Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs Laurent Lessard (far right in the photo below) visited Côte Saint-Luc's spanking new $18 million Aquatic and Community Centre on November 4.

Minister Lessard's department provided one-third of the funding. I was on hand to greet him with Mayor Anthony Housefather, Councillors Dida Berku and Ruth Kovac and D'Arcy McGee MNA Lawrence Bergman, who played an important role in actually securing the funds.

In February of 2010 we held a press conference at City Hall with Minister Lessard on hand to announce our plan for the ACC and the financing from the provincial and federal governments. From the moment we put the shovel in the ground, the ACC was built in an incredible 10 months. We felt it was important for the Minister to see that our dream came to fruition. Mayor Housefather and City Manager Tanya Abramovitch led him on a tour of the two pools, the multi-purpose meeting room and kitchen, the children’s play area, the art  room, the teens lounge, the workout room and the senior’s headquarters where some members were on hand to greet him. He was most impressed.