CDN-NDG

CDN/NDG Mayor “looking for leaders” to fight antisemitism

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

Antisemitism and inappropriate protests are on the rise in CDN-NDG, borough council regular Michael Shafter told council last week. “Our Jewish schools, synagogues, Westbury Y, Federation building, and other on-island institutions have been targeted with vandalism, hateful graffiti, bullets, and offensive protests all serving to instill fear in our peaceful population, which is always willing to do good deeds for others.”

Shafter remarked that every week citizens peacefully march in Snowdon to highlight “Let my people go!” for hostages of Hamas terrorists, and that it requires court injunctions “to keep the bad protesters away: that is no way to live.” Shafter suggested the borough erect posters on its Décarie building promoting “love for yourself and stop the hate.”

Borough Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa replied: “We could not agree more that these days and times that we’re living in, people need to be reminded that we’re all human beings that need to be respected and that we need to show each other some love… It’s clearly about education, we need to educate people more, so people could remind themselves or understand that we are all human beings that deserve respect and love but we’re not going to do that with posters.”

Indeed, since the October 7 terrorist massacre of Israelis including Canadians, apart from repeated antisemitic incidents on McGill and Concordia university campuses and the firebombing of a synagogue and community centre on the West Island, the borough of CDN-NDG has been Montreal’s focal point for anti-Israel and antisemitic actions.

These include aggressive mobs flashing Hamas symbols and Nazi salutes, physically barring citizens from entering the Jewish community campus; chanting in residents’ yards while circling buildings to block exits; shouting profanities and setting off smoke canisters outside a synagogue in a residential area; as well as firebombings, shootings at school buildings, and the spectacle of borough employees dispatched to rip down small posters of people, including elderly and toddlers, held hostage by an avowed genocidal terrorist group.

“As the city’s point-person on discrimination, racism and hate,” Shafter asked Katahwa, “do you have a better initiative to stop the hate talk and hate action? Please enlighten me: what is the city prepared to do? What are you prepared to do? What would you like to do?”

She responded, “We have to recognize that since October 7, there is a rise of antisemitism incidents and crime and same thing with Islamophobia, so I’m right now looking for leaders in different parts of the city to make sure that we are able to have a conversation among the different groups of citizens so we could address that rising antisemitism and Islamophobia.”

The Suburban asked if Montreal’s existing Jewish community organizations — most if not all headquartered in her borough — were insufficient to engage with. “I’ve had the chance to meet with leaders of the community on multiple occasions, especially in the last few months,” she said, explaining that “looking for leaders” means “I’m aiming to broaden our dialogue. Beyond the vital work of established Jewish organizations in CDN-NDG, the nationwide surge in antisemitism and Islamophobia demands we invite more voices to ensure Montreal’s safety and unity,” adding Montreal and CDN-NDG are stronger and better because of its diversity. n

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Terrebonne bike path gets rolling

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Ceausu

The long-debated Terrebonne redevelopment was approved by borough council in CDN-NDG, voting 3-2 to proceed. The $250,000 plan, paid for by the centre city, would install a 2.5-kilometer two-way path on Terrebonne, and turn the road into two-one way streets, heading west from Cavendish to Belmore and east from Cavendish to Girouard.

The borough will install bike lanes on both sides of the road; protected by bollards on the north side eliminating some 200 parking spaces and a lane on the south side protected by a buffer zone and the remaining parking lane.

The plan has divided the community and continues to do so, after opponents of the plan gathered more than 1,100 signatures on paper and electronic petitions demanding real consultation of affected residents. They cite numerous faults with the borough’s technical study, i.e., that observation was made on only a fraction of weekly traffic hours and not in winter, and that citizens were not consulted.

The administration, along with local cycling advocates, have long insisted that cyclists do not feel safe on Terrebonne, which has them sharing the roadway with vehicles with nothing other than some street markings indicating a bike route. The borough insists that installing a lane on Terrebonne will help more citizens adapt to active transit, protect vulnerable citizens — including many children attending schools in the area — and help fight climate change.

Borough documents also note the bike path will have a major impact on vehicle routes in the area, particularly the one-way redesigns, and suggests the plan is necessary to enforce existing laws: “The installation allows reinforcement of parking bans within five metres of intersections, in order to improve visibility” in addition to the number of parking spaces removed.

At council, Borough Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa said the plan is not necessarily finalized, repeating what she told a crowd at Benny Library in December: “Even if we vote tonight there is still some time to make adjustments to this project” and noted there are several possible adjustments being considered. She added that here have been several discussions with the EMSB and Mackay school in particular and more discussions will be held to explore solutions for some particular challenges. “I know that change is scary,” she told the packed room, “but I’m listening to you and we’re going to do it together. The status quo,” she added, “is unbearable.”

Resident Nora Kelly, a member of the Residents against Terrebonne 2.0 group, stated before the meeting that “many people can’t believe that the Projet Montreal administration of the borough has brought back the bike path after it was removed in the summer of 2020 following a serious public outcry,” she said. “So many people have signed the petition and the anger is palpable. They are upset that there has been no consultation. They want the bike path plan cancelled immediately.”

Snowdon councillor Sonny Moroz, who along with Darlington councillor Stephanie Valenzuela voted against the plan, deplored the dismissal of recommendations from the original working committee on Terrebonne.

The work, consisting mostly of street marking and signage, will be completed in June. n

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