The Mike Cohen Podcast: Recent Episodes
Mike Cohen
Mike Cohen is the communications and marketing specialist for the English Montreal School Board, an elected councillor in the City of Côte Saint-Luc and a writer and blogger for several publications and websites. The latter include The Suburban, The Montrealer, The Jewish Standard Magazine. Montreal Jewish Magazine, B'nai Brith Canada and Canadian World Traveller. He is also the editor of Inspirations Newspaper.
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Mike Cohen joined Andrew Carter and Elias Makos on CJAD Radio to talk about the big Grand Prix party at the Ritz- Carlton Montreal, how to find good parking and enjoy yourself for a few hours at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport , the new Patty Slaps burger location at Royalmount and some advice for terrasse season.
As a former certified oncology social worker at the Jewish General Hospital (JGH) my Côte Saint-Luc District 2 constituent, Brahms E. Silver met patients from all walks of life, each with their own unique stories and challenges. Today, he is a proud donor to the JGH. For almost 20 years, he helped an array of oncology and palliative care patients. The work brought a lot of meaning to his own life, as well! Now that he is retired, his goal is to make a difference by donating to the JGH’s areas of greatest need across the hospital. With pride and humility, he is also a member of the 1934 Society, a community of donors who have included the JGH in their estate plan (https://www.jghfoundation.org/ways-to-give/legacy-giving) . You can learn more on that website or by sending an e-mail to plannedgiving@jghfoundation.org and please listen to this podcast.
Joey Elias will be the headliner for a Knights of Pythias sponsored comedy event on April 16 at the CSL Aquatic and Community Centre. He will be backed up by Bram Lackman-Mincoff , Paul Baluyot, Alastair Tremblay Birch and Chris Venditto. The event is sold out. Students from John Grant High School will have a bake sale before, during and after the 7:30 pm. presentation. I spoke to Elias and organizer Brian Blumer.
Smash Mzl is one of the newest kosher restaurants in Montreal. Meet co-owner Stevie Ben Hamron, one of my city council constituents in District 2 Cote Saint-Luc. Stevie’s parthers are brothers Benjamin and Shloime. Smash MzL is located at 5000 Jean- Talon #145. E-mail events@smashmzl.com and follow them on Instagram. Opening hours are: Tuesday, 5 pm to 10 pm ; Wednesday 5 pm to 10 pm; Thursday, 5 pm to 10 pm ; Saturday , two hours after Shabbos to 1 am; and Sunday, 5 pm to 10 pm. You can call 514-736-0626. Log on to https://smashmzl.com
The Friends of JNF TuBishevat Telethon will take place on Sunday, February 1. The organization is still seeking student volunteers in Grades 10, 11 and first year CEGEP who can gain community service hours. I spoke with two such youngsters, Bialik High School in Côte Saint-Luc Secondary V students Noa Windish and David Tchinov.The campaign will raise money for two important projects.Rebuilding the Heart of Kibbutz HolitOn October 7, Kibbutz Holit was devastated, losing beloved members of its community, including Canadian-born mother Adi Vital-Kaploun, who was killed while protecting her children. The survivors were forced to disperse, and now they are determined to return home in 2026. At the heart of this renewal, Friends of JNF Canada is committed to building a central landscape with gardens, shaded playgrounds and outdoor fitness areas where children, parents and seniors can heal, reconnect, and rebuild community. Supporters can help restore the Heart of Holit and turn resilience into renewal.Restoring Amnun Forest in the GalileeOverlooking the Sea of Galilee, Amnun Forest is a young, biodiverse forest. Over 190 hectares were destroyed by rocket fire from Lebanon, damaging wildlife habitats, the landscape’s resilience, and shaded spaces for residents and visitors. The surrounding area is popular for hiking, fishing, boating, and birdwatching, especially with the nearby Hula Valley Nature Reserve, a world-renowned bird migration hotspot. Your support can restore this vital forest by replanting native species and providing long-term care. Supporters can help protect and revitalize the Amnun Forest.To volunteer go to https://www.friendsofjnfca.org/ or call 1-800-806-8237 (dial 3)
Jamie Fabian is the youngest person to be elected to Côte Saint-Luc City Council in more than 40 years. Yet, at the age of 25 he is already an accomplished politician. He was only 20 in 2020 when he was electd as a commissioner for the English Montreal School Board, serving Côte Saint-Luc and Hampstead. In November he won the race to succeed veteran Dida Berku in DIstrict 3. He is presently on the path to become a lawyer. Listen to my discussion with him.
David Tordjman is the newly elected mayor of Côte Saint-Luc. He was declared the winner in the last election following a dramatic recount. What are his goals for this mandate? Listen please to our enlightening conversation.
Max Blauer is a nine year old constituent of mine in Côte Saint-Luc District 2. He’s been playing goalie for two and a half years in CSL. Last year he played for the CSL Canucks in Novice 1 . The highlight of his short career was being selected for team Quebec Brick this summer. He’s been battling for over a year to make this team. There were more than 16 goalies who tried out and he was selected as the number one goalie for all of Quebec.For this year's winter season he will be playing Atom AA for the Northstars. Max is in Grade 4 at JPPS and also plays basketball and flag football. I spoke to Max and his dad, Dr. Evan Blauer, an emergency room physician at the Jewish General Hospital.
Allied Voices for Israel (AVI) unites students of all backgrounds against anti-Jewish hatred. AVI offers a multi-faceted approach to Israel advocacy and education by empowering a new and diverse cohort of Israel advocates at high school and university campuses across Canada. Noa Peretz Benchaya is a constituent of mine in Côte Saint-Luc District 2. She serves as the director for Quebec and Atlantic Canada. I sat down with her and Founder/Executive Director Daniel Koren over a bite at Pizza Pita. Through allyship programs to Israel, educational workshops, media fellowships, and other advocacy programs, AVI is inspiring a new generation of students to change the narrative around Israel. By embracing our peers, we will establish a movement of students working together to achieve strength in numbers and create a more just society. AVI offers a variety of flagship programs as well as resources, access to high-profile speakers, and a suite of educational workshops that give students the tools to build meaningful coalitions, an understanding of regional conflicts in the Middle East, how to refute misinformation from anti-Israel students and professors, and serve as vocal and proactive Ambassadors for peace, coexistence, and human rights. We also offer interactive campaigns for our students to meaningfully engage in dialogue with their peers on campus.AVI strongly believes that coalition-building is essential to combating anti-Jewish hatred and all forms of bigotry on campus. We believe in real allyship – meaning that no student should ever need to renounce an integral part of their identity (such as Jewish students being forced to denounce their support for Israel) to be considered an “ally.”Log on to https://www.alliedvoicesforisrael.org
At 100 years young, Danny Dankoff lives independently, drives a car and plays golf regularly at Pinegrove on Montreal's South Shore. I went to visit him and his 98 year old brother Sam at the beautiful condo they share in Côte Saint-Luc.
Fin Gourmet sur l’Avenue is marking its first anniversary this week. They are located at 6730 The Avenue, in my District 2. facing the Scotiabank at Quartier Cavendish.The husband-and-wife team of Edmond and Veronique Abecassis are the owners. This culinary masterpiece has a wide variety of prepared foods, packaged grab and go meals, cold cuts, frozen packaged food, baked goods, spices and nuts, fresh challahs, lamb, chicken, minced meat and more. They have weekly Shabbat meal packages and of course special orders available for Rosh Hashana, Passover and other Jewish holidays For more information call 514-369-2522 or e-mail info@fin-gourmet.ca. I recently dropped by with two of my Bialik High School Local Commerce student interns Avery Hannon and Noah Galambos. They enjoyed one of the house specialties, the chicken schnitzel sandwich; I went for the hamburger steak with rice and Asian noodles on the size. Everything was delicioius. They do have limited table seating available.
Eli Lallouz is a resident of Cote Saint-Luc and operates a growing Eyewear group of stores under the Vision 770 banner. They are present in locations across the city, as well as St. Remi and inside pharmacies, hospitals and Walmart spots. I went to visit Eli and his executive assistant Ingrid Azeroual, an constituent of mine, at their location at the MUHC Glen Campus. Please listen to our conversation.
The Musicians of the World Symphony Orchestra (MWSO) was founded in 2006 by conductor Joseph Milo and his wife Lucy Ravinsky. This one of a kind orchestra is composed of 55 musicians: about 80 percent of its members are from 15 countries around the world, while the remaining 20 percent are natives of Montreal, who successfully facilitated the integration of the newcomers. On Sunday, August 10, 2025 (3 pm) Maestro Milo and his orchestra will perform at a much anticipated free concert in the Ashkelon Gardens behind City Hall. It is part of our Library and Culture Department’s Summer in the City Program. Bring your lawn chairs. In the event of rain, it will be moved inside and and a limited number of passes will be available (two passes per person) maximum. “Jazz and Symphony” will be theme, with Olga Murysina as a violin soloist, Olivia Hacinsky-Charette as the soprano performer and Mike Melino the tenor. Listen in as he talks about how this unique group was formed.
