A huge word of thanks to our team at the Côte Saint-Luc Parks and Recreation Department for coordinating fabulous Canada Day celebrations on July 1 at Trudeau Park. Thousands of people turned out for an evening of fun and entertainment. Earlier in the day, Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, members of council, Liberal MP for Mount Royal Anthony Housefather and D’Arcy McGee Liberal MNA Elisabeth Prass presided over a Canadian citizenship ceremony.
Councillor Shuster leads us all in the national anthem.
Bravo in particular to Parks and Recreation Director Cornelia Ziga and event coordinator Irene Lahaie, as well as co-chairs Mayor Brownstein and Councillor Andee Shuster.
The weather was picture perfect and activities were nicely spread out. Our Public Works team did their usual bang-up job in terms of setup. Public Security and VCOPS (Volunteer Citizens on Patrol) oversaw the safety aspect. Police Station 9 Commander Stéphane Desroches, whom we are so fortunate to have within our midst, was present throughout the event as were several of his officers as well as some police on horseback.
With Commander Desroches.
I thoroughly enjoyed walking through the park and catching up with people.
On stage we had the band Vintage Wine and kids singer Shawny perform while The Event Guy, a group of animators and deejays, kept the crowd pumped up all evening. The cast of the Côte Saint-Luc Dramatic Society’s Into The Woods also shared their musical talents.
Louna applies the makeup.
In terms of activities, wristbands were sold for $5 each proving access to the many inflatables. Proceeds went to our Parks and Recreation Bursary Fund, which assists low income families gain access to some of our programming through discreet financial assistance.
The kids loved the inflatables.
Turtles, snakes and much more were on display via Reptizoo. There was a magician, makeup and crafts by Louna, carnival games by Diane Jamison of Bear Production, the always popular train, a petting zoo, a firetruck to explore, a slime workshop by day camp staff and pedal boats.
Veronica Alberti's ice cream and sorbet is fantastic!
As for food vendors we had: Dominos (and thanks for the 50 free pizzas they provided for staff and volunteers); TCBY (which supports our swim team); the kosher pizza bar, kosher Deli Boyz, Café Aqua, Falafel St Jacques, Subway, Mark Bessner and his cotton candy machine and the wonderful local resident Veronica Alberti with her artisanal ice cream and sorbets.
Introducing my good friend Rob Singer (left), now of Toronto, to Anthony Housefather.
At the end of the evening the mayor and Councillor Shuster brought Housefather, Prass and members of council to the stage. Following some speeches, we all sang O Canada so loudly I am sure Premier Legault could hear it in his Outremont home.
A look at the laser show.
The event concluded with a spectacular laser show.
It was indeed a day to celebrate and to once again be proud to be living in Côte Saint-Luc.
Many think of the City of Côte Saint-Luc as the home to many synagogues and that is in fact true. However, for the past 60 years the Saint Richard’s Parish on Guelph Road has remained an integral part of our community.
Some members of council, along with Liberal Member of Parliament for Mount Royal Anthony Housefather, recently participated in a day of celebration on June 16. There was a mass officiated by Bishop Alain Faubert and the Pastor, Father George Joseph. A beautiful luncheon followed. It was a nice touch when the organizers asked one person at each table to stand up to serve as team captain. “ Thanks,” they were told. “You are now our waiters.”
I was among those on hand here with our MP, Mayor, members of council and parish officials .
The group headed to the kitchen and were given captain’s hats, like Skipper from the old show Gilligan’s Island.
Congratulations to the organizers, who included former city councillor Joseph Panunto.
The anniversary cake.
In 1903 Côte Saint- Luc was incorporated as a village but, prior to that, there were sufficient farm families in the area to warrant concern over meeting the spiritual needs of the people. In 1835 the Sulpicians erected a chapel at what is now the northeast corner of Côte St. Luc Road and King Edward Avenue to serve the large area to the west of Girouard Ave.
