The official grand re-opening of Edward J. Kirwan Park in Côte Saint-Luc took place on October 1. The park is located at 5732 Wentworth Ave.,at the  corner of Kildare Road. I grew up at 5730 Wentworth Ave. so this facility has special meaning to me. I played baseball in the summer and hockey in the winter. It was the hub of sports activity in the city until Trudeau (originally Centennial) Park was born. Last May my brother Chuck dedicated a bench in the memory of our late father, Lawrence Frederick Cohen (aka Larry Fredericks), who would literally stand on our back balcony and introduce people as they entered the premises.

The official ribbon cutting ceremony.

Renovations into Kirwan Park and the adjacent Allan J. Levine Playground totaled approximately $7 million and was funded in part through a grant from the Government of Quebec for $1,972,050, and a grant from the Government of Canada for $1,972,050.

The project includes a new playground for two- to five-year-olds, an upgraded playground for six- to 12-year-olds, new water games, a new athletics track, the installation of exercise equipment, a wide walking path with new lighting surrounding the entire park, the construction of a new, universally accessible main chalet and secondary bathroom block, a new ice rink, upgraded basketball courts, and an outdoor dance floor.

Mitch Kujavsky speaks.

The process to renovate included place making exercises, and a public consultation meeting in December 2017 to get feedback to better understand what our residents wanted. Funding from the governments of Quebec and Canada was announced in April 2021.

Kirwan Park is named for Edward J. Kirwan, who was a city councillor from 1923 to 1973. The original park name was Wentworth Park. It was renamed Edward J. Kirwan Park in 1976. Until the creation of Centennial Park (now Pierre Elliott Trudeau Park), Kirwan Park was the city’s largest and most important greenspace. It was here in 1967 that thousands of people gathered following a Canadian Centennial parade through our streets. The late Johnny Elias ran his Grand Slam baseball school also operated from here and that is where Montreal Expo greats like Gary Carter and Steve Rogers visited with the kids.

“Thank you to the public who shared their ideas, our local MP Anthony Housefather and then-MNA David Birnbaum and his successor Elisabeth Prass who helped secure the grants, and our staff who managed the project from start to finish,” said Mayor Mitchell Brownstein. “District Councillor Mitch Kujavsky was instrumental in listening to concerns from neighbours during the project and helping to find solutions. I also want to thank former Councillor Allan J. Levine who advocated for this renovation around the council table. The park and playground have so many fun features like a bike path for children, beautiful new playground equipment, a bathroom at the playground, and more at the chalet. I hope residents will spends many hours here as there is something for every age group.”

It was nice to also see former Mayor Robert Libman at the inauguration.

Kirwan Park has memories for so many people like Roy Salomon. “I moved to Montreal from New York in 1960 and someone asked if I had played any baseball or softball,” he told me. “My answer was in the affirmative and I was invited to a tryout. As a complete stranger to the area, all of a sudden I knew 120 people, a few of whom became my closest friends. They were wonderful days. People gathered at Kirwan Park, then called Wentworth, to watch the games. There was lots of banter all around, and then a trip to Delly Boys for a smoked meat sandwich and a coke. Perhaps we tend to glorify the past, but they seemed like simpler days. There were no computers or cell phones, no video games; just being together with friends and neighbors enjoying ourselves in a very special way."

Former Parks and Recreation Department stalwart Harold Cammy also grew up hanging out ar the park. “I see your dad sitting on the back balcony telling me he'll keep his eyes open at night to make sure we keep those rowdy teenagers out after 11 pm,” Harold laughed. “He was my 'undercover' security agent. Let's not forget Côte Saint Luc won a provincial football championship under the leadership of former McGill head football coach Vaughn McVeigh. My late father in law use to walk over from his Davies Avenue home to watch the Slo Pitch games every night. And of course this was home for rge Avengers, where Côte Saint Luc first started its inter-city baseball program. This is also  where I first met my wife Beverly.”