DeLaMie is a social enterprise creating vocational opportunities and empowering young people with special needs to bake, craft chocolate, package, and sell just about the best goods ever under the auspices of the Friendship Circle. Fin Gourmet sur l'Avenue, located at 6730 L'Avenue across from Quartier Cavendish, has been serving up gourmet kosher food since September 2024. Now they will begin carrying the products of DeLaMie. Veronique Abecassis, who owns the business along with her husband Edmond, joined me when I visited the Friendship Circle with Assistant Director Refael Paris and President David Tordjman. The Friendship Circle of Montreal was founded in 2001 as a vehicle to help children with special needs meet other children, overcome loneliness, develop skills and improve their confidence. The Friendship Circle pairs up teenage volunteers from dozens of high schools and universities across Greater Montreal, providing assistance and support, and most of all friendship, through a variety of social programs and activities. The teen volunteers learn the priceless value of giving, the curative power of friendship, and the vital importance of integrating children with special needs into our communities.
Some of the former players in the Côte Saint-Luc Slo Pitch Association, joined by a few alumni from the CSL Executive Softball League, gathered at the beautifully refurbished Kirwan Park on June 22 for a small reunion. They shared memories and even took the field. I did play in the league for a about a decade. It was a blast to chat with Roy Salomon, Mish Granik. Mark Rothpan, Ted Dash and Buddy Manis.
Jesse Satov just completed Grade 10 at Bialik High School in Côte Saint-Luc. His dad Avi is the Principal, as well as Co-Head of School at both JPPS and Bialik. Jesse is a goaltender and he was recently drafted by the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. I spoke to father and son
Côte Saint-Luc resident Tyler Steinberg started skating at 18 months old. By 2023, he was representing Team Quebec/Montreal Canadiens as Assistant Captain that eventually made it to The Brick Invitational Tour in Edmonton. The team won the series with Tyler having scored an overtime goal of game six of the round robin series. He was named first star twice with eight goals in eight games. Next year Tyler will play M13 PeeWee AAA Major for the Lac Saint Louis Lions with the hopes of winning the Quebec International PeeWee Tournament. Long term, Tyler has his eyes on playing NCAA D1 hockey for Boston College and then the NHL. At Solomon Schechter Academy, where he graduates this year, he also plays for the Bears hockey team and is a top student. In fact he will receive the Rosa Finestone Award of Merit, named after the former school principal and a constituent of mine in District 2. Note that I identified Paul Steinberg as his uncle; he is Tyler's grandfather. Paul looks so young still that I made that error.
Bailey Cohen-Krichevsky is a constituent of mine in District 2 and as of the day of this posting one of the stars of the CSL Dramatic Society's presentation of the Wizard of Oz. She tells me about this experience and why she loves the arts.
Mathieu Fournier-Landry arrived at Police Station 9, covering Côte Saint-Luc, Hampstead, Montreal West and NDG, last fall as Commander. He has been a pleasure to work with. Get to know him here on my podcast.
At the first Côte Saint-Luc Real Estate Exchange on May 4 I took the opportunity to honor my constituent Michael White (www.whiteinc.ca) . He started Michael White Realties Inc in 1978, a real estate brokerage company that specializes in industrial and commercial real estate. Helping business owners rent to, rent for, sell to or sell for properties in the Greater Montreal Area. He has run his own boutique business for nearly 60 years. Michael is finally giving up his Brokerage Licence and his AEO designation (Agency Executive Officer) and turning it over to his son Steven White , after working with him for 25 years. The business is still running strong with its office in Saint-Laurent and 10 active real estate Brokers and four staff. Listen to my talk with Michael and Steven.
Jon Gurman, his twin brother Marvin (best known as Marvelous) and sister Ricky grew up in Côte Saint-Luc. As teenagers the brothers stepped into their late dad Jack's clothing business and built JCorp into a company that brings in more than $100 million in revenue annually. Jon and I got back many years. Over the last few weeks we have engaged in some very spirited conversations about the federal election in Canada, whether Wayne Gretzky is a traitor to our country, Donald Trump and more. So it only made sense for us to do a podcast. Thanks to Jon's talented daughter Raquel for producing this video
There is a new kosher Chinese restaurant in Côte Saint-Luc, located at Decarie Square. It is called Red Chopstix. I spoke to the owners, William Dahan and Heidi Chenoy, as well as longtime Mall tenant Warren Perley of Ponctuation Grafix who was very pleased with his first dining experience there. The restaurant website is: https://chopstixmtl.com/en
The Côte Saint-Luc Local Commerce Committee is proud to spotlight on the Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary Coffee and Gift Shops as the Business of the Month for December 2024.Councillor Mike Cohen, responsible for Local Commerce, was joined by Mayor Mitchell Brownstein to make the presentation, tour the premises and talk to Auxiliary officials, staff and volunteers. Afterwards Mike sat down to do a podcast with Volunteer Coordinator Isadora De Lima Branco, Auxiliary President Debbie Giser, Auxiliary staffe Barbara Schneider and volunteers Jack Trottenberg (coffee shop) and Ilana Novak (art therapy). If you would like to volunteer contact Isadora at isadora.de.lima.branco.ccomtl@ssss.gouv.qc.ca or Tel : (514) 488-5552 poste 51206.
Back in the height of the pandemic, Jessica Yaffe ended up developing a bit of an unhealthy online shopping habit. After all, what else was there to do? Each package was delivered, and she had nowhere to wear the items she had purchased. With a lot of time on her hands she started to research the origins of “fast fashion” and the things she learned were astounding, surprising, and disturbing. Jessica promised herself that she wasn’t going to buy anything new for a year and wear what she had in her own closet, and try to buy secondhand pieces if necessary. What she discovered in the secondhand market was incredible. The quality and craftsmanship of things that already existed were second to none and she enjoyed having original and interesting pieces. Jessica’s best friend Jen Lassner witnessed her transformation and slowly got on board. The two Hampstead residents started collecting interesting pieces and hosted their first pop-up sale for friends and family in 2022. The response was encouraging and they felt amazing about providing friends and family with cool, one of a kind pieces, and doing something socially and environmentally good for the planet. Low and behold two years later, they have our own retail space at 5590 Sherbrooke Street West in NDG (next to 5 Saisons Sushi) and source every piece in the store ourselves. The only two rules that they have are that they both have to love every item and that they are size and price inclusive “ Most vintage stores that sell the kinds of things that we do don’t carry sizes for people who are bigger, or much smaller,” says Jessica. “ It feels good when somebody comes in and falls in love with an interesting piece of clothing, and feels good wearing it.”Log on to https://relovevintage.ca/ for more details and listen to my podcast with Jessica and Jen.
There is a new sensation on the West Island restaurant scene. Bernies Pizza Martini Bar opened recently on Sources Blvd. in Dollard des Ormeaux, the brainchild of Jordan Biberkraut, Jonathan Dresner and Steve Murray. Open Wednesday to Sunday, from 5 pm to 11 pm, reservations are strongly recommended. Call 514.225.9655 or log on to https://www.berniespizzabar.com/. Listen to my chat with Jordan and his dad, the namesake of the restaurant, Bernie.
Mona Segal has been baking delicious cookies and delicous sweets for the past 25 years. During the pandemic she left her marketing job and made this her full-time endeavor, providing beautifully boxed cookies for all occasions. She gave me a selection to sample when I came to interview her, a nod to the birthday I was celebrating that day. Go to https://www.bakdbymona.com/ and listen to our talk. She is now based at 6132 Côte St. Luc Road in NDG. Customers need to make their orders online or by phone and either pick them up or ask for them to be delivered.
Dizz's Bagel & Deli has been an institution on Côte St. Luc Road for almost 30 years. Now owner Steve Dizgun has completed an extensive renovation, highlighted by a restaurant-style sandwich shop with experienced chef Anthony Lyons and Leah Quema at the helm. I went for a tasting. It was oustanding!! Of course Dizz continues to serve up its dozen plus styles of bagels, fresh cold cuts, meals to go, desserts, spreads and more. Listen to my podcast with Steve.
On Thursday, September 19 (7 pm) at the Côte Saint-Luc Aquatic and Community Centre on Parkhaven Avenue,the Knights of Pythias, a longstanding charitable organization, will present an evening of comedy headlined by Mike Paterson. Joining him on stage will be Lawrence Corber. I spoke to Paterson, along with John Derrick and Brian Blumer from the Knights of Pythias. Tickets are $15. Coffee and refreshments will be served after the show. E-mail kop.quebec@gmail.com and you will be contacted on how to make your purchase. In the meantime please listen in.
