ALEXANDRA ROBERTSON

ALEXANDRA ROBERTSON
The 1510 West

Three West Islanders will be among athletes participating in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris that open next week, where the opening ceremonies will be marked with an unprecedented parade of athletes who will travel by boat along the picturesque Seine River as they make their way across the French capital to mark the beginning of the competitions.

The West Islanders are all members of the Pointe Claire Aquatics Centre, and have trained hard to propel themselves onto the world’s biggest sporting stage.

Second Olympics for McKay

Diver Caeli McKay, who is originally from Calgary, Alberta, moved to the Montreal area in 2016 to train in Pointe Claire. The 2024 Olympics will be her second, having competed at the Games in Tokyo in 2020, where she was partnered with Montrealer Meaghan Benfeito. The duo finished fourth in the 10-metre synchro diving event.

In Paris, she will compete in two diving categories – the 10-metre platform competition and the 10-metre platform synchronized event with new partner Kate Miller, who has been training in Pointe Claire for about a year.

McKay, who soon turns 25, competed at the World Aquatics Diving World Cup in Montreal in May 2023, finishing fifth in the individual competition. She also competed in the 10-metre synchro diving event with Miller. McKay also earned the biggest individual medal of her career at the World Aquatics Championships, winning bronze in the 10-metre platform.

Pointe Claire native

Pointe Claire native Nathan Zsombor-Murray will also be heading to the Summer Games for a second time. As a diver he and McKay have more than the 10-metre platform event in common. They both have partnered with Benfeito. Zsombor-Murray and Benfeito finished fifth at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships in the mixed 10-metre synchro diving event. In 2018, he competed in his first FINA World Series event in Montreal and won gold in the mixed 10-metre synchro with Benfeito.

In Paris, Zsombor-Murray will compete in the men’s 10-metre platform diving event and the men’s 10-metre synchronized competition along with teammate Rylan Wiens.

At the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, Zsombor-Murray finished in fifth place in the synchronized diving event with partner Vincent Riendeau. The West Islander medalled in his first major international event at the World Aquatics Diving World Cup in Montreal in 2023, taking home the bronze in the10-metre event.

Making Olympic debut

Beaconsfield native Patrick Hussey will make his Olympics debut this summer.

The 23-year-old swimmer has represented Canada twice at the World Aquatics Championships, in 2022 and 2023. He is one of 29 members of the Canadian Olympic swim team.

In 2022, after his world championship debut, Hussey competed in the Commonwealth Games, where he climbed the podium to claim a bronze medal as part of the mixed 4×100-metre medley relay. He failed to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Games by one spot, placing third in the time trials in the 200-metre butterfly event.

The 2024 Olympics Games begin Friday, July 26, and will run until Sunday, Aug. 11.

Cutline:

Swimmer Patrick Hussey will make his Olympic debut in Paris.

ALEXANDRA ROBERTSON
The 1019 Report

It is one of Canada’s largest wild bird conservation and rehabilitation centres, and a unique organization in the Vaudrueil-Soulanges area, caring for 2,500 to 3,000 songbirds per year. But the Hudson-based Le Nichoir needs help.

The non-profit centre is looking for volunteers to maintain its operations this summer.

“We exist because of the community, through the volunteers and the willingness of people to bring us animals,” said Susan Wylie, a wildlife biologist and director of operations at Le Nichoir. 

People keep bringing injured birds, she said, but the volunteers needed to help them as the feathered creatures are nursed back to health is what is in short supply at the moment.

Founded in 1996, the conservancy began its operations in a 200-year-old barn on its property on Main Road in the west end of Hudson. In 2016, a new facility was built, enabling the organization to operate all year round.

“We’ve been growing ever since,” Wylie said. “We get thousands of calls every year.”

Most birds that are brought to the centre come from Montreal, the West Island and the St. Lazare and Hudson areas, the director explained. But they also get calls from as far north as Kuujjuaq and Abitibi-Témiscamingue.

