On September 24, 2017, 22-year-old Côte Saint-Luc resident Jesse Galganov left home for an eight-month backpacking trip through South America and Southeast Asia.  He was last seen on October 1, 2017 in the Cordillera Blanca Mountains of Northern Peru, in Huascarán National Park.  

Jesse’s mother Alisa Clamen has left no stone unturned in an effort to find him, notably engaging a prominent Israeli search and rescue company called Magnus International. Their search and investigation is ongoing and Alisa has full confidence that they will succeed in locating him. However, the costs related to the search have already exceeded $2 million.  

As part of fundraising efforts to support the search,  Alisa and her co-chair Jen Gian are organizing A Bazaar for Jesse, a multi-faceted fundraising initiative: garage sale, bake sale, sale of new items, raffle, auction and community event. It will take place on Sunday, March 17 (9 am to 4 pm) at the Lawrence Bergman Chalet at Trudeau Park in Côte Saint-Luc. All funds will go directly to the Jesse Galganov Fund at the Missing Children’s Network.

Some of the high end items available for sale will be   headphones, televisions, fur coats and many gift cards for dinners (Montreal and Toronto) and gyms,   paintings., Tumi luggage, Swarovski Jewelry, Juliet et chocolat gift baskets  and much more.

Alisa notes that her committee is already in receipt of donations of many goods and services from many generous individuals and businesses. Donations of garage sale items can be dropped off at the Chalet on Friday, March 15 from Noon to 3 pm and Saturday, March 16 from 9 am to Noon  and from 7 pm t o 10 pm.  For more information email [email protected]. 

This Sunday, March   10,  Alisa  will be a guest on CJAD'S Life  Unrehearsed with hosts Matt Del  Vecchio and Corrie Sirota  at 4:30 pm. Matt and Corrie  are both very caring and passionate individuals so Alisa is in good hands to continue telling her story.  You are being encouraged to like the show's Facebook page  here so you can  also have access to a  Facebook Live feed,

Mayor Mitchell Brownstein and our  entire council encourage  everyone to  visit the  Bazaar and help in any way we can. 

There is an event page for  the Bazaar you can access here.

See this video by Alisa as to what is available at the Bazaar.

Here is Mayor Brownstein's extended interview with Alisa.

Côte Saint-Luc resident Michaella Etienne, the president of the  Association of Parents of Children with Diabetes, has organized an event called Icebreaker. It will take place  during March Break on Friday, March 8 from 10 am to 1  pm,  at Samuel Moskovitch Arena  and feature  free activities such as skating, yoga with Audi Gozlan and dancing with the Tyler Anne School of Dance.

Renowned endocrinologist and researcher Dr.Rémi Rabasat-Lhoret will be giving a conference and answering questions. Also speaking will be members of  theType 1 Better team, nurse Sarah Haag, clinical dietician Amélie Roy-Fleming  and  endocrinologist Dr. Rémi Rabasa-Lhoret. UFC fighter Alex Garcia will  be a special guest.

Ms. Etienne notes that children with Type 1 Diabetes are insulin dependent, requiring either multiple daily injections or insulin pumps. Type 1 diabetes is a life threatening chronic disease with risks of acute and chronic complications. Children can’t have a break or a day off.  In addition, children face endless stigma  and discrimination which can be compromising for their self-esteem, moral and even their self-treatment care. 

The event’s objectives are to encourage children to engage in physical activity, offer peer support (children often do not know other type 1 children and feel marginalized), reward their efforts, build their community and motivate them to pursue a “normal” childhood despite their disease. Parents and guardians with Type 1 diabetes are also welcome with their children to build a strong and supportive community. 

The City of Côte Saint-Luc has joined the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Omnipod, Dexcom, Medtronic, Tandem Diabetes Care and Better.

For more information contact Michaella at 514.531.4402 or at  [email protected],

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 [email protected]  or log on to   www.autismspeaks.ca.

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 [email protected]  or log on t o   www.autismspeaks.ca.

 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.  

While Canada Day festivities were postponed on July 1,  the City of Côte Saint-Luc did maintain one strong tradition: our citizenship ceremony.

It was Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, then a city councillor and an immigration lawyer by profession, who first came up with this idea over a decade ago. Originally these events were scheduled outside at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Park. However, in order to avoid any last minute changes due to weather patterns we moved it indoors a few years ago at our Aquatic and Community Centre.

Councillors Erdelyi and Tordjman.

With Citizenship Judge Barbara Seal presiding  and Councillors David Tordjman and Steven Erdelyi as emces,  40 new citizens from 16 different countries were sworn in. This is always a wonderful experience to  be part of. Mayor Brownstein, Mount Royal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather and D’Arcy McGee Liberal MNA David Birnbaum gave inspiring words of welcome. Judge Seal, speaking so eloquently as usual, provided an extraordinarily warm welcome to the newcomers.

Judge Seal and Public Safety Director Jordy Reichson.

“Life was difficult at times for you,” Judge Seal acknowledged. “Adaptation to every day life, making new friends and finding new jobs. I hope all of these problems have been resolved.”

Judge Seal  led us in a recitation of the Canadian citizenship oath. Everyone on hand took part. Each new citizen, some  composed of small families, were then called to the stage one by one to receive their certificates.

With Mayor Brownstein as children sing O Canada with Judge Seal.

After the singing of our national anthem, everyone was invited to a small reception.