It will be party time at TCBY On August 28 and 29 (Wednesday and Thursday) at 6142 Côte Saint Luc Road for a two day celebration for their 35th anniversary. Owner Lenny Rosenberg says they will have a balloon artist for the kids and older kids both afternoons and certain items on special. In addition they will have a raffle for door prizes. TCBY of course is in the yogurt business and besides serving their regular clientele, they also deliver to schools across the city and make tasty birthday cakes. How did this all get started for Lenny? Listen in.
Côte Saint-Luc resident Amelio Santini, 16, is an elite hockey player who is expected to begin play in the Quebec Maritimes Major Junior Hockey League in September for the Halifax Mooseheads. The young centerman played for the Lac St. Louis Midget AAA Lions. He also attended Royal Vale High School. I spoke to him after he joined my foursome in the 2024 Côte Saint-Luc Golf Invitational.
The Côte Saint-Luc Men’s Club Invitational, in conjunction with the Mayor and City Council, will take place on Tuesday, August 6 at Meadowbrook. In the event of rain, it will be held on August 13. Longtime local sportsman and volunteer Eli “Buddy” Manis will be the special honoree. I had a chance to sit down with Buddy to talk about his 60 years of involvement in the community. To register, contact Brian Blumer at bblumer@cotesaintluc.org
It has been two years now since The Museum of Jewish Montreal (MJM) moved into its new headquarters on St. Laurent Blvd. near Fairmount in the Mile End. Recently, I made my first visit to view the new summer exhibition The Past Is Before You by Côte Saint-Luc born artist Arnie Lipsey. A collection of 18 paintings produced over the last six years, Lipsey’s work leans into the surreal to reveal the complexities of family mythologies. I spoke to him about this project and his memories of CSL.
Holocaust survivor Miklos Neumann turned 100 on July 9 and a few days later I was on hand for a birthday celebration at the Côte Saint-Luc home he has resided in for 50 years. He tells me his story.
Pigeon Café, a renowned name in the city's coffee scene, and Zera Café, a not-for-profit social enterprise catering business celebrated for its inclusive employment practices, have announced their collaboration in opening a new café: Pigeon dans le Parc. This unique community café opened its doors on July 3 2024, at, Hampstead Park. I was at the ribbon cutting and spoke to Pigeon Café owner Jonathan Dresner, CSL resident and Zera Café Director of Operations Alissa Anzarut and CSL resident Matthew, a Zera employee. Pigeon dans le Parc is more than just a place to enjoy exceptional coffee and delicious pastries; it’s a beacon of social impact. The café's core mission is to provide meaningful employment opportunities for neurodivergent adults, fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce. "We're excited to bring Pigeon dans le Parc to life, where our passion for great coffee meets our commitment to community inclusion.” said Dresner. "By partnering with Zera Café, we can create a space that not only serves delicious food and beverages but also supports neurodivergent individuals at work." The creation of Pigeon dans le Parc has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the Azrieli Foundation's INfinity Prize, the Town of Hampstead, and Pigeon Café. Their dedication to fostering community initiatives and supporting diverse employment opportunities has been instrumental in bringing this project to life. "Receiving the Azrieli Foundation's Infinity Prize has been a tremendous honor, and it empowers us to make a meaningful impact in our community," said Eve Rochman, Founding Director of Zera Café. "Together with the Town of Hampstead's support, and Pigeon Café’s coaching and expertise, we are creating a space where everyone can thrive." Hampstead City Councilor, Jack Edery advocated for this project and is overwhelmed by the buzz that this project has already created. “We are so impressed with the strength of these great brands – Zera Café, Pigeon Café and Azrieli Foundation working together is a powerful trio! This project will serve our community in so many ways.” Pigeon Café, affectionately known as “the world’s worst coffee” is renowned for its direct trade coffee beans and skillfully crafted beverages. Combined with Zera Café’s dedication to providing supportive employment for neurodivergent adults, Pigeon dans le Parc promises to deliver an exceptional café experience with a profound social impact. "At Zera Café, we envision a world where people with differing abilities are included in the workforce and are contributing meaningfully to community”, said Eve Rochman, founder of Zera Café. "This collaboration allows us to extend our mission further, offering more neurodivergent adults the opportunity to thrive in a supportive and understanding work environment." Location and HoursPigeon dans le Parc is in Hampstead Park’s community center. Starting July 3rd, the café will be open 7 days a week. The park setting offers a perfect backdrop for enjoying a peaceful moment, whether you’re grabbing a quick coffee or smoothie to go or fueling up for activities in the park. To learn more please visit zeracafe.ca and pigeoncoffee.com, or follow on social media: @pigeon.cafe and @zeracafeandcatering
Côte Saint-Luc businessman Michael Gilbert is helping out his good friend Michael Dean Rafferty on a mission. Kera Organics was created to not only to make soap, but specialize in transforming pure and natural ingredients, free from chemical fragrances and processed components like artificial dyes into handcrafted organic products. Kera comes from Keratoconus, an eye disease which, if not treated could easily lead to blindness. For many, surgery is not the answer, but spiral lenses are. Those stricken by this disease may need to go this route however it comes with a very costly price to pay. There are no available government subsidies that you can receive and not many places offer this type of lens with the necessary treatment services. That is why Mr. Rafferty, who has suffered from the disease since he was a child, created the Kera Cares Foundation ( https://keracares.org) to provide assistance. I caught up with the two Michaels at their Crescent Street booth during Grand Prix festivities.
Colin Standish is the leader of the Canadian Party of Quebec. A lawyer by profession, he resides in the Eastern Townships. I was there on business so we met for coffee at Starbucks in Bromont. What are the party's plans heading towards the next election? Listen and find out.
Pierre Brunet has been associated with the McDonald's restaurant brand for more than 50 years. He presently owns 21 franchises in the Montreal area, one of which is at the Côte St. Luc Shopping Centre. Pierre has a special bond with Côte Saint-Luc and we talked about that and more.
Patrick Chevrefils spent 12 years as an officer with the Montreal Police Station 9 based in Côte Saint-Luc. He was only recently transferred to LaSalle. Patrick serves as the emergency backup goaltender at the Bell Centre. If a goalie from either team gets injured during a game he is called upon to suit up on the bench. So far this has happened twice. Listen to my interview with him.
Glenn J. Nashen served six terms in office as one of the eight Municipal Councillors in the City of Côte Saint-Luc for 24 years, from 1990-2001 and 2005-2017. He was appointed by successive mayors to oversee the Public Safety dossiers, Public Affairs, Communications and Information Technology as well as the all-important Emergency Preparedness portfolio, Traffic and more. He remains active in the community today, notably as the chair and founder of the CSL Volunteer Citizens on Patrol (VCOP) who are seeking new members. An information session is planned for City Hall on Wed. April 17 at 7 pm.
Ben Kepes has been the music director and conductor of Ensemble Hochelaga (formerly La Musique Civique de Montreal) since 2017. In January 2020, Ben founded Orchestre Fidelio and they will perform on March 9 at 7:30 at the Chapelle Notre Dame de Bon Secours (400 Rue Saint Paul East) in Old Montreal. You can purchase tickets by going to this website: https://www.orchestrefidelio.com/ It was nice talking to him about his love for music and his career path
Heather Smith is a constituent of mine in Côte Saint-Luc District 2 and a coach in the Côte Saint-Luc Figure Skating Club. I spoke to her at the Lac St. Louis Regional Championships that were held at the Samuel Moskovitch Arena.
In the City of Côte Saint-Luc, we adopted our 2024 budget among the most difficult financial backdrop we've had to deal with since I was first elected over 18 years ago. Facing a $5 million deficit due to a variety of circumstances - a dramatic drop in property sales, a significant increase in our contribution to the undemocratic Montreal Agglomeration Council - we made $1 million in cuts yet ensured our quality of services remain the same. I spoke to City Councillor Steven Erdelyi, who oversees our finance portfolio, immediately after the budget was adopted.
The McGill IBD Research Group, in partnership with the Montreal General Hospital Foundation, held its annual fundraising event on Thursday, November 30 at the Oscar Peterson Concert Hall in NDG featuring a night of comedy with Sugar Sammy. This event raised $375,000 for patient-care at the IBD clinics in the McGill teaching hospitals – the MUHC IBD Centre at the Montreal General Hospital, and the IBD clinics at the Montreal Children’s and Jewish General Hospitals. In addition to offering continuous support for IBD nurses, auxiliary & support staff, and psychologists, the group is hoping to raise enough support to hire a new part-time nurse for the IBD clinic at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. This nurse will significantly improve the quality of care provided to the IBD pediatric population. The objective is to raise $380,000. Côte Saint-Luc's Lorne Mayers has been a driving force behind this event for decades, stepping down as chairman this year as Ryan Abrams and Matt Stotland stepped in. I spoke to Lorne during the VIP reception.