“The most common reason we receive the birds is due to window collisions and cat attacks, as well as babies becoming abandoned. That could mean they’ve fallen from their nest in a storm or their mother was killed,” Wylie explained.

“In Canada, we are definitely one of the largest who are dedicated to songbirds,” Wylie said.

Le Nichoir only takes in songbirds, aquatic and insectivorous birds, referring to species that feed exclusively on insects while flying, like barn swallows, nightjars and flycatchers. It does not admit pigeons or birds of prey.

The space is similar to a veterinary clinic. It has a nursery, an isolation room and an X-ray machine.

“We have large flight cages with a metal mesh on the exterior and a soft mesh on the interior,” Wylie explained, referring to the large exterior enclosure that visitors can see. “The soft part protects them from hitting the wall. Predators can be a problem, like racoons, so they are in a closed environment.”

There are other sanctuaries in Canada, but what makes Le Nichoir unique is its size.

The facility is licensed by the federal and provincial governments to rehabilitate and care for wild birds in captivity with the goal of releasing them back into nature. But its funding is all privately sourced.

“The majority of our funding comes from public donations, and the remaining is through a lot of fundraisers and some corporate donations,” Wylie said.

As the reserve gets into the busy summer months, it needs volunteers. With only four full-time employees, it can use up to 125 volunteers. The ratio, Wylie admitted, highlights the facilities reliance on volunteer help. And that tasks they are called upon to do runs a wide spectrum.

“Some people are scared of birds, but want to help them,” Wylie said. “They could come in and make fruit salads and cut lettuce for the animals without having to handle them.”

Le Nichoir is also looking for those with administrative and fundraising experience, and even people who can stock the shelves in the boutique.

“When people apply, we usually speak to them, so we can make sure that we’re able to put them in a position that they are well suited for,” Wylie explained.

The wildlife biologist has been working there for more than 20 years. She began as a summer student while finishing her studies at McGill University.

“One of the things I like about working at Le Nichoir is that we’re always planning for the future to make sure we can provide good, quality care to the birds as well as good public information.”

Anyone looking to volunteer can fill out a form on the organization’s website at https://lenichoir.org/.

Cutline:

A volunteer helps care for an injured bird, one of about 3,000 that are rehabilitated at Le Nichoir each year.

Credit:

Photo courtesy of Le Nichoir

ALEXANDRA ROBERTSON
The 1510 West

A growing movement to repair household items rather than tossing them in landfills is gaining traction in the West Island. The idea is to avoid having to throw away goods that can simply be fixed.

A new branch of a franchise that provides this service has opened up in Pierrefonds. It’s called the Repair Café, and it’s already a hit.

“We are not only fixing things, we are developing a rapport with the people as well,” said René Lévesque, one of four people who founded the Repair Café.

Lévesque started with the Montreal branch before the pandemic, and that one is going strong.

“We have help from the (borough) of Pierrefonds, but the effort really comes from the community,” he said.

As a service to the community and those who seek their help, Lévesque explained the café buys the tools used to fix items, but the emphasis is on demonstrating how to fix the appliance so that the owners can do it themselves in the future.

“It’s showing people that you can really make an environmental difference and help save the planet,” he explained.

The Pierrefonds chapter holds events once a month, and Lévesque admitted there’s a strong turnout every time.

“Last time, more than 80 people showed up,” he said. “We were sort of overwhelmed. There were too many people for what we could support.”

Many of the things they are asked to repair are every-day household items.

“We get a lot of lamps and items related to sewing. We have three people working at our events who have sewing machines, and they are very busy.”

There are a variety of items they can fix. However, for safety reasons, some will be turned away.

“One thing we do not fix is microwave ovens,” Lévesque said. “They can be pretty dangerous to fix. Because of that, we also don’t want people thinking that it’s safe to fix them up at home either.”

The movement has expanded so much that The Repair Café has been given a budget under the supervision of VertCité, which has been responsible for the Éco-quartier program in Pierrefonds-Roxboro since 2015. Under the Éco-quartier banner, it focuses on community environmental action and education.