The granddaughters of the late Edward J. Kirwan, Janice Cullen, Jill Kirwan, and Jo-Anne Kirwan Clark, issued this statement: “Our grandfather Ed Kirwan was only five years when his father died in 1899. He was sent to College Notre Dame where he was educated in French. Reading, writing, arithmetic and religion were mandatory but it soon became apparent that Ed Kirwan’s passion in life was sports…especially baseball. In fact, he was the star pitcher (twirler) for the Montreal Monarchs’ in 1916. He became the first English-speaking alderman in Côte Saint-Luc in the early 1930’s because he was completely at home in both languages. He devoted hours of patience and work to provide the young people with facilities to play baseball and hockey. In 1935 and 1936 in the field behind one of the homes on Wolsey Avenue, our grandfather with the help of other interested people, created the first usable playing field for softball in Cote St. Luc. Alderman Kirwan loved kids and he loved sports. It was his pleasure to see young people using the facilities instead of hanging out in parks or on street corners. He sponsored The Golden Boys in Slo Pitch and the Kankees in the Little League. Any softball team that needed equipment would call on Mr. Ed—as he was known in those days. I know our Grandfather, Edward James Kirwan, would be honored and delighted with the ongoing investment in these park facilities and we look forward to seeing them ourselves next time we are in Montreal. “

There are a lot of people to thank for the hard work they did to make this long awaited project a reality. It starts with those who took part in the placemaking exercise at the very start. This included staff from general management, Recreation, Public Works, Urban Development, Purchasing, Public Safety and Finance and Communications. We also had citizens kuje Christine Latreille who runs the Stroller Mom site, and Tamar Hertz who runs the Côte Saint-Luc Families Facebook page.

Members of the public attended the two public consultations. There were internal and external consultants, Marianne Zalzal and Gérald Pau. The contractor, Les Entreprises Ventec Inc. Dr. Mehrnoosh Movahed and Dr. Keiko Shikako-Thomas from the McGill University School of Physical and Occupational Therapy prepared a report on accessibility and choice of equipment.

Parks and Recreation Department Director Cornelia Ziga helped select the equipment at the park. Hats off as well to the artist of the art sculptures, Michel de Broin of Atelier M-D-B. Our City Council approved the project, including District Councillor Kujavsky who advocated for it as did his predecessor Levine. Liberal MP for Mount Royal and former Mayor Anthony Housefather and  D'Arcy McGee Liberal MNA David Birnbaum helped direct us on how to apply for the grants that we eventually received and current MNA Elisabeth Prass  picked up the dossier when she succeeded David.

Watch the video of the ceremony here

Ilan Ramon was the first Israeli astronaut on the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-107) that was launched on January 16, 2003. The seven astronauts died on February 1, 2003, when Columbia broke apart during re-entry into the atmosphere over Texas on its way to Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Soon after this tragedy, then Mayor Robert Libman proposed that a new street off of Sir Walter Scott Avenue in Côte Saint-Luc’s District 2 be named Ilan Ramon Crescent.

At the new spot.

As a veteran fighter pilot, Ramon was part of a risky but successful 1981 mission that destroyed an unfinished nuclear reactor in Iraq.Twenty years ago I attended a ceremony for the installation of a plaque at the corner of Ilan Ramon and Sir Walter Scott. It eventually had to be removed due to construction. Most recently, the plaque was reinstalled in a different position right in the middle of the crescent. Happily, it is only a few feet away from the home of an Israeli family,

Thanks to our Public Affairs and Communications Department for putting this back in place.

La plaque Ilan Ramon a retrouvé sa place à Côte Saint-Luc

Ilan Ramon était le premier astronaute israélien à bord de la navette spatiale Columbia (STS-107) lancée le 16 janvier 2003. Les sept astronautes sont morts le 1er février 2003, lorsque Columbia s'est désintégrée lors de sa rentrée dans l'atmosphère au-dessus du Texas, alors qu'elle se dirigeait vers le centre spatial Kennedy en Floride.

Peu de temps après cette tragédie, le maire de l'époque, Robert Libman, a proposé qu'une nouvelle rue de l'avenue Sir Walter Scott, dans le district 2 de Côte Saint-Luc, porte le nom de Croissant Ilan Ramon.

Pilote de chasse chevronné, Ramon a participé en 1981 à une mission risquée mais réussie qui a permis de détruire un réacteur nucléaire inachevé en Irak.Il y a vingt ans, j'ai assisté à une cérémonie d'installation d'une plaque à l'angle d'Ilan Ramon et de l'avenue Sir Walter Scott. Il y a vingt ans, j'ai assisté à une cérémonie pour l'installation d'une plaque à l'angle des rues Ilan Ramon et Sir Walter Scott. Plus récemment, la plaque a été réinstallée à un autre endroit, en plein milieu du croissant. Heureusement, elle n'est qu'à quelques mètres de la maison d'une famille israélienne,

The late Ilan Ramon.