BESO Montreal ( http://www.besomontreal.ca), managed by Côte Saint-Luc resident Alan Serour and his partners, brother Avi and Connor Stacey. It was formally launched in 2013. Years earlier Alan had gotten started in the business by working for the legendary Harvey Leavitt of ETMO Catering. BESO is indeed a very well-oiled machine, with all of its kosher kitchen operations entrenched at 8146 Chemin Montview in the Town of Mount Royal Industrial sector. You just need to take Ferrier from Decarie and turn right at Montview. There is a large parking lot. You can pick up the order or someone will bring it to your vehicle. This is a large sprawling facility, with a boutique at the front where you can buy some food to take home. This is the place to go for simchas, special events, major holidays or merely to pickup for Shabbat dinner. Listen here to my interview with him.
Howie Shapiro has been a resident of CSL District 2 for more than 50 years. He is a lifetime educator who now passionately volunteers for a program that educates youngsters in Uganda. It is called the Namuwongo Literacy Project (https://www.namuwongoliteracyproject.com). Please listen to our discussion.
Jamie Shear grew up in Côte Saint-Luc. He moved to Israel 18 years ago and works as a scribe. Jamie's sister is Mindy Shear, one of my constituents and the wife of Rabbi Reuben J. Poupko. Jamie and his wife Naama have four boys, two of whom have been called up to the reserves to fight in this war. I spoke to Jamie.
Côte Saint-Luc’s Rachel Dara came home from Atlanta as a big winner at the recent International Singer-Songwriter Association (ISSA) Music Awards. The 16-year-old dynamo, who is in Grade 11 at Herzliah High School, won International Female Rising Star and International Female Music Video of the Year (“Eighteen”). The ISSA Music Awards ceremony is a grand affair, where artists, industry professionals, and music enthusiasts converge to celebrate the best in independent music. The event showcases dazzling red carpet arrivals, where artists and guests make a glamorous entrance, adorned in their finest attire. Rachel has released five radio singles with BIG Records, which include Eighteen, Broken Friendships, Noe’s Birthday Party, Young and Alone and Sunset Boy. Listen to my interview with Rachel and her dad Jason and check out her Spotify accounthttps://open.spotify.com/artist/3hF6E1ngi70xWEeDjFUYFJ
The 42nd annual Côte Saint-Luc Golf Classic will take place on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, honoring the dynamic couple of Joanne Cutler and Merv Middling. Philippe Mamane from Assante Wealth Management Ltd. – Mamane Group and a resident of the community, will serve as the title sponsor.
Côte Saint-Luc City Council and the Côte Saint-Luc Men’s Club are collaborating on the event once again with Mannie Young joining Councillors Mike Cohen, Dida Berku and Lior Azerad as co-chairs. Cutler and Middling have devoted their time to assisting so many community projects over the years. During the pandemic they played music outside senior residences to bring a smile to people who could only go out on their balconies.
Proceeds from the event will go towards the Parks and Recreation Bursary Fund. The donations raised help disadvantaged families and those with children who have special needs in Côte Saint-Luc who cannot afford to register their children in seasonal programs and activities operated by the Parks and Recreation Department. In addition to Assante Wealth Management, a number of other sponsors have signed on. Those wishing to support this Fund can contact Ryan at Côte Saint-Luc Parks and Recreation at rnemeroff@cotesaintluc.org.
Registration is now underway at the Aquatic and Community Center (ACC) Front Desk, 5794 Parkhaven Avenue, Monday through Sunday from 8 am to 9 pm. When registering a foursome, the names of all players must be included with their address, postal code and telephone number. The registration fee of $40 covers the cost of nine holes of golf, a catered box luncheon at Ashkelon Gardens at 1 pm, award-winning trophies for contest holes such as Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin and the opportunity to win a door prize. The guest fee for non-players who wish to attend the luncheon is $25/person.
Philippe Mamane is a wealth management advisor, at Assante Wealth Management, where he specializes in helping professionals achieve their true worth and build generational wealth. With over a decade of experience, Philippe has established himself as a trusted partner, providing tailored financial solutions to affluent individuals. Focused on serving ambitious professionals, Philippe created the Mamane Group to commit to helping individuals and their families unlock their financial potential and guide them towards lasting prosperity. His comprehensive approach combines strategic investment strategies, tax optimization, financial, retirement and estate planning to ensure his clients' and their families’ financial well-being at every stage of life. With his guidance, professionals can confidently navigate the complexities of wealth management, realizing their aspirations and creating a lasting legacy for future generations.
As a strong believer of the positive impact we should have on the world around us, Philippe has always been inspired to give back and get involved in various causes. He is proud to have been on the board and gala committees of organization such as Canadian Magen David Adom (CMDA), Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) and the Jewish Chamber Commerce. When Philippe is not assisting his clients or engaging in philanthropic endeavors, he cherishes time with his wife and two kids, and avidly enjoys playing and watching hockey (Go Habs Go!).
Tee times will run from 7 am to 10:30am. If you require a pull cart or electric cart, there are limited numbers and the rental must be paid directly to the Golf Club.
Andee Shuster was first elected as the city councillor for District 8 in November 2021. She is theCouncil link to the Parks & Recreation Department; Chair of the Community Activities and Initiatives Committee; Chair of the CSL Dramatic Society and active on many other activities.
In my series of podcasts with members of Côte Saint-Luc City Council, I speak to District 7 representative Sidney Benizri. We talk about his district, portfolios and his day job at Canadian Magen David Adom for Israel.Dans le cadre de ma série de balados avec des membres du conseil municipal de Côte Saint-Luc, je m'entretiens avec Sidney Benizri, représentant du district 7. Nous parlons de son district, de ses portefeuilles et de son travail quotidien au Magen David Adom canadien pour Israël.
Lior Azerad was elected to Côte Saint-Luc City Council for the first time in November 2021. He has been an excellent addition and a quick study on how municipal politics works. In this podcast he talks about why he wanted to elected, the resolution for home synagogues, the master plan of the city and his portfolio of attracting new forms of sponsorship and donors to different programs. Lior Azerad, Conseiller, District 6 Responsabilités : Président du Conseil des jeunes adultes; Président du Comité de parrainage.Autres dossiers importants : Next Generation Côte Saint-Luc
Mitch Kujavsky is in his second term as city councillor District 5 in Côte Saint-Luc. He also chairs three committees: Planning Advisory, Traffic and Parks and Public Spaces. In this podcast he talks about the refurbished Kirwan Park, new buildings proposed for Mackle Road and more.
Steven Erdelyi has been the city councillor in Côte Saint-Luc since 2005. He is responsible for finance, the environment, climate change and resliency planning, VCOPs and Hydro-Québec’s Aqueduc-Saraguay Project . A school teacher by profession, by day he serves as Head of School at Solomon Schechter Academy. As you will hear on this podcast, he is a fountain of information.
Dida Berku has been a Côte Saint-Luc city councillor for more than three decades. She represents District 3, now serves as Deputy Mayor and carries a number of portfolios. In this podcast interview, we talk about lead pipes, Bill 96, the tax rate, our master plan, train noise, Meadowbrook and whether we will ever see the Cavendish extension.
Welcome to my series of podcasts with members of the Côte Saint-Luc City Council I have sat on since 2005. Here is Oren Sebag, a Registered Nurse by profession, who represents District 2 and holds the portfolio of Public Safety. Why did he decide to become a nurse? What is he doing now? What are his biggest challenges as a councillor? Please listen in.
David Birnbaum served as the Liberal Member of the National Assembly for eight years, stepping down before the fall 2022 elections. Birnbaum talks to me about the unpopular Liberal proposal he was part of to require all students at English CEGEPs to take three courses taught in French, his years in office, the Marie-Claude Nicolas controversy and what he is doing post-politics.
Elisabeth Prass is the newly elected Liberal MNA for the D'Arcy McGee riding. She has been named theOfficial Opposition Critic for Social Services, Mental Health, Persons Living with a Disability or with Autism Spectrum Disorder and for the Fight Against Racism. She is inviting supporters to a fundraising cocktail on Wednesday, November 23rd at 5p.m. at Ruby Foo’s Hotel (7655 Decarie Blvd), Room Hong Kong/Shanghai for the annual D’Arcy-McGee Liberal Association fundraising cocktail. Since this was an election year, your maximum contribution for 2022 is $200, which is the cost of the ticket for this event. You can make your donation online at, https://www.pes.electionsquebec.qc.ca/services/ses0022.fiche.contribution/introduction.php?strLangu e=en or you can pay by check at the fundraising cocktail. Former Liberal MNA and MP Clifford Lincoln, a staunch anglo rights activist, will be the guest speaker.
Hilal Pilavci grew up in the D'Arcy McGee riding. I met her via Québec Solidaire MNA for Rosemont Vincent Marissal, for whom she served as political attaché. Please listen. She is a breath of fresh air.
Businessman and human rights activist Joel DeBellefeuille is the Bloc Montréal candidate in the D'Arcy McGee riding in the October 3, 2022 Provincial Election. It was nice to meet Joel and hear his views.