“They collect tools and do advertising for us. It really helped with the structure around us,” Lévesque added.

“We will be happy to pick up a screwdriver, or whatever you have around the house, and show you how to fix it yourself.”

The organizer says that there are very few group events around where strangers come together and within an hour, become fast friends.

“Sometimes, people come to get their items fixed, and they end up becoming volunteers at our shop. They realize that they have skills they can use with us.”

The Pierrefonds branch of The Repair Café will be holding its next event on Saturday, June 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Pierrefonds Library, 13555 Pierrefonds Blvd. They will be offering a bike-repair clinic at this time as well. The following month, the event will be held at Centre Communautaire Gerry Robertson, 9665 Gouin Blvd., in the east end of Pierrefonds-Roxboro, on July 6.

ALEXANDRA ROBERTSON
The 1510 West

The only grocery store in Ste. Anne de Bellevue is set to close – again.

On April 21, the small town will have to say goodbye to Marché Richelieu for good.

“It’s been a rollercoaster, but now we are truly at the end of the ride,” said Mayor Poala Hawa, referring to the store that has struggled to say afloat since it reopened last spring after the former owner filed for bankruptcy in January 2023.

Hawa added that although the city tried everything it could to keep the doors open, there is nothing more that can be done.

“Whatever we were able to do to help, we did,” she said. “We sat down with Metro. We tried to find other ways to bring in new business and help them advertise it.”

She noted that the promotion was set to begin this summer.

Hawa mentioned that there was a spark of hope about a week and a half ago, when another grocery chain was going to step in and take over. But, in the end, those hopes were dashed.

“It’s legally very, very complicated,” she continued. “It’s a long-term lease that Metro had and they couldn’t transfer it over to the other grocery chain because they would basically be giving it over to their competitor.”

Claude McSween, the current owner of the store, had been keeping the place going for about a year. Growing up in the neighbouring town of Île Perrot, he had managed and worked in other small markets and a butcher shop, bringing a lot of experience to the table.

The expenses were becoming too high, and Hawa said that they were basically working at a loss from month to month.

“God bless them, they threw everything at it,” Hawa said. “They tried their best. They tried every avenue and number crunched as much as they possibly could.”

Everyone is heartbroken, Hawa said.

The mayor understands that this little shop was vital for the small community of Ste. Anne.

“The village is very different from the rest of the West Island,” Hawa explained. “It’s very car-centric everywhere else, you can just get in your car to go to Costco or wherever.”

But Ste. Anne village is different. The car does not reign supreme in this area, which is characterized by narrow streets and residential dwellings that are tightly fitted one next to the other, where many seniors and students live.

“People walk to do their groceries,” Hawa said.

“It’s a basic service that we’re losing,” she continued. “Most people don’t have a car, and because we don’t have a very good public transit system that people can rely on, they’re really stuck.”

The nearest grocery stores are Provigo in Baie d’Urfé or Maxi in Pincourt.

McSween and his family became a part of the Ste. Anne neighborhood, according to the mayor.

“It’s not just a grocery store; it’s a community centre,” Hawa said. “You go get a carton of milk and all of a sudden you run into your next door neighbour who you haven’t seen in three weeks. Then you stay to chit chat. You always run into someone.”

Marché Richelieu has served Ste. Anne for 85 years. It closed for a short while in January 2023 after the Coopérative de solidarité de Bellevue announced it had filed for bankruptcy. McSween and his wife reopened the outlet on May 25 with a new, fresh layout, new products and ready-made meals. The store is operating under normal hours until April 21.

ALEXANDRA ROBERSTON
The 1510 West

Shame and suppression, with a little bit of joy and comedy mixed in are just a few themes in Dancing at Lughnasa, the play now at Hudson Village Theatre.

West Island director Donna Byrne said all of the characters are multi-dimensional and the audience will fall in love with them immediately.

“I think they are so well developed, and any family can relate to what’s going on here,” Byrne said.

