pour enfants seront bientôt remplacés.
• La sécurité des équipements pour les tout-petits sera vérifiée.
• Les équipements du parc seront évalués à la fin du mois.
• Le chemin qui se remplit d'eau chaque année sera recouvert de gazon.
• Au cours des dernières années, le toit du chalet a été remplacé, de nouvelles toilettes accessibles aux personnes handicapées et de nouvelles fontaines ont été installées.
• J'ai demandé que le terrain de pétanque inutilisé soit déplacé et remplacé par un espace vert.
• L'une des tables de pique-nique du terrain de football sera déplacée vers un endroit plus approprié.

Chaque parc bénéficie d'allocations spécifiques. Au cours de la dernière décennie, Rembrandt a bénéficié d'une généreuse série d'allocations. L'éclairage des courts de tennis a été modifié, une table de ping-pong permanente a été installée et les terrains de basket ont été entièrement refaits. Le terrain pour enfants est une nouvelle addition. Plusieurs allées ont également été réparées.

Dans le plan des dépenses en capital pour les trois prochaines années, les travaux publics prévoient de remplacer les escaliers de l'amphithéâtre extérieur, d'ajouter une balançoire pour fauteuils roulants au parc et de remplacer les luminaires. Dans l'intervalle, l'éclairage sera vérifié.

Bialik High School interns have given me a nice boost this academic year.

As I approach the 20th anniversary since first being elected to Côte Saint-Luc City Council, among the highlights has been the evolution of my community service program with students from Bialik High School situated in my District 2. While I have worked with student volunteers in one way or another since the start last year marked a turning point when I approached Bialik Co-Head of School and Principal Avi Satov. All students need to put in a certain amount of volunteer hours each year to complete their community service.

Jeremy Nashen, Noah Galambos,  Avery Hannon, Noah Hoffman,  Evan Levy (first row);  myself, Liana Levary, Alexa Omer and Avi Satov.

Four Grade 10 students – Avery Hannon, Noah Galambos, Jeremy Nashen, Alexa Omer and Liana Levary- and two others from Grade 9 -Noah Hoffman and Evan Levy – are on board and I hope to increase that number for the next academic year.

Watch my video with Mr. Satov and the students here

Avery, Noah, Jeremy and Noah G have been working on local commerce project, meeting with merchants and conducting a variety of surveys. Alexa and Liana are speaking to youth and asking them what they’d like to see in Côte Saint-Luc’s master plan.

Noah H and Evan have helped me embark on the development of a data base and questionnaire for real estate agents who are active in Côte Saint-Luc. I am pleased to say that have all done a terrific job and in some cases surpassed their required amount of community hours because they enjoy the challenge so much.

Any high school student interested in working with me can e-mail [email protected]

Les stagiaires du lycée Bialik m'ont donné un coup de pouce bienvenu cette année scolaire.

À l'approche du 20e anniversaire de mon élection au conseil municipal de Côte Saint-Luc, l'un des moments forts a été l'évolution de mon programme de service communautaire avec les élèves du lycée Bialik, situé dans mon quartier, le district 2.

Bien que je travaille avec des étudiants bénévoles d'une manière ou d'une autre depuis le début de l'année dernière, un tournant a été atteint lorsque j'ai approché Avi Satov, codirecteur et directeur de l'école Bialik. Tous les élèves doivent effectuer un certain nombre d'heures de bénévolat chaque année pour valider leur service communautaire.

Quatre élèves de 10e année – Avery Hannon, Noah Galambos, Jeremy Nashen, Alexa Omer et Liana Levary – et deux autres de 9e année – Noah Hoffman et Evan Levy – se sont joints à nous, et j'espère que leur nombre augmentera au cours de la prochaine année scolaire.

Avery, Noah, Jeremy et Noah G ont travaillé sur un projet lié au commerce local, rencontrant des commerçants et menant diverses enquêtes.

Alexa et Liana discutent avec des jeunes pour leur demander ce qu'ils aimeraient voir dans le plan directeur de Côte Saint-Luc.

Noah H et Evan m'ont aidé à créer une base de données et un questionnaire destinés aux agents immobiliers actifs à Côte Saint-Luc.

Je suis heureux de dire qu'ils ont tous fait un travail formidable et que certains ont même dépassé le nombre d'heures de service communautaire requis, car ils apprécient beaucoup ce défi.

Tout élève du secondaire intéressé à travailler avec moi peut m'envoyer un courriel à [email protected].

As the city councillor responsible for Local Commerce, I have enjoyed interacting with business owners in our community. On May 4 I held the city’s first ever Real Estate Exchange.

We had a nice turnout for the first meeting.

Thank to Bialik High School student interns Noah Hoffman and Evan Levy and their moms Heidi Cheung and Ilana Popliger for their support. Noah and Even are just completing Grade 9 so they are on board to continue this project for at least the next two years and I hope they will add more students to the group. They are helping me develop a database and reaching out to real estate agents with a questionnaire. How is the housing market in CSL? What can we do to help you? What challenges are you facing? These are some of the queries we have sent out.

Leslie Singerman gets ready to make a point.

Mayor Mitchell Brownstein and Councillors Lior Azerad, Steven Erdelyi and Andee Shuster were on hand. There was a lot of interest in our Master Plan, which when adopted will result in a lot more housing for sale. The mayor said it will, in fact, result in a 30 percent growth in our population. Councillor Erdelyi said we hope to also have a train station or two in the city.

Heidi Witt raised concerns about condominiums that do not allow dogs. This, she added, stands in the way of many people from completing a purchase. Other real estate agents echoed her concerns. We discussed a wide variety of other issues. Councillor Azerad spoke of the many sponsorship opportunities for real estate agents. Marc Ezerzer and Hagai Brener from KW Prestige sponsor our Golf Classic annually. Heidi Witt just supported the Knights of Pythias/CSL Cats Committee.

Lior Azerad, Steven Erdelyi, Michael White, Mayor Brownstein, Andeee Shuster, Steven White and myself.

I also took the opportunity to honor my constituent Michael White (www.whiteinc.ca) . He started Michael White Realties Inc in 1978, a real estate brokerage company that specializes in industrial and commercial real estate. Helping business owners rent to, rent for, sell to or sell for properties in the Greater Montreal Area. He has run his own boutique business for nearly 60 years. Michael isfinally giving up his Brokerage Licence and his AEO designation (Agency Executive Officer) and turning it over to his son Steven White , after working with him for 25 years. The business is still running strong with its office in Saint-Laurent and 10 active real estate Brokers and four staff.

Listen to my podcast with Michael and Steven White. 

Thanks to all of the real estate agents who joined us. If you’d like to be part of this initiative please e-mail me at [email protected].

Norbert Bedoucha

En tant que conseiller municipal chargé du commerce local, j'ai beaucoup apprécié les échanges avec les chefs d'entreprise de notre communauté. Le 4 mai, j'ai organisé la toute première bourse immobilière de la ville.

Je tiens à remercier Noah Hoffman et Evan Levy, élèves stagiaires du lycée Bialik, ainsi que leurs mères, Heidi Cheung et Ilana Popliger, pour leur soutien. Noah et Evan viennent de terminer leur 9e année et sont prêts à poursuivre ce projet pendant au moins deux ans. J'espère qu'ils seront rejoints par d'autres élèves. Ils m'aident à créer une base de données et à contacter des agents immobiliers à l'aide d'un questionnaire. Comment se porte le marché immobilier à CSL ? Que pouvons-nous faire pour vous aider ? Quels sont les défis auxquels vous êtes confrontés ? Voici quelques-unes des questions que nous avons posées.