Canadian Party of Quebec candidate for the D'Arcy McGee riding Marc Perez joins me to talk about why he chose to run in the provincial election.
Elisabeth Prass will carry the Liberal banner in the D'Arcy McGee riding in the upcoming Quebec election. She ran the D'Arcy McGee office for over seven years and has a wealth of prior experience in government circles. Married and the mom of two boys, she grew up in Côte Saint-Luc and is a proud member of the Jewish community,
Bonnie Feigenbaum served on Hampstead Town Council for eight years. A former card carrying Liberal, she is running in the upcoming provincial election for the Quebec Conservative Party. We asked her why?
Montreal will be alive with excitement July 7 and 8 when the Upper Deck NHL entry draft takes place at the Bell Centre. The Canadiens have the very first draft choice so when Beaconsfield’s Kent Hughes, the new Habs GM, steps to the microphone at about 7 pm who will he select? The last time Montreal hosted this event was in 2009 and with the 18th choice, the Habs chose Kirkland’s Louis Leblanc and the place erupted with excitement. Leblanc enrolled in Harvard, played one season there and then came home to suit up for the Montreal Juniors. From there he turned pro with the Habs minor league squad in Hamilton, graduated to the big team yet never really made a mark in the big show. Long retired, Leblanc lives in Boston and works at Oliver Wyman, a leading international management consulting firm. I reached Leblanc in Boston.
Dr. Marvin Steinberg has had a successful orthodontistry practice at Quartier Cavendish in Côte Saint-Luc for more than 40 years. He received his dental training at McGill University and his Orthodontic training at Boston University School of Graduate Dentistry in Boston. He holds a Certificate in Orthodontics as well as a Masters of Science in Dentistry degree. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, and as well, a Fellow of the International College of Dentists. Dr. Steinberg talks to me about his career, his patients and his plans for the future.
The mission of The Foundation for Genocide Education( https://gened.org) is to collaborate with governments to ensure that the history of genocide and the steps leading to it are taught in high schools across Canada and the United States. Marcy Bruck of Côte Saint-Luc is the Director of Communications and she talks to me about the organization.
Richard Serour is the CEO of the Canadian Immigration Council (http://www.immigrationcouncil.com), a past and future candidate for the Federal Conservative Party in St. Laurent; and perhaps best known as Ricky Cyr, the ever so charismatic evening talk show host on CJAD. He has a lot of interesting stories to share.
Congregation Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem in Côte Saint-Luc will hold a blood donor clinic on Tuesday, March 1 (1:30 pm to 7:30 pm) at 6519 Baily Road. It is by appointment only by calling 1-800-343-7264. The theme is Heroes of the Pandemic, Reinforcing the Front Line. Yair Meyers and Ari Schwartz are the co-chairs. Cardiologist Dr. Mark Eisenberg, general internist Dr. Louise Pilote and respiratory therapist Alyssa Grunstein are the honourary co-chairs.
Yair, Alyssa and Dr. Eisenberg join me to talk about the challenges we have faced the last two years, the Quebec government's decision to lift restrictions and the need for blood donors.
Talya Pardo of Côte Saint-Luc is one of 29 women to have contributed chapters to Jaguar Medicine: Fierce Feminine Frequency Keepers Birthing the New Earth. It is filled with the experiences, magic, and deep insights. Jaguar Medicine tells the activating stories of these fierce women frequency keepers birthing the New Earth. Hear my talk with Talya, who only a few years ago was a single mom of two young children going through a very difficult period of life. How did she turn it around? Go to her website at https://www.phoenixrisingmentoring.com/blog/jaguar-medicine-my-global-book-release for more details.
These women are the magic itself, they carry the new codes, they forge the way forward for all. They trust, they embody, they expand, they do the work. They are elemental, forces of nature, deeply connected and embodied while navigating this exciting time in our planet's evolution with heart.
Take a journey with us.
Let these powerful women show you courage, trust and the power of t
Seven year old Naomi Miller is a Grade 2 student at Hebrew Academy in Côte Saint-Luc and a proud member of Congregation Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem (TBDJ). Her family are also constituents of mine. Naomi is a very charismatic young lady. Her first e-book is entitled "How to be an AMAZING parent!" She wants 50 percent of royalties to be donated to charity. The other 50 percent will probably go for her candy fund. You can find out more by pasting this link into your browser: https://amzn.to/3qIyCck
I have served on Côte Saint-Luc City Council for 16 years now, since 2005. As we begin a new mandate I speak to Mayor MItchell Brownstein and the newly named Deputy Mayor Dida Berku on the challenges ahead.
After 39 years as the Montreal City Councillor for Snowdon, Marvin Rotrand is retiring. He is endorsing Sonny Moroz, running for Ensemble Montreal. Sonny has run the riding office of Anthony Housefather for the past many years and knows the neighbourhood well. It was fun to speak to both of them.
Paola Samuel is a journalist, entrepreneur and budding author. She has owned her own online business since 2011. Many people know her as a former reporter and anchor for Global TV from 2004 to 2017 and a producer/reporter at CBC from 1994 to 2000.Prior to that I was in California working and interning for various news outlets including CNN. Now she is trying her hand in politics as a candidate in the City of Westmount elections for the council seat in District 2.
Born and raised on the South Shore, Christin Jerome (known affectionately to listeners as "CJ") has been a mainstay on Montreal radio for many years. She now hosts weekend mornings on The Beat 92.5 FM. CJ has decided to try her luck at politics and she is presently a candidate for council in the City of Candiac.
Fortunate to work in my hometown for 25 years at CJAD, Mix 96, CJAD, 940News, Global News and for 20 years with current employer Cogeco.
While an announcer and then Program Director at K103 Kahnawake, my career became all about serving the community.
After 7 years on The Beat’s number one workday afternoon show, I was re-assigned. The lighter schedule allows me to continue serving the community on a more larger level.
Candiac will go to the polls for first time since 2013. I’ve lived here for for 20 years. My house is actually located in the site of a wooded area that we used to play in as kids. The stakes are high this election, with 2 parties and 2 independent candidates. The parties have very different outlooks and agendas. I want to make sure the citizens have their own agenda and I hope I’m the one to carry it to the council chamber.
Having been acclaimed on October 1 as the DIstrict 2 City Councillor in Côte Saint-Luc, I am now taking a look at some of the other municipal elections in our midst and chatting to some candidates I know. Malik Shaheed and I have worked together at the school board. He would make a fabulous councillor in Dollard des Ormeaux District 9. Go to www.votemalikshaheed.com and listen to this interview with him
As part of my special podcast series, introducing notable and interesting constituents of mine as I campaign for re-election in Côte Saint-Luc District 2, meet veteran family physician Dr. Jerrold Rappaport. His practice is at the Decelles Medical Centre at Decarie Square. You will find his views on COVID-19 and the seasonal flu particularly interesting.
As part of my special series of podcasts with notable constituents, as I conduct door to door visits for my Côte Saint-Luc District 2 re-election campaign for City Council I am pleased to introduce Dr. Danna Dahan. She and her family just moved into my district,
Dr. Dahan operates Vet Chez Vous with her sister-in-law Dr. Rebecca Fernando, a former member of our CSL Cats Committee.
Vet Chez Vous (https://vetchezvous.com) offers mobile veterinary services throughout the Greater Montreal area by bringing quality healthcare for your cats and dogs directly to your home.
After having obtained her Bachelors of Science with honours in Animal Biology from McGill University, Dr. Dahan obtained her degree in Veterinary Medicine from Université de Montréal. Throughout her studies and work experience, she developed a particular interest in neurology, ophthalmology and preventive medicine.
Dr. Dahan gained valuable experience working at multiple veterinary clinics throughout Montreal, after which she launched Vet Chez Vous Inc. in order to bring the highest quality veterinary medicine directly to your home.
Dr. Dahan places tremendous importance on providing a personalized and professional home care service to her patients and their owners.
She can be reached at 514-828-8387 or info@vetchezvous.com.
As part of my podcast series on notable Côte Saint-Luc District 2 residents I come into contact with as their city councillor and during this election campaign, I speak to educational consultant and college admisisons specialist Marla Pinsler. She is indeed this city’s “go to” person to navigate the school application process. There are open houses for elementary and high schools, CEGEPs and universities, the feverish devouring of information flyers, surfing the internet and endless phone calls. Public or private? Canada or the USA? Entrance exams and scholarship opportunities. There is so much to consider. Finding an expert in this field who will be objective and helpful at the same time is no easy task. Marla is well aware of this. She has spent the past 25 years in individual, family, career and university counselling and worked at several of the most renowned preparatory schools in Canada. Her time at Havergal College and St. Clement’s School in Toronto & Miss Edgar’s & Miss Cramp’s School (ECS) here helped her gain the invaluable experience and knowledge required to help others navigate the college application process with ease, responsibility and control. Go to www.marlapinsler.com but first listen to what she has to say on this podcast. Any parent will want to connect with her after that I am certain.