During the early 1920's the Sulpicians withdrew and the spiritual needs of the area became the responsibility of the Dominican Fathers at Notre Dame de Grace Church. The old chapel was sold in 1927 and subsequently demolished in 1963.
The then Côte Saint Luc School Commission allowed the use of Pius XI school at the corner of Westminster & Côte St. Luc Road for Sunday mass.
When Ste. Catherine de Sienne Parish was founded in 1950, the responsibility for the Catholics in the are fell under its jurisdiction. The use of the Pius XI chapel for Sunday Mass only continued as before with Ste. Catherine de Sienne being used for other ceremonies.
During the 1950's the village of Côte Saint- Luc experienced an explosion in population and the area changed from a farming community to a residential one as thousands of homes were built. The Village became a Town and the Town became a city.
Among the new home owners and apartment dwellers was a considerable number of Catholics, mainly English and French, with a number of others of various ethnic backgrounds. The Chapel in Pius XI school became jammed at Sunday mass despite the fact that many of the newcomers attended neighbouring churches such as Ste. Catherins de Sienne, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Monica’s etc.
It was felt at that time numbers were sufficient and the time had come to form a Côte Saint-Luc parish. Concerned individuals held meetings in private homes in an effort to formalize an approach to the Archdiocese towards this end. The petition ultimately ultimately presented was successful and on February 4, 1959, Paul Emile Cardinal Léger issued a decree founding the parish of Saint-Richard. This was followed on February 10, 1959 by a letter from the Cardinal appointing Father Joseph Chamberland as parish priest. He was authorized to form “un corps de Fabrique” and on March 2, 1959 a meeting was held at which eight wardens were elected.
Immediately after the founding of the parish and the arrival of Father Chamberland, parish activities commenced. A good rapport still continued with the Côte Saint Luc School Commission which allowed the new parish to use the “new” Côte Saint Luc ^school for all its functions, with the Pastor in residence in an old cottage immediately adjacent to the school. Daily mass and the sacraments were available, a chaplain was available for the school children and spiritual and social activities commenced.
One of the main objectives of the new parish was to have its own church and, towards this end, a great deal of activity was given to fundraising through various means. Father Chamberland was tireless in his efforts to build a new church as soon as possible.
In 1962, property was acquired, plans drawn up and in September excavation commenced. By June of 1963 the work was nearly completed and on June 13, the first mass was celebrated in the new church.
My annual District Meeting/ Town Hall took place on Monday, June 10, 2024. I started these sessions some 19 years ago when I was first elected as the Councillor for District 2. It is a chance to update my constituents on what is going on around the corner and within the city at large.
I do walk the district several days a week with notepad in hand. I would invite you to follow my website at www.MikeCohen.ca, listen to my podcast and like my Facebook page at MikeCohenDistrict2.
I also decided to continue to hold these meetings virtually as it has been deemed far more convenient for those I polled.
J'ai commencé à organiser ces réunions il y a 19 ans, lorsque j'ai été élu pour la première fois en tant que Covone du district 2. C'est l'occasion d'informer mes électeurs de ce qui se passe au coin de la rue et dans la ville en général. J'arpente le district plusieurs jours par semaine, un bloc-notes à la main.
Je vous invite à suivre mon site web à l'adresse www.MikeCohen.ca. J'ai également décidé de continuer à organiser ces réunions virtuellement, car cela a été jugé beaucoup plus pratique pour les personnes que j'ai interrogées.
Police Commander Desroches
My very special guest was Commander Stéphane Desroches of Police Station 9, which covers Côte Saint-Luc, Hampstead, Montreal West and NDG. He has been with the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) since 1997. Before arriving at Station 9 he spent two years as a commander for a special corporate section for road safety.
Le poste de police 9 couvre Côte Saint-Luc, Hampstead, Montréal-Ouest et NDG. C'est avec plaisir que nous accueillons notre nouveau commandant, Stéphane Desroches, qui travaille au Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) depuis 1997.
Avant d'arriver au poste 9, il a occupé pendant deux ans le poste de commandant d'une section corporative spéciale en sécurité routière.