As for Canada Day activities, including the fireworks, will be rescheduled stay tuned. We should have some news Tuesday or Wednesday. It could be as early as next Sunday or as late as  the end of August.

A year and  a half ago at the Côte Saint-Luc Winter Carnival, Pierre Brunet approached me about McHappy Day.

Pierre, of course, is the franchisee of the McDonald’s restaurants on Côte Saint-Luc Road and at Quartier Cavendish (soon to close). He also runs more than a dozen other locations in the city.

Councillors David Tordjman (with baby), Oren Sebag, Recreation chief Cornelia Ziga and Trish McKenzie.

Every year, McDonald’s Canada franchisees and crew across the country celebrate McHappy Day , an annual day of community giving in support of Ronald McDonald Houses and other local children’s charities. On Wednesday May 2, for every Big Mac®, Happy Meal® or hot McCafé® beverage purchased, $1 will be donated to RMHC® and children’s charities across Canada

Pierre always adds a local twist for his restaurants and he wanted my advice for any program that might benefit children. I immediately scheduled a meeting with Harold Cammy from our Parks and Recreation Department and we began to brainstorm. What we came up with was the Pierre Brunet Parks and Recreation Bursary Fund. Monies raised would be used for assistance to local families who may be experiencing financial difficulties in registering their children in our programs, for families with special needs children requiring additional support at our programs and for parks equipment intended for children with disabilities.  From last year’s McHappy Day and other funds raised from donors and most notably our CSL Men’s Club, $8,549 has already been raised.

That is me and Tanya. The hair net is mandatory. Just ask Gilles Duceppe.

I took part in this year’s McHappy Day. We await totals, but we will clearly surpass  the $10,000 mark. Some bursaries have already been handed out and we will have more to announce at our CSL Golf Classic July 5.

Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, members of council and many of our dedicated staff were at McDonald’s to support the cause. Parks and Recreation Director Cornelia Ziga and her team were selling McDonald’s sock for $5, with proceeds going to the Fund.

As for me, I went into the kitchen and helped prepare orders with City Manager Tanya Abramovitch. Wow, Tanya was a real pro while I found the entire process very challenging. I gained a whole new appreciation for what these employees do and how fast they must work behind the scenes. Tanya then confided in me that she had worked at McDonald’s in her late teens. Thanks to John and some of the other staffers who guided us. We saw the orders on the big screen. Buns had to be toasted, the different toppings applied and then the main item - be it a burger, chicken or filet of fish-  put on. This is hard work and after an hour I was completely beat. Tanya did a three hour shift and the energetic mom of two year old twins probably could have kept on going if she did not have a meeting to attend.

 Thanks to everyone who made this day a success. We will have printed material regarding the scholarship fund available online soon.

Congratulations to the Parks and Recreation staff of the City of Côte Saint-Luc, our Volunteer Citizens on Patrol, Public Works and everyone else who worked so hard for our 2018 Winter Carnival. Activities kicked off at the Aquatic and Community Centre on Feb. 10 with the annual Valentine’s Dance. On Sunday, Feb. 18 weather conditions were ideal for a day of fun outdoors at Trudeau Park.

Ice sculptures in the snow.

There was a pancake breakfast sponsored by McDonald’s, horse drawn carriage rides, taffy on snow, face painting, ice sculpture activities, public skating, hockey games, a figure-skating exhibition, and more.

There were all kinds of games to play.

It was wonderful to see so many young families enjoying our wonderful activities. Rookie City Councillors Oren Sebag and Mitch Kujavsky were co-chairs of the event.

Our presentation of a $10,000 cheque.

Mayor Brownstein, members of council and Mount Royal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather were pleased to preside over a ceremony in the arena at which time we presented a cheque of $10,000 for Ronald McDonald House,, a temporary home away from home for out-of-town (more than 70 km) families of children with critical illnesses who must travel here for medical treatments. Côte Saint-Luc funded a room there.

The very tall ice princess greets me.

 

There was lots of action outside, including a very tall ice princess, the team from The Beat 92.5 FM playing music, a marshmallow roasting corner, tobogganing on the hill and much more. It brought back such nice memories when my daughter was little and we would take her there.

I enjoyed some of those McDonald’s pancakes, with syrop. Reuben Goodman was serving up warm hot chocolate while just outside the Lawrence Bergman Chalet was reliable Mark Bessner making cotton candy for the kids.

Tickets for the Saturday, February 10, 2018 Côte Saint-Luc Winter Carnival Valentine Dance will go on sale at the Aquatic and Community Centre starting Monday, December 11 from 8 am to 9 pm daily. Tickets are available for $35 each (tax included) in advance. The dance has been sold out for the past six years, so buy your tickets early. The dance begins at 7:30pm.

There will be hot and cold hors d’oeuvres served at your table, catered full size buffet and sweet table by Blossom by la plaza, and plenty of door prizes, etc. Guests can bring their own wine.

Entertainment and music will provided by the George Thomas Entertainment Group. The event is partly subsidized by community sponsors and the City of Côte Saint-Luc.

Newly elected Councillors Mitch Kujavsky and Oren Sebag will co-chair this year's Winter Carnival.

To learn more about the 2018 Côte Saint-Luc Winter Carnival Valentine Dance, call 514-485-6806, ext. 2200 or email recreation@cotesaintluc.org.