Le maire Mitchell Brownstein et les conseillers Lior Azerad, Steven Erdelyi et Andee Shuster étaient présents. Notre plan d’urbanisme  a suscité beaucoup d'intérêt. Une fois adopté, il permettra de mettre en vente un nombre beaucoup plus important de logements. Le maire a déclaré qu'il entraînerait en fait une augmentation de 30 % de notre population. Le conseiller Erdelyi a ajouté que nous espérons également avoir une ou deux gares dans la ville

Heidi Witt a fait part de ses préoccupations concernant les immeubles en copropriété qui n'acceptent pas les chiens. Elle a ajouté que cela empêchait de nombreuses personnes d'acheter un logement. D'autres agents immobiliers ont fait écho à ses préoccupations. Nous avons discuté d'un large éventail d'autres questions. Le conseiller Azerad a évoqué les nombreuses possibilités de parrainage pour les agents immobiliers. Marc Ezerzer et Hagai Brener, de KW Prestige, parrainent chaque année notre tournoi de golf. Heidi Witt vient de soutenir le comité Knights of Pythias/Comit. Chats CSL.

J'ai également profité de l'occasion pour rendre hommage à mon électeur Michael White (www.whiteinc.ca). Il a fondé Michael White Realties Inc en 1978, une société de courtage immobilier spécialisée dans l'immobilier industriel et commercial. Il aide les propriétaires d'entreprises à louer, louer, vendre ou vendre des propriétés dans la région métropolitaine de Montréal. Il dirige sa propre entreprise depuis près de 60 ans. Michael abandonne finalement sa licence de courtier et son titre d'AEO (Agency Executive Officer) et passe le relais à son fils Steven White, après avoir travaillé avec lui pendant 25 ans. L'entreprise continue de prospérer avec son bureau à Saint-Laurent, ses 10 courtiers immobiliers actifs et ses quatre employés. Après avoir exercé cette activité pendant si longtemps, avec une entreprise toujours florissante et une santé toujours aussi bonne à 83 ans, j'ai pensé que cela pourrait faire l'objet d'une interview intéressante pour l'une de vos vidéos ou l'un de vos podcasts.

Merci à tous les agents immobiliers qui se sont joints à nous. Si vous souhaitez participer à cette initiative, veuillez m'envoyer un courriel à [email protected].

For many years I personally tried to persuade the organizers of the Just For Laughs Festival to present some shows in Côte Saint-Luc, but it never happened. Maybe they should hire Brian Blumer, who is earning the crown “King of CSL Comedy.”

It was a packed house. (Anisa Cameron Photo)

Under the auspices of the Knights of Pythias, an international non-sectarian fraternity that supports charitable, benevolent, fraternal, and social activities through its subordinate lodges, their members, and the communities each serves, Blumer spearheaded the first comedy night at the Côte Saint-Luc Aquatic and Community Centre last summer. Steve Paterson headlined. They had a about 100 people and Paterson was terrific.

Brian Blumer presents the cheque to the CSL Cats Committee.

Blumer, a tireless worker, set his sights on a much bigger show for April 23, 2025 and teamed up with the Côte Saint-Luc Cats Committee. The latter runs a Trap, Neuter, Release and Adopt program and saves homeless felines. Full disclosure: I am the city councillor responsible for Animal Welfare and the founder of that committee. Our team, headed by Fern  Collier-Pereira, held a fundraising bake sale before the show and the Knights of Pythias presented a $500 donation to the cause.

Joey Elias

On this night Côte Saint-Luc’s own Joey Elias was the headliner and he did not disappoint. Alasdair  Tremblay-Birchall was the emcee and the lineup included noted broadcaster Ted Bird, Laval’s Charles Daghlian, a.k.a Mister Fantastic ( www.misterfantastic.ca)  and a surprise arrival,  Montreal Gazette sports writer and a relatively new CSL resident in Pat Hickey.

The event was a complete sellout, with more than 200 people on hand and they all went home laughing.

Tremblay-Birchall said he recently returned to Montreal after  living in Australia for 26 years. “I see you are keeping the roads in their regular condition,”  he said. “I love the deteriorating condition.”

Pat Hickey

Hickey invoked some good CSL humour. “I noticed you have a Catholic church,” he said. “What is that about, I asked?  They said it was for the help.”

Hickey joked that what CSL really needs is an Irish pub, lamenting that the city does not have a real bar. He then corrected himself to state that the CineStarz Cavendish has  a bar, but he wondered about drinking red wine with popcorn.

Daghlian, who holds regular comedy evenings at the House of Jazz in Laval. ‘They banned Lego sets in Quebec, “ he declared. “Now you have to buy Legault sets.”

 Daghlian did a funny bit on using the Tinder dating app, talking about going to the Yukon and once there having to travel an additional 80 km to find a single woman in her 80s.

 Bird, who was always naturally funny on air, said it was nice to be in CSL for a reason other than getting a prostate exam from Dr. Benjamin.

Elias  always puts on a fabulous show and they are always different because of his gift of bouncing off every topic that comes from the audience and inventing an instant routine.

On the bike paths in CSL, he said he has not seen one bike actually use the path.

Orthodox Jews, he said, do not use the sidewalks. “If I did that,” he said, “public security would say I am a drunk man walking on Eldridge.”

Elias said people treat cats better than homeless people. “They give them names like Mittens and Boots,” he said. “Things that homeless people can use.”

Blumer, Calvin Finkelstein and John Derek closed off the night by issuing a series of  door prizes.  Noted traffic reporter Debbi Marsellos, whom Derek taught in public school, came on stage and helped with the draw.   Pointe-Claire Mayor Tim Thomas, a supporter of The Knights of Pythias, was also a special guest.

Bravo Brian Blumer and a big assist to Anisa Cameron from the CSL Recreation Department who assisted with all of the logistics and Captain Irving Epstein, head of security for the event.

Blumer hopes to bring another comedy show to CSL next fall. Perhaps he should call Andy Nulman, a relatively new CSL resident who ran Just For Laughs for many years.

It is always nice to visit with my constituents.

This week I dropped by the home of Jason Genis and Samantha Druzin to chat with their  wonderful two children Matthew, 9, and Paige Madison,6.

Matthew shown here all suited up.

Matthew recently got to be one of the mini captains for a Montreal Canadiens home game at the Bell Centre. Paige wanted me to visit with their pet bunny Hershey (don’t let the name fool you, Hershey is a girl). The fact that this was Easter Sunday made it only too perfect. Both children attend JPPS Elementary School in Côte Saint-Luc.

First let me tell you about Matthew. The Mini Captains of the Game contest, presented by IGA, rewards two lucky members of the  team’s 1909 Fan Club with a unique opportunity to participate in the opening ceremony during each home game. The winners   welcome the players on the ice and proudly stand with the team during the national anthem(s). The prize also includes a captain's jersey for the winner, and four tickets for the whole family to attend the game and have an extraordinary experience!

Matthew where the press conferences are held.

Samantha credits hubby Jason for entering Matthew into the contest daily for the past three years. Matthew is quick to remind us that last season he had a chance to ride on the Zamboni at a Habs-Islanders game.

This time the Buffalo Sabres were in town to face the Habs. Matthew is a huge fan and I must say very knowledgeable about the game and the team. He plays for the Canucks in the CSL Minor Hockey Assocation and wears number 62.