New Medical Clinic
I was pleased to share some breaking news. The building at the corner of Kildare and Cavendish has been undergoing quite a facelift. And on June 1 a new pediatric medical clinic will be in operation. A blood test center is expected to open there too. Stay tuned for more details.
Le bâtiment situé à l'angle des rues Kildare et Cavendish a subi une véritable cure de jouvence. Le 19 juin, une nouvelle clinique médicale ouvrira ses portes
Master Plan and Quartier Cavendish
For the past two years the city has been putting together a comprehensive master plan. How will this affect District 2? The three main shopping centres – Quartier Cavendish, Cote St Luc Shopping Centre and Decarie Square- are a major component. On Wed July 10 (7 pm) there will be an information meeting at City Hall followed by a public consultation on Mon. August 12 (8 pm). At that point we will be able to share details of what type of development might occur at Quartier Cavendish. Please watch the video recording for Councillor Dida Berku’s presentation.
Depuis deux ans, la ville élabore un plan directeur global. Mais tout d'abord, quel sera l'impact sur le district 2 ? Les trois principaux centres commerciaux - Quartier Cavendish, Cote St Luc Shopping Centre et Decarie Square - en sont une composante majeure.Voici quelques dates importantes pour en savoir plus : Mercredi 10 juillet à 19 h à l'hôtel de ville, une séance d'information
Lundi 12 août à 20 heures : tous les détails seront dévoilés et une consultation sera lancée.
Hydro Update
District 2 in Côte Saint-Luc will be part a major electrical system upgrade of the Hydro-Québec network. It will impact homes on Merrimac Road, Marc Chagall Avenue as well as Bialik High School. The installation of towers will take place no earlier than 2027. Other work, including the construction of a new substation behind Mount Sinai Hospital, will likely commence sooner. One of the big towers- currently behind the Meadows condo near the train tracks will likely be relocated on the grounds of JPPS-Bialik. As well, the wiring will likely wind behind all the buildings on Marc Chagall, JPPS Bialik and The Meadows along the railway lines. Stay tuned. Councillor Steven Erdelyi provides detail in the recording.
Le district 2 de Côte Saint-Luc fera partie d'une importante mise à niveau du système électrique du réseau d'Hydro-Québec. Ce projet touchera les résidences du chemin Merrimac, de l'avenue Marc Chagall et de l'école secondaire Bialik. L'installation des pylônes se fera au plus tôt en 2027. D'autres travaux, notamment la construction d'une nouvelle sous-station derrière l'hôpital Mont-Sinaï, commenceront probablement plus tôt. L'un des grands pylônes, actuellement situé derrière l'immeuble « Meadows », près des voies ferrées, sera probablement déplacé sur le terrain de l'école JPPS-Bialik. De même, le câblage passera probablement derrière tous les bâtiments de Marc Chagall, JPPS Bialik et The Meadows, le long des voies ferrées. Restez à l'écoute.
Alex Look
Alex Look was a former Cote St Luc resident. He attended JPPS-Bialik. On October 7 he was in Israel and was one of the victims of the Hamas massacre. He died a hero, trying to protect others. We will honor his memory by naming a park space after him. Council will formally decide soon if it will be at the space between Beth Chabad CSL and JPPS Bialik
Alex Look était un ancien résident de Cote St Luc. Il a fréquenté JPPS-Bialik. Le 7 octobre, il était en Israël et a été l'une des victimes du massacre du Hamas. Il est mort en héros, en essayant de protéger les autres. Nous honorerons sa mémoire en donnant son nom à un parc. Le conseil municipal décidera bientôt si ce parc sera situé entre Beth Chabad CSL et JPPS Bialik.
Rembrandt Park
I am scheduled to do another walkthrough with the foreman at Public Works. I did so towards the end of last fall. More work will be done there in the coming weeks so please stay tuned.
