By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban
The 10th annual D’Arcy McGee National Assembly Citizenship medals ceremony was held May 15 at Côte St. Luc’s Aquatic and Community Centre, hosted by MNA Elisabeth Prass.
The ceremony was initiated by Prass’s predecessor David Birnbaum, to recognize individuals and organizations who and that have had a positive impact on the area covered by the riding, which includes Côte St. Luc, Hampstead and CDN-NDG.
“While their selections represent different sectors of society, they all reflect the spirit of kindness, support and wanting to make a positive difference in the lives of others,” Prass told the gathering.
The recipients were:
• David Mahoney, for his work with underprivileged youth through sports programs in CDN. Prass pointed out that Mahoney, a retired longtime mathematics educator, has also been “significantly involved in sports and community volunteering for almost 45 years” and as President of the Board of Loisirs Sportifs Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce from 1996 to 2020. “His unwavering dedication, bold vision and commitment to the well-being of young people have enriched life in CDN-NDG and left an indelible mark on the hundreds of hearts of those he touched.”
• AMI-Quebec, “for its tireless work [since 1977] to bring relief to those who take on the responsibility of taking care of others with mental health issues. AMI Quebec has had an immeasurably positive impact on the lives of those people and their families, by helping them to cope with these difficulties by better understanding mental illness and their own situations.”
AMI-Quebec executive director Ella Amir said it is “gratifying for me to feel that we are doing something that makes a difference in the lives of people. Mental illness is always a challenge at the best of times….Without the foresight, commitment and creativity of the staff, we wouldn’t be standing here tonight.”
• Alan Maislin, for his “tireless work as President of the Board of Directors of CIUSSS West-Central Montreal from 2015 to 2024. Prass said “he has poured his heart and his vision of an improved health care system into his role. Throughout his nine-year tenure, he worked to ensure that those in need of medical care and social services in our community would have their needs met promptly, professionally and with a human touch. He encouraged innovation, embraced new forms of digital technology, and ensured that healthcare users and staff received the respect and recognition they were entitled to. “
Maislin said, “all these achievements through what I call this glorious ride, could never have happened without a lot of people in this room, many people truly dreamed it and made it happen.”
• MADA, now in its 30th year, for its efforts in decreasing hunger and poverty in Montreal. “Every time I show up to MADA to volunteer, I can’t help but be impressed by the organized system they have in place, how smoothly it’s all done and how happy everyone is to be there helping out,” Prass said. “That is truly an achievement for an organization that counts on volunteers and them wanting to come back over and over again.”
Longtime MADA volunteer Ethel Fruchter told the gathering that the organization and its volunteers are “angels from God.”
Rabbi Chaim Cohen, MADA’s executive director, praised Fruchter for the amount of potatoes she peels, and proclaimed, “together we can, and we will enlighten the world with love, kindness and that will [overcome] all the hate and antisemitism.” n