What was his favorite part of the Habs experience? "Holding the flags during the warmup and the national anthem was so cool! “ he was quoted in the JPPS newsletter. “The flag lit up! I got to fist bump all the players as they were coming onto the ice. One of them fist bumped me so hard I stumbled backwards. 

  How did it feel to be on the big screen? “I was nervous,” he admitted. “I had to guess the player that was on the screen. I knew right away it was Cole Caufield, so I won a hat, and some snacks.”

See my Instagram chat with Matthew.

Paige Madison (she goes by Paige but I told her that using the middle name makes her sound like a movie star) is full of personality. She and Matthew adore their three year bunny, who takes up a of space in the living room. Jason and Samantha placed two cages and playpen with passageways so the kids can climb inside and play.

See my Instagram chat with Paige Madison

The City of Côte Saint-Luc is pleased to invite all real estate agents active in our community to the first Côte Saint-Luc  Real Estate Exchange, taking place on Sunday, May 4 (9:30 am to 11 am) in the Council Chamber at City Hall (5801 Boulevard Cavendish, Second Floor).

This gathering will be an opportunity to exchange ideas, share insights, and strengthen connections within our local real estate network. As the City Councillor responsible for Local Commerce, I have been working towards this initiative for some time. Two Bialik High School students, Noah Hoffman and Evan Levy, recently began the process of helping me create a real estate sales rep database as well as undertaking a survey.

Councillor Lior Azerad, who handles the sponsorship portfolio, will join me

Real estate agents interested in attending are asked to RSVP with Kathy Nasr at [email protected] or at 514-485-6945 by Wed. April 30

See the flyer below and we look forward to meeting with you and seeing how we can work together.
 

La Ville de Côte Saint-Luc a le plaisir d’inviter tous les courtiers immobiliers actifs dans notre
communauté à la Première Rencontre Immobilière de Côte Saint-Luc, qui se tiendra le dimanche 4 mai 9 h 30 à 11 h dans la salle du conseil de l’hôtel de ville 5801, boulevard Cavendish, 2e étage

Cette rencontre sera une occasion idéale pour échanger des idées, partager vos observations sur le
marché et renforcer les liens entre les acteurs du secteur immobilier local,

En tant que conseiller municipal responsable du commerce local, je travaille sur cette initiative depuis un certain temps. Deux élèves du lycée Bialik, Noah Hoffman et Evan Levy, ont récemment commencé à m'aider à créer une base de données de représentants commerciaux en immobilier et à réaliser une enquête.

Le conseiller municipal Lior Azerad, qui gère le portefeuille des parrainages, se joindra à moi. Les agents immobiliers intéressés à participer sont priés de confirmer leur présence auprès de Kathy Nasr à l'adresse [email protected] ou au 514-485-6945 avant le mercredi 30 avril.

Consultez le dépliant ci-dessous. Nous sommes impatients de vous rencontrer et de voir comment nous pouvons travailler ensemble.

As your city councillor for District 2 in Côte Saint-Luc, I wish to remind you that  I am very active on social media.

Please consider following me on these platforms.  Just click on the links provided.

Instagram (if you have an account I am very proud of the following I have)

www.instagram.com/mikecohencsl

X

www.x.com/mikecohencsl

Facebook

www.facebook.com/MikeCohenDistrict2

YouTube

www.youtube.com/MikeCohenCSL

Website

www.mikecohen.ca

En tant que conseillère municipale du district 2 de Côte Saint-Luc, je tiens à vous rappeler que je suis très active sur les réseaux sociaux.

Je vous invite à me suivre sur ces plateformes. Il vous suffit de cliquer sur les liens fournis.

Instagram (si vous avez un compte, je suis très fier des abonnés que j'ai attirés)

www.instagram.com/mikecohencsl

X

www.x.com/mikecohencsl

Facebook

www.facebook.com/MikeCohenDistrict2

YouTube

www.youtube.com/MikeCohenCSL

Site web

www.mikecohen.ca

Justin Trudeau and his son Hadrien visit a house in Côte Saint-Luc.

More than   two  decades ago the City of  Côte Saint-Luc renamed Centennial Park after Pierre Elliott Trudeau, after the former Prime Minister of Canada had passed away.

This obviously touched his son Justin, who just stepped down as our leader.  He has been to our community often, speaking at schools and visiting the park named after his late dad.

Separated from his wife Sophie Grégoire, Justin has custody of their three children. He has rented a home in Ottawa, but told the media  that he wants to settle in Montreal.

We can now tell you that Justin has purchased a home on Ilan Ramon Crescent, in my electoral district. He and the kids will move there in August.  Last weekend he was in town to meet with real estate agent Heidi Witt to close the sale.

I asked Mayor Mitchell Brownstein what he had to say about this development. "To have the former Prime Minister of Canada choose our community to live in is such an honor,"  he said.

Trudeau had apparently also been looking for homes in Hampstead. But when Mayor Jeremy Levi got wind of this he issued an executive order that no such transactions can take place with anyone who was ever elected for the Federal Liberal Party.

So yes folks, April Fool's and Justin Trudeau could not find Côte Saint-Luc or his former Papineau riding if we gave him a map to do so.

Two years ago Glenn Spence’s Mtl Bagel and Mtl Yardie were recognized as Côte Saint-Luc’s Business of the Month. More recently, Mtl Yardie was voted Best of Montreal by The Suburban Newspaper in their annual poll for best ethnic food.

Glenn Spence showcases his Best of Montreal Award.

The other day Spence reached out. He has been following my restaurant reels on Instagram at www.instagram.com/mikecohencsl and he invited me to sample his  cuisine. Watch my short Instagram video with him below and please follow me.

A native of Jamaica, Spence learned the trade working at Fairmount Bagel. Twelve years ago he opened Mtl Bagel, which immediately became a favorite spot in the community. Here they offer 15 different flavors of bagels, as well as a variety of sandwiches, sides, drinks and snacks. Always fresh, they are cooked in a wood oven. There are breakfast and lunch specials. Mtl Bagel also has a wholesale division. 

Spence rented the storefront next door and immediately doubled his space in size. On May 2, 2023, Mtl Yardie opened as a mainly take-out spot for traditional Jamaican cuisine. Since then he has added some indoor seating. 

A homemade drink.

I joined Spence for lunch and since (believe it or not) this one of the first times I can remember eating at a Jamaican restaurant I let him surprise me. He started me off with a drink known as a Jamaican Sorrel. It is dark red, a little sour, with a raspberry-like flavour and made from the petals of sorrel plant, also known as hibiscus. And cinnamon. You can order by the glass (or plastic cup) or bring a bottle home. Spence manufactures these wine-like bottles on site. There are also a number of island sodas in the fridge.

Sindonie and Jillian bring our mixed plates.

Spence’s choice for me was the mixed plate: oxtail, fried chicken, rice, vegetables and a piece of macaroni pie. Not only was this a masterpiece, but it was prepared precisely how I asked: not spicy at all. The oxtail fell off the bone and the chicken was fresh and juicy. It is made from halal meat.

Spence credits his executive chef Carlton for coming up with a balanced and popular menu. “People are coming to us from all over,” he said. “We recently had a family drive all the way from Ottawa for dinner and they took plenty of items back home What I hear from so many clients who come here for the first time is that they begin to crave it after that.”

The delicious black cake.

For dessert, Spence wanted me to try his black cake: chocolate with dried fruits soaked in rum and wine for at least six months. It was quite decadent. He also cut me a slice of traditional chocolate cake. Make this double decadent!