The Five Buildings
The latest news regarding the five buildings on Kildare Road and Sir Walter Scott is that a change of ownership may take place in the coming months. When they were purchased in the winter, I worked closely with residents – with the help of Councillor Berku – to ensure that tenants knew we were in their corner over fears of renoviction. Our building inspector has kept a close eye on the properties, and I have reached out to the management regularly on basic tenant-landlord relation as a sign we are in their corner. Last week I met with two property managers who assured me they are working at responding better to tenant needs.
I would like to provide an update on the fate of the Côte Saint-Luc Cats Committee. In a previous blog I explained the volunteer group's financial dilemma. The committee is involved in a Trap, Neuter, Release and Adopt program. We rescue homeless cats. If they cannot be adopted, they are sterilized and placed back to the area where we found them. Our devoted Chair Diane Liebling has a team of feeders who keep these cats nourished year-round. There are also others who foster cats until we find them a forever home.
The committee had an annual grant of $5,000 from the city for many years. In pre-COVID years, fundraising and special events brought in more revenue. It has been tougher since then. In 2023 the city upped the contribution to $10,500. However, due to across the board cuts last winter the Cats Committe was brought back to $5,000. That and a shrinking surplus funds puts the committee's work in jeopardy.
Marissa Sidel, with her husband Neil Dubrofsky, presents myself and Diane Liebling with the cheque.
I am pleased to report that resident Marissa Sidel was the first person to step forward and present us with a very generous gift of $2,500. Marissa, a dog owner, told me she is allergic to cats. "But I do love all animals in general and I feel sad that they will go hungry or sick," she said. "It’s the least I can do."
Marissa has issued a challenge, hoping that $25 people will give $100 each. The first person to respond was her husband, Neil Dubrofsky.
So thank you Marissa. Diane and I had a nice meeting with her.
Following the CTV report, a former resident of our community who now lives in the Eastern Townships reached out and pledged $2,000. Then came a $500 cheque from a wonderful lady who lives within her means but wanted to help out. Other cheques have started to come in as well.
We need this campaign to go well beyond the $5,500 the city cut. So I invite anyone who supports our cause to please lend a helping hand. You can send a cheque or e-transfer to [email protected]
I have lived most of my life in Côte Saint-Luc and for the very first time we now have a true New York style pizza parlor.
Yanky’s opened quietly in March, the brainchild of local resident Jacob Grosz .He and his wife Yitty, a native New Yorker, spent a lot of time planning for this big investment. “Yanky” is Jacob’s Hebrew name. He had opened up a counter top pizza place under the same name at the Fooderie Market in Outremont in 2020. Last January he purchased Le Falafel Plus on Decarie. Then came Côte Saint-Luc and a cozy spot in the strip mall at the corner of Mackle and Westminster which already houses Nosherz, a dry cleaner and a religious studies organization.
As the chair of Local Commerce for the city, it was my pleasure to go meet with Jacob and Yitty. I was accompanied by Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, who biked over. This naturally fully kosher establishment offers delicious thin crust pizza, fries, cheese latkes, poutine, calzones, salads, garlic rolls, soft drinks and slush. Very soon, a breakfast service will be introduced.
Yanky’s is still in its infancy stage, so Jacob has yet to launch a website or any social media channels. There are four booths that can seat four people each, four stools at the counter and some tables outdoors. Pickup is available, with delivery coming soon. However, if you have a large enough order and you are within the city limits, a staffer will bring it to your home.
Mayor Brownstein and Jacob.
“As a Yeshiva student I learned how to cook and I really like it,” said Jacob.
“At home he is the best cook for me and our two boys,” Gitty chipped in.
Jacob said he first started eyeing this location, which is part of the old Quality Fruit spot, more than a year ago. It required a significant financial investment, notably the installation of a pizza oven. “We truly built this place from scratch,” he said proudly. “Now we want to get the word out to the community to please come support us. We can make pizzas for your parties. Call in an order when you are coming back from work. We are here to serve.”
You can call 438-818-PIZA (7492), email [email protected]. It is located at 5816 Westminster.