As part of my special podcast series on notable constituents of mine as the Côte Saint-Luc City Councillor for District 2, I speak with Liberal MP for Mount Royal and our mayor Anthony Housefather. How well has our government handled the pandemic? How has Anthony been running a COVID-19 campaign?
As I campaign for re-election in Côte Saint-Luc District 2, I continue you my series of profiles on interesting constituents I come into contact with as I proceed with my door to door visits. Marcie Balaban is the founder of Let’s Get Going (www.letsgetgoing.com), which specializes in corporate matchmaking. Noah Neudorf is one of her clients and a notary with the firm of Merling and Merling. He is a third generation notary at the family-owned firm.
As I work towards being re-elected for my fifth mandate as the Côte Saint-Luc City Councillor for District 2 I am pleased to begin profiling some of my constituents who have interesting stories to tell about their professions. Dr. Paul Warshawsky is the Director of Adult Critical Care Medicine at the Jewish General Hospital. At the JGH Intensive Care Unit he has been on the frontline since the COVID-19 pandemic hit us a year and a half ago. Please listen right until the end for his chilling warning to anti-vaxxers.
It was a pleasure to have my first interview with Quebec Liberal Party leader Dominique Anglade and get her views on a wide array of topics. She will give opening remarks at a Quebec Liberal Party panel featuring Dan Laxer, Dr. Mitch Shulman, Dr. Cindy FInn and Ruth Pelletier on Tuesday, June 22 (6:30 pm) on Your Mental Health. The cost is $30. To register contact darcymcgeeqc@gmail.com
Bare Necessities is a program run by the Nellie Philanthropy Foundation ( https://www.nelliefoundation.ca) , the same organization that spearheaded the CSL Groceries Project during the pandemic. It is designed to provide families on financial assistance who attend one of the five community camps that serve the Montreal Jewish community with some help to pay for camp supplies. David Lisbona is behind this initiative and he joins me with Camp B'nai Brith Montreal Executive Director Josh Pepin.
Richard Deschamps was a reporter and anchor at CJAD News in Montreal for 25 years until the newsroom was the victim of cuts last winter. He's had a stellar career and now awaits his next opportunity in media or elsewhere.
Shtisel is an Israeli television drama series about a fictional Haredi ("ultra-Orthodox" Jewish) family living in Geula, Jerusalem. The first three seasons can be seen on Netflix. Neta Riskin portrays Giti Weiss, the daughter and sister of main characters Shulem and Akiva. She will give an exclusive interview to Sonia Benezra on Sunday May 23 for the Ben Weider Educational Centre/Chaya Mushka Seminary, which has provided post-secondary education of the highest calibre for hundreds of young Jewish women, coming from the world over. You can register to watch this virtual presentation for free at theseminary.ca /lecture.
The third annual Community Mental Health Awareness Shabbat, spearheaded by Congregation Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem Congregation in Côte Saint-Luc, will take place May 6 to 9. It will be fully virtual, with a Mental Health Symposium on Thursday evening, a Friday workshop for high school students and a Sunday morning Mental Health workshop. This has spread to cities across North America.This program coincides with Canadian Mental Health Week (https://mentalhealthweek.ca). I speak with Dr. Rachel Goodman and Yair Meyers, the program co-chairs, who provide a good preview. Registration for these events (high school is limited to students) is free and you must log on to www.mentalhealth.tbdj.org. For more details you can email tbdjmentalhealth@gmail.com.
After a remarkable 53 year career in public education, including 47 years working out of 6000 Fielding Avenue for the English Montreal School Board and the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal, Lew Lewis announced his retirement as Director of Student Services over a year ago. But now he has decided to go into private practice with Openspace Clinic, situated at 4115 Sherbrooke St. W., a little east of Greene Avenue in Westmount. Lew is very excited about entering a new phase of his professional life by joining Openspace Clinic which he describes a wonderful and diverse group of talented clinicians and wellness professionals. The primary focus of Lew’s professional practice will be working with older adolescents and adults with challenges related to anxiety, depression, self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, life transitions, workplace issues, and stress management. Having known Lew for over 20 years, I can best describe him as a very warm, caring, and empathetic individual as well as an extremely insightful and supportive professional, widely respected by friends and colleagues alike! Lew can be reached at lew@openspaceclinic.com or at 514-833-9886.
There is a new game-changer for peanut butter aficionados everywhere! Manba, which means "Peanut Butter" in Haitian Créole, is a Montreal-based spicy peanut & almond butter brand based on a traditional Haitian recipe & Haitian cooking traditions. Vegan, all-natural, kosher, and gluten-free, Manba is the first Haitian-inspired peanut butter to have been introduced to the Canadian market and has since become the go-to reference in spicy peanut butter, across Canada. Founded in 2015, Manba was developed by Jason Delis and Haïtian-born, Stanley Dumornay, while on a volunteer trip to Haïti for humanitarian work. I speak to Jason in this podcast. You can also go to https://manba.ca/blog/ .
Brandon Williams and KristopherMancini are behind the growing West-Island based company M. Williams Enterprise. The online marketing firm focuses on driving qualified leads to their clients' businesses. This entails finding where their audience is located, targeting them with greats paid ads on the relevant platforms, leading them to a landing page that we create, or their website which they help optimize so that it compels those visitors to take the desired action, usually request an appointment or consultation, ask for more information, or buy the product. They only work with companies and business owners that they think have something valuable to offer people, and so their job is to get that message out and communicate that value to people. Log on to https://www.mwilliamsenterprise.com to learn more.
I was privileged to have PTSD specialist Dr. Eugene Lipov join me from his office in Chicago to talk about how the Capitol Police and other first responders have been affected by the trauma of the January 6 riot in Washington, DC.
The riot that breached the U.S. Capitol shook the nation, and led to political fallout that climaxed in the conclusion of former president Donald Trump’s second impeachment . One focus of the House impeachment managers was on the immediate and deep trauma on law enforcement officers who responded to the attack.
Two officers have taken their own lives, with acting Capitol Police Chief Robert J. Contee III reporting that at least one of his officers described the experience of January 6 as more harrowing than two hours in an Iraqi conflict zone.
“Several Capitol police officers have reportedly threatened self-harm in the days following the riot,” House Manager David N. Cicilline (D-R.I.) said during the trial. “And in one case, an officer voluntarily turned in her gun because she was afraid of what might happen.”
While PTSD is commonly associated with combat veterans, the effects of the condition on everyday people is clearer than ever in the wake of our collective political trauma and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a board-certified physician in Anaesthesiology and Pain Management and medical director for the Stella Center, Dr. Euguene Lipov is uniquely qualified to speak directly to the causes of and treatments for trauma, including:
• How the inability to escape constantly triggers the ‘fight or flight’ response, and can have physical effects on the nervous system and brain, causing extra nerve growth, and leading to brain shrinkage, as well as PTSI and PTSD; • How regular people are increasingly the “new veterans” of PTSD, and we identify the unique role trauma is playing in our society, and in specific communities and occupations with higher levels of exposure; • How the SGB treatment can play a crucial role in allowing trauma patients relief from symptoms, allowing them to reclaim their lives.
See his website at https://www.dreugenelipov.com. He is open to requests to do webinars with organizations in Montreal.
Dr. Laurie Betito is a Clinical Psychologist with a specialty in Sexual Wellness, and has been a practicing Psychotherapist for over 30 years. She is a television regular, having appeared on the weekly show "EROS" (The Life Channel) as the Sex Expert, as well as on MenTV (a digital cable channel) where she hosted the show "LET'S TALK SEX". She has appeared frequently on various television programs and documentaries, both as a commentator, and as a regular "sexpert", and is an accredited member of ACTRA.
For 22 years she was the host of the weeknight CJAD program Passion, which was the victim of recent budget cuts by Bell Media. She should be back on the air soon with her own podcast. I spoke to her about this big change and got her take on some issues related to the sexual landscape during this pandemic.
Bold Capital Enterprises Ltd and Dymedso Inc., a Montréal-based medical technology company, announced recently that 12 healthcare institutions in Quebec are now permitted to provide their patients with the benefits of a new, state-of-the-art device that uses acoustic sound waves for the treatment of lung disorders and respiratory infections, including those related to COVID-19. Dr. Simon Phaneuf, an emergency physician and Chief Scientific Officer at Dymedso and company founder Yvon Robert join me to provide more insight into this interesting development. For more information on how to get one of these machines (they can be used at home), log on to https://www.dymedso.com.
Laval City Councillor David De Cotis and David Lisbona, a man who wears many hats in the West End of Montreal and serves on council in Ivry Sur La Lac, have stepped up their efforts to assist the less fortunate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more by listening to this podcast.
For more on David De Cotis go to https://www.actionlaval.com/david-de-coti.