There are plenty of items for me to try next time: the jerk chicken, burgers, curry goat, ackee and salt fish, roti lobster, steamed snapper, salmon steak, maple salmon, ginger lobster, fried dumplings, chicken wings, pumpkin vegetable soup, porridge of the day and a variety of Jamaican patties (chicken, beef and veggie). The latter are also kept in a freezer for take-out orders.

“Take-out and delivery is strong,” Spence says. “It is the perfect and healthy full course meal you can take home and have for lunch or supper.”

Mtl Yardie is located at 5450 Westminster and open daily from 10 am to 8 pm. You can take advantage of home delivery and take-out. Just log on to www.mtlyardie.ca or call 514-482-5252

The Equinoxe Rental Condos on Marc Chagall Avenue, located within my District 2,  have been targeted and attacked with very offensive and disturbing vandalism is the past few days. Someone has defaced the elevators one of the two towers with racist words and phrases, as well as another section of the same tower, and some walls of the fifth floor.

A swastika symbol was carved into the elevator.
Une croix gammée a été gravée dans l'ascenseur.

Disturbing and disgusting racial vocabulary has been scrawled these areas. The latest attack is a swastika engraved in the frame of an elevator.

The first instance was on Thursday or Friday, Feb 27 or 28 . A number of racial slurs aimed at African-American residents appeared in the elevator. Once this was reported, they were cleaned off almost immediately, but pictures were taken beforehand.

Since then, there have been sporadic repeat occurrences. Police were called and an investigation is underway. The latest incident was on Thursday. Once again police were called to examine the vandalism.

The Equinoxe opened in the summer of 2018. Its twin towers are occupied predominantly by Jewish residents. To see these kind of acts in a residential apartment building is uncommon and rare in Côte Saint-Luc and we will do our very best to get to the bottom of this.

This news comes at a time when our provincial government plans to adopt Bill 94, which will ban the wearing of ANY religious symbols by all staff and volunteers in the public school system. It makes Bill 21, which only applied to teachers, look tame. While the CAQ government has been a strong supporter of Israel, Bill 94 is contradictory to that and will only encourage people to undertake acts like we have seen at the Equinoxe.  After all, if you wear a kipa you are no longer allowed to do if you want to work or volunteer in the public education system.

Mayor Mitchell Brownstein and I will be meeting with residents on Monday night, accompanied by Mount Royal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather. See this story in The Gazette.

Les Equinoxe Rental Condos sur l'avenue Marc Chagall, situés dans mon district 2, ont été la cible d'attaques et de vandalisme très offensants et inquiétants ces derniers jours. Quelqu'un a dégradé les ascenseurs de l'une des deux tours avec des mots et des phrases racistes, ainsi qu'une autre section de la même tour et certains murs du cinquième étage.

Un vocabulaire racial inquiétant et dégoûtant a été griffonné dans ces zones. La dernière attaque est une croix gammée gravée dans le cadre d'un ascenseur.

Le premier incident s'est produit le jeudi ou le vendredi 27 ou 28 février . Un certain nombre d'insultes raciales visant des résidents afro-américains sont apparues dans l'ascenseur. Une fois que cela a été signalé, elles ont été nettoyées presque immédiatement, mais des photos ont été prises au préalable.

Depuis, des incidents sporadiques se sont répétés. La police a été appelée et une enquête est en cours. Le dernier incident s'est produit jeudi. Une fois de plus, la police a été appelée pour examiner le vandalisme.
L'Equinoxe a ouvert ses portes à l'été 2018. Ses tours jumelles sont principalement occupées par des résidents juifs. Il est rare de voir ce genre d'actes dans un immeuble résidentiel à Côte Saint-Luc et nous ferons de notre mieux pour aller au fond de cette affaire.

Cette nouvelle arrive au moment où notre gouvernement provincial prévoit d'adopter le projet de loi 94, qui interdira le port de TOUT symbole religieux par l'ensemble du personnel et des bénévoles du système scolaire public. Cela rend le projet de loi 21, qui ne s'appliquait qu'aux enseignants, inoffensif. Alors que le gouvernement de la CAQ a été un fervent partisan d'Israël, le projet de loi 94 est en contradiction avec cela et ne fera qu'encourager les gens à commettre des actes comme ceux que nous avons vus à l'Equinoxe. Après tout, si vous portez une kippa, vous n'êtes plus autorisé à travailler ou à faire du bénévolat dans le système éducatif public.

Le maire Mitchell Brownstein et moi-même rencontrerons les habitants lundi soir.

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A constituent contacted me this week to express concern that the test centre at the CSLC René-Cassin at Quartier Cavendish was closed.

People wait outside the test center.

I reached out to CIUSSS West-Central Montreal and they provided me with full story.  They aim to re-establish blood testing services  three days per week, in April. In the meantime, clients are referred to the local point of service at Décarie Square (6900 Décarie Boulevard) and other CLSCs on the territory.

The hours of operation are   Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Clients can call  514-734-9911 and obtain an appointment for any urgent (within 24-48 hours) or routine test within 10 days, free of charge. It is also possible to book an appointment online via Clic Santé . As for ear cleaning, appointments have been re-directed to CLSC Côte-des-Neiges, CLSC Parc-Extension and CLSC Métro.

Left to right Dr. Baliesh, Clinical Manager Roxane Plaza, Secretary Erica Kremer and Nurse Laira Bouzo.

What prompted a young family physician to launch his own private medical clinic? After Dr. Shayne Baliesh completed his residency at McGill University, the Côte Saint-Luc resident began to work in the public system. His workplace was the CLSC et Centre de services ambulatoires de Vaudreuil-Dorion. However, with two young children at home and another on the way, the commute – exacerbated by the Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge construction – became just too much. It was time to switch gears.

Dr. Baliesh and Laura Bouzo review a chart.

Dr. Baliesh decided to make the biggest career move of his life and opened a new private medical clinic on Royalmount Avenue in TMR called Rose M.D. It is located right next door to the large new mall.

Rose MD, named after Dr. Baliesh’s children Romy and Jesse, is open to patients of all age. The clinic offers urgent care, annual check-ups, mental health consults, weight loss pharmacotherapy, telemedicine, forms, and private lab testing. “Basically we take care of everything related to general family medicine,” Dr. Bailesh explained. “We guarantee appointments within 24 hours, usually the same day. We have a no hidden cost policy. There are no chart opening fees and no membership requirements.”

Dr. Baliesh. grew up in Dollard des Ormeaux and attended Hebrew Foundation School and Herzliah High School, followed by John Abbott College (Sciences) and Concordia University (Behavioral Neurobiology). He then proceeded to medical school overseas and in Chicago before returning home and McGill for his residency.

Dr. Baliesh is up to the challenge.

With the support of his wife Roxane Plaza, Rose M.D. was established in February 2025. “The public system places too many challenges in the way of family physicians,” Dr. Baliesh. said. “That is what motivated me to launch my own clinic and do so privately.”

With the severe shortage in family physicians, Dr. Baliesh. very quickly began to see the interest in his services. “We recognize that it’s very difficult to access a doctor here in Quebec,” he said. “People either don’t have a family doctor or have one that is not available to see them quickly enough, which is why we prioritize this easy accessibility. Visitors from outside of Canada who need medical assistance have to pay anyhow. We are here for them too. I am really trying to provide a great service to people and I believe that my clinic can fill a void in terms of healthcare!