Some 15 years ago a lover of cats named Shelley Schecter approached city council about supporting her movement to save homeless cats in our community and take on the Trap, Neuter, Release and Adopt approach. Being a huge feline lover, I stepped up immediately and asked the Mayor – Anthony Housefather at the time- for his support. He responded with a logical challenge: to show the need for such a program.
Diane Liebling and other volunteers at the last council meeting.
I decided to call a public meeting at City Hall, with Shelley, Alana Devine (then of the SPCA) and Dr. Marlene Kalin of the Côte Saint-Luc Hospital for Animals as the panelists. It was standing room only, with pretty significant media. The mayor was sold and helped me get $5,000 a year of city funding. Any other financial support would have to come from fundraising.
Cats like this have been rescued by the committee for years.
From the 150 people who jammed City Hall, about 20 actually stepped forward to help Shelley and I get this program going. We estimated that there were probably thousands of homeless cats in our surrounding community, many in the CPR Yards. We got endless calls of cats being found under balconies with litters. Soon enough Diane Liebling stepped forward. A retired nurse, she devoted seven days a week to this cause. One of her major accomplishments was developing a group of people to feed outdoor cats – wild cats that can sadly never be domesticated. She also followed the lead of Shelley and found fosters who took in rescued cats until we could find them homes. We started an annual fundraising concert; did garage and bake sales; undertook raffles; and put the word out to people to merely send us tax deductible donation cheques. There is also a very active Facebook page.
It is very costly to bring cats into the local vet and have them neutered and vaccinated. By doing so they cannot procreate, and therefore the number of outdoor cats is greatly diminished. Cats that are deemed social and have been abandoned are kept by us and put up for adoption. Those that are feral (unsocialized with no exposure to humans) are released back outside provided there is someone to feed and shelter them. A few have been sent to farms, but this is rare.
Fern and Rachel at the CSL Garage Sale on Sunday raising funds for the committee.
We have several feeders in CSL that look after community cats for the duration of their life. We provide these residents with food and small shelters, if need be. Of course, all of this costs money: the majority of which goes to veterinary care and food.
“It’s very difficult to keep one step ahead of the community cats that appear in Côte Saint- Luc as they often wander over from NDG, Montreal West, or other areas,” Diane notes. “Sadly, we also have our fair share of abandoned cats, social and therefore adoptable, within the community. We do not put social cats back outside, but rather retain them until they are adopted. We do this through our foster program whereby people keep these cats until they are adopted. We absolutely, and sadly, do nit catch every unneutered cat so each year we find ourselves with many kittens. The cost is enormous.”
As Diane states, we are the only city within Montreal proper that has a dedicated program exclusively for the care of feral/community cats. The SPCA has a TNR program and the rest of the city (Montreal and surrounding areas) is dependent upon them for this service. However, not every Montreal jurisdiction is covered by the SPCA. In those areas not covered, there is a never ending cycle of stray, abandoned, and feral cats. The suffering of these animals is appalling.
The Cote Saint Luc TNR Program has become quite well-known (at least, by other rescues/people who do what we do) throughout the city/province committed to the health and welfare of outdoor community cats.
Last year, with costs increasing, I was able to have city council increase the annual stipend for the Cats Committee to $10,500. Regrettably, facing a multi-million dollar deficit last fall, cuts had to occur across the board and that meant the Cats Committee budget was brought back to $5,000.
Diane and committee members attended the last public council meeting and made it very clear that without a return to the $10,500 funding level from the city, the future of the CSL Cats Committee is in doubt. Diane told me frankly last week that if new funding does not materialize by the end of 2024 the work of this group will not be able to continue.
From Mayor Mitchell Brownstein and myself to all members of council and senior staff, the hard work of the CSL Cats Committee has never gone unnoticed. We only start building our budgets in the fall, so it is too early to forecast whether or not the city will be in a position to increase funding.
“The CSL TNR program is not sustainable with the allotment we are receiving from the city,” says Diane. “Despite our best fundraising efforts, we are one invoice away from closing up shop. The feral/community cats remain an issue, but not as serious as the stray, sick, and abandoned cats and kittens.”