For David Lisbona's Nellie Philanthropy go here: https://www.nelliefoundation.ca/
Sidney Margles had a distinguished 40 year career in the broadcast industry, notably with CJAD. On the occasion of CJAD's 75th anniversary, Sidney shares some memories with me,
Sue Montgomery is the outspoken mayor of the Montreal borough of Côte des Neiges-NDG Borough. She was good enough to answer our questions on her first three challenging years on the hotseat.
The new Canadian documentary Rebellion captures a generation fighting back for the future of the planet. As activists like Greta Thunberg lead the way, across the globe young people are taking to the streets - like film subject Éva Love Pépin, a Montreal-based advocate.
In this film, David Suzuki and directors Mark Starowicz and Caitlin Starowicz capture the world at a tipping point. Rebellion, the 60th season premiere documentary of The Nature of Things, launches on Friday, November 6 at 9 pm on CBC and CBC GEM, where it will stream indefinitely.
In this podcast I am joined by Marc Starowicz and Sophia Mathur, an inspiring Grade 8 student from Sudbury who has a leading role in this documentary.
In Rebellion, Suzuki profiles activists in the revolt, from Greta Thunberg with her Fridays for Future strikes, to Gail Bradbrook of the Extinction Rebellion movement that has seized headlines with their dramatic actions.
Rebellion also features interviews with leading figures in the climate crisis, including Sir David Attenborough, known the world over for his brilliant nature documentaries and now his passionate call for governments to wake up to the climate catastrophe.
Tommy Schnurmacher is a media legend in Montreal. For decades he covered the society scene, wrote a gossip column and did political commentary for The Gazette. He then became one of this city’s most charismatic radio talk show hosts, first on the old CIQC AM 600 Radio and then on CJAD. He retired (or as he likes to call it “rewired”) in November 2017 and has kept very busy co-hosting a podcast called Sprits and Spirituality, wrote a memoir about his late mom titled Makeup Tips from Auschwitz: How Vanity Saved my Mother’s Life . It is available on Amazon. These days he is embarking upon a North American Zoom speaking tour. I miss hearing his daily commentaries on the radio, so it was fun to have him on this podcast and get his views on the current political scene.
Youtheatre is launching a groundbreaking online portal that will offer some of its most exciting productions for young audiences, reimagined in a digital format and accessible online. For the past 10 years, Youtheatre has pushed the limits of theatre for young audiences by exploring new technologies both on and off the stage. I speak with General Manager Simon A. Abou-Fadel and Co-Artistic Director Jeremy Segal.
Moving beyond static archival recordings, YouDigital brings the magic of live performance to the screen in an innovative new hybrid form that dynamically incorporates the camera into the staging. Filmed with a mobile camera in a single take, these digital adaptations provide a fascinating new point of view through the eyes of the characters while preserving the liveliness of the theatrical experience.
Complete with:
• Insightful teaching toolkit • Roundtable discussion with the artists • Backstage tour of the set • Youtheatre’s signature study guide • Opportunity for live-streamed talk backs with creative team For both distance learners as well as schools outside of urban centres, the flexible access of YouDigital is an opportunity to bring young audiences in on the magic of theatre.
Contact Hanna Nes at Outreach@Youtheatre.ca or join Youtheatre’s newsletter for more information!
It was a pleasure to interview Sergio Navarretta, director of The Cuban, starring Oscar winning actor, Louis Gossett Jr. It kicked off the Montreal International Black Film Festival, which wraps up on October 4. The Cuban saw a drive-in release, instead of a theatrical release; which was a big success. I watched the movie first and loved it! The storyline revolves around an unexpected friendship between an elderly Cuban musician with dementia (Gossett Jr.) who is brought out of his shell by his care worker, and a disillusioned young pre-med Afghan student named Mina (Ana Golja). Through a shared love of music, both their lives are changed. You can view the trailer here: https://youtu.be/Ds6KEXFCM80
For more on the Festival go to https://montrealblackfilm.com.
Jacques Rougeau spent 42 years as a professional wrestler. Via man about town Morden "Cookie" Lazarus I got to meet Jacques a few years ago when he brought his anti-bullying campaign to local schools. He is a stand up guy! Now he has launched his own video podcast at https://jacquesrougeau.podbean.com/. Georges St. Pierre was his first guest. He talks to me about this new venture and his incredible career.
Ben Cardilli and Sid Khular join me to talk about the Montreal Comedy Series (www.mtlcomedyseries.com), which concludes on Sunday, September 6. I first met Ben when he performed on TVA’s La Voix as Ben Alexander. Sid is the brother of international comedy star Sugar Sammy.
Peter Kerr is the distinguished publisher of The Montrealer Newspaper (www.themontrealeronline.com), a monthly he launnched in 2005 which focuses on feel good lifestyles, entertainment, travel and restaurant features and a regular profile on a high profile "Montrealer" or personality headed their way. It was a pleasure to let listeners get to know Peter, who is also an accomplished musician.
Herb Zurkowsky has been a sports reporter for The Montreal Gazette for more than 40 years. It began with junior hockey and over the years has included boxing, soccer, the Habs and of course pro football. It was a lot of fun for me to chat with Herb, a man I consider a friend. What does he think about the future of the Alouettes and the CFL? He's had an interesting career to be sure, which you will find out by listening.
Guy Ouellette has been the Member of the National Assembly for Chomedey since 2007. He was a member of the Quebec Liberal Party up until the fall of 2018 and now sits as an independent. Ouellette worked for the Sûreté du Québec police force for over 30 years. He was a police officer, a corporal and a sergeant. He worked for several years in the department of organized crime, and was involved in cases involving biker gangs. He was part of the Carcajou tactical team, which was created in 1995 in the midst of a violent biker gang war and following the death of an 11-year-old boy in Montreal after an explosion that was targeting several members of a biker gang. He also published a book about Hells Angels kingpin Maurice Boucher in 2005. I have always enjoyed interviewing him and this podcast was no exception.
Emmanuella Lambropoulos is the Liberal Member of Parliament for the federal riding of Saint-Laurent, and was first elected in 2017. A devoted community leader and educator who is dedicated to supporting children and families in our community, she was a French and History teacher at Rosemount High School, and closely supported children with learning disabilities in her six years teaching at LaurenHill Academy.
Born and raised in Saint-Laurent, Emmanuella gained a deep passion for public service on campaigns for the Hon. Stéphane Dion. She is committed to making Saint-Laurent an even more inclusive community, and she is fluently trilingual, speaking French, English, and Greek.
Emmanuella earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education from McGill University in 2013. She served as President of the Hellenic Association while at McGill, and has a long record of volunteer involvement supporting children’s sports and arts activities in our community.
She is now educating her constituents on how to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Growing up in Côte Saint-Luc, Warren Campbell was a classmate and friend from elementary school through high school. We played sports together and attended junior hockey games regularly. He moved to Toronto over 30 years ago, yet we have stayed in touch by email and social media.
Warren works in the entertainment industry and visits Montreal often, especially when the Just For Laughs Festival is on.
When he told me that one of his business partners is Farley Flex, perhaps best known to many as a judge on the CTV Show Canadian Idol for six years, I suggested we do a podcast,
During this COVID-19 pandemic, Warren and Farley have launched an initiative called Toronto Shines (www.torontoshines.ca). They have set up a makeshift drive-in theatre on the site of Ontario Place. Shows include a comedian, a musician and a movie- four hours of entertainment.
It was also great to talk to Farley about Canadian Idol, of which I was a huge fan.
Warren first started working in the music industry in the late 80’s and in 1990 he attended the New Music Seminar in NYC....while walking along Broadway he recognized a rising star in Canadian music....Maestro Fresh Wes and his manager Farley Flex.
Warren crossed paths again with Farley in 2006 when he became an agent at a speakers bureau...while going through the roster he saw a familiar name...Warren immediately called Farley and introduced himself discussing their shared time in the 1990’s Canadian music industry. Warren realized that Farleys knowledge and talent was misrepresented at the speakers bureau and reshaped Farley’s topics where he became one of the most sought after speakers.
Became friends and supported all of each other’s individual projects ( restaurant, production company, Music industry initiatives etc...) they finally got together when Warren brought Farley into True Gravity Entertainment & Media in 2019 to help develop the talent division and bring new projects to the company.
We can talk about existing projects (Multiple television series in early development), comedians/speakers we represent, new talent coming, concept of helping entertainers get shows, Esports development & of course Toronto Shines.
The interesting thing is all of these projects can have a straight line drawn to connect them all...empowerment for artists, helping diverse entertainers and creating new opportunities for youth & organizations.
Flex is an impresario and social change innovator whose recognitions include, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award, Scarborough Walk of Fame induction, Unicef Ambassadorship and several others. His accomplishments in the entertainment industry include managing multiple Juno Award winner Maestro, launching and operating FLOW 93.5, Celebrity Judge on Canadian Idol and much more. Flex has always chosen to juxtapose business endeavors with community contribution
The Canadian Jewish Record (www.canadianjewishrecord.ca) is an online that was created after the demise of the Canadian Jewish News in the spring of 2020.