My District 2 constituent Pauline Wong got to meet Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau   at the Montreal Chinese Hospital . He was there to celebrate the Harvest Moon Festival. 

Pauline Wong is at Trudeau's left.

The Chinese Hospital is now a long-term care institution. Pauline also makes regular donations to the Maimonides Geriatric Centre.

Paul Wong (right) with me in Lachine.

Meanwhile, I was pleased to bump into Paul Wong, Pauline's son, and also a constituent of mine last week when he was participating  in the 2024 BDO Cedars CanSupport Dragon Boat Race in Lachine, raising important funds for the Cedars Cancer Foundation.

Back in June 2022, the City of  Côte Saint-Luc began gathering feedback from the public to revise the municipal Planning Program and Zoning By-law documents.

The Planning Program is the municipality’s most important official long-term planning document. This fundamental tool enables the municipal council to draw up a current portrait of the territory, identify issues and then guide decision-making on planning and development solutions and actions for the next 15 to 20 years.

Going door to door with Bialik student interns Noah Galambos, Avery Hannon, Jeremy Nashen, Liana Levary and Alexa Omer.

You are invited to attend an information session on Monday, Sept. 16 at 7 pm at City Hall to find out about the vision and orientations of the Planning Program, the process and next steps, and how you can participate.

For residents of my District 2, the big question has been what will be the Planning Program’s impact on the future of Quartier Cavendish?
The special planning program (SPP) is a detailed component of a municipality’s broader planning program that focuses on areas needing special consideration.

The SPP presents a distinctive vision; guidelines and strategies for the SPP for the Town Centre of Côte Saint-Luc. Its aim is to create an attractive and cohesive town centre that encompasses the Quartier Cavendish property, the City Hall and Library complex, and Pierre Elliott Trudeau Park. The SPP for the Town Centre of Côte Saint-Luc is a key component of the city’s overall planning program. Its implementation will significantly contribute to the broader planning vision for the city.

The Quartier Cavendish is located at the center of the SPP. It was built in the early 1970s, a time when malls served as downtown areas and community gathering spaces. Its architecture and layout are typical of regional shopping centres from that era. It is set back from the streets and surrounded by a vast open-air parking lot. Upon its opening, Quartier Cavendish stood out as one of the city’s few shopping destinations accessible on foot, a characteristic that, to some degree, remains true even today. It remains a popular meeting place, especially among older adults who commonly use the food court as space to gather. Originally, the land occupied by the shopping centre was nearly twice its current size. In 2010, about 40 percent of the original building was demolished to make way for a residential area, mainly consisting of townhouses, single-family homes and an apartment building.

What is next? The Quartier Cavendish officials wish to implement a total facelift and for that new zoning will be required.

Unfortunately, we will still have no firm details available on Sept, 16 regarding the Quartier Cavendish. All I can tell you is that our planners are projecting zoning for new buildings that could very well range from two to 20 storeys. Mandevco, the owners of Quartier Cavendish, do not have a formal plan ready for council to consider at this point.

More news may only come to Council at the Oct, 21 meeting, with a legal public consultation to follow on Nov. 20. Soon after, the entire city will be able to vote for the municipal Planning Program and Zoning By-law documents. That means that even if residents of District 2 near the Quartier Cavendish oppose the project, they won’t be able to vote it down.

As my colleague, Councillor Dida Berku repeats, the revitalization of the three large shopping centres (Quartier Cavendish, Decarie Square and Côte St. Luc Shopping Centre) is vital to the future financial prosperity of our city. I lament the fact that at this hour we not have all of the necessary information for them to review.

Last week, with five of my Bialik High School student interns, I knocked on doors of people on Park Place, Jubilee, The Avenue and Cavendish Blvd. They live closes to Quartier Cavendish so we wanted to give them a heads up on the Sept. 16 meeting where city officials will be on hand and residents can ask important questions. 

Last winter, several months after long-time Côte Saint-Luc resident Alexandre Look was murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7,  I got a call from Mayor Mitchell Brownstein. He and his wife Elaine knew the Look family very well as their eldest son Andrew grew up with Alex.