“Our clinic is designed for your convenience, offering prompt and accessible appointments for a wide range of health concerns for all ages. These include minor injuries, infections, rashes, flu-like symptoms, abdominal pains and other minor urgencies.”

There is a wide range of on-site laboratory tests, including blood work, urine analysis, STI testing and other diagnostic tests. Rose MD ensures accurate results with quick turnaround times. They provide reliable lab services that cater to each patient’s individual health needs.

Rose M.D. is located at 5500 Royalmount, Suite 250. There is plenty of free parking and the entrance to the building is just past the RBC branch. To book an appointment or find out more information call 438-944-7673 or log on to www.rosemd.ca

Mitchell and Elaine Brownstein; Harvey and Susie Schwartz; Anthony Housefather; and Joy Rodgers and  Jordy Reichson.

I was pleased to be on hand at  Côte Saint-Luc City Hall as Liberal Member of Parliament for Mount Royal  Anthony Housefather presented  King Charles III Coronation Medals to three well-deserving residents:  Joy Rodgers, Susie Berkson-Schwartz and  Mayor Mitchell Brownstein.  

Mitchell and Elaine, with grandson Jonah looking on.

The winners were joined by their spouses, Jordy, Harvey, and Elaine, as well as their family and friends.

Joy and Jordy.

 Joy has been a volunteer at CSL Emergency Medical Services for over a quarter-century while Susie has served with CSL Volunteer Citizens on Patrol  since we started the organization in 2006. Of course Mayor Brownstein  needs no introduction. For the past 36 years  he has been serving CSL as a Councillor and Mayor, in addition to holding numerous volunteer positions in the community.

It was  a wonderful and heartwarming ceremony.See this short and entertaining video chat I had with Susie and Harvey 

Bios of Recipients

Susie Berkson-Schwartz

Today we are recognizing Susie Berkson-Schwartz with the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal in honor of her long-standing commitment to community service. Susie has been an active volunteer with Côte Saint-Luc Citizens on Patrol (vCOP) since 2006, dedicating almost 20 years to ensuring the safety and well-being of her fellow citizens.

In her role with vCOP, Susie has taken on many important tasks, including organizing vCOP’s presence at major events such as the Winter Carnival, the Ruth Kovac Blood Drive, Canada Day celebrations, and Remembrance Day activities. She also coordinates vCOP representation at local events in places like Trudeau Park and Ashkelon Gardens. Susie works closely with city staff to make sure these events run smoothly and are enjoyable for the public, making her a key figure in the community.

Before focusing on her volunteer work, Susie had a successful career as both an educator and a professional in the clothing industry. Her passion for helping others also led her to serve as the program coordinator for the Open Gate Senior Day Program at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, where she worked with seniors from 2009 until the program closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Susie’s exceptional service and commitment to her community make her a very deserving recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal. We are truly honored to recognize her today for her hard work, generosity, and dedication.

Joy Rodgers

Joy Rodgers grew up not far from the Côte Saint-Luc EMS station and knew from early on that caring for others was in her future. Working at Blossom Pool, Rabin wading pool, and at Parkhaven Pool, she's always had service to her community in her blood.

At 18, she walked into EMS and 26 years later is still at it. Since joining in February 1999, Joy Rodgers has accomplished a lot. She is an experienced medic, driver and instructor. She led the quality assurance team and was in charge of recruiting, all while continuing to dedicate hundreds of hours of volunteer service to help others.

While not on shift at EMS, Joy is an active mom of two, a wife, an elementary school first aid coordinator, a cpr instructor, and a cancer survivor and advocate.

Mitchell Brownstein

Mitchell practiced law from 1988 until becoming a full-time Mayor in May in 2016.  He was first elected to Cöte Saint Luc Council in 1990. He was an activist Councillor promoting issues of Canadian Unity, Co-Chairing the Cote Saint Luc Demerger Committee and advocating for Holocaust Remembrance. As a City Councillor he held the portfolios of Public Works and Parks and Recreation, introduced the Fun Card providing access to CSL recreational facilities, and established the Cote Saint Luc Dramatic Society.

He was co-Chair of the Aquatic and Community Centre building project, adding indoor pools, a gym, a fitness centre and dance studio, and activity rooms bringing new programs to the community as well as virtual options. 

As Mayor he led the country in Covid-19 safety being the first city anywhere in Canada to mandate masks in public places. He opposed the CAQ’s Bill -21 Charter of values on secularism organizing a rally in front of City Hall and Bill 96 the CAQ language legislation leading a legal contestation before the courts.  

He is very proud that our city was a finalist in the Smart City challenge whereby Cöte Saint Luc provided in-home technology to isolated seniors and received an $800,000 grant making Cote Saint Luc a living lab helping seniors live longer in their homes while staying connected to friends, family and city life. He takes great pride in the renovated Kirwan Park that was accomplished with 3.8 million dollars of Federal/Provincial grant monies, the refrigerated outdoor ice surface at the annex, our renovated arena, renovated outdoor pool with handicap access to match the handicapped access at the indoor pool and the drop-in Centre for older seniors with dementia.

Mitchell continues to promote health and fitness adding pétanque courts and a whiffle ball field, new basketball courts, improved tennis courts and Pickleball courts at the indoor gym and outdoor annex. He actively participates in the programs and facilities the city has to offer regularly swimming in our pools and acting in the Dramatic Society productions, this year in the role of the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz opening in May.

He has presented briefs on transit solutions to the ARTM, Hippodrome, Royalmount and held many consultations over the last 3 years on the city’s Masterplan that will provide new housing options where residents will be able to find everything they need for commerce and leisure within 15 minutes of where they live. This vision will allow the city to grow both financially and in size, bringing children closer to their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.

In a city published video and other media coverage, including a front-page Gazette story on December 10, 2024, Mitchell called out Mayor Plante to take decisive action in ordering the police to crack down on repeated illegal conduct by anti-Israel protesters and continues to pursue the matter with the Police and the City.

In another front-page Gazette story on May 22, 2023 titled “An anglo community, a dramatic society and the singing mayor of Côte-St-Luc, Mitchell is quoted as saying, “I do have a philosophy of life that guides me as mayor. You need to do things in your life that you find joy in and that provide joy to others. That’s how I run the city. It’s not just the Dramatic Society. Whether it’s swimming programs or ensuring we provide the best service with our public works, it’s about making people feel good and doing our best to make people feel happy. And Something Rotten!, for anyone who comes to the show, you give them two and a half hours of happiness.”

Medailles du Couronnement du roi Charles III

J'ai eu le plaisir d'être présent à l'hôtel de ville de Côte Saint-Luc lorsque le député libéral de Mont-Royal, Anthony Housefather, a remis des médailles du couronnement du roi Charles III à trois résidents qui le méritaient bien :  Joy Rodgers, Susie Berkson-Schwartz et le maire Mitchell Brownstein. 

Les lauréats étaient accompagnés de leurs maries Jordy, Harvey et Elaine, ainsi que de leur famille et de leurs amis.

Joy est bénévole au CSL Emergency Medical Services depuis plus d'un quart de siècle, tandis que Susie est bénévole au CSL Volunteer Citizens on Patrol depuis la création de l'organisation en 2006. Bien entendu, le maire Brownstein n'a plus besoin d'être présenté. Au cours des 36 dernières années, il a servi CSL en tant que conseiller et maire, en plus d'occuper de nombreux postes bénévoles dans la communauté.

Harvey, Susie et Anthony.

Ce fut une cérémonie merveilleuse et réconfortante.