Co-founder and Publisher Bernie M. Farber is well known in Canada for his seminal work in human and civil rights. The recipient of numerous awards and Canadian medals he is the past CEO of Canadian Jewish Congress, the Mosaic Institute and the Paloma Foundation. Today he Chairs the Canadian Antihate Network and the Rights and ethics committee of Community Living Toronto.
Co-founder and editor Ron Csillag grew up in Chomedey (Laval), Quebec. He has been a journalist for 40 years in print and broadcasting. He was a reporter for the Canadian Jewish News, on and off, for 20 years and has been published widely in North America and Israel. His writing career began with The Suburban Newspaper in Montreal.
Patricia R. Lattanzio was elected as the Liberal Member of Parliament for St, Leonard-St. Michel on October 21, 2019. The mother of three young adults. she served as a municipal councillor for the district of Saint-Léonard-Est for four years and an English Montreal School Board Commissioner for 12 years. For six years she also chaired the Comité de gestion de la taxe scolaire de l'île de Montréal.
Ms. Lattanzio holds a Bachelor of Laws from the Université du Québec à Montréal, a certificate in law from the Université de Montréal and an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from McGill University. She is a lawyer and a member of the Quebec Bar Association. She has practiced in the field of civil law for 29 years.
It was a pleasure to speak with Federal Conservative Party leadership candidate Erin O’Toole, who was born in Montreal. He enrolled in the RCAF when he was 18 and attended the Royal Military College. He did basic training in Chilliwack, BC; got his wings in Winnipeg, MB; and served out of Halifax, NS. Erin participated in search and rescue missions as a tactical navigator. He is bilingual.
After 12 years of service, Erin retired from the military and spent the next decade working in the private sector as a corporate lawyer. He is a founding member of the Board of Directors for the True Patriot Love Foundation, a charity that serves veterans and military families across Canada.
He has been elected three times in Durham (2012 by- election, 2015 and 2019). He served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade before becoming Minister of Veterans Affairs, a beleaguered file he successfully turned around within 10 months at the end of the Harper government.
For the last two years, Erin served as Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs. Erin is married to Rebecca and they have two children, Mollie & Jack.
Cinestarz Cinemas became the first movie theatres in Quebec to reopen to the public on June 26 at Plaza Côte des Neiges (6700 Côte des Neiges Road) and Carrefour Langelier (7305 Boul Langelier) in Saint-Léonard. Montreal businessman Bruce Gurberg is the owner of Cinestarz, which also has theatres in Ontario. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit he was preparing to open another Quebec operation and expand to the United States. What are his plans? We asked him. Go to www.cinestarz.ca to find out which movies are playing,
Gerry Weiner was a pharmacist by profession when he jumped into politics, first as mayor of Dollard des Ormeaux and then for nine years as a Federal Member of Parliament and cabinet minister for the Conservative government, He later presided over the Equality Party and sat on Montreal city council. He remains very busy today in a number of consulting capacities.
I have known Paul Steinberg for many years. He was a successful businessman, turned sales rep at one of Montreal's most prestigious car dealerships. Now he has decided to write his biography entitledSchool of Hard Luck : A Memoir of Money and Morals. It is available on Amazon. Paul shares with readers the bullying he endured as a youngster and how it prepared him to get through life one day at a time. His book can be purchased online at https://www.amazon.ca/School-Hard-Luck-Memoir-Morals/dp/1706123477. He also has a blog at https://schoolofhardluck.blogspot.com/
It is not every day that a young man from Côte Saint-Luc gets drafted in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), but that was the case on June 6 for Bialik High School student Joshua Cohen when the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada drafted him in the ninth round. I also happen to be Joshua's city councillor.
Lorne Levitt of Total Events and Adam Bultz of C3 Events join me to discuss their exciting new initiative in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The world of live events has changed. In an effort to stay connected over the coming months, these two companies will be launching “The Royalmount Drive-in Event Theatre” concept for the summer 2020. The idea is to offer guests and corporate clients the ability to ENGAGE, while respecting SAFE DISTANCING PRACTICES.
This venue will host drive-in movie nights, live bands, comedy shows, speciality screenings, corporate presentations, corporate launches and other public gatherings.
Window service will be available to eliminate the need for guests to leave their vehicles. Individual bathroom trailers will be maintained with a team to disinfect after each use. Premium audio will be broadcast to each car though their own sound system. The site will be available for rent for private groups, charitable organizations, schools and other collectives. Go to www.driveinmtl.com for more details.
For many years I had the privilege of being Jaclyn Stevenson’s city councillor in District 2.
Jaclyn is the great niece of the late Isadore Goldberg, a longtime city councillor. Her mom Joy remains my constituent as do her grandparents who reside on Marc Chagall Avenue,
Jaclyn became an occupational therapist at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) a year and a half ago. Presently she is working on the COVID-19 unit. Recently, Jaclyn faced a language barrier with a patient on the unit and reacted in a truly beautiful way. Colleague Kendra Berry saw what happened and was moved to write about it in an email to their mutual colleagues and supervisors: “Today I witnessed something beautiful and heartwarming that I wanted to share,” Kendra wrote. “ Jaclyn was performing a swallowing evaluation with a patient on the COVID unit. There was a language barrier, so Jaclyn contacted the family and placed them on speaker phone. I believe this was the first contact that they had with the patient. Their voices were filled with love, gratitude and relief. It brought tears to my eyes. Jaclyn gave them such a gift. On each of her units, her gestures are having positive impacts on patients and their families. I am inspired by her bravery, dedication and perseverance. Very proud of my entire OT Department. Let’s keep chasing these rainbows.”
When Kashif Baig, manager of Occupational Therapy, Adult Sites, read Kendra’s account, he was filled with joy: “The poise and calm demonstrated by Jaclyn is remarkable, especially considering how busy she is. Jaclyn had the empathy and resourcefulness to balance her clinical need for a translator with the patient’s emotional needs. The fact that this was brought to my attention by Kendra makes me even more proud; it shows how my team celebrates each other’s victories.”
I was so inspired I decided to do a podcast with Jaclyn. In my role as communications and marketing specialist for the English Montreal School Board I am proud to say that she attended Edinburgh Elementary School and Royal West Academy in Montreal West and had nice things to say about both experiences.
Matthew Ross is the host of Weekend Game Plan on TSN690 in Montreal and founder of Expos Nation, a group working towards bringing professional baseball back to Montreal. Where is pro sports headed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic? Matthew shares his views.
Dr. Jonathan Trager is a true local boy makes good story. Raised in Cote Saint-Luc, he was a member of their Emergency Medical Services from 1994 to 2001. En route to becoming a physician in Pensylvannia, he continued to pursue his passion of serving as a paramedic Today Jonathan is the medical director of St. Luke's Emergency and Transport Services in Fountainville Pensylvannia, very much in the trenches fighting the coronavirus. But he also has the title of Major in the United States Air Force Reserves. He is a graduate of Solomon Schechter Academy and Bialik High School.
May 4 to 8, 2020 will mark Mental Health Awareness Week in Canada. It is an important topic as we all deal with the repercussions from the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Rachel Goodman is a Montreal psychologist in private practice and co-chair of the second Montreal Jewish Community Mental Health Shabbat. This includes a virtual event set for May 7 to be broadcast live at 7:30 pm at www.TBDJ.org/mentalhealth2020. This was planned before COVID and dedicated to Anxiety through the lifespan. Obviously now, COVID will be addressed in this context. Dr. Goodman tells us more about how this virus is impacting upon people's mental health.
Anthony Housefather was elected as Member of Parliament for Mount Royal on October 19, 2015 and re-elected on October 21, 2019. He has been a fountain of information on the COVID-19 pandemic and in this interview he shares some valuable information In February 2016, he was elected as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. He is presently the Parliamentary Secretary to Federal Minister of Labour Filomena Tassi. Moreover, Anthony has two Law Degrees (B.C.L. and LL.B.) from McGill University and an MBA from Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business. Until he was elected an MP, he served as Executive Vice President Corporate Affairs and General Counsel at Dialogic Corporation.
Anthony was first elected to office in 1994. He was initially elected as a municipal councillor in Hampstead, then elected in Côte-Saint-Luc/Hampstead/Montreal West, and served as Mayor of Côte-Saint-Luc between 2005 and 2015.
On a personal level, Anthony participates in numerous activities in his community. He is a member of the drama society and swim team. His performance in swimming earned him seven medals at the 2013 Maccabiah Games, in Israel. He has also been a volunteer for many years within a number of organizations serving the English speaking and Jewish communities.
David Birnbaum has been the Liberal MNA for the D'Arcy McGee riding in the West End of Montreal since 2014. How has the pandemic impacted his work? What does he think of the job being done by the CAQ government? Where does the Liberal leadership campaign stand? Will Bill 40, the reform of school boards be stalled because of the pandemic? We asked him these questions and more.