I know there are a lot of animal lovers in Côte Saint-Luc and beyond. If anyone reading this story knows of some people or organizations that would like to assist this cause please let me know at [email protected] or [email protected]
Some 15 years ago a lover of cats named Shelley Schecter approached city council about supporting her movement to save homeless cats in our community and take on the Trap, Neuter, Release and Adopt approach. Being a huge feline lover, I stepped up immediately and asked the Mayor – Anthony Housefather at the time- for his support. He responded with a logical challenge: to show the need for such a program.
Diane Liebling and other volunteers at the last council meeting.
I decided to call a public meeting at City Hall, with Shelley, Alana Devine (then of the SPCA) and Dr. Marlene Kalin of the Côte Saint-Luc Hospital for Animals as the panelists. It was standing room only, with pretty significant media. The mayor was sold and helped me get $5,000 a year of city funding. Any other financial support would have to come from fundraising.
Cats like this have been rescued by the committee for years.
From the 150 people who jammed City Hall, about 20 actually stepped forward to help Shelley and I get this program going. We estimated that there were probably thousands of homeless cats in our surrounding community, many in the CPR Yards. We got endless calls of cats being found under balconies with litters. Soon enough Diane Liebling stepped forward. A retired nurse, she devoted seven days a week to this cause. One of her major accomplishments was developing a group of people to feed outdoor cats – wild cats that can sadly never be domesticated. She also followed the lead of Shelley and found fosters who took in rescued cats until we could find them homes. We started an annual fundraising concert; did garage and bake sales; undertook raffles; and put the word out to people to merely send us tax deductible donation cheques. There is also a very active Facebook page.
It is very costly to bring cats into the local vet and have them neutered and vaccinated. By doing so they cannot procreate, and therefore the number of outdoor cats is greatly diminished. Cats that are deemed social and have been abandoned are kept by us and put up for adoption. Those that are feral (unsocialized with no exposure to humans) are released back outside provided there is someone to feed and shelter them. A few have been sent to farms, but this is rare.
Fern and Rachel at the CSL Garage Sale on Sunday raising funds for the committee.
We have several feeders in CSL that look after community cats for the duration of their life. We provide these residents with food and small shelters, if need be. Of course, all of this costs money: the majority of which goes to veterinary care and food.
“It’s very difficult to keep one step ahead of the community cats that appear in Côte Saint- Luc as they often wander over from NDG, Montreal West, or other areas,” Diane notes. “Sadly, we also have our fair share of abandoned cats, social and therefore adoptable, within the community. We do not put social cats back outside, but rather retain them until they are adopted. We do this through our foster program whereby people keep these cats until they are adopted. We absolutely, and sadly, do nit catch every unneutered cat so each year we find ourselves with many kittens. The cost is enormous.”
As Diane states, we are the only city within Montreal proper that has a dedicated program exclusively for the care of feral/community cats. The SPCA has a TNR program and the rest of the city (Montreal and surrounding areas) is dependent upon them for this service. However, not every Montreal jurisdiction is covered by the SPCA. In those areas not covered, there is a never ending cycle of stray, abandoned, and feral cats. The suffering of these animals is appalling.
The Cote Saint Luc TNR Program has become quite well-known (at least, by other rescues/people who do what we do) throughout the city/province committed to the health and welfare of outdoor community cats.
Last year, with costs increasing, I was able to have city council increase the annual stipend for the Cats Committee to $10,500. Regrettably, facing a multi-million dollar deficit last fall, cuts had to occur across the board and that meant the Cats Committee budget was brought back to $5,000.
Diane and committee members attended the last public council meeting and made it very clear that without a return to the $10,500 funding level from the city, the future of the CSL Cats Committee is in doubt. Diane told me frankly last week that if new funding does not materialize by the end of 2024 the work of this group will not be able to continue.