Traduit avec DeepL.com

I was deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Bernard Gotlieb, a lifelong resident of Côte Saint-Luc who endured significant health problems for most of his life yet he always kept a smile on his face and maintained a good attitude life.
A number of years ago I invited Bernard to Royal Vale School in NDG where he recounted his courageous battle with leukemia, the loss of two legs and why he decided to publish his own memoirs. He was a familiar face at that school and others for the popular chess club he ran several days a week.

The late Bernard Gotlieb

In 1977, 19-year-old Bernard was living a happy middle class existence in his native Côte St. Luc, which included a passion for the word game Scrabble. However, during a plane trip home from a winter vacation in Florida, he experienced some blockage in his ears, and went to see a doctor who was starting his new G.P. practice. Because the doctor was seeing him for the first time, he was subjected to a battery of medical procedures, including a blood test. When the blood test results looked slightly irregular, the doctor requested another one. The end result was a rather startling one: he was diagnosed with leukemia. Back in the late 70s, leukemia was practically a death sentence, and any treatments that were available were debilitating, painful and had no guarantee of success. However, such a dire diagnosis did not deter Bernard, as he decided to embark upon a six-week trip to Israel, pursued a degree in tourism management and established his own Scrabble Club (which was still in operation).

In June of 1979, Bernrard decided to take a major step in his battle against leukemia: a bone marrow transplant (which was still in the experimental stages) that was only available at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. And on top of that, his sister Gloria’s marrow was a compatible match, and was more than happy to take that risky measure of donating it towards increasing the chances of her brother’s survival against that dreaded disease. As a result, he became one of the first leukemia patients to undergo – and survive -- a bone marrow transplant in Canada, a treatment that is so common these days. The story of Bernard Gotlieb’s up and down road to successfully battling leukemia is told in honest, personal detail in his privately-published memoir “Hey What Happened To You?” He chronicles his struggles with a lot of with a lot of humanity and humour, and the message the reader gets is that through the more than 30 years since his diagnosis and subsequent bone marrow transplant, Bernard never gave up on the idea of beating this disease, and restoring himself to his normal way of life and pursuing the passions that kept him going through such difficult times.
Difficulties Bernard endured included infections, a series of extended hospital stays, injuries, accidents, operations, medical procedures, financial strains, a brain tumour, and a worsening skin condition that led to the amputation of both his legs. Yet somehow, through the love and support of friends and family (not to mention his continuing passion for Scrabble and his Scrabble club), he has managed to maintain busy life, in which he ran a games class at multiple schools.

Bernard is shown here a number of years ago being honored by City Council.

Bernard also tutored students in math, French, English and Spanish at his home. He also had a special adapted vehicle. Bernard had a great sense of humour. Besides the extraordinary support he received from his family, including his late parents, a word must go out to his lifelong neighbor Bram Weinstein who was as devoted as they come.

Tributes have been pouring in for Bernard. “My son developed a love of chess through Bernard’s kind and gentle guidance at Royal Vale School,” commented Cindy Blauer. “He shared his list with me of two letter Scrabble words, which I will always treasure. Bernard exhibited strength, determination and acceptance, humbly modelling what it takes to live life to its fullest.”

Bernard in a scrabble game.

Stephen Caplan was his physician at the time of his initial diagnosis many years ago. “Even at that time, I realized that he was a very special person,” he said. “No matter what he was facing, he always faced it with optimism and resilience. At the time, there was no curative treatment for his disease, except for the risky bone marrow transplant which he ultimately had. He was always upbeat and positive, even at times when the complications of the transplant caused severe disability.”

Liat Lev-Ary Goldstein recalls Bernard being her tutor 35 years ago when she first arrived to Montreal from Israel as a Grade 11 student. “I met him four times a week for a few months to work on different subjects,” she said. “Many years later, I met him again, this time at Royal Vale where he taught my four children chess in the afternoon program. His valour, courage and strength over the years never ceased to amaze and impress me. His positive attitude was also admirable.”

Robin Pollock Daniel noted how she met Bernard about 41 years ago, venturing into the Montreal Scrabble Club at the behest of her backdoor neighbour, Fran Silver, and began an adventure into a competitive world whose inevitable bumps and bruises were made tolerable by the grace and good humour of Bernard. “From hesitating to match me at the club with far superior players because I wasn't good enough yet, to graduating me from seven-letter prize-winning anagram puzzles to the vaunted 9s as my skills grew, he shepherded my and every player's growth to make the Montreal club the most admired one in all of Scrabble, with a string of World Champions – quite a feat considering Canada's comparatively low population and, oh yeah, those tournaments didn't use our usual, much smaller, dictionary,” she said. “At the Baltimore Nationals he wanted to go to the baseball game and had no one to take him. He would have gone alone, in his wheelchair, with thousands marching past him, such was his strength of determination. Tthankfully I learned of it and was able to accompany him; he inspired fierce loyalty and protectiveness. I have never met a kinder soul, and his ability to not just tolerate his afflictions, but to soar in spite of them, has helped me through my own illnesses, as I frequently think of him at those times. In Scrabble we have a saying with regard to making the best play: ‘What would Nigel do?’ But for all of life's trials and tribulations, I often think, ‘What would Bernard do?’ I can only aspire to reach the levels of optimism and acceptance that Bernard habitually achieved, and I will never match his grace. But I will keep thinking of him, as I'm sure you all will, too, and keep his memory alive and as a blessing for us all.”

Rest in Peace Bernard!

I am pleased to report that our CSL Public Library has received a  $21,000 grant from  the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP).   Mount Royal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather made the announcement formally on Monday night at City Hall. He had encouraged us to apply.

Anthony Housefather presents the confirmation letter to Director of Library Services Janine West and council.

The grant will be used to support Tales & Travel Memories, an innovative library program that provides services directly to people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias, and their caregivers. It was developed in 2013 by Mary Beth Reidner, a librarian whose husband had been diagnosed with dementia. Since then, the program has been offered in many North American libraries as well as many institutions caring for patients with dementia.

The program will be offered weekly, in six or eight  week sessions starting in late August and each meeting will take participants on an imaginary trip to another country using library materials such as highly illustrated adult and children’s books, music, souvenirs and other objects, folktales and stories, interesting facts and video about each destination. From now until late August time will be spent planning, purchasing materials for each kit, and promoting the program.

The program will be open to eight to 10 seniors suffering from dementia as well as their caregivers. (Caregiver attendance is required). Three to four sessions would be offered to reach as many seniors as possible.

The program will  be guided by a Katie Bezaire, the Seniors’ Services librarian. We are also hoping to enlist the support of the Alzheimer’s Society or the Alzheimer’s Group Inc. Volunteers also play a vital role in this project. They contribute to the planning, assist with the creation of the travel kits, help with the food and assist at each program offering personalized attention.

The sessions encourage participation, conversation and the sharing of memories providing stimulation for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and it also provides an activity for caregivers.

According to a research study in Tales and Travel is an effective program. Caregivers and volunteers observe increased social interaction, increased cognitive interaction, and various types of cognitive engagement, including verbalization, memory recall, reading ability, and emotional engagement. Caregivers also report improved relationships with their loved ones as a result of the program.

The grant money will be used to purchase materials for each country kit, training and support from one of the Alzheimer’s support organizations, promotion and staff time.