This award-winning piece was written by Brian Friel, who loosely based the story on his own life. It takes place in 1936 in County Donegal in Northern Ireland, in a fictional town called Ballybeg. It tells the story of the five Mundy sisters who are struggling with poverty in the Industrial Age, while raising their nephew, Michael.

Byrne, who’s both a director and actor and a member of Playwrights Guild of Canada, noted that this piece is different from other performances she has directed because it’s a memory play. It is told from the perspective of seven-year-old Michael, who narrates, as he tells the story of a summer in his aunts’ cottage.

“We have the adult Michael on stage, answering as the child, but in the adult voice. The others who are on stage do not see him. It’s all in his memory,” Byrne explained.

Since this character has the perception of a young kid, he sets the tone for the whole story.

“It’s very interesting and complex,” she said. “But I’ve directed it so that it’s very easy to get. It’s no messy.”

Believe it or not, there are some similarities between this troupe and people today, and the challenges we have to face.

As Bryne explained: “One of the sisters, Kate Mundy, says, ‘Now that the Marconi radio is here, nobody talks to anyone any more!’ And it’s the same as when cellphones came around.”

Local actors are featured in the production, including Susan Corbett, who plays Kate Mundy; Dawn Hartigan and Susan Walsh, who take on the roles of Chris and Maggie Mundy; Bill Jackson plays Father Jack; and Steve Walters is featured as Michael Evans.

Bryne admitted that she couldn’t have asked for a better group to work with.

“I am so proud of them,” she said. “They are all big roles, and they are doing an incredible job.”

Byrne has now directed more than 60 plays, including Lost in Yonkers for the Lakeshore Players Dorval. And she is already thinking about what she will be doing next.

“With Lakeshore Players, we’ve had a few groups that we’ve formed,” she said. “We have the Moonlighters who would go around performing in seniors’ homes. That was pre-pandemic. We are thinking about picking that back up again.”

The West Islander says she falls in love with every project she is a part of.

“Once it opens, I like to go to every show. I like to just sit and watch the performance and the story. I get a lot of joy out of the fruits of my labour.”

Dancing at Lughnasa is produced by the Hudson Players Club and runs until April 14. For tickets, go to the Hudson Players’ Club website.

ALEXANDRA ROBERTSON
The 1019 Report

Parts of Vaudreuil-Soulanges will fall within the direct “path of totality” of the solar eclipse on April 8, a once-in-a-lifetime event that will turn the afternoon sky into night-time darkness.

But where are the best areas to see it?

According to Andrew Fazekas, a science columnist with National Geographic who is known as The Night Sky Guy, and is a St. Lazare resident, parts of St. Lazare to Les Cèdres will be ideal.

Much of Vaudreuil-Dorion and all of the island of Île Perrot fall within the path of totality as well.

“I would recommend scouting out some locations and finding a spot where you can park,” Fazekas said. “Folks in Hudson are outside of the path of totality. They would have to go through the southern part of St. Lazare.”

He also recommended open spaces in Les Cèdres, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield or Beauharnois.

The science writer and speaker who has spent decades offering his insights on all things found in the sky explained that the best spots are areas that fall within the “path of totality,” which refers to the shadow trail of the moon as it blocks the sun’s light during a total solar eclipse.

“The path itself is over 200 kilometres across,” Fazekas explained. “It stretches from where I am in the southern part of St. Lazare, to just over the border in Plattsburgh.”

“If you have a clear view of the sky in the afternoon where the sun is, you’ll be able to watch it. It’s not something that’s dependent on the lay of the land,” he said.

Fazekas noted that the further south you go, the longer you’ll be able to see the eclipse.

“From where we are in Vaudreuil-Soulanges, we are along the northern edge of the path,” he explained. “We will only get to see it last for about a minute.”

It may be important to do some research ahead of time, and Fazekas said that a website called Time and Date has detailed maps that will show you what you can see in your area.

“It visually shows you on a diagram of what the sun will look like during totality and will give you a breakdown of the exact timing of when the eclipse begins.”