“How can we properly honor Alex’s memory,” the mayor asked,

As the city councillor responsible for Toponymy  (Naming Opportunities), I immediately zeroed in on a large piece of greenspace in my District 2, sandwiched between Bialik High School and Beth Chabad CSL. We had been looking for  a name there for a few years.  Sadly, this was the perfect match. Alex had attended Bialik and he also frequented Beth Chabad CSL.

Members of Council, the Alain and Raquel Look and other special guests unveil the sign.

Alexandre Look grew up in Côte Saint-Luc, attended Bialik High School, was a frequent visitor at the Parkhaven Pool, the Cavendish Mall, and played numerous sports. As a child, Alex was very protective of his younger sister Kayla, and as he grew, he would extend that sense of duty to protect all those in need.  

On Monday night, September 9 (the eve of what would have been his 34th birthday), we formally dedicated Alexandre Look Place.  Our Director of Public Works Beatrice Newman prepared the grounds beautifully. Associate City Manager Tanya Abramovitch met with the family and ensured the property was adequately prepared. And Darryl Levine, our Director Public Affairs and Communications, handled the branding, signage and wording on the inscription on the large plaque.

I will share below the wording expertly pieced together by Darryl.

Alexandre Look grew up in Cote Saint-Luc, attended Bialik High School, was a frequent visitor at the Parkhaven Pool, the Cavendish Mall, and played numerous sports. As a child, Alex was very protective of his younger sister Kayla, and as he grew, he would extend that sense of duty to protect people in need. He had numerous friends and coached many to achieve direction in their lives. 

A beautiful flower display surrounds the plaque. Some of these flowers were brought back from Israel. The red anemone is the national flower of israel and it blooms in the south. So it is used on all memorials for victims of Oct 7.

Alex had a larger-than-life presence, with unmatched charisma and generosity leaving a mark not only on the community, but the many places he would travel and live. A real bon-vivant with an entrepreneurial spirit, he spoke six languages and was a gifted a salesman, eventually opening his own cosmetics shops in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.  

Alex was immensely proud of his Jewish heritage and would visit Israel during the summer months. During his trip in 2023, Alex extended his stay to attend the Supernova Music Festival in the Negev desert of southern Israel. When hundreds of rockets were fired from Gaza in the early morning of October 7, Alex and his friends sought urgent refuge in a bomb shelter nearby at Kibbutz Be'eri, where nearly 40 others were hiding. Hamas terrorists soon arrived and began firing indiscriminately on civilians. Without hesitation, Alex placed himself at the entrance of the shelter, putting himself in harm’s way to protect friends and strangers alike. When a terrorist tried to enter, Alex fought the attacker and was murdered using his body as a shield to save others. Miraculously, eight people survived due to his act of bravery.  

There was a large crowd on hand.

Alex’s ultimate act of heroism stands as a testament to his unyielding spirit and lifelong dedication to others. His fearless protection of friends and strangers and his legacy of compassion serve as powerful reminders of his remarkable life and the enduring impact of his heroism. His memory will live on in the countless lives he touched and forever inspire strength and unity in our community and beyond. 

The City of Côte Saint-Luc mourns the loss of Alexandre Look and the numerous innocent lives lost on that tragic day. 

“This was home to Alex in all of its formative years,” said Mayor Brownstein.

Israel’s Consul General Paul Hirschson admitted that he did not know Alex, yet he has become intimately familiar with him over the past 11 months via  his parents Alain and Raquel. “”We mourn Alex and we celebrate him at the same time.”

Cantor Danny Belolo performs a memorial prayer.

Mount Royal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather  was in British Columbia at  party caucus, but he sent a message in which he told the parents “ your son was a hero. You know that already. But it needs to be repeated.”

D’Arcy McGee Liberal MNA Elisabeth Prass added  “those lives Alex saved by being a human shield showed the values he was raised with.”

Alain Look told me that he and his wife recently moved back to Côte Saint-Luc. “I think Alex was looking over, telling us to make this move,” he said.

Added Raquel: “This is a place that holds profound significance  to our family.  This represents more than just a greenspace. This place will serve as a beacon of hope.”

Federation CJA President and CEO Yair Szlak, a stalwart in the community since the October 7 attacks, said “we still have not had a chance to mourn what happened on October 7.”

