The new Pierre Brunet McDonald’s Parks and Recreation Bursary Program was given some high profile visibility on May 3  as McHappy Day was celebrated at the two McDonald’s locations  in Côte Saint-Luc and across the country.

I am proud to have initiated this new fund to help families who cannot afford to register their child in a program and taking into account requests from children with special needs. Proceeds from McHappy Day in CSL will kick start the fund and collections will continue at our annual Golf Classic in July.

That is me at the left with Laura Trihas, Sarah Houle, Trish McKenzie and Ray Valiquette.

It was wonderful to see our CSL staff members, as well as Mayor Mitchell Brownstein and council, rally around the event. We all took different shifts, selling merchandise such as sock and notepads. Some like Trish McKenzie, Sarah Houle, Harold Cammy, Jordy Reichson, Ryan Nemeroff, Alvin Fishman and Mayor Brownstein went behind the counter and the drive thru to serve customers.

Harold Cammy serves it up.

This marked the first time a McHappy Day focused on a Côte Saint-Luc charity – a brand new one at that. Pierre Brunet asked Harold and I for ideas. I shared this one with council and it was a hit

McHappy Day is a national fundraiser when McDonald's restaurants across Canada and their communities, employees, customers and special guests raise money together to help children in need. At the heart of McDonald’s community commitment is RMHC Canada, which is dedicated to giving sick children the one thing they need most: their families by supporting Ronald McDonald Houses and Ronald McDonald Family Rooms across the country. RMHC provides families of sick children with a home-away-from-home or a place of peace and calm within a hospital.  

Anyone who wishes to donate to the fund can e-mail me at mcohen@cotesaintluc.org.

Mayor Brownstein and Pierre Brunet.