Hampstead Park

Hampstead’s ‘Pigeon dans la parc’ enters second year

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

‘Pigeon dans la parc’ powered by Zera Café held a summer kick-off party at its Adessky Community Centre at Hampstead Park locale recently to mark its first complete year of operation and to look forward to its second year.

The event included free sweets and lemonade, music from an excellent Spotify playlist of 1960s and 1970s hits, balloons and face painting. Zera is the Hebrew word for “seed,” and reflects the social enterprise’s’s goal, “that people can grow and flourish when they are nurtured and included.”

The coffee shop, which has been housed rent free at the community centre, is a not-for-profit social enterprise dedicated to providing employment opportunities for neurodivergent adults, including those on the autism spectrum and those with severe ADHD. The establishment operates in partnership with Pigeon Café and the Town of Hampstead.

Alissa Anzerut, director of operations at Zera Café, told The Suburban that the café is “expanding into year 2, teaching our staff more skills and having more opportunities for meaningful employment.”

Eve Rochman, founder and director of the Zéra Café, says “it was quite the year.

“We’re proud of the fact that, this year, our employees are making sandwiches and salads right here, so we’re expanding the skill set that we’re teaching them. We upgraded our Zera Café headquarters [at 5151 Côte Ste. Catherine] during the year, there’s been a lot of changes there, too.

Rochman added that “one of the most exciting things that came out of our project last year is that Pigeon Café is now selling our products that we had exclusively at this branch, it’s a big deal and we’re trying to figure out how to do it successfully. Not only did people in the community appreciate having a local café to come to during the summer, but we now have offshoots that we’re really proud of.

“We’re finding ways to create even more employment opportunities.”

Rochman says the goal for the second year is to do even more, “create new projects.

“We’re really out of space and we’re looking at ways to find space and be able to do more. It’s more than growth, it’s about a new job approach this year and making sure that we are maximizing what we do with our employees in terms of their development and growth. We’re supporting them in the best way possible. Hopefully, they’ll be able to carry their new skills to other areas of their lives.”

Sabrina Taran, executive director of Zera Café, said that in the first year, the café was only able to operate with a grant, “and this year we’re doing it fully on our own.

“We have more neurodiverse staff working here because we’re able to bring some of our regular kitchen staff to get more hours and different experience working in a public facing role here.”

Some of the other Zera Café highlights in the past year have included growth from eight employees in 2022 to 20 in 2024 and a projected 24 this year; sales dollars increased from $90,000 in 2021 to a projected $400,000 this year;  having 15 community partners, donated 200 meals to families in need and now having 50 dedicated volunteers.

Jonathan Dresner, owner of Pigeon Café, was on hand as well to join in the celebration at Hampstead Park.

“I just feel joy, I’m super happy for them and I hope they continue with such a nice team,” he told The Suburban.

Hampstead’s ‘Pigeon dans la parc’ enters second year Read More »

Hampstead council questioned on pool fees

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Hampstead resident Adriana Decker questioned council last week on the town’s increased pool fees, which have been previously justified as a way to keep property taxes as low as possible.

Residents had complained in 2023 about a daily pass for the pool at Hampstead Park being $15 for residents three years old and up, with one resident saying it would cost $75 to bring her family. In late July, the price structure was changed to $10 for residents 18 and under, and $35 for a family pass as long as all members could provide proof they were Hampstead residents. The daily pass price has been $25 for non-residents.

Decker, who was a prominent voice in principle against the redevelopment of an apartment building on Côte St. Luc Road in 2019, said that according to statistics, 4,692 daily passes for the pool were purchased when the price was lower, with income totalling $30,727.

“In 2024, there were only 837 tickets sold, which is insane how increasing the price has limited access to the pool, and the total revenue was only $17,431,” she would. “Why have we increased the price of the single ticket if it hasn’t increased revenue? If you look at the family pass in 2022, the revenue was $23,944 and in 2024, it was $28,240. The difference is nothing. This has decreased the amount of people who can enjoy the pool. I’m one of those people. Please have a discussion about this.”

Mayor Jeremy Levi said the intent of the current fees was never to limit access to the the pool.

“I understand that might be the appearance of it, it was certainly not the intent,” the Mayor explained. “The intent is to try to be as fiscally responsible as possible. Even though there may not be a significant change in revenue, there is a significant change in the operating costs. We do not need as many lifeguards, because there’s not as many people” using the pool.

Levi also said the pool does not need as much maintenance and upkeep as previously.