You can watch the entire ceremony here

The Gazette

https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/friends-travel-from-around-the-world-as-cote-st-luc-honours-alexandre-look

CTV News

https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/video/c2990891-alexandre-look-memorialized-with-park?binId=1.1332485

CBC News

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6505357

City News

https://montreal.citynews.ca/2024/09/09/alexandre-look-place-cote-st-luc/

Alexandre (Coco) Abraham Look 

1990–2023 

Alexandre Look a grandi à Côte Saint-Luc, où il a fréquenté l’école secondaire Bialik. On le voyait souvent à la piscine Parkhaven et au mail Cavendish, et il participait à beaucoup d’activités sportives. Enfant, Alex était très protecteur à l'égard de sa jeune sœur Kayla et, en grandissant, il a étendu ce sens du devoir à la protection des personnes dans le besoin. Il avait de nombreux amis et en a accompagné plusieurs pour qu’ils trouvent un sens à leur vie. 

Alex avait une présence plus grande que nature. Son charisme et sa générosité inégalés ont laissé une trace non seulement dans la communauté, mais aussi dans les nombreux endroits où il a voyagé et vécu. Véritable bon vivant à l'esprit d'entreprise, il parlait six langues et était un vendeur hors pair, qui avait fini par ouvrir ses propres boutiques de cosmétiques à Cabo San Lucas, au Mexique. 

Alex était extrêmement fier de ses origines juives et il aimait se rendre en Israël pendant l’été. Pendant son voyage en 2023, Alex a prolongé son séjour pour assister au festival de musique Supernova dans le désert du Negev, dans le sud d’Israël. Lorsque des centaines de roquettes ont été tirées depuis Gaza au petit matin du 7 octobre, Alex et ses amis se sont réfugiés d'urgence dans un abri anti-bombes situé à proximité, au kibboutz Be'eri, où se cachaient près de 40 autres personnes. Les terroristes du Hamas sont arrivés rapidement et ont commencé à tirer sans discrimination sur les civils. Sans hésiter, Alex s’est placé à l’entrée de l’abri, se mettant en danger pour protéger des amis autant que des étrangers. Quand un terroriste a tenté d'entrer, Alex a combattu l'attaquant et il a été tué en utilisant son corps comme bouclier pour sauver d'autres personnes. Par miracle, huit personnes ont survécu grâce à son acte de bravoure.  

L’ultime acte d’héroïsme d’Alex témoigne de sa détermination et de son dévouement aux autres tout au long de sa vie. Sa protection téméraire d'amis et d'étrangers et son héritage de compassion sont autant de rappels de sa vie remarquable et de l'impact durable de son héroïsme. Son souvenir restera gravé dans les innombrables vies qu'il a touchées et inspirera à jamais la force et l'unité au sein de notre communauté et au-delà. 

La Ville de Côte Saint-Luc pleure la perte d'Alexandre Look et des nombreuses vies innocentes perdues lors de cette journée tragique. 

A brand new kosher deli, Fin Gourmet sur l’Avenue, held its grand opening this week on The Avenue in Côte Saint-Luc District 2, which I represent.

The ribbon cutting.

When the apartment building on The Avenue opened seven years ago, the ground floor was zoned commercial. Last year an orthodontist opened shop and now we have a  fabulous spot offering a wide array of kosher cuisine. It should help fill part of the void left by the closure of the J &R Kosher deli.

My Bialik High School Local Commerce interns share in the celebration.

The husband and wife team of Edmond and Veronique Abecassis are the owners. Their son Brandon, a general contractor for Jackson Construction, built the interior. Bhavik Patel and Chelsea Delena are the chefs.

Some of the goods for sale.

I was delighted to attend the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony in the company of Mount Royal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather and five members of my Local Commerce Student Committee, Avery Hannon, Noah Galambos, Jeremy Nashen, Alexa Omer and Liana Levary from Bialik High School. Bravo to landlord Emile Badea for choosing an excellent tenant.  Here you can explore an exciting array of offerings that are sure to delight your palate and satisfy your cravings. From in-house meals crafted with love to convenient grab-and-go options,  they have something for everyone.