From Mayor Mitchell Brownstein and myself to all members of council and senior staff, the hard work of the CSL Cats Committee has never gone unnoticed. We only start building our budgets in the fall, so it is too early to forecast whether or not the city will be in a position to increase funding.
“The CSL TNR program is not sustainable with the allotment we are receiving from the city,” says Diane. “Despite our best fundraising efforts, we are one invoice away from closing up shop. The feral/community cats remain an issue, but not as serious as the stray, sick, and abandoned cats and kittens.”
I know there are a lot of animal lovers in Côte Saint-Luc and beyond. If anyone reading this story knows of some people or organizations that would like to assist this cause please let me know at [email protected] or [email protected]
The new ownership of five residential apartment buildings on Kildare Road and Sir Walter Scott continues to result in complaints being filed to myself and the city.
But here is some breaking news. I have learned that the buildings may sold again in the coming months, this time to a professional operator.
Group CLV sold the buildings to a group, represented by real estate broker Terry Geramanis, amid fears of possible renoviction. The tenants were organized, hiring a lawyer and establishing a tenants association. In recent weeks I have received a number of calls by residents, notably complaining about a lack of communication.
To his credit, Geramanis has responded to all of my inquiries.
Terry Geramanis
There have been elevator issues in some of the buildings and Geramanis’ team has rectified those issues.
The problem now is that tenants say they can only e-mail their complaints to an address which is very short on responses.
Trevor and Adele.
Geramanis says that although an email has been provided to the tenants to ask questions and make requests, a direct phone line was also shared with them, indicating their representatives’ phone numbers. To this day, he says, they keep receiving and answering calls coming directly from tenants in the building.
David : (438) 816-4243
Avi : (438) 299-9934
In the lobby of one of the buildings I visited, though, only the e-mail address appears on a notice.
“I need to make it clear that there is undeniable willingness on my part and such of my team to ensure viable tenancy and maintain the property in a state that allows the current tenants to live peacefully in their unit,” Geramanis stated. “Furthermore, my team and I are committed to addressing any concerns the tenants may have and maintaining open lines of communications. We understand the importance of being accessible and responsive."
As for the building caretakers, originally employees of CLV, tenants say they lack the proper equipment to do their job and are not as visible as before.
“In regards to custodians on site, following the sale, we had made the decision to maintain their contracts in place,” Geramanis responded. “To this date, they are still present on site and answer when tasked. They also keep us updated relating to any problems the building or the tenants encounter.”
As for the lack of on-site employee’s working tools, Geramanis says he wishes to clarify that this was caused by CLV repossessing most of the equipment and material that was used for building maintenance and thus following the sale the maintenance room was for the most part emptied. “However, my team and I are in communications with our on-site caretakers and should a work equipment be needed to efficiently perform a job or to complete a maintenance requisition, it will be provided,” he said. “On that note, tenants should not be worried of any service disruption in the building."
On Monday, tenants Adele and Trevor asked if I’d come meet them at their building on Kildare Road. Adele said the physical look of the grounds is already deteriorating under the new owners; no flowers or greenery has been planted in front nor has been the grass been cut. There is a large pothole at the entrance of the lot (I’m not sure if this a joint issue with the neighbouring Westwood building) and a few others in the parking lot.
“Concerning landscaping, the only thing I can mention at the moment is that we are having discussions with various companies to find the best fit,” said Geramanis.
Adele showed me the water leaks she has in her apartment bathroom resulting in mould. One of our building inspectors visited the premises. As of this writing he has not heard back from the landlords and plans to begin issuing tickets.
“We are aware of the situation and are in communication with our team to ensure that the issues encountered in their unit are fixed,” said Geramanis. “We have one and the same goal: to ensure the safety and smooth operation of our properties, creating a comfortable living environment for all tenants. It is not our intention, nor is it in our interest to create a toxic environment where our liability and reputation would be on the line. Any dialogue we engage in is purely amicable, without any fear or threat and we are here to listen and work together to find reasonable solutions that benefit everyone involved."