“What has the difference [in savings] been, does anyone know?” Decker asked.

Levi said he did not have that information.

“I’ve had many discussions with many people — when I grew up in this town, the pool was very different than what it is today,” the Mayor explained. “The neighbourhood was very different. We issue permits for about 12 private pools every year now. In terms of this mandate, that’s about 50 to 60 new private pools, which means 50 to 60 families no longer using the public pool.”

The Mayor said the town is trying to find a balance.

“I know that when we had day passes of $2 or $3 for non-residents, a very big part of the users were non-residents and there was a very big opinion that if we were losing $100,000 on the upkeep of the pool, why we are we subsidizing it to non-residents? We wanted to make it amenable, where it’s geared towards residents. Everything we do, our interest is for the residents. Not to limit access, for sure not.”

Hampstead council questioned on pool fees Read More »

‘We’re finished being victims!’

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

More than 3,000 Montrealers attended a Federation CJA-organized community commemoration of the first anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and 240 kidnapped. A total of more than 1,685 people have been murdered on and after Oct. 7 by terrorists.

The event was held under a massive tent at Hampstead Park. There was a heavy SPVM and Sûrété du Québec in the area.

Numerous dignitaries and notables attended, including Israeli Consul-General Paul Hirschson; Eta Yudin, Vice-President, Quebec of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs; Quebec Environment Minister Benoit Charette, Quebec Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry,Conservative Senator Leo Housakos, Conservative Quebec lieutenant and Quebec City-area MP Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative Beauce MP Richard Lehoux, Mount Royal Conservative candidate Neil Oberman, Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather, NDG-Westmount MP Anna Gainey, Outremont MP Rachel Bendayan,Robert-Baldwin MNA Brigitte Garceau, NDG MNA Desirée McGraw, Westmount-St. Louis MNA Jennifer Maccarone, Marguerite-Bourgeoys MNA Fred Beauchemin, Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi, Côte St. Luc Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, former Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre and various city councillors, English Montreal School Board chairman Joe Ortona and representatives of the Hellenic Congress, the Italian-Canadian Community Foundation and the Federation of Filipino Associations of Quebec.

There was also a video message from Israel’s president Isaac Herzog, and special tribute was paid to the eight Canadian victims of the attack, including former Côte St. Luc resident Alexandre Look. A survivor of the attack, Israeli student leader Ya’ara Mano, gave extensive testimony of her hours in a safe room in her kibbutz. Wreaths were laid in tribute to the Israeli and foreign civilians, Israel Defence Forces soldiers, first responders and police who fell.

In an eloquent and moving address, Consul-General Hirschson stated that 101 people remain hostages in Gaza “because evil came calling on Oct. 7. Jewish day schools, synagogues, community centres have been shot at [and firebombed] in Montreal. Jewish businesses are targeted, boycotted, even shot at. And who has responded? The Mayor of Montreal has still not yet reached out to the parents of Alexandre Look, the Montreal boy murdered while protecting others. What has Canada’s government’s response been? Has it supported Israel or retreated to complacent neutrality, which in the words of Elie Wiesel, helps the killers rather than the victims. Is Canada indirectly rewarding acts of terror through abstention on international votes or by considering recognition of a Palestinian state?”

On the other hand, Hirschson thanked the Quebec government for its strong support of Israel, its rejection of Canada’s call at the UN for a premature ceasefire and for opening its office in Tel Aviv after Oct. 7. “You’ve been superb. It’s much appreciated.” The Consul-General said many tears have been shed since Oct. 7. “But tears are not a sign of weakness…. We’re finished being victims, in Israel and Montreal too! We have work to do, and we’ll do it!”

Federation CJA board Chair Steve Sebag said the bond between Israel and the diaspora “has never been more important! We are witnessing the very essence of Zionism unfold before our eyes! The Jewish people can only be truly safe through self-determination! Israel is Jewish safety!”

Raquel Look, mother of Alexandre Look, said, “as a mother, I stand before you not just in grief, but also with resilience, determined to honour Alexandre’s memory and the memory of all of those we lost in a way that reflects his courage, his compassion and his unwavering spirit!”

Federation CJA CEO and president Yair Szlak thanked local law enforcement for protecting the Jewish community in the past year.

“The Jewish world has changed significantly this year. Once again, we’re redefining history for the world. Israel faces head-on threats to democracy and Western civilization in fighting Iran and its proxies in and around the Middle East. And Jewish communities are fighting the consequence of decades of foreign investment that have created a cesspool of hatred and antisemitism in the guise of anti-Zionism. We’ve shed rivers of tears since Oct. 7. Our hearts are broken, but we are not defeated!”