The NHSP  is a federal grants and contributions program that funds projects that empower seniors in their communities and contribute to improving seniors’ health and well-being. The program provides funding for projects that make a difference in the lives of seniors and in their communities. Seniors lead and inspire projects to make a difference in the lives of others and in their communitie

New Horizons for Seniors Programs promote seniors’ volunteerism, mentorship and civic leadership.  The goal is to inspire goodwill, sharing and friendship in our communities.  Our government is providing a wide range of opportunities for seniors to participate in meaningful activities that nurture their personal growth and foster community prosperity. These projects help seniors keep active, stay connected, share their knowledge and continue to enhance their skills to face the challenges of our rapidly evolving society.

Thanks to our Director of Library Services Janine West for all of her work on the dossier. More to come.

Members of council gather with Hydro officials.

The Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE)  launched its public information period on the project of upgrading the power transmission system between Saraguay and Rockfield substations on the island of Montreal by  Hydro-Québec and invited citizens to an information session on   February 17.

Councillors Steven Erdelyi, Dida Berku, Andee Shuster and I were in attendance at Le Rinque in Town of Mount Royal. It was the night of a big snowstorm, so there was not a large crowd. To the BAPE’s credit, they had the meeting live streamed. 

I have been part of a committee studying this project since 2018.  The plan is to convert  three 120-kV substations to 315 kV. This includes the construction of a new Hampstead substation  (to be renamed Côte Saint-Luc) behind Mount Sinai Hospital and rebuilding the 120-kV Aqueduc-Saraguay overhead transmission line at 315 kV over a span of 18 km between LaSalle and Saint-Laurent. The project will  involve replacing aging equipment, maintaining the system’s reliability, meeting future electricity needs and supporting economic development.  

The project in Côte Saint-Luc will occur  from 2026 to 2029. For starters, the best news is that the number of Hydro towers in our community will be reduced from 16 to nine.

One significant  large tower will be moved from the back of the Meadows condominium on Merrimac Road to the grounds of  JPPS-Bialik. The latter’s executive director Abraham Gusman was on hand. He expressed  some concerns about the project. Hydro officials regarding  the effects of electromagnetic fields, whether on the physical or mental health of parents and students. Hydro officials told me that they have produced a site-specific study and offered to meet with parents and students to discuss the issue with their medical specialists. They are continuing discussions with the school and are very hopeful of finding a satisfactory solution for all concerned. I will be part of a meeting with Hydro, JPPS-Bialik and the city next week.

You can watch the full presentation here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbFc5HEXLeU  

At the 47:54 mark I asked my questions.

https://www.hydroquebec.com/aqueduc-saraguay/en/

Le Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE) a lancé sa période d'information publique sur le projet de modernisation du système de transport d'électricité entre les postes de Saraguay et de Rockfield sur l'île de Montréal par Hydro-Québec et a invité les citoyens à une séance d'information le 17 février.

Les conseillers Steven Erdelyi, Dida Berku, Andee Shuster et moi-même étions présents au centre Le Rinque à Ville de Mont-Royal. C'était la nuit d'une grosse tempête de neige, donc il n'y avait pas beaucoup de monde. À la décharge du BAPE, la réunion a été diffusée en direct.

Je fais partie d'un comité qui étudie ce projet depuis 2018. Le plan consiste à convertir trois postes électriques de 120 kV en postes de 315 kV. Cela comprend la construction d'un nouveau poste électrique à Hampstead (qui sera renommé Côte Saint-Luc) derrière l'hôpital Mount Sinai et la reconstruction de la ligne aérienne de transport de 120 kV Aqueduc-Saraguay à 315 kV sur une distance de 18 km entre LaSalle et Saint-Laurent. Le projet consistera à remplacer les équipements vieillissants, à maintenir la fiabilité du réseau, à répondre aux besoins futurs en électricité et à soutenir le développement économique.

Le projet à Côte Saint-Luc se déroulera de 2026 à 2029. Pour commencer, la meilleure nouvelle est que le nombre de pylônes d'Hydro dans notre communauté passera de 16 à 9.

Une grande tour importante sera déplacée de l'arrière du condominium Meadows sur Merrimac Road vers le terrain de JPPS-Bialik. Le directeur exécutif de ce dernier, Abraham Gusman, était présent. Il a exprimé quelques inquiétudes concernant le projet. Les responsables d'Hydro ont fait part de leurs préoccupations concernant les effets des champs électromagnétiques, que ce soit sur la santé physique ou mentale des parents et des élèves. Les représentants d'Hydro m'ont dit qu'ils avaient réalisé une étude spécifique au site et proposé de rencontrer les parents et les élèves pour discuter de la question avec leurs spécialistes médicaux. Ils poursuivent les discussions avec l'école et ont bon espoir de trouver une solution satisfaisante pour toutes les parties concernées. Je participerai à une réunion avec Hydro, JPPS-Bialik et la ville la semaine prochaine.

Vous pouvez regarder la présentation complète ici : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbFc5HEXLeU

À 47:54, j'ai posé mes questions.

https://www.hydroquebec.com/aqueduc-saraguay/en/

Dorothy Baker (Hart Winterfeld) was a dynamic and fully independent 89 year old, who drove a car and resides in my Côte Saint-Luc District 2. On January 11, 2025, what should have been her weekly outing to Walmart on Jean Talon turned into a medical emergency. She slipped and fell a mere 30 to 40 feet from the entrance next to her vehicle in the first handicapped spot.

Photos from the scene.

According to her grandson Jonathan Labow- Hart, the accident occurred at 12:15 pm. She was exposed in an open parking lot for over an hour despite an immediate call made to 911. Due to the area surrounding the fall, an individual went into the store to alert Walmart staff asking them to barricade the area to avoid her being hit by a car. Staff said they could not comply nor did they come out to assess the situation. A good Samaritan by the name of Milan retrieved a sleeping bag from inside the store to cover Dorothy. Milan then called her grandsons who quickly arrived at the scene. Her grandson Simon Fauteux held the sleeping bag over her head to shield her from the falling snow, however she was still laying on top of the snow covered ground as she could not be moved. After numerous calls to Urgences Santé, paramedics finally arrived at about 1:05 pm. Paramedics from the Fire Department showed up a few minutes earlier to mobilize her and bring her inside. If it was any colder she could have died from hypothermia

“Not once did any Walmart personnel come to check on Dorothy or ask if they needed assistance,” said daughter-in-law Malka Labow. People parked their cars near Dorothy and opened their doors to create some kind of barrier to prevent further injuries.”

Dorothy was operated on at the Jewish General Hospital a little more than 24 hours after being admitted. Due to the severity of her shattered hip, full hip replacement was not possible; they did however insert two metal rods and multiple posts to stabilize her hip so that she would be able to walk again.

Dorothy at Rehab.

Family members went to Walmart the following day to speak with Store Manager Jonathan Price. Although he was not on duty Saturday, he was apprised of the situation. According to Mr. Price, who was quite apologetic and sincere, “She (the on duty manager) did not receive full details and underestimated as a result of the urgency of the situation,” his text message read. “Their actions could’ve potentially impacted the well-being of your mother and (they should be) re-trained as needed on how to deal with these kinds of emergencies. I would like to make sure we are doing our best to take care of our community and I’m sorry that this wasn’t the case yesterday.”

Jonathan Price then escalated this to his Regional Manager. He did in fact call Michael Hart and said that he would get back to him within the next 24 to 48 hours, which he did not.

On February 5, the insurance company representing Walmart told Michael Hart that they were reviewing the case and within the next 24 hours would be sending him a Demand Letter to complete. As of yet he has not received it.
Soon after surgery Dorothy was moved to the Catherine Booth Hospital in NDG for an extended rehabilitation. Ten days later she was rushed back to the JGH and diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism. A few days after her return to Catherine Booth she came down with COVID-19.