Here’s what you can look forward to:

•      Packaged Grab & Go Meals: Perfectly portioned and ready to enjoy wherever you are.
•      Cold Cuts & Exclusive Meat Cuts: A curated selection of fine kosher meats, including artisanal cold cuts and exclusive cuts you won’t find anywhere else.
•      Frozen Packaged Food: Stock up on high-quality, frozen delights that are perfect for quick and easy meals.
•      Baked Goods & Big Cakes: From everyday treats to special occasion cakes, our bakery will satisfy your sweet tooth.
•      Charcuterie & Pâté: Gourmet selections for your charcuterie boards or sophisticated snacks.
•      Spices & Nuts: Enhance your culinary creations with our diverse range of spices and premium nuts.
•      Packaged Olives: A variety of olives, perfectly packed to complement your meals or as a savory snack.

“We’re passionate about offering only the finest ingredients and products to our community,” said Veronique.

There was a such a superb selection of ready to eat and freshly made items,  including chicken shawarma,  bbq wings, roasted potatoes, green beans, chicken wings, chicken fingers, chicken schnitzel, chicken burgers, general tao chicken, sweet and sour meatballs, fried rice, noodles, spring rolls, fish balls, quiche, sandwiches and spring rolls.  They had fresh challahs and rolls and some delicious chocolates. In addition, there was kosher chicken, minced meat, lamb rack and more.

For more information call 514-369-2522. Their website will be online soon.

For anyone who missed our virtual information session on the upcoming revisions to the CSL dog by-law, please watch this recording.

Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTqaGORxWW8

Subjects discussed included: fine increases, abandoned dogs, dangerous dogs, number of dogs permitted, prohibited leashes,hybrid breeds, parks prohibiting dogs, new rules for the dog park, maximum number of dogs that a person can walk and more.

An amendment to our dog by-law will not allow people to walk more than two dogs at a time unless you have a special permit.

There was some very interesting back and forth.

 A draft by-law has not yet been presented to Council for review. At present, we are looking for feedback from the public on the ideas below, as well as asking the public to share its feedback.

The following are some of the ideas we are considering for the eventual draft by-law:

• Can walk only two dogs at time. Need a dog-walking permit for walking 3 dogs or more on pubic domain.
• Can't leave dog unattended, for instance attached to a pole.
• Can't use ball or stick with dog at dog park if other dogs are present.
• Can't feed dogs at dog run if other dogs are present.
• Can't bring more than two dogs to the dog run.
• After moving to CSL, you have 30 days to get  dog permit.
• It is illegal to abandon a dog in the city.
• It is forbidden to practice any form of animal breeding, including the operation of a kennel for commercial purposes.

You can send feedback and your ideas to me at [email protected].

A big thanks to our Manager of Operations for Public Safety Jean-Marc Dubois. He is drafting the by-law amendments, which we hope to adopt by the end of 2024, and provided a very good overview of the major components.

Following many months of turmoil since   five residential apartment buildings on Kildare Road and Sir Walter Scott were sold by Group CLV  to a company represented by real estate broker Terry Geramanis, another transaction has now taken place.  David Gans and  Robbie Peck, two residents of Montreal who own other properties, are officially the new owners of  6565 and 6575 Kildare and  5775, 5755 and 5765 Sir Walter Scott.

Some of the buildings now under new ownership.

Since last winter tenants have lived in fear of renoviction, complained about a lack of communications with the owners and dealt with neglect of the premises.

I spoke to Gans, who insisted that is all a thing of the past. He and Peck have already hired a full-time individual to manage the five buildings. Dedicated phone lines will be set up for tenants to call for assistance daytime and after hours. They have already started to clean the carpets in the corridors of each buildings. In cases where any stains were not removed, they will hire a professional company to complete the job. A long series of repairs and renovations are on their “to do” list.

There is  presently a truck in one of the parking lots. That will be removed from the premises as soon as possible. A landscaper has been hired to beautify the grounds.

“We are very excited to be the new owners,” said Gans. “Good things are going to happen.”

I must say that as the city councillor for the district I am very relieved with this news. These past few months have not been easy on anyone, including our staff at City Hall who maintained a very close eye on the properties. I’d like to thank almost all of the tenants for their patience and the professional manner in which  they communicated with me.

More news to come on this dossier.

You must hand it to Mount Royal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather. He knows how to  work his riding.

The past year has by no means been easy for Anthony, whom I served under on city council during his 10 years as mayor of Côte Saint-Luc. He has spoken out against his party’s language policy and threatened to  leave the Liberals over their position on the Israeli war in Gaza. The Federal Conservative Party already has lawyer Neil Oberman lined up to challenge him in the fall 2025 election. But Anthony is the consummate campaigner and one of the things I learned from him is that you don’t wait until just prior to a vote to reach out to the electorate; do it non-stop.