The evening ended with Cantor Daniel Benlolo leading the audience in prayer and the national anthems of Canada and Israel.

Earlier in the day, thousands gathered on Sherbrooke Street outside McGill for a Federation CJA and student- organized highly emotional vigil to commemorate Oct. 7, and to stand with Israel.

‘We’re finished being victims!’ Read More »

Hampstead bench dedicated to “radiant beacon of light” Joanna Barcessat

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

An emotional ceremony was held recently at Hampstead Park in the presence of family and friends and members of Hampstead staff to dedicate a bench to the memory of former resident Joanna Barcessat, described as a “radiant beacon of light” who passed away in November 2021 in an accident in Lachine.

Barcessat, 52, an entrepreneur and mother who was born and raised in the town, was cycling when she was involved in a collision with a car Oct. 27. She died of her injuries six days after the accident took place.

The inscription on the bench says, “for Joanna, always in our hearts, always in our thoughts. With eternal love from her family and friends.” Another message said that it is “clear to everyone in Hampstead that she touched countless lives. Joanna was a radiant beacon of light and hope within our community.”

Lysa Lash, Barcessat’s friend for 35 years, told The Suburban that “in order to honour Joanna in the best way I thought possible, I thought of a bench in beautiful sunshine, a place where we could all come together.

“Joanna was a community-spirited woman with friends from all different communities. This is a place where we can share her spirit and feel good…. She loved nature, she was a ray of sunshine. I just feel that by sitting here, we can speak to her, feel the sun on our face and connect in a beautiful place with greenery, in nature.”

The bench is located near Queen Mary Road, facing the park’s baseball field.

“The location has good memories, and it’s easily accessible. She used to watch her son play baseball here.” n

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Montrealers march for Israeli hostages

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

By Joel Goldenberg

Numerous Montrealers marched from Hampstead Park to the Ben Weider Jewish Community Centre in Snowdon, demanding the immediate release of hostages held since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by the terrorist group Hamas in which 1,400 people were murdered.The walk was part of the global effort Run For Their Lives to help the 136 hostages still being held in Gaza.

The New York Times reported Feb. 6 that Israeli intelligence concluded 32 of the 136 have died, but to Jews, a body is sacrosanct and requires a proper burial, and thus those who died are still considered hostages.

One of those participating was Eric Hazan, second cousin of hostage Omer Shem Tov, who turned 21 during his captivity. “It’s really important that people don’t forget that we still have hostages being held in Gaza and these are innocent people who need to come back home,” Hazan told The Suburban. “The families are anxious to have them come back, they are devastated. The whole nation is devastated. Millions of Jews around the world are devastated by all this.”

At the Y, the names of the remaining hostages were read, and songs were sung. Ysabella Hazan, who spoke at pro-Israel rallies at Concordia late last year and in Washington, D.C., told attendees at Kellert Hall at the Y that she saw the 43-minute film of the Oct. 7 massacre that journalists have been invited to see. After seeing that, “I don’t even want to think about the condition of the hostages. I don’t want to know what Hamas is doing on their own territory. This [conflict] is as much an ideological war as a physical war waged against us.We have to keep our spirits very high in honour of the hostages, and we have to be united.”

Hazan added that we have to, “encourage students to go on campus and to have rallies like this one! It’s amazing that we have this rally in the community centre, as we should, but where’s the youth? We need to be empowered also!”

She also said those rallying in Canada “are here to show the world that we are one collective soul. As long as they are held hostage, we are held hostage! Our souls are held hostage! Our hearts are in Gaza until they are free! We are going to fight for Jewish rights! We are not going to allow people to call our hostages colonizers! We are Jews! We are not colonizers from the land that we are from!”

Also on hand were Snowdon councillor Sonny Moroz, Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather and CSL councillor Dida Berku, amongst many others.

“I’ve heard from relatives, I’ve heard from Montrealers and from my residents, not just from the Jewish community, who are in solidarity with those who were taken from their homes and want them returned,” Moroz told The Suburban. “For me, it’s a moral clarity issue. We need to resolve this open wound, not just impacting local Jews in Montreal, but Jews around the world.”

Housefather told The Suburban that with the hostages being held for more than 100 days, “it’s really important for our local community to show our support for them.

“I do my own part by being here too and joining my fellow citizens.” n

Montrealers march for Israeli hostages Read More »

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