What the family is seeking is accountability from Walmart. This ordeal has taken a toll on both Dorothy and her family. Her life will be greatly impacted as a result of this. “We thought Walmart was all about community and customer appreciation,” a family statement reads.

I reached out to Mr. Price. He forwarded me to Steeve Azoulay, senior director of public affairs for Walmart. “We’re aware of the incident and are very sorry to hear a customer was injured in the parking lot,” he responded. “While we’ve been in touch with their family, given that this is an ongoing matter and out of respect for all parties involved, we cannot provide further comment. “

Given the fact we have had two big snowstorms in matter of days, there have been a lot of calls related to our snow removal policy.

We received this information  on February 18 from our Public Works Department.  

We are in full snow operations today. The plan today is to attempt to work until 7pm and at least blow the snow on one side per street. Delay will occur due to parked cars, over piling in the roads from contractors, etc. Please be reminded that the snow plowing operation initially involves moving the snow to the curb to allow traffic to flow safely. The snow plowing operation inevitably causes snow to accumulate in front of driveways. The city will follow up by removing these snowbanks during the subsequent snow-removal operation. However, the city is not responsible for keeping access to everyone’s driveway clear before the scheduled snow-removal operation happens. Residents who want access in the meantime are responsible for clearing the edge of their driveways. Major snow-removal operations normally take up to 5 days to complete, however this will take longer. While we understand your frustrations, we are asking our residents to be patient. Our workers and contractors are doing the best they can.

Public Works is inundated with calls regarding the snow. To help them out, please direct any complaints to:

[email protected] or 514 485 6936

A look at our snow dump after the big storm on February 17.

Snow clearing and removal

The City of Côte Saint-Luc has rules to ensure that snow removal is done in a safe, timely and effective way. Residents are called upon to do their part to help make their roads safe in winter. To notify the City of Côte Saint-Luc about a snow-related problem, call 514-485-6800 or send an e-mail message to [email protected].

Timeframe

During and after every snowfall, the City of Côte Saint-Luc plows, salts, and clears 65 km of roads and 122 km of sidewalks. Snow removal operations by the City such as salting, plowing and removal are conducted around the clock. Major snow-removal operations normally take up to 5 days to complete and occur primarily between 6 am and 6 pm.

Snow banks and driveways

The snow plowing operation initially involves moving the snow to the curb in order to allow traffic to flow safely. The snow plowing operation inevitably causes snow to accumulate in front of driveways. The City will follow up by removing these snow banks during the subsequent snow-removal operation. However the city is not responsible for keeping access to everyone’s driveway clear before the scheduled snow-removal operation happens. Residents who want access in the meantime are responsible for clearing the edge of their driveways.

Sidewalk snow clearing

The city’s procedure is to clear at least one of the two sidewalks on each street soon after a snowfall. Sometimes private contractors push snow from driveways onto clean sidewalks making them impassable. Other times, continuing snowfall covers up the sidewalks the city cleaned earlier or blowing snow covers up part of the clean sidewalk. As a result, it may look like the city didn’t clear one of the sidewalks when, in fact, it already has.

Cooperation of residents and private snow removal contractors

We urge residents to speak to their contractors to remind them that pushing snow onto the sidewalk (or street) violates Côte Saint-Luc by-laws. We also ask that residents do their part by pushing snow onto their lawns and not onto sidewalks (and streets). The city will do its part by cleaning the sidewalks (and streets) in a timely manner.

Temporary no-parking signs

During and after snowstorms, residents are asked to respect all temporary no-parking signs placed by the Public Works Department for the purpose of snow removal. If you don’t, your vehicle may be towed to an adjacent street and you will be fined $153. If your vehicle is towed, you can call 514-485-6960 to find out where it was moved.

Avoid damage to your vehicle

Sidewalks must not be obstructed by vehicles parked too close, or by vehicles overhanging the edge of a driveway. Sidewalk snow plows need the entire width of the sidewalk in order to safely clean it. To avoid plows accidentally damaging your vehicle, park your car at least six inches or 15 cm (but not more than 12 inches) from the curb. This allows for safe passage of the sidewalk plows.

Blowing on lawns

When necessary, the city may blow snow on your lawn as part of normal snow removal operations. The city is not responsible for damage to plants, driveway curbs, fences or other items that are placed within the city’s setback.

Maximum capacity of the snow dump and snow blowing on private lawns

Having a snow dump in Côte Saint-Luc is a great benefit that permits us to speed up snow removal operations during winter. It also saves the cost of transporting and depositing snow to other dumps located outside the city. However, our snow dump has a limited capacity — even though it is quite large. With the accumulated snowfall we have received since the beginning of the winter season, we are reaching the maximum capacity of our snow dump.

As a result, the city is currently working to make more space available in the dump. During this time, the city is obliged to blow snow onto private lawns in the case of snowfall reaching the amount where snow removal operations must begin.

Private contractors

The city would like to remind all contractors, and the residents who hire them, of the following rules in force in Côte Saint-Luc. Snow from private driveways and walkways must not be placed on public sidewalks, lanes or streets. The snow should be spread out along the snowbanks, not piled up in one big heap. Under no circumstances may snow removed from one driveway be placed on the street in front of any neighbouring driveway or around fire hydrants. The blockage of any street, sidewalk or lane by snow removed from private land is not permitted. Please ensure that your contractor has a valid snow removal permit from the City. According to our bylaws, contractors and homeowners are responsible for any rule violations. To avoid possible fines, please make sure your contractor complies with the city’s regulations. Private snow removal contractors must display their city licence on the rear window of their snow removal vehicles.

Which streets are cleaned first?

For reasons for safety, the city prioritizes snow clearing and snow removal on primary streets and streets (or parts of streets) near public safety buildings (police, fire, hospitals, etc.), schools, and municipal buildings. Once the snow is cleared from these main areas, work begins on secondary streets and then on tertiary streets.

Primary streets are the main roads that have the most traffic, including Côte Saint-Luc Rd., Cavendish Blvd., Fleet Rd., Westminster Ave., Kildare Rd., Mackle Rd., and Guelph Rd.

Secondary streets are collector roads that have higher through traffic or high-density buildings, such as Merton Rd., Parkhaven Ave., and others.

Tertiary streets are typically smaller roads with limited and non-through traffic.

Keep sidewalks clear

Please move trash bins, blue bins, brown bins, basketball nets, and all other items to a safe distance away from the sidewalk and onto your driveway and please ensure your vehicles are parked only on your driveway and not on the sidewalk so that our crews can properly clear snow from the sidewalk and street in front of your home. The City of Côte Saint-Luc assumes no liability for any damage to your property that is in the way of our snow removal operations.

Damage to property

In the event that you feel the city has damaged your private property, please see Damage to private property.

Road salt and sand

Côte Saint-Luc applies road salt and abrasives to main roads and intersections to maintain traffic flow and keep our roads safe when snow or frozen snow begins falling. Once 2.5 cm of snow have fallen, snow-clearing operations begin.

Safety

During snow removal, there is always a spotter in front of the snow blower and any obstruction will lead to an immediate halt in operations as a safety precaution.

Increased traffic near the snow dump site

During snow-removal operations, there will be increased heavy truck traffic in the areas around the environmentally approved snow dump on Marc Chagall Ave. All Côte Saint-Luc trucks comply with all traffic regulations according to instructions given by the city.