Adele and Trevor also told me they have seen large rats in the garage.
I will continue to advocate for the tenants and keep my eyes and ears open re a possible sale. At one point Geramanis referred to me as a journalist. That is one of my professions, but this blog is reserved strictly for my role as a city councillor to keep my constituents in the loop on important issues.
From the time I was first elected over 18 years ago, I originated the concept of District meetings/Town Halls. At least once a year invited constituents to a meeting where we talk about issues pertinent to the area I represent. During the pandemic, such gatherings took place virtually via Zoom. Due to popular demand, I have decided to maintain this format. People appreciate the fact they need not leave their home. Please join me for the next such meeting on Monday, June 10 (7:30 pm). Just log on to www.cotesaintluc.org/districtmeeting from your computer or device. Come meet our new police commander and participate in discussions about other issues. It is all outlined in the flyer below.
Dès ma première élection, il y a plus de 18 ans, j'ai été à l'origine du concept des réunions de district et des assemblées publiques. Au moins une fois par an, j'ai invité des électeurs à une réunion au cours de laquelle nous avons abordé des questions pertinentes pour la région que je représente. Pendant la pandémie, ces réunions ont eu lieu virtuellement via Zoom. À la demande générale, j'ai décidé de maintenir ce format. Les gens apprécient le fait qu'ils n'aient pas à quitter leur domicile. Rejoignez-moi pour la prochaine réunion de ce type le lundi 10 juin (19h30). Il vous suffit de vous connecter à www.cotesaintluc.org/districtmeeting à partir de votre ordinateur ou de votre appareil. Venez rencontrer notre nouveau commandant de police et participez à des discussions sur d'autres sujets. Tout cela est décrit dans le flyer ci-dessous.
In the bustling streets of Buenos Aires, there lived a young girl named Veronica. She was a spirited soul with a passion for flavours and a heart deeply rooted in her Argentinian heritage. But her true love lay in the sweet art of making ice cream, a skill she learned from her beloved Italian grandfather, Nonno Luigi.
Nonno was a master ice cream maker, renowned in their family for his delectable creations. From the creamy richness of dulce de leche to the zesty tang of lemon sorbet, he could whip up flavours that danced on the taste buds. And Veronica, with her eager eyes and nimble fingers, soaked up every secret he shared, every technique he taught. Together, they spent countless afternoons in Nonno Luigi’s quaint kitchen, surrounded by the comforting scent of freshly churned ice cream. Veronica would listen intently as he regaled her with tales of their family's Italian roots, intertwining their heritage with the artistry of ice cream-making.
Veronica and her two daughters
As Veronica grew older, she was encouraged by her friends, who insisted that no matter where they went, they could never quite find a taste quite like her and her grandfather’s ice cream, to begin to sell her delicious flavours. She always politely declined, however, and decided instead on pursuing graphic design as a career. She was able to translate her knack for all things creative from the kitchen onto beautiful logos, posters, and book covers.
At the age of 32, Veronica set off with her husband Juan for Canada, drawn by the promise of new beginnings and delicious frozen treats. At gatherings with her new Canadian friends, the whispers of her old friends resurfaced urging her to unveil her cherished ice creams to the world. Now, with a stable career in Canada and two daughters (Emma, 16 and Ursula, 13), she accepted and il Vero Spirito was born.
Just last year, she and her family began expanding their ice cream repertoire. It now contains unique flavours such as beer and wine, panettone, and matcha! Since she wants her ice cream to be enjoyed by everyone, no matter their dietary restrictions, Il Vero Spirito ice cream is also available in vegan and lactose-free options. The newest addition to this plentiful line up are frozen treats for pets!
Last week, Veronica’s surprised me and colleagues at my office with some small tastings. I am lactose intolerant (although lactaid pills do the trick) so I appreciated the fact they cater to folks like me. I particularly loved the caramel, mint chocolate and cookie dough flavors.
Il Vero Spirito will cater your event or party. Just send an e-mail to : [email protected] or text 438-345-9453