The only other determining factor is Mother Nature. Right now, the expectation for cloud cover for the time of the eclipse – mid-afternoon on April 8 – is looking a little problematic.

“Historically, based on a century of forecasts for April 8th, it shows that it is 60- to 65-per-cent cloudy,” Fazekas said.

Checking the weather beforehand will make for better planning, he added.

If you want to look directly at the eclipse, Fazekas insists you use specialized sunglasses to protect your eyes from the rays. Regular sunglasses are not enough.

“Watching the entire show in a partial phase, where the moon is just gobbling up the sun, you must use glasses to look at it directly.”

These glasses have a special Mylar film, which looks like aluminum foil. They will shut out more than 99 per cent of the solar rays, making it safe to stare at the sun.

And if you can’t find those?

“An alternative way to view it is the projection method,” he said. “You can basically poke a hole into a piece of cardboard and then focus the sunlight that goes through that hole with a second piece of cardboard and focus the beam of light on that. That will show you the disk of the sun that’s being eclipsed.”

There are instructional videos online if you need the help.

How rare is a total solar eclipse?

“Any one spot on the Earth experiences this once every three centuries, on average,” Fazekas said. “The last time we had one in Montreal was back in 1932. The next one will almost be a century from now.”

Fazekas will be live streaming the eclipse on his website on April 8th. He also has graphics, maps and information to browse for the big day. Visit the https://thenightskyguy.com/ for more details.

Cutline:

The line highlighted by the red arrow on this map shows the northern limit of the path of totality of the eclipse.

Credit:

Courtesy of Time and Date

ALEXANDRA ROBERTSON
The 1019 Report

The summer months may seem like they are far away, but Geneviève Marleau is already stressed about planning her soccer club’s schedule.

“We can plan as much as we want, but we are not the ones who are making the competitive schedule. This is going to make it so difficult with the bridge,” Marleau said, frustrated. 

The general manager of the Saint-Lazare Hudson Soccer Club said the travel for her teams to and from the island of Montreal won’t be the only hurdle they have to jump.

“It’s going to cost us a lot of money just for the referees to come here,” Marleau said, explaining that although her association has its own officials, most of them travel from the other side of the Île aux Tourtes Bridge.

Marleau explained that there is quite an age range of those who play in this league; kids as young as 4 years old and adults in their 50s lace up their cleats.

“Children who are under the age of 9 only play locally, except for small tournaments, which are usually held in Montreal,” she said.

The game plan is to make an arrangement with the regions, and set the schedules for the games, so they are a little more favourable for her teams.

“We are trying to have the games played as late as possible. So the start time for most of them would not be before 7 o’clock at night,” she said.

But that doesn’t mean parents can avoid the chaos of bridge traffic. The timing may still prove to be a challenge.

“Kids can’t play that late,” Marleau continued. “They can’t go somewhere to play a game at 7 at night, then finish at 9. It’s impossible. It’s too late. They need to come back because they have school the next day.”

The other issue the club is facing is being on time for games. She said that her teams have been late for quite a few games. These were matches that they weren’t able to reschedule. As a result, they have to pay the price – literally.

“We’ve actually been fined for not showing up to games. One time, we had to pay $2,000,” she said with an audible sense of exasperation.

Since the Saint-Lazare and Hudson Soccer Club is a non-profit, that’s a devastating hit to the organization. It also doesn’t get much, if any, help from the government. From a lack of funding and constant headaches due to the bridge, it all weighs heavily on her mind.

“It’s not easy to budget for things like this. And, we just came back from the COVID pandemic, which did impact us a lot,” Marleau explained.

She and the other members can plan as much as they want for the upcoming season, but it’s not going to help: “We are looking at a very chaotic season – again.”

Aside from the threat of fines for being tardy to games, she’s worried about the overall well-being of the soccer club. Because the construction on the Île aux Tourtes Bridge doesn’t seem to be ending any time soon, she’s said people may not think it’s worth signing up to play.

“It’s going to be very sad if people don’t register,” she said, adding that it’s the kids – and really all of the players in general – who are going to suffer the most.

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