On August  29 I was among those in attendance at Ashkelon Gardens behind our library where Anthony hosted a ceremony for 20 outstanding volunteers in the riding of Mount Royal,  awarding them all with a King Charles Medal. It was a brilliant political move and also one well appreciated by the very large gathering, which included many community leaders. Let me also applaud him for using a beautiful outdoor venue as our summer starts to slip away.

With Jacob Kincler (Dida's husband), Anthony Housefather and Dida Berku.

The recipients were all from all across the riding, and one councillor in each city was also recognized. In Côte Saint-Luc it was our Deputy Mayor Dida Berku, a tireless worker whom I have been proud to sit with for 19 years.

Anthony Housefather at the ceremony.

Here is a closer look at the eight CSL recipients.

Dida Berku has been a city councillor in CSL for over 30 years.  She is indeed the dean of our council and showcases so many leadership qualities.  For many years she worked as a tenants rights lawyer. On our council, Dida leads on some of the most important files and works non-stop for our citizens and her constituents. Said Anthony: “I served on Council with Dida for 14 years. It is rare to find someone who combines the precision of an attorney, the political smarts of an elected representative, and the passion of an environmentalist but Dida does so.  When I was Mayor she was my back up at the regional level of government and I relied on her advice and counsel when it came to many of the most important issues facing the city such as the protection of Meadowbrook and the Cavendish extension. Even today as an MP, I work closely with her on projects like the Smart City initiative. Her presence on Council is not only in the interest of District 3 but in the interest of the entire City of Côte Saint-Luc.”

Anthony with the recipients.

 Yair Szlak has served as  the President and CEO of Federation CJA since May 2019.  Prior to this he held the role of Chief Development officer at Federation CJA from 2013 to 2019. He was also the Campaign Director  (2007-2013), and the Director of Campaign Operations (2005-2007). A graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, with a Bachelor’s degree from York University, he is a lawyer by training. He moved here to pursue a career in the Jewish community. Since Oct. 7 he has been front and centre on reacting to and dealing with the fallout from the war in Israel and the increase in antisemitism. I can tell you from personal experience how approachable he is and proactive in responding to any ideas on how to combat the hate we have been experiencing.

My first connection with Eta Yudin came in  1999 when I left my job as head of communications for the Canadian Jewish Congress to join the English Montreal School Board. She was chosen as my successor in Quebec, rising to the rank as vice-president of  CIJA (The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs), the successor organization to the CJC. She and Szlak have formed a formidable one, two combination in leading our community against the intolerance we are facing. Eta  built her expertise in communications, advocacy, and community and government relations starting as a grassroots student advocate. At CIJA, she  originally served as Deputy Director of Public Affairs and Community Relations before being appointed Vice-President (Quebec) in 2016. She was instrumental in facilitating the first official visits to Israel of a sitting Quebec Premier,  a Montreal Mayor and the recent historic opening of a Quebec Bureau in Israel, a significant milestone in the Quebec-Israel relationship. She has appeared as an expert witness before Quebec National Assembly commissions and serves as a media spokesperson. She is a recipient of the Medal of the National Assembly and the Tel Aviv University Friendship Award honouring her leadership in representing the interests of her community.

Andrew Toeman  was born  in London England. He immigrated to Canada 1954 and attended Northmount High, McGill and then Dental School. He later taught at McGill and the Jewish General Hospital. He was the president of American Academy of Dental Practice, and retired after 46 years. For 35 years, he worked with the Y Wolf Pack, served as VP of the Y, ran a few marathons and climbed Kilimanjaro. He also worked with his wife raising money for Israeli wounded Veterans. Beit Halochem. Now, Andrew spends his time biking three times a week and raising money for Cancer Research,  all while becoming the newly installed president of the CSLL Men’s Club.

Brian Blumer is best known as the first person you see when entering the CSL Aquatic and Community Centre. He learned the meaning of community service from his late father Leon. These days he is devoted to be a member of the fraternal order  Syracuse Lodge #9, a subordinate lodge of the Knights of Pythias. He served as a Knight in Syracuse Lodge before joining the executive of this subordinate lodge in 2019.   In 2019 he was elected to an executive position of the Grand Lodge, Domain of Quebec as a Grand Outer Guard.  He was in charge of special programming, and he was indeed very busy during the  pandemic.  He organized a project bringing speakers to   members and guests via Zoom.  He coordinated at least 10 speaker evenings over the next three years, bringing exciting and interesting speakers into the homes of guests.   His latest project will be a live comedy show featuring well known comic Mike Paterson for a live and in person performance on Sept. 19 at the ACC.

Jamie Fabian is the outgoing commissioner in CSL/Hampstead for the English Montreal School Board. He is not seeking another term in order to devote more time to his studies at McGill Law School. Jamie has a Bachelor's of Arts with Distinction on Scholarship from Concordia University in Public Affairs and Policy, and is a third year law student. He is vice-president of Finance for the Jewish Law Students' Association and is an editor for the McGill Journal of Dispute Resolution.   Since October 7 he has taken a lead role in advocacy in combating antisemitism, including organizing multiple events and being a lead spokesperson for students against the Encampment.

Nicole “Nikki” Nashen is a McGill law student and Jewish student advocate. Nikki's upbringing instilled in her a passion for tikkun olam (repairing the world) and tzedek (justice). During her Bachelors of Arts in Community, Public Affairs and Policy Studies at Concordia University, she realized the pervasiveness of antisemitism within the Concordia campus community. Nikki therefore decided to serve on the Concordia Student Union, and as the President of Hillel Concordia, where she advocated for the interests of Jewish students within the CSU and to the Concordia Administration.  Over the past two years, Nikki has taken her advocacy a few blocks east down Sherbrooke to McGill, where she has been a prominent student leader on campus, especially since October 7. Most recently, Nikki testified in Parliament about the Antisemitism on campus, and the vital need for university administrations to implement concrete steps to protect their students from violent extremism and anti-Jewish discrimination. Nikki is eager to spend this upcoming school year as the Vice President of the Jewish Law Students Association, where she will continue to fight for the inclusion and safety of Jewish students on campus.

Joe Panunto was born in Italy in 1941 and came to Canada with his family in 1956.   He went on to earn a B.A. in French Literature from Loyola College, and an M.A. in French from McGill University.  He taught high school French for many years before becoming part of the Service des Communications at the Commission des Écoles Catholiques de Montréal.  He retired in 2000. Ever since he moved to CSL in 1979 he has been actively involved in the community in various social, educational, religious, cultural, political, and sports related activities. He sat as  a city councillor from 1994 to 1998 and served on the planning and financial committees. As a parishioner of St. Richard’s Catholic Church, he has served as Warden, sat on the Parish Council, was the president the Men’s Club, has overseen renovations in the church, and organized many fundraising events over the past 45 years.  He is currently a Eucharistic minister, usher, and reader in the parish, and acts as liaison between the City Council, provincial and federal associations and the Parish.  As an involved member of the community he served as a member of the Côte Saint-Luc Winemaking Contest ( at   which he won prizes in 2008 and 2009), and has often won the Maison Fleuries contest in District 7.   On the political scene, he has been very active in the D’Arcy McGee Quebec Liberal Party Riding as well as the federal riding of Mount Roya. A fervent believer in volunteerism and the altruism of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and “where there is a will there is a way,”  he continues to be involved and encourage others to become involved in the very vibrant community that is CSL.

Bravo Anthony and to the other recipients from Hampstead, Snowdon, Côte des Neiges and TMR.

After extensive deliberation, Manager of Operations for Public Safety Jean-Marc Dubois has almost completed a series of extensive amendments to the Côte Saint-Luc by-law concerning the regulation of dogs.

As the city councillor responsible for Animal Protection I want to thank Jean-Marc, who is a dog owner himself, for his dedication to this file. Before we adopt the updated by-law before the end of 2024 this is an opportunity for dog owners to provide feedback at a virtual information meeting. We will discuss issues such as  increases in fines abandoned canines, dangerous dogs, the number of dogs permitted by one owner, prohibited leashes, new dog run rules and more.

I would also like to extend my gratitude to Jonathan Goldman and Anna Katz for their leadership on our Dog Owners Committee. A shout out as well to Tamar Hertz, who as a non-dog owner has provided a much needed perspective to our discussions.

Just log on to www.cotesaintluc.org/dogschiens on Tuesday, September 3 at 7:30 